Muk watched as the mouse poured three buckets of Ka-pi and brought them one at a time to the chickens. The two newest chickens were wary, but he could see Freya the chicken encouraging them.

Woda walked over and untied all the chickens so they could run around. Muk had turned to watch, and then the first chicken sprinted off, followed by the next one.

Muk chuckled.

“You’re not worried that they’ll escape, Miss Uki?” Muk said, turning back to her.

“No,” she replied. “They have a good life with us and we don’t ask them for much. I think that they are a little attached to me now, so that is a plus.”

Freya sipped her Ka-pi, which was just the right temperature now. Muk still was wary of what he’d been given but she secretly hoped that he was going to get her a sip of his.

“Go ahead and have the first sip,” he said. “I take it, you want to know how it tastes?”

Freya's eyes betrayed her and she greedily took a sip savoring the sweet taste. She handed the mug back to him.

Muk sipped on it thoughtfully for a moment.

“It’s not quite what I expected, given the smell. But I can see the appeal.” His whiskers shot up. “I can feel a buzz. I may need to come back here again.”

“With me of course?” Freya said.

“Of course.”

Woda returned to the bar, regarding the chickens with a face that could be of worked metal.

Bonchon brought out a maple apple pie. How had he moved so fast? Freya hadn’t been paying attention.

“Ah, I seem to have forgotten a knife to cut this up.” He blanched.

“That is alright,” Freya said leaning down to grab something from her boot. She produced a boot-sized knife that she presented blade first to Muk.

Both Muk and Bonchon looked taken aback by this.

“What, you’ve never seen a lady pull out one of her knife boots? Are you daft?” she said, holding back a smile.

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Bonchon looked at Muk. Muk turned to Bonchon. It seemed like some unspoken word had passed between the two of them. Muk grabbed the hilt of the knife, examining it.

“Pardon me, Miss, it’s a first for me,” Bonchon said, “And that is an excellent knife, I should say.”

Bonchon smiled weakly, his whiskers and ears drooping.

“Thank you Bonchon,” Muk said, “And this is an excellent knife. I’ve never heard of knife boots, but I knew a few rabbits that kept knives hidden in strange places like this.”

“I think that it will catch on fire in the upcoming season. A lady has a right to defend herself, and be fashionable,” Freya said.

Bonchon left, disappearing behind the bar.

“Was this a gift… from Mister Seung?” Muk asked.

“I… uh…” Freya said, gulping.

“It’s okay. I understand completely. I wouldn’t turn away such a gift myself.”

Muk had the biggest grin Freya had ever seen on his face.

“Are you going to try to outdo him now?” she asked.

“I can neither confirm nor deny this, but you’ve given me a lot to think about,” Muk said.

Freya sipped her Ka-pi.

Looking to the Bar, Muk leaned in, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial level.

“Will you be going to this weekend's ball?” he said.

“Of course!” Freya said.

“Well then, I must ask you to reserve a dance with me in that case.”

Freya could feel her cheeks getting warm. She nodded.

“You know, he took me to see a show, but this…” Freya gestured vaguely at the universe, “Watching the chickens run around and play… I think it’s a better show.”

Freya could see Muk pretend not to smile.

“Very well then,” he said. “If you’ll have me, we must come here again. This has been a most interesting day for me and I’d do it again.”

Muk began to slice the pie and gave her a slice as she watched his carefully practiced movements.

“You’re in charge of feeding our Soldiers, huh?” she said. “Are you the head chef also?”

“I do have one Soldier who cooks most of the meals and his assistant but no, I am not the head chef.”

“Can you cook?” she said.

Freya watched as he did a spit take of his drink. Bonchon returned and wiped the table after a few seconds of comfortable silence. She watched as Muk tried to compose himself, and seeming to fail, he gave up.

“I could cook, yes, but I think you wouldn’t like anything except for my pastries. For everything else, I’m pretty terrible.”

Freya’s whiskers sprang up along with her smirk.

“Another activity? Why Lieutenant, I swear you just keep asking me to do things, and I may keep saying yes.”

The group talked for a while longer. Before Freya knew it her grandfather was leading her back and they were riding the chickens home. Muk and Crenshaw had taken the opportunity to walk back. It wasn’t until they were far out of view that Freya realized that one of her boot knives was still with Muk.