An Ariel's Shot

I was rereading something I wrote a while back. I had forgotten the details of a race of flying creatures, the Ariels, wanting to get drunk, but needing to fly straight. Oh, it might be helpful to know that Gonzalo is a telepath. Here is the scene:

Zhara: an Ariel

This time he sat in a bar. He ordered an Ariel’s Shot. Zhara had taught he to drink, in her memory, he would drink. This liquor was strong and buzzed immediately, but metabolized quickly. As the custom, Gonzalo threw back the first shot then tapped the cup twice for the refill, which was sipped and refilled to continue the buzz as long as it was desired. The ritual was closed with a full glass of water, which allowed the Ariel to fly straight has he left the bar. The drink effected humans differently, but Gonzalo was accustomed to the sensation. When his shot was refilled, he stumbled to a booth in the corner and let his mind wander as he sipped. 

An older man slipped into the other seat. “Not many drink an Ariel’s Shot like an Ariel.”

Without really meaning to, Gonzalo shot a picture of Zhara's body being carried away into the man’s mind. He realized instantly that he was not in full control of his abilities. Alhough he focused on the smooth texture of the table under his fingertips, but he couldn’t control his shaking fingers.

“A Telpy? That’s something new too. Alright, who was she?”

Gonzalo tried to find a word to describe Zhara, but there was no single word that fit.

“OK, show me.” The man was gentle.

Gonzalo looked sharply up. He suddenly understood the Ariel proverb, “There is nothing so desirous as an open mind.” He had originally thought it was an exhortation to be open to new experiences and information, but now he realized that to an Ariel, who were all telepaths, and open mind meant unrestricted access to another person’s mind. Something told him this man also understood that, but was not afraid of opening his mind to that danger.

Cautiously at first, Gonzalo showed the man his life with Zhara, how she had saved him, trained him, guided him, taken care of him, loved him. As he remembered her, his grief was unleashed and he put his head in his hands and wept. He knew that in this state he was vulnerable to mental attacks, and if this man was a telepath himself, he was in great danger. But no attacks came.

Instead, as Gonzalo controlled his emotions, the man ordered a glass of water, then got up to leave. “Drink it and find me. Turn right at the corner and look for the red feather.”