While Raveena pondered what this hybrid-folk's name was, the bartender leaned forward. "What'll it be tonight, young master?"
The hybrid-folk tapped a finger thoughtfully against the counter, then grinned. "Something classy, but not too brooding. Let's say… give me a Westmix. Keep it lively, Burton."
"Coming right up," the moose-folk replied with a knowing smile before moving to his bottles.
The hybrid-folk turned toward her, his ears standing upright as soon as he saw Raveena. "Oh! Look who it is! Good evening, how are you?"
Raveena gave a stilted nod. "Ah… good evening. I… I'm fine."
The truth was, she still couldn't place him at all.
"…You don't remember me, do you?"
Raveena winced faintly, then shook her head. "Sorry about that."
With a dramatic gesture, he pointed at himself. "Kir. It's me, Kir! We met at the bench outside the hedge maze, remember? When you looked like you were sulking out there."
Before Raveena could reply, the bartender, Burton, chuckled from behind the counter while sliding ingredients into the shaker. "Young master, it's not exactly kind to remind a lady of something that might've been unpleasant."
Kir gave a short laugh. "Yeah, yeah. Sorry about that."
Raveena shook her head lightly. "It's fine."
Kir leaned an elbow on the counter. "So, how's your hand doing? Did that thing I gave you work wonders?"
Raveena paused, recalling the small bottle of ointment he'd given her that night. She flexed her fingers slightly, then gave a small nod. "Yes. It made healing a lot easier overnight."
"Glad to hear it," Kir said. "If you're ever curious about good medicine, you should check out this one family in Southwyn… ah, blast, I really don't remember their name."
Raveena's eyes narrowed at the hybrid-folk. "He mentioned that before too. What kind of buyer forgets where his medicine comes from?"
Kir drummed his fingers against the bar, then looked at the bartender. "Burton, help me out. Who were those doctors and scientists down in Southwyn? The ones with the hospital. You know, the sketchy-looking lot who made that cough medicine I gave you a few days ago? Sketchy and shady they may look, but they're brilliant."
The moose-folk hummed, shaking Kir's drink with ease. "That'd be the Angel family, young master."
Kir snapped his fingers. "Yeah, those folks. Wonderful researchers, they are."
Raveena lifted her glass again, taking another sip of the Saintly Spark. "At least he can compliment other businesses. That's rare… most people like him would rather boast about their own."
"I've even heard their president's daughter is just as good, or even better. Haven't met her yet, but word is she's a Magia Maestro in the field of Healing. And a bit of a weirdo… in a good way, of course."
Burton chuckled as he set down a napkin along with Kir's drink. "Well, since it's a family you entrusted your funds to, young master, I've no doubt they've got talent. You've always had a good eye for that sort of thing."
Kir waved him off with a laugh as he accepted the glass and took a sip from it. "You give me too much credit, Burton."
He then turned back toward Raveena with a playful smile. "Tell him, will you? Burton gives me far too much credit, right? Though to be fair, at least the Angels' ointment did its job for you. So, I guess… I do have a good eye?"
"You really seem to adore that family of doctors. But if you think they're so great, why call them sketchy-looking?" Raveena questioned.
Her bluntness seemed to catch him off guard. His ears flicked back for a second before his smile softened. Then, he set his glass gently on the counter. "Fair point. We do know that appearances don't always match the work. They look rough around the edges, sure, but their research is sharp. The Angels are just one of several groups I've put support into. All of them working toward better medicine in the Wonderforest."
"Sounds noble. Is that what someone like you does on a Monday? Toss zennies at problems and call it progress?"
Kir chuckled at that. "Nice, but hardly. I don't care about being seen as noble. I just want animal-folk to have easier access to care. If funding people like the Angels means fewer families lose loved ones over something treatable, then… that feels worth it."
"Ah, you're right…" Raveena blinked, realizing her words might have come sharper than she intended. She lowered her head briefly, then muttered, "Sorry. That was… harsh of me."
"Hey, it's fine."
Then he tipped back the rest of his glass, draining it in one swig. On the other hand, Raveena went as well for the last sip of her Saintly Spark, only for his voice to speak again.
"On the topic of medicine. You know… I had a brother once," Kir said as he showed a crooked smile. "Well, I have a brother, I suppose. Just… haven't seen him in years. Nearly a decade now. So, I'm never sure whether to say 'has, have' or 'had.'"
Raveena set her glass down slowly before her free hand came up to rest under her chin. "Oh?"
"Yup. He's one of the reasons I keep throwing my zennies into the simplest of things. Healthcare, safety, anything that makes living a little easier. Doesn't really connect to him being missing, I know. But… if he's still alive somewhere, maybe those improvements will matter. Maybe he'll need them one day."
Raveena kept quiet, her fingers curling around her empty glass. She wasn't sure what to say because… why would this hybrid-folk share something like that with her out of nowhere, of all people?
Then again… they were sitting at a bar. Places like this probably made room for stories best left unsaid elsewhere.
Noticing her silence, Kir gave a short laugh, scratching at his cheek. "Sorry. Didn't mean to make things heavy all of a sudden, just felt like talking."
"It's… okay," she responded simply.
Kir leaned into the counter further, lifting a hand toward the moose-folk. "Burton! Another glass, if you would."
Burton looked over as he polished a glass, one brow arched. "Another Westmix, eh? Are you sure about that, young master? Those don't go well if you're planning a smoke after. Not the best pairing."
Kir laughed, waving the notion away with a flick of his hand. "Relax, Burton. I'm not lighting up tonight. As good as those herbs are, they'd wreck my taste buds for the evening. Can't enjoy the banquet if that happens."
Burton chuckled, setting the glass down. "Agreed," he answered as he reached for the bottles behind him to begin mixing another glass of Westmix.
Kir shifted in his seat, turning toward her once more. "So then, Baveerna! That's your name, right?"
Raveena immediately glared at him. "…It's Raveena."
"Right, right. Raveena. Sorry, I'm terrible with names," he laughed shortly, tapping his temple as if to make a mental note. "So tell me, how's the Summit treating you so far? You looking forward to the grand banquet?"
"Beats me. I'm not a delegate or some spokesperson."
Kir tilted his head. "Even so, you'll still get to dine in one of the guest halls, won't you? Sounds like something worth looking forward to."
Raveena gave a small shrug. "Maybe. But I'm not exactly hungry enough to be thinking about food right now."
"Fair," Kir said with a chuckle, leaning his cheek into his palm, "but if you change your mind, I could always call in a favor or two. Get you a seat with the fancier spreads."
Raveena sighed, sliding her empty glass across the counter toward Burton before she rose from the stool. "Thanks, but I'll pass."
"Aww… really?" Kir pouted playfully.
"I should be going."
"That's a no, then. Take care. Enjoy the night."
Raveena gave him a small nod before walking forward, slipping into the crowd until her figure disappeared among the sea of dresses and coats.
Kir's eyes lingered in her direction for a moment longer before he exhaled. Across the counter, the bartender Burton was watching with a knowing smile as he washed and dried Raveena's glass.
"What?" Kir asked.
The moose-folk chuckled. "You've got plenty of charm back in Westwyn, young master. But outside it? You're not quite so smooth."
Kir clicked his tongue. "Say that one more time and I'll fire you."
Burton let a bit of laughter escape as he shook his head. "My apologies. Still, to think that Kir Wolfe would get brushed off after such a tempting offer."
Kir only shrugged, then smiled as he turned his head toward where Raveena had gone. "What can I say? Looks like she's a bit of a unique one."
"Mhmm, sure does seem like it."
"Wait…" Kir quickly turned back to Burton. "Do you think she doesn't realize who I am?"
Burton nodded. "That seems to be the case. But perhaps she's better off that way. After all, young master, you've never been one to care."
"Oh, yeah. You're right," Kir chuckled, lifting his glass again. "Fair point."