Lavandula

Beer with too many bubbles

She was not lying, the beer was almost the best beer he had ever had. Just If it were not for the bubbles, he understood that beer is supposed to have them, but there was a certain amount of them that he enjoyed. Yet he did not mention it when Svetlana asked him if she would have to eat her hat or any hat at this matter - she did not own any at this moment. This beer may have been too bubbly, but his companion looked more bubbly too and that made the beer somehow even better.

***
"The beer gives me all the vitamins I need. Who needs the glowing orb when you have the liquid bread in front of you." The inn was lively, full of people enjoying the night. When they came in, the innkeeper even with his hands full, noticed Svetlana and smiled her way in a friendly manner and when they sat down in the corner he was already putting down two mugs of beer in front of them. Svetlana thanked him.

"Yeah, yeah... I am exaggerating. Don't look at me like this. I take some magically improved potions and balms to be healthy, but beer is truly healthy. Taken in reasonable doses" Svetlana enjoyed this environment, it held some essence that she affiliated with her father. This inn was open to everyone, and as long as you behaved yourself you were welcomed. "I have been talking this whole time, that's not fair. It's my turn to ask the questions."

"What would you want to know? The answers may be less interesting then you could expect." Eskel placed his mug down and looked Svetlanas way.

"There is ALWAYS something interesting in a story. Sometimes you just need to dig deeper and that never stopped me before."

"Then feel free to ask what interests you."

It's funny, how when the chance to ask is given, no question comes to one's mind. And Svetlana wanted to ask, to know more, but what to ask? There were too many things she would like to know, yet would it be appropriate to ask about those things? Eskel was not a suspect, not a client, this was not an interrogation. What is the best thing to just casually ask, that would have the power to provide more suitable questions to ask in the future?
"Why wouldn't you just tell me something about yourself?" Play it safe.

"Well, you know my name and what I am already. Not sure if there is more to me." It was a shame that his answer felt genuine - no forced humbleness, just lonely first thought that came to his mind.

"Don't sell yourself short. You must like some stuff and dislike another. I don't buy that shit about the lack of emotions, personality, that a witcher is no longer human, creatures closer to the monster that it hunts... An average man can be all those things without the mutations. I have read so many cases when the victim looked like it was chewed up by something grotesque and in the end, it was just a neighbour, not a creature of the night, not the devil, just a human."
"So, let me ask you differently: What would you want people to know about you?"

What would he want people to know about him? That he is more than a scared face. That he truly wants to help when he takes a contract. That he... That he... "I like animals."

"Which one do you favour the most?"

"Goats?"

"Are you asking me what your favourite animal is?"

"No, I know what my favourite animal is. Do you know what your favourite animal is?" He smiled and defensively straightened his back, making sure not to move the damaged part of his mouth.

"I like owls. They are mystical, wise and so cute when they fluff their feathers. But we were having a conversation about goats and I would like to hear more about them."
Yeah, I like where this conversation is going.
So she ordered another round of drinks.