Instead, the Russian points out to Tenzin, “She has had one of her five a day.” because trace amounts of fruit count.

the gazes leave Vale to fidget slightly, her hand moving to tug a sleeve over her wrist, “Uh, sorry…” She murmurs quietly, clearly not sure what to say from the attention.

It lasts for but a moment, that withering stare that Tenzin has for Ekaterina’s disclaimer and Mercy’s sweet choice for a starter. His eyes flick to Vale, and he bows his head to resume a more neutral countenance once again. “Your body is a temple. It is wise to fill it with what is good,” he mildly says, having to take on the role of the grown-up here. “You are eating like we will have no free boroughs come tomorrow,” the man more solemnly murmurs.

Ekaterina produces, and takes a subtle sip from a drink that was tucked away in hopes of avoiding monastic judgement. However, no matter how stealthy she is, Tenzin spots it, though only after she’s already taken a deep slug.

Mercy is not proficient in the art of polite conversation, however she takes a moment to consider her words after witnessing Vale’s fidgeting and that in itself is tremendous progress. “Ain’ mean to stare. Were jus’ wonderin’ if you got attacked or somethin’, is all. Had a mark like that on my wrist first week in, too.”

“If it helps,” Another mouthfull of salmon and rice, “The one who bit you likely regretted it seconds after.” Ekaterina supposes to Mercy.

Turning her attention towards Vale again, she explains, “The mark is well known in Haven. Is a vampire bite, if you are not aware. I am sure we all have them often without knowing, which is exceptionally frustrating– Regardless, this is more dramatic than a free lunch should allow.”

Gesturing to herself, then Tenzin and Mercy sequentially, Ekaterina introduces, “I am Ekaterina. This is Brother Tenzin of the Wot Pang Sai, and Red. I realise I offered food and did not do the sociable thing.”

Vale nods softly to Tenzin, “I do actually try to take care of myself, I uh, like my hikes and cooking.” She murmurs, taking another bite to pace out the conversation. Once Mercy reassures her, she offers at least a slight smile, “It’s complicated? Like it was a friend of a friend, someone talked about latent blood and something bout testing it.” A free hand gestures as she explains, only for introductions to make her relax at least a little, “I’m Vale, of uh, well, just me? I’m not really apart of anything.”

Not speaking Thai, Ekaterina misses the amusing mispronunciation, looking to Tenzin with concern.

Mercy snorts loudly and almost spits out a mouthful of rice, covering the lower part of her face with a gloved hand and clearing her throat after managing to swallow. “Ayeah, he sure did. Ain’ understand what’s so bad ’bout my blood though, I’m healthy as fuck.” She tells Ekaterina knowing full well Tenzin might contest these claims or scowl in her direction. An upnod is thrown to Vale in acknowledgement after she introduces herself. “Outdoorsy type, then? An’ you with the college here or nah?”

Tranquility is on Tenzin’s side today. There was a snort when Ekaterina made that quip at Mercy, but nothing comes out of his nose. He maintains composure, his public image unmarred.

The monk lifts his attention to Vale, searching her hands for the mark, but his gaze not lingering. He is more inclined to another bow of the head. “Apologies for ah, not introducing sooner,” he accepts his own fault here. “It is the Wat Pang Sai, like the question ‘What the heck’,” he corrects Ekaterina with a push of his tongue into his cheek. “You are a hiking person? This is good, very good.” He remarks to the rest of the table, “We must hike sometime.”

“I’m not with the college, no.” Vale shakes her head a few times before taking a few bites, needing to brush a few messy curls behind her ear first. “I wouldn’t mind going on a hike! I haven’t been camping since I went to college though, I kinda miss it… I’d need kit and everything…” She trails off, suddenly deep in thought before drawing her eyes back to the group again, “And it’s fine! I don’t expect everyone to introduce and bow, I’m just a passer by after all.”

“Is importent to be neighbourly.” Ekaterina takes another mouth full of salmon and rice before speaking again. “Especially in these trying times where the Sixty-Third Legion are trying to use the city to take over the planet. Best at least be able to be civil,da.”

“The exercise will be good for everyone,” Tenzin predicts, with an especially targeted bounce of his brows for Mercy. “Especially to lose all the sugar in the blood today, ahh,” he sighs at Ekaterina for this, also. The nomad rests an elbow on the table, but his manners catch up with him in the next moment. That joint is consciously slid back down. “What is it you seek here then, if you are not here to go to the school? Following the call of the winds?” he guesses of Vale curiously, continuing to eat.

“Can be worth it to meet more people an’ attend classes an’ shi- stuff.” Mercy stops herself just shy of swearing, it’s like she’s a whole other person today. “Otherwise, what are you wantin’ to get into here?” She asks Vale.

“Would you believe me if I said that I just wanted to get away from home and I saw how cheap the rent was here?” Vale giggles awkwardly, finally settling her chopsticks down. “I thought about joining the college, but I did already go through college and I’m not sure if I wanna go through it again…” She admits softly, only breaking the slight slouch with a groaned yawn, “But it’s kinda becoming it’s own adventure? Like, my home was real boring, and this is the opposite of that.”

There’s no sugar here– To prove it, Ekaterina pushes the plate that once contained cheesecake off to one side, the empty salmon plate piled on top. The boba is clearly sugar free, or why else would she take anoter deep sip.

Standing, the Russian heads over to the set out food once more, picking something more… and yes, apparently today she is eating in reverse.

Mercy eyes the fried banana desirously but decides to claim a couple pieces of salmon nigiri instead while supplies last. Tenzin did mention she could use more protein. “Ain’ blame you fer not wantin’ to do it twice, jus’ a suggestion fer meetin’ people an’ all that, can slack an’ miss class all you want otherwise.” Wisdom from a delinquent. “Know what you mean ’bout it bein’ more excitin’ here though, things got a way of takin’ some strange turns more often than not.” Her sleepy eyes lift to quickly shift between Tenzin and Ekaterina alongside that remark.

Ekaterina is a good influence, she notes to Mercy after she’s chosen the salmon, “Banana is another of your five a day. Is good for you.”

Though listening to Vale, Tenzin catches sight of Ekaterina’s tactics and his canted eyes tighten their frame. “I never went to college,” he shares with the group, setting aside his empty bowl. The rest of his edamame is picked off, pods whole slipped into his mouth to hide the massacring of Japanese peas.

“I do not know what the college here is like, but I find the school of life to be more than enough. There are also other ways to receive specialized training,” he suggests idly, watching how Mercy steals some sushi for herself. It barely coaxes a reaction from it; it must be one of the monk-approved dishes. Ekaterina’s beef pho, despite the cow content, gets a look but little else than a relieved sigh that she’s got space left for good stuff after all. Russians. A more sentimental smile teases one corner of his mouth at the redhead’s words, but then Ekaterina is talking again. “If there could be fresh banana or without all the American sugar, tch!”

“Just for meeting people?” Vale considers with a hum, foot tapping under the table before she shrugs, “Maybe! I’d have to ask around. I do need to meet new people, the myhaven thing kinda sucks, I always try to guess who matches me and I never catch the right people.” She sighs dramatically.

Tenzin says, supplying off-handedly too, “I have never used my MyHeaven. MyHaven.“

“If only the ap worked and you knew who matched you.” Ekaterina opines. Another mouth full of beef, broth and noodles, a thoughtful chewing, swallowing, and she takes another sip from her boba.

“Briefly,” the Russian supplies, “I was an educator at the university. I taught physical education, though Robert’s piling work on me, followed by my promotion meant that I no longer had the time.”

“Yer proficient enough with MyShaven.” Mercy remarks playfully with a pointed glance at Tenzin’s cranium, after a brief look of slight surprise given his lack of college experience. Then again, after really thinking it over, it made sense. Her gaze comes back to Vale. “Ayeah, MyHaven’s pretty mid all things considered. Better off with college and-or jus’ tryin’ to get out to public functions as much as possible till you find yer people.”

“I also kinda feel like it’s not that good for knowing people? Like, people are just gonna put up what they wanna seem like on their profile? Although it kinda helps steer clear with people who have red flags that they think make them cool.” Vale shrugs, musing it through rather absent-mindedly, “But I got kinda lucky with the people I did match? Like they turned out to be pretty nice and we’ve been chatting back and forth.” She nods a few times happily.

Ekaterina nods in agreement with Mercy. “The Inkwell coffee house is a good place to meet people. It usually has one or two people, though the servers forget your name, and often provide the wrong drink.”

“I do like coffee… Well, mocha, does that count?” Vale idly asks Ekaterina, “Also, can I call you Rina? I’d probably butcher your real name.”

Ekaterina says, adding to the previous, “Another good way of finding people is by joining one of the societies or factions, though you will have to look into those. I would feel bad pointing you in the direction of specifics.“

“You were?” Tenzin is surprised about another thing, too. He leans back in his seat, eying Ekaterina with a one-eyed squint. “You do have much patience, this is so,” he has to give her that. “But would probably make students dance to bullets if you are tested.”

He shoots Mercy a pointed look and barks a loud “Hah!” as he reaches for the nearest egg roll platter. But the crime isn’t grave enough to warrant such a pelting. “You are lucky we are in dangerous territory.” He resigns himself to an ‘I’m watching you’ look. “Rina sounds like a pretty name. I call her Eck, but Rina may be better,” he considers as Vale opens up that door for them.

Tenzin advises, however, to Vale, “Before you might be dragged into anything, you would do well to research and learn what you can of the ah, organization first. So many who are joined but, to this day, do not know what they do…”

Vale beams a warm smile to Tenzin, “Right? I think Rina is cute too.” She happily agrees, only to more seriously listen after, “And… Yeah, I mean, I know I should think hard about it. I was taught a little about my uh, well I guess it’s a condition? I dunno, I wouldn’t want to get taken advantage of if it gets worse…”

Mercy smirks just a touch at Tenzin in light of his look, recognizing it immediately, but just as quickly she’s back to her blank-faced hungry self, listening in and piping up between bites when something catches her interest- such as Vale’s mention of a ‘condition’. Mercy’s half-lidded yet somehow still intense stare comes rounding back on the girl. “What you got like, the mumps or somethin’?”

“I have gone by both Ekat and Rina at one point or other.” Ekaterina shrugs that away, neither with acceptance or condemnation. “Take your pick.”

Another agreement, this time with Tenzin, and she listens to Vale’s worries before explaining to Tenzin, “I used to drop a neutralizer at the start of the practicles. I dislike those who cheet.”

Mercy shoots Ekaterina a rather disapproving glance.

“Mumps?” Vale asks Mercy cluelessly, “No uh, the vampire who bit me said something about angels or something. Then a friend gave me a sorta explanation about it, it’s a lot to take in all at once though, honestly, hard to believe if it’s even the truth.” She murmurs quietly as she fidgets with her chopsticks, “I think I’m pretty normal honestly.”

Ekaterina returns Mercy’s look, holding eye contact. “Da? It worked.” -Then she looks away, supposing, “I think she means what ever is in her blood.”

Ekaterina says “Normality is a fiction. Everyone is strange in their own way.“

“Sounds a little romantic when you put it like that.” Vale relents to Ekaterina in a thoughtful voice, “But yeah uh, anyway- Thanks for all the advice and stuff. Honestly I’m not super looking to get into the complicated stuff, not at least yet. Kinda just wanna settle down, which sounds weird but after everything else, it’s kinda why I came here.”

“Ohhh yer one of those.” Mercy murmurs to herself after Vale’s clarification, seeming almost disappointed by that news, but with a languid shrug she’s already moved on. “Ain’ no rush to do anythin’, I kinda jus’ wandered ’round an’ explored shit on my own fer a while too, ain’ weird at all.”

“Ah, I would have enjoyed to see this,” Tenzin muses to Ekaterina, and immediately he leans across the table to tease Mercy, “Do you think you would have done as good in your physical exams if it was still like this?” His tone says he already knows the answer is no, even if it might not be.

He had been about to ask a similar thing of Vale but she clears that up quickly. “Ah. I am surprised that you noticed it biting you,” he hmms curiously, searching the table for a drink that didn’t look like it had gallons of sugar or corn syrup. Iced green tea it is. For a while, he merely listens to the women talk while something on his phone distracts him. He handles the device carefully and slowly, poking here and there like he were always lost somehow.

Vale cants her head over at Tenzin, “I mean, they asked nicely, and said that they wouldn’t uh, do whatever they do to make you forget. I’m kinda bad at saying no to people honestly…” She trails off, eyes panning across the room.

“I am sure that Red would do fine even naturalized.” Ekaterina tells Tenzin. “She is just young. All students are the same to one extent or another.”

Mercy straightens up in her seat and regards Tenzin with a slight inclination of her chin, like a challenge is underway. “Ayeah, might be surprised. When I weren’t too malnourished or tweaked out on somethin’ I managed street livin’ jus’ fine. You know how often I had to run from someone chasin’ me? Or chase someone runnin’ -from- me? Or hop a fence?” With Ekaterina throwing in her support, the girl gestures at her as if that settles it all. “We ain’ gonna talk ’bout my Twister heist fiasco though cause that were definitely a failin’.”

Vale yawns into her hand and hops up to her feet, “Anyway! Thanks for the suggestions and stuff. Also the free sushi, I’ll visit again some time for sure, I’m gonna go check out the coffee place.” She says with a light, probably too polite bow before heading off on her way.

Glancing around and noting that scout again, Ekaterina waves the man off. “If nothing else,” she supposes as an aside to Tenzin and Mercy, “The borough know that the Temple are here, even if we are not actively supported by the citizenry.”