[right][h2][color=999999]Lost in Translation[/color][/h2][@silver21][@Stanifly][@Auragreedia][/right]
[color=808080]The bartender's head swivels toward Morgan. His mouth moves, and Morgan catches the words: "The third drawer on the left, but you'll need to check the hinges first." 

Before Morgan can respond, a woman in a sequined top pushes up beside him, leaning over the bar. "I think the blue ones are better, but only if you water them twice a week," she says brightly.

He nods and reaches for bottles on the shelf behind him. "Oh absolutely, though you might want to consider the warranty extension. It expired last Tuesday."

The woman laughs. "No, no—my sister tried that and the cat wouldn't come down for three hours!"

He grins as he pours. "Fair enough, fair enough. Here's your change from the dry cleaning." Within moments, she's walking away with two drinks.

The bartender turns back to Morgan and waits expectantly.[/color]

[hr]
[color=808080]The man's head snaps up the instant Teresa rises from her seat. For just a heartbeat, his eyes go wide, eyebrows raised and drawn together, before his gaze drops like a stone.

He doesn't speak as the women talk, but he's clearly been listening because when Sirpa asks if he likes going to clubs like this, his hand comes up immediately, palm down, tilting side to side. When she adds that it's pretty loud, a weak smile tugs at one corner of his mouth.

Then the hand lifts again.

His arm sweeps outward in a wide arc, encompassing the entire club—the writhing mass of bodies, the strobing lights, the speakers pumping that relentless beat through the air. The gesture completes its circle and comes to rest against his temple, fingers splayed across his forehead. He shakes his hand there, like stirring something thick and chaotic inside his skull.

Then it drops to his chest.

[i]Thump.[/i]
The bass hit. His palm hit his chest at the exact same moment.
[i]Thump.[/i]
Again.
[i]Thump.[/i]
And again.

His eyes slide closed, and he keeps that rhythm with his hand—matching the beat perfectly, feeling it pulse through his sternum, ribs, whole body. Everything drowns out whatever is screaming in his head.

For now.[/color]