<div class="floatleft">(https://img.sharetv.com/shows/characters/large/godless.roy_goode.jpg)</div><br/><strong>Character: Tom Horn<br/><br/>Location: Lola's Saloon<br/><br/>Time of day: Afternoon<br/><br/>Tagging: Open/Anyone<br/></strong><br/><hr/><br/>It was dark in the back of the saloon, the rich dark wood and brown leather seating only making things a little more dark where Tom was sat. He was of course in his usual seat. Tom was at the back of the saloon, seating at a 4 seater table all by himself. His hat laying on the table to his side, taking the space of someone else, his feet up on the seat infront of him, taking another seat. Just by looking over at Tom, it was clear he did not want to be disturbed by passers by. He tried his best to just mold into the shadows around him. He craved the buzz, the noise of everyone around, the festive music, the crowd but wanted to be far enough away from it not to be involved in it at all.<br/><br/>Tom was in a rut, a daily routine. Every day he was in the saloon, sat in his usual seat at the back and not interacting with any of the other patrons in the saloon. He wasn't your usual drunk or patron. He never left staggering over drunk, he never tried to grab or grope any of the saloon girls. He didn't walk from table to table having drinks. Tom sat on his table, his eyes constantly looking around the saloon, taking it all in while sipping on his fine whiskey. He never demanded attention from the saloon girls but he always welcomed their company. Not once did Tom ever take one of the ladies to the private rooms, instead he was just after the company, after the companionship. He would never force the girls to stay with him, he knew they could make far more money with some of the other patrons. Many wondered why he was even there, if it wasn't to try bed a saloon girl, get falling over drunk or to mingle with other patrons, then why was he there?<br/><br/>It was time Tom thought to himself, leaning back in his chair, he looked up at the balconies and like clockwork, there she was. Lola was standing there, doing her usual look over the saloon, taking in every detail of her business. No one else ever noticed her standing there, checking everything out but Tom always did. A small smile crossing his lips as he watched her start her routine, getting the crowds started. He watched her every move as she came down the stairs to the cheers of the crowd, the song on the bar that everyone joined in on. Tom loved it, although the biggest reaction he gave was just a small smile, something deep inside him warmed by this routine. Tom knew Lola, they had often spoken. It would be hard to be in the saloon every day for the last year and not know her. They often had a good chat by his table before she was pulled off by one drunk or another.<br/><br/>Tom offered her a small nod, a gesture of gratitude when she offer a free round. He wasn't. sure if she would see it or not, but at least the thought of a thank you was there. He leaned back in his chair, taking a sip of his whiskey, closing his eyes and letting the flavours explode in his mouth before swallowing, leaving the taste of whiskey in his mouth, coated with it, letting out a loud sigh. This was his happy place, his therapy which he made sure to attend every day. Although they may not know it, Lola and her girls were his shrink, they were the ones constantly bringing him back from a place of darkness.