He might have attempted to say something in defense of neat alcohol - heaven forbid he mention that he also took his alcohol straight, lest she get other ideas he was certain he didn't want to contemplate, or ask questions that he had no desire to go into detail on - but Flora continued with her feigned innocence and caught the mermanta off guard, all clever commentary washed away in the laughter that followed.
He regained control of himself and reached up to flick a little water from the corner of his eye, his grin lingering. "Indeed. A pity it was made anonymously. I would like to thank whoever made it." Emerald eyes sparkled as he glanced over to his friend, meeting her innocence with his own.
The mirth faded and it was Flora who brought up a more serious topic, but one worth the mermanta's full consideration. He didn't mind the implication of his age; someone had once said something about mileage which applied to him in a better way than most. Her concerns for the future, however, drew a slow nod from the Tidebreaker as his smile faded to thoughtfulness. "Mmn. Dygra's intentions are a mystery," he said at last, slowly, as if he tested each word before releasing it. "But the Ancients do not seem to be more dangerous than human or Merfolk who cause trouble." There were always those who craved chaos and violence, regardless of species. But that hadn't been her question, and he took a final sip of his mimosa, draining the glass before setting it beside him.
"If we are lucky, we will have a few more years of peace. The current rulers of the lands are sensible. And no one profits from war. But rulers can change. And no one can predict the gods." Whether Rae, Dygra, or something else that had fallen out of their histories in the generations since the first great War.
"Have you learned much about the Ancients?" He turned his head to look at her curiously, wondering if the Hanged Man's owner had perhaps gleaned some useful gossip from her customers. "There was one at the opening night party..." All fanged grin and boldness, as he recalled.
He regained control of himself and reached up to flick a little water from the corner of his eye, his grin lingering. "Indeed. A pity it was made anonymously. I would like to thank whoever made it." Emerald eyes sparkled as he glanced over to his friend, meeting her innocence with his own.
The mirth faded and it was Flora who brought up a more serious topic, but one worth the mermanta's full consideration. He didn't mind the implication of his age; someone had once said something about mileage which applied to him in a better way than most. Her concerns for the future, however, drew a slow nod from the Tidebreaker as his smile faded to thoughtfulness. "Mmn. Dygra's intentions are a mystery," he said at last, slowly, as if he tested each word before releasing it. "But the Ancients do not seem to be more dangerous than human or Merfolk who cause trouble." There were always those who craved chaos and violence, regardless of species. But that hadn't been her question, and he took a final sip of his mimosa, draining the glass before setting it beside him.
"If we are lucky, we will have a few more years of peace. The current rulers of the lands are sensible. And no one profits from war. But rulers can change. And no one can predict the gods." Whether Rae, Dygra, or something else that had fallen out of their histories in the generations since the first great War.
"Have you learned much about the Ancients?" He turned his head to look at her curiously, wondering if the Hanged Man's owner had perhaps gleaned some useful gossip from her customers. "There was one at the opening night party..." All fanged grin and boldness, as he recalled.
