Oodles and canoodles of noodles. (Cecil)

It was taking all Cecil had not to crack up as Jasmine sulked. She wouldn't let herself be proved wrong on anything, would she?


"Sure, let's go with that." The wry smile on Cecil's lips communicated well enough that he wasn't really convinced, but he didn't make any further comment on her claims. They both knew, after all, this wasn't a place you casually stumbled upon...let alone a place that Jasmine would be naturally inclined to go to in the first place.

He let the girl pull him along to one of the tables, and picked up the menu that was sent his way. Opening it up, he let the menu cover his grin as he looked it over. "So...what does your stomach demand of my wallet today?"

"Well...I really like Kagoshima Ramen.....and Takoyaki....and Taiyaki....." Jasmine's eyes sparkled with a child like wonder as she eyed the menu, imagining all the delicious foods she could sink her teeth into. There was so many and she really really really wanted to eat them all....but no! They were all really expensive! And she wasn't going to burn too big a hole in Cecil's pocket! Plus, she was going to split the bill, so she should be conservative here!

"W-wait what do you mean your wallet?! W're splitting the bill remember? But ummm...I'll take the Okinawa Soba." Her main reason for picking that dish was because it was cheap. Tasty, cheap and filling enough for now. She reached into one of her pockets and pulled her oddly girly purse out, opening it up to count her money. As she expected she...did not have enough to cover the full cost of her meal, but she at least had enough to cover half of it! Maybe even three quarters!

"S-say...I was thinking about what you said...about my place of work?...And....I think I do need to find a replacement place of employment." Sadly Jasmine had....no idea where that would be!

Cecil cackled with laughter as Jasmine found herself abruptly drawn from her food-based fantasies, amused as she didn't even register what he'd said until she'd gone long into the line of thought. "Hey, hey, it's fine. You need the money more than I do, right? I'm getting a little more cash flow in than I used to, it's no problem." Trying to take over as student leader of the Artificer's Apprenticeship had been a pile of work and a half, but things were starting to get moving again.
And it only took a pile of cramming, a mangled bicycle, and an uncomfortable quantity of phone calls.

"...hrm. I'll be honest, I can't think of anywhere that's hiring immediately off the top of my head." He let the menu dip a little as he thought. "Litter picking isn't glamorous work, but they're always looking for more. Same goes for a lot of other positions like that, honestly...some of them pay surprisingly well if you're willing to look into them." He hummed to himself. "Probably plenty of places looking for phone and reception staff, or just other restaurants looking for wait staff...there's an apprenticeship with Mobius++ at Seven Stars as well that you might be able to get involved with."

"Hmp....tch! I know I may need the money but do you really need to announce that so casually...?! It's embarrassing...." With a childish pout, she folded her arms, sinking into her chair in a manner reminiscent of a kid being told they could not have a lollipop. Even though she was having a childish moment, which for her was the natural response to her pride being injured, she soon bounced back once Cecil began speaking about work opportunities.

Litter picking was, as one might expect, not something Jasmine was at all interested in. It was dirty work, it paid poorly and it was quite simply not worth her. She may never have finished her full education but, before the Divide, her parents had strove to ensure she got a VERY good private education. Sadly, due to the Divide and her subsequent kidnapping Jasmine had no paper work or documentation to prove what grades she had. That was another barrier between her and worthwhile employment.

"Phone and reception staff would be tolerable I suppose...wait what is Mobius ++? What are the details of this apprenticeship?" That was something Jasmine felt she would need to, despite planning to regardless of what Cecil shared, look into it personally. Hopefully it would be a position she was actually suitable for.

He wasn't snickering, he wasn't snickering he was snickering. "Sorry, sorry, you just...oh my god it's like looking at my younger sister." He shook his head. "I just mean I'm happy to cover it. Though I would prefer it if you weren't too exorbitant with your ordering - the menu is priced well, but that doesn't mean I can order everything on it at once."

Cecil looked curiously as Jasmine inquired, but he supposed expensive motor vehicles weren't exactly on her priority list. "It's an electric vehicle company. Mostly stupidly expensive cars. Mission statement was about bringing sustainable energy to the forefront before the divide, and they only leaned into it harder since it got far more dangerous to get traditional fuel sources, what with the demons everywhere. There's apparently a couple types that tend to show up a lot around oil."

"You have a younger sister?! And I remind you of her....tch...! Hmmmp...! You had best not be thinking yourself my senior! I am above you! In all ways!" Jasmine folded her menu up and slammed it upon the table, much to the amusement of some of the older patrons, before rising to her feet.

"O-of course I wasn't! I'm used to saving money! What kind of fool do you take me for?!" The young, relatively, girl's cheeks puffed out as she allowed Cecil to speak about Mobius ++. It definitely sounded like something worth getting into; after all Jasmine would need a way to curry favour with the people once she took her rightful place and what better way to do that then offer them a reliable source of energy which didn't require demon exposure?

"uh huh...and what is the nature of this apprenticeship? What work would it entail?" She began to walk towards the counter, gesturing for Cecil to follow after her like the obedient subject he should be!

Cecil grinned evilly. "Careful saying things like that, Jasmine. I might have to stand up." He shakes his head, laughing. "Don't take everything so seriously. It's just a joke. I don't mean anything by it."

He leans back, folding his menu and placing it on top of the table gently. Gently, like Jasmine had not when she decided the best course of action was to shout and slam hers down. "Mechanical work, generally. Bikes, motors, all sorts - tinkering around with things and fixing them. There's people that'll commission work - actual jobs - and you get paid for that once it's done. Maybe a bit more hands-on than intended, but students are guaranteed a spot when they graduate if they're up to par."

"S-shut up....! You being taller than me means nothing! You didn't earn your height! You were just born into it! So it doesn't mean anything!" She stamped her foot on the ground, her face flaring a bright shade of scarlet. She glared at him but decided to simply brush it off as Cecil claimed it was simply a jest. Oh she had an idea now...oh yes oh yes...

"Heh. I see I have incorrectly appraised your talents! You are not fit to be a servant! You are fit to be my jester! Shall I provide a hat with bells for you? Perhaps some pointed shoes and colourful tights?" She stuck her tongue out at Cecil, smugly grinning back at him.

"But enough of this jester! Go order food for us! I shall pay for at least some of it. I will take the Okinawa Soba!" It may seem like Jasmine was planning to simply not respond to the details of the apprenticeship but in reality? Her intent was to inquire further about it later.

Oho, she had done it with that one. "Just born into it, heiress? I'll keep that detail about things in mind."

He cracked up laughing as Jasmine started to fire back in earnest, standing up and feigning a swoon. "Oh, but my liege! The tights, they do so chafe..."
The blond managed to keep a straight face for a few brief seconds before his composure shattered. "Alright, alright. Food." He turned, strolling casually up to the stand. "An order of Kagoshima Ramen, some Okinawa Soba..." His eyes flicked back to Jasmine subtly, and he grinned. "And a couple of orders of takoyaki, please."

"Oh? Would they chaff and rub against your delicate skin? Then I'll suppose you'll simply have to be relegated to be a foot rest " Jasmine flicked Cecil on the nose, grateful that her arm could reach that high in spite of the difference of height between the two of them.

"But yes food! Wait what? No no no!" Jasmine went forward and slammed her hands onto the counter, glaring at Cecil before turning her attention towards the cheif.

"Cancel the Takoyaki Chief!" Ooooh Cecil!!! Stop being foolish! Jasmine couldn't afford her half of the bill if you added Takoyaki to it! Hence why she strove to cancel that part of the order. That was when Jasmine turned onto Cecil...again.

"No! I'm not letting you waste your money on this!" She glared, arms folded and tapping her right foot repeatedly against the concrete.

Hook, line, and sinker. He'd gotten the reaction, and he'd managed to gauge the response. Next was to see what he could get away with from here.
He raised an eyebrow as she glared at him, smiling as if nothing was wrong here. "What? I'm hungry, and if the way you talked about it was any indication, it was good stuff. I just wanted to get enough to sate my appetite." He tilted his head slightly, slightly smirking. "It's my money to spend, and my appetite's gotten worse since I started using the gym. What's the problem?"

"....Fine....if you wish to spend your money on it that is fine! But I am not to be held accountable for covering that portion of the bill!" What Jasmine didn't mention was that any food purchased as part of this meal, regardless of whether she ordered it or not, was something she was entitled to! With that in mind, and realising the pointlessness of her stance she simply returned to her table, awaiting food.