Mihail had not doubted his skill coming into the archery competition, and he was not surprised by his success afterwards. After the arrow-split, it had seemed increasingly unlikely that anybody would top his score, and especially so when the majority of contestants appeared to be of the lower classes who did not have the ability to practice the sport as finely or as often as he. He had watched the other competitors with a raised eyebrow and a disdainful expression for a while, then grown bored of the game and drifted away once more to find his guard and fulfil the promise of wine.

He had lingered appropriately as the event ended, and the occasion turned to matters of celebration rather than further sports, uninterested in any event which was not archery and not paying most of the competitors any attention. Once it was over, the red ribbon had slipped from his hair so that his Stygian curls were given the freedom to fall dramatically back around his shoulders as he preferred them, and the thin strip of fabric had been handed back to his guard. "I should like to remain for a few drinks. I will inform you when I am ready to leave." The words were an implicit instruction for the man to trail him at an acceptable distance, so that he could enjoy himself without the bother of any unwanted small talk either with those who dared approached or the guard himself.

A few spare coins had been exchanged for a goblet of dark wine of highly questionable quality, which the Thanasi lord sipped slowly, as if the speed (or lack thereof) of consumption might have some beneficial effect on the taste of the drink. One hand still clutched his bow, refusing to let it go lest it were damaged, his dark eyes running over the others present until he was interrupted by the voice of another praising his archery performance.

"Thank you," he responded instinctively, assuming that would be the end of the discussion and preparing to turn away again, gaze already starting to flicker back towards his guard as though to prepare for him to deal with this irritating interlocutor. Instead, Mihail's gaze moved upwards to note the man in full, recognising him from earlier: he had watched him shoot, if solely because he had not performed too late after the Thanasi himself. It was not an interaction he wished to reject.

Curving his features into a friendlier smile that was typical, half-flirting without the words, the lord observed this tall man over the rim of his wine goblet. "Mm, I have had rather a lot of practice, you understand. But, mm, between you and me...archery is not my only skill. I would be more than glad to show you my other talents, if you would be so inclined." And if not, well, Mihail knew how to entertain himself, and the other would never know what he had missed. A shame. He set down his goblet then, sticking his hand out in the feminine manner he preferred. "But perhaps I could have a name for the handsome face? Lord Mihail of Thanasi. As you clearly know."