The two ate in comfortable silence at first, the only sounds being the clink of forks and the occasional hum of approval. Arpious eagerly tore into a pancake, savoring the delicate sweetness of the syrup and the subtle hints of lavender she had infused into the batter. She glanced up to see Runa taking a bite of the quiche tart, her expression shifting to one of pleasant surprise.
"Alright, I'll admit it," Runa said after swallowing, her tone grudgingly playful. "This is really, really good. But don't get used to this. I'm supposed to be taking care of you."
Arpious chuckled, popping a luminous berry into her mouth. It burst with a tart sweetness that made her grin. "Sure, sure," she said, waving her fork dismissively. "But today, you're just going to sit there and enjoy it. No arguments."
Runa's lips twitched into a reluctant smile as she took another bite. "Fine," she said, her voice softer this time. "But don't think I'll let this become a habit."
