<strong>Lilith, with Victor at the Bar, Trying to Assess the Attention from Jenna, EJ, and Selena</strong><br/><br/>“I understand,” Lilith said to Victor. “I would expect that your duties would require you elsewhere.” She moved her hand slightly closer to Victor, but stopped short of actually touching him. “Though if you wish to continue conversation and social interaction at a later time, that would be acceptable. And do not concern yourself with imposing upon me – I’m amenable to further relations with you.”<br/><br/>Lilith slid her hands back in her lap, carefully folding them together. She tilted her head at Victor in a slightly curious manner. “And I would be curious to understand your interest in my own speech patterns, though you don’t need to explain them to me at the present time. Do I not convey my intentions and thoughts in a clear and precise manner?”<br/><br/>She smiled at Victor awkwardly. “Another time, perhaps. I’ll leave you to your duties. And I’ll look forward in anticipation to our next social engagement.”<br/><br/>Looking about, Lilith suddenly found herself being approached by several individuals. Selena appeared to have temporarily disengaged herself from Dr. Mephiston and her other companion, and the serving girl – Jenna – suddenly appeared at her side. And a newer individual heading behind the bar was fulfilling her request for liquid refreshment.<br/><br/>Lilith found herself curiously wondering about the temperature in the Playground. The temperature seemed to have risen considerably in the past few minutes – she could feel the heat burning in her cheeks.<em>Faulty convection coils in the ceiling, no doubt,</em>she thought. Her fingers started to tap against the bar in an ordered pattern –<em>rat-a-tat-tat, rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat</em>.<br/><br/>“My thanks to you, good lady,” Lilith said to Selena, “although I’m not sure they are necessary as yet. My name is Lilith Van Stratten, and it indeed is my pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She bowed her head slightly, in deference to the woman. “But this gentleman – Victor – has other duties that may be taking him elsewhere, it seems. Thus I cannot properly term him an escort, as we haven’t engaged fully yet in in-depth social interaction, nor have we engaged in carnal relations with one another. At the moment, he is merely an acquaintance, albeit a friendly and a physically attractive one with whom I wish to engage in further interactions at a later time.”<br/><br/>“Are those your escorts sitting over there, miss?” Lilith asked Selena. She looked down the bar at Dr. Mephiston and Daniel. “I have no wish to disrupt any social contracts that you may have with them if you do.”<br/><br/>She turned to Jenna. “And my thanks to you as well … Jenna, I believe?” she said. “If I have requirements, I shall certainly bring them to your attention. But for the moment, my needs are satiated. But you are very kind, for asking.”<br/><br/>Lilith watched with interest as the man poured her a glass of wine. The measurement wasn’t quite to her specifications, but the vintage appeared to be of the appropriate age.<em>He’s not a clockwork android</em>, she reminded herself.<em>Don’t expect the precision you’d expect at the estate. And he means well, so it’s acceptable.</em><br/><br/>“Interesting,” Lilith said. She carefully picked up the glass of wine, and held it up to the light, staring intently at its contents. “It breathes? I wouldn’t have imagined it required oxygen. Some sort of organic by-product from the fermentation process, then?”<br/><br/>She placed the glass in front of her, her gaze not leaving it. After a few long moments, she picked the glass up again, and downed the entirety of its contents in one long swig. “A good vintage,” Lilith said, putting down the now-empty glass. She took out a lace handkerchief and dabbed gently at the corners of her mouth. “From Provence, I assume? The grapes there have a distinctive taste.”