After Ariane's agreement, Alec is content to let the conversation fall into a lull. She seems to be distracted with digging into her bag, and Alec has plenty to look at around the saloon.

Or he would, in theory, except that Ariane starts drawing, and that's instantly much more interesting than any of the boring bullshit other people are getting up to. He leans over the table and watches her pencil strokes with shameless curiosity, propping his hand in his chin.

"You don't suck," he observes, favourably. "What's that for? Your field journal, or something?"