Lips of an Angel

[Gabriel Issa]

Gabriel walked up the steps of the club, and took a look around at the who 'greeted' people at the door, and turned to walk down the steps. It was understandable why they had men at the door; too keep the unwanted out. If you were going to build a restaurant or blub based on the appearance of finery then having people not dressed up coming in could ruin the imagine. He understood--but right now he needed to be in there.

Dressed in something akin to nice clothes, he walked along the side of the building to ward an window. Looking around, and seeing no one, he broke apart and rebuilt himself in the dark room. Some sort of storage room. Making his way toward the music, he entered the room and looked around, reaching up to pat his inside jacket pocket to make sure that he had both photos ready to go when asking around.

He was looking for a girl--a specific girl, he didn't just wake up with a craving. She might be forced into staying with an abusive husband, and his job was to find out if she was save and if not help her get to her family.

[Deleted]

Aurelia, or Mirela rather was standing backstage. She often had the butterflies just moments before a performance and tonight was no exception. She looked down at the ground, closing her eyes for a few seconds as she took deep breathes. Once she opened her lips and started singing, the passion and confidence often took over and she thought of nothing else apart from the enjoyment she felt when singing. Hearing her name called to the step she opened her eyes, raised her head, slightly titled up her chin, adjusted her posture and walked out confidently to the stage. She stood before the microphone, not looking at the audience but rather, at the ground in front of her.

When the instruments started playing, she began to raise her gaze to those who sat before her hear as she simultaneously opened her lips to sing. It was a slower song, one that she sang with elongated notes and a wide rang, though staying somewhat in the lower key. While she was not really Mirela, she did enjoy singing. It was was her form of escape from all else and she was blessed to be able to get paid for something she enjoyed doing. She was unsure how long this fortune would last, but she intended to take advantage of every day and every performance it brought her. For the sake of her family.

[Gabriel Issa]

"Have you seen her?" He asked the bartender, who looked at the photo again before shaking his head. "What of him?" Gabriel slid that photo closer to him, "I just want to make sure the girl is alright." Apparently he sounded honest (which was good because he was), because the bartender changed his story. Claimed they might have been in here last night but the girl looked happy. Normal.

Gabriel was explaining the the mother was worried, and asking if the man keep an eye out for them; and that if the girl didn't seem safe to call him. It was just as this conversation ended that he heard a voice, and turned to to the stage. The girl was pretty, but not quite his type. He liked them more natural, with less makeup. Still there was something about her that made him pause.

It was her voice. The sound of which was unlike anything he'd heard before. He didn't even look away to ask her name. He only wanted to hear her sing.

[Deleted]

Moving her lips closer to the microphone, she let her body slightly sway to the music. Her eyes searched over the crowd, not looking for anyone in particular, nor even really looking at those who watched her. It was merely a way to connect with them, to allow them to connect to her... on an entirely musical level that is. As her eyes surveyed over the audience, they rested on a man who was looking at her. Now it obviously wasn't unusual for someone to look at her, but she couldn't help but look away. Taking notice of his handsome features, particularly because they revealed he was of a different cultural background than most of the people in this club. She seemed to have locked eyes with him though it did not distract her from singing, nor delivering the words with meaning and passion that she was meant to as a singer.

Letting her mind wander, she felt as if no one else in the room existed in this moment, feeling focused on his gaze and how she could not look away. With her mind taking this direction, little did she know how it was projecting on him, and causing everyone else in the audience to fade away, leaving only him standing there, and her with the band behind her. She was not aware of this illusion she was casting upon him; she only could control the thought in her mind... unaware of how intersected the two things were.

[Gabriel Issa]

Her voice was beautiful. It was enough to distract him from everything else, and make him unaware of everything--until he begin to notice that he was alone. With her. His eyes glanced away from her for a second, then returned, only to leave her again and stay away as he took in the empty club. It had his heart beat faster. Where did everyone go?

He could almost smell the alcohol and food in the room but he wasn't sure if this was left over from when they left or just his imagination. Talking a few steps from the bar he looked over a few tables, looking for a sign that someone had even been there.

Nothing. Turning back to the girl, he walked toward the stage, staring up at her in a confused wonder. With everyone gone it was as if she was singing for only him, and while he would be honored for such a gift, he was unsettled. The room had been filled with talk and laughter, and now there was only her and only her voice.