The voice came from the bar behind them, out of an area they thought was empty. Teller startled slightly, then took a step back, trying to keep both the man they'd seen and the new speaker in their line of sight.
The person behind the bar was tall- not the kind of height that Teller mentally classified as "unjustly tall", but close to it, with ice-eyes and silver hair that seemed more artifice than age. This time they did adopt a slightly sheepish posture as they looked up, head ducked, with a smile that seemed almost rueful. Some of the self-effacement was genuine: mostly they just felt bad about having apparently ignored someone in favor of a shirtless man.
Which was, by some interpretations, exactly what had happened. But.
They hooked a thumb into the strap of their harp case and rocked on their heels, just once, as they considered the-- man's?-- question. And it had been a question. Asked out of courtesy or not, the intent was there, as well as the compulsion. "I think you can," Teller said brightly. That was true, of course; Teller suspected he could at least serve them a drink if they requested one. And that would be helpful.
"Mostly I was just wondering if you were open," they admitted. "After I saw the sign outside, I couldn't help but take a look. But now that I'm here..." Teller craned their neck upwards again, eyes tracing the soaring rafters.
"I don't suppose you have live music?"
The person behind the bar was tall- not the kind of height that Teller mentally classified as "unjustly tall", but close to it, with ice-eyes and silver hair that seemed more artifice than age. This time they did adopt a slightly sheepish posture as they looked up, head ducked, with a smile that seemed almost rueful. Some of the self-effacement was genuine: mostly they just felt bad about having apparently ignored someone in favor of a shirtless man.
Which was, by some interpretations, exactly what had happened. But.
They hooked a thumb into the strap of their harp case and rocked on their heels, just once, as they considered the-- man's?-- question. And it had been a question. Asked out of courtesy or not, the intent was there, as well as the compulsion. "I think you can," Teller said brightly. That was true, of course; Teller suspected he could at least serve them a drink if they requested one. And that would be helpful.
"Mostly I was just wondering if you were open," they admitted. "After I saw the sign outside, I couldn't help but take a look. But now that I'm here..." Teller craned their neck upwards again, eyes tracing the soaring rafters.
"I don't suppose you have live music?"