Get your spook on [Aleister]

He had a meetup scheduled, an old client who needed some spells refreshed; routine stuff. But it got him out of the house, away from his crafting bench, and into the cooling air outside. Summer didn't suit him much, nor did the heat, given how much he had to cover up to not obviously be carrying an eyeball around. On his neck-hand. Hand-neck? Whichever.

The tavern was long in sight, though the odd shrieks he'd heard earlier were distracting him; surely he'd covered up well? But the culprit would be revealed just a few seconds later, as he nearly walked over her. Immediately he bent down his neck to look, assuming he'd just looked over them. "Oh! My apologies, I must not have been paying attention." The giraffa scrambled, about to offer his help, though she didn't need it. Floating quietly over the pavement. Huh.

"Like you?" Aleister inquired, the mask tilted slightly to the side. From what he could see they looked nothing alike. But invisibility explained why he hadn't seen her; well, just his long neck would have, too. "Would you? I'd say the shrieking is a lot more fun." He flourishes a bow as she introduces herself. "Nice to meet you, Pocus. I'm Aleister, but call me Al."

The short ramble on where she was from amused him. "How about we discuss that over a drink instead? You might be surprised by how many places I know of."

She was so incredibly cheerful. A very different vibe from the place he just left, and maybe even from the place he was about to go. "Oh, they were? That's nice to hear." The giraffe lifted his head up again, "masks are my favorite craft. I have quite a few for myself." His own always started as practice, and then stayed with him because of flaws he felt wouldn't pass for a customer. Though maybe he is a little too critical of his own work. 

Aleister observes for a minute as the gears seem to turn in her head. He could see why perhaps others were scared, honestly others were scared for many things quite easily. "But what does that say about you? Or does it say more about them? I don't think you're scary." At least her bones were contained. Couldn't say that for everyone he'd met. 

He was about to turn on his hooves to continue his way to the bar, perhaps now with Pocus in tow, when she started about a lake. Of all things. "A lake?" Took a bit before he realized what she was on about. Maybe an accent thing? Slang? "Well, I'm up for wandering to a nearby body of water as well, but I was talking about the tavern." Aleister laughed, a subtle shift on his mask making its face smile. 

"Of course it would be ok." Ugh, this instantly made Aleister want to make her one. Maybe not the best thing to make someone who just revealed they were insecure about their looks, though. A little insensitive perhaps. "Really?" He gives her a curious look, the brows on his mask vaguely moving up with interest. He doesn't make the expressions on purpose, not anymore. By now it is something he does on autopilot, a way of communication. "That sounds impressive. I'd love to see it sometime." And he meant that! Being able to observe another's craft is enlightening for your own.

"And there's nothing wrong with that. Everyone looks different, not one person looks the same as another." He made a motion with his long neck towards the people walking around them. "It'd be boring if we did."

The giraffe nods his head at the questions, "they do have good drinks. And you're sure? No places where people serve food and drinks? Maybe by another name?" He could imagine a very small community not having such luxuries though, everyone always making their own foods. That too was cozy. "Well, then I guess you get to experience something new today, savor it." At one point you run out of new things to learn. Especially at his age.

This time Aleister does turn, towards a building not too far off. A little tavern he'd been growing fond of, The Ivory Lamb, just to change up the scene from the bars he otherwise frequented. And he sure wasn't going to take someone like Pocus to The Black Jug, nope. That one needed some more build up.

Aleister opens the door for Pocus, needing to bend down to get through it himself. At least the ceiling is high enough he's not constantly half-crouched, and inside there's music playing from a little band. There's little flames dancing in glass lamps, the smell of hot food, and large thick carpets surround the tables where other people settle down for a bite or a drink. Al turns to the bar first to fetch them both something, keeping an eye on Pocus. "Find a place to sit for us. I'll join you in a bit."

This wasn't exactly how he'd planned his evening, yet it wasn't too far off either. The 'maybe tomorrow' made him chuckle, unsure if she'd still say that after being in his company for more than minutes. "Maybe tomorrow." Al repeated, nodding at her further explanation. "Ah, that's alright, there's always next time."

He was glad to see she'd lost her somber mood quickly, and he wondered if he would be able to keep up with her instead of the other way around. Maybe his age had made him lose his own childlike glee, she was quickly reminding him of what that was like.

"Mhm." Aleister hummed back at her question. "It is." Clear as day, a tavern. How long had she been living here that she'd never gotten curious enough to start entering random establishments? Maybe he was too old to still understand that feeling of discovering something new..

The mule at the bar had seen the giraffe before, and only the patrons around them seemed to be shocked at his appearance. The pair of them got glances here and there, but Aleister seemed wholly immune to them. This wasn't new, and he'd be more surprised if people didn't stare.

Not long after Pocus had reserved them both a spot, he returned to her side with two drinks, and a small plate of little snacks. Suppose I had to guess, so I hope you like grape juice." Given she didn't know what a tavern was, he'd made sure to get her something without alcohol. His own drink had a strong vodka mixed in, and he brought out an ivory straw from his jacket to stick below his mask. "So you're exploring the world? Is this your first time in Faline?"