David felt Alexa’s eyes roll across him. It wasn’t a feeling he was unaccustomed to… he was a performer and half of the art of a magician was drawing attention to him. Or at least, to parts of him… misdirection, sleight of hand, letting the eyes go where he wanted them to, hiding the truth away, tightly concealed.<br/><br/>And maybe just a little bit of magic…<br/><br/>His own eyes turned to meet hers, his gaze always powerful, but now without the burning light that he used while performing. A slight smile would creep onto his features. He was not the only one who hid things. In that moment as he looked into her eyes he could tell. She was hiding something.<br/><br/>Not that the promise of mystery was the only thing that made him match her gaze. The change in the fragile 16 year old he had seen a decade ago to the 26 year old before him was staggering. There was still that hint of the ethereal about her, that little something that put her apart, but some of the naivety was lost. David was not sure if that was a blessing or a curse, but it was a necessity of survival. She still looked young… younger than her years… but was now certainly a woman.<br/><br/>Not that the Lord of Blackest Night could entertain such thoughts… obviously.<br/><br/>Bob’s voice drew him back, a slow turn of the head before addressing the group.<br/><br/><strong>“I believe I may well take up such an offer. It would be unseemly of me to bid farewell to the group, however briefly, considering we are only just reunited. I offer the hospitality of my carriage for the journey if it is needed.”</strong><br/><br/>He paused for a second, eyes leaving the group to roll over the pub itself.<br/><br/><strong>“But, my friends, to leave so soon would rob us of an opportunity. We are re-united together for this adventure, but let us remember why fate first put us here. We are performers, we are artists, we are talents. And here we have an audience… here we have a stage. Let us see if those gifts the fates blessed us with still exist, if we can adapt, if we can perform here, in this den of villainy. My friends, let us toast this moment with more than drink. Let us toast it with our gift, with our talent. Let tonight be the night when the Last Laugh first laugh’s again.” </strong>