[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/gD9rVru.png[/img][/center]
[color=AC5FFB]Time:[/color]Late Afternoon ~ 3pm
[color=AC5FFB]Location:[/color] River Kingdom, behind The Pretty Flower
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/1Z62x3Z.png[/img][/center]

[center][color=82ca9d]"Oi, oi! Please stop knocking! Sixteen times is SURELY enough, eh?! And don't ya know to use the front door?" [/color][/center]

The male voice's words could be heard over the chatter of the tavern from the inside, which raised in volume as it reached the air at the end of his words. The back wood door of the bar flew open and his eyes fixated down on Risa. He sounded quite annoyed but he was trying to conceal it out of politeness. Risa found herself meeting eyes with the bartender who let out a hushed shrill noise of panic upon seeing her. She had her purple cape wrapped around her and her hood over her head, but she knew it wasn't enough to conceal her identity for very long. 

He grabbed her wrist and hastily led her up the outdoor staircase to the second floor. Risa stumbled as he tossed her forward into the small apartment. She turned to watch as he shut the door behind them, locking it. The male fairy with his green, ripped-up pants and matching green wings provided Risa a sense of nostalgia that almost made her relax despite everything. She moved her hood off her head and awaited his attention.

He turned and threw his arms around her, hugging her tight, [color=82ca9d]"Young lovey, do ye even realize the amount of trouble you've gotten yourself into?! Oh my flowers!"[/color] He put his hand up around her head to pet it comfortingly. [color=82ca9d]"People have been talking about you night and day. Oh and coming right into the plaza with the kind of reputation you've crafted! Though I'm more than impressed ye managed to do it without getting caught."[/color]

Risa returned the hug and waited until it was over to address his words. It had been tricky. Following up the river to River Kingdom had been easy. Traveling between the two areas had been so commonplace to her. She and Kyran had bounced between them almost daily as kids and Helio had flown with her more times than she could count. After checking that Artemis wasn't in their meeting place yet, she had made her way straight to the plaza. Having to sneak around the back of the bar in the past to avoid getting seen drunk, she had also learned the back alleys quite well, so she had decided it was worth the risk to meet with Vereon. However, the stakes had been higher than ever. She knew if even one dark elf saw her, it would be the end for her. 

[color=AC5FFB]"You don't know the half of it."[/color]Risa sighed tiredly as he held her upper arms, looking her and down. He unhooked her cape and led her to a chair to sit down. She practically melted into it out of exhaustion, leaning her head back over the edge, [color=AC5FFB]"I don't think I've ever been happier to see you."[/color]

Vereon went to work fixing her a cup of tea, glancing over his shoulder at her. [color=82ca9d]"And I to see ya, little lady. Don't withhold not even a peep of the story. Did ye go to a ball in a dress that beautiful? I hoped you'd have been being less conspicuous."[/color] 

[color=AC5FFB]"I'll tell you everything, Vereon.. I just-..."[/color] Risa began to tell him, tiredly picking her head up to glance his way.

He frowned, cutting her off, [color=82ca9d]"Relax first, lovey. Don't get yaself ill."[/color] Vereon soon moved to crouch down by her chair and place the tea in her hands. 

She smiled faintly at him, grasping it tighter than usual. 

[color=82ca9d]"You've changed, rosebud."[/color] He said sadly, [color=82ca9d]"Usually that smile is so wide it can't fit your face... And I think this might be the first time I've seen you without-"[/color] Vereon stopped himself as his brain caught up and put together a few possibilities. [color=82ca9d]"If ye plan on getting drunk and puking on the bar [i]again[/i]..."[/color]He started teasingly, quickly trying to switch the tone of the conversation. 

Risa hid the sadness his words brought him and instead let herself giggle at his joke. [color=AC5FFB]"Oh no. No drinking for me."[/color] She then gestured towards her dress and asked, [color=AC5FFB]"Think you have any extra clothes for me if you could spare?"[/color]

[color=82ca9d]"I have several of the clothing I've had to wash for ye but you've never come to collect. I suppose today is good a day as any."[/color] The fairy hopped to his feet to fetch the clothing, calling to her as he moved into his closet.[color=82ca9d]"We'll have to do something different about those looks, anyone would spot ye a mile away with hair that reaches almost to ya bottom!"[/color]