<TIAMAT> *It's later that same evening, and Whisper can be found seated at the bar in the Rustling Ghost, staring dully at one of those drinks Merti had the other night. She heaves a sigh and takes a sip, wincing a little when she finds it still too hot to drink.

<JETMODE> *After approximately twenty minutes of this, a cheery and familiar figure with a lion's tail bounces into the room and swings into the seat next to Whisper. "Bartendeeer, I'd like another of those thingies that she made me drink the other night -- the hot one -- oh! What she's having!" Then she turns to Whisper. "What are you doing here, anyway? I thought you'd already be busy with that beastmaster."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper glances at her, taking another sip of the drink, which is by now sufficiently cool enough to drink without burning her tongue. "So did I."

<JETMODE> *Merti beams at the bartender as he brings her drink, then turns to Whisper again. "Soo -- no way, he turned you down??"

<TIAMAT> *Whisper nods once, taking another sip of the drink. "He didn't even know what I was talking about at first -- and I was even giving him a good show, too! -- and when it finally sunk in, he said he didn't want to. *faint sigh* Can you believe it, Merti? I don't think I've ever known a guy who's turned down having some fun --"

<JETMODE> <Merti> *snort* Guess that says something about the people we hang out with. *cheerfully* So forget him, if you want -- I mean, unless you have another reason for hanging out with him. *grins, tail twitches*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper hesitates, then shrugs. "Yeah, I guess I should -- I mean, he's nice enough, but he's just another guy, right?" She takes another sip of her drink, then pauses. "He gave me this, though--" She pulls the cat figurine out from a pouch around her waist, setting it down on the bar in front of Merti.

<JETMODE> *Merti snatches it up with a trill. "Oh, it's so cute! I love kitties -- can I have it, Whisper? You don't care anyway, right?" She gives her an impish, sideways glance.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper looks startled. "Wh-what? No! I mean -- no, I don't care! I mean--" She scowls, flushing suddenly, and busies herself with her drink for a moment.

<JETMODE> <Merti> *grins fiendishly, then puts the cat figurine back on the counter* All right, if you like it that much. *swings legs*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper gives her an annoyed look, then sets her drink down and picks the figurine up, turning it around to study it. "He really IS cute, Merti, you'd see what I mean if you saw him." She sighs.

<JETMODE> <Merti> *eyeroll* Okay, okay, so I'll stop by the stables and look for a cute beastmaster. *snatches her drink and gulps half of it down in one go* But I really can't stay long, actually --

<TIAMAT> *Whisper arches an eyebrow, looking faintly amused. "Wait, no, don't tell me -- you've got a date?"

<JETMODE> <Merti> *cheerfully* Yep! It's karaoke night at the Broken Gargoyle, and we're going to go sing off-key loudly and boisterously!

<TIAMAT> *Whisper blinks at her, then rolls her eyes. "Remind me to stay off that floor for the rest of the night, then.."

<JETMODE> <Merti> Hmph, you could join us, you know -- we're going with a couple other guys from the crew, and since you're not busy tonight ...

<TIAMAT> *Whisper looks thoughtful for a moment. "Like who? Oh, don't tell me it's that great lump -- the half-elf -- I wouldn't spend another night with him if he was one of the last guys in the Arena. Completely clueless, that one, honestly."

<JETMODE> <Merti> *sigh* That wasn't what I meant, you know -- we're just going out to party! But it's all right if you don't want to -- it's time for me to go anyway.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper hesitates, then shrugs. "Oh, what the hell." She finishes off her drink and pockets the figurine again, then turns to Merti with a grin. "Nothing better to do, I suppose, and who knows, there might be some cute ones up there tonight.."

<JETMODE> <Merti> Sometimes, I swear, that's the only thing on your mind! *hops down from the bar, dropping a coin or two* Come on!

<TIAMAT> *Whisper tosses the bartender a couple coins of her own before following Merti with a devious grin. "Now, really, Merti, there's no reason to get jealous about it, you know you'll always be on my mind, too--"

<JETMODE> <Merti> *shudder* I sure hope not --

<TIAMAT> *Whisper smiles sweetly to her. "Then I guess I'd better find someone else to take your place!"

<JETMODE> <Merti> Geez, there's more to life than bouncing around the bed, you know. *stalks toward the door*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper rolls her eyes. "I'll take your word for it!" And she trots along after.