((Short... >.> Sorry.))

Poor girl. Reassuring smile was already playing on Deryn's lips but she chose to supress it for the current moment just to see what the girl woud manage to stutter out. Mean maybe; but Deryn wasn't going to do anything big like kicking her out of the pub or telling any of the Professors about the student's ventures. She listened patiently, her gaze lingering on the young man at the bar, who seemed to take a notice of this particular girl the exact moment, right in front of her eyes. Lack of light and distance made it difficult to read the expression on his face, but one thing was for sure -- those two knew each other at the very least.

"I - well," said Alannah, pausing, and trying not to go red, "d-does it matter?"

Well, that was something to give credit for indeed. The planned reassuring smile was replaced by a grin as she gazed at the younger girl again. "You're quite right. Here, it doesn't." The barmaid replied with a small wink. Perhaps working at such place made her lose her morals, but it wasn't about that. She waved her hand at the girl's honest response about her age and inquired further. "Now, that it's settled, what can I get you?"

"Really, I'm just... waiting,"

Deryn's eyes flew towards the other student again, and while now she was quite sure that those two indeed knew each other, she was still baffled what game was being played in this dreary pub. She was sensible enough not to ask directly, choosing to continue watching from a distance. "Well, maybe I could still get you something to drink while you are waiting?" Deryn asked, her attention on the dark-haired witch again. When the answer came she headed back to the bar, stopping by another figure of today's show. "Anything else?"