"I'm starting to get a little full," Owen admitted, completely missing Cabot's challenging tone. Apparently without Perceive, he was only able to tell subtle, or less than subtle, cues if he was actually looking at someone. And right now, Owen was much more focused on his curry and a particularly daunting potato in the middle of it. That darn potato, gently rolling down the rice despite how much Owen tried to prop it up. It was a taunt, a challenge that he wasn't able to defeat it. At this point the war against the bowl had already been lost. Now it was pride, that potato was his final battle. He let out a small, quiet chirp, challenging the potato to potato harder, but it wouldn't be enough as he took another spoon's worth.
"That was good," Maple stated, placing her spoon next to the nearly empty bowl. She reached forward and got a modest slice of bread and wiped the bottom of the bowl clean with it, downing it like it was some sort of ghastly victory lap.
Inteleon, who had come by to check on everyone, nearly dropped his notepad. "You ate... all of it?" he said.
"Yes. Would I be able to order another?" Maple asked.
"Th-th-th-we don't repeat a challenge to the same person twice in a row," Inteleon said, looking startled and confused. "But if you'd like to purchase one..."
"Hmm..." Maple nodded. "Perhaps to go for later. It was quite good."
Inteleon bowed respectfully and shuffled away, though not before getting an order for Astrid and Brisa.
"You enjoyed unnerving that guy, didn't you?" Soda asked, sitting next to Maple and wearing an amused smirk.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Maple replied, pushing her empty bowl forward to grab her bowl of water. "I was merely complimenting their cooking. Are you going to finish yours?"
Soda's bowl was half-finished, but he looked like he had lost a bit of his appetite. "Eh." He glanced at Flesh outside, grabbed his bowl, and pushed it through. "I'll let him have a taste."
A loud rumble of gratitude followed, and the bowl rose out of view.
