[o] [SE] longneck, ice cold beer never broke my heart

Iskra

BREATHE IT IN, IT'S JUST SNOW, WE'RE JUST FALLING
WE WON'T ALWAYS FREE FALL BACK TO NOTHING

It seemed as if the gods, or fate, were speaking to him as of late. He was starting to recognize a recurring theme as she said, It's never too late. For someone who felt like he'd wasted years of his life and was now stuck, it was a necessary reminder that the only thing holding him back was himself. He hid the thought well as he tucked it into his subconscious, unwilling to return to brooding so soon, when such a bright light was in the room with him.

He waited readily for her response, cracking a smile as she picked through his remainders. "Yes! Exactly!" he thumped the table with his agreement, laughing. "See, you understand. In fact, I bet the liquor there is cheap. I might have been emptying my wallet for no reason." He supposed they'd want their clients inebriated quickly so that they'd spend their coin on the other features of the business. He pressed his drink back to his lips as she played with her hair. Whether because of the low light or because Iskra was dense about most subtleties, he did not catch onto her blush. As she recalled the features of the Hanged Man, Iskra wondered why the universe was so fond of irony. Naturally, she'd have a good impression of the one bar he wouldn't set foot in.

As she leaned forward, he instinctively did so as well, as if half expecting a secret whisper. "Goose?" Iskra asked her, a bit surprised as he glanced towards the dog still dozing easily by the tables. At his name, the dog flicked an ear towards them, his head lazily tilting to regard them with one eye as he lay flat. Most people did not pay much heed to his best friend, and he was surprised she was so acute. "Yeah, we go everywhere together. He's like my shadow, my brother." His reason for living, but he kept that to himself. "He's the best boy," Iskra admitted, and at that secret phrase, Goose jumped up, striding over to them. He set his head on the edge of the seat Iskra was on, and he gently scratched at the husky's ears. Goose gave a mighty yawn and moved onto Elizabeth's side once Iskra had stopped. He set his head near her, a silent bid for attention.

"So, what exactly is it you do for work, that you travel so?"

I'M JUST STARTING TO LEARN
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CHASING GHOSTS