Perhaps Ethirdir should've realized that Doryn would catch on to his and Hani's attempt at secrecy, and he should've dialed back his eagerness to respond to her hints that she was his contact. Doryn's shifting of the conversation into a topic of thieves breaking into Noble estates and his suspicion of the perpetrators being only a single dedicated and experienced thief signaled that he knew more than he was initially letting on. The Elf knew that his rival was clever, but didn't anticipate him catching on this quickly. Of course, he likely knew a lot more than Ethirdir had initially anticipated, which was likely given that Doryn and Hani had known each other far longer than Ethirdir knew Hani. It was the Elf playing catch up at the moment, and he risked stepping into something he might regret.<br/><br/>But then again, if Doryn truly did suspect that Ethirdir and Hani were up to fencing something incredibly valuable, he had every right to arrest the both of them for suspicion of theft and attempted selling of stolen goods. But the Captain was only making small talk - witty, even playful small talk - and didn't seem interested in hauling the merchant and the tavern girl to jail. Whatever relationship Doryn and Hani had, it was complicated to allow an overlooking of something potentially illegal, and all Ethirdir could think was...<br/><br/>"Oh, to be part of<em>this </em>group...wouldn't that be an interesting experience..."<br/><br/>Perhaps he had been neglectful of his romantic rival for so long. The two of them knew each other enough to have a feel of their behaviors and tastes in women, but the pair had never sat down together and actually "cracked one another's knuckles" - an Elvish colloquialism his father had taught him meaning "getting to know one another." Sitting here, the three of them sharing a bottle of expensive red wine, Ethirdir's attention was focused mostly on the lovely Hani, but he couldn't deny he was also intrigued by the Captain. If Doryn was open to overlooking this sort of transaction, what else might the Captain be willing to do? It was an intriguing partnership, and he had a feeling Doryn might be open to discussing potential arrangements...<br/><br/>..though not tonight, since the two of them seemed focused more on the gorgeous woman sitting between them at the moment...<br/><br/>When Hani turned her attention to him, he smiled warmly as he listened to her questions and suggestions, acting polite without acting haughty. If there was one thing the Elves excelled at, it was giving off an air of superiority. Ethirdir found that was usually not very effective for business - or romantic pursuits - and tended to avoid that persona when he could unless he was in the company of Elves who seemed capable of communicating only in condescension. Hani, on the other hand, got his open, more flirtatious personality tonight.<br/><br/>"Indeed, I am a merchant, and I deal in...many things. Perhaps that is too vague an answer, but I often find it limiting to say I deal in this or in that. Though if I could be said to deal in something more specific, it's in things that are extremely valuable to the right buyer. Stuff that is very difficult to obtain and is worth the hassle of obtaining for a client. Antiques, fine art, gemstones, exotic foods...all of them have been sold through at my booths, as well as...many more items I can't begin to name."<br/><br/>He kept his gaze fixed on Hani for the most part, trying not to notice how Doryn was reacting to his romantic rival arranging a private meeting with a girl very important to him. Doryn may have had more history with Hani than Ethirdir...but history had to start somewhere, and Elves had long lives compared to humans...<br/><br/>"Tomorrow works well for me, as does a lunch arrangement. As for where we can meet..." His grin widened a little as he continued, "I actually have a store not too far from here. We can discuss matters in one of the backrooms, where client confidentiality is strictly enforced. Whatever you talk about or show me there, I will be the only to see it." There was a<em>very</em>subtle double-entendre in that last sentence, but he didn't emphasize it, making it clear business was the primary reason for this meeting. Of course, the way he smiled at her, let his green eyes gaze into hers, leaned lightly on his arm as they talked, didn't hide the fact that meeting with a beautiful woman such as Hani was duly noted.<br/><br/>"If those arrangements work for you, my dear," he added, "then I shall meet you here tomorrow when the sun is at its peak, and accompany you to my store." His gaze then shifted to Doryn, his tone shifting away from the more flirtatious aspects but still showing no less interest in the Captain. "And to you, my good sir," he said, raising his glass again before taking a small sip of wine, "tonight has been very...enlightening in many ways. You are correct in that it took me too long to darken the door of this fine establishment...a mistake I will not make again. Perhaps you can I also get better...acquainted, talk about things other than our romantic conquests?" It was his first attempt at feeling out Doryn's interest in the Elf, if there was any, and whether it was worth pursuing any potential partnerships with this man for more lucrative but less legal endeavors. And if Hani could be roped into it as well, all the better...