[ooc: Sunglasses...well, we've had odder things appear in SotE! XDD I don't see why not, hehehe! Especially since some places are more advanced than others!]
Niaaki knew good and well that he was being laughed at. Keir was not doing a very good job concealing her giggles, and when she called him a "miss" and asked how he was doing, he very nearly choked on his wine, because of course she had to say that right as he was taking a sip. Luckily, he managed to swallow it just before he could further embarrass himself, because wine coming out his nose wouldn't have made the best impression--nor did he imagine it would feel very good--and as much as he hated it, he didn't want to turn the barkeep off...because he was paying! So, so long as he went along with this damned "act like a girl" deal, he could probably score more freebies. And it wasn't like he'd agreed that he was a girl! He'd never stated his gender! He hadn't said anything at all! So hah!
And, really, free or not free, Niaaki literally couldn't afford to spend any money here.
...Because he didn't have any money to begin with. Those damned drow had taken everything from he and Yuuki when they'd been captured save the clothes on their backs and his doll. Which, of course, included their money.
Which also brought up a very interesting question, he realized. Like how Yuuki was going to pay for the drinks he was downing...
Well...ahem. Guess they'd just deal with that issue when it came up.
"Much better, thank you," Niaaki told Keir, somehow managing a coy smile when he really just wanted to give her a warning look. Because the last thing he needed right now was for her to accidentally give away the fact that, nope, he was a guy. Which...well, truth be told, he was kind of surprised no one else had figured that out. Because of, you know, the lack of chest extensions. And because he was wearing loose male breeches that were decorated with belts. Wasn't like he was dressed girly.
He followed her finger as she jabbed back toward the other side of the bar, where Yuuki sat downing his drink and that...thing...sat beside him. Niaaki grimaced a little and shook his head. He was just as lost as Keir as to that thing's species or anything, really, and he was also slightly concerned that Yuuki should sit so close to it. It might decide to eat him. You never knew... "A...bear of some sort?" he guessed, tilting his head slightly as though a different angle would help him figure it out, and then righting himself when he realized he was starting to lean just a bit more than necessary. Whoa. He glanced down at his wine glass and realized it was empty, then sighed. Really, that much shouldn't be having an effect on him, but...drinking on an empty stomach probably wasn't the best thing he could do. And he was starving, still, and still a little out of it from his ordeal, so that probably contributed to that. Drinking something did take the edge off his hunger a little, though.
Niaaki was still looking at his wine glass when Keir spoke up, and he very nearly died right there, partly from fear that someone else should hear her, and partly just from...well...should he take that as a compliment or what?
He decided to do just that, as soon as he calmed himself and realized that no one else had heard her. "I try my best," he told her with a sly grin, even going so far as to cross one leg over the other and fluff his hair with his free hand--which was something he would normally never, ever, ever do, but he was feeling kind of giddy. "I am always open to pointers from the real deal, though."
And then Yuuki suddenly called out to him gleefully. Niaaki twisted in his seat...and just barely refrained from palming his forehead. Yuuki was staring, fascinated, at his beer, looking like quite the drunken idiot.
"Ah-huh...yes, Yuu...it bubbles," he said slowly, nodding and smiling, then snickering a little. Hehe. Bubbles. That was a funny word.
Ahem!
Tucking Butch under his arm and placing his palms flat on the table, Niaaki started to get to his feet. "I think you may have gone over your limit, Yuu..." he added, deciding to take it upon himself to haul his friend out of there and to bed or something. Even if it meant braving that big...mountain...thing. Yuuki just didn't know when to stop. Honestly, Niaaki didn't see what was so hard about it. He was already feeling a little off after one glass, so that was it for him! See? He knew when to stop! And truth be told, Yuuki was foolish enough sober, and Niaaki couldn't help but be concerned for his friend who was both wasted and seated next to a guy that could pop his head off with his thumb and index finger alone. Hey, Yuuki acted like his personal body guard, but that didn't mean he also didn't look out for Yuuki in his own way.
He had only managed to get to his feet and turn, though, when his path was blocked by a red-haired man that didn't know the meaning of the word "personal bubble" and who reeked of alcohol. Niaaki gasped in surprise and bumped back against the table and quickly held onto the edge to steady it before it could shake too much and knock stuff over. "Oh...um..." He became suddenly aware that he was leaning backwards away from the man, partly to escape his breath and partly because he was uncomfortable. Dear Gods. Not only the barkeep now, but now a drunkard was hitting on him! His eyes flickered down to his own chest. Was he really that androgynous?
He leaned slightly to the left in order to see around the man, just in time to see Yuuki leap from his seat and strike a pose. While announcing to the whole bar that he was "so smart". Hoo boy. It was too late for him...and he doubted he was going to be happy in the morning.
Niaaki finally turned his attention back to the man. Yuuki could wait a little longer. This drunk guy was offering to buy stuff! His stomach growled...he really shouldn't drink anymore and he knew it, but he didn't want to push his luck. You had to take what was offered first, then work your way toward making suggestions and hinting! That was what Niaaki had learned! "Thank you, I would love that." Hopefully that would also make the guy back off a little.
He did have to grin, though, at Gabrie's mini-lecture, and he wanted to alternately thank her for saving him and tell her to hush, because he was getting lucky here!
Just...not in that way, pervs.
[I think I covered everthing that needed to be covered. XD]