Leolo smiled smugly as his plan unfolded exactly as he wanted.  Perhaps his methods were a little cruel.  But the human boy was young -- he would have plenty of time to find happiness with someone else.  And the marked girl would soon forget her sorrow, once Leolo showed her all the wonder and delight that her future now held.<br/><br/>Waiting until his target was seated at the bar, Leolo made his way over and claimed a seat next to her.  “I apologize for intruding on your unhappiness,” he murmured sympathetically.  Somehow, his voice carried clearly through the surrounding din, without him needing to shout.  “But it troubles me to see someone so sad.  Would it help to talk about it?  Sometimes a pain shared becomes an easier burden to carry.”<br/><br/>Drawing a handful of bills from his pocket, Leolo presented them to the bartender.  “I will be paying for the young lady's drinks.  See that she gets whatever she asks for.”  In truth, each bill was just a dried leaf.  But the illusion would not fade until morning, and Leolo planned to be long gone by then.