[img]https://i.imgur.com/roaeg9T.jpeg[/img]
[right][img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/right][right][sup][color=#d4af37][b]#d4af37[/b][/color][color=2e2c2c]...[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]...[/color][url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/9d/6c/dd/9d6cddf90421ceb4a4114345d38541ee.jpg][color=9b9b9b][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url][/sup][/right]

[indent][indent] [color=#ffffff]The man managed a strained smile that didn't reach his eyes, holding Elias's gaze a fraction too long before finally responding to the earlier compliment about the mead. [/color]

[color=#228b22]“Thank,” [/color][color=#ffffff]he stammered out initially, visibly fighting down what looked like a wave of queasiness.[/color][color=#228b22]“Thank you very much?”[/color][color=#ffffff]  The upward inflection made the second attempt sound like a genuine question, prompting a short chuckle from Elias this time.[/color]

[color=#d4af37]“Pretty sure [/color][color=#d4af37]I[/color][color=#d4af37] was the one thanking [/color][i][color=#d4af37]you[/color][/i][color=#d4af37],[/color][color=#d4af37]” [/color][color=#ffffff]Elias clarified, his amusement growing as he now fully registered the other’s ashen complexion.[/color][color=#d4af37]“You also look like you’ve seen a ghost.” [/color][color=#ffffff]A wry smile touched his lips after he said this, but it faded slightly as his sharp eyes cataloged the greenish tint around the man's mouth and the way his gaze kept darting nervously, refusing to settle anywhere near the bar counter's surface.[/color]

[i][color=#ffffff]Oh. Right.[/color][/i][color=#ffffff] The memory of the rhinestone girl's very public, very enthusiastic anatomy demonstration slammed back into focus. Elias had mentally shelved it seconds after looking away, but clearly, the mead maker hadn’t been so lucky. He tilted the mead bottle in his direction with a tiny, acknowledging gesture. [/color]

[color=#d4af37]“Mead helps,” [/color][color=#ffffff]he offered pragmatically. [/color][color=#d4af37]“So does staring directly at anything that isn’t a thigh.” [/color][color=#ffffff]He studied the man’s still-pale face, a hint of rough sympathy breaking through his usual sardonic exterior.[/color][color=#d4af37] “You good, though? Need air, water…. maybe a priest?” [/color]

[color=#ffffff]Before he could formulate an answer, however, his attention appeared to snap to the two women he’d been speaking with previously. Elias watched, mildly intrigued, as the other’s eyes darted rapidly between them, his expression shifting from distress to palpable relief. [/color][i][color=#d4af37]What was that about? [/color][/i][color=#ffffff]he wondered, unable to [/color][color=#ffffff]decipher the silent communication while noting the tension visibly drain from the brewer’s shoulders.[/color]

[color=#228b22]“You two ladies enjoy your night, you hear?”[/color][color=#ffffff] the man called out, his voice regaining its earlier warmth. He punctuated the farewell with a two-fingered salute tapped against his forehead, a gesture so unexpectedly folksy that Elias snorted softly in surprise. Then, the man turned back, extending a hand towards Elias. Elias met it with a quick, firm shake, appreciating the straightforwardness.[/color]

[color=#228b22]“Well, if I never saw a sight like that again, it’ll still be too soon.  You been here long?  I’m Forest, by the way. Nice to meet you.”[/color]

[color=#d4af37]“Yeah, same,”[/color][color=#ffffff] Elias agreed readily, his mouth quirking in shared distaste. [/color][color=#d4af37]“If I never see [/color][color=#d4af37][i]that[/i][/color][color=#d4af37] again, we're square.” [/color][color=#ffffff]He considered the timeline. [/color][color=#d4af37]“Haven't been here long. Almost an hour tops.”[/color][color=#ffffff] Though time felt distorted – between raiding the buffet with single-minded intensity and then spectacularly fumbling things with Anissa, it could have been minutes or hours. He forcefully shoved the unwelcome thought of Anissa aside; introducing himself was safe ground. [/color]

[color=#d4af37]“Elias.”[/color][color=#ffffff] He lifted his nearly empty glass containing the last of his blueberry mead, a new question forming, laced with sincere appreciation and his characteristic dry tone. [/color][color=#d4af37]“And I'm guessing you brewed this yourself, Forest?”[/color][color=#ffffff] He paused, tilting his head slightly. [/color][color=#d4af37]“Are you a son of Dionysus, or just dangerously handy with honey?”[/color]

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[hr]Location: Bar
Interactions: Forest([@NoriWasHere])
Mentions: Blair, Ace, Anissa, Roxxy, Tess