Hani's interest in his store made Ethirdir grin, though he tempered that smile with the knowledge that she was thief, after all, and her interest might be born from more than curiosity. Perhaps unlikely, since stealing from a fence was a good way of getting blacklisted, but he reminded himself to make sure all loose valuables were accounted for before and after her visit. He had yet to properly get to know Hani, this being his first time meeting her and all, and for all of her good work he didn't yet know if she had any inclinations he would need to keep an eye out for.<br/><br/>And he certainly hoped to correct that, because the more he gazed upon her, the more he felt compelled to tempt her, regardless of her relationship status with rival Doryn. From the snippets of conversation between the bar wench and the Captain he heard, the two of them were close but weren't official in any capacity, likely getting by on half-serious flirtations and ideas that neither took the first step to implement. It was like a cat-and-mouse game in which both participants were the cat and the mouse simultaneously. All of this was speculation, of course, but Ethirdir could see the look in Doryn's eyes as Hani willingly gave some of her attention to the handsome Elf merchant sending subtle flirtations her way. Ethirdir oddly felt sympathetic to the Captain's plight, but not enough to back away - the Elf preferred being a cat himself, which meant Hani was going to play the role of his mouse - whether that mouse willingly leapt into the cat's awaiting jaws or chose to play with the cat before being caught would be up to her.<br/><br/>"If you have something interesting of note, then by all means, bring it to one of my shops and let either me or my associates take a look at it for you. We always give fair offers for goods in trade, especially anything that is rare and valuable. Of course, if you wish for me to make the appraisals personally, you need only ask and I will come to assist you." A smile formed on his lips, and he easily could've made his flirtation a little more blatant, but left it there for the time being. Being too direct too soon was rarely a good idea in his experience, at least with most women. Ethirdir didn't suspect Hani to be one of the exceptions.<br/><br/>"Your taste buds serve you well," the Elf replied in response to Hani's answer regarding the wine. "It is indeed a wine made from Gresham Orchards on the Eastern Border. They've only been in business for...fifteen years now, and this is one of their older vintages...eight...no, nine years. So far they coast on reputation, as I agree, their bouquet is nowhere near as marvelous as Elvish Krinberry wine. They only made a handful of barrels every year, which artificially makes them scarce, hence their high prices. Sooner or later, they will need to improve their process, or they won't be able to justify the high price for much longer. Still, they do in a pinch, far better than ordinary wine, I can tell you." He then addressed Doryn mostly, his eyes filled with dream-like wonder as he spoke. Oh, but Krinberry wine...one sip of that and all other wines will taste as ash upon your tongue for weeks, sometimes months. To drink that divine nectar is to taste the drink of the gods, only to realize all other drink is that of the underworld. A double-edged sword, but one worthy of receiving the scar from. To obtain it is exceedingly difficult and expensive, but should I happen to obtain a bottle, you are welcome to share it with me and take the journey to the Heavens and Hells together."<br/><br/>Ethirdir took another sip of the Gresham Orchards wine before his Elvish ears were piqued by a new sound rising above the cacophony of the dining hall. He turned and looked to see that a group of musicians with musical instruments were starting a song, and people were beginning to shuffle their way from their booths onto the large space designated as a dance floor. An idea formed in the Elf's mind, and he turned back to Hani, quickly noting her state of dress. Yes, it seemed very comfortable to move around in...one could almost say she had intentionally dressed like that so she could do so. If so, then perhaps it was time he tried to impress her with something outside of his Elvish accent and his subtle flirtations.<br/><br/>"It appears we have been graced with some music this evening," he said to his two companions before focusing on Hani. "I wasn't expecting to do so when coming here, but I am well-practiced in several dances that suit this kind of music well." He held out a hand towards her. "Perhaps you are interested in joining me on the dance floor for a number? I don't know if I'm as good a dancer as you look to be, but I'd love the opportunity to find out."