[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=#228b22]“I can’t say I am a son of Dionysus, but I can say that Demeter is my mother,”[/color][color=#ffffff] Forest said, placing his hands on his hips. Elias’s mouth twitched, instantly recognizing the setup for playful banter. The guy wore his connection to the earth like a comfortable cloak, making the mythological reference feel oddly natural.[/color]

[color=#d4af37]“And here I thought you were just born with a natural talent for keeping people drunk and happy,” [/color][color=#ffffff]he replied, giving the bottle in his hand a small tilt. [/color][color=#d4af37]“Unfortunately for me, it takes more than a couple of these to do the job. Perks of being a son of Zeus, I guess. Great when you’re avoiding bad decisions, less great when you’re trying to make a few.” [/color]

[color=#ffffff]Elias tipped his head, mulling the name of Forest’s mother, Demeter. The goddess of… farming? Harvest? Something about wheat, he was pretty sure. His mind conjured a vague mental image of golden fields and Thanksgiving decorations, but that was about the extent of his knowledge of Greek mythology.  If there’d been more to it, he’d clearly favoured something of greater interest. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]A curl of cigarette smoke cut through his thoughts. Off to his right, a guy flicked a lighter and offered the pack his way. Elias considered it for half a second, but the memory of Forest’s tight expression during the rhinestone-girl circus earlier pulled him back. Instead, he lifted a hand in polite refusal.[/color]

[color=#d4af37]“Appreciate it, but I prefer… greener pastures,” [/color][color=#ffffff]he said, a hint of a smirk pulling at his mouth. [/color][color=#d4af37]“Something that takes you a little higher than a couple drags will.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Forest, seemingly oblivious to the cigarette exchange, picked up the conversation topic once more. [/color][color=#228b22]“I like to work my magic into my garden, and the bees seem to have taken a liking to the flowers I created.  As they say, one thing led to another,” [/color][color=#ffffff]He said, pausing briefly before adding, [/color][color=#228b22]“I am dangerously handy with honey and fruits, though I will give you that.” [/color]

[color=#ffffff]Elias blinked, the mental image shifting from fields of wheat to something out of a nature documentary—flowers glowing faintly, bees buzzing in slow motion, some kind of wholesome Disney montage playing in the background. It was almost absurdly idyllic, especially compared to his own track record with plants. The last time he’d tried to grow something, it had been a high school science project involving a sunflower seed, a paper cup coffin, and what he assumed was a normal amount of sunlight. The end result had been a crispy, leafless stalk that looked like it had given up on life halfway through sprouting.[/color]

[color=#d4af37]“One thing led to another,”[/color][color=#ffffff] Elias echoed, the corner of his mouth tugging upward. [/color][color=#d4af37]“Yeah, I’ve been there a few times myself. Different context, same general… escalation.”[/color][color=#ffffff] He gave Forest a brief, knowing glance over the rim of his glass before taking that slow final sip, letting the implication hang just long enough to be understood before answering the other’s question. [/color]

[color=#d4af37]“Pretty sure the only landmarks I’ve hit so far are the buffet table, a friend’s cabin, and your handiwork.” [/color][color=#ffffff]He tipped his head toward Forest, eyes glinting. [/color][color=#d4af37]“So, if you’re looking for a tour guide, the only thing I can promise is equal parts aimless wandering and bad commentary. Worst case, we get lost. Best case, we find something worth coming back to.”[/color]

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[hr]Location: Bar
Interactions: Forest([@NoriWasHere])
Mentions: Blair, Nate (rejected the cig)