Center of the Bar
Erik's eyebrows shot up on Desmond's mention of payment, and a serpent-like grin spread slowly across his face. Suddenly he seemed slightly less interested in avoiding the Gartagen's attention. "Well hot damn," he crooned, tilting his head as his beer hovered a few inches off the bar in his hand. "You put it that way, what am I still dragging my feet for?" Steeling himself, the young man cleared his throat and started to put down his drink much faster, grimacing slightly as he did so. When he had finally drained it, he gingerly placed the empty glass on the surface in front of him, shuddering slightly as he flushed a pale yellowish green color again.
He dropped his hand quickly towards the bar, as if he were about to slap it, but the instant before impact he seemed to think better of it, and stopped his hand millimeters from the surface, electing instead to quietly place it down. "Right, then," he said with a conclusive tone, rising gingerly to his feet, grimacing slightly from the pain of his injuries. "You ready to go?"
Far End of the Bar
The newcomer just smiled and nodded to Tam, then upon taking notice of the way the Lorath was watching him, turned his head towards her and gave her a wink. "Long way to be from home," he continued to the Gartagen. "But then I guess it's a living, am I right?" he continued with an uncomfortably over-friendly tone, nudging Tam lightly with his shoulder. "Can't make that money with your feet kicked up at home all the time." As he was talking, the bartender returned once again, placing a beer in front of her with a bright smile. As she did, the long-haired man touched her on the forearm, still with the pleasant look on his face. "Excuse me," he said, nodding the side of his head down the bar in the direction of the other group, "but if I may, I'd like to buy that pretty lady's drink for her."
After following the man's nod with her eyes, the bartender turned back to smile and wink at the man. "Sure thing, hon," she agreed, while simultaneously producing the bottle of Pygrinkamesh from seemingly nowhere, refilling Tam's glass. As the liquor poured, she glanced up at the Gartagen's eyes. "Kinda surprised you aren't sitting with your friends down there," she observed, motioning towards the others at the center of the bar. "You guys not getting along, or something?"