[indent][indent]Elyde caught a flicker of too-fast movement from the corner of her eye—a projectile?—and was out of her seat and taking a ready stance within a breath of time. Fortunately, this meant that the thin spray of ale from the flying tankard missed her; it instead sprayed foamy droplets across her recently vacated seat. Less fortunately, her supper companion was not as fast as she. He had barely closed his eyes and lifted his arms when the tankard [i]crashed[/i] into their table. Though the tankard no longer flew, its contents continued the forward momentum in a small wave that soaked the poor man's face, chest, and lap. He belatedly shouted his surprise. The crash and subsequent cry of alarm had everyone nearby going quiet and looking to see what had happened. A few people laughed, and even Elyde, annoyed though she was at the interruption, had to hide a small smile behind her hand. The man looked like a drenched cat, and as the shock wore off he began to look about as happy as one, too. His eyes locked onto the source of the spill and narrowed. The boy—no, a young man—was busily righting his chair, having apparently fallen from it, but looked up and saw the damage his mishap had caused. Apparently, all he could manage in response was a weak, "Sorry?" More chuckles came from those listening nearby, but the sodden Hunter's lips tightened into an angry line. Before he could let his temper speak for him, Elyde wordlessly fished her handkerchief from a pocket and held it out, one eyebrow raised. The man accepted it with a sigh and wiped his face and hands clean. A barmaid hurried forth with more cloths to clean up the mess. Satisfied that she'd prevented a potential brawl, Elyde turned on the young man. She rested her hands on her hips and allowed a stern expression to cross her features. "Now, then." She spoke firmly, but without heat. "Have you any experience laundering clothes, or else coin to pay a laundress to get these stains out? Rolf here is leaving town in the morning, and neither of us have the time or inclination to clean up your mess." It was a fair and efficient solution, as she knew Rolf would let not this go with a mere word of apology. Indeed, she saw from her peripheral vision that Rolf nodded at her decision, the stiffness of his mouth and shoulders relaxing somewhat. Seeing that further entertainment was unlikely, the other patrons began returning to their own meals and conversation. Only now did Elyde give the young man her full attention, and noticed with some surprise his pointed ears and angular features. The only indication of her surprise was a slow blink. A half-elf...interesting. Weren't elves supposed to be graceful?[/indent][/indent]