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

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

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

"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

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

Emma opens her mouth to object or respond in some way that will benefit her argument. But there is a tone in Theo's voice that catches her off guard.

"I don't drink on the job."

But she had been. It curbed the pain from the accident, diluted painful memories. For a little while now its been a crutch. It has been a glimpse into how weak she is.

Does he know that? Can he see right through her?

THEO BECKETT

"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

"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

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

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

"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

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

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