Keyleth’s brow furrows, her jaw setting in a determined line. “We can't just leave them!” The weight of innocent lives were hanging in the balance. She straightens her posture, her voice unyielding. “It’s always dangerous,” her eyes search Vee’s, pleading but firm. Keyleth knows the risk but retreating now feels unthinkable. “If we don’t try, they’ll have no one.” Her hands curl slightly at her sides, not with anger, but with a determination to make Vee understand. “I can’t leave them,” she continues, her voice dropping lower, almost pleading. “We can’t just abandon them.”

Grog visibly preened at the compliment, chest puffing out as his palms smoothed down over his shirt. "Yep," his grin was broad as his hands shifted up to run over his beard, fixing Vee with an exceedingly pleased expression, "Do I look handsome?" He asked, his tone more than obvious what the answer he expected was.

"Oh," Keyleth should leave her alone, "oh, yeah!" But instead, her mouth had other plans. "No, I—I totally get that. Wanting to drink alone, I mean. Not that I drink a lot. But I’m here, um, anyway? Not alone—well, I am alone right now, but that’s because my friends aren’t here, and I thought, 'Hey, maybe I’ll just come and… relax?' Except I'm not exactly relaxing. Anyway!" Keyleth suddenly realized she had been talking too long and flushed deeply. "I—uh, sorry. You said alone. I should… I’ll just… be over here. Quietly." She offered a strained smile and made an awkward gesture toward her glass as if it could somehow save her from herself.