I wanted to speak with you regarding some thoughts I have on my mind and perhaps get a second opinion of sorts. Could we meet somewhere to talk?
[There's a pause, before he checks the time and adds--]
In exchange, I'll even pay for a meal if you haven't eaten yet today.
[Because this is Azul, and of course he isn't going to expect you to give up your free time for... well, free, on his behalf. Even with today's date being what it is, but it wouldn't surprise him if Leona wouldn't know what importance today's date has, since Azul can't recall if it's ever come up in conversation here or even back home.]
[Azul gives the name of a restaurant on Eltrut (apparently the most popular one is named "Dragon's Milk"? Which... ehhh can't say he likes that name at all, but it sounds like they're the most well-liked among the residents here from what he's been told when asking around...) and a time of about 20 minutes from now as he hopes that should be enough time for Leona to arrive.]
[It's not hard to find Azul--he had been hovering inside the restaurant's entrance here waiting for the lion, and upon spotting Leona, he steps out and gestures for Leona to come inside.]
Come in, come in, I've already secured a table for both of us.
[Sure enough, there is a table that Azul is leading Leona toward, and while this place does appear to be one of the busier ones with plenty of customers at this particular hour, the table that Azul has gotten for himself and Leona is one of the more private ones tucked away in a corner, so they should not have to worry too much about dealing with other people aside from the waitstaff working here.]
[A bit of a brow raise even as he follows Azul further inside.]
What's the occasion, octo-punk?
[A little private corner for just the two of them in a rather known restaurant, too. If he didn't know any better, he'd think Azul is trying to take him out on a date.]
[Wow, excuse you? This is for business purposes... and also not because it happens to be Azul's birthday today and he wants some kind of distraction or semblance of normalcy in regards to that fact, like... eating good food with your classmates? Sure, that works.
But he's sure as hell not going to say that. Instead, he's come up with a reasonable enough excuse that has nothing to do with those facts.]
I wanted to discuss some ideas I had: do you remember that book I took from the auction house? I found a few descriptions regarding possible methods of multiverse travel, including at least one so far that could actually be tested here to see if it would allow us to return to Twisted Wonderland...
[He explains, as he takes out some papers where he's copied down the information and patterns that were drawn in the book explaining it for Leona to look at as a waiter comes over and asks what they would like to drink. Azul asks for water for now, but says to Leona--]
Feel free to order whatever you'd like... well, within reason, of course.
[You try to order the most expensive item on the menu and Azul will know you're doing it just to mess with him and shut you down.]
[Azul, there's something to be said if you're willing to dine with Leona Kingscholar, of all people. You know. The guy that kind of helped jumpstart your overblot?
Leona raises a brow.]
I remember. I'm surprised you've actually managed to find anything like that.
[He might be a little impressed. On the other hand, there is a bit of a suspicious look at the kind offer.]
How generous of you.
[Still, he does order water for now. But you can bet he's going to order at least a decent meal with good meat on it.]
[To be fair... you're the only other person from Twisted Wonderland that's here to choose from. But if you want him to actually state a reason for his "generosity" out loud, then fine, he'll give you one upon seeing that suspicious look as he sighs, tracing his finger in some kind of unknown pattern against his side of the table.]
If you must, consider this my way of repaying you for your help in the ice caverns a while back.
[Though, the less said about that whole experience, the better. He's not interested in talking about any of what was said and done if he can help it here.]
[Azul says, as he grimaces at the memory. Thank goodness nobody saw that display of embarrassment...]
Regardless, the least I could do is treat you to a meal in exchange for the assistance you provided during that whole fiasco. You don't have a problem with that, do you?
I should hope not, seeing as I'm generously offering to pay for it here.
[But, Azul does actually seem a little relieved to hear that? Now they can finally be considered even for the time being in terms of favors and things that they've been owing one another lately...
The waiter comes back with the water and prepared to order their meals. The place is primarily seafood in terms of meat but it does look like there's still a few options to choose from for those not in the mood for fish. Like the salad that Azul has managed to find on the menu tucked in the corner of the rather small list of items that isn't meat or salty snacks, but even if there isn't a calorie count listed with it, this will probably be fine...]
[Azul blinks at that--he had genuinely forgotten that Leona probably has never seen what his eating habits are like. Or maybe he has from the few times they are both actually in the school's cafeteria at the same time, but to be fair, it's not like such a thing is important enough to worth commenting on normally, right?]
It's not a matter of getting "full", it's a matter of picking something that doesn't exceed my calorie count for the day too much...
[However, he does glance at Leona's meat that is brought to the table, and then at the menu again that's been left behind on the table still. Remembers again that today is his birthday, so he could convince himself to not care so much about such things today... but for now, he stubbornly stabs his fork into the salad to eat. He already ordered it, it would be shameful to let too much of it go to waste.
That said, it's likely going to become increasingly apparent that Azul isn't really eating his salad in a way that makes it seem like he's actually enjoying it, given how slow he's probably eating here in comparison to Leona and his own meat that was ordered.]
Sure, but are you really satisfied with just that?
[But you know what, to each their own. Leona is definitely going to enjoy his meat, looking very pleased by it even if the seasoning isn't quite to his taste.
After a moment, though, he does notice Azul not enjoying his salad. He's eating slow. So, it has Leona grunting a bit, waving a server over to order another dish. He didn't miss the way Azul glanced at the menu earlier or the way he looked at his own dish.]
[Azul doesn't say anything to that. In fact, he doesn't really talk at all for a while as they eat, or even look up from his salad that he's taking such slow bites of, at least not until Leona waves a server over and thus Azul finally looks up here, raising an eyebrow.]
Just for that, I should make whatever you're about to get next the last thing you're allowed to order here... at least, as far as anything that I'm willing to pay for.
[He can't actually stop Leona from ordering but he can tell the waiter to put them on separate checks if Leona keeps testing his limits here.]
Excuse me? Is that any way to speak to someone who--
[But then the server has returned before Azul can finish what he's saying, and Leona is suddenly pushing the dish toward Azul rather than pulling it toward himself, causing Azul to falter.]
[Leona nudges the dish more towards Azul and then pulls away that sad bowl of salad.]
Enjoy eating more, octo-punk. Seeing you looking sad while eating just makes a rather unenjoyable sight. If you're going to invite me to eat with you, at least eat something you like.
[Azul blinks in surprise, clearly not having expected this gesture before he looks away, a little awkward and embarrassed now as he huffs.]
I was not looking sad. You're just saying that because you can't stand the sight of vegetables in general.
[And yet, he notably doesn't attempt to retrieve and pull that salad back over to his side of the table. Instead, Azul's looking at the dish that's in front of him now with a rather unreadable expression, until after a rather long beat for someone to be staring at their food, he finally picks up his silverware as he sighs.]
... Regardless, I suppose I can't let this go to waste now that it's already been brought to the table.
[So he takes a bite, and despite the fact that all he's doing is eating, there is in fact a noticeable difference immediately. Whether that be via actually catching the way his eyes light up a little more, or that his next bite after is much quicker than the halting, reluctant speed he was eating at before, it's still pretty obvious that Azul is in fact enjoying the taste of this more than he had that salad.]
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[There's a pause, before he checks the time and adds--]
In exchange, I'll even pay for a meal if you haven't eaten yet today.
[Because this is Azul, and of course he isn't going to expect you to give up your free time for... well, free, on his behalf. Even with today's date being what it is, but it wouldn't surprise him if Leona wouldn't know what importance today's date has, since Azul can't recall if it's ever come up in conversation here or even back home.]
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He squints a bit at the message. It sounds like an Azul thing to do, but it's also weird that he's asking him to meet somewhere.]
Name a place and time. I'll be there.
[Alas, he's not one to turn down a free meal either, especially from a stingy octopus.]
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Will this work for you?
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[And that's all he'll say.
Twenty minutes or so later, Leona arrives at the designated location and looks around for the octopus.]
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Come in, come in, I've already secured a table for both of us.
[Sure enough, there is a table that Azul is leading Leona toward, and while this place does appear to be one of the busier ones with plenty of customers at this particular hour, the table that Azul has gotten for himself and Leona is one of the more private ones tucked away in a corner, so they should not have to worry too much about dealing with other people aside from the waitstaff working here.]
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What's the occasion, octo-punk?
[A little private corner for just the two of them in a rather known restaurant, too. If he didn't know any better, he'd think Azul is trying to take him out on a date.]
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But he's sure as hell not going to say that. Instead, he's come up with a reasonable enough excuse that has nothing to do with those facts.]
I wanted to discuss some ideas I had: do you remember that book I took from the auction house? I found a few descriptions regarding possible methods of multiverse travel, including at least one so far that could actually be tested here to see if it would allow us to return to Twisted Wonderland...
[He explains, as he takes out some papers where he's copied down the information and patterns that were drawn in the book explaining it for Leona to look at as a waiter comes over and asks what they would like to drink. Azul asks for water for now, but says to Leona--]
Feel free to order whatever you'd like... well, within reason, of course.
[You try to order the most expensive item on the menu and Azul will know you're doing it just to mess with him and shut you down.]
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Leona raises a brow.]
I remember. I'm surprised you've actually managed to find anything like that.
[He might be a little impressed. On the other hand, there is a bit of a suspicious look at the kind offer.]
How generous of you.
[Still, he does order water for now. But you can bet he's going to order at least a decent meal with good meat on it.]
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If you must, consider this my way of repaying you for your help in the ice caverns a while back.
[Though, the less said about that whole experience, the better. He's not interested in talking about any of what was said and done if he can help it here.]
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Thought this was hush money to prevent me from talking to people how I carried you like a sack of potatoes.
[Though it works in his favor at least.]
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[Azul says, as he grimaces at the memory. Thank goodness nobody saw that display of embarrassment...]
Regardless, the least I could do is treat you to a meal in exchange for the assistance you provided during that whole fiasco. You don't have a problem with that, do you?
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[Leona quirks a brow at him. He gets fed, so he's a happy lion. Even if...it's a little less meat than he usually likes.]
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[But, Azul does actually seem a little relieved to hear that? Now they can finally be considered even for the time being in terms of favors and things that they've been owing one another lately...
The waiter comes back with the water and prepared to order their meals. The place is primarily seafood in terms of meat but it does look like there's still a few options to choose from for those not in the mood for fish. Like the salad that Azul has managed to find on the menu tucked in the corner of the rather small list of items that isn't meat or salty snacks, but even if there isn't a calorie count listed with it, this will probably be fine...]
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[Leona does look at the food with mild curiosity. He did manage to order a good piece of meat, though he does raise a brow at the salad.]
That's all you're eating?
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[Azul blinks at that--he had genuinely forgotten that Leona probably has never seen what his eating habits are like. Or maybe he has from the few times they are both actually in the school's cafeteria at the same time, but to be fair, it's not like such a thing is important enough to worth commenting on normally, right?]
Is there a problem with that?
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[Carnivore thoughts. Can't relate. Leona is looking at it like it's personally offended him.]
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[However, he does glance at Leona's meat that is brought to the table, and then at the menu again that's been left behind on the table still. Remembers again that today is his birthday, so he could convince himself to not care so much about such things today... but for now, he stubbornly stabs his fork into the salad to eat. He already ordered it, it would be shameful to let too much of it go to waste.
That said, it's likely going to become increasingly apparent that Azul isn't really eating his salad in a way that makes it seem like he's actually enjoying it, given how slow he's probably eating here in comparison to Leona and his own meat that was ordered.]
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[But you know what, to each their own. Leona is definitely going to enjoy his meat, looking very pleased by it even if the seasoning isn't quite to his taste.
After a moment, though, he does notice Azul not enjoying his salad. He's eating slow. So, it has Leona grunting a bit, waving a server over to order another dish. He didn't miss the way Azul glanced at the menu earlier or the way he looked at his own dish.]
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Huh? You're still hungry?
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[He flashes him a sly look.]
Don't worry, though. I ain't going to drain you dry.
[And he's back to finishing his meat dish. Yum yum yum~]
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Just for that, I should make whatever you're about to get next the last thing you're allowed to order here... at least, as far as anything that I'm willing to pay for.
[He can't actually stop Leona from ordering but he can tell the waiter to put them on separate checks if Leona keeps testing his limits here.]
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[He scoffs.
The server eventually returns with another meat dish and the lion pushes the dish over to Azul.]
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[But then the server has returned before Azul can finish what he's saying, and Leona is suddenly pushing the dish toward Azul rather than pulling it toward himself, causing Azul to falter.]
Huh? Didn't you order that for yourself?
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[Leona nudges the dish more towards Azul and then pulls away that sad bowl of salad.]
Enjoy eating more, octo-punk. Seeing you looking sad while eating just makes a rather unenjoyable sight. If you're going to invite me to eat with you, at least eat something you like.
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I was not looking sad. You're just saying that because you can't stand the sight of vegetables in general.
[And yet, he notably doesn't attempt to retrieve and pull that salad back over to his side of the table. Instead, Azul's looking at the dish that's in front of him now with a rather unreadable expression, until after a rather long beat for someone to be staring at their food, he finally picks up his silverware as he sighs.]
... Regardless, I suppose I can't let this go to waste now that it's already been brought to the table.
[So he takes a bite, and despite the fact that all he's doing is eating, there is in fact a noticeable difference immediately. Whether that be via actually catching the way his eyes light up a little more, or that his next bite after is much quicker than the halting, reluctant speed he was eating at before, it's still pretty obvious that Azul is in fact enjoying the taste of this more than he had that salad.]
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cw that probably should have gone up sooner but now being more direct about azul's eating disorder
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