"Lina...what did you do before...you met Gourry?" Zel asked suddenly.
"I traveled."
"Alone?"
Lina made a face. "Unfortunately, no. Why do you ask?"
Zel shrugged slightly: he was just curious.
Lina nodded: I see. She picked up her fork and absently twirled it around: I'm hungry.
Zel inclined his head a bit and raised one hand, palm out flat: dinner should be soon.
"Uh, Zel? We're doing...it...again."
"...we are, at that. Strange, how we just...slipped back into that nonverbal communication."
"Must be the full moon," Lina muttered. "Except the moon is still waxing."
"Well, we..." Zel began, but was interrupted by the arrival of dinner. 'Jean-Louis' and another non-descript waiter set a medium-sized steak before Zel, then arranged Lina's four dishes of different type and size before her.
"Zere yew ahre," 'Jean-Louis' announced unnecessarily.
"Such a gift for the obvious," Lina muttered just loudly enough for Zel to hear.
The chimera bit his lower lip, trying to surpress a smile. "Merci. If we need something else, we'll be sure to tell you," Zel said in a rush, knowing the typical waiters' schtick.
'Jean-Louis' nodded almost curtly and left quickly.
"I do believe we have him disturbed," Lina said lightly, smirking.
"I do believe you're correct," Zel agreed, also smirking a bit.
The two then proceeded to attack their respective meals. Lina was slightly less ill-mannered, but still eating at such a pace that by the time Zel was finishing his dish, Lina had finished all four of hers.
"Aaaah," Lina exclaimed, "that was great!" She leaned back, shifting into a more comfortable position. Her foot fit something hard, and at first Lina assumed it was one of the iron legs of the table. The odd look on Zel's face told her otherwise.
"Oh, Zel, I'm so sorry! I hit your leg, didn't I?"
"It's all right," he said, somewhat weakly. "I'm fine."
"Still..." Lina trailed off, looking at him apologetically.
Zel inclined his head ever-so-slightly, closing his eyes as he did so: don't worry about it.
Lina gave him a half-smile: if you say so...
"Ah...what would you like for dessert?" Zel asked quickly upon realising they'd yet again fallen into silent speech.
"Chocolate mousse," Lina replied, just as quickly. This was getting way past creepy.
"And?"
"And that's all."
"Ah." Zel waved down their waiter.
"Yehz?"
"We need an order of chocolate mousse," Zel said.
"Riaht ahway, sir."
"You're not getting a dessert?"
Zel shook his head.
Lina gave him a *look*: c'mon, how much fun is that?
Zel returned Lina's look: oh, come on.
Then they locked gazes, and there was a not exactly uncomfortable moment during which all that seemed to exist to them was each other.
This moment was interrupted by 'Jean-Louis,' who set a crystal dish of fluffy mousse between the two, then set a clean spoon in front of both of them.
"Vill thaht be all, sir?"
"Y-yes," Zel said, a little shaken. "Please bring me the check."
Their waiter nodded and left.

__________

--Elizabeth, Trickster Priestess ~_~