[attr="class","beck"]"there's no job."

after a gesture and a few words, the waitress makes her way over with a bottle of wine, pouring it into two glasses for them. the bottle lays on ice, making sure it stays cool as the night progresses.

it's a particularly expensive bottle of red wine.

"so drink."

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

She watches him, her golden eyes cautious, even as they change target to watch the wine pour. It lifts against the side of the glass, splashing back in.

Already, she can smell the richness of the wine.

"Why the dress? Why the secrecy and the note?"

She lifts her glass, inspecting it.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]he lifts his glass and takes a moment to appreciate the aroma the wine exudes.

"i wasn't sure how else to get you here."

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

"Hm."

There is nothing else to offer. Chances are, she wouldn't have come if he'd simply asked her to. The picture they painted right now was something close to intimacy- and they were far from that.

And although her thoughts trail backward to their evening walking the beach, she still shakes her head to look away.

She's put herself back together in a way that looks convincing to the unassuming eye. This is an improvement from the listless woman she had started to sink into.

The bitterness of that thought is drowned with a bitter taste of her glass. Except it isnt bitter, its smooth.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]silence overcomes them — it's comforting.

a sip sinks his shoulders slightly as he leans into his seat. despite the exhale, tension still remains in his posture; could theo ever truly relax? probably not. the best he can do is to find comfort in the small things.

he says nothing, not minding the quiet.

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

She has never minded the quiet, but she is typically alone when she basks in it. Her attention consistently settles and resettles on the man in front of her despite her attempts to focus on anything but.

Her left hand rests against the table, thumb smoothing over and over and over a rough spot in the wood, hidden beneath the table cloth. Stress is far from reachable for her. She doesn't even realize she's ruining the cloth.

Emma takes another small sip.

@thep

[attr="class","beck"]silence is only interrupted by the serving of their food. two plates of unovan french toast are placed down in front of them, each topped with various fruits and toppings.

after another sip, theo sets the glass down and reaches for his fork and knife to start eating.

it'll stay quiet for as long as emma wants it to.

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

Two plates are set down in front of them, prompting Emma to sit up straighter. The sight of matching dishes topped with fruit and syrups and various things surprises her.

Her brow raises questioningly, but she does not actually speak.

Instead, she abandons the spot in the tablecloth to gather her fork and knife. Only after Theo has taken the first bite and swallowed does she choose to take her own.

It's sweet.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]thankfully, he doesn't have to tell her to eat. he appreciates it with a soft smile as he continues with the rest of his dish. it doesn't take him long to finish.

wiping the corners of his mouth with a napkin, he pushes it the plate off to the side, then settles back into the chair.

"how is it?"

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

Compared to her tense shoulders and rigid spine, Theo is the picture of comfortable and at ease. Like there has never been bad blood between them, like there isn't a rift that can't ever be mended.

It is as if their past is a ghost.

She finishes slower, unsure at first if the meal is to her liking. She's never been a breakfast person, and breakfast for dinner seemed bizarre as well. Felt more like a dessert.

But..

"Good."

And she means it. She sets her utensils down and slides the plate away from her, fishing the napkin to dab her mouth. The lipstick she wears does not rub off.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]admittedly, breakfast for dinner isn't for everyone, but it reminds him of simpler times; and though he doesn't realize it, it makes him feel just a little bit safer.

the soft smile lingers at her response.

"good."

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

"You're smiling."

He has been for most of the night. It isn't a grin, but his small smile has been otherwise consistent in frequency.

It's new.

She points it out without thinking, unsure why, or how to follow it up. Emma glances away from him, brows unable to hold a tensed position.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]"oh."

his lips thin not out of anything other than realization. he shrugs, unsure of what to think or what to feel.

"does it bother you?"

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