[Azul gives him a frustrated look at that remark, but otherwise does not continue the argument for the time being, on account of the fact that this meat is actually good.
It's not the best thing he's ever eaten in his life, of course, but he can understand immediately why this restaurant has had modest success with it upon tasting this particular dish. There's a good flavor to it thanks to the way the meat was cooked and the seasonings that were chosen by the chefs to accompany it. Normally he might have even started talking about it out loud if Floyd and Jade had been here to listen so that they could offer their own opinions on whether it's something worth replicating for the Lounge. But since they're not here and he's in the company of Leona instead, he doesn't, staying quietly focused on his meal instead.
Not that the salad didn't have any flavor either, exactly, but given that he eats so many other foods that are supposed to be "healthy" calorie-conscious meals so frequently, he has to quietly concede at least to himself that he does get sick of the taste after a while. The truth of the matter is that Azul, despite his needling at Leona for it a second ago, has always enjoyed meat more than vegetables himself. Probably not to the exact same degree Leona does but put a plate of fried chicken in front of him and there's a good chance that Azul would have it polished off within seconds.
Suddenly his fork hits nothing, and Azul abruptly realizes that he's already finished what he had on his plate here despite the fact that it was not fried chicken by comparison, blinking at it not unlike how a cat might upon seeing that their bowl is already empty again. Damn, maybe it has been a while since he last ate something with a good flavor to it, if he finished the meat so quickly that he may as well have inhaled it by comparison to that salad that's still abandoned off to the side.]
Fortunately, Leona doesn't talk much while he waits. He's rather much focused on getting something in his stomach than to waste his time on small talk. Or rather, it could be that he and Azul really don't have much to talk about. Still, it's something for him to see how Azul practically devoured that meat dish without stopping once.
He holds back a snort.]
Seems like you've really enjoyed that dish, octo-punk.
[Seriously. Just eat what you want. Leona really doesn't get it.]
[Azul has reasons for why his eating habits are the way they are these days, but it's not something he is going to openly share so easily. Besides, Leona probably wouldn't get it still even if Azul did try to explain himself, he thinks...
Instead, Azul busies himself with taking a drink before he speaks, attempting to regain some semblance of cool in his tone.]
It had a good flavor. I can understand now why you had chosen it, as well as acknowledge that this restaurant should feel confident in their skills when preparing this particular meat.
[There's a chance that it could kill him to be honest depending on what exactly Azul chooses to be honest about, but in this case...]
Huh? Is that not basically what I was saying?
[no its not, azul]
But fine, to put it simply, yes. I did enjoy it.
[It would be kind of silly to try to lie about it otherwise, given not only how quickly he ate it, but that he actually finished it right than leaving it half-eaten like that salad.]
Of course not. That would have been a waste of money otherwise to buy food and then not eat it.
[And yet, that sad salad just sits there, even as he realizes vaguely that this makes him immediately sound like a hypocrite. And so, he rather quickly says--]
Since I ended up eating a little more than I thought I would be here, I'll have to take this back to my place as leftovers for later.
[So see, it's fine! He isn't being wasteful at all! He will finish his sad salad when he has to eat again later!]
[A low hum. One that tells Azul exactly that he doesn't quite believe him. This poor salad was chosen first and then discarded. How could you do such a thing to it?]
Why not order something else with it to go in that case?
[Azul bristles at that, now offended as he glares.]
Excuse me? I'm not a freak for being on a diet. In fact, it's often necessary for many people, not just myself, to keep track of calories and the like in order to maintain one's health and weight in a reasonable manner.
For health, sure. But the way I see it, it does more harm than good.
[He shrugs.]
Exercising is good for ya. Eat what ya want in moderation and work out in the meantime. But you gotta enjoy the food you eat and not make yourself depressed eating it.
[Leona quirks a brow and nods to the lonely salad.]
[Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say as Azul suddenly brings a hand down on the table, rather forceful and abrupt.]
Look. I'm going to try to be nice and not assume that you are incapable of being concerned about anything like this in regards to your own well being. But since we're talking about myself here, the fact of the matter is that I do have my own reasons for doing whatever I feel I have to for managing my weight, regardless of where we are. It's important to me that I don't lose control over this one thing, even if it doesn't seem like it should matter what anyone else thinks about it.
[He doesn't have any control over the situation that forces them to be here in this place... but at least there is one thing he can still try to influence control over while they're here, in this case being what he eats.]
And, it shouldn't be any of your business how I choose to do so, given that you just admitted yourself that it doesn't actually matter to you here.
[There's a brief silence before he exhales suddenly.]
Sure, just don't starve yourself.
[Leona tilts his head at him.]
Like ya said, you got your own reasons. But bringing yourself to this point? There's a fine balance you need so you don't let yourself feel the effects long-term.
[Azul frowns deeper at that but does not say anything to argue against it yet. Because honestly, he would just be repeating himself by this point. Floyd and Jade have also tried to tell him that he should be a little less strict on himself when it comes to his dieting, but he tends to brush them off when they do.
Even if he may have to concede, at least privately to himself, that he hates a lot of the meals he eats for the sake of being "healthy", but... the alternative of giving into the occasional urge to clean off an entire table's worth of meat and any high calorie foods is even less healthy, he thinks. So... perhaps he does tend to end up going too far in the opposite direction trying to avoid that.
However, Azul isn't going to admit that Leona might be right so easily.]
I'm not trying to starve myself. [But, that's all he says for a moment before he sighs, and Azul forces his hands on the table here to relax from where they had started to curl into fists of agitation.] And I do plan on finishing that salad, as I do not particularly enjoy the thought of letting food go to waste if I can help it.
[Leona watches him closely, taking in every reaction. Every bit that Azul is saying and not saying. He's seen his fair share of "dieting". Vil is an example, though the model has figured out that balance of maintaining his beauty without sacrificing his appetite for it. He knows the Pomefiore housewarden's tendencies not to eat at night, but everyone has that craving they can't quite ignore.
He's lived for two decades. He's seen plenty of things already. The way Azul is dieting? He doesn't think it's healthy. Not one bit.]
Never said you weren't going to finish it. Thought food was supposed to make ya happy; don't push yourself more than you need to if you can't enjoy what you eat.
[... Hmm. That Ramshackle Prefect said something like that too to him, once.]
You make that sound so easy.
[And it probably should be, in fact.
But some days are harder than others when it comes to his concerns on this matter, and Azul doesn't particularly want to get into it any more than he already has allowed himself to say. Not today, at least.]
[Azul's gaze averts a little, determined to keep his attention on watching for their server to come back rather than give Leona the satisfaction of acknowledging that damn smirk.]
I'm simply curious about whether or not they have anything else worth making note of that I didn't notice the first time while looking at it.
[uh-huh, sure Azul...
The waiter comes back, and Azul looks at the menu again, this time not at the side where those salads and other "healthy" options were at before. Instead, he's looking at the meat again, before he seems to find what he's looking for: this place is primarily fond of seafood, but while Azul isn't opposed to it (except for octopus, for obvious reasons), it's not his favorite type of meat to consume.
Instead, his attention is drawn to one of the few offerings of chicken they do happen to have, and after a long moment of wrestling with himself internally on it, the siren call of chicken seems to win out as he calls the waiter back over.]
I'd like to order this dish here. Also, I'll need a container for the salad, please.
["Of course. And was there anything that you wanted as well, sir?"
This is being directed to Leona now, as the waiter turns their attention back to him finally.]
[Wow, don't eat octopus in front of Azul?? On his own birthday, in fact??? Leona would absolutely deserve to get decked.
Anyway, it seems that Azul will allow Leona to order another plate of that meat for himself, rather than make some kind of snide remark again about how Leona needs to be more mindful of Azul's budget or wallet.]
For the record, I'm only making an exception for today to... allow this to be a "cheat" day, or whatever it is that people like to call it.
[It's said with a tone that feels like he wants to say something like "See, I did the thing, happy now?" but that would be a lot more childish, so he doesn't.]
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It's not the best thing he's ever eaten in his life, of course, but he can understand immediately why this restaurant has had modest success with it upon tasting this particular dish. There's a good flavor to it thanks to the way the meat was cooked and the seasonings that were chosen by the chefs to accompany it. Normally he might have even started talking about it out loud if Floyd and Jade had been here to listen so that they could offer their own opinions on whether it's something worth replicating for the Lounge. But since they're not here and he's in the company of Leona instead, he doesn't, staying quietly focused on his meal instead.
Not that the salad didn't have any flavor either, exactly, but given that he eats so many other foods that are supposed to be "healthy" calorie-conscious meals so frequently, he has to quietly concede at least to himself that he does get sick of the taste after a while. The truth of the matter is that Azul, despite his needling at Leona for it a second ago, has always enjoyed meat more than vegetables himself. Probably not to the exact same degree Leona does but put a plate of fried chicken in front of him and there's a good chance that Azul would have it polished off within seconds.
Suddenly his fork hits nothing, and Azul abruptly realizes that he's already finished what he had on his plate here despite the fact that it was not fried chicken by comparison, blinking at it not unlike how a cat might upon seeing that their bowl is already empty again. Damn, maybe it has been a while since he last ate something with a good flavor to it, if he finished the meat so quickly that he may as well have inhaled it by comparison to that salad that's still abandoned off to the side.]
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[He raises a brow at that.
Fortunately, Leona doesn't talk much while he waits. He's rather much focused on getting something in his stomach than to waste his time on small talk. Or rather, it could be that he and Azul really don't have much to talk about. Still, it's something for him to see how Azul practically devoured that meat dish without stopping once.
He holds back a snort.]
Seems like you've really enjoyed that dish, octo-punk.
[Seriously. Just eat what you want. Leona really doesn't get it.]
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Instead, Azul busies himself with taking a drink before he speaks, attempting to regain some semblance of cool in his tone.]
It had a good flavor. I can understand now why you had chosen it, as well as acknowledge that this restaurant should feel confident in their skills when preparing this particular meat.
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[He sighs at him.]
That’s what I’m really asking here.
[Would it kill the octopus to be honest? Maybe.]
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Huh? Is that not basically what I was saying?
[no its not, azul]
But fine, to put it simply, yes. I did enjoy it.
[It would be kind of silly to try to lie about it otherwise, given not only how quickly he ate it, but that he actually finished it right than leaving it half-eaten like that salad.]
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Good. At least you didn’t waste it.
[Like this sad salad. Leona lightly nudges the bowl with his finger.]
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[And yet, that sad salad just sits there, even as he realizes vaguely that this makes him immediately sound like a hypocrite. And so, he rather quickly says--]
Since I ended up eating a little more than I thought I would be here, I'll have to take this back to my place as leftovers for later.
[So see, it's fine! He isn't being wasteful at all! He will finish his sad salad when he has to eat again later!]
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[A low hum. One that tells Azul exactly that he doesn't quite believe him. This poor salad was chosen first and then discarded. How could you do such a thing to it?]
Why not order something else with it to go in that case?
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I could, but as tempting as that may be, I need to be mindful to not exceed my calorie count for the day...
[And there it is, finally saying something about that diet of his that he's on.]
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[He stares at that.]
...Don't tell me you're one of those diet freaks.
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Excuse me? I'm not a freak for being on a diet. In fact, it's often necessary for many people, not just myself, to keep track of calories and the like in order to maintain one's health and weight in a reasonable manner.
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[He shrugs.]
Exercising is good for ya. Eat what ya want in moderation and work out in the meantime. But you gotta enjoy the food you eat and not make yourself depressed eating it.
[Leona quirks a brow and nods to the lonely salad.]
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[But then, something seems to occur to Azul here to ask finally as he frowns.]
Why do you even care about this anyway? I don't see how it matters to you what I eat or don't eat here.
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[Even so…]
Just don’t need ya starvin’ yourself when you don’t need to in this place. Ain’t like it’s back home, after all.
cw that probably should have gone up sooner but now being more direct about azul's eating disorder
Look. I'm going to try to be nice and not assume that you are incapable of being concerned about anything like this in regards to your own well being. But since we're talking about myself here, the fact of the matter is that I do have my own reasons for doing whatever I feel I have to for managing my weight, regardless of where we are. It's important to me that I don't lose control over this one thing, even if it doesn't seem like it should matter what anyone else thinks about it.
[He doesn't have any control over the situation that forces them to be here in this place... but at least there is one thing he can still try to influence control over while they're here, in this case being what he eats.]
And, it shouldn't be any of your business how I choose to do so, given that you just admitted yourself that it doesn't actually matter to you here.
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Sure, just don't starve yourself.
[Leona tilts his head at him.]
Like ya said, you got your own reasons. But bringing yourself to this point? There's a fine balance you need so you don't let yourself feel the effects long-term.
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Even if he may have to concede, at least privately to himself, that he hates a lot of the meals he eats for the sake of being "healthy", but... the alternative of giving into the occasional urge to clean off an entire table's worth of meat and any high calorie foods is even less healthy, he thinks. So... perhaps he does tend to end up going too far in the opposite direction trying to avoid that.
However, Azul isn't going to admit that Leona might be right so easily.]
I'm not trying to starve myself. [But, that's all he says for a moment before he sighs, and Azul forces his hands on the table here to relax from where they had started to curl into fists of agitation.] And I do plan on finishing that salad, as I do not particularly enjoy the thought of letting food go to waste if I can help it.
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He's lived for two decades. He's seen plenty of things already. The way Azul is dieting? He doesn't think it's healthy. Not one bit.]
Never said you weren't going to finish it. Thought food was supposed to make ya happy; don't push yourself more than you need to if you can't enjoy what you eat.
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You make that sound so easy.
[And it probably should be, in fact.
But some days are harder than others when it comes to his concerns on this matter, and Azul doesn't particularly want to get into it any more than he already has allowed himself to say. Not today, at least.]
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[POT MEET KETTLE. But this isn't about him. It's about Azul and his terrible eating habits.]
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[... Maybe too much effort, in fact.
Still, Azul seems to take Leona's words now as a challenge of some kind, because as the waiter steps up to ask if they need anything right now...]
My apologies, but can you bring back to the table a menu for us? I want to take a look at it again.
["Oh, of course sir! Wait one moment please."]
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[He raises an eyebrow when Azul asks for a menu.
Well then.]
Still hungry?
[Smirk.]
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I'm simply curious about whether or not they have anything else worth making note of that I didn't notice the first time while looking at it.
[uh-huh, sure Azul...
The waiter comes back, and Azul looks at the menu again, this time not at the side where those salads and other "healthy" options were at before. Instead, he's looking at the meat again, before he seems to find what he's looking for: this place is primarily fond of seafood, but while Azul isn't opposed to it (except for octopus, for obvious reasons), it's not his favorite type of meat to consume.
Instead, his attention is drawn to one of the few offerings of chicken they do happen to have, and after a long moment of wrestling with himself internally on it, the siren call of chicken seems to win out as he calls the waiter back over.]
I'd like to order this dish here. Also, I'll need a container for the salad, please.
["Of course. And was there anything that you wanted as well, sir?"
This is being directed to Leona now, as the waiter turns their attention back to him finally.]
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But he doesn’t need the actual octopus across from him to punch him in the face.]
Another order of that meat dish I got before.
[Leona is not touching those healthy foods. Nope.]
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Anyway, it seems that Azul will allow Leona to order another plate of that meat for himself, rather than make some kind of snide remark again about how Leona needs to be more mindful of Azul's budget or wallet.]
For the record, I'm only making an exception for today to... allow this to be a "cheat" day, or whatever it is that people like to call it.
[It's said with a tone that feels like he wants to say something like "See, I did the thing, happy now?" but that would be a lot more childish, so he doesn't.]
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