[Mint knows the way Sparkling pauses here, that he's searching for words, and allows him the silence to do so. His face still falls when the words come, and his eyes search Sparkling's for a second, but find no lies - not that he expected any. Mint drops his gaze downward again with a soft exhale.]

That explains much and little all at once. She must be a truly powerful god.

[He has to take a moment to reorganize his thoughts before looking back up at his friend, trying to focus on the parts of him that are still very much Sparkling instead of the ones that make his heart twist. He knows exactly how much Sparkling values his looks.]

I, I must confess, I do not recall anything amiss back home before arriving here. I had seen you just a few days ago, and was planning to visit your bar this very evening. No one had gone missing that I was aware. How can that be? Dare I ask who else is here?

[A beat, and then he manages a small, sad smile.]

No, I best ask. If you were the first and have a place of your own here, I expect you've extended your infamous hospitality to them, after all.