"I think that's a fair trade off," he agrees softly and through the music and everything else around them, he feels a buzz of anticipation. This very thing that he'd imagined would never happen for him again is happening right here, right before his very eyes, and almost as if beyond his control. As if something led him right here without his having realized at all.

It's a rather incredible thought.

When the band is finished, the bar begins to empty out, although only for a little while. There's another act and people are going outside to have a cigarette or chat with their friends. Others are heading to the bar for another drink, but there's nothing there for them. Dan doesn't drink and the food here is rather terrible, so Marcus squeezes Dan's hand and leans in again.

"Would you like to head out?" he asks. "We can take a walk or..." Or he's not sure what.