[ Valeria recognizes his voice before anything else. That spark of recognition sees every little puzzle piece rapidly emerging fall suddenly, perfectly into place as she peers into the face of none other than Rufus Shinra. She should have suspected from that distinct shade of blond, but there are differences she's noticing as she utilizes her peripheral in looking him over more fully.

For one thing, he looks older than he did the last time she saw him. Not by weeks -- er, the months she's been in hiding, but maybe a few years? Different in some way -- ways? She can't quite put a finger on them just yet, but it's enough for the moment that he's answered her question in earnest and without hostility. That he's without a Turk -- she'd scanned the car a moment earlier -- means he's likely just arrived or hasn't ran into Reno or Rude just yet.

A smile tugs at her mouth as she straightens in her seat and lifts a hand to flag down the bartender. ]

I'll trust your taste.

[ She's going to need something stronger with this meeting, so whiskey it is. A quick, easy order, and the majority of her attention is properly focused on Rufus. ]

I must say I'm surprised to be running into a Shinra executive so soon after arriving here, but [ and there's something like a small sigh of relief many might find odd, considering who she's addressing ] I'm glad it's you, sir.