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[Why did she even think he didn't know of them. If she ever finds a restaurant before him it might be something of a miracle. Watch that become their friendly, lifelong competition. Which ultimately means: Even if he doesn't tire of it, he doesn't have to. Because she likes talking about food, too.]

You don't like Mystery Jan's but you'll eat the Sizzle-Sweet flavor that has fifteen thousand different things in it, and you can't even see all of them.

[Explain this to her, Boxer. Please.]

The nacho bowl is good but I never eat enough to justify it. When I was younger I could eat like a garbage disposal, now not so much.

[Considering she still has an obscenely healthy appetite that's saying something.]

[He actually...gives her a hurt look in response. It looks pretty honest-to-God genuine.]

Can't a monster just enjoy fruit salsa?

[Sure, he can't see them. But he can taste them! That has to count for something.]

[The utter look of immediate, regretful horror is just as genuine on her end.]

Yes, of course!!! I'm sorry Boxer, I was just teasing! The Sizzle-Sweet is really, really good! A-And they've even got enough to make it endless!!

[So presumably he wouldn't have to worry about them running out but also

Does she need to hug you, Boxer, to make up for the faux pas? Because she will get up and hug you so tight and apologize profusely.]

[He...blinks at her for the recoil she's made. She didn't hurt his feelings that badly, as he is the kind to contently disagree on things, but to have one of his favorite things compared to Mystery Jan's? It cuts pretty deep.]

It's okay. I didn't realize you were just teasing.

[A beat.]

It's probably their least popular, so I figured...

[...that she hated it, too.]

Is it really? [She hadn't realized, it seemed pretty popular to her!]

Well, in any case, I'd never purposefully make fun of anything that makes you happy, Boxer, whether that's food or a hobby or something else. I really am sorry, and to make it up to you I'm gonna bring you lunch one day! [And then, a little more gently:]

I'll ask them to put thirty thousand flavors in there.

That's what the waitress told me one day. "If it weren't for you alone, we'd probably take it off the menu!" Of course--she could just be teasing me, too.

[He chuckles.]

You don't need to do that. I love it exactly the way it is.

Or she could have been flirting.

[That was certainly a fair possibility.]

But that means I can definitely buy you lunch! [See what happened there? But she's finished eating so she gets up, arranging her utensils on her plate to take them to the sink. She'll do the same if/when he's done! She won't rush him though but won't be messy in his apartment either. Nariko can't cook but she can certainly clean!]

Oh, thanks!

[Yeah, he's done! And he's very surprised at Nariko's eagerness to help out--it's very appreciated. Oh, she sure is a keeper.]

Imagine we'll be buying each other lunch off and on for a while. [Smirky smirk.]

[His plate goes too! And hopefully he won't mind if she just acquaints herself with his sink so that she can wash everything involved.]

At least that, you've kinda won me over, here.

[Dinner, conversation, they're going to watch a movie ... It's a little bittersweet because once upon a time this was her life with someone else. But she won't begrudge a second chance, she'll just clean the little oven if necessary!]

Hey, where do you keep your towels? [She'll need to dry stuff soon!]

[He points at a door that looks like it's more likely to pass off as a pantry instead of a linen closet. Spoilers: it's both, technically--bathroom and kitchen linens here, bedroom linens in the bedroom closet. He doesn't have a lot of canned goods, but plenty of spices, noodles, and pickled goods.]

Over there. Can't say I've had a guest so eager to help clean up...

[You know it's a really good thing she asked then, she wouldn't have guessed the pantry.]

Thanks, handsome.

[Towel obtained, though she does look at Boxer over her shoulder a bit.] I'll stop if you like [She's a little worried he thinks its rude of her.] but I think it's rude to just dirty everything up and not even help!

[A shrug.]

That, and cleaning brings me a deep, personal joy.

No, no, it's...

[He waves a hand defensively. It seems wrong to call his previous guests rude for not cleaning up, when it was a case of...]

Normally I don't like people digging around my place. I'm a private person.

[A beat.]

But I trust you.

[Oh. Well. She's tempted to stop right then and there but ... He just said he was comfortable with it, so it'd be dumb to just drop it all now.]

Oh. [This feels like a weirdly important sign of some kind.] I'm really happy to hear that.

[She raises a washed fork semi-accusingly, though.] But if it starts to bother you again, tell me!

[And then she'll back off.]

[A smile.] Don't worry. It's pretty obvious when I'm being territorial.

[As monsters tend to be. For now, though...how about that popcorn? Boxer is digging around in his cabinet for the fixin's for caramel popcorn.]

I will keep that in mind.

[She'd make a joke about him biting but she's aware of his teeth soooo. In any case, everything is put away in its rightful place after a little tentative searching. She'll let him deal with the popcorn, though.]

Do you mind if I go change? This outfit is cute and all but it's probably outlived its welcome.

[Yeah, biting isn't really an option. Nibbling, on the other hand, is still on the table.]

Oh, sure. Go make yourself comfortable.

[What'd she bring for PJs, anyway?]

[She waves in a sort of 'be back in a second' way, and takes her bag with her to his room. He'll find out the sleep clothes situation in something like ten minutes because she spends a lot of time inspecting his tank, taking mental measurements and writing some stuff down. Then, and only then, can she get dressed.

It's a classy pink pajama set with pants and a button up top that says 'Espresso Yourself'. Because that's not dorky at all. ]

[He doesn't notice how long it takes for her to come back out, given that he's focused on making their little movie treat. But when she does, he gives her a cute little smile.]

Cute!

Thank you.

[Next sleep over? Super tight shorts.

But she goes ahead and leaves the popcorn to him and finds his remote.] Oh, do you mind if I grab a blanket or something?

[He doesn't think this won't end in cuddling, right? Because even if he's not a big movie person the one benefit of movies in general is the closeness.]

[Gotta get that sexy PJ booty going on.]

Yeah! [Boxer likes blankets a lot because they help him retain moisture, so he has...a lot of them. More than he has clothes.] Make sure you grab one of the big ones. They're in the bedroom closet.

[And that's why movie-watching at home is the best, because it allows Boxer all the room a kraken needs to properly cuddle. You'd think that a theater would be sufficiently large, but no, the chairs always get in the way, and plastic arm rests aren't the most comfy thing to wrap your tentacles around when you're trying to be all cute and stuff.]

Okay!

[After rifling through his closet she comes back with the biggest one she could find that might not threaten to overheat her during the whole movie watching process. At the couch she picks her spot and dumps the blanket before going over to his little side table - the one with all the nearby lotions and such for that moisture issue? She's gonna tuck one off to the side, if it seems like a good idea when they settle, she'd like to massage a tentacle or two.

... She really likes them, okay.]

Almost ready?

[The movie is starting!]

Yep.

[He hoists himself onto the couch from his wheelchair, carrying a bowl of his caramel popcorn which is still in the process of properly cooling and hardening. He hasn't caught her picking out a lotion for him, so it'll be a pleasant surprise when she comes out with it.]

Perfect.

[When he's settled and they've got the bowl of popcorn out of the way she spreads the blanket out neatly, making doubly sure that he's well covered before she eases back into her spot. She's just next to him because it might be presumptuous to cuddle, right? Something like that.

Anyway, the movie starts!]

This is supposed to be good! It got an amazing review from my favorite blogger!

[She's too excited to judge herself for sounding kinda nerdy.]

[It's not presumptuous at all considering...that the ends of his tentacles have already begun to wrap around her ankles. Whether or not it's just an instinctual thing--to wrap around nearby objects--or genuine foreplay for cuddling, even he doesn't know.]

You read movie blogs?

[If she's more focused on the movie than she is him, she might miss the subtle intonation that reads You are such a dork and that's super cute.]

Just the Onion Meter! I can't stand those overly involved critics who've been doing the same thing for over twenty years! They have no mind for creativity or vision and it drives me nuts! There's this one specific reviewer - his name is Sebastian - who I totally swear by! It's like having a best friend watch everything before you!

[Yes, she missed the little hint for a second but it caught up with her like a delayed reaction. She looks a bit embarrassed at first and then relaxes.]

It's just, y'know, kind of a silly hobby, I guess.

[..... But he thinks it's cute.]

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