She's been left a care package with an outfit she can only assume is expensive. It comes with a note indicating she needs to meet him at a casino in Slateport.

Everything in Theo's message indicates it is an assignment, but nowhere does he indicate what it is they're doing. She does what she can to dress herself.

Almost certainly there is something amiss with the dress that Theo will catch. But she arrives on time to witness him smoking just outside.

"I hope these are rentals. All of that smoke will be impossible to get out."

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]turning, he shakes his head.

"it isn't."

he takes a drag, exhales, then eyes her dress.

"what'd you do to it?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

Emma stares, blank-faced, maybe a little bit surprised. It takes her a long moment before her stoney expression shifts and she glances down at her dress.

"What? Nothing."

Was there something wrong with it?

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]there's nothing wrong with it; quite the opposite.

"it looks good. better than when i bought it."

but there is a little something amiss with it.

without much of a warning, he places the cigarette between his lips, circles around her, and reaches for the zip to tug it up.

"how you feeling tonight?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

"I have nice dresses."

Her tone is flat, maybe even a little bit defensive. Is he acting.. strange?

Emma sucks in a breath as warm fingertips brush her skin to fix her zipper. The woman glances over her shoulder, regarding him cautiously. She's removed the bandages, but her eye still has not fully recovered.

But to wear it was to draw attention. She looks the same, but... not.

"We're wasting time. What is the assignment?"

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]ah, the assignment. he's trained her well, he supposes.

"inside."

with a final inhale of smoke, he steps over to the bin to deposit the cigarette, snuffing it out.

the glass doors slide open, allowing cold air to rush out. he steps in, leading them through the hallway and into the casino. but he doesn't stop there.

at the far end, past the casino, is a little restaurant. he thinks briefly of Razz Kingsman as they enter, taking a corner booth.

two menus are placed in front of them.

"get anything."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

Emma's brows come together when his back is turned to lead her inside. She doesn't hesitate, but there is something uneasy about the situation, about the lack of information shes been given.

And they walk straight past the casino, deep into the belly of the restaurant at the back. She makes no note of confusion but she is, in fact, confused.

So much so that when he sits and indicates for he to 'get anything', she doesn't sit.

"Okay.."

Slowly, Emma settles into the seat, tucking her dress beneath her and reaching for the menu. The words are tiny, however, and she eventually sets it down and shakes her head.

"What are we doing here?"

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]tired eyes drift up, past the top of the menu to look at her.

"to eat."

why else?

noticing her menu on the table, he asks:

"do you need me to read it for you?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

So there isn't an assignment? Emma frowns, a little bit agitated. Had this just been excuse? To do what?

"Surely you have food at home."

And she tenses, fingers pulling the menu away from him at the mention of him reading it to her. How humiliating.

She was pathetic.

"Just order me something."

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]"you'd be surprised."

all he has at home is whatever's left from kris flynn-edwards's little kitchen adventure the other week. he hasn't opened the fridge since, so he's not entirely sure what's left or if it's still fresh; most likely not.

"sure."

and he does just that: two kalos french toast, exactly what he had with Razz Kingsman that one day. he remembers little else of it — close to nothing.

"relax, emma."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

"Hm."

She doesn't sound convinced, but she doesn't press the issue further. Frankly, she shouldn't, as she doesn't exactly choose to stay home and eat from what kris flynn-edwards has to offer.

"Am I bothering you?"

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]"no, but..."

words catch in his throat, held back by the woes of his past. he remembers their conversation, her words, and his promise.

i'll try.

"you've been tense recently. i just want you to relax."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

"I am relaxed. This is my relaxed."

But yet she still sounds agitated. Theo's words catch in his throat, as if he were hesitating. Was it her?

Somehow, that made her more uncomfortable.

The expensive, beautiful dress. The instructions to meet him here, the candlelit dinner.

"There is no assignment, is there. This was.. you lied to me."

But had he?

THEO BECKETT