<strong>Robert Dwyer, Malkavian, Status 0, Appearance 2.  No disciplines active.</strong><br/><br/>Robert turned to see the always alluring figure of Joanna, dressed to draw attention.  Realizing he was distracted, Robert urgently turned to look around him, seeing if anyone were seemingly trying to take advantage of his momentary gap in vigilance.  He noted a large, dark-haired man near the biker gang looking in his direction, but he averted his eyes just as Robert noticed.<em>Not tonight, Ares.</em>He set the tray carefully down on one of the tables, ensuring that none of the 64 cakes (4 wide, 4 long, 4 high) toppled in the process.<br/><br/><em>Honey cakes?</em>her friendly voice could be heard to ask.  A more socially adept man, in the company of such an enticing woman, might have thought to respond with a "yes, sweetie pie?," but Robert was no such man.  Besides, he could not risk disrespecting Hermes at such a critical time.<strong>"An offering to Hermes.  If he is happy, he will allow all discussions today to be fruitful."</strong>There was more to it than that, of course.  Ares must be appeased as well, but the offerings he preferred were simply not allowed here...perhaps he should have made an offering to Aphrodite instead, hoping she could calm her occasional lover, or to Zeus or Hera in hopes they could calm their child.<em>Too late for that.  Ares is angry, and he will work to see tempers rise.</em><br/><br/>He stepped closer to Joanna, not an entirely unfamiliar act as he enjoyed proximity to her for multiple reasons, and spoke softly.<strong>"In the corner...that gang.  See how unhappy they look?  You might think it to be different taste in music, but there's more.  Ares is whispering in ears.  He wants a fight."</strong>