opportunitycosts | [ empatheias ] message box

[Presa. He knows that was supposed to be (jokingly) threatening, but. ...He somehow. SOMEHOW. Managed to make it dirty in his mind. Fortunately he's being a "gentleman" and not only keeping those thoughts out but not "saying" them either. She'll probably sense the smirk that formed, though.]

Should I go ahead and prepare a meal and some wine, milady? [Joking.]

[ It might be safer if he kept it to himself. Who knows what her limits with him are today because it is always changing depending on her mood. ]

Oh, a free meal and drink? You won't see my say no. [ She'll play along with him, at least until she meets up with Alvin. ]

Now I didn't say it would be free... [But there's a light chuckle.]

I'll meet you out front. You know how to get there, right?

Oh, of course not. You will just be the one paying for it. [ So sweet. ]

I have a vague idea. I'll be there soon enough so don't worry.

[Hah. He'll just laugh.]

See you soon, then.

[AND THEN. He shall wait. There won't be a meal waiting for her unless she actually wants to try something, but he may have some of their usual drinks on hand in case she feels like it.]

[ She is nice enough to not make him wait too long as Presa headed straight to the restaurant. The outside she has seen a few times, but never once has she actually stepped into it.

Presa cleared her throat as she made her way over to him. ]

... It isn't too bad.

[While he hadn't been deliberately watching for her (it may have been off hours, but still operating after all), he had kept an eye out. So he'll approach and greet her with a grin.]

It's actually been renovated, but it works. Blends in yet still has a unique atmosphere to it.

[That may be a little pride in his voice.]

Want a tour?

Just like someone I know.

[ She'll give him 'that' look when she says that because she is talking about him. There are other people Presa knows that are like that but at this moment, it was only him that's around ]

Sure. I don't see the harm in it.

[Oh he got the look, and he returns it with a somewhat wry one of his own. But he then grins and raises a hand, ushering her in.]

Then please, follow me. [And in they go.] Although it might be better if we stay out of the kitchen for now. Our head chef tends to get annoyed when I just wander in and loiter around.

[Given the parties involved...yeah not surprising (and he does it anyway).]

[ Time to play follow the leader. Sort of. ]

I wouldn't blame them. I mean, they are trying to work while you just come in to do nothing. I bet you would be causing some sort of disturbance too.

[ Because that wouldn't surprise her. ]

Hey, it's only natural for the co-owner to make sure his fellow employees are doing their jobs, right? Plus all that paperwork and number crunching can be a pain. Just the smell of that good cooking can help soothe this poor, hardworking soul.

[And there he goes, being his usual, somewhat "dramatic" self.]

Sure, if you don't have faith in their abilities. It isn't too bad to do it once in a while, but enough to get into some trouble isn't a very good sign.

[ She's just to just internally roll her eyes at him. ]

Oh poor you, having to do so much work. It must be such a burden for you to do in that case.

I have faith. I just like to have some fun, too. And—[A grin toward her.] When you put it like that, maybe having a cute secretary to help wouldn't be a bad idea.

Mixing pleasure with business, how like you. [ She'll return with a smirk. ] How tempting. Someone needs to be able to make sure you're doing your job right after all and keep you under control.

Hey, I'm not that bad. In fact you'd be surprised how professional I can be.

In that case, I am sure you won't mind if I hover around you when you're doing work to see it for myself.

You know what people say, you have to see it to believe it.

...Hm, maybe I should rethink the situation. You make it sound like I'll actually have to stay in the office instead of being able to dump the boring stuff on you and then ditching.

[Yeah, sounds like him.]

[ Alvin, please. ]

And to think that you're co-owning a place like this.

Hey, I'm joking. [They're nearing the back where the bar is and the doors to the back area like the kitchen, restrooms, and the stairs leading to the upper levels are.] Mostly.

I do take my work seriously, but while we make good business, we're also not the most happening joint. Slow days for me happen a lot. [If there was a mini basketball hoop, he'd totally have one over the trashcan.] Granted I also travel a fair bit around the city and out, so guess it works out.

I see. [ Which tickles her curiosity about something. ] Did you do this type of work back ... home? [ She isn't sure if she should use the term home seeing that, well, it isn't exactly home anymore (or at least it won't be for her.) ]

It sounds as if you know what you're doing.

[...Ah. Yeah. There's only a slight pause before he answers.]

Not exactly. [A light laugh.] Actually, I partnered with a friend and we got into the fruit selling business. Since you probably don't really know, Elympios doesn't have a lot of naturally grown produce or even animals. It's mostly man-made and specially grown in plants. So my partner had an idea of forming business between the Rieze Maxian farmers and the Elympions. I knew how to handle the Elympions, he had better connections with the Rieze Maxians, and it's a product that holds a lot of potential profit.

So the only thing I really "know" is how to run a business generally and making deals. And even my background is still more of a work in progress.

It makes sense due to the fact Elympios didn't have any spirits, if I remember that correctly. That doesn't sound like a half bad job in that case. I'm ... It is good to hear that you're able to partner with people and work together.

[ One could say it's a very big improvement and a small, sincere smile appears for a second. ]

Those are still important skills because one you have the basics down, you can only build yourself up.

Heh, yeah. I was little surprised he came to me as well and we've had some rough patches, but... [And now there's a bit more of an honest smile flickering his lips.] It's something I want to do right. And since I'm stuck here, might as well get some practice.

[However, he won't say aloud that she may have had an influential hand in him actually accepting the offer. After all, to an outsider, him going from lone mercenary to a fruit merchant might seem quite the leap.]

[ She'll do something she doesn't do too often; ]

I'm proud of you for that, Al.

[Well. No matter how much of a smooth operator he is, hearing anyone, especially her say that, and say that directly to his face, is going to make him look up in surprise.

...And damn this place for making his emotions visible. While externally it looks a bit mild, there's a small rattle of the nearby glass and bottles, and there's a strange fizz and pop sound that goes off around him. It's enough to snap him out of his brief surprise, and also enough to form a flash of annoyance that actually makes those little fizzles and pops dissipate.

Man. Not cool.

In any case, he just tries to not do anymore damage or make any other visible tells as he recomposes himself.]

I'm trying, anyway, but...thanks.

[It's really the only response he can make since his stupid emotions threw him off. ...Except he's also kind of happy inside, so they're gonna screw with him a little more as a bit of a nice, fuzzy warmth in the air and the colors lightening a hue or two. Things that are too subtle for him to notice, at least right away.]

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