Fortuna leaned back against the counter, a catlike smirk on her pretty face. It was busy this evening, but she hadn't seen anything to interest her. Not yet, at any rate. There was the usual number of people hovering around, trying to get close to her, trying to work up the guts to offer to buy her a drink. One, who had been tossed a casual smile from her, was beaming dreamily into space.

She ran her shiny red fingernails down the side of the sleek dress she wore, and looked around the room from behind her dark glasses. She wouldn't be bored for long, she hoped. That would just completely ruin her good mood... and she had been having such a nice, evening, too...

If Dark had one of those jingly doorbells, I rather doubt that it would be as popular a club as it is. But if it had one of those jingly doorbells, everyone who wasn't drunk, stoned, or engrossed in music--read, no one--would know that someone had entered the club.

Maybe he was looking for Bo. (Subconsciously, of course. He would never admit to looking for Bo on his own behalf, instead of because Keye needed him.)

Once again, he was clad in black, head to toe. That was mostly because it was the closest that he had to clothing that would blend in here and because he didn't want to look like a walking invitation to, er, liberties.

He stood near the door, looking for somewhere somewhat out of the way to sit and drink something. Maybe he would go home, and save himself the trouble.

Her face was turned three-quarters away from the door, but she saw Alexander walk in. She examined him without making it plain that she was doing so. She didn't even turn her head - she didn't need to. She took in his appearance, waited a minute,... then turned to face him as if she'd only just noticed him. She slid to one side, leaving a space open next to her.

"Come on over," she mouthed, nodding to him.

Well...

Bo was obviously not here. Neither was Douglas, for that matter. And there didn't seem to be anywhere else open... So, he made his way through the club to the woman's side...

Wait. No. Not a woman at all. Oh shiiiiii...

"Hello."

"Hello, hon," she smiled at him and edged closer, reducing what had been a small space between them, to a very small space. Now Alexander's personal space wasn't so... personal, anymore. Aaand,... cue the turning on of her charm. "Out looking for a good time this evening, are you?"

Actually, I would say it was personal still, but in an entirely different and highly uncomfortable way.

The fact that she felt utterly inhuman and completely power--as in, she was power, not just powerful--did not help at all, and his heartbeat sped up remarkably fast for an old guy like him.

"Well, I didn't start out that way..."

"You don't say," she smiled, sounding and looking fascinated - in a sort of airheaded playboy-bunny way. "Well, what made you change your mind? And what do you have planned now?... Is it anything I can participate in?"

She walked her fingers up his arms and onto his shoulder, going far enough to tickle his neck. Then she pulled her hand away so it rested on his shoulder. She was holding on very lightly, but the trace of ice in her smile warned that she wasn't going to let go.

Alexander really can't afford to have a goddess angry with him. He's already playing with fire as it is. Thus, he smiles. Thus, he doesn't look like his heart is pounding and his veins are being pumped full of adrenaline.

"You did, of course." He did start a little as her hand caressed him; he wasn't at all used to that sort of thing, as we've already noticed.

"My plans depend entirely on what you would like, madam."

"Aw, you're too kind..." Her reply sounded something like purring. She beamed at Alexander for his flattering reply, and stroked his cheek with her fingernails. Her touch was still light, but now there was less of a threat beneath her smile. She took her hand away. "Well, darling, let's begin by you buying me a drink, hm?"

Less of a threat was very, very good. Less of a threat meant that Alexander could breathe just a bit easier, and hopefully she wouldn't decide to smite him.

"What would you like, madam?" He doesn't particularly want to introduce himself, or for her to introduce herself. It doesn't particularly matter which goddess he's found himself entangled with, just as long as he survives the encounter without being cursed.

"Oh, I don't know,... "

Yeah, right.

"Why don't you surprise me?" she said conspiratorially. It was something of a test. Alexander has been brought to her attention. She likes him, so far. Not that she looks for reasons to dislike people, but she does like to give them the opportunity to screw things up.

She's not making it very easy on poor Alexander, is she. There are dozens of things to guess, and the chances of him lighting upon the correct choice are frighteningly slim. Still... she looks like a certain type of woman, and if he goes by that... he has a chance?

He orders a martini and looks to her for approval. Funny how much less intimidating he looks when he's walking on thin ice, and knows it. Funny how pleasant he can be, when he exerts himself.

"How's that, my dear?"

She looked at the drink appraisingly. There wasn't much of an expression on her face. (Oh, dear, what if this is the one drink out of all of them that she really, reallydoesn't like...?)

"Wonderful," she smiled at him. He'd managed to choose correctly. Martinis were second on her favorites list. First, oddly enough, were cheap wines."Great choice. Come on - there's a little corner over there where we can ... discuss tonight's plans."
The goddess slipped her arm around Alexander's and began leading him away.

This is usually the part where someone comes charging to the rescue, isn't it? When the poor innocent is led off by the conniving villain? Heh. I suppose neither of those precisely fits, but work with me here.

Unfortunately, rescue does not seem forthcoming. At least he got the drink right.

"As you wish, of course."

He followed, but he didn't really have much of a choice, now did he.

Oh, Alexander had a choice. The only problem was what might happen if he made the choice to leave.

She sat down in a chair, primly crossing her ankles. She leaned on the table, gazing at Alexander. Well, she might have been gazing at him. Truth be told, with those sunglasses on it was impossible to tell which way she was looking. "You don't come here often, hon? I don't think I've seen you around before..."

Exactly.

"No, not very often. I prefer more dignified haunts."

Which explains why he's been here twice in the past few days. Of course. (But then, it's easier to explain away running into someone here as coincidence than it would be to actually call someone...)

I'm sure, being a goddess and all that, she's quite aware that he's highly uncomfortable in this situation. And afraid. He's just good at pretending not to be, on the surface.

"Mm, interesting," she said, raising an eyebrow at him. More dignified haunts? That might be considered an insult. Not that she really minded, but she liked to keep them on their toes.

"Now, why don't you tell me what we are going to do next?" She folded her hands beneath her chin, her smile now predatory. "I've got my ideas,... let's see if they're the same as yours."

"Oh, now, I'm sure my ideas can't possibly be as good as yours will be," he (hopefully) deflected. He really didn't want to give her any ideas, because he doesn't have a lot of real experience to draw from in coming up with them...

Which makes him nervous. But then, so does this whole encounter.

She gave a quiet sigh, smirking at him.
"Well, maybe not-" She began running the toe of her shoe lightly up and down his shin. "-But let's see if you're thinking what I'm thinking. I can give you a hint if you can't guess..."
Like he needs more hints than blatant flirting...

Well, he doesn't actually need any hints at all. He's sort of hoping that he can get away without actually following through on what she's suggesting, though. Somehow, what's simply embarrassing with ordinary people is mortifying with a goddess...

"I think I can manage," he said finally, when he remembered how to breathe again. "But I'm sure there are much more attractive specimens for you to choose from, instead of old men like me."

"If I wanted someone else," she nodded to the bar, where that one person was still gazing dreamily into the air after having received a particularly bright smile from her, "I'd have them, don't you think? And I think I want you, hon."

"I can't imagine why..." he answered. He also managed not to choke and flee, because that wouldn't do much good for his standing with this particular deity. And as we've observed before, Alexander can't afford to anger a goddess.

If he knew she were Luck, he'd be even more interested in ingratiating himself with her...

"Uh-huh," she said skeptically, actually beginning to look miffed. She pouted. "What's the matter? Don't you like me?"

"I mean, what's not to like?" She waved a hand, gesturing to herself, and giving Alexander a brilliant smile. "You'd be lucky to have me,- don't deny it. So take the chance when you've got it, hon."

"It's nothing against you, my dear. I'm simply terrified that I'd disappoint. I wouldn't want to give you any false impression of my prowess." Look at this. Alexander's being modest...

... then again, considering the circumstances...

"Well, don't you worry your pretty little head about that," she said, her tone falsely bright. She was torn between being annoyed at being refused, and impressed at the manner in which it was done. She gave Alexander a bewitching smile over the rim of her glass. "You sure you don't want to, hon?"

There are things that you're supposed to say to a question like that. Fortunately, Alexander knows them.

"Oh, no. Of course I want to. But I can't imagine that you'd be as interested in someone clumsy, inept, and inexperienced." Considering that it would, well, be his first time with a female... being...

So far, he's managed not to blush.

"Mm. Alright, hon, if you say so," she waved a hand as if that would simiss the subject. It's probably better that they don't,- there really is a risk she'd be disapointed in him. "Then what do you propose we do? I'm not keen on sitting around and waiting for things to happen." (Well, of course she isn't.)

Um...

Alexander has no idea what to do to entertain a goddess, and it doesn't help that he doesn't know which goddess she is, only that she's one of the minor ones.

He lifted his shoulders slightly. "I'm afraid you've caught me out, my dear."

"Do you,... dance?" she inquired, looking less than pleased. Maybe he'd been a bad choice after all. Maybe she would try and find something else to entertain her, soon.
Maybe.

He shook his head slightly.

"I'm afraid not."

Perhaps he should go with her original plan after all. He'd really rather not risk being cursed for disappointing a goddess, but nor would he want to be smitten for not attempting to entertain her properly.

"Well, you're just no fun at all," she said lightly, a cruel smile playing on her lips. Then she produced a pack of cards from, seemingly, nowhere. "Do you play cards at least,-.. I don't believe I've asked your name, have I?"

"Yes, I play cards. What game did you have in mind? No, you haven't, but I don't imagine that you actually have to..." He knows she's a goddess; surely she knows by this point that he does...

"Oh, I don't have to. I just prefer to do things the proper way," she shrugged a shoulder, and began skillfully shuffling the cards. "Hmmm, something simple, I think. Go Fish, perhaps?"

He thinks he likes her better than the last deity he met, but that's not at all hard, considering Alexander's feelings for Azrael...

"I see. Alexander Barclay, at your service." Probably literally, if she decides she wants to take it that way. "Are you going to introduce yourself?"

He watched the cards, not her face. "Go Fish, then."

"I'll let you guess. It shouldn't be difficult, ... you'll have figured it out after your first hand, no doubt," she smirked at him, and dealt the cards. She held up her cards in a fan, smirked, and put them down. All her cards were pairs- she'd won before the game had even started.
As for Alexander's hand,...well,... it was as bad as a hand in Go Fish can get.

"Ah."

That was all he said, for a moment, as he looked at the cards in his hand. He toyed with his watch, briefly, then looked at her with hooded eyes.

"I suppose you consider cheating proper, then?"

"Cheating?," She smirked at him, not at all offended, "If you'll think about it, I didn't mark the the cards or do any of those other little tricks. You could blame me for the pathetic hand you have, anyway. Do you think that happened by accident?"

"No. By chance."

He's a smart man, after all. And he's well-versed in most of the modern mythology, as well as the ancient.

"Precisely," she smiled at him in a a sort of 'What a smart little boy you are' way. She tapped her fingernails on her cards, making a soft tapping sound. Card games were definitely her sort of thing,... not like, say, chess...

"And I suppose that you expect me to wager something?" Gambling, after all, is governed by luck as well. Though Alexander isn't foolish enough to wager something that he very much wants to keep, since he's not going to win.