Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Nah, not much," Astan said, taking no offense at her statement. He knew he didn't look like some Rhodes Scholar, so why should he be surprised that people didn't think he was one? "The last thing I read all the way through was... The Stand. Stephen King. Like a year ago." He chuckled.

Up ahead, the red lights trained on the entrance of Forty-Five splashed out over the buildings nearby, announcing the club's presence before the front door was visible. As they edged around the corner, Astan caught sight of the bouncer on duty tonight. Good, it was Seth. None of the other guys who worked there would have refused him quick entry, but they would have given him a hard time, since he usually came alone.

"Hey," Astan said as he approached the door, attracting the attention of the people standing in line. He gestured toward Longway. "She's with me."

Seth nodded, pushing open the door behind him and moving to one side to let them pass. A woman on line huffed loudly and raised her middle finger. Astan motioned toward the door. Faint folksy guitar riffs could be heard over the usual din young people made when they were in groups.

"After you."

The club's interior was fairly small and tonight its dance floor was covered with tightly packed tables instead of gyrating bodies. The bar stretched impressively along one side of the room, bottles of every color and flavor lining the mirrored wall. On stage, a young man and woman sat, guitars in their laps, singing the sort of music that was meant to sneak behind conversation, not overpower it.

She had a roommate? Astan thought he might have to ask her about that. But first... "Anything to drink? Don't worry, I haven't forgotten you're paying," he said with a smirk. Not too gallant. "You can sit somewhere. I'll find you." There were plenty of empty tables scattered throughout the room, including some along the walls under the small, dimly lit balcony across from the bar.