Several minutes after Harvey sent the newest video to Sheila, a taxi arrived at the restaurant. Harvey didn't pay the vehicle any mind as it parked, and just kept waiting outside as instructed. Sheila hasn't responded yet...

Then, Harvey looks up from the phone again, and notices Quade stepping out of the taxi. Blinking for a moment, astonished- did Quade sneak out the back or something? Was this a part of his plan, to use a taxi? The wonders that this man goes to... it's- it's getting so unsettling. Sheila's already provoked, this is a really intricate plan...!

Quade- Quade, furthermore, is just dressed in a waiter's uniform, with extremely long hair. His face as toned and chiseled as normal, with just the hair and clothes different. What was his- what was his plan here? Was he going to get Harvey in the restaurant? Did he need Harvey to-

"Harvey," Quade speaks, walking straight up to the man and grabbing him by the shoulders. Firmly squeezing them tightly, glaring at him.

... Harvey? Huh? "D... Don't you mean Locksmith?" Harvey asks, confused, way too used to being called locksmith at this point. Starting to feel flustered again, in an absolute panic as Quade was up close to him again.

He wasn't going to- use this form to continue the recordings, was he? Oh no, oh god, no, don't be a guy when you're doing this to me, man, Harvey thought, visibly shaking in uncomfortable fear-

"Where the hell am I?" Quade immediately asks, glaring at Harvey. "Do you know where I went?"

"... w-what?" Harvey asks, blinking a couple of times. "Y... You're here? Standing in front of me? I don't-"

"Change of words," Quade interrupts again, glaring. "What. The hell. Was I doing a moment ago?"

Harvey stops being flustered and just stares at Quade as he asks this. Bewildered, perplexed, all those fancy words that indicate 'what' to the man. "... you- I guess you said that... you were meeting someone here? So you told me to-"

"That's it," Quade idly responds, letting go of Harvey's shoulder and heading to the restaurant door. Full confirmation that Nyx was here to meet Dahlia... his hands clenched tightly into fists.

Harvey just- blinks at this. "Uh... so are we gonna-"

"Harvey, go home, take a shower, knock some sense into your head, then go to Sheila's," Quade immediately tells Harvey. "Making the one you love jealous ain't ever worth it. Make up with her properly. She's readyin' up a storm 'cause of your little camera work. It sure taught her a mean ol' lesson, and she's 'bout to teach you one."

Harvey's eyes widen. "How... how bad is it?"

Quade then enters the restaurant without a word.

"... oh no," Harvey noises in mortal terror, running to his bike and starting to drive away. Regret plastered all over his face, already trying to come up with the words for his apology.

Quade just takes a deep breath, and looks around for Nyx. Tensely on the search for Dahlia. He didn't tell her he would be coming, so she isn't here yet, but... it's only a matter of time.

"Good afternoon, sir," the maitre d' welcomes Quade, smiling. "Do you have a-"

"It's me, Scott," Quade interrupts, arms crossed. "It's me. Did someone come here, pretending to be me?"

"Pretend-" the maître d', Scott, noises as his eyes widen and he leans forward. "... M... Mr. McMurphy?"

"Yes, Scott. Long story short, this... person... is someone who has my hat, and is impersonating me," Quade responds.

"Y... Yo, Quade. You- You freaking serious?" Scott asks, dropping his formal act as his real voice comes out in a whisper. "Ain't no way- I- I had a hunch, but- man, I shoulda known from the beginning. You, talking to Dahlia?"

So she is here for that... Quade just sighs, looking around the restaurant. "Is she here? Dahlia, I mean. Does she know I am here?"

"N... No, she ain't, but- you know her, prolly got eyes on you once..." Scott responds, nervously staring at Quade. "... Quade, should I retrieve the hat from this woman, get you out of here before she can-?"

"It's fine," Quade responds. "I can handle it just fine. If Dahlia comes here, stall as best you can. Just- what table did she arrange? Where is the other me?"

"In the back..." Scott answers... taking a deep breath, and regaining his voice. "... but of course, sir. Allow me to show you to your table." Starting to escort Quade to the table Dahlia has reserved, leading the man to the back.

Once Quade arrives, he has a full view of Nyx and glares down at her in the seat. Hat on her head and everything. His words could not describe how he felt in this moment. Bearing witness to her audacity, staring at her with an incomparable fury.

If this were anyone else, he- he wouldn't even be approaching them peacefully. Because this was a friend, he... he holds back his anger the best he could. Limiting his anger to his eyes.

Quade takes a moment to wave Scott away, and points to his ear. The signal being to tug on his ear three times with his middle and index fingers, while his thumb was stretched out to the neck over his hair.

"..." Scott bows lightly and walks back to the restaurant's front, on watch for Dahlia.

With that set, Quade returns his attention to Nyx, and calls her attention. "Quade."

"Ah, yes, hello, Dahli-" Nyx speaks, looking up at Quade. A look of realization in her eyes as she gazes upon him, noticing his differences and all. "... a."

"We need to talk. Now," Quade immediately tells Nyx, his teeth clenched.

"Yes, very well," Nyx responds, gesturing to the seat across from her. "Go on and take a seat- I have ordered filet mignon, cassoulet de toulouse, and some crème brûlée. Alongside a bottle of non-alcoholic cider, given the possibility I would need to drive. These are some fine culinary dishes, and I am willing to share them with you while we wait for-"

"Quade..." Quade tells- himself... as he takes a seat across from Nyx. "I'm not eating. And you're not eating."

Nyx looks to Quade, and shakes her head. "The food is already ordered, we might as well-"

"Look," Quade interrupts again, leaning forward. "You wanted to know who Dahlia is. And 'cause I wouldn't tell you, yer immediate thought was to come here, pretending to be me to talk to her. Am I right, 'Quade'?"

Nyx... narrows her eyes at this, a hint of worry on her face. She... she begins providing her reasoning, to try and defend herself, to justify her actions. "Indeed. But I wished to satiate my curiosity. This woman holds some significance to you, and... as a friend, do I not have a right to know her? To know what upsets-"

"You DON'T have that right, Quade," Quade tensely tells Nyx, scowling at her with a raised voice that doesn't disturb the restaurant. "What went through your head to think you should have done... this? That you were allowed to do anything you did today?"

"..." Nyx... Nyx is caught off guard by that questioning. Starting to- hesitate, starting to grow increasingly concerned. "... because-"

"No, hold on," Quade speaks up, leaning forward. "Really think about it. I ain't got a clue on the metaphorical devil knight thing I can compare this to, so I will tell you bluntly. My closest friends don't know everything 'bout me. Giichi doesn't know everything about me. And you are not. Above. Any of them. At all. Not in the slightest."

Nyx feels her- heart shatter as she was told this, eyes widening. It's starting to dawn on her the gravity of this, how upset Quade was about this. "Q-Quade, I-"

"You're a creepy, downright terrifyin' woman with a hyper fixation on me for some reason, but I let it slide, 'cause it was harmless enough, that you just wanted to hang out with me or somethin'. I thought you wouldn't do anything crazy to me, but guess what? You did! You crossed lines today, and I'm absolutely- furious!"

Nyx hesitates, falling back in her seat, shaking as she was subject to Quade's anger. She wanted to say anything to remedy this, to own up to her actions and apologize with all of her heart. She did not see the errors of her ways, so she-

"I just- do- do you even know what you've done?" Quade continues, before Nyx could do anything. "Do you know why I'm upset, Nyx? Without my knowledge, you intruded my job and potentially jeopardized a friend's life had I not discovered you, you snatched my phone and carelessly spoke into it, and you lulled me to sleep. All of these I could handle, the last being... helpful and considerate, sure, that's alright."

Quade pauses to take a deep breath, and continues. Eyes locked on Nyx, unloading onto her his anger with the growl in his voice. "While I was asleep, you've done stuff out of my control. You used MY hat to impersonate me," placing his hand on the table, "spoke to MY friend and made him do something stupid," standing up, "decided to come to a restaurant after hearing a personal call," leaning forward and violently glaring at Nyx, "and you sit there, pretending it's okay to be here."

"..........." Nyx... looks down in shame. Hands on her thighs, holding them tightly as she was left speechless. She... she... she feels awful... absolutely rotten... absolutely-

Quade doesn't let up on Nyx. He was holding back as much as he could for this 'friend' of his. "So. Tell me why you did it. Did ya have a real good reason to? One that doesn't make me even more pissed off? More livid, angry, all those words we can come up with for downright mad?"

Nyx... shakes her head, admitting her... her... errors, to Quade. Weakly... surrendering, weakly responding and answering... "... n... no. I... I don't. I... I shouldn't have... done... any of it... I'm-"

"Okay. Glad we cleared that up. The best you should know is that I wear a hat, and that this hat is important to me." Quade speaks as he reaches over the table for the hat. "So I'm taking this back, and we are out of here, and-"

However, his eyes glance to the side, tensely clenching his teeth before his hands could even touch the brim. Dahlia was here, and Scott- stalled her the best he could, but she was just walking in. She knows what table she ordered specifically. "... c... crap- Nyx- she's- damn it...!"

Nyx looks up, blinking at Quade- seeing him get up and back away from the table. His- his rage and her guilt on pause as Quade is- freaking out for some reason, moving far back into the restaurant. Keeping his face away from her. Nyx started to grow worried, and was ready to follow. Nyx-

"Ah, Quade. You're here."

Nyx stops, before she could get up from the table. Freezing in place and keeping herself seated, as her eyes follow the woman that was taking her seat where Quade was.

She was a red haired woman with fine, brown eyes. Dressed in a fine, silky red dress. From the glances of what skin she revealed, Dahlia had an excellent skin care routine, and... altogether, looks to be a well kept, attractive woman in modern standards. Something Nyx lacked, with her inability to pay for clothes and fancy beauty products.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"... Dahlia," Nyx speaks, staring forward at her. "You've arrived."

"Yes, indeed. I was- admittedly surprised, given how you spoke into the phone. But..." Looking up and down Nyx, seeing... interest in how Quade decided to appear. "... you did receive my confession, and chose to arrive here before a time had been arranged. So... I suppose that is alright. I expected much worse."

Nyx takes note of Quade's aversion to this woman, and... "Y... Yes... I- reckon... that you should- take a seat, Dahlia," the red-eyed knight responds, doing her best impression of Quade's natural accent in her own voice. "We- need to talk 'bout that."

"I see... so we will have this conversation with you looking like that woman-" Dahlia begins to speak, gesturing to Nyx's entirely female body. "I mean- I'm fine with that... I enjoy whatever form you happen to be in, and all."

Nyx watches as Dahlia takes a seat, her eyes glancing to Quade in the background. A calm look on her face as she had no choice but to go along with this. In contrast, Quade was just nervously staring, just- on standby, trying to see where this was going.

"..." Nyx then looks to Dahlia. "So. 'Bout your message..."

"Ah, yes... sorry, by the way-" Dahlia responds, smiling. "It's just that my calls are immediately dropped and canceled on your phone, so- I did need to find your current character's phone and all. So- right, I heard a woman's voice. Is this- your... secretary? The one that answered the phone for you?"

Nyx nods. "Y... Yep. She's... a friend who was with me. I was picking something up for a- different job, and she was with me to help out."

"What job is it?" Dahlia asks, leaning back with a smile. "Are you helping out your friends once more?"

"... well, kind of, but... it's a personal job for them. One that I just had to do, nothing really important about it," Nyx answers, deciding to take the secretive approach. This- this woman was... an ex-lover confessing to him again, so... Quade needed secrecy.

Her eyes glancing to Quade, gauging his reaction.

Quade was far back in the restaurant, back against the wall adjacent to the kitchen door. Staring at Nyx tensely, but- just contently listening in, nodding faintly. Able to hear the two of them even from this distance. Dahlia does know that Quade helps out his friends... that's good enough to reveal.

Dahlia squints her eyes at Nyx. "Personal? Wow. As secretive as ever... how's your dog, by the way? Sparky."

Nyx was... uncertain about this dog that Dahlia was talking about. He had no dog at his house, there was no dog in sight. This had to be a falsehood- but, she sees Quade in the back, just nodding his head actively. A signal that Dahlia was correct about his dog.

Then, Nyx... deduces what happened, based on the absence of this Sparky. "... gone. He passed away... some time ago."

"Mm..." Dahlia lets out a sigh, closing her eyes. "My- condolences, and my apologies. Let us change the subject to a more pleasant topic. How is Harvey doing, by the way? Harvey Smith."

Nyx blinks for a moment at this. Harvey? Who was... that again...? "Harvey Smith. He's... doin' well. I still talk to him about..."

Quade signals to Nyx his hand turning an invisible door knob, with his other hand holding some sort of stick up to it.

... ah. The locksmith. Nyx knows enough about the locksmith. "... his life, and all. His relationship, his business. One of my closest pals I rely on, y'know."

"I see. I will admit that I believed him to be a... closeted homosexual," Dahlia speaks up, shaking her head before continuing. "But then again, he's with Sheila. So..."

"I would like to- change the subject and get back on topic," Nyx responds, eyes squinted. "About your confession-"

"Yes, yes, that," Dahlia responds. "Of course, of course. I feel like addressing that. But if it is alright with you, I would like to order. I was thinking of getting some filet mignon, cassoulet de toulouse, and some crème brûlée..."

Nyx is... feeling a strong sense of... irony... as she speaks to this woman. Her words saying a lot about her character, her personality. As if it was a case of déjà vu, as if she's seen all of this before. As if all of this was familiar.

In fact... Nyx lights up upon realizing. Dahlia's choice of topics, her persistent questioning. How she knew to- call the taxi driver's phone. She does not know for certain, but...

... Dahlia Rosefield is a stalker.

One that knew how to get information about Quade without his notice, one who knew he would be at this restaurant, one who knew a lot more about him despite them cutting off contact. Dahlia came to this restaurant not because she was notified- it was because she knew Quade was coming here, and instantly found herself here in a short amount of time from where she called from.

Nyx keeps her cool, in case she was wrong. If Dahlia was a conventional stalker, Nyx would have spotted her countless times when Quade was alone. No. She could only speculate, but was on guard in case. The goal was to be friendly, to... to keep her here, to discuss things somehow. She does not know where this conversation was proceeding, but... but... it had to end with a rejection, in a way natural to Quade. "What a coincidence, I reckon. That's what I done gone ordered as well, to- wait for you."

"Really?" Dahlia speaks up, smiling. "I suppose I could- ... no, no, it- it is unbecoming of a lady to... split food with her lover in such a fine, fine establishment."

"Yep..." Nyx responds, agreeing fully. Hesitating at this- information, now actively on guard. She was being rivaled by someone who is almost as creepy as her. A former lover seeking to know as much information of Quade as possible. "So-"

"But- with you..." The woman takes a moment to get up, walks around the table and sits on one half of Nyx's seat, closing the distance between the two immediately. "I... feel as if I could- betray society's standards just this once, allow myself to... give in... to my urges..."

Nyx- Nyx watches as Dahlia sits with her, forced to scoot a little. Unsettled at her- forwardness, how... how she could do what Nyx could not. "... that- Dahlia, I ask that you not-"

And Nyx was interrupted, as Dahlia moves in, and presses her lips against Nyx's. Stealing a kiss from her, locking their lips together.

Quade's eyes widen at this, shocked and visibly- tense. Worried for Nyx's- safety, but... but hesitating to do anything as the two women kiss. He can't reveal himself to Dahlia. If he was found now, he'd be unable to escape her. He- he couldn't bring himself to stop Dahlia, powerless to do anything. Feeling tense as he bites the nail of his thumb, looking off to the side. A yellow bellied coward...

Nyx... Nyx was caught vulnerable by this, a tense look as a twisted look forms in her eyes. The kiss throwing her into an impure fantasy, one that has her- kissing Dahlia back. Losing herself in the twisted visual of doing the same to Quade, of embracing his lips in such a manner, of stealing Dahlia's role in this moment. Side by side with Quade, giving up her morals for him, and kissing him in a bold move to entice him. Her eyes closing and returning Dahlia's kiss with her own passion.

"..." Dahlia pulls away with a curious look upon Nyx returning the kiss. A faint sigh as a... blush... catches her off guard. "... m... my, my... I- I'm- sitting next to an impostor...~"

Nyx- comes out of her... her fantasy, eyes fluttering as she stares back at Dahlia. A chill going down her spine as she felt like she was caught in that moment. W-Why did she know that Nyx wasn't Quade? "W... What? Why do you say that?"

"Quade... back then, even when you've changed bodies, you would always kiss the exact same way, 'McMurphy'," Dahlia explains, revealing that she didn't realize Nyx wasn't Quade yet. "The same boring way that you thought was... romantic... each time. It's why I always led. Why I left, admittedly. I left a boring man who only ever behaved the same way with me, regardless of how much he can change. You were- boring, in every semblance of the word."

Nyx- Nyx narrows her eyes at this, noticeably... offended, on Quade's behalf. "... Dahlia, I- that's- I don't think-"

"Quade, I'm talking about back then... you- you're..." Dahlia states, elegantly taking Quade's hat off of Nyx's head and beginning to fanning her face with it. Absolutely enamored by the kiss, her blushing cheeks deep and rosy. "You appear to be more passionate since our breakup. Even- even though you were enraged, possibly uncomfortable with me, almost wanted nothing to do with me. Y-You still managed to embrace my- my advance with this newfound passion...! You've done enough to excel past my other lovers- I- I love you, Quade...~"

Nyx is visibly panicked at this confession, and- ... and...

... and... stares at Dahlia, a violent glare forming in her eyes.

Other lovers.

Other. Lovers.

"... other lovers...?" Nyx asks, her voice shaky.

"Ah- yes... you will be happy to know that I called off my arrangements with them," Dahlia begins to explain. "Shortly after our breakup, I cut ties off with them. I tried to explain this, but never got the chance... but- they're no longer in my life, Quade. I don't need them, not anymore. So please, please, please... please accept me into your arms once more, I promise never to let you go again! I'll make you happier than you ever-"

Nyx then stands up immediately, slamming her hands against the table. Glaring down at Dahlia, the reason for their breakup revealed to her in that moment. "Silence yourself."

"... w... what?" Dahlia asks, confused as she looks up at Quade with longing eyes. "I... I'm sorry, and-"

"Silence!" Nyx loudly shouts, slamming her fist against the table as she kicks the chair over. Forcing Dahlia to fall over, collapsing against the floor. "What gives you the right to come back and look at me after what you did?! You, who dare tarnish the sanctity of a romantic connection with your infidelity!"

There were countless eyes on the two as Nyx was making a scene and started to gain the attention of the other patrons.

Quade stares with a tense look on his face, Nyx gaining his attention when Dahlia was kicked over. Tensely- needing to do something, and looking to Scott with his hand raised up to his ear. About to do the signal, as he pulls his ear once, twice, and-

"Dahlia Rosefield!" Nyx exclaims, forcefully snatching Quade's hat away from Dahlia. "You! You are a rotten woman who does not deserve a single ounce of respect. A wretched, foul, despicable rat in the midst of those in standing! To think you would show your face to me, show your face in public! Betray those lovers you falsely hold in your hands!"

Dahlia lets out an offended gasp. "Y-You kicked me over and out of the chair...! You do not have the right to do this, to treat me this way! I-"

Nyx continues to shout, disregarding restaurant etiquette as her voice could be heard by everyone in this restaurant. People who were eating this drama up, people entertained by this show.

"You are a filthy, filthy woman whose mouth dare not come into contact with human flesh ever again! Lest you spread your pathetic harlot essence and stain any person with your pathetic, pitiable, horrendous manner of what you call 'kissing' a man! You sicken me to my very core and do not deserve to hold MY hat, let alone be near it, with any part of your body. if I see you go anywhere near me again, there will be nothing to contain my fury."

"..." Dahlia glares at Nyx. All love for Quade gone in that moment, her face showing her as the wretched and vile woman she was as she shouts back. "You dare say all of that about me?! You were head over heels in love with me, McMurphy! What exactly gives you the right to order me around?! If I want you, I will have you at any cost! Nothing I have done is wrong in the eyes of-"

Dahlia is promptly interrupted as Nyx raises her hand and punches down on the table, a loud crack sounding out as the table ends up breaking. Several gasps sounding out, with restaurant patrons- both impressed, both terrified.

None more terrified than the woman subject to Nyx's wrath, a complete tone shift as her eyes gaze at Nyx in horror.

"Guess what? I am not the Quade McMurphy you are bored of, the McMurphy you are trying to rekindle your relationship with," Nyx immediately declares. "I am far worse. Worse than you could ever imagine. The Quade that wants nothing to do with you ever again. There will be no waking moment of mine that you will ever approach me again. Your face will be gone from my memory, wiped clean to the point where I will never feel upset towards you again. Because guess what? Your love is not needed. I, myself, have another lover!"

Quade's eyes widen as Nyx exclaims this, a tense look on his face. Walking- closer, intent on breaking this up now, walking closer.

"That is right, Dahlia. Her beating heart thunders and roars for the man you disregarded back then! Her passion for me as fiery as the sun itself. Someone who understood my worth, someone who could appreciate me for everything I do instead of treating my life like a game! Do you know about her?! Do you know what she would do to be in your position, to be regarded as something you took for granted?!"

Dahlia was speechless, shaking, trembling. Every breath she took cold, nervously sweating as she- she feared what Quade was going to do to her. Every so often, her eyes glance at the broken table, then back up at 'Quade', at the man she hurt...

Nyx's face darkening as her red eyes glow brightly. Glaring deeper into Dahlia's eyes, staring into her soul. Unholy wrath on display for the woman, as her hand raises from the broken table. The handle of a sword visible as she was pulling out her trusty weapon she kept in the shadows. Dahlia has yet to see the sword, as the table blocks her view from it. "Now, I am going to be blunt with you. Explicitly clear. Dahlia, you will stay away, or I will show no mercy, and I will bury you into the-"

Quickly, Quade grabs Nyx's shoulder and begins dragging her out. "M... Miss, you've caused quite a disturbance in this restaurant. I will have to ask you to leave, immediately!" in a fake voice.

Nyx's eyes briefly glance at Quade, her face starting to return to normal... as she drops the sword back into the shadow, and complies to being dragged out. Staring at Dahlia with conviction, glaring at her as she's escorted out.

"..." Quade just leaves, walking past the maitre d'. Taking a brief look to Scott, mouthing: Sorry for the table.

Nyx looks at the maitre d' with a calm expression, her rage subsiding. Also mouthing: I am sorry...

... the sound of applause echoing throughout the restaurant.

"Bravo! Bravo! That- that was magnificent!"

"Good show! Good show! Jolly good show!"

Scott turns back to see the restaurant uproar in applause, in disbelief as the entirety of the restaurant was applauding- all of that. A portion of them thought it was a show put on, that it was a spectacle arranged for the restaurant's entertainment. The few that knew it was real, applauding the entire- rant that Nyx pulled off on a vile cheater. Everyone else unaware, simply applauding because everyone else was. Restaurant staff even joining in from the kitchen and throughout the restaurant.

It truly was an "I did something, and everyone clapped" moment unfolding before Scott.

The loud applause puts Dahlia into further shame as she remains on the floor, yet... she doesn't feel that shame. She was still mentally processing that entire moment. Staring as the two were leaving, absolutely shaken beyond belief. Feeling her heart beating as she holds her hand over it, left in a cold sweat.

... w... who was that woman...? And why do I feel... feel...

The restaurant would later be reimbursed for the table Nyx broke.