Yeah, that makes sense. It was always awkward and a little cringy when running into a professor near the campus. You expect them to stay in their ivory towers, not having a pint.

You'll have to share this cocktail bar with me sometime. Bonus points if there's a piano there that can be played.

I guess everyone thinking you live in your office is better than everyone thinking I spend my time chasing down ambulances.

Sounds like a plan, then. Hopefully I won't be too rusty.

I promise this hasn't all been a nefarious plan to finally get access to a piano again.

Easier, but then I wouldn't get to listen to a beautiful voice sharing a drink with me.

[He gives her hand a squeeze as it rests on his arm.]

You want to try a bite of mine?

It is nice. Soothing. A little musical. That and a person's scent are what I notice first.

Sure. I do love a good fry.

[He cuts off part of his sub and moves his plate towards her so that she can take it onto hers, and put some fries on his.]

Too much perfume is sensory overload for me, so I'm with you on that. A good soap is sometimes more than enough.

[He took a bite of the fries, smiling as she shares in return what she found attractive about him.]

Yeah? Good to know. I figured it wasn't gonna be the Hell's Kitchen accent.

It's a really nice scent. Clean and fresh.

I've never lived anywhere else but the Kitchen and around it. I think if my accent isn't strong, it's just because I hear accents so well that my own got muted or... combined with a lot of others.

I guess I never noticed really how I sound. At least, not many people talk about it. I can fake other people's accents pretty easily though, so yeah, picking up on them easily is my best guess for why my own accent isn't that strong. Who knows, maybe yours will turn New York eventually.

I'm not sure that we have a say in how our voices sound, most accents just fade or get muddled over time the longer someone is away from a certain place. Though, that's just for humans. Maybe muses can choose to sound however they want.

It is easier to sound harder when out on the streets. Not as much room to be soft, though I think compassion can always have a place.

Are there other differences? Besides the inspiring and immortality?

It's sometimes a struggle to find that balance, but also sometimes there's merit in a struggle.

Interesting. I've been told my touch can be quite addictive too, but that just came from years of practice.

[He gave her a teasing smirk, still finishing the last of his chicken parm sub.]

The balance is... going.

[His voice fades to one of less confidence there. He hasn't trusted himself fully since he tossed Bullseye off that roof.]

Some days I trust it more than others.

Nah, observational data only from the experiments. I have really good hearing, though. It helps with collecting the data. And a pretty sensitive touch.

[He reaches out to let his fingertips trail up her arm.]

I hope you're right. At the very least, I do believe in redemption. That our inner demons can drive us towards our better angels.