Steam kept rising from the hotpot, fogging the air between them as slices of meat disappeared one by one. Courthlace’s Hanjin reached out without much thought, picking what looked good, sometimes getting fed instead when he got too distracted talking. There was a lightness in the way he moved, like everything around him felt easy.

Scarvaine’s Daniela sat comfortably, elbow resting on the table as she watched the others. She didn’t rush—just occasionally leaning in to grab something, or teasing Hanjin when he missed his turn. Her laughter blended with the soft clatter of chopsticks and bowls.

Heeliarch’s Prometheus Levi stayed quieter, focused more on cooking than eating at first. He made sure the broth stayed just right, flipping the meat at the perfect time, sliding pieces into their bowls without making it a big deal. It was subtle, but it said enough.