Through the haze the beer has created, it takes Mathias more than just a moment to absorb what she's said to him and though his smile fades slightly, there's no more reaction than that for several seconds. There are other things he takes in first; that she looks lovely in her dress, that she seems nervous, that there's still a party going on around them, but the voices sound distant and the bottle in his hand is momentarily forgotten. Only then, once all these things have been acknowledged, does he hear what she's saying and he tilts his head slightly, as if he's trying to hear her more clearly.

Finally, after a long delay, he says, "Oh."

It's too late and he's had too much to eat and drink for him to even be sure what he feels. It doesn't surprise him that there's someone else Sookie would choose over him. History counts for a lot and he knows, were Veronica to ever come back, he'd do everything in his power to be with her again. And that he thinks of Veronica at a time like this is telling, he supposes. He isn't angry. He's disappointed, yes, but also a little relieved.

"You spoke with him?" he asks.