Even after Meerika left his field of vision, his retainer heading off to follow his instructions, Doryn was still vaguely proud of himself. He'd not really had any especial goals in mind-tonight, when he came to visit this his favorite inn for a bit of freetime, yet somehow he'd ended up in the Dew Drop on the same night as his sometimes romantic-rival. Truthfully, what good fortune! Eyes twinkling, a smile etched rather prominently on his face as he leaned back a bit in his chair, the Knight-Captain only found his train of thought slipping when he spotted<em>her</em>coming up the stairs...<br/><br/>...it was a sight that nearly took his breath away, distracted as he'd been, having practically forgotten that she would almost certainly come out to greet him after she learned that he'd come. Really, he'd have expected her to have already said hello by now, supposing that she must have taken the time to head up to her rooms and change into something a bit more fetching. While he'd loudly protest that such efforts weren't necessary, that Hani<em>always</em>looks amazing, one glance was all that it took for him to admit to himself that the wait had been more than worth it. She was, by a significant margin, one of the most fetching women that he'd ever met and even more enticing in so many other ways. It was everything from the way her long wavy brown hair fell down around her, so perfectly framing her soft face, to the gentle-flattery that was the way her tightly-laced corset showed off her bust in combination with the little white blouse that she'd slipped into. Even the way she moved was mildly intoxicating.<br/><br/>She had that calm, in-control air to her as she came over to his table, an attitude that had never failed to drive him mad, a subtle smirk on her face as she looked at him...<br/>...everything about her approach saw him leaning forward a bit in his chair, feet on the ground, giving the beautiful young woman his full and undivided attention.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><em>"Can't stay away from me, hmmm? You know the whole town is gossiping about all your conquests. It is fun to spread the gossip. Tell me, who are you after tonight? Some scoundrel who is trying to incite the Merchant's Guild to boycott the Elven Market?"</em> The teasing little minx moving around the table until she was behind him, leaning down to whisper her final words in his ear. <em>"Or maybe you are looking to entice Mercedes into your bed?"</em></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>The thought of him being here to try to bed Mercedes,-- as if that would take more than a word,-- was vaguely amusing to him. Even so, his first response was a vague sigh of satisfaction as he felt the girl's smooth hands find his shoulders and give him a bit of a massage.<br/><br/><em>Oh, that was good...</em><br/><br/>"The Dew Drop only has one barmaid that I'd consider taking into my bed, and sadly, that barmaid is you," he says, chuckling softly. "Though if you keep rubbing my shoulders like that I might just be forced to reconsider, my dear,--"<br/><br/>It was about this time, of course, that he remembered his invitation to the Elf.<br/><br/>An action that, rather suddenly, he wished he'd not made.<br/><br/><em>Especially</em>if Hani was going to be rubbing his shoulders when the Elf got here.<br/><br/>"--but no, I'm not here for any especial purpose. I had a long and tedious evening with Lady Elena Rockwell, my errant little virgin, and I found myself in need of a drink. Most likely many many drinks," he says, a bit of a frown coming to his face for reasons that had nothing to do with his evening with the woman who was very much at the favored in terms of him eventually marrying. Not that he loved Elena, despite the many many times that he'd told her so before she'd finally given herself to him, no, most suspected that he'd marry the former-Maiden because of the circumstances under which her engagement had come to an end and the widely known fact that he'd taken her maidenhead. "Though, I did run into... I'm not sure if I'd say a friend.. ah, I do believe that's the distinguished gentleman right now."<br/><br/>It wasn't, in any fashion, a surprise for the Knight-Captain to find Meerika and Lord Ethirdir Talion heading up the stairs toward his little table. In other circumstances, indeed, Doryn probably would have gotten up but despite the appearance of the Elf... Hani continued to rub at his shoulders.. which, at the very least was a good sign? Of what, exactly, Doryn wasn't sure.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"I expected to find you here all alone, my dear Knight-Captain," the Elf said with a grin that more than captured Doryn's attention, "but Meerika didn't tell me you were in the company of such a beautiful young lady." The elves green eyes turned towards the woman, flashing a smile in her direction. "It is an honor to meet you, my dear. I am Ethirdir Talion, Merchant Lord. It would honor me if I could know your name as well." Ethirdir spoke with a very noticeable Elvish accent, which part of him hoped Hani wouldn't especially react to. Really, Doryn had seen entirely too many young noblewoman all but swoon at just a few words from even the most boorish elf... and this Elf was anything but a bore.<br/><br/>"Perhaps you would like to join us?" the Elf asked her as he sat down at the table next to the Knight-Captain; which was somewhat rude. It should be him to offer the invitation, if one was offered, and the Elf had no especial way to know that he'd not <em>already</em> extended such an invitation. Not that the Knight-Captain took especial offense. "Doryn here has graciously offered to buy this very expensive wine for me, and having you share a drink of it with us would make for some wonderful company, I'm sure."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>There was, of course, no mistaking the appreciation in the Elf-Lord's eyes as he took notice of the woman rubbing his shoulders. Really, in a way, this was almost a good thing? He enjoyed the flirting with Hani, but it was only a matter of time before it got out of control, and if she got involved with Lord Talion... well, no,.. try as he might to rationalize it: that wasn't a prospect that Doryn would ever relish. He doubted he was being especially good at hiding his slight bit of inner turmoil, either, given that that Meerika gave him a little smirk before moving herself back into her position. If she knew him well enough to recognize his feelings now, why hadn't she said something when he'd sent her with the invitation?<br/><br/>...oh, yes, of course..<br/><br/>Meerika enjoys torturing him.<br/><br/>"Oh yes, please, allow me,-- Lord Talion, allow me to introduce my good friend, Hani Silverthorn, the daughter of the owner of this little establishment and one of the most beautiful young ladies in the city," Doryn says, his words a bit wry but trying his best not to appear too put out at his own mistake. "I never doubted for even a moment that Hani wouldn't know who<em>you</em>are, but just in the name of formality and good manners, this is my sometimes rival in matters of the heart,-- Lord Ethirdir Talion,-- whom I couldn't help but notice finally developed a modicum of good taste and choose to spend an evening at the Dew Drop."<br/><br/>"Given that I'd been hoping to get to know him a bit better... well, really, why not invite him to share a bit of wine at my table..."<br/><br/>Which, naturally, is when Mercedes comes back-- she'd apparently taken notice of the fact that he'd invited the Elf, who already had some wine, and only brought a pair of glasses for him.. and for Hani.<br/><br/>The expression on<em>her</em>face made it rather obvious that she'd also spotted the error that he'd made.<br/><br/>"...I really need to be more careful about inviting notorious womanizers to my table just before I'm expecting the company of a beautiful young woman, don't I?" he says, glancing up at Hani, a bit of a smirk before he turns his attention back over toward Ethirdir and gestures for him to take a seat. "That said, please, join us. As for you, Miss Silverthorn, you are<em>always</em>welcome at my table."<br/><br/>He grabs his glass, and some of the Elf's wine, pouring some for the three of them before taking his own glass.<br/><br/>With a wry smile, and a slight nod of acknowledgement to the elf, he simply says, "To new friends."