There were some formatting errors and typos in the last two chapters. I think I got all of them—Velvet

Lord Tyki Mikk tried to remember the last time he'd been slapped.

Right. The boy. In the bamboo forest in China… Allen Walker. Just as nasty a shock now as it had been that time.

Tyki gazed across a table covered in dishes of food, various pitchers of drink, and his own empty plate as Star reluctantly begin to eat. She was no longer able to hide her body's desperate hunger or her appetite, eating quickly but neatly and with gusto. As he watched, Tyki admitted that he did not understand this human. Human. Exorcist. Bookman. Whatever she was, she was different. Unusual. And she wants me, he thought. Tyki had no doubt about Wisely's read of her. That curious little bit about her was strangely enough to pique his interest.

Locked inside him was 7000 years worth of Joyd's memories that his human ego refused to allow to consume him. What did it mean to be the Noah of Pleasure, the Third Apostle? His mind wasn't fully aware of it or capable of grasping his identity as the incarnation of Noah's Pleasure as long as his "white" side refused to vanish. But…

He'd decided. As ludicrous as it sounds, I want to be her ideal of pleasure. Her ideal pleasure. Tyki wanted to play along. Never doubting the role Star Johannes was giving him.

At least until Lord Millennium said otherwise.

She is an Exorcist after all. If the Earl wants the girl dead then I will obey him, Tyki thought. But for the moment…I'll ply her and play the beau.

Tyki spoke, saying, "Whatever Sheril must have done to you, I am certain it was no way to treat a lady."

Star chewed and swallowed then said, "He certainly didn't like that 'some Exorcist scum is lusting after his beautiful little brother'. And I'm not a lady. Just a girl from the ghetto with a weird and surprisingly and somehow ultimately useless Innocence." She put down her fork and laced her fingers. "We don't need to pretend. I am a prisoner of the Millennium Earl and the Noah. No need to soften me up. Especially after I've already told the Earl everything."

She was ruining the fantasy. Hers and his. Tyki's eyes glowed. But I can't help but admire her pragmatism even so. She wasn't some dewy-eyed schoolgirl, consumed by some silly infatuation with him. From what Star Johannes had said before in the dungeon tower room, she thought that's what she was.

But Tyki knew the difference.

"The Earl didn't say I had to make you miserable. He only said I had to guard you."

"He didn't tell you to take to me to an expensive hotel for dinner, dancing, and theater either now did he."

Dryly, Tyki prompted, "And you're complaining because…" As Star gave him the look he deserved for that, he added, "Would you really rather be chained up back in the tower?"

After staring at him in puzzlement a moment, as if she was sure he was up to something and couldn't quite put her finger on what it was, Star shrugged. "I guess I'm won't complain then." Star picked up a small, delicious-smelling roasted bird on a skewer, opened wide, and stuck it in her pie hole. NOM. Stripped it bare to the bones and put the skeleton and skewer back on the plate. She picked up a plate of barbecued ribs.

"That shouldn't be attractive."

"An Innocence with a healthy appetite?"

"No, a woman who…" Shutting his mouth, Tyki shook his head and glanced away. Realizing he was in fact charmed.

"What?" Star raised an eyebrow and turned her head at him, holding back a tentative smile. She wanted to hear what he was going to say.

"Nothing."

"What is with you?"

"What do you mean?" Tyki hedged.

"Turning on the charm. Why are you being so friendly all of a sudden?" she asked.

Tyki scoffed. "'All of a sudden'? I've been a perfect gentlemen—"

Star narrowed her eyes at him.

"You didn't move my chair into the opera box and you manhandled me like you were going to have your way with me—"

Oh. That. "Fine, I've been a gentlemen most of the time, given the circumstances. Somehow, from the first, you know me and I don't know you at all. Yet you flirted with me readily enough in our first fight. So for what I know of you, you're the one who's acting strange. Where did all that sauciness go?"

Star made a sound and pursed her lips.

"It left with my appetite and my Innocence after the Earl kicked my butt."

Tyki sent her a look. "The Earl isn't here now. Appetite's back. Your butt is bruised but safe."

Star's gaze strayed away from his. She grabbed her glass and slurped water nosily through her straw.

"There's gotta be a way to rekindle it. Right?" Tyki pressed.

"Is it? I don't know," Star replied reluctantly while meeting his gaze just as reluctantly.

"Answer me," Tyki demanded. He wanted to hear her say it.

Right then, Star looked him in the eye. "Maybe… Yes."

Excitement rushed briefly through Tyki. He nodded. "Good. That's good."

Abruptly, Tyki drummed his fingers on the table. He hated the tick but it broke his concentration on reading her expression. Grabbing his hat,

Tyki got up and briefly faced Star. She was the one watching him now.

"I must attend to some business. You know what I expect from you. So don't make our…cozy arrangements difficult."

Author's Note:
They had straws during DMC's time period, right? I don't have internet access while I'm finishing this chapter and I'll probably forget to look it up later.

I'm not sure if they had barbecued ribs in Europe back then either but that's what I see Star putting in her mouth in my head. Maybe its because I'm an American Southerner, bbq ribs are a thing?