AD 2206, 5/10, 1st Hierarchical City of Ookoto– Unknown Area

Sena smiles as he waits for Carl. The restaurant is everything Mutsuki said it would be. Great service, and good drinks. The man knew his stuff when it came to a night out, Sena would give him that. Although his understanding of people needs work. Carl wasn't one to go on dates, Sena knew that much at least, and they'd never properly met, face-to-face. That gave him more confidence than normal, Carl was coming in just as blind as Sena himself was. Speaking of the little purple puppeteer…

"Good evening, Sena. I hope that this isn't causing you any inconvenience." Carl sits down primly, his eyes not leaving Sena's for a second. Sena hums as he sips his drink, breaking eye contact to give the other man a once over. He doesn't dislike what he sees.

"Ugh, don't look at him like that."

Sena resists an eye roll.

"We're out to dinner Luna, I can give him a once over without it meaning anything."

"Yeah, right. I know how you think, remember?"

He doesn't succeed the second time.

Carl is looking determinedly at his menu. When he'd helped them back then, he'd seen enough to satisfy his curiosity, he tells himself. But still, the temptation to see if anything has changed in the time since is there. Damn curiosity. If he wants this to work, he'll need to have Sena's trust.

Carl hums as he makes his selection, signaling a member of the wait staff to make his order. Sena places his as well, having politely waited for Carl to arrive before dining. With nothing else to look at, their eyes meet once more.

They stay in place for a few moments, but curiosity wins out.

"Does it itch?" Sena asks casually, and Carl blinks.

"Excuse me?"

"Your mask, does it itch?" Sena is relaxing, as if he's simply asking Carl if the sky is blue. Carl clears his throat and regains his composure.

"Only if I'm exerting myself very physically. It's sweat resistant, to address that problem." Carl does his best to keep looking the other man in the eye. It's been a long time since someone talked to him so casually.

Sena hums. "Is it like wearing a blindfold? Can you see out of it?"

Carl blinks again. No one's ever really taken an interest in the mask itself, just what's behind it. This is… refreshing, in a way. "I don't really 'see' through that eye the way you do yours."

Carl thinks he's answered the question until Sena raises a critical brow. "How do you 'see' through it, then?"

Carl hums, conflicted. He knows how to explain it, in theory, but doesn't want to cause any distress. He knows it's a… touchy subject, at best. He loses himself in thought for a few moments.

Sena huffs. "If you don't want to answer, it's cool. I don't like explaining my situation either."

Carl blinks again. Sena continues to surprise him. "It's not that I don't want to, it's that I've never had an opportunity, and don't know how best to put it."

Sena shrugs. "So just tell me. Just cause I'm not loud like Luna, doesn't mean I'm fragile."

Sena narrows his eyes slightly as he finishes. Carl understands the sentiment, it's never easy living life constantly compared to someone else.

"Essentially, my left eye is blind. The world is blurry for the most part, unless I'm looking at someone, then…" Carl pauses, then sighs. "Then I can see their 'soul,' you could call it."

Sena frowns. "Couldn't you do that before? That's how you helped us, right?"

"To an extent, I suppose. But you misunderstand. I could see enough to help, but now it's all I see from this eye. It's like…" Carl struggles to think of a good analogy. Sena waits patiently.

"Gross. Why are we talking about this?"

"I'm just curious, is all. Besides, isn't it better to know what we're dealing with?"

"…I hate when you make good points."

"…A candle." Carl says, triumphantly.

"Huh?" Sena tilts his head in confusion.

"Think of it like seeing a candle. Before, the lights were on, so while I could see the candle, I could see everything around it as well. Now, the lights are off, so the candle is all I can see. Therefore, the candle is my only focus. I can count the beads of wax dripping at a given moment, calculate how much longer the wick can burn. I can—" Sena looks uncomfortable.

Carl sighs, looking down at the table with a frown. "I'm sorry. This is the first time I've ever told anyone what it's like. No one's really asked before."

"I-It's alright." Sena blinks as the intensity fades from Carl's face. He hadn't expected Carl to be so striking when he's focused. Luna scoffs in their head.

"That was creepy. Creepy! Don't forget just because he doesn't look like shit, Sena!"

"I wasn't! I just… Didn't expect it to be that intense, is all."

"Well duh, of course he's intense! He's dressed like the Phantom of the Opera!"

"That's not fair. You dress us up like Sailor—"

"Don't you dare! We agreed that was off limits, you jerk!"

Sena huffs and rolls his eyes as he feels Luna recede out of spite. Carl is still looking down at the table, he looks so… alone. Luna groans distantly, but Sena ignores it. He thinks of what to say, and puts his hand on the table to get Carl looking his way again.

"I mean it, it's fine. I'm the one who brought it up, remember?" Carl hesitantly raises his head and looks him in the eye again, and Sena smiles. Then his face goes serious. "Does that mean, when you're looking at us...?"

Carl sighs, and reluctantly nods. "I can't just, turn it off. It doesn't work that way. I'm sorry."

Sena blinks, his expression remaining firm. "But you do see us? Both of us?"

Carl nods. "Yes."

Sena hums.

"That's super creepy! He doesn't need to see all that!"

"He probably doesn't. I doubt our souls look just like us."

"That's not what I meant, and you know it!"

Sena drowns out the rest of Luna's argument as the waiting staff return with their food. He and Carl say a quick thank you, and dig in. Sena groans in delight around his mouthful.

"Hey! Don't make those kinds of sounds in front of creepers! We've talked about this!"

"One, he's not a creeper. Two, you've made worse in front of worse. Three, I'm trying to eat."

Luna grumbles, but Sena just focuses on the excellent food in his mouth. Carl is thankful that his flush was only momentary. He'd not expected such a sound to leave the other man's mouth. He glances around and sees some other diners looking scandalized. The joys of high society, he muses.

They continue to eat in amicable silence, aside from the joyous noises leaving Sena throughout the course. Carl supposes the food is very good. He'll be leaving a hefty tip from his bounty money for them both.

Once they finish the food, they start on some more alcoholic drinks, at Sena's insistence. After a few glasses of good wine, Sena looks at him seriously again.

"So, what do we look like to you?" Carl shifts uncomfortably.

"Lights." He manages, drinking his wine to ease the tension.

Sena hums. "Just lights?"

Carl wonders why he's asking, but answers honestly. "Yes. Souls don't look like their vessels."

Sena hums again, looking pensive. "So, we just look like a pair of stars to you?"

Carl hums, ponders it for a moment, then nods. "That is a rather eloquent way to put it, but yes."

Sena grins victoriously. Carl's brow creases in confusion. Sena sees his frown and elaborates. "Luna thought you had x-ray vision."

Carl blinks again. "Oh. I could see how that might be worse."

Sena shrugs with a smirk. "Yeah, and I thought it was something you had to take that mask off for."

Carl raises a brow. "Aren't you more nervous, knowing that I can always see you?"

"Nah. I ain't gonna worry about something you can't help. That'd be a bit hypocritical, don't you think? I mean, you are technically talking to both of us." Sena takes another drink, and Carl remembers belatedly that Luna can hear everything he's saying, so long as she chooses too.

"I see your point." Sena raises a brow. Carl is confused, then frowns. "That wasn't intentional."

"I know." Sena smirks into his wine. Carl rolls his right eye. "Can it roll?"

Carl raises a brow. "It's essentially a piece of the boundary floating in my eye socket, so no."

Sena cringes, then pouts. "You didn't have to put it that way, ya know."

Carl hums as he pours them another round. He glances to see one of the other diners looking quite pale. Serves the eavesdropper right.

They drink in silence for a time. Then Sena speaks up again. "So, do anything for fun? Ya knows, other than hunt people down?"

Carl smiles easily this time. "Reading, mostly. Occasionally I practice my playing." He shrugs. "Other than that, my life is work."

Sena looks surprised. "You play? What instrument?"

"Violin."

"Huh. Guess it fits the whole 'Phantom of the Opera' gimmick you guys have going." Sena freezes once he finishes his sentence.

"Crap."

"Yup. Ya done stepped in it now."

Carl's face is unreadable as he sets his wine down. Sena reaches out quickly to grab his hand before he can presumably leave. "Wait. I'm sorry."

Carl stares at him for a moment, eyeing his hand dismissively before sighing. "While I'd rather others not compare me to him, I understand the resemblance is… noticeable."

He then frees his hand by gently prying Sena's off. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to powder my nose." Carl walks off to the back of the restaurant.

Sena sighs in relief. That could've gone a lot worse.

When Carl returns, their conversation takes on a much more chipper tone. They talk of their hobbies, sharing several novel series as common favorites. Sena even talks of his time helping at the clinic, which brings the conversation to Litchi.

"She worries about you, ya know." Sena says with a small frown.

Carl sighs. "She shouldn't. I can look after myself."

Sena snorts, prompting Carl to raise a brow in offense. Sena puts down his drink, they've long switched to water to avoid true inebriation. "Look Carl, you're a great bounty hunter, and a grown ass man to boot. I'm not gonna tell you what to do. But I will say that it doesn't hurt to have friends in the medical department in your line of work."

Carl hums. "I manage quite well, thank you."

Sena points to a bit of wrist peaking between Carl's sleeve and glove. "Like with that stitch job?"

Carl glances down. An older injury, he was about sixteen, a year after the Embryo. A group of thugs managed to ambush him. He hums. "A few scars are hardly worthy of concern. So long as it's nothing critical, I can do well enough on my own."

Sena's frown deepens. "I'm just saying that Litchi just wants to hear from you. We only know one side of the story, and it doesn't look good, Carl. There's a reason I'm running this show tonight."

Carl looks guilty for a moment, before returning his face to the neutral mask he defaults to under stress. "What you heard is likely accurate. I was… not quite myself when I last saw Miss Noel."

Sena hums. "But now you're better."

Carl nods. "Quite."

Sena raises a brow, then huffs. "Look, just… Just come by sometime. You don't have to talk much, just let her see that you're alright for herself."

Carl mulls it over. "I'll think about it."

Carl then glances at the clock and hums. "Almost midnight."

Sena looks to confirm it for himself. "Huh. Guess time really does fly when you're having fun."

"I'll get the bill." Carl tries raising a hand for the wait staff, but Sena intercepts him.

"Mutsuki left us an open tab."

Carl raises a credulous brow. "That's generous of him."

Sena grins toothily. "I do have my ways." They share a chuckle.

Then Carl leans in with a serious expression. "Would you like me to accompany you to your hotel, Sena?"

Sena hums. "Gimme a sec."

"That alright with you, Luna?"

"Hmm… Fine. I guess he can take us back. But no funny business, I mean it."

"Calm down, I'm not that kinda guy."

"What about Claudio?"

"Now you're just being petty."

"Nope, I'm just spitting facts."

"Ugh, whatever."

Sena looks at him casually. "Luna says it's fine."

Carl nods, then rises and pushes in his chair. He circles behind Sena to help him up, and the other man hums. "You really are a gentleman. Alright, let's get outta here, I'm getting sleepy." Sena yawns.

Once they reach his hotel, Sena turns and offers his hand. Carl takes it and shakes it firmly. "This was nice Carl, maybe we should do it again sometime."

"Agreed." Carl smiles politely as Sena's grip suddenly tightens, his eyes taking on a harsh glare.

"Listen up, Clover. Just because you nerded out with Sena, that doesn't make us friends. You and me are gonna have a serious talk tomorrow. And I ain't pulling no punches. Got it?" Luna growls under her breath when Carl nods evenly.

"Alright. When should I expect you?"

Luna snorts. "Nuh uh. You're coming to me, Clover. Meet me here in the morning. Don't be late, ya got it?"

Carl hums, nodding. "I've got it. May I have my hand back now?"

Luna lets him go with a harrumph, pivoting on her heel and stomping into the lobby.

Once she's out of sight, Carl shakes his numb hand with a hiss. Her grip has gotten a lot stronger since he saw her last, which makes sense, since they were children when they last met.

He begins his trek back to the Mutsuki residence, mentally preparing himself for his second outing in as many days.

The evening had been more pleasant than he'd expected, and he had Sena's trust, at least. Tomorrow will be telling of his abilities to reforge his connections on his own terms.