Psyis felt a slight chill around her as she opened her eyes and found that Izime had taken them to an area technically inside the cafe proper.

Psyis was surprised to find herself on the Skycafe’s outdoor terrace, surrounded by tables with guests paused mid-bite and servers frozen mid-step watching the two of them.

Turning to Izime a bit worried, he just gave her a calm look and guided her forward. Walking inside and heading towards the proper entrance to the restaurant as patrons whispered and pointed toward him and his bird. Those dining clearly more drawn to the obvious display of magic than her as whispered words about the raven being a familiar came from around them.

A hostess came walking up, nervously watching the bird as well even as she approached. Apparently having heard the commotion came and found them halfway, two menus in her hand as she stammered nervously, “H-how can I help you Mr?”

Izime smiled brightly as everything was going according to plan, clarifying things for the hostess he said, “I’ve been here with Lux before though I’m afraid I don’t remember which name I used at the time. A table for two please."

Feeling a bit of Psyis’ discomfort at the showy entrance he’d even taken that chance to loop his arm through hers and pull her a bit closer.

Having Psyis dress accordingly would have drawn all the eyes towards her instead. Now it looked exactly how he intended with him as the mysterious but obviously in charge person leading around the under-dressed nobody. Her natural reaction gave her the perfect vibe, he could only write ‘I’m taking advantage of this girl’ larger if he purchased a billboard outside and wrote it.

Patting the air between them, the AI tried to calm the hostess with a disarming smile, at the same moment he went ahead and acknowledged the security that had flanked the room, “Go ahead and call, its fine I’m a business associate of Mr. Winthor’s just returning here with my date.”

“Certainly just let me find a table for you and…” Her shoulders dropped as the unexpected guest's words didn’t put her at ease the hostess decided to ask for at least one name before seating the two very unusual guests. Now turning towards the woman beside him, trying to prompt some kind of response outside of the older man's control the hostess tried to smile encouragingly.

“Psyis,” Pulling down her hood the thessian clarified who she was for the hostess. Brushing out her hair that had been mussed by her hood with one hand, Psyis watched the poor girl's eyes going wide as dinner plates. The entire establishment was tense as they realized a family member of Radiation Man was dining with them, the room collectively held their breath until Izime spoke up breaking the air of suspense.

“Is there a problem?” Leaning down Izime acted ignorant about the reason behind the tense atmosphere. Looking around the room feigning naivetety about earths social circles as he assured the room, “Sorry Lux assured me I would visit at anytime so I didn’t bother with a reservation. Communications a bit more difficult off-world.”

The hostess stood a bit awkwardly until she received a nod from the head of security who had just returned from contacting the owner of the Skycafe. Waving for the very well-dressed magician and his very unexpected company to follow her back into the establishment.

The go-ahead to welcome their unexpected guests came with a stern nod the hostess hurriedly went ahead and led them to the VIP section of the cafe where a private table was still being set, “Not at all, a table for the gentleman and the madam as requested.”

Giving a few final pulls to the freshly laid tablecloth she sit out a few rolls of actual silver craft utensils, “Your waiter will be with you in just a moment.”

“Thank you.” Izime nodded toward the hostess before she left, taking the menus and sliding them both toward Psyis.

The alien picked on up out of human-istilled habit looking it over before finally speaking about the restaurant itself. Clearly a bit shocked at the unexpected treatment Izime was glad she was overlooking it.

The special service clearly a sign of how much business respect Lux had for him and was not a good thing in any Kerzen’s eyes.

Psyis glanced over the prices, not even bothering to read the descriptions that were written only to highlight the expense of the ingredients. Only saying a few words about the selection it offered, “I’ve never been here.”

Glancing up towards Izime ignoring the way she was clearly having a casual Friday in comparison to the rest of the room where every other couple had sat in formal attire. Giving him a bit of a look as he was indeed showing her off, just in an entirely different fashion.

Even taking her to a private room within the cafe, something obviously reserved for those Winthor considered elites. The thessian smirked a bit as Izime sneered at the menu along with her.

“And I don’t like restaurants where I can’t see the food being prepared,” Izime took one of the menus glancing over the overly advant garde food. The AI sat back and explained a bit about what he’d discovered in his own preferences through the years. “You develop weird preferences after traveling the galaxy for a bit, personally I think street food is the best. Filling and it builds a healthy immune system.”

Glancing over the menu Psyis tried to find something, maybe not reasonably priced at least without edible gold or truffles or foie gras. Finally settling on an imported Japanese staple turned American fad Psyis pointed at a section on the menu asking Izime’s opinion, “How do you feel about sushi.”

“I like the shape and the sauces.” Glancing up Izime smiled agreeing with Psyis’ choice, pointing at the picture of black goo Lux had insisted he try last time, “I had fish eggs when I was here before.”

“Caviar?” Psyis made a face, recalling the times she’d had to eat it alongside Steven. “That's… sushi it is then.”

Her disgust broke out as a giggle as Izime copied her reaction, Psyis nodding along as she tried to stem her flirtatious laughter. The Voltham elite often preferred dollar amount spent over actually good-tasting food.

The man across from her admitted to having a taste for any greasy bowl he could find in an alley instead, Psyis smiling fondly remembering that was technically their first date; eating greasy noodles in a back alley.

“Not very good, but it was interesting, and its incredibly easy to farm in zero-g.” Izime agreed to share in Psyis' distaste for the salt-cured roe. Explaining in a sideways fashion what he’d been purchasing from Lux that day, the fish made for an affordable food source and easily maintained hatcheries in zero-g.

The rather pungent earth delicacy was now quickly becoming a staple protein for the rest of the galaxy in other forms.

Glancing away from Psyis, Izime explained a bit of his home reality’s mirrored time period. “By this time in my reality, the sales of caviar were limited to select farmable fish to conserve populations. The sturgeons in the black sea were dwindling far enough that caviar substitutes were far cheaper than the actual thing.”

The AI quietly celebrated the fact comic authors hadn’t carried over all the detrimental effects caused in their reality. Only a few instances of such taking place such as global warming and various forms of ‘isms’ both specism and sexism. The most dire of those were already solved by fantastical solutions here, the rest remained as reminders of faux imperfection.

The several waiters making their way out only reminded Izime of another; classism.

If Steven thought he was going to flex his adoptive father's money and name then the AI was just going to remind him why exactly the name Caulder rarely left Voltham. Comparing the wealth of a local Voltham aristocrat against the resources of a galactic salesman was a bit unfair. Still, Izime washed his hands free of any guilt, Steven was the one who’d picked this fight after all.

Walking over a bit nervously, Lux’s words still fresh in her mind, the young waitress intending to follow through on her boss's orders. Unsure of what else the strange magician might ask for, Lux only told her the man’s name and that he had to be impressed with their service or else.

Ready to satisfy whatever demands the man made regardless of cost she introduced herself, “Hello I’m Halie I’ll be your server this afternoon Mr. Izime.”

Stepping aside she made room for the two assistants with her to place the large platter on the table, “Here’s a sampler on the house, it consists of Earth's current seasonal delicacies we’ve selected that you might find tempting. Mr. Wintor will be here in a bit to welcome you back to his restaurant personally, until then could have your orders?”

Sitting back towards the younger woman Psyis let some more of the pieces of who Izime was click into place. Digging deeper through the layers of who he was as Lux sent a team of staff to welcome him, the villainous tycoon was apparently coming personally as well.

The sampler in front of them while seasonal certainly wasn’t any kind of appetizer for a meal. It was more than a meal for the two of them already. The entire thing was made from decent-sized portions of the offered specials and top-end entrees she’d seen pictured on the menu.

Tilting her head a bit Psyis considered the difference in Izime’s almost panicked shame that he was internalizing as he tried to act like this was all expected.

The tremor of emotions between them clearly coming across like she had often felt, uncomfortably polite at the overt expenses taken. The platter before them clearly not the appetizers he’d expected to talk to his date over. Psyis smiled as he awkwardly pointed at only a few lower-end items on the menu and tried to wave the food away uselessly.

“Two rolls please, a tiger roll for my date and something heavy in nori for me.” Izime pointed towards the sushi section, tapping dumbly at the roll Psyis had selected for herself while asking for the chef to pick for him. The AI asked for a bottle of chilled rice wine before turning to his date to ask, “Chilled sake, and you?”

Pointing down the massive silver platter that was on the table already Izime almost bowed in apology to the waitress as he said, “That's far too much give it to the other guest,s please. I’m only here on a date not to browse Earth’s produce thank you.”

“Of course,” Hallie nodded, though the platter remained where it was. She certainly wasn’t going to remove the evidence she’d done as her boss asked, she liked her paycheck after all. Turning towards the Centropolis-based celebrity she asked for her preferences in a drink now, “For Miss Psyis?”

“I’ll have the raspberry iced tea with a shot of clear rum in it.” Psyis looked over at the waitress sending a quick message making sure she knew to grab the smallest bottle of sake they had available.

Price had no concern for Izime obviously, still, his ability to consent to anything later tonight was a worry for her. The woman was not quite as concerned over the issues of some galactic police coming to snatch him away as he was.

It was their choice after all; despite what any media or law said they were consenting adults and they could just butt out of it.

“Could I see some ID for the drinks?” Hallie smiled apologetically while she asked the floor for proof of age, unsure of where she really stood on the right and wrong of it. One of the two was confirmed to be old enough, and even if the man did it was still her job.

Despite what Lux said she wasn’t going to slack off and sell alcohol to anyone the tabloids claimed was ten and lose the cafe’s liquor license.

“Of course,” Psyis pulled out her driver's license handing it over, their waitress only taking half a second to pretend like she’d confirmed the thessian’s age. The small scanner on her electronic ordering pad made a pleasing confirmation tone as Hallie scanned it before handing it back.

“My Sol permit please Cradle,” Izime looked over at the raven that still sat politely on his shoulder. The raven hopped down to the table and made a little show of checking its wings before pulling out a similarly sized card with its beak.

The only differences were the translucent nature and slight shimmer, the entire ID set in holographic display cast on a frosted glass surrounded by a black metal frame.

Hallie took a second longer to examine the high-tech identification screen and the age it displayed. Her pad repeated the same confirmation tone before she’d even scanned it, the ID communicating with the lower-end device all on its own.

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“I’ll let the chef know your preferences, both of them.” The young woman said handing the ID back unsure of what the 2.8e3079 on his age meant but clearly it was old enough to have a drink.

Walking away she went to place their orders with the cooks not bothering to glance back, let pad inform her that her boss had arrived to take over.

“I don’t have an Earth ID but I figured that would work,” Izime took the card giving Cradle a little scratch as he put it into his jacket pocket. The AI a bit curious if using his work ID would get him flagged as Earth wasn’t actually a part of the federation of planets that’d issued it.

“It certainly clears me to have a drink, she looked at me like I was ten.” Looking over at the psychic Izime snorted a bit as he asked if Psyis had noticed as well, “Did you see that?”

“You’re not a kid, I know that but she didn’t, or at least didn’t believe it.” Psyis rolled her eyes already knowing why their waitress had checked Izime’s ID. Making things clear for him now pointing out the cause, “That headline really just took both of us in the worst context, your words and my actions.”

Giving a glance to the door Izime decided to bring up one of the reasons he thought Psyis kept throwing herself at him, one she might not realize herself, “I think we’ve been dancing around that for a bit, the ‘what if FazzPazz hadn’t showed up’ guilt you’re carrying.”

Watching Psyis flounder for a moment he gave her time to find the words she needed.

“I wouldn’t have Izime, I lost my mind for a minute but it was just talk.” Psyis felt her mouth move a couple of times before the sound finally came out. Consciously unable to excuse the person she’d been in that moment while still forgiving herself for the growing attachment she held for the AI, “I’m not going to turn back into that Psyis.”

“I might have, I definitely wasn’t leaning towards no at the time, just scared of how fast everything was happening. If I didn’t have that inhaler we probably would have already, which would be a mistake.” Izime looked down, a bit embarrassed about his admittance about that day he’d been ‘helpless’ under her.

The AI took a moment to let those words settle before glancing back up far more seriously in his second warning, “It's helping me keep some control, but I’m honestly scared of hurting you at moments. Like earlier you wanted something and… I wanted to tear that shirt off you in a not-nice way, and that’s not right.”

“You’ve had enough of controlling domineering people in your life, I don’t want that to be me.” Izime gestured weakly at Psyis before rubbing his thumbs together feeling like he’d failed her somehow as he admitted, “If we jump into a physical relationship too quick I think it will be.”

“Iz… I don’t know what to say to that.” Psyis sat up a bit straighter, finally taking Izime’s warning about wanting space seriously for once. Looking around the table a bit uncomfortably, not sure how to feel now about how aggressive she’d been with Izime earlier in her apartment.

It was clear he’d been resistant, she’d assumed it was against her. Believing it was because she was just not trying hard enough or in the right way to tempt the AI.

All his other no’s had been worked through in some fashion after all. Talking the issue through, arguing, or compromising as they did so. Now it sounded more like he knew what he felt and was fighting himself over it, while she repeatedly shoved him into the ring with those urges.

“That makes it a good time to bring up my next point.” Izime said while he literally did so, leveling a finger at Psyis to get her attention, “One of the forms we need to sign is a consent form for safety. Outside of Earth, the galaxy monitors people like you very closely and very differently than others.”

“Why only outside of Earth?” Psyis asked ignoring bringing up what the consent form was for more curious about who was issuing it. Clearly, Izime was talking about what might have happened if she’d managed to keep using her powers on him like she had earlier.

Hiding her guilt as curiosity, wondering if Constantinople was right and if she was the wrong person to be in charge of his toaster right now. Able to see a bit of what the exorcist had been trying to keep from happening as she got the outcome of her wish to snatch Izime away.

Her clear inhibitions with his boundaries and his lack of clearly explaining things could quickly become very toxic.

“That isolationism keeps you insulated from a lot of the policies across the galaxy. The concept of your cape doesn’t extend far outside of Earth.” The AI tried to think of a good way to concisely explain the difference between heroes on Earth and the way the rest of the galaxy saw them.

Izime hoped his analogy would clarify the differences she could expect, “A good example is the Zythomian Tribunal and their Ring Bearers. On any other planet, they're not considered a hero so much as a minor policing force or glorified neighborhood watch.”

“Here Hank's authority is damned near unquestioned once he’s outside of Sol’s magnetosphere and in interstellar space he’s just another Zythomian peace-keeper.” Gesturing to the room Izime made things a bit clearer on why the Green Ring caught the flak he did, “Zythomia has power on the planets they support but across the wider spread of players? Their like a 3rd world country with a slightly more impressive military, they can’t even take on Armageddon and that’s one planet.”

Psyis leaned back brushing at her hair, looking at Izime, listening as he finally drew a distinction between heroes and what he was. His explanation didn’t exactly clear up what he was so much as explain why he’d gotten such a loud response for just selling his batteries.

She’d always known it was something more than a simple salesman. Though being important enough to have the galaxy worried about who he hopped into bed with seemed a bit of a stretch.

“Then there’s me, as a recognizable public figure I can’t just integrate with a protected species, this is already a big move privately socializing.” Scratching at his head Izime, took another glance at the door well aware that the privacy it offered was also a curtain of accusations that could be dropped on them. Used to make whatever accusations people wanted unlike the photos from the Station, unverifiable accusations were just as damning as his accidental jokes.

Finally looking up he copied Psyis’ pose leaning back in his chair as well admitting to his own come-to moment, “So that article was a good reminder for me to not just follow your mother’s advice as soon as I got to Centropolis. As much as I would like to I have to at least look like I can keep my head around you.”

“Why am I a protected species?” Leaning forward Psyis asked another question while she unrolled a set of cutlery. Picking up one of the smaller forks she waved it trying to tempt Cradle from Izime’s side of the table to snack on the fine silver.

Feeling a bit on a pedestal as even outside her cape she was placed above Izime once again in some fashion. Rubbing at her own neck feeling like there was always something more important than what she wanted, first being her cape, now it was the stripes on her skin.

The answer was already obvious considering her species was extinct, she’d only asked to confirm her suspicions.

“Technically we both are but they’ll throw a bigger fit about you. I’m only a one-off of the human species, unique but classified as a mutation. You’re the last thessian in existence Psyis, just touching you is a galactic controversy.” Izime confirmed Psyis' suspicions while giving a nod towards Cradle, granting his approval to go have an appetizer of high-quality silver.

Hoping that Psyis stayed entertained and didn’t point out that he was as usual hiding the truth; he was much more than a human mock-up. Even that definition was clearly hiding quite a bit of where and when that mock-up had come from.

Watching as Cradle hopped over to nibble the tongs off the dessert fork Psyis had offered before moving on to the next bit. Izime detailed the paperwork that would let them legally celebrate their new relationship physically, “We need to have certain tests run on us for compatibility and safety. If there are any issues we can sign consent forms that wave any galactic guilt, but that’s something I have to do to keep my job.”

“You need a consent form to..keep selling batteries?” Psyis asked sarcastically dropping the tiny bit of silver handle left in her hand that’d once been a spoon and changing her choice in words as the door opened.

The thessian had wanted to make sure she’d heard the AI correctly, that a night in bed with her would keep him from hocking his little trinkets but it seemed Lux Winthor had come. The man stood physically imposing both bulk and tall, bald with his bushy but trimmed salt and pepper beard. Well dressed, as usual, tastefully but excessively wealthy in a suit.

The villainous philanthropist personally brought their drinks without even bothering to knock, while behind him came two actual waiters with their dishes. Psyis glanced at Izime wondering how or if he’d even keep their discussion going with an acquaintance from the other side in the room.

“That's part of it, James wasn’t joking around when he said I’m the welfare system of the galaxy. I was involved with politics at one point as an advisor of sorts,” Izime leaned across the table, taking one of the other forks that remained, tempting Cradle back to his side as he answered wanting to make room on the table.

The AI looked over unbothered to see the business tycoon in the room, a platter bearing a chilled bowl holding a couple of bottles of sake and a tall glass of rosy-colored tea. Lux’s suit of equally high quality for his earth-based residence, a few very tastefully placed rare off-earth gems adorning things like his tie clip and cuff links.

Scooping the bird up and letting the raven snack in his lap, Izime cleared things up for Psyis both verbally and through their connection as he said, “I decided to resign once Cradle came around, I needed to focus on raising my kid.”

Making it clear as he opened himself up to the flow of her emotions that he wasn’t going to hide no matter who was around, so as long as he chose to open the topic to her first.

“It had nothing to do with Atluer threatening you during the Senate hearings?” Lux said as he looked between the two who had come to dine at his small establishment.

Standing aside as their dishes were placed on the small table, Winthor kept both the drinks and his thoughts safe. One he’d hoped would have returned sooner and in better company, the other he’d never expected to visit at all but both were very important figures he could manipulate in different fashions.

Leaning towards the latter the silver-tongued villain did what he could to try and stir up something less romantic between the two, revealing a bit of the star-bound salesman’s history, “Ruining a stellar titan’s image across the galaxy was going to have some consequences, but he seems to have fared quite well. What is a Titan to a King after all?”

Sitting the bowl of ice that held the small but extremely potent bottles of still chilling sake down he slid it towards the very very rich man who’d once stopped by to purchase fish of all things. “Knickknack, I’m glad to see you finally decided to try Earth’s culinary delights once more.”

“Winthor you know I hate that name,” Izime smiled and took the bowl, standing he held out his hand to give a friendly handshake. The AI said, unafraid of the microscopically sized businessman. The amoeba that Lux was could be a loud creature but as far as the man’s actual power? It was nothing, even compared to some of the tycoons the AI had blackmailed into submission during its first life.

Cocking his brow Izime made sure that his position on not letting everyone die was very clear for the room, “You can rest assured. If an army decides to march across the galaxy in search of the scraps to any mid-tier Kardeshev equation, I’ll be the first in their way once again.”

Giving Psyis a bit of a nod Izime hoped he wasn’t actually blushing from patting himself on the back for once. She’d been the one to start saying hero this and hero that after all so it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise and it was deserved.

“Glad to hear it, I’d hate to leave a threat of that magnitude in the hands of anyone less capable. Miss Psyis I think this is yours?” Lux to a sideways shot at the other person who was seated at the table. The oddly irritating relative of his rival, thankfully she didn’t cause nearly as much trouble as her cousin the Kansas farm owner.

The thessian being here was only half as shocking as discovering that she was truly involved with Izime, the two sitting quite comfortably despite the fact his arrival had been announced beforehand.

Lux sat down the woman’s drink as he mocked her openly for her return to the tabloids, poking the Kerzen on sight as if on instinct, “Quite the surprise to see you here in person, and not just pictured on some supermarket ra-”

“Lux.” Psyis kept her warning short, not nearly as willing to entertain his verbal jabs like her boyfriend was.

Lux was clearly about to bring up any number of times Steven had plastered her on untold headlines across the country in front of Izime. Not something she would stand for, though she didn’t think the AI would really care. The thessian kept glaring at the thickly bearded man who was still holding the tea she’d yet to reach for.

Psyis refused to back down until she saw a hint of something less antagonistic cross the older villain’s face.

“Is it something your cousin is aware of, I know the tabloids don’t sell as well out in the sticks.” Lux tried to bring up the woman’s actual problem, finally letting the drink go, and his tone eased. The villain stepping down, Lux tried to offer a hand in help and not another reason for her to hate him as he said. “It is quite the mess for something so simple, should I hold the press off until you can call Kansas?”

Reaching out Psyis took the tea, looking at Izime not sure exactly what to say about Lux’s unexpected offer now hoping he’d take the lead so she’d not misstep and put them in Winthor’s debt.

It wasn’t unheard of for new couples to announce themselves to a gathering of questioning TV vans outside, but that was usually after a more celebratory headline had featured them, unlike her particular tabloid spreads.

The thessian feeling and accepting the offer of support she felt from Izime she took a sip of her drink knowing he’d handle Lux for her.

“Kansas is actually quite nice, even if James is a bit of a boy scout, no offense Psyis.” Izime leaned forward and dragged the bowl of iced sake toward him as he both answered and gave Lux something else to think about, “I think I can handle something as simple as clearing my own image Lux, unless you want to start playing in my circles and hand galactic extinctions I’ll handle my press?”

Taking one of the porcelain cups from the ice he slid it across the table. With a quick twist of the brass wire that held the ashed cork stopper, Izime opened the high-end sake and unceremoniously poured a drink for the alien to take.

“He has his moments, but he did get you cleared for getting your citizenship.” Psyis smile appreciatively agreeing with Izime as she took the cup Izime had poured for her and took a sip.

The almost icy porcelain stuck to her lips slightly as she tried the expensive drink, the hint of dried fruit chasing the almost bitter refreshing taste of the rice alcohol. The alien blinking in surprise for a moment as a sweet aftertaste crept over her tongue cleaning her pallet after the stronger grain note cleared away.

Psyis glanced nervously at the two bottles sitting on the ice, admitting she quite liked the taste even as she blushed from the proof. “Oh, I like that, it's clean.”

“Right, I do still need to thank him for that.” Izime nodded confirming that he was firmly entrenched with the Kerzen’s family even outside of the relationship with the woman across from him.

Taking the other cup that was still on ice he filled it to the rim and stopped the sake back. With a nod towards Lux Izime tipped the entire cup back, the entire thing taking several swallows before he placed it back on the table. Treating the billionaire as if he was just another one of the waiters that were still holding their meal hostage.

Smacking his lips once Izime looked at Psyis and picked the conversation over the liquor back up as he said, “A bit of apricot maybe, yeah it doesn’t stick around very clean.”

“I had no idea you were interested in moving to Earth, living inside your race's stellar sphere…tsk..tsk, all that work with the IGC just to step down early?” Lux felt his business smile finally twitch a bit as the two started to enjoy their drinks treating him like air.

Though he was rather useless in the room beyond holding the now empty tray and talking about things he shouldn’t. The latter of which Lux decided to keep doing, running his mouth a bit more as he handed to tray to one of the still waiting servers. Winthor taking a shot at Izime this time over his failing career potential,

“Would you rather just take a seat Lux, it’d be easier to discuss my past that way.” Izime spoke up a bit aggravated this time as the villain not looking up as he rearranged the sauces that’d come with his nori-wrapped aged salmon roll, “You know I gave up my chance at politics long ago. I am not fit for leading anyone, it’s outside my scope of things.”

“No, No I’d hate to interrupt your lovely evening.” Lux shook his head refusing the faux offer of hospitality not needing to feel Psyis’ growing irritation at his presence. Waving the servers out of the room before waving at the simple dishes the two had ordered as if permitting them to finally enjoy their meal in peace. Lux took a final shot at the two before he turned to leave the room, “Just dropping in, some rumors need to be confirmed in person after all.”

The billionaire flinched slightly as a raven’s call came out before he’d managed to open the door.

“Lex, could you inform your staff I’ll be paying in credits.” Izime called out toward the owner of the establishment his tone making it clear that his words weren’t a question. Pinching a piece of sushi he dipped both it and his fingers into the soy continuing to talk not caring about the price or his manners, “I’m a bit short on pocket cash, but you know I always have Sol credits to spare so charge extra if you want.”

The AI glanced up just as he took his bait, Lux walking over and pulling a bank card out of his suit jacket and placing it on the table. Izime gave an appreciative humph as Cradle approached, giving a scan that relayed the information on it and its worth.

“I could always exchange them for you. There’s easily a couple hundred million on this card, feel free to help yourself.” Lux at least made it sound like was doing Izime a favor and not just being used as a bank teller.

Keeping his face from reacting as his funds were being handled by a bird, the man who asked for them did not even bother to take the card personally.

“Wonderful, Cradle send Lux a tip as well. Have a good day Winthor.” Izime finished licking the soy sauce from his fingers while he directed his bond to throw a little salt into Lux’s wounded ego.

The AI glanced over calculating just how much the night would actually cost him as the villain who’d come to wait on them finally left the room before turning back to give his date the attention she deserved. The conversation was sure to carry on much easier now that the Villain had left and their food had arrived.