"Details," Aria said, waving her hand dramatically before collapsing into a seat. "Still counts if I outlasted them."
Caria set down a tray of freshly grilled shellfish and steaming bread rolls. "You lasted because they ran out of ale, not because you won."
"Victory by default is still victory," Aria mumbled, already reaching for the food.
Rhys hid a grin and took one of the rolls. "You're going to regret all this in the morning."
"I regret nothing!" she said through a mouthful of bread, then immediately coughed and reached for her drink again.
Lyra laughed softly beside him. "You know," she said, glancing around at the music and lights, "it's strange seeing everyone so calm after what happened. Like the whole city just… reset."
"That's the thing about people," Sophia said, sitting across from her. "We don't stop. We just start again somewhere else."
Caria nodded faintly. "And fix what's broken."
