—— restaurants

@Park Minha Her smile widened at Minha’s attempt to snag the stain after she had dabbed it from , crossed eyes not even oriented in the direction where it would have been. She just released a soft laugh and shook her head, accepting her explanation that avoided the intent of her question. “Sure,” Jooyeon responded, indulging her tangent and encouraging her to smile, enthusiasm contagious as she felt her lips curl into a complacent smirk – a small quirk of the lips that felt right on her face. Although not as bright or vibrant as Minha’s, her smile was an indication of her good mood, fading into a less concerned and more relaxed appearance. The interaction had dissipated some of the apprehension in their interactions, tension ignored in favor of their routine – Minha’s childlike mannerisms and her motherly inclinations.

“Hm?” Jooyeon had anticipated her question yet did not have an immediate answer, having no reason to decline beyond the residual guilt of departing from her office earlier than usual – an excuse that Minha would surely scoff at if she chose to use it. “Uh…” Glancing to her meal, she preoccupied herself in gathering together another bite, placing it on her tongue and chewing with a contemplative purpose. Optimism and hope brimming in the other’s eyes, she had neither the heart nor a feasible reason to say no, compelled to accept if only in assurance of her happiness. “Sure.” She suspected that Minha felt a certain pride at the reversal in their roles – her claim to maturity though her recognition of it indicated the opposite.

Concession aside, she had her reputation to defend and she asserted her own claim, tone light to counter for the sincere and insistent intent to her words. “But only if I pay.” As a product of their societal status, neither of their salaries were substantial, but if Minha had cared enough to splurge on dinner, then she ought to be responsible for dessert. “So long as you don’t buy out the store.”

@Lee Jooyeon .
The two sat in comfortable silence, despite the fact Minha couldn't quite help but notice Jooyeon's quiet demeanor. It wasn't abnormal for the older female to be quiet but it concerned Minha when considering the fact they weren't at work. However not feeling it was her position to speak, she restrained herself, preoccupying herself with the food in front of her. "Maybe I ordered too much for myself. . ." she muttered to herself, staring at the half-full plate of beef chow mein, orange chicken, and tofu. She stared at it for a while, looking to Jooyeon's plate briefly. It was still fairly full. Looking back to hers, Minha shrugged to herself with a sound of dismissal, emmercing herself in the flavor again. It wasn't often Minha had a proper dinner, one other than instant ramen or frozen food.

It was when she heard a small noise from the female across from her that she lifted her eyes from her food, eyes filling with curiosity. "What?. . . Where are you g-" She stopped mid-sentence as Jooyeon dabbed a napkin at the corner of . Pouting, Minha uselessly crossed her eyes in an attempt to look at the stain that was already gone. "Food is the answer to everything," she stated in a as-a-matter-of-factly tone, a bright grin on her face. It was the first time she had seen a hint of lightness in Jooyeon for quite a while, and it energized her just a bit.

"Can we go for pastries after? Just a quick stop. I'll pay for it too. I know a great place," Minha suggested, eyes crinkling at the thought of sweets and sugar. It made her just a tad proud to be the one taking and treating Jooyeon out, especially when it was obvious the seemingly stressed female needed it. It was always Minha being the one treated to candy or ice cream, just as a child would but it always gave her a sense of satisfaction, pride, and warmth when it was her returning, even if it wasn't often due to her label as a latent criminal.

[ MUSE FOR MINHA IS STRONG BUT THE QUESTION IS DID I MANAGE TO PORTRAY HER WELL i didn't check this at all oops ]

@Park Minha It had been considerate yet uncharacteristic of Minha to suggest an outing – dinner, her treat – and one Jooyeon could not decline, not once she had fixated her with a stare so adamant and demanded that she felt as if she had no other options. She had acquiesced after a minute of insistence and an attempt at sincere decline, hand held in Minha’s as she dragged them to the restaurant division of the shopping complex. The restaurant had been hers to choose and she had selected a Chinese restaurant for equal comfort and quality – a place that reminded her of the lunches she had at school.

Seated opposite from Minha at a table, Jooyeon shifting her seasoned meat and lo mein around her plate, twirling the noodles around her chopsticks then releasing them, slipping them from underneath the tangle and to the side. She couldn’t concentrate, attention drifting somewhere between half-formulated thoughts and senses of trepidation entrenched in anxious memory, distracting her from the present. Realizing it rude to choose and not to eat, she ate some out of courtesy, polite bites that she concealed behind an appreciation for the flavor. Her focus instead shifted to Minha: her appearance, her expressions, her intentions and how she lacked her emotional restraint in the way her face anticipated and betrayed her thoughts. Minha seemed so spirited in comparison, possessing an undeniable enthusiasm and excitement for life, reminding her a bit of a child foregone chiding or a friend – the type synched to their friends’ sadness, though she doubted that to be the cause for the occasion. She seemed simple, straightforward, easy-to-read yet Jooyeon found herself intrigued and often astonished by her, both in entertainment and honest surprise. This chance had shown no different – her amazement tinged by faint appreciation.

Smiling, Jooyeon lifted her hand to conceal and her amusement, suppressing a laugh at the stain dotting the corner of Minha’s lips. Even more amusing was her seeming lack of knowledge of it, continuing to eat in her endearingly restrained way and mumbling some things to her amidst bites. “You’ve got a bit…” Still smiling, she set down her chopsticks and picked up her napkin, standing up from her seat to dab at the smear and sitting once she caught it. “There. Is food your next fashion statement?”