Brice
Finley's eyes darted from Ares to Valio and back again. Ares was, of course, a subject of interest, and his arrival startled them from their (somewhat) mope. Their face turned a few shades of pink. Rarely did anyone sit so close to them. He did have very nice hair- Ahem.

"No, no, it's alright. I shouldn't have said anything. I tend to just- I get carried away, I suppose. It's good to reel myself back in sometimes, you know. I apologize, again."

They took another moment to sip their hot chocolate again. 

"The drink is very good by the way," They said, turning their gaze back to Valio, something sheepish in their shrug. "I'm sure we're not on the best footing, but I do appreciate it nonetheless." 
A hair tie sits lone on one wrist. Finley took it and started winding up their blond hair in a short little sprig on the back of their head. 

"Owen, isn't it? You were the one who liked the same music as me." Finley let an amused smile start to come to life across their face. "You know, there is a drumset around here somewhere - I haven't played in a few weeks, but it can't be that hard to revisit it. If you want, we could figure out a cover or two. I used to do them a lot."

Mel watched with poorly-disguised glee as Finley seemed to be shocked out of their mopey mood by the arrival of a cute boy. Her genius ploy had worked. She was truly without equal. A genius! Mel didn't know any other words for genius. Genius genius genius. Was genius even a word? Geeeeenius. Heheheheh.

As Mel rotated the proverbial cow in her mind, the conversation was continuing as smoothly as it ever had, seemingly and annoyingly unfazed by her genius. Genius genius genius. She broke out of her rut and turned her focus to the actual conversation.

*...Shouldn't have said anything. I tend to just - I get carried away...*

Now, Mel wouldn't stand for that. That was her friend saying that! And what's more, they were wrong! "No, it was important, Finny!" She insisted, huffing and pouting like she'd just been insulted, "It's good that you said it! Don't beat yourself up like that!" She spilled a bit of her hot chocolate on the floor, but she didn't seem to mind.

The huffy mood didn't last long, though; it dissipated as soon as it had appeared, in favor of idly nodding along to the conversation and sipping her drink. It *Was* Good. Sweet. She liked sweet. As the conversation drifted off to music, she briefly considered mentioning her own experience, but... No. She didn't actually like playing. Maybe she would've, under different circumstances, but she had been forced into it. The joy had all been sucked out already. She kept quiet.
Alice
The strange little interaction wasn't lost on him, but he'd be lying if he said he knew what exactly it *Was*. Mél seemed to, but tracing her movements didn't really help any, so he just sipped his hot chocolate some more and drifted away from whatever string of cues he had failed to register. Until-

"Yes! And, *YES!!*" 
Owen's grogginess melted off of his perpetually slouched frame, a proper smile breaking out across his face. "It's been forever since I played with anyone, but as for practicing, well, my calluses speak for themselves," He bubbled, slapping the back of his hand down on the table. His fingertips were indeed built up to hell and back, products of many nights and noise complaints of sweet, sweet *Noise*. 

Head catching up to him (was that a strange gesture? It made sense, didn't it?), he pulled his hand back and went to grab more cocoa. No *Way* He was letting Ares chug all of it. Screw him. *Slurp*. "I can do vocals too, if needed," He dared, before he could tell himself not to. *Shush, brain, it's totally related to the conversation.* "Don't know how well my death growl is coming along, but I can make a nice racket otherwise."
Kyle
Ares rolled his eyes as he let his head fall back. Looking at the kitchen upside down for a second, the chair pushed hard into the muscle of his back. He let a low grumble reverberate in his chest. Annoyance creeping its way through his thoughts and to the forefront of his brain. The conversation seemed to carry on, and Fin had ignored his question. Ares figured they just wanted to change the subject, no matter. The hot chocolate in his mug was empty now, and he found himself only existing in the kitchen for the beverage at this point. 

Letting himself rest in this position for a few moments, a new conversation topic piqued his interest. Underneath a furrowed brow, his intrigued gaze rose and fell on Owen and Finley as they talked about music. Ares was drawn to music himself, the dull pain throbbing through his finger tips was more than enough proof of his devotion. His head returned to its upright position, Ares stared at Owen's callouses. The rough patches on the other boys hands rivalled his own, and looked like Owen was equally determined to master his instrument.

"Sick callouses." His voice felt slightly disingenuous, any excitement was a stretch. "I also play guitar, electric specifically." 

Ares pulled his hand out of the loop of his mug, and held up his palm. Showing off the dull wounds decorating his fingers, red and fresh. He held his hand up for a second, before putting it back down on the counter. "Hurts like a bitch."

Looking down into his almost empty mug, he saw Owen also refilling his. Ares blinked, and surveyed whether this asshole was challenging him or not. Ares always safely assumes *Yes* And got up to get another cup, directly after Owen had sat back down. Ares knew he had two whole cups on Owen, securing him safely in the lead. The chocolatey beverage was delicious, and Ares would drink as much as he could. He poured more into his cup, and returned to his chair next to Finley. Taking a quick sip before sitting down.
Kenya
Valio Stared at her cup. She wasn't included into the conversation other than them saying they enjoyed the beverage. Valio rolled her shoulders, the muscles flexing and bulging slightly before relaxing. She let out a heavy breath through her nose before settling more into the cabinets behind her. 

Her hands folded over her chest as she noticed a now gone cup by the door. Raizel slinking around again, just as she said. She turns back to the group surveying them silently. Ares watching Owen go get a third refill with a slightly furrowed brow, just before Ares did the same. Owen most likely side eyed Ares but them being competitive over a beverage wasn't her business.

Her fingers worried themselves with the leather fabric of her gloves once more. She wouldn't know it was happening if she didn't acknowledge that her fingers were moving. She couldn't feel the fabric, her hands too numb and torn from years of her own faults. Her chest rose and fell as she continues to wear the fabric, she doesn't mean to but she's getting it's an idle habit at this point. 

They're quite the rambunctious group. All having their own ideas that seem like they're very interesting if there wasn't a burning ringing in her ears. She kept silent plugging her left ear with her pinky before her arm going back to it's previous position. 

Instruments? They seem to have well taste. That's nice to know.