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"I see, I see."

Maximos gave her a big nod. Because he was going to make it happen. He didnt know how he would bend the laws of space time and bring her to his home where even he hadnt been able to return to but...he would do it. He already had half of their tour planned out in his mind.

He found a simple pleasure in watching her so calm, it made him feel like he could for a moment let the weight off his shoulders. The look of a soul as beautiful as Lucinds in rest, and in slumber was something to see. The way the colors gently washed against each other like waves drifting into shore, it was breathtaking. He wouldnt dream of waking her, not even for the world. There was just no reason to think right now, serenity was a rare thing and when it truly came it was an exquisite pleasure to embrace it. And thats exactly what he did.

When she awoke she would find him gently smiling down at her. And after she questioned him, his head somewhat cocked to the side.

Its been so long since I could fully taste something I...

He pause in mid sentence, reaching up to tap his chin.

I...dont think I have a favorite...you could surprise me!

Deal.

He said with a stout nod, he hovered a bit longer in the chair watching Lucind walk off. Then he stood up, letting out a pop or two from his back as he stretched, then gently laid his right hand on the bruised side of his neck and rolled his head around his shoulders setting free a few more pops.

He could smell the food form here, it smelled delicious just like...well he hadnt much of a basis for comparison here, but it did smell delicious. His mouth already began watering. He had better get a move on that table, without a moment of delay he made his way to the stairs and just as his right foot rested on the first step, he stopped. His head turned slightly to the side, taking in a very particular spot just in front of a very particular window, and bringing back a very good memory that was attached to it. He couldnt help, the goofy smile that slipped on his face, or the way his tongue peeked out and tasted his lips.

And then he was off, to the dining floor. He took a moment to scan over Lucinds lovely decorating choices before he chose a seat. There was a perfect one in the corner, with a great view out the window, and just a enough shade to be comfortable. And he waited, very patiently. His hand folded into each other, and his eyes lost as his mind wandered off yet again. Before he knew it, Lucind was back.

Wine is absolutely perfect, thank you!

Whats wine?...

Was the first thought to pop into his mind. Not being able to truly enjoy food, Maximos never really took the time to learn about its different flavors and types. But the bottle she held looked well prepared, aged, and classy, and with those things combined you simply couldnt go wrong.

Why? Is there something wrong with it?

He said with a honest curious gaze. The effects of alcohol were a mystery to him.

In truth, Maximos didnt know how it would effect him at all. Before a few weeks ago, the last time he had a real body he was eleven years old. And at that age the only alcohol he was allowed was the sort that was poured on his wounds after a day of training.

He didnt know that sort of thing was drinkable. As the crimson liquid caressed the inside of his glass he leaned forward just enough to steal a whiff of the stuff. It smelled wonderful! It had a sweet scent swirled exquisitely around a definite strong bite. He could only imagine how it tasted, but it had to be good. He love moments like this, situations in which he was completely able to drink in the normal and mundane existence he was robbed of. Something so simple as tasting wine was probably a normal everyday occurrence for most of the people, but for him it was a tiny adventure. Each moment of this renewed existence brought some new experience and chased away an old trouble.

And he could think of no one else he would rather share his first, formal dinner with than the woman across from him. Her toast brought a smile to his face, stretching from ear to ear. And he very formally bowed, and raised his glass to meet hers, with a gently "c***k". And a very smiley...

Thank you.

...Just before he brought the glass to his lips letting just a bit roll across his tongue. It stung, and yet it kissed away the slight burn with a soft, sweet, flavor. He loved it, and the tiny tingle that rode up the back of his neck as he gently swallowed. He set the glass down, giving Lucind a bright smile before she was called away.

He sympathized, that woman was certainly very shakey. Her soul trembled enough to bring her to her knees, it seemed only the very fear of falling kept her from doing just that. But Lucind, despite her troubles was able to give the girl the confidence to stand, to fight...deep inside, Maximos knew that feeling and the power of the half sirens words. She was truly an amazing woman, and as she came back to the table her met her with a smile, and a concerned question.

Is she going to be alright?

All of those symptoms from one simple liquid? Maximos froze, holding his glass in place a few inches from his mouth, almost afraid to continue drinking it. He half believed it must be a magic potion of sorts to bring about such a drastic change, but it was all too familiar.

Oh yes! Aria had a substance like that, it was very popular in certain places in the big city. But we called it Menavena.

He said nodding in recognition, giving the glass an almost paranoid gaze, like it was going to attack when he wasnt looking.

...but it was strictly forbidden on our island. The elders said it dulled the senses and made us weaker.

Maximos paused, looking down at the glass. The pause lasting just long enough to make it seem like he was regretting the sip he had taken...

But...

...that was until a smile burst across his face, and he pulled the glass back in one gulp tossed back almost all the contents of the glass.

...I'm not on that island anymore!

Of course the sort of Ale they drank on Aria those many many years ago was far more potent and raw, simple sweet wine wouldnt have nearly the effect that substance did. Maximos was fine, just experiencing a few of the side of effects of the tiny wine bubbles.

He leaned forward, turning his eyes head just slightly to look at the young girl without looking too hard. And he nodded as Lucind filled in the blanks of the insecure image he saw.

I dont think she's spoiled...

He said, squinting just a bit.

...spoiled people arent usually good with children.

He turned to face Lucind with half a smile on his face, half because somehow it seemed wrong to be beaming with joy while discussing someones misfortune.

...something might have happened to her as a child...something to ruin her childhood, so she compensates by vicariously enjoying, and participating in others.

Or at least that was how he saw it, from what he was told and what he could see. He sort of nodded as his gave his prognosis. The fill the air was divine, it took all his gentlemanly restraint to keep from drooling. Before he knew it the food was being served. Alot of food! More food than a poor island boy who subsisted on fried, baked, and burnt fish, crab, and bird, even knew existed. Everything was covered in flavor, and the scents....dear lord, he had even smelled anything so vivaciously fulfilling before. It didnt smell like "meat" or "fish" it smelled of a mixture of tastes and textures blended together with some sort of masterful craftsmen ship he could barely fathom.

He regarded Bernard like a mere peon standing before some legendary culinary god.

No I do believe my stomach is singling your praises...

His tongue slipped from his lips, sliding along them or just a moment before slipping back in. He barely knew what to think, beside being elated, much less where to start.

I havent a clue! Though I hardly know what any of it is, it all looks so exquisitely delicious!

He hovered for a moment, over the plates just trying to find something that called out to him above the others. He recognized the veggies, steak, uncooked fish, there was more too them than just that. Maybe Lucind could suggest something, or more her explanation would gift him with what he needed to make a choice.

Oh.

He sort of paused awkwardly with the wine glass in his hands. His eyes shot from it to the bottle, back to it and then to Lucind. He didnt think all that was true. And he was almost worried if he was about to have some serious mental breakdown....almost...There was a bit of tingling but nothing serious. Maximos, while he hadnt a clue was of rather hardy stock, it would take a lot to bring his faculties down. But....just in case, he set the glass down. A bit of an awkward smile slipped its way across his lips as he wondered whether or not he had just made a grand fool of himself.

But he continued otherwise unhindered.

His eye scanned over the rice, wanting to remember the entire experience from look to taste...just in case. He even leaned over, just a bit, gently shutting his eyes as he took in the full sweet, almost floral scent. He was intoxicated by its flavor before even tasting it. Soon he slipped his fork into the rice, and gently carried it to his lips. His eye stayed on Lucind as the widest grin spread across his features.

So this is taste...

He thought to himself silently, never daring to be so rude as to speak with a full mouth. He took a surprisingly small portion for such a tall person. Pacing himself was a key in order to enjoy all of what he was presented with.

The curry impacted him like a sledgehammer to the face. His eyes opened, his nostrils flared, he even leaned back a bit as if it had earnestly just attacked him. Very slowly he inched his way closer to it. The strongest spice Maximos had ever been presented with in all of his lifetime was salt, and perhaps a few local leaves. This meal this....well as of yet he hadnt a clue what it was called, but it was so very filled with spice it honestly shocked him! He had no idea food could contain so very much flavor, and so soon afterward partook with utter glee. The way the gravy rolled around his tongue, the simple gentle and yet burning texture of the curry embraced his tongue with the sort of love parents warn there children against. It burned him with hatred then soothed him with a rigid sweetness...he simply couldnt help but take a bit more than the last portion.

Then came the potatoes. They seemed innocuous enough, they were simply vegetables. He had seen them before, so without much preparation he dug in. He had no idea the sort of flavor that hid behind such a seemingly ordinary package, he immediately moved the brussel sprouts before settling on what was clearly the focus....the steak. A close friend of his always enjoyed a fresh, raw, steak daily. He had never understood the fuss...now he did. While Maximos never would partake of raw meat this....this defied words. The texture...the simple elegance of it flavor...the combination of smooth potatoes with biting sprouts and the entire experience nearly supernatural. It was quite possible he had found one of his favorite foods.

His eye stayed focused on Lucind, his face saying all the things his mouth was too busy to speak. To look at her and flatly say "Its good!" would have been an insult. But the surpassing amount of pleasure on his face was entirely visible. Her words were as true as they were wise though. Dried fish and various vegetables were a Shadow Lands staple. It always gave just enough boost to continue the second half of training.

...I like it...

After spending a bit of extra time Maximos made his way to the chicken. The orange almost reminded him of candy, but the mint and sweet rice together each played off each other giving it a unique and easily prize-worthy flavor. Without words, Maximos knew this was the sort of meal he would dream about it. As if coffee and cake were not enough to drive Maximos' memory crazy even after death, Lucind had done it again. This food would haunt him in only the best ways.

And to top it all off, was the salad. It was salty and sweet, yet light and refreshing. He had drowned himself if strong flavors, and the salad was a wonderful finisher to the meal as a whole. It washed his pallet clean, while leaving it with a tingling reminder of the kind of flavors he had been presented with. He would make a point to express his gratitude several times during the meal, and to leave Lucind with more than plenty for her helping. He could never keep that sort of sanguine pleasure for himself alone!

Oh! My apologies.

Maximos said, laughing at Lucinds joke at the end of the explanation, and taking a formal sip from the glass. Etiquette told him that certain old more potent form's of menavena were to be taken slowly at a dinner table. Unfortunately he had never seen or tasted these rich drinks and had entirely failed to recognize wine as one of them. Now that the connection was made, the shadow took a small sip of the drink and sat it down. A calm, relaxed, and otherwise re-assured smile spread across his lips.

I would like that very much. Oh no no, I'd love more!

He said in response to thanking Bernard. Sushi...he didnt know it by that name but he knew it well! It was raw fish! While he had never tasted the cucumbers, mango, tofu, or about half of the mixed vegetables he knew this flavor almost too well. It was nostalgic, and the way he popped the bits into his mouth and seemed to gleefully chew them almost seemed reminiscent of a child at a dinner table. Granted a well behaved child, but one none the less!

As he finished the fishy delights he gestured to the stringy noodly meaty substance left over, with his fork. He had no clue what flavors it hide, but Lucind seemed to be oddly examining and sniffing it, leading Maximos for a moment to question how safe that meal was but more so it lead him to ask...

...whats that?

Oh my, the shrimp around the Shadow Lands never came this big. These things were monstrous, and crunchy, yet smooth and yummy. The seasonings washed over an already elated tongue as Maximos crunched away at at least two. Then came the tricky noodles of the spaghettini. It was like corning a wily foe. Maximos' expression moved from simple elation, to deep concentration to downright battle-esque form, holding his form like a sword as he tried to parri and parley the noodles onto his fierce weapon all...met with failure...

Until of course Lucind showed him the trick to claiming utter victory on his slippery foes. And finally he partook with ferocity. He never lost a bit of his style or grace, but one could see he got just that bit of extra thrill from chomping down on the noodles.

They were strong, he could almost feel the sauce permeating his mouth and breath. And for a second, felt a bit nervous openly saying anything to Lucind for fear of being offensive. Instead he happily munched, while smiling innocent, ever steadily gaining garlic breath. Though trying to keep a healthy coat of water washing through his mouth for damage control.