Restaurant Lzrds

    Once the travel was made out of Westelande, Atif reached out to Vertina through the chimlinks-- and a meetup was agreed on all over again, much like they had talked about before.

    Nevermind that when the female Salamander actually comes along to meeting Atif by a landmark within Dun Loreaig, there's a bit of akward aside-glancing and flushing and what have you not, even before he takes to leading her Hifumi's restaurant.

    He's up to the door first, holding it open for her sheepishly before actually stepping inside, too. "WEll, here we are," he murmurs from just behind her. "The source of the amazing food."

Vertina is polite and doesn't point out the awkwardness. No need to make it any more awkward.

Besides there were more important things to think about. Like food. Good, proper tasting food.

She smiles and gives him a playful pat on the head for holding the door open though as she walks in. And immeadiately it almost feels like she's stepped back home. The bar, the smells, the idle chitchat creating its own touch of ambience in the background. Though the Ryokan was more traditional in style than the tavern her family had run, it was still a rather comforting feeling. "Someone went all out with creating this place."

    Eyes close from the unexpected headpat. Nope, that didn't make Atif any less sheepish, no. Still, he makes at least an effort in shaking it off when he steps in line with the other Salamander, tail idly swishing to one side. "This place is Hifumi's pet project, more or less," he provides in explanation. "He was talking about getting it done from the very first minute I met him. I'm glad he got it off the ground. I mean, he was already making delicious food before, but... this helps."

"Yeah. I only know brewing, I'd have to get someone else to cook." Vertina replies, as if considering something for a moment. But brushes it aside until later. "So where do you want to sit? The bar or the horigotatsu?" she asks the other Salamander, gesturing at the inset seating area.

    "I don't... know either," admits Atif with a quiet cough. "I was kind of useless with food even back on the other side." The question brings a hand to scratch at the side of his neck in thought. "...I was going to ask you," he admits. "But how about the hor--" Beat. "...The bar, let's sit at the bar." Well, that was a quick turnaround on that decision.

Vertina raises a nobby brow a little, but doesn't question. The cozy insets were probably a little -too- cozy for the poor boy and this being NotARealDate (even if it kind of was). Good friends can go out and have fun without it getting all gushy and romantic!

The tomboyish Salamander probably wasn't all that romantic, anyways.

She strolls over to the bar and takes a seat, and makes an effort to wave down the barkeeper while waiting for Atif to follow.

    Atif's following close besides her, and sliding himself onto a stool-seat right next to her. ...And scooching just a bit closer towards her in a motion that he probably thinks is on the sneakier side. Alright, so there was another reason for picking the bar, then. Granted, he probably could have sat next to her down by the proper seating area too, but that might have been harder to excuse.

    "I usually just order milk for a drink when I come eat here, I haven't looked at their drink options much otherwise," he offers in explanation. "...I usually just focus on munching on the yakiniku."

"Heh. Understandable. Stronger drinks aren't for everyone." Vertina rubs her chin for a moment. "I wonder if you need designated drivers for a Peko if you're drunk... or if it counts for one on its own." She shrugs. "I just want something to drink that isn't bland from the menu options." Pause. "I mean the game menus, not the bar menu."

The fox-like cait sith at the bar laughs at her. "Know what you meant. We call it 'menu sake' for a reason. I'll get you a proper one." Jabs a thumb at Atif. "And your friend has good taste."

Presumably he's talking about the mention of yakiniku. Presumably.

    "...I mean, I didn't mind the stuff you gave me the other day, just..." The male salamander lets out a low, sheepish chuckle there. "Working up to it, you know?"

    His attention snaps to the bartender, then, flashing a wide smile. "Yeah? I mean, I just really, really like--" Something about the way the Cait Sith bartender put those words clicks in right then, and his words are left hanging in the air -- much like his mouth is left hanging open for a few seconds before his facial muscles catch up to closing it. And his cheeks redden when he peeks sideways to Vertina. "Oh, um... yeah."

    A quick shake of the head to try to get his composure back, before he rumbles, "...I'll take today's special and... sake. I'll take sake." Oh no.

"Atif, you don't have to try and drink just to impress me you know." Though she's not going to stop him from trying to preserve his dignity or whatever brought it on, either. Vertina turns back to the bartender. "That said, I'll take the same. Let's see what you've got to offer." The local specialty is the best way to impress and win over customers, so it's a good place to start.

    "It's... not *just* to impress you," insists Atif with a scratch given to his tanned cheek from one red-scaled finger. He doesn't explain his case any further than that, though. While the bartender's off getting the orders handled, Atif props one elbow on the bartop, and rests his cheek on the palm of his hand, turned to face Vertina. "Besides... Sake's not *that* strong, right? ... R-...right?"

Besides, if one of them gets too bad off they just rent a room at the inn for the ni -- rent two rooms. Wouldn't want to give someone the wrong idea sharing a room...

Moving on!

Vertina rests one elbow on the counter while waiting, turning her attention properly to Atif at his question. "Alcohol content wise? It's a bit stronger than wine. But it's also served only in small glasses, so..." She shrugs. "Sake is more well known for it's very distinct taste compared to other liquor."

    "... Oh." Yeah. Atif definitely did not actually know much about sake beyond 'it's what my dad started drinking a lot of after--' eh, nevermind. "...Well!" He straightens up, and lightly bumps one fist agains the countertop. "No use backing out now! I already made that decision! Yosh! ... I'll just, uh... Drink real slowlike. Yeah..."

Vertina chuckles a little. "Well you did order food as well. Helps the body absorb the alcohol... You're suppose to drink sake slow, anyways. Savor the experience. The flavor you can't get with any other drink."

    "Right... RIght, makes sense," Atif murmurs with a few firm nods of his head. The drinks themselves are likely brought out over to the two of them first, though the promise of grilled boar in the house's sauce is still there. Soon! Straightening up, Atif eyes over the small mug in front of him, considering the sake within. "...I probably should have ordered water or something too."

"Thank you," Vertina takes the cup with a nod to the bartender. Chuckles a little at Atif. "If you really need to water it down some... But at least try it first." She takes a sip of her own. She's not afraid of a good drink, that's for certain. Of course, she grew up around it in a family run tavern, she knows how to moderate herself.

    "Well, no, I more meant for drinking besides it," Atif rumbles. "I wasn't going to be rude and... mix it." He's heard some people consider watering down a good drink rude, afterall! Either way, he draws both of his hands along the cup, carefully lifting it up to his lips... and taking just the smallest of sips. Just to get the taste of it. Even he instinctively squints his eyes closed evne before it really hits him.

Vertina ohs, and aaaahs. She wasn't going to hold it against him, but he's not wrong about some people thinking of it as rude.

She's also seen plenty of tourists nearly gag themselves in attempting to not be rude, and mistakingly think they're suppose to drink it like a shot when it's in a smaller glass. So she's just trying to be sure Atif doesn't needlessly ruin the experience for himself.

"You can always ask for some water when the meal comes."

    "Mmmfff..." Atif keeps his eyes closed shut while the small sip courses through him, and the cup gets lowered down agian. He stays like that for a bit after swallowing, before letting out a breath. "...It's... an interesting taste," he allows. "Whoof... It didn't kick as bad as I thought it would, either."

"Better than expecting it to be light and having it kick your ass." Vertina takes another sip before setting her own cup down. "You want a different kind of kick, taste the menu made stuff. Bleh!" She makes a face, which gets a snicker out of the bartender as he's delievering their meals. At which the topic of how good the sake and how bad the menu crafting are is proptly forgotten for the moment. "That looks just as delicious as it smells."

    "Hard pass," Atif decides quickly with a little laugh, and his foot reaching over to lightly nudge Vertina's shin. In an entirely innocent way, mind you, rather than... ahem. The food coming over catches his attention quickly, too, and he happily claps his hands together. "I guarantee you it does," he declares, eyes practically sparkling. "You're going to pass out from eating this stuff, it's that good~." WEll, that might be an exaggeration, but...

Vertina gives his foot a nudge back with her own. Still totally innocent. There's also things like food to worry about. Vertina digs in, and after a few bites nods vigorously while chewing. "You weren't kidding Atif. This is probably some of the best food I've tasted since we came into this world."

    Atif doesn't actually dig in to his own food, at first. Instead, he watches her take her first few bites, all-too-obviously watching for her reaction to the food proper. And with that, he flashes a wide grin and nods rapidly on his own right. "Right, right? I mean, it's really good on it's own right, but after this long with soggy crackers it's basically heaven in your mouth, right?"

"That is a good way of putting it~" Vertina takes another sip of her sake, then gets right back into the actual food.

    A quiet laugh rumbles up Atif's throat, and he smiles wide and cheerful at her answer. He finally digs in a bit, himself, though after a short moment, he takes a short pause to take hold of his own cup of sake. "Hey," he says, with a small, warm smile offered over to her, with the cup held out towards her. "Thank you for coming here with me."

Vertina grabs her own cup and holds it up. "If anything I should thank you for telling me about it."

    "Hey, take thanks. I mean, I'm happy spending time with you," Atif insists, clinking that cup against hers before lifting back over for a sip. Before he does, though, he mumbles basically right against the cup, "...Since I like you..." just audible enough to be heard (but quiet enough the claim of not having been heard could be made), and only then does he take a sip. Brave enough to take a bigger sip than before, too, gulping a good bit down...

    ...And immediately letting out a rough cough after swallowing. "Ah shi-..." He growls, hand fanning lightly at his own face. "I forgot what I was drinking!"

Vertina tilts her head a little with a curious noise, like she didn't quite hear that clearly. And it's quickly overshadowed by Atif going for gusto a little too hard to cover it up.

"Whoa, easy there." She reachs over to give his back a couple of pats to help clear it up. "I told you it wasn't extremely strong but it'd have a bite if you drink it too hard."

    "I'm okay, I'm okay...!" Atif mumbles after a few more coughs, even if his face has reddened up and he has to hold one hand to his chest. "Aaah, I forgot, I was so caught up..." Caught up in what though?

"Caught up in what, having a good time, good food, and a nice girl actually paying attention to you?" The last part is said playfully, but it shows Vertina hasn't been entirely clueless to his awkwardness.

    "Ah--" He directs a blink over to her, for just the briefest moments, before looking away again. "I mean, uh..." He mumbles, cheeks flushing from more than just the alcohol. "...Yeah," he admits in a breath eventually, sheepishly looking down at the food in front of him. "Sorry, I guess I'm... not good at this kind of stuff."

"Maybe not." Vertina leans a bit closer while smiling, her tail idly hooking the other side of her stool to help keep her stability. "But you're geniune, and that's more important."

    Though Atif does still blush, his reaction to her leaning in is... actually surprisingly reserved. Even if he doesn't bring himself to establishing eye contact with her after her latter words. "...Yeah?" He murmurs quietly, while his green gaze holds hers.

"Yeah... And I'm use to guys being put off by the fact that I could probably beat them in a fight." Vertina chuckles and resumes eating the rest of her meal. The food is too good to keep her attention away from for long.

    "...Yeah, well..." Atif murmurs, his smile returning now -- less sheepish, more genuine, while he considers her. "That just makes you even more amazing in my eye, Vertina." With that claim, he turns right back over to his own food, eagerly digging in.