<div style="text-align: right;"><strong>Paul Raike</strong> (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=84632.msg3727041#msg3727041) - <strong>Basement</strong> - <em>Sitting in the back row and whispering with Lulu, Anthony, and Ronin</em></div><br/>Paul's eyes followed the group as Aline effectively strong armed Morgan from the room; from his body language, Paul wouldn't have wanted to be him for all of the world. He looked at those sitting next to him, eyebrows searching for his hairline, as he tried to formulate something to say, anything that would revive the more jovial atmosphere they'd had earlier. Anthony looked shell-shocked, Lulu looked unsurprised, and Ronin... Paul wasn't quite sure what was going on with Ronin. Even with the dark paint he looked about six shades paler than he had been, and for a second Paul was concerned that the young man might pass out.<br/><br/>He let his gaze turn back to Lulu. "I suddenly feel much less like sitting around for the auction. There's a Waffle House a couple blocks from here, you want to go?" He raised an eyebrow, and his mouth twitched with a smile as a bit of the previous mischievousness returned. Suddenly, he blinked, and glanced at Anthony and Ronin. "Any and all of you?" He sighed internally. There was no point in being rude, especially to guys he'd probably work with in the future.<em>Besides,</em>he thought,<em>Ronin really does look like he shouldn't be alone anytime soon.</em>"My treat."