The Vixens' room was chaos.
Not dangerous chaos.
Fashion chaos.
Bunny stood on the bed holding up two different outfits while Zee sat nearby trying unsuccessfully to help organize the disaster spreading across the room.
Nyxian lounged sideways across a chair like royalty overseeing a national emergency.
Llandra stood near the mirror pretending she was not participating.
She absolutely was.
"Turn around again," Bunny ordered.
Nyxian sighed dramatically.
"Why do I feel like we're preparing for battle instead of dinner?"
"Because appearances matter," Bunny declared proudly.
Nyxian adjusted one of the straps on her outfit.
"…Annoyingly, she's right."
Zee smoothed the front of her dress quietly.
"Do you think he'll like this one?"
The room went silent.
Nyxian's grin appeared instantly.
"Oh?"
Zee froze.
"I-I just meant—"
"You meant exactly what you said," Bunny teased immediately.
Zee turned pink.
Bunny smiled warmly.
"And yes. He'll like it."
Llandra folded her arms tighter.
I am only going because he invited us politely, she reminded herself.
That was all.
Completely normal.
Reasonable.
Professional.
Still—
she adjusted her hair again.
Nyxian caught it immediately.
"Oh, this is getting good."
"I hate all of you."
"That's fair," Bunny admitted.
Downstairs, Jax had arrived early.
Partially because he genuinely respected punctuality.
Mostly because he had no idea what counted as normal dinner etiquette in this world and didn't want to embarrass himself further.
He secured a clean table near the center of the restaurant—far enough from the kitchen to avoid excessive heat, but close enough to enjoy the atmosphere.
The restaurant buzzed with evening energy.
Laughter.
Music.
Conversations.
Warm lantern light.
Honestly?
It felt nice.
Then the Vixens walked in.
And the entire room noticeably reacted.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just…
attention.
Jax immediately stood as they approached.
Bunny and Nyxian reached the table first and somehow claimed the seats closest to him with suspicious speed.
Llandra noticed.
Nyxian noticed Llandra noticing.
Nyxian became insufferably pleased.
Jax pulled out Bunny's chair automatically.
Then Nyxian's.
Nyxian blinked.
"…You do that naturally?"
Jax paused.
"…Was I not supposed to?"
"No," Nyxian admitted.
"You absolutely should continue."
Llandra sat down carefully.
Zee hid a smile.
Drinks arrived first.
Jax lifted the mug curiously and took a sip.
Immediately—
FOREIGN TOXIN DETECTED
NEUTRALIZING POISON
Jax blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
Another prompt appeared instantly.
DISABLE TOXIN NEUTRALIZATION FOR CURRENT CONSUMPTION?
Jax nearly laughed.
"Yes," he whispered immediately.
CONFIRMED
He took another sip.
Sweeter this time.
Earthy.
Warm.
Not bad.
Just completely unfamiliar.
Nyxian tilted her head.
"Your system again?"
"I think it just tried to stop me from getting drunk."
Bunny gasped.
"That's tragic."
"I KNOW."
The table laughed.
Conversation came easily afterward.
The dragon.
The shopping trip.
Jax accidentally turning invisible inside Merriweather's shop.
Nyxian exaggerated every story shamelessly.
"You should've seen him," she said dramatically. "He vanished, panicked, then reappeared like a haunted curtain."
"I was adapting."
"You screamed."
"I absolutely did not scream."
"You made a noise."
"That proves nothing."
Bunny nearly fell out of her chair laughing.
Then the food arrived.
Jax looked down at his plate.
Paused.
And immediately understood why everyone in town smelled aggressively seasoned but somehow disappointed.
Nyxian noticed instantly.
"…Yeah," she admitted.
"It's technically food."
"Sometimes," Bunny added helpfully, "the meat wins."
Zee nodded sadly.
Llandra sighed.
"We've adapted."
Jax slowly raised one hand.
"Can I ask something potentially offensive?"
The waitress looked exhausted already.
"I've survived worse."
"Does your kitchen have spices?"
The waitress blinked.
"…Yes?"
"Can I borrow them?"
The entire table froze.
Nyxian narrowed her eyes immediately.
"…Why?"
Jax looked toward his food.
"Because this cow died for nothing."
Bunny choked laughing.
The waitress stared at him another second.
Then pointed toward the kitchen.
"…You should probably speak to the cook."
Jax stood immediately.
"Excellent."
As he walked away, another notification appeared.
NEW SKILL AVAILABLE
CHEF – CULINARY ARTS
Would you like to learn?
Jax grinned.
"Oh, absolutely."
CONFIRMED
Information flooded his thoughts instantly.
Flavor balance.
Cooking temperatures.
Ingredient combinations.
Techniques.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Thirty minutes later—
the smell hit the restaurant.
Conversations stopped instantly.
Heads turned.
Someone moaned emotionally near the back.
"What IS that?"
"I suddenly hate my order."
"That smells illegal."
The kitchen doors swung open.
Jax emerged carrying plates.
The waitress followed behind him with the others, looking personally transformed by the experience.
The dishes looked completely different now.
Rich sauce.
Proper sear.
Seasoning.
Steam rising from perfectly cooked meat.
The Vixens stared.
"…I made an au jus," Jax explained casually. "Adjusted the cuts. Used your local spices differently. There's actually a lot of potential here."
Bunny took the first bite.
Then froze.
"…Holy Nerf scuttle."
Nyxian immediately stole a bite from her plate.
"Oh my gods."
Zee looked emotional.
Llandra closed her eyes after tasting hers.
"…This may genuinely be the greatest thing I've ever eaten."
Nearby tables started standing.
"I want THAT."
"Can we order what they have?"
"WHY does theirs smell better?"
The shift manager rushed over looking borderline panicked.
"Sir," he said immediately, "tonight may become our most profitable evening this month."
Jax smiled slightly.
"Good."
Then he pointed toward the kitchen.
"Make it the special."
The manager looked ready to cry from gratitude.
"Your meals are free tonight."
Jax waved the idea away.
"No need."
Nyxian stared at him.
"Accept the free food, Jax."
"…Fair point."
He thought for another second.
"Then we'll take another round of your best mead."
"Done."
The atmosphere around the table changed after that.
Not just comfortable.
Connected.
The girls ate more relaxed than before.
Laughed easier.
Smiled more.
Like stress had briefly disappeared.
Nyxian watched Jax carefully over the rim of her drink.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"So," she asked eventually, "what chaos are you planning tomorrow?"
"Business."
"That sounds threatening when you say it."
"It probably is."
Bunny immediately leaned forward.
"Can we help?"
Zee nodded quickly.
"I'd like to help too."
Jax looked around the table.
Then smiled slightly.
"Actually… I was hoping all four of you would."
That caught their attention.
Jax pointed around the table one by one.
"Llandra, help me pick a weapon tomorrow."
Llandra blinked once.
"…Alright."
"Zee, come with me to see Merriweather again."
Zee smiled softly.
"I'd like that."
"Nyxian, help me organize negotiations."
Nyxian smirked.
"You really ARE dangerous."
"And Bunny—"
Bunny immediately straightened excitedly.
"Shopping."
"Yes!"
Nyxian leaned back slowly.
"So basically," she said casually, "you want to date all four of us."
Jax nearly choked on his drink.
"That is NOT what I said."
Nyxian burst out laughing.
"Relax, dragon killer."
Bunny grinned mischievously.
Llandra already looked exhausted.
Jax shook his head helplessly.
Then slowly lifted his drink.
"To new friendships."
The girls raised theirs too.
They drank together.
Nyxian leaned toward Llandra afterward.
"…And maybe more."
Llandra immediately choked on her mead.
The table erupted into laughter.
Jax leaned back in his chair smiling.
One day.
One impossible, ridiculous day.
And somehow—
for the first time in a very long time—
he felt genuinely happy.