Stride grinned broadly beneath her mask.[color=#BC6101] “Good shit, ain’t it? This place’s got the best damn chips I’ve ever had, can tell ya that.”[/color] As if to prove her point, she pulled the fabric back down and tossed back another handful of chips, showing a glimpse of nearly vampiric fangs before her mouth shut again. Up again went the mask, and her expression was once again rendered unreadable. She crunched thoughtfully around her mouthful as she listened, and, after swallowing, there was genuine sympathy in her voice.

[color=#BC6101]“Well. Damn. That fuckin’- that fuckin’ sucks, guy. Sorry to hear ‘bout that.”[/color] Even without Fritz saying anything, it was clear enough from the whole “soulmate” thing that the lady had probably been a girlfriend or a wife or something along those lines. Unfortunately for Fried, however, Stride wasn’t exactly a therapist, so the next words that came out of her mouth were,

[color=#BC6101]“Oi, bartender, could ya get me two more whiskeys?”[/color]

As soon as the order arrived, Stride pushed the second over, and immediately dove into the first. [color=#BC6101]“So, you’re a demon, yeah? That’s pretty damn cool.”[/color] She took a shot, nodding to herself over the information.

[color=#BC6101]“I’m a halfer. Dad’s a gorgon, mom’s human. Been alive and kickin’ for...”[/color] Stride trailed off, glancing at the ceiling and furrowing her brow. [color=#BC6101]“Shit. Turned...forty two a while back. I think.”[/color]

Another shot. The casual air suddenly seemed to drain from her body as she looked back over to Fritz, then back to her drink. She took a deep breath.

[color=#BC6101]“Hey, look, Freid. Ya seem like a real nice guy. Real classy n’ shit. But the thing is, I don’t really, ya know, believe in the whole…”[/color] Stride lifted her hands, giving an overarching gesture. [color=#BC6101]“‘Love at first sight’ shit. Ya know? You don’t know me, and I sure as hell don’t know who [i]you[/i] are, so it’d be kinda fucked up to have to start actin’ all lovey n’ shit right off the bat.”[/color] She scratched the back of her head. Her hair was moving as if it had a life of its own, twisting and turning and folding in on itself in lashing tendrils. 

[color=#BC6101]“So, ya just, y’know, wanna try bein’ pals or somethin’ like that?”[/color]

[@Erklings25]