Donovan sized up the room. He took care of how the dining room was presented. The guards who stood by the door, the IMPERIAL operatives who ate and sat next to each other, and of course: the most important person. The beastkin who was next to him.


    Donovan’s cold eyes softened when he glanced at Mekiko. The chairs were so tall that the beastkin’s feet dangled above the wooden finish.


    Every operative watched as Mekiko’s tail swayed. His ears twitched, as he yet again garnered attention. The very reason why Donovan seated him away from the other operatives and near people like Dolores. Every stranger Mekiko meets, his tail thrashed slightly more, his face reddened a little extra.


    The guards carried over their food. Donovan got gazpacho soup with bread that crumbled softly. Another guard handed Mekiko a steak.


    The tomato soup chilled the bowl. A cold meal for a cold day. The gentleman tasted the gazpacho with a spoon.


    A bit of too much salt, the man wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.


    Donovan snapped his fingers, “Grubbs, I wish to speak to you.”


    “Something''s wrong, Donovan, sir?” The guard went over.


    “Yes, there is. This gazpacho made by the new cook I hired perchance?”


    “I wouldn''t know.”


    I see. How foolish of me.” Donovan picked up the ceramic bowl, “Tell whoever that the level of sodium is unacceptable, and bring me back another dish with less salt.”


    “Donovan, if I can have a word?”


    “Sure, feel free to speak your mind”


    “Don’t take what I’m saying wrong,  but the cooks are going to consider what you said as a threat.”


    “I''m aware,” Donovan said. “My reputation wouldn’t allow for anything else. What I’m doing is not about respect or honour. This is about negligence,” The gentleman cleared his throat. “Just know that every man has their worth. I cannot accept food less than passable.”


    Mekiko dropped his fork, as well as his ears that lowered on his head. The nyancan’s recent change wasn’t strange to Donovan, he expected the outcome. The beastkin’s antics disappeared mostly since the incident with the demon.


    Although, only mostly.


    I have to make sure that he’s eating properly, Donovan leaned on the chair, so that he appeared smaller. He tried making eye contact, which the nyancan avoided.


    “Mekiko, what is bothering you?” Donovan asked.


    “Nothing is bothering me,” the beastkin stabbed at his steak.


    “I can see the ears on top of your head.”


    The beastkin shifted his head, in an attempt to cover his ears, “Fine, the steak is bothering me. I believe that they overcooked it.”


    Donovan glanced at the plate, “really? Because from where I’m looking, your steak is rare, cooked under my specifications. The meat used spices intended for the beastkin pallet.”


    Mekiko’s ears twitched as they bent down, “I am not hungry, am I not allowed to be full?”


    “Hmm, is that so, Mekiko?” Donovan played coy. “You were going to get fish after your meal, but seeing how you were…” The man waited for the beastkin to raise his ears.


    Mekiko''s ears perked up, “Fish you say?” the nyancan trailed off. “Just because I’m not hungry, doesn’t mean that I cannot finish my plate.”


    Donovan smiled at the beastkin while he leaned back, in that ‘knowing’ sort of way. The gazpacho took more time than he was comfortable waiting. The 1st class leisurely picked up his teacup. The leaves waft in the hot water, along with the earthy aroma.


    Mekiko picked at his wooden cup, “Donovan, how come I’m the only one without a cup made of porcelain?”


    The gentleman placed down his cup in one fluid motion, “I told you before. You get your cup back when you can be trusted with not knocking them over.”


    “But I haven’t knocked any of the cups over!” Mekiko’s tail thrashed as his feet dangled. “...Well, not recently,” he trailed off. “See, the cup’s all in one place!”


    “Mekiko, do I need to remind you why we removed all the vases inside the headquarters? Somebody knocked over an expressive vase, and right next to a table.”


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    “About that… I… I’m…”


    “You don''t have to say anything. I understand that you didn''t mean to destroy anything, and that''s why I have to take away your cup.”


    Mekiko grumbled while he spoon-fed sugar to his tea. Donovan watched as the beastkin poured spoon after spoon into his cup.


    “Hmm?” Mekiko tilted his head.


    “I think that you should be adding some tea with your sugar,” Donovan teased.


    “I wanted to sweeten my hibiscus tea. People are allowed to desire sweet tea!” The beastkin said


    “Mekiko, you have to cool down your cup if you want to enjoy a sweetened drink.”


    The beastkin looked down at his steaming cup of liquid, “Oh…”


    “How about a guard getting some ice to cool that off for you? How does that sound?” Donovan asked. Mekiko nodded.


    The gentleman gestured for the guards to take the nyancan’s tea away.


    The other operatives conversed with each other. They stuffed their mouths with food as they talked.


    Donovan was still waiting for his soup.


    Wade leaned with both feet on the table. Thousand Cuts sat on the other end. She chewed on a piece of watermelon.


    “So, tell me, Dorathy,” Wade butted in.


    “Please, call me Thousand Cuts,” the swordswoman said without missing a beat. “The name has a certain — mystique, an edge that is sharp as a blade.”


    “Ooh!” Wade leaned against the table. “Is that how you want to play? Weren’t you also ‘Queen of the Night’ at one point? Or was it ‘The Phantom Blade’? No, wait — ‘Eclipsed Empress’, am I right.”


    “I believe her current name will stick this time around,” Lorry chimed in.


    “Dolores, you’re not being helpful,” Donovan replied.


    A guard handed Mekiko a cup of sweetened tea, now with ice.


    Still without gazpacho soup.


    Donovan drummed his fingers on the wood. The guard tensed up. The gentleman waved them away.


    “Are you sure that I can''t have a proper cup?” Mekiko asked.


    “You get one when I trust you,” Donovan rested his tea on the table.


    Thousand Cuts continued with her conversation, “you should take how I choose to hold myself seriously. We all create our identity. Mine has a savoir faire to it..”


    Wade paddled the table, “Lemme guess, you have another monacher planned up?


    “Ha!” Nice try, Wade! But a magician never reveals their tricks.”


    “Ay, I can call your bluff when I see them, however. You haven’t said your name with the enthusiasm you’re used to.”


    “That’s preposterous!” The swordswoman slammed the table, “I, Thousand Cuts would never consider such important matters so hastily.”


    “I see how you say your name, especially around your boyfriend!”


    Mekiko lapped up the sweet tea with his tongue. The nyancan stopped when he listened in. He deepened into a red.


    “”We’re not dating!”” Thousand Cuts and Mekiko said in unison.


    “Who said that you two were in a relationship?” Dolores feigned ignorance.


    “Everyone does!” The beastkin exclaimed. “You think that I am not aware that you’ve been spreading rumours about, with your vile words!”


    “What do you have to say for yourself, Wade?” Dolores asked. “You made the catboy flustered.”


    “I didn''t mean to give you bad vibes, my catboy,” Wade said in a soft voice. “You can sit this one out.”


    “Hey, if we''re going to talk about dating preferences,” Thousand Cuts said. “How has your girl-of-the-week been doing, did you break up too soon?” You''ve been picking up more ‘broads’ as you say?”


    “Hey, give me a break, at least I can admit when I’m committed to a relationship.”


    “Commitment? Oh please, I bet my integrity as a swordswoman that you broke up because of a scandal involving another woman!”


    “Whoa, whoa, hold up there,” Wade held out his hands. Let’s not throw anyone under the carriage here. I say that I have my fair share of — dramatic relationships. But scandals, me? Come on!”


    Thousand Cuts laughed, “Oh, that’s rich, coming from the wannabe King of Polygamy.”


    Wade thumped his bare chest, “Me, I’m a muse for love. Sure, I sometimes go outside the lines, but polygamy is such a bad word. Scandals are for people with bad intentions. I prefer — to call them creative differences.”


    “Cry me a river! Whatever happened to that baker’s daughter you sang so much about?”


    “Ooo,” he leaned down. “Here we go! She broke my heart with another man. It was only natural that I opened up. I am a tragic romantic and a wandering soul. I have to open myself up to others.


    “I personally saw her father chase you off with a broom, you lecherous pig! At least if I date the catboy, I can love him, like no one else can!” Thousand Cuts said. Mekiko sank deeper in his seat. Only his ears appeared above the table.


    “Aaa! You want me to be quiet. I bet my talking made you real hungry.”


    “Yes, I am,” she nodded. “Your words are ruining my taste buds from eating this delicious watermelon.”


    “Oh, I’m sorry. How about I make you something special to eat — and fix you up a knuckle sandwich!” Wade threw his plate on the ground, and it shattered.


    “You dare?” She challenged


    “Hey, you don’t talk to Thousand Cuts that way!” An operative shouted.


    A cacophony of noises erupted around the room. Fists flew at one another. Food launched in the air as a brawl took place. Donovan watched as the chaos unfolded.


    “Donovan, sir. Uh… Is this a bad time?” Grubbs asked from behind. He held out a bowl of gazpacho soup.


    “Yes, Grubbs. Your timing is terrible,” Donovan said with a straight face.


    “It appeared that Mekiko knocked over his cup again.”


    Donovan looked at the ground. There it was, the wooden cup. Its sweetened contents sprawled over the floor.


    “Gawk, he’s pulling my eyepatch!” Thousand Cuts whined.


    “Grubbs, get me my pen,” Donovan said in a steady voice. The gentleman pushed his tea aside.


    He repressed a sigh.