He directed a look at the tome that had burdened her "So, what IS in that monster book you have there? It doesn't look like the sort of one with glowy magic beasts hidden in it."
He shifted his booted feet around atop the edge of the table. "Yes, the same lass, indeed. To be honest, we had a little business there aside from your contest - the hostess had been ordered to receive one of our Valentione's seasonal messages, and I had just enough juice left in me to play the accompaniment on the old faithful, here." He patted the exquisitely-carved musical instrument in his lap. "So, had you been in the vicinity, you'd have gotten your wish already. But..."
He took a quick sip, and tilted back the drinking vessel, draining it finally dry.
"... if you think that would be a crowd-pleaser, love, then who am I to turn down that smile and that gil to do what I'd likely be doing anyway?"
He thought he heard a few clanks coming from the bar area, but he dismissed them.
He shifted his booted feet around atop the edge of the table. "Yes, the same lass, indeed. To be honest, we had a little business there aside from your contest - the hostess had been ordered to receive one of our Valentione's seasonal messages, and I had just enough juice left in me to play the accompaniment on the old faithful, here." He patted the exquisitely-carved musical instrument in his lap. "So, had you been in the vicinity, you'd have gotten your wish already. But..."
He took a quick sip, and tilted back the drinking vessel, draining it finally dry.
"... if you think that would be a crowd-pleaser, love, then who am I to turn down that smile and that gil to do what I'd likely be doing anyway?"
He thought he heard a few clanks coming from the bar area, but he dismissed them.
"But in the laugh there was another voice. A clearer laugh, an ironic laugh. A laugh which laughs because it chooses not to weep."
![[Image: 3610850.jpg]](http://assets-cloud.enjin.com/users/1266293/pics/original/3610850.jpg)
