Kassy continued to eat, trying to hide a bit of smugness. It wasn't hard to forget, though. The rare lamb all but melted in her mouth. "I am not sure. I don't want it to be... like a human pet. I don't want it confined and tied up. I want a companion, like you have Regis." She snuck a decent chunk of meat under the table, gently dangling it from her fingertips as apology for the loyal reptile. "I truly don't know what that would be, but I'm certain I'll think of something." She patted her mouth on a napkin and then drained her glass of water. She'd need to be well hydrated for where she was going. "As far as you 'slugging' me, Dima..." She locked eyes with him, smiling in a way that made her teeth flash in the sunlight. "I doubt my femininity has anything to do with your decision. You won't retaliate because you're my friend." There was something creeping into her gaze that was a reminder: her people lived with whales, sharks, and pressures that would crush a human into a fine paste, and she was born to fight predators. Rising from the table after Regis had snagged her treat, she walked to Dimitri, never looking away. 

"You also won't retaliate because you're no longer sure of my skill level. You don't like starting a fight that you might not win." She leaned down and kissed him on the cheek, lingering there for a moment longer than necessary. "...that's a smart strategy, Dima." Pulling away, she headed back inside.

"I'm certain you can take care of the dishes, can't you? I'll be back after dark." She vanished into the house with her shoulders squared, and hips swishing.