Allies with benefits

Briar was both eager and nervous to visit the Elysium leaders. The night they had spent together still felt a bit like a hazy dream and in the setting of the wedding they hadn't had any opportunity to be alone with the other couple so she hadn't really needed to confront the reality of the fact that Manea and Alastor had seen her and Artorias in some extremely compromising—and pleasurable—positions. She wasn't ashamed of that night by any means, but she was worried that her nerves or shyness might take over when put with the lecherous pair again. Luckily, it seemed like that wasn't the case. There was a moment of uncertain awkwardness on her part when they were first greeted by Manea and Alastor, but they were both so warm and welcoming that relaxing around them again was easier than she had expected. Alastor in particular had a certain charm about him that she was fond of so when Artorias and Manea stepped away to talk about some of the more pressing and business related matters of the pack she didn't have an issue with spending some time alone with the ebony and ruby man. She followed him as he gave her a tour of their island home, landing them at the Mendacium's den at the end of it. She smiled as he invited her in and gave a small, thankful dip of her head as she walked in with graceful strides. "Thank you, I will. You're a wonderful host."

Once he laid out a few plush, comfortable furs for them to relax on, she gave him another nod and settled in on the one he offered to her. A content sigh escaped her as she relaxed, lifting her turquoise gaze up to the larger male as he spoke again, asking her about how she kept her coat so neat. The question made her grin and laugh lightly and she gave him a sympathetic glance as she looked over his long, plush, and luxurious fur. She could imagine that it was indeed quite a task keeping all of that fur groomed. She had her long tail to contend with, but her fur otherwise was more sleek and contoured to her body than his. "Well, admittedly, I've always been a bit particular about my fur and staying groomed," she admitted with a chuckle. "So some of it is just being in such a habit of bathing every other day or so, plenty of brushing, and using soaps and oils that keep it smooth. The other part of it is having a close friend and handmaiden that helps me with things like braiding my tail to keep it neat." Her tail curled over her thigh as she glanced down at the thickly braided fur, steaks of tan, ivory, and turquoise all interwoven with one another. She was sure she'd have a harder time with it if she didn't have Lia to help her re-braid it when needed.

Her gaze was brought back to her host when he suddenly remembered the wines that they had brought with them and she watched him curiously as he got up, a smile crossing her lips when she spotted the bowls that he retrieved for them both. "We certainly will!" she replied with a chuckle and she stood for a moment as well, retrieving one of the bottles that had been stowed near the front of the cave with the rest of the small gift they had brought for the Elysium couple. Bringing it back to where they had been laying and settling back down on the furs, Briar started to pull the cork free with her claws and gave Alastor a grin when he mentioned how much pride she showed in her wine making. "They are! I always try to bring at least one of my own bottles when we're visiting with someone or giving gifts so I can hear others opinions on it. I know what I like of course, but I like to hear what other wolves think of it too!" She poured some into each of the bowls as she added, "This is made from the harvest of berries we got from the Wildberry Grove at the end of the summer. The berries were very ripe at the time so it made for a very sweet wine I think." Setting down the bottle between them, she pulled her own bowl closer to take a drink while she peeked at him at waited to see his reaction.

"Briar Carpathius"