The truth is that 1999 makes him feel better, more at ease. He'd never call it simpler aloud, least of all to anyone's face -- and frankly he can't think of a term that feels more suiting and less demeaning to the struggles everyone in Höllvania faces -- but in a way it is. They share a common enemy, it's a ground war, and without he myriad factions, Void floods, or constant threat of Sentients popping up, there are worse frontlines to be on. And it was the farthest possible place he could be from the Zariman which, in his book, was the best place to be.
" Hm, actually you're my first stop, " he muses, setting the bag slung about his shoulder on the bar top. " But thanks for the hint, now I know who I'm visiting next. " He's half-joking. Of all the people to air out grievances and talk to, Drifter feels the least qualified. Even for simple things like just engaging in regular human conversation, he's woefully lacking. It's one of the benefits of transference, he thinks. No words required. Yet it's not an easy thing, he knows. Especially when there was still so much of his own mind that was walled off.
" Umbra's patrolling, " he starts, hopping up on the bar counter and swinging his legs over, landing on the other side. He might have all the social graces of a rock, but he knows Arthur well enough by know to slap the urge to escape and get back to work out of his hands. Drifter's much the same way, unfortunately for Arthur 'getting to work' also just so happens to mean getting to him. Besides he has his own motives; a conversation with Amir he hasn't been able to get out of his head.
Whatever Arthur's drinking -- or staring into with deep Britannic contemplation -- Drifter removes, finishes, and tosses aside. Two clean glasses are placed on the bartop, and Drifter pulls a bottle -- more of a jug really -- from his bag. " Wine from Cetus, " he announces, filling the glasses with the spirit before setting one before Arthur. " It's supposed to be imbued with the 'etheric signature' of someone you wish to be rid of. 'Drink them in the evening, expel them by morning' -- so the merchants say. Don't ----- think of me when you drink it. The pettiness of an Ostron merchant might actually fuck with time travel. "