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[knifemonopoly]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, PLAYER1. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 10.11.0.0.01 *** PLAYER1 has joined 10.11.0.0.01 <PLAYER1> If you're looking for someone you knew as Yugi before June, you've found him! It's Atem, leave a message.

Main handle: < Player1 > Anon: < turtleluck >, < actuallydied >, < burner >

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[knifemonopoly]

[Atem's tail wags back and forth, as he makes direct eye contact.]

Blue steak.

[wag. wag. wag.

The rarest kind they have.]

And a cabernet.

[Is he intending to get Ryou drunk....? What a scoundrel. An absolute dog.]

cw; this waitress has it all wrong

[softspokenlandlord]

[...

> The waitress has now become suspicious again.]

Certainly, sir! Would you like the recommended sides, or would you like to hear the selection.

[Boy, she feels bad for this white werewolf, he's in an abusive relationship and he probably doesn't even realize it... But she has a feeling there won't be much she can do to dissuade him. So she has to do only what she can.

Once Atem confirms his choices, and she's gone again to put in their meal, Ryou peers through his fingers at Atem...then at his drink...and makes an executive decision.

He reaches out and closes his fingers around Atem's glass, pulling it closer and then, out of some small amount of spite, laps at the beverage a couple of times.]

...If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were the jealous type.

[Maybe he's wrong. But he saw the eye contact for a split second. Very solid eye contact.]

[knifemonopoly]

[Atem requests stuffed mushroom caps and chickpea salad, smelling the tension on the waitress.

But, once she's gone...

...Ryou has stolen his drink. Atem's canine eyebrows go up -- and then, he laughs!]

What in the world gave you that idea?

[He says this playfully, knowing full well that he gave it away a long time ago.]

[softspokenlandlord]

[Now it's Ryou's turn to raise an eyebrow, though to anyone else it might be harder to intuit because of his bangs.]

So you do know what you're doing then. Oh, for goodness' sake...

[Yeah he's drinking your wine, buddy. This is his now.]

If she calls a manager, you're in trouble, you know.

[Ryou's not actually angry or anything, just a bit frazzled at this point. Honestly...

He tips the glass, taking a respectable sip, then he sets it down and watches the liquid ripple for a moment.]

...This was supposed to be a nice date. I didn't expect the waitress to be so interested in me, or for it to be any kind of distraction. But then again, after nearly two years, you'd think I would have learned by now that the deck is stacked against us, hm?

[knifemonopoly]

In trouble with them, or in trouble with you...?

I only care about one of those things!

[Ryou is allowed. Ryou deserves that wine. It was chosen because he trusted the taste would be something Ryou liked.

.........it's strong, though, look out--]

...so, if my behavior is turning it from a nice date into an unpleasant one, I'll behave myself.

[His ears swivel back. This is an apology!]

[softspokenlandlord]

[Ryou is surprisingly placated by that, even though he's not truly irate with Atem. Enough that his tail wags once, before he gently slides the wine glass back. Peace offering! He didn't drink all of it...though he wanted to.]

It's not really you. It's her. I think she might be of the mind that you're taking advantage of me, somehow.

...Maybe we should both behave.

[Because Ryou would never fully seat the blame on Atem, or even the waitress. He has some fault in this, for not explaining himself better.]

At least for now. Maybe when we get home...it'll be better.

[He looks hopeful, and the wine is making him feel warm. So why not? A little bit of optimism before their meal.]