Ice shavings sprayed as he came to a halt near the wall to speak with his trainer. Conner’s trainer gave him a few tips on his triple toe loop and told him to try again. He nodded and skated off half away down the rink and then vaulted himself into the air, did three turns and then landed nicely back down on the ice. The tip had worked and it brought a smile to Conner’s face. He was excited about the improvement he’d been making for his next performance.

Stepping off the ice his trainer told him he was done for the day. They shook hands and then Conner said he’d see him next week. Sitting down on a nearby bench he put the covers on his blades and took his ice skates off. He proceeded to take out his sneakers and put them on then put his ice skates into his black duffle bag.

---

That of course was earlier that day. Now Conner sat at the bar in the Irish pub. The pub had been a bonus when moving to this town. It surprised him that they had an Irish style pub and it felt a little bit like a home away from home at times. In front of him was a pint of Irish whiskey which would be the only one as he seemed to get dumber the more he drank.

Hazel eyes were focused on the television behind the counter. A football game was on and though he didn’t watch them normally it was the only source of entertainment at the current time. His attire consisted of a black t-shirt with cut off sleeves to display some rather muscular arms, loose fitted jeans and what appeared to be black army boots. As usual his black hair was spiked up with gobs of gel, but it still looked quite nice. He was quite the expert with hair gel.

Conner stared at the television screen though his thoughts were running through his routine over and over again to make sure he knew what he needed to practice more tomorrow after he got off work. To anyone else it might look like he’s concentrating or deeply tuned in to the game, but it was quite the opposite. In fact when one of the teams scored a touchdown, half the people in the pub shouted and cheered which startled him for a moment making him jump a few inches off his chair. Relaxing again he went back to staring blankly at the screen and returning to his thoughts.

Jules made her way to the bar. Something about the Irish pub appealed to her. She wanted a drink to unwind before she drove to the hotel she'd booked. Only one though, enough to take the edge off her restlessness from the plane flight.

She'd start looking for her half brother tommorow, she had a good idea of what he looked like from loking through photo albums with Marcus, her other half-brother, whom, she'd found first.

She picked one of two open seats in the place. The one beside the quiet almost spacey looking fellow with nice hair. He didn't seem as loudly enthused about the game on television. It was also likely he'd not recognizes her as a semi famous concert pianist, but really who would in a bar.

The bartender came and took her order, a Green Myst she asked for.

Indeed he would not recognize her. Between his job and his skating practice and competitions he had little time to know what was going on in the world or who was up and coming in the music industry. However he had become aware of a person sitting down on the stool beside him and ordering a drink. Looking over at the woman, hazel eyes looked her over for a moment then they glanced down at his drink. Damn. It was empty. Did he dare get another drink? The idea of walking home in a rather dumb state wasn’t too appealing. But he’d only had one drink. Perhaps his system could tolerate another.

When the bartender brought the woman her drink he asked him for another Irish whiskey; his thick Irish accent was evident as he requested another drink. The bar tender brought him his drink and he took a sip out of it first before setting it down next to his empty glass. He was still running over his routine in his head as he took another drink.

”So what’s in a Green Myst?” Out of the blue he struck up a conversation with the woman. His Irish accent once again thick as he spoke. The only thing he ever ordered here was an Irish whiskey so he was curious to see what other kind of drinks was offered here as well.

"Seven up, Blue curcoa, and Irish Myst, which is honeyed Irish whisky with herbs added." she explained in a rich lilting southern accent, she sounded like a southern belle from a movie, a delta diva, and she very much was, especially since her latest smashing performance at Carnegie Hall.

"Care for a taste?" she asked warmly.

As she described it, it definitely sounded quite delicious. However in his opinion was a watered down Irish whiskey. Oh well. She asked him if he wanted to try it and he had to stop and think about it for a moment. Well it didn’t seem like it had as much alcohol as his drink so he nodded.

”Sure.” He took a sip offered drink and played with it in his mouth and tongue for a moment then let it slid down his throat into his belly. He stared up at the ceiling for a moment as if he was debating whether it tasted good or not. Of course he was just playing around. Conner did like to joke sometimes.

”It does taste pretty good.” He finally spoke, returning his gaze from the ceiling to the woman. After that he took a gulp of his own drink again. He was probably going to regret having two drinks later on that night.

"It tastes decent and sneaks up on you." she admitted, "Just the thing to wind down from a long plane trip."

Jules like to joke too, and here she is sitting in an Irish style pub beside a man drinking Irish whiskey, with a very obvious Irish accent. "So did you come with the bar, one of the authentic "Irish feel" accesories?" she teases in her sultry voice, which is throaty with a hint of laughter right now as she looks at him. My, my, he does have pretty eyes.

Not only does he have pretty eyes, but he has a pretty smile to go with it which happens upon his face as she jokes with him. Indeed it must be rather amusing with him sitting in an Irish pub. It felt just so natural to be here. In fact some times he had forgotten he’d ever left Ireland in the first place.

”No sadly I’m not, but if they paid me some money I might be more than willing to stand outside and greet people as they come in.” He teases back. Taking another swig of his drink he sets it back down on table.

”What about you lass? Where did you just fly in from?” He remembered she’d spoken of a long trip and needless to say her accent was also evidence that she wasn’t from around here either.

"Do you want the long version or the short version?" she asked, somehow she'd never excpected being called lass to give her warm fuzzy feeling, perhaps it was a combination, of drinking, laughing and being called lass. He did indeed have a nice smile. So does she as she smiles back. It seemed she'd picked a good place to sit.

"I'm Jules." she says offering her hand with a smile and a warm lilting laugh.

”Perhaps if we meet again when I haven’t been drinking I’ll prefer the long one, but for not the short one.” He says with a smile on his face the entire time. Indeed she had a pretty smile as well as pretty much everything else about her was quite pretty as well.

”I’m Conner.” He offers his hand in return and shakes her hand.

"I just flew in from Mexico City." she said, it was the short version, there had been a lot of flying aroud lately. She suspected he was hoping to know where she was from, but maybe he'd run into her again and get to hear the long version, then he'd know. Suffice it to say, it is obvious she isn't from Mexico.

She shakes his hand. He has very smooth hands, her own are smooth as well and impecably mainicured. It should be expected as a pianist her hands are her lively hood. She tries not to tense as she shakes his hand, she neve knows if her gift will give her an unwanted jolt of insight about people. In his case it does, but all she sees is.....Iceskates?

”Mexico City? You have relatives down there or just on vacation?” Yes it was apparent that she didn’t live down there so he asked a few logical questions as to why she might visit the city.

He recoiled his hand after the shake. Indeed her hands were quite smooth. Picking up his drink again he took another sip and placed the drink back down on the counter.

"My half brother has a circus down there, my other half brother, who I've never met lives here in the city, I'm after finding him. " she offered a brief explanation.

Her drink is empty, the bar tender asks if she'd like another. "Just water with lemon." she tells him. Her eyes droop ever so slightly, she isn't tired, merely relaxed and feeling very mellow.

Listening to her explain what was going on was rather intriguing. Having siblings that you’ve never met? That must be difficult. Little did he realize how true that would happen in his own life when he got his mother’s next letter.

”I hope you find him.” It was all he could think of to say. His voice was caring though and he truly did hope she found him.

”Is there, um, is there anything I might be able to do to help?” Sometimes he could be too nice for his own good.

He seemed sincere as he told her he hoped she found her brother and offered to help. Nice and good looking, with an accent, she was tempted to stay and flirt but just as soon as she did, she'd likely find out he was gay. It was just the sort of luck Jules seemed to have with men.

"Right now I have a few leads to check out. Thanks for the offer though. I should go soon, I promised myself I'd only have one drink." she told him.

He shrugged as she said she had to go soon and he took another sip of his drink.

”Alright. Suit yourself. Good luck on finding your brother. Perhaps we’ll run into each other again.” He smiled and then took another sip of his drink which was almost gone. Conner had to get home soon anyway before the drinks started making him stupid and he didn’t some irrational in public.

"Maybe, I'm not sure how long I'll be in town. You come here a lot?' she asked him as he sipped at his drink some more. Afterall if he comes here a lot she can stop by, maybe with the good news that she found her brother, in a few days.

He nodded. Indeed he came here often as it was the only place in town that reminded him of home.

”Usually come in every night around eight, but I do sometimes miss days as I have a busy schedule.” Finishing off his drink he wipes his mouth and pushes the glass away from him next to his other empty glass.

Well that means she very well could run into him again. Jules however does not drink everynight.

"Then I may very well see you soon. Goodnight Conner." she tells him with a smile.

”Goodnight.” He says and waves back. ”Look forward to another visit.” He smiles and winks at her before returning to staring blankly at the football game still going on.