Leaning back, he again balanced his glass on his knee. The quiet around them returned, but rather than the despondent quality from before, this one felt... companionable. He found himself enjoying her nearness, even without her voice or the grace and beauty of her movements. It was a pleasant thing to find a soul willing to share in silence without pressure or expectation.
And so, Erik remained quiet. Every so often, he lifted his glass until it was empty. And this time, rather than filling it again, he rose. Carefully, so as not to waver, he walked back to the discrete bar and set the mostly-gone bottle back in place.