NIKI
True to his original plan, Niki does not look up at the sound of the door opening and the warmer-than-usual welcome from the greeter and surrounding patrons. But at the sound of laughter and the familiar purr of the butcher's voice, he finally risks a glance in the direction of the door, giving him an all too clear view of Astaroth parting ways with the Theocrat of the Hollowed Grounds - with a public kiss, no less.
Feeling his cheeks immediately heat up, any potential greeting dying on his tongue, Niki turns his attention right back down to his book, figuring that he will wait for the Ancient to approach him instead after all. And approach he does, after a few minutes to get accustomed, giving the necromancer time to reassemble his wits and to order a new cup of coffee.
"You do not need to apologise," he says with a polite smile up towards Asta, marking his page and setting the book aside on the table as the other man sits himself down. "I hope you enjoyed your time in Torchline. Is it less muddy out there than here?" He imagines - and hopes - so.
Caught by the sight of Asta's grinning shadow for a second, and finding himself smiling a little more brightly in return, he gives his coffee a stir and shakes his head to the butcher. "Not very long, no. I was told you would be returning today - I only arrived this morning myself. Apologies for not sending word ahead; I was not sure where to direct the raven."
Feeling his cheeks immediately heat up, any potential greeting dying on his tongue, Niki turns his attention right back down to his book, figuring that he will wait for the Ancient to approach him instead after all. And approach he does, after a few minutes to get accustomed, giving the necromancer time to reassemble his wits and to order a new cup of coffee.
"You do not need to apologise," he says with a polite smile up towards Asta, marking his page and setting the book aside on the table as the other man sits himself down. "I hope you enjoyed your time in Torchline. Is it less muddy out there than here?" He imagines - and hopes - so.
Caught by the sight of Asta's grinning shadow for a second, and finding himself smiling a little more brightly in return, he gives his coffee a stir and shakes his head to the butcher. "Not very long, no. I was told you would be returning today - I only arrived this morning myself. Apologies for not sending word ahead; I was not sure where to direct the raven."
my body's on the line now, I can't fight this time now
I can feel the light shine on my face
I can feel the light shine on my face
