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The stranger extended his hand and pulled her effortlessly to her feet. "I apologize for my clumsiness. It is rare for a man such as I to be in close proximity to a woman as stunningly attractive as yourself, and now I fear that this violent encounter will cause you to look upon me not, as I am accustomed, with pity, but with fear and disgust. Pray, tell me that I am wrong?"

His large gnarled hand still encompassed hers in a warm, strong grasp. She gazed blankly at him, trying to parse his words into something resembling normal speech. "Uh..." she said, wittily.

The man released her hand and straightened to his full height of not-quite 4 and a half feet. "Pardon the cliché," he said, "but allow me to introduce myself. My name is Prometheus Stanislaw Miholovich York, graduate of the Acadian Shakespearean Project, two-time grammy award winner for my work on Hiddenburg - The Musical!, Juno nominee for my role in Clan of the Hideous Trolls, and professional voice coach (although I hate that term) for dozens of lesser actors and actresses." He bowed before her, using a thick black cane to keep from falling to the floor. He paused. No response seemed forthcoming, so he continued. "I am currently working with an advertising agency in town, doing voice acting for several advertisements, but I hope to soon start working with the CBC in their production of the New Voices radio dramas. Perhaps You've heard of it? Miss...."

"What? Oh! Adelaide. Just... Adelaide. What was your name again?"

He smiled, and winked. "You may call me York." With the tip of his cane he reached out to the box that Adelaide had dropped on the floor, and pulled it towards him. "Ah, Medusa's! An excellent proprietor for the follically challenged. I know several artists in the business who swear by their temporary coifures, although they would never admit to it in public." He pulled the box close to Adelaide's feet and rested his hands on the pommel of his cane. "And are you an artist, Miss Adelaide?"

Adelaide smiled and raised an eyebrow at the talkative dwarf. "Some men have called me that," she said, "but they were just trying to flatter me. I do contract work as a hostess. More of a glorified waitress, but I get to meet a lot of very interesting people."

"Mostly men who become smitten by your charms, no doubt," York rumbled. "And is there a mister Adelaide for me to hurl to the ground with an hastily opened door?"

"An hastily?" thought Adelaide. She tried a giggle. "Not at the moment, but the night is still young," she said. She was way off her game, unsettled by the presence of York. The little man seemed to fill the room. She looked at her watch, remembered that she purposefully didn't take it with her, then blurted out "actually, I'm on my way to a job now, and I really have to get going. Maybe I'll see you later?"

"Most definitely, Miss Adelaide." He watched her as she walked out through the front door, noticing how effectively she swayed her hips. "Most definitely."