Quite reluctantly, Demetrius took Iago’s hand, giving it two firm shakes before letting go. From what he’d seen so far, this new acquaintance of his seemed… [i]interesting[/i], to say the least. That sparkling crystal chalice? Bringing your own wine to a festival? Things like that took a special kind of old-money affectation, though he couldn’t say he blamed the fellow. All they seemed to serve in Stratford were ciders and ales -- the absolute, worst swill, as far as he was concerned.

“Demetrius Chiklis. It’s nice to meet you,” he returned in as sincere a tone he could muster, his lips arranging themselves into a smile that lifted lifelessly, as if by hooks. A bland, conventional reply, because he couldn’t be bothered to come up with anything better. Was he supposed to care about At Iago’s little comment, Demetrius’s bespectacled, blue eyes were drawn over the seething crowd before them. There were far too many people here, for his tastes, and it seemed as if his companion felt the same. Still, a shared distaste for crowds wasn’t nearly enough for him to warm to Iago. Unlike some people, he doesn’t fall over himself trying to befriend everyone he meets.

Before he could follow that train of thought any further, however, Demetrius spotted a familiar face in the crowd. And, much to his chagrin, he seemed to be headed their way. Constable Macbeth was one of the last people he wanted to see, right now. Granted, he hasn’t exactly been having the best time at the festival, anyway, but things could always get worse. [i]Especially[/i] when it came to the constable, who had a talent for fucking things up. Both literally, and figuratively.

In the scarce amount of time it took for Macbeth to make his way over, Demetrius was unable to plot out an escape route. Worst of all, it now appeared as if were to be engaged in a most dreadful activity -- [i]small talk[/i]. But until he could properly excuse himself from this little gathering, Demetrius had no other choice other than play along.

“It’s… great,” Demetrius replied, perhaps a little less genuinely than he’d intended. “But the real show’s yet to begin.”