Riven stared at Talon in the eye. His companion was smiling at him. He had that look of surprise; they always knew when they were close to each other though. The smile was... Empty. Lifeless. Talon could have fooled any other person... But not him. And when he tried to dip right into their bond... Emptiness. A void; a conscious void the man in front of him had created to stop Riven from peeking at his true feelings. It was... hurtful. So it was true; Talon was pushing Riven out of his life. That mask was all he could talk to. He wanted to yell at him; to cry his lungs out. He was torn inside and the only person that had always been there for him had chosen to withdraw that same moment. That was Rien's place though, and it was not the moment to put on a show. He didn't want to do that again. So he tried to smile but failed miserably, and went along with Talon's joke. He knew Rien was smart enough not to fall into such a cheap announcement, but still. "Rien, congrats boy! I bet it's a warrior from Atinaw. Their men have really rugged looks, suits you." He said, with not much enthusiasm. He stared at Talon again, but it was hard. It seemed like that emptiness was going to swallow him. He stepped back.
"Also... Cider should be fine." He asked Rien, but he didn't take any seat. Things were uncomfortable enough already. If he was going to be in that place, he was better behind Talon, where he couldn't see that fake expression that hurt him every time he dared to peek. He just stood there... Until the Rathari woman (who seemed much older than the brothers, judging by the mottling on her feathers and the rings in her horns) approached him. Riven had to step back a bit and look down to be able to talk face to face with her, since she was barely over his navel. She spoke quietly and understandingly; she had clearly noticed there was something going on. "Well, I'm not, I guess." He blurted out in the same tone. He didn't know why he was talking to her. She seemed nice... But she was also a friend of Talon's, it seemed. "I mean... Talon's just lying to me. And I have to play dumb. It get's frustrating, ma'am." He said, grabbing the cider mug Rien got him. "But I don't wanna bore you. Sorry for the venting." He said, taking a quick look at Talon. He sighed.
And then he overheard Talon talking. An ambassador from Lorien; he could picture the man in his head. Was it the rien he had witnessed in the inn with Taelian? He clenched his jaw, disgusted. He just couldn't handle that being discussed in front of him; he was the only Avialae in the entire city who knew what Lorien was like. "I hope Lord Savien has sent him packing like he likes to do. At least it would be the right move this time. You could as well burn the grass he's stepped on." He said bitterly, locking eyes with a surprised Talon and Rien. He just growled and shook his head, grabbing a lower chair for him and offering another to the Rathari, behind the two brothers. "I'm sorry for that, ma'am. I'm Riven. Please excuse my manners. Rien and Talon should have know better than to treat you like a little girl, as well." He said, oblivious to the fact that everyone thought Alyssum was much younger than she actually was.
