Philip Lombard

After getting stabbed, Philip had thought for certain there might be a few consequences here and there. People asking the wrong questions, possibly even losing the job with Todd Chad that's been paying him so well. He'd wondered if the cops might not come calling eventually, but so far nothing at all has gone wrong for him. So far, instead of causing any problems, Philip has only found benefits.

He's been cared for, for one. Having people check in and make sure he's well is a strange thing, but he doesn't entirely hate it. Todd Chad's people -- the important people, the ones with the money who make the decisions -- seem to have taken his injury as a vow of loyalty, which is certainly isn't, but he'll let them think it is. They believe, at the moment, he can do no wrong, which Philip assumes will mean more interesting work in the future.

And now, to his sincere joy, he's come to see Sally in the rather magnificent place she's living, the place where he's attended a few particularly spectacular parties, and while he doesn't want her to fawn over him, he has to admit playing the invalid to a certain extent is absolutely his plan.

He'd suggested a night in, not because he doesn't love to make others jealous by showing her off, he'd assured her, but because some nights a man simply wants to have someone all to himself. When he arrives, he's carrying with him a particularly expensive bottle of wine, a bouquet of flowers, and a delicately beautiful green scarf in a box for Sally.

He'll tell her the story of what happened with a few variations on the truth and take whatever sympathy she's willing to bestow upon him.

It's been a night to unwind.

Philip avoids the bars he's gone to with others; Tintern with Ianto, Semele's with Julie, that shitty little pub where he'd gotten drunk with Fiona. Instead he'd found a place that hadn't protested when he'd demanded to purchase an entire bottle of whiskey. The one they'd offered him hadn't been quite full, but it's good enough, and Philip spends the night getting more and more drunk to the point where he's uncertain he'll be able to stand when he tries.

Rather, he feels this way until he sees Sally walk into the bar, and then his entire mood shifts. It isn't as thought he's been down by any means, but there are times when Philip feels as though parts of life are catching up with him and the urge to down enough alcohol to render himself incapable of speech becomes strong. Sally, though, is a sight that makes him glad he hasn't gotten quite that far this evening.

He hasn't seen her since that day in the park, hasn't sought her out, though there's been a part of him that would have very much liked to. There are certain situations, however, in which Philip thinks a little subtlety works better than anything else and Sally, though not subtle herself, had just seemed to call for it.

When she looks in his direction, Philip smiles very slightly and then nods to the place across from him, a silent invitation.