An Amicable Meeting

[Reeves]

Are you not afraid of the rumors that might be spread about you being seen with a Lane Hacker? That combination of words gracefully thrown into a question prompted him to visibly smile and quietly laugh, only just barely audible to his acquaintance. There was every indication he was laughing with her, and what she'd chosen to ask rather than at her for asking it. "No, I'm not worried about being seen with you whatsoever." It was a blunt answer born out of amusement that was soon followed up curiosity and levity. But something about the way he had phrased it, or perhaps even just the tone in which it was conveyed made it seem like a significant compliment to both her person and personality. "What would they even say? There isn't anything so sensational about the actions of someone who freely admits them, and I have no reason to hide that I met you in person. If anything your question is probably more relevant to yourself, given how firmly your "colleagues" look down on people of my affiliation. Coming here alone to see one of us? Quite taboo. And you being in that seat despite that perception suggests you either don't care, or greatly enjoy people spending their time obsessing over what you do and why you did it." With Damien's own position on the matter clarified abundantly through the implications behind what he'd said, it was only fair he turn the question back around and properly gauge the outlook of the person across from him.

By this point one of the attending staff had noticed their table in particular was empty, and that the faces on either side of it were new. While the facilitator for drinks was inbound, Damien had enough time to squeeze in a few more words before they were in earshot. "People do what they feel is worth it regardless of the hearsay that follows." What exactly that meant or was intended to convey was open to interpretation, but there was definitely something to it. Yet again, he'd squeezed in something which came across as pivotal at the exact moment Krest would have her concentration interrupted, this time by a young woman who wanted to take their order. With the pithy exchange of pleasantries from a server out of the way, Damien looked at his acquaintance expectantly, curious of what she would want from the limited selection of locally available booze.