When Pahn did not answer her immediately, Anora tilted sideways in her seat. The chains on her shirt jingled lightly as she tried to get a better look at his face with it bent to look at the menu, and wondered if he had even heard her. When he looked up, she returned his gaze expectantly, tensely anticipating his answers as he inhaled then squinted at her. But instead of speaking, he returned his attention to the menu.
	She sighed irritably. [color=violet]“Hel-lo?”[/color] She waved a hand at him to try getting his attention. “Did that guy hit you harder than I thought or something?”
	When at last he began to speak, the first words out of his mouth were less than satisfactory.
	[color=violet]“What I’m [i]what?[/i]”[/color] she interrupted, her brows raising as he answered her rhetorical question first. When he raised a hand and moved a finger as if to gesture to the place around him, she instinctively glanced around. [color=violet]“I’m curious about an Italian eatery?”[/color] she asked cheekily as he returned his hand to his menu, unsure what, exactly, he was trying to insinuate with his gesture. What he had said? The side of the world she had, at long last, found? The creatures she had just encountered? [color=goldenrod][i]Didn’t I just [u]say[/u] that’s what I’m curious about?[/i][/color]
	Her eyes narrowed in frustration when he stopped speaking. 
	[color=violet]“I’m not [i]afraid,[/i] I’m--”[/color] she began, but Pahn raised a hand to silence her. She leaned back with a huff and crossed her arms, waiting impatiently for him to decide to continue.
	Anora’s expression perked up when he began again, this time, by the sound of it between his rather excessive breaths, to answer her true questions. She leaned forward in her seat once more, her attention unwavering from him. Though his answers only begged more questions, it was at least a start. 
	When Pahn placed his elbows on the table and interlaced his fingers, she crossed her arms over the table atop her otherwise untouched menu. The pain displayed on Pahn’s face made a twinge of pity flash over Anora’s expression. It came as no surprise that he was far older than he looked. Even if she had needed proof, the strength and power in his aura would have been enough. She could only imagine the hardships that could come with being so long-lived. 
	[color=violet]“Trapped in this--?”[/color] she tried when an even longer break in conversation ensued, her voice softer than it had been. To her chagrin, her words were once more greeted with a raised hand to quiet her.
	She growled slightly, and drummed her fingers on the table, her black-painted nails not quite long enough to clack against the wood.
	Anora snorted and shook her head at the thought of the battle between Mr. Gray and Pahn being the former’s version of “toying” with someone.
	Her brows furrowed at his rather wistful tone as he finished. [color=violet]“You… you say that like you [i]want[/i] this world destroyed,”[/color] she said quietly, leaning away from him, but never averting her gaze. 
	Anora felt like she jumped a foot in the air when Dino returned, his approach going unnoticed in her focus on Pahn. She gave an exasperated exhale as the man placed drinks, appetizer, and a candlestick on the table. She all but melted into the booth when she realized it was only him, her heart racing from the scare. Taking a couple breaths, she recovered herself and sat up straighter as Dino lit the candle with a practiced flourish, hoping Pahn had not noticed her reaction.
	When Dino turned to her to get her order, she blinked at him, food the furthest thing from her mind.
	[color=violet]“Oh, uh…”[/color] She glanced to the menu she had since neglected. [color=violet]“I’ll have some of that lasagna I’ve heard so much about.”[/color] She offered him an uneasy smile. 
	Once Dino disappeared from sight, she looked to Pahn, his distant gaze on the flickering flame of the candle.
	She sat, silent, for a short moment. Despite the many more questions floating around her head, there was one that shouted louder than the others to be let out, the possible answer awaiting it unsettling.
	[color=violet]“Are…”[/color] She took a breath, her voice little more than a whisper. [color=violet]“Are you here to [i]stop[/i] them from ‘breaking’ you and the world, or are you here to [i]help[/i] them?”[/color] Anora stared at him, her eyes and face hard as she waited for his answer, holding her breath and hoping she was not somehow connected to someone out to destroy the only home she had ever known.