[ Once he's refilled Aether's glass, he'll set the sake bottle aside so that he can focus on his own drink. After taking a more reserved drink, his alcohol tolerance a little higher (thanks Mako), he holds his drink between his gloved hands as the soft glow of his eyes stays on the other man. Every word that comes out of Aether's mouth strikes surprisingly close and deep to the spikier blond, eyes broadening just a little before he laughs and apologizes. ]

That's mopey? [ He shakes his head. ] Sounds more like ranting.

[ He says this so calmly, sighing through his nose. The drinks he's had alone weren't quite enough to loosen his otherwise steel tongue. But it's a good thing even the buddings of Kizuna were. ]

Guessing you've been here a while... I only know one person who came from the same time I did. As for everyone else? [ The corner of his lip twinges, almost like a shrug. ] I've got people from the past and future both. Some turning a new leaf, others the same as I remembered them...

[ Some that have yet to tread the path that ruins others. ]

Gotta roll with the punches, I'm learning.