A week later, Capan works the dinner shift beneath the restaurant’s steady clatter. Jenny moves between tables, while the manager watches from the service station, and Vesper is elsewhere.
An attractive adult wolf woman takes a corner table. Her charcoal fur, silver-streaked hair, fitted burgundy jacket, and sharp amber eyes make her presence immediately difficult to ignore.
Seraphine Vale
This table is sticky, the menu is uninspired, and the lighting makes everything look vaguely exhausted. Is that intentional?
Jenny approaches with a professional smile, but the wolf woman barely glances at her. Her gaze travels across the room before settling pointedly on Capan.
Seraphine Vale
I assume someone here can explain what this place considers good service. I would hate to order blindly.
Jenny
I can take care of your table, ma’am. If there’s a specific concern, I’ll be happy to address it.
The wolf woman’s mouth curves without becoming a smile. She taps one claw against the menu, keeping her attention fixed on Capan as the restaurant’s noise seems to thin around them.
✓ Quest Accepted
Maintain professional composure during the charged encounter with the wolf woman
✓ Quest Accepted
Find out what the wolf woman wants from Capan
“I approach the wolf woman and offer to handle her table myself.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Conversation, rolled +1)
Capan crosses the dining room and stops beside the corner table, her green-highlighted ponytail swaying as she gives the wolf woman her full attention.
Capan
I’ll handle your table myself. You can tell me what’s wrong, and I’ll make sure your order is taken care of.
Seraphine Vale
How admirably direct. I was beginning to wonder whether anyone here intended to meet my standards.
Jenny steps back with a small, relieved nod. The manager watches from the service station as the wolf woman closes her menu and studies Capan openly.
Seraphine Vale
Very well. Replace this menu, bring me your strongest coffee, and tell me which dessert is worth surviving this lighting for.
Her amber eyes linger on Capan’s face, sharp with appraisal but not quite hostile. One claw taps the table once, as though inviting a confident answer.
“I nod my head and saunter off to get a new menu, taking notice of her gaze on me.”
Capan nods and saunters toward the service station, retrieving a clean menu from the stack. Behind her, the wolf woman’s amber gaze follows each easy step.
The restaurant’s clatter resumes around the corner table, but Jenny glances between them with open curiosity before returning to her own section.
Seraphine Vale
Confident posture, attentive service, and apparently no fear of being watched. This may be less disappointing than expected.
The wolf woman smooths one silver-streaked lock behind her ear and adjusts the burgundy sleeve at her wrist, her expression sharpening into unmistakable interest.
Seraphine Vale
Do take your time, darling. I would hate to interrupt whatever impression you are making.
At the service station, the manager catches the exchange but says nothing. The replacement menu feels crisp and dry in Capan’s hand as she turns back.
Seraphine Vale
And bring that coffee personally. I suspect your recommendation will be more interesting than the menu.
“I come back with the strong coffee the wolf woman asked for before I bent over and placed it on the table, letting her get a better view of my chest. "So, did you want anything else Miss? Can I call you Miss, or do you have a name?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Conversation, rolled -2)
Capan retrieves the strongest coffee available, balancing the full cup and saucer back to the corner table. As she bends to place it down, a little coffee splashes over her fingers.
Capan
So, did you want anything else, Miss? Can I call you Miss, or do you have a name?
The wolf woman notices the careful presentation, the deliberate angle of Capan’s posture, and the reddening fingers she tries not to display. Her amber eyes sharpen with amused appraisal.
Seraphine Vale
You may call me Miss Vale, if you insist on being formal. My name is Seraphine Vale.
Seraphine Vale
And yes, I wanted something else. I wanted to know whether your confidence survives after the coffee is served.
Seraphine lifts the cup, tests its aroma, and takes a measured sip. She does not wince at the strength, though one silver brow rises over the rim.
Seraphine Vale
Acceptable. Bring me the chocolate torte, and perhaps something cold for those fingers. I would hate for my coffee to injure its most interesting server.
“I bring Seraphine the chocolate torte and a cold bowl or ice cream on the house.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Conversation, rolled +1)
Capan carries the chocolate torte from the dessert station on a clean plate, then returns to the freezer for a small bowl of vanilla ice cream and a folded napkin.
She sets both before Seraphine with the coffee, explaining the cold dessert is complimentary. The ice against her reddened fingers brings a little relief.
Seraphine Vale
Complimentary? How unexpectedly generous. Are you trying to bribe me into forgiving the lighting?
Seraphine cuts into the torte, tasting the dark crumb with deliberate attention. Her amber gaze remains fixed on Capan as she lets the silence stretch.
Seraphine Vale
The dessert is considerably better than the menu suggested. You chose well, though I suspect you knew I would notice.
She nudges the ice cream beside the torte, making room at the table without quite inviting Capan to sit. Her expression softens by a fraction.
Seraphine Vale
Tell me, attentive server, is this your usual standard, or am I receiving special treatment?
Quest Complete
Maintain professional composure during the charged encounter with the wolf woman
Skill Upgrade: Empathy Good→Great
“"i give special treatment to sexy women so maybe make an assumption." I said as I sat down with Seraphine.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Conversation, rolled +2)
Capan sits in the open space beside the table, setting her reddened fingers near the bowl of ice cream while the restaurant hums around them.
Capan
I give special treatment to sexy women, so maybe you should make an assumption.
Seraphine Vale
How refreshingly shameless. Then I’ll assume the complimentary ice cream, the personal coffee, and this seat are all deliberate.
Seraphine leans back, burgundy jacket catching the warm light. Her silver-streaked hair frames an amused face as she studies Capan from across the shared dessert.
Seraphine Vale
I’ll also assume you are flirting with me, rather than merely offering exceptional customer service.
Seraphine Vale
Direct, bold, and apparently willing to make the first move. This evening may finally become interesting.
Seraphine Vale
So tell me, Capan. If your assumption is that I’m interested, what exactly do you intend to do with that information?
“"Well, before we get into this chat more, I should let you know I have a girlfriend. I need to ask her if it's okay to pursue this further but if she's okay with it, maybe we can all go out on a date and feel it out. If we like you, maybe you can be our girlfriend. Or we can just have a fun night of sex after this. Up to you sweetheart."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Conversation, rolled +1)
Capan
Before we go further, I should tell you I have a girlfriend. I need her agreement before pursuing this, but if she’s comfortable, we could all go on a date and see how we feel. Or, if you prefer, we could have a fun night together after this. It’s up to you, sweetheart.
Seraphine’s fork pauses above the chocolate torte. Around them, plates clink and chairs scrape, but her amber eyes remain fixed on Capan with startled, assessing interest.
Seraphine Vale
You managed to turn a dessert recommendation into a relationship proposal and a sexual invitation without losing your nerve. I’ll give you credit for clarity.
Seraphine Vale
She has a girlfriend, yet she asked before taking anything further. Bold, complicated, and more considerate than the performance suggests.
Seraphine Vale
I won’t sleep with you tonight while your girlfriend is an unresolved question. But I am interested enough to meet her, provided she genuinely agrees and is not merely tolerating you.
She sets down the fork and reaches for her phone, the corner of her mouth lifting as the terms become something concrete rather than flirtatious speculation.
Seraphine Vale
Ask her properly, then give me a message. If she wants the three of us to explore this, I’ll join the date. If not, we can decide whether our chemistry deserves a separate conversation.
Quest Complete
Find out what the wolf woman wants from Capan
Skill Upgrade: Empathy Great→Superb