<strong>Lilith, at the Bar with Doctor Mephiston, Thaddeus Theodore Thudpucker the Third Nearby</strong><br/><br/>Taking a seat next to a stranger, Lilith gripped the edge of the bar tightly with her hands, her chest heaving as she took strong, deep breaths.<em>In ... out.  In ... out</em>. With one hand, she hurriedly took a fob watch out of her handbag, which she'd foolishly left at the bar ... the watch was her focus, something to concentrate on when she felt herself losing control. Her cold blue eyes narrowed, and the watch became her world. Her breathing slowed, and she absorbed every detail of the watch - every tarnished spot, every crack, the initials engraved upon it.<br/><br/><em>Slower ... slower ... slower. Good. </em><br/><br/>Calm and order found themselves restored.<br/><br/>Lilith heard footsteps. It was Doctor Mephiston, she had no doubt. She turned to face him ... her expression grew puzzled, as she saw the contrite nature of his countenance. She'd expected him to follow her, of course, but the apology he issue perplexed her.<br/><br/>"You have no need to apologize, good sir," Lilith said to Doctor Mephiston. "None at all. In fact, it is I who should offer some amount of atonement for my own behavior. I ..." Lilith swallowed hard, unsure of herself. What she needed to say, she had never uttered before to another living, breathing soul. "I was swept up in my own carnal desires. However, I have little experience when it comes to fornication and intimate sexual behavior with other, um, people. I believed that the chemically-raised levels of my personal libido would suffice to overcome my own inexperience, and my own, um, personal inhibitions."<br/><br/>Lilith offered a small, sad smile. "My assessment was incorrect. The public nature of our dalliance, the verbal reminders of doing something so lustful and chaotic, no matter how wonderful ..." Her voice trailed off. "It proved too much, for me. I've only begun to explore my own desires. I cannot go too far and fast, else I fear I lose myself completely."<br/><br/>Lilith took the good Doctor's hand in her own. "I do wish to try ... things, with you. But perhaps somewhere more private, more intimate. I think, you'll find ..." She took another deep breath. "You'll find I'm more, um, adventuresome somewhere not as public as this."