[right][h2][color=999999]Lost in Translation[/color][/h2][@silver21][@Auragreedia][@Stanifly][/right]

[color=808080]The man looks up from his drink and meets your eyes. His widen. He glances left, right, over his shoulder. When he finds no one, his gaze returns to your face.

There's an awkward attempt at a smile. His shoulders creep toward his ears as he wets his lips and draws a breath.

A shake of his head. His mouth moves in clear, deliberate shapes—you can't hear him.

You lean closer. Ask him to repeat himself. He tries again, brow creasing, speaking with more emphasis, mouth opening wider around each syllable.

Nothing. The noise around you swallows every word.

He could scream until his throat bled and you would never hear him.

Then that small spark when he first met your eyes, that brief, hopeful glimmer of [i]maybe this time[/i], gutters out. Careful blankness settles across his features the way it does when someone gives up.

He returns to his drink as if you were never there at all.[/color]