Chapter 1490 (2/2)

I must be careful… cannot make it seem like I’m using my station to pick up women, Arrietti scolded himself. He took a drink of water, cooling his throat and also cleansing his palate.

When he had arrived, he had thought she was a beautiful waitress. He had been mortified when he asked to talk to the pitmaster to speak about the meat selection and she sweetly responded that she preferred the term pit mistress and introduced herself as Selene. After stumbling through his order, he had guiltily used his high Perception to follow her movements through the back of the restaurant as she prepared the food.

She truly handled everything herself. So not just a beautiful woman, but also a capable one… Elmer Arrietti gulped. He took another drink of water.

Abruptly, he realized that he was looking over at Selene and she was staring back at him, with her chin in her hands. As recognition dawned in Arrieiti’s expression, the corner of Selene’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “What, you don’t like a woman who likes to watch?”

When Arrieti’s mouth refused to close normally, he took a fork and stuffed some of the brisket inside so the expression wasn’t so unusual. The common physical machinations of chewing began to take over. But almost immediately, he forgot all about Selene’s coy expression; Elmer Arrietti was immediately at peak concentration. He mobilized his image so that every one of his senses was heightened to its limit. “This meat…”

The next ten minutes were a blur of barbecue sauce and savory flavors. The meats were placed on Arrieti’s tongue, where their spiced juices and tender flesh became a culinary delight. Although he usually controlled his appetite, on this meal he made so such attempts for this meal. He continued voraciously devouring the food until the tray was entirely clean.

Elmer leaned back from the table and sighed in contentment. Selene laughed as she stepped forward and picked up his tray. “That’s a great expression on your face. That’s exactly why I like to watch my customers eat, when I can. Can I get anything else for you?”

“Actually…” Arrietti took a steadying breath. Her earlier comments had definitely been a bit flirty, right? Although it was somewhat awkward that he was doing this at her place of work… they were both adults. They could behave as adults. And Elmer’s heart was trembling in a way he hadn’t felt in twenty years. But it was an extremely adult tremor. More than her looks, Selene’s cooking…! “Actually…. Maybe sometime I can come to eat here with you again.”

That… wasn’t quite right. Commissioner Arrieti’s eyelid twitched.

Selene smiled. “Sure! I’m open six days a week. Do you want your check then?”

“No, I- errr, yes, actually, bring the check.” Arrietti scratched the side of his head. “But what I meant to say is that… you and I… the two of us… maybe not at your restaurant-”

“COOOOOOOMMMMMMMIISSSSSSIOOOOONNNEEEEEERRRRRRRRR!”

Arrieiti’s stuttered proposal was drowned out by the sound of someone yelling from outside on the street. In a way, Arrietti was relieved at the distraction; why was he behaving like a prepubescent boy? Shouldn’t he be old enough that these sort of nerves didn’t ruffle him? But simultaneously, he felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach; he recognized that voice.

Heiffal burst through the door to the restaurant, followed closely by the other members of the crew that had enthusiastically taken the joy out of bowling for Commissioner Arrietti. These were the few dozen that constantly infested the alley, making it boisterous and busy at all hours of the day. They were the ones that had stolen Elmer’s peaceful moments of repose from him. The group crowded in behind Heiffal, quickly filling up the available space. Tables and chairs were pushed to the side, making more room for them to congregate around Arrietti.

There were tears in Heiffal’s eyes. “Commissioner Arrietti…. I just want to say… thank you for everything you’ve taught us… about control and precision… about inner peace and self-improvement…”

Arrietti began gritting his teeth. Control? Inner peace? You people? Why haven’t I ever seen any evidence of this?!?

“We are heading back to the Nexus,” Heiffal continued, a single tear running down his cheek as he regarded Arrietti. “But we knew we couldn’t go without one last game of bowling. So…. please…. For old time’s sake…”

“Ah… I’m actually…” Elmer was trembling. He had FINALLY found an opportunity to escape his status as a fifty-two-year-old bachelor, and these punks wanted to ruin his first impression?!? “I need to-”

“Commissioner Arrietti, your sense of honor is pretty legendary in Kharon. I’ll give you this one on credit.” Selene said as she deftly wove her way through the press of bodies. Then she waved goodbye with a napkin, as though sending him off on a sea voyage from which he might not return safely.

Elmer Arrietti studiously kept control of his face as he was buoyed away by the capable hands of Heiffal’s crew. Behind him, he could hear Heiffal’s soldiers whispering.

“Look at his face… he can barely control his emotions…”

“Ah…. Commissioner Arrietti, he’s so overcome…. Seeing him so emotional like this-!”

“Take it easy… be strong, just like Commissioner Arrietti. We can’t- guh! We can’t cry! Waaahh!”

So… she had heard of me before…? A bitter Arrietti thought, desperately trying to find the silver lining in the situation.