#theoham

"Is this what you were talking about?" Kotone asked, pointing to the sign outside of the cafe.

Theo bent down to get a much closer look at the chalkboard sign. One might assume at first glance that he was hard of sight, but that was not the case. Theo was just...like that, and Kotone couldn’t even begin to fathom why, considering how they had explored her world together plenty times prior. While others may shoot curious glances at them on an occasion, Kotone was unbothered, as she had grown quite used to it by now.

"The matcha bubbled tea, yes," Theo said, reading the words on the sign as if he were studying every grain of chalk.

"It’s just bubble tea," Kotone clarified, "and you don’t have to limit yourself to simply having the matcha flavor."

"Ah, so beverages beyond this matcha tea are capable of this drinkable bubbly sensation?"

"No, Theo. That’s not exactly how it works."

"Not…how it works?" Theo asked, confused. "Is it not called bubble tea?"

"It is, but you’ve got the wrong idea. There’s little pearls of flavor at the bottom of the drink."

"Pearls? Are you sure that we should be consuming something that valuable?" he asked, bewildered.

"Not those kinds of, actually, never mind," Kotone said, sighing deeply. "I suppose would be easier if I took you in and show you."

"Please do. I must learn the appeal of these drinkable bubbles and edible pearls for myself."

Kotone went to open the door, but Theo gently grabbed her shoulder and stopped her in her tracks. She backed up, curious about his sudden hesitation, but Theo walked in front of her and grabbed the door handle. He twisted the handle and pushed the door open, bowing slightly and invited her in.

"Allow me, dearest guest," he said.

For someone who was still rather unfamiliar with the world, Theo at least had his manners down. Kotone theorized that perhaps, during one of Elizabeth's relentless bouts of teasing, she used it as a prime opportunity to teach Theo a thing or two about the etiquette of Kotone’s world. It would explain quite a lot of things, such as his prominent gentlemanly attitude and strangely formal tone. She never doubted for a second that Theo was indeed a good man, but the unspoken rules within the Velvet Room were far different than those of her world.

The line was not very long, but Theo was a bit too enthusiastic and began walking to an empty counter, cutting those in front of them. Kotone yanked him back by his arm, almost sending him sliding onto the floor.

"That’s not how you do it," Kotone said.

Theo looked confused, glancing back and forth between her and the unattended register.

"Is that not where you go to submit your request?" he asked. “The others seem to be doing precisely that.”

Kotone shook her head. "There’s no one to take our order there. Besides, you’re supposed to wait in line anyways.

"Why don’t they have enough people to cover both of them? What is the point of two counters, if never enough servants to occupy both?"

"I dunno. Wages, probably," Kotone said with a shrug.

"Your kind is a strange one."

"And you’re just as weird to us."

Kotone guided Theo to the proper place in line, then she pointed up to the menu. There was an abundance of different drinks and snacks available for ordering, but for now, she was focused on satisfying Theo’s curiosity regarding this “mystifying” bubble tea.

"Theres so many different types, yet I cannot make sense of what half of them mean," Theo said.

"Just pick something that sounds good."

"Sounds good? But aren’t you supposed...to taste the flavors, not listen to them?"

"Theo, sometimes I feel you’re hopeless," Kotone said, sighing and shaking her head, "so I’ll just get you what I usually get to make things easier for now."

"Ah, if you prefer it, then I have no choice but to trust your judgement."

"Plus, I don’t have to worry about you picking out some weird combination that you’d end up hating.”

When the customers in front of them finally left, Kotone stepped forward, and Theo followed.

"Now, let me show you how to do it," she said, before turning to face the cashier.

"Can I get your order?" the cashier said, attempting to not stare at Theo’s unusual appearance.

"Two sweet teas with rose pearls," Kotone said.

"Roses?" Theo said, bending down to whisper in Kotone’s ear. "Aren’t those used as a decorative flower in your world?"

"Just shush for now," she said, gently nudging him away. "That’ll be it."

Kotone handed the cashier enough yen coins to cover the cost of both of their drinks without exchanging further words. She wanted to save Theo from the distinct possibility of the cashier inquiring about his rather odd behavior or comments, as that would only lead Theo into increasingly awkward situations. Kotone was quite used to his antics, but unfortunately the people around them weren’t, and she was afraid of the possibility of someone taking his ignorance personally and ruining their current date, at the very least. It was far easier to speed things up and keep both parties quiet, at least until Theo got a little more adjusted to hanging outside of the Velvet Room.

After she had completely finished ordering, Theo walked over to the counter that was clearly labeled for pickup, but was confused to see it barren.

"Someone has to make them first, Theo," Kotone said, knowing what he was about to ask.

"…So we have to wait even longer?"

"Most likely only a few minutes, tops."

Theo crossed his arms and pouted at her, as if that would speed the crafting of their drinks at all. It was only a few short moments to wait, but apparently to Theo, that was more like an eternity. After said eternity (which totaled to nowhere near five whole minutes), two identical tea and rose drinks were slid forward on the counter, instantly lighting up Theo’s face with excitement.

"If I am not mistaken, this is our order?”

"Yep, go ahead and grab one for yourself."

Theo, instead, grabbed both and handed one to Kotone. As they were walking out of the shop, she had to make sure that he did not accidentally smack himself with the door, as he was far too bewildered by the concept of the drink that he was holding in his hand.

"Well? What do you think?" Kotone asked.

"It is truly most perplexing," he said, holding up the drink to the sun so that he may get a clearer view of it. "Bubble tea...yet no bubbles are present."

"The bubbles are these things," Kotone said, pointing to the rose flavored pearls at the bottom, "the non-precious, non-mineral flavor filled pearls."

"Oh. And you just...eat them?"

"Pretty much," Kotone said, taking a drink of her own.

Theo curiously looked at his drink once again before taking a sip. He initially seemed rather underwhelmed with it, glaring at the pearls after being unsuccessful acquiring some. He took a stronger sip, only this time, perhaps a little too hard as he sucked a few of the pearls up and started coughing. Once he cleared his throat, he stared at Kotone in complete bewilderment.

"How do you even drink these things? It feels more like a health hazard than a refreshment," Theo complained.

"Don’t use the entire strength of your lungs to suck the drink out, that’s all,” she said, taking another sip to show him that it was indeed, possible to drink the tea without choking to death.

Theo attempted to take another large sip, not learning from his previous mistake. One of the flavored pearls still hit him in the back of the throat.

"Who knew that sucking a drink out of a straw could prove to be most challenging?" he complained.

"I guess it’s an acquired skill."

"It certainly seems something that you are most adept in."

"It takes practice, I guess. Though sucking a drink out of a straw isn’t something that exactly requires a ton of effort."

"Perhaps you would consider demonstrating your skills for me personally next time."

Kotone turned to stare at Theo as she slowly sipped her drink. She maintained unflinching eye contact with him as she made sure to finish sipping every drop and pearl out of the cup. Theo simply looked at her and smiled as he took a drink himself, though this time, actively avoiding any of the pearls.

There was his "demonstration" from her, though Kotone had a sneaking suspicion that his words harbored a secondary meaning.

"Theo... perhaps you could’ve picked your words a little better?"

"I said precisely what I meant, did I not?"