The ramen reached out and took Dawn's money with a grunt. It didn't look like he cared much about Dawn's brief reaction when she recognized his species. He was probably used to worse. He started to prepare her drink as soon as she paid, but raised the facial muscles where his brows used to be inquisitively at the woman's question.<i>"It's very important?"</i>He croaked with a throat full of grit. It sounded mocking but it could just as well be curiosity in his tone. Ramen weren't the best at subtle body language.<br/><br/>Hands worked magic, and Dawn's drink was slowly heated up while the ramen answered her.<i>"First elf, eh? Not de usual myth that draws treasure and glory seekers 'ere. Last to come asking after was some historian sort that gave up when 'e couldn't get a guide to hold his hand into the wood. Usually you outsiders come here because of de wood's treasures and dem pixxies."</i>Gort carefully added cocoa to Dawn hot milk before continuing.<i>"You want Johnson, used to be an outsider like you. He settled but 'e's still callin' 'er a demon. Ran into 'er when the fog last awoke. Must'a pissed 'er right off somehow...."</i>There was an odd affection in the ramen's voice when he talked about this Johnson fellow. Gort somehow managed to imbue a sense of tenderness for the man in his words.<br/><br/><i>"He's sitting over there."</i>Gort pointed out a table near the fire. A solitary figure sat seated at it, obscured completely by a heavy cloak and hunched over their drink. The ramen handed Dawn her drink.<i> "You said it was important, right sistah? A'ight... tell Johnson ah want him to tell everything. That'll get 'im talking."</i>The ramen smiled again, faintly but very tenderly.<i>"To be young again... the matters of heart are ahways de <b>most </b>important, ain't they?"</i>Gort made no effort to explain his words, returning to his work of cleaning glasses to indicate their conversation was over and that Dawn should move on.<br/><br/>By the fire, the pointy-eared girl had moved on to grapple with a broom taller than her, excitedly pushing it over the ground with enough force and speed that her dress lifted high enough to let her tail wave behind her.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>