That's better than he deserves. He ought to tell her she shouldn't, that he's a black hole that just sucks everyone in until there's nothing left. How often has his life proved that to be the case?

But he's selfish, too, and he'll enjoy the company.

"So what is it you do here?" he asks. "In Darrow, not in the bar. Figure most everyone is in the bar for the same reason." Maybe not everyone. But for most people, it's a place to get a drink.