Not as spicy as you [Gabe]

"Aha there it is, just like I told you." Athena said as she spotted the Indian Restaurant she had mentioned to Gabe while they were still at the theater. "I'm not easting here as often as I would like but I swear the food tastes better each time." Athena wrapped her arm around Gabe's bicep as they walked into the ethnic restaurant to be greeted by a short thin woman dressed with traditional Indian garments  who after a short greeting led them to their table. The restaurant itself though not crowded had a decent amount of customers and the extravagant indian decor made it appear somewhat narrow. Once seated Athena resumed talking to Gabe.

"I suggest the kerala chicken. It's spicy but not as spicy as their other plates so it's good for those not familiar with the taste. Personally I'll go with the butter chicken, I heard they marinate it overnight just like the traditional recipe. Isn't it amazing?"

Gabe went on with her, enjoying this surprise escort to a place that the's never been before. This was out of his hands now, he didn't know what to expect, or what what he was going to do once he got there. Though, the best thing that Gabe could do is enjoy the time he could spend with her, as much as he could. Who really knew if he was coming back after this terrorist goose chase? There could be this one idiot in every group with a death wish.

Gabe kind of stared into space for a while, but realized it and rubbed his yes. " Yes, i think i'll have the same, but what made you come to this place so often?

Before replying to Gabe Athena returned the menus to the waiter and placed her order, other than the plate Gabe requested she also ordered a salad as an appetizer, since water was provided for free with every meal she didn't felt like asking for anything more. Once everything was set the attention of the young woman sifted back to her date. "I used to work with an agency near this place so my manager used to treat me dinner here during my breaks. It didn't take much before I started visiting on my own accord." She said as she admired the various paintings on the wall, mostly portraying Indian woman dressed in traditional garments. "Both my parents can only cook greek cuisine, it's not bad but you know what they say about the grass on the other side." At that point Athena grinned as an idea came to her mind. "Oh I know would you like to come over my place for dinner next time? We've been neighbors for years but you have never visited my house."

Manager huh? Were you two...ever..... romantic?" Gabe would say in a questioning tone for a brief moment. "Not like it's my business, just curious is all. In such a fine restaurant for you to be eating there at a few occasions, it's a bit costly. Money isn't a thing for some people, a blessing i have never lived with, but the atmosphere is quite interesting. " It was, but Gabe kind of wondered if there was some sort of competition stemming from he workplace."

Oh, to meet your family, so soon? Do you think it's ok for you to meet them?" And there goes the flip side of the scenario, Gabe has no parents for her to meet, which is upsetting a bit.

Athena smiled before answering Gabe's question. "There is no need to be jealous, my manager is much older than I am, not to mention he's married." For a moment Athena tried to imagine how her life would be if she had attempted to seduce the older man but she quickly discarded that scenario. "I'm also not planning on mixing my personal and professional relationships together, that's how all the problems with work begin. Still I can't possibly avoid getting to know my manager." She felt the need to explain herself further even though she was aware a simple "no" would have been enough.

"As for the family dinner. My parents must have seen you around all there years, and well since you've been so nice to me all this time it's only fair to treat you diner. I still own you a favor for helping me with my sorority after all."

I w-w-w-wasn't jealous or anything of the sort, just inquiring about your life. That's all..." Gabe would say this as he took a brief sip of his water, seemingly hiding behind his glass.  He didn't want to seem too intrusive in any kind of way. When she explained even more, Gabe shook his head. "No, it's quite alright, you explained to me plenty. I was just wondering, honestly. " Moving on. " Speaking of which, involving your parents and what they know. Do they know of you dating, and if they do.... do they know its with a guy who technically lives across the street?" 

That was definitely a thing, having their daughter date a neighbor. Did they know about that? Would that make them feel uncomfortable?

"Trust me they're going to adore you. They've been complaining about not being serious enough with my past relationships so I figured since we're trying to be as committed as possible why not invite you home, you will even get to see how I live." Athena said as the waiter served the salad and poured water in each of their glasses. "I'm certain they don't know exactly where you live, but they have seen you before in the neighborhood though I doubt any of them had actually talked to you before." She paused to take a bite out of the salad "Still if you feel uncomfortable I don't mind postponing this for a later date. I wouldn't want to rush things."

"How you live? Oh, wait, you have been in my house before, i don't think it's too different from that right? The only difference is that you have family walking about, a little extra mess to clean up so to speak. Like .... having roommates you are related to..no?" That was kind of how Gabe thought about it from time to time. The only difference was the fact that he thought of himself as a bit of a burden to his family. "No, i think now is as good of a time as any,  i'm ready if you..think i'm ready." Gabe then picked up a fork and started seasoning a little bit of pepper on his salad. " I know it comes with dressing, but a little bit of spice wouldn't do the taste buds any wrong hehe..." Gabe then thought. "You know, i think..it'll be a good idea... to cook something for you...what is your favorite kind of food? I'm surprised we never spoke about something so basic.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea." Athena exclaimed. "I would simply adore to eat homemade food from you." She paused for a moment to eat a bit more of the salad. "As about my favorite food I would say it's anything bittersweet, I once had duck with oranges which was pretty good but I can't say I have a favorite one... you are right though we don't know basic stuff about each other then again this our first date." Athena joked as she looked at Gabe across the table, for the first time she wondered if she truly knew him well enough. "What kind of tastes do you enjoy? Since you'll be cooking for me it's only fair to prepare something for you as well. I'll have you know I make a killer roasted lamb with plums and honey." Athena bragged as she spotted the waiter arriving with the rest of their order.

Something bittersweet, well...i'll be sure to keep that in mind. " Gabe would say as he thought his favorite kind of food. "Well, my mom was actually Italian, so i had alot of pasta and Italian food in the household. We would split off from that at time to time, but i could safely assume that i really like pasta. " Just thinking about it brought a smile to Gabe's face, but maybe it as the smell of the food being bought in. " Thank you.." Gabe would say as he addressed the waiter bringing in the  plate of food to the table. "Something like, your favorite music,  favorite holiday... things like that. The stuff that you admire the most would be a great way to roll this in. " 

Gabe said as he picked up his knife and fork.

"It's strange we haven't spoken about those things before then again going slow isn't exactly our forte." Athena commented, she couldn't have imagined that he was half Italian, after all his gentleman style had lead her to believe he was from British decent then again Endymion was a giant mixing pot where cultures from all around the world existed in harmony and, as it was expected, blended together. "Hmm as about my favorite things. I guess my favorite music is ballroom music. I'm not sure if that's it's correct title and I guess at the end of the day is the same as classical music, it's main difference is that it's always subtle, I don't like awfully loud places after all." Athena carefully sliced a piece of chicken with her knife and after forking it she dipped it inside the sauce.

"As about my favorite holiday I will go with Halloween. Well to be completely honest I loved the Halloween counterpart we had in Greece but from what I imagine they don't do that anymore..." She finally ate the piece she had forked, after swallowing she spoke again. "Still sometimes I wonder if I'll ever return there, just to celebrate one more time in my homeland." She chuckled slightly before continuing. "Do you ever thing about the world outside Endymion?"

"Well, not so strange....i think the fact that it's brought up and we talk about it, shows the progress we are making in order to get to know each other. When it comes to timing or anything of the sort, i dont think there is anything wrong with that. As long as were moving forward to it now." That's all that mattered to him"Oh, halloween, that's quite the scare. What do you think you'll be for halloween? I think that i can pull off a pretty handsome mad hatter if i do say so myself. I already have the earl gray as an edible prop. "


Wouldn't that be a waste of tea. "Oh, you lived somewhere other than endymion? How is it there? Can you tell me anything about it?" Gabe was curious, and didn't know how to respond to her question. "it's so strange, so much is going on in the city that we forget that there is still an entire world ahead of us.  I do imagine leaving one day, just for a while , to see what else is out there. .....what about you?

"All I know is that I'm not going to dress up as something related to Alice in Wonderland. I've had enough with that tale thanks to one of my assignments, I wish I could tell you more but the info is classified." Athena ate another piece of her chicken before answering Gabe's next question. "Life in Greece wasn't exactly glamorous. After our economy collapsed the people rioted against the government, I was too young when that happened to remember but my parents told me it has hell, it was later named The Second Greek Revolution once the rebels overthrew the government. They picked a dude and had the patriarch name him emperor, hopping to recreate the Byzantine Empire, as you can understand things didn't work as planned." Athena putted her fork aside as she used a napkin to wipe some of the sauce from her lips.

"A certain elite of businessmen was named aristocracy while the church's influence and power grew larger. New rules were enforced, as one would expect from a militaristic state. The people had little freedoms while the power was amassed by a selected few, there was little room for those of the lower class to advance further in society, even those who joined the military found themselves serving a member of the aristocracy who was simply put in charge because of their last name." Even though Athena attempted to sound indifferent it was clear she was bitter about the situation her country was in. "My family managed to flee before the church's reformation. I have heard that after that nobody could leave the country, not to mention another set of laws was approved dictating not only how people should behave but also what they ought to think. Can you imagine that?" Athena sliced another piece from her plate, this time using a bit too much force. "After the eternal divide I have no idea what happened there. All connection was lost, perhaps cities like Endymion started to grow there as well. I wont lie to you, I want to go back there some day, just to find out what happened at the very least."

Fair enough, your private life is made to be separate from your personal life. I only care about your safety and you coming home in one piece, nothing else about your job. “ Gabe would say as he spoke truthfully about how he felt about her business. If she didn’t want to talk about it or tell him, oh well. “A second greek revolution ? That must have been traumatic, I’m glad your family got out in the way that they did and made it over to Endymion. So , all’s well that ends well, maybe? Gabe continued to listen to her tale, wondering where she fit in considering the words she spouted. “I think the sad part of it is the fact that such a thing is possible to begin with, it makes you wonder if history is bound to repeat itself in other areas of the world. A riot against the government, and chaos all around, depriving the safety of the people that want nothing to do with the violence. "

It made Gabe wonder though. "So it was the fall of a government, that only led to the rise of another? In the end, it was still favored negatively. I'm usually live life to a tinted window of skepticism, but i'm starting to wonder if you being part of the government is truly based upon desire alone. I think you......." Gabe paused for a moment.

"Never mind, maybe i'm reaching... though..when you do go to Greece, id like to come with you. I don't think you should go alone, even if you feel like you'll be alright. We could put it on the bucket list of adventures to have." Gabe would say with a hearty laugh as he continued to eat his meal.

Athena smiled at the thought of her and Gabe leaving Endymion together, it would have certainly be fun but she was aware that she wouldn't last long outside the borders of civilization. Life in Endymion was tough and the ever watchful eyes of the Queen were everywhere ready to wipe out any sign of defiance but it was still better than the rest of the world. At least that was what Athena believed, she had heard the stories her parents said about their homeland and even though she didn't like to share this with others everyone seemed to believe the rest of the world was ruined after the eternal divide.

"I'm a cadet now. I don't think I can just walk out of Endymion, this city needs me... thankfully the Queen provides well for us and our superior officers are decent, of course there are a few rotten ones but the same can be said for any kind of profession." At that point Athena realized she was almost done with her plate. "But enough with those morbid things. Let's talk about something more positive and leave my dark past behind."