Despite her guilt Sinine did well hiding how she felt, giving a smile as the two approached, Lucia hanging off the large man with a wide schoolgirl-like grin. Like Sinine, Alastair too was hiding his emotions behind a polite smile. It wasn’t that he found the attention particularly unpleasant. Lucia was a beautiful woman and from what he could tell in his short time she was quite the object of affection for many of the guests. It was here she showed her ability to handle herself rejecting unwanted advances sternly but in such a way that the men took it in stride fully taken in by her charm. 

Besides that she was pleasant in conversation, witty, hardworking and clearly infatuated with Alastair. The man had caught the eye of barmaids in the past, not many but enough for reference, and none had been as persistent as Lucia was proving to be. For his part he could see why she was pined after and was even himself taken in by her charm to some small degree. There may have even been a time he would have entertained the advances, but as it was his affection was nothing more than plutonic.

He tried to make this clear through his persistent disinterest but it seemed while everyone around them realized what was happening Lucia only pursued him with more vigor. Dealing with it directly would have probably proven more effective, but despite his profession, the idea of that confrontation made him a bit nervous.

He sighed as he looked from the girl at his side to the one in front of him. Pink innocent eyes meeting his from a fair familiar face. Alastair felt his stomach flutter a bit as his normal feeling of exasperation turned to guilt and a slight panic as Sinine watched them approach.

“Sinine, I’d like you to meet Alastair,” she emphasized his name as she said it, still remembering her friend's joke from a few days before.  “He’s the newest essential member of our little team.”

Despite it being simple flattery Alastair blushed a bit at the kind words. He started to express that no introduction was needed when Sinine cut him off. “Pleased to meet you Alastair,” she said with a small grin, shooting the man a playful glance as she offered her hand. 

Alastair smiled and took it for a gentle shake. As before, Sinine felt her heart flutter at his touch, disappointed it was only a shake this time but noting the man did seem to let their hands linger a moment longer than was necessary. 

“Very charmed to meet you Ms. Sinine,” Alastair answered with his own sly grin. 

“Sini here is the most sought after maid in the whole place. As popular as I am, Sini’s customers give a literal arm or leg for her, sometimes even more.”  She had shot a look at Alastair with the first statement, hoping a bit of self promotion may make the man jealous. Sinine though, seemed soured by the statement frowning as she gave her friend a playful shove.

“Come on Lucy,” she said in a slightly annoyed tone.

Alastair raised an eyebrow in confusion before Sinine clarified. “She's just being a little tasteless, that's her way of saying I’m the healer here."

“Hear that love, she says I have no taste. You should be insulted.” She leaned to whisper the words in the man's ear playfully though still loud enough Sinine could hear. “And don’t let that little modest act fool you, she's the most talented healer you’ll ever see, and cutest too.”  She gave Sinine a little wink as she said it, the other maid turning a deep red as she looked away shyly. 

Before Lucia could torment them any further the owner called for her in a gruff demanding voice. The tall maid gave a sigh of disappointment, “Ah well fun’s over for now you two play nice,” she said, planting a kiss on Alastair's cheek before the man could react and giving Sinine a playful nudge as she passed. 

Though Alastair was at first relieved to have Lucia step away the man quickly began to grow nervous being left alone with Sinine. He began to worry what the maid must be thinking. Perhaps she assumed he was some kind of playboy, taking advantage of the maids and their affections. The anxiety only grew as the silence settled deeper between them, the man unsure what to say. 

Luckily Sinine spoke up to break the awkwardness.

“You know, she only thinks you’re playing hard to get. The longer you hold off being direct the more persistent she’ll get, and even then it’s not a guarantee you'll discourage her all that much.” The maid had a small devious smile as she looked at the man waiting for his answer and hoping she was right about how he felt. 

The statement had caught Alastair off guard for a moment. With a sigh gave a slight grimace as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I guess I was pretty obvious then.”

Sinine giggled quietly covering her mouth as if embarrassed by the sound. “Not obvious enough for most but clear enough for me. I’ve healed enough strong men to recognize when they're hiding their discomfort," she gave the man another grin, “though you were easier to read than most.”

That elicited another small laugh from both before the silence settled in again. Despite the awkwardness neither seemed willing to step away as if there was more to say but no words to do so. 

“You know she’s a good person, one of the best I’ve met and one of the most beautiful, you’d be lucky to have her.” The words left Sinine's lips sincerely but without excitement, her head down as she spoke only looking up at the end. She kept her head bowed slightly, brow hanging over her gaze trying to hide the sad expression she wore. 

Despite her efforts it hadn't gone unnoticed by the man and for a moment he wished to embrace the maid to comfort her. The familiarity for that didn't exist though, so even as his heart ached slightly he pushed it down and gave a small shrug. “I don’t doubt that at all and I’m sure any man would be lucky to call her his, but I don’t think I’m that man. Besides, what can a traveling bouncer offer someone so incredible.” Though ostensibly still speaking about Lucia his eyes were firmly on Sinines and the maid felt a small flutter in her chest. 

“I wouldn’t be quick to demean yourself. I’m sure you have so much to offer…her.” The pause was impossible not to notice and it was clear that for a moment there had been another word on Sinines lips. 

The silence returned again, just not as awkward as before. Instead it was more enticing, like the air was charged somehow making each of them afraid to move and risk the shock. Before either could decide to take that risk the quiet was broken by the call of the owner from across the room. 

“Sinine I know you’ve been off awhile but the vacation's over, surely you haven’t forgotten what to do in a week? Or maybe I need to assign someone to retrain ya?” 

Her back to the man, the maid made a face he couldn’t see and Alastair fought back a smile as she turned. “No need chief, I've got it. I was just getting filled in on the past week and getting to know our newest addition.” She turned to shoot Alastair a quick smile before entering the fray with the other girls.

The chief grumbled as she walked by before looking back at Alastair, an even more annoyed expression on his face. “And you, I can’t always keep an eye out to make sure you’re doing your job. You either keep watch, keep busy or get out. I can’t be paying you to flirt the whole time you’re here.”