<hr/><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/a/ac/600full-kenneth-branagh.jpg)</div><br/><strong>Name:</strong>Tommy Flanagan (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=200832.msg9819558#msg9819558)<br/><strong>Faction:</strong>None<br/><strong>Date:</strong>May 11, 1876<br/><strong>Time of Day:</strong>afternoon<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Babel's Tower, Backstage<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Bella Capri<br/><hr/><br/><br/>Tommy rose to his feet and gave a genteel bow that would not have been out of place in a New York dance hall. It was one of many little tricks he'd learned to help cover up his shady past. Among crowds like those found in Gomorra it only took a little veneer to distinguish yourself from the rank and file. Actually it only took a passing acquaintance with a bar of soap.<br/><br/>"Miss Bella Capri," he greeted her warmly. "Your reputation precedes you, of course." The small backstage room had just enough space for a man, a woman, a piano, and a degree of forced intimacy. The ventilation was poor and with the door closed behind her to help muffle the increasingly rambunctious sounds from the main room it felt like the mercury had shot up about ten degrees. Then again, that impression might easily be attributed to Miss Capri's presence. Just because Tommy didn't dally with the doves didn't mean that he was immune to such a portrait of pulchritude. His eyes were naturally drawn down past her neck, a winning smile drawn from him at the sight of the treasure displayed there.<br/><br/>"That is a very fine locket, Miss Capri. Very fine indeed. At some point when we're not fixed to march out onto a cold stage in front of a hundred drunk men without a shred of rehearsal I would love to hear about the lucky gentleman who had the honor of placing that around your neck, should you be so inclined as to share the tale with me, perhaps over a cup of the worst coffee west of Kansas City." Long sentences gave plenty of time to admire the scenery while neatly disguising any trace of lechery, Tommy had found.<br/><br/>"Now, though, is not that time. I'm honored to be working with you, and I trust that your talent and beauty will compensate for my astonishing lack of both. I'm more than happy to follow as you trace a path through your repertoire. Just give me a key and a tempo and we'll get at least a few toes tapping or a few eyes weeping, depending on your inclination." He slid back onto the piano bench and began to coax a few scales out of the damaged backup instrument. "Would you care to warm up a bit? In the vocal sense; I trust you feel the heat back here as acutely as I do."<br/><br/>