Raven broke eye contact.“He’s just a dog, not a master manipulator.”
Jason crunched down on a handful of fries.“The groomer said he’s really smart.”
Clement turned to glower at him.“That would’ve made one of you.”
Jason pointed.“If I had more chili flakes on here, I wouldn’t be able to talk.”
Maxim leaned his elbow on the bar and hummed.“I see.Jason and the dog have more in common than not.What a realization.Clement, isn’t that quite a realization?”
“I just make the drinks here.You said I just had to make the drinks here.You didn’t say I’d have to have realizations.”He dusted chili flakes all over Jason’s fries without looking, and Jason seemed pleased as punch.
Oh, he likes him?Jason likes pretty much everyone though.But maybe hereallylikes him.I hope so.Jason deserves a good guy.The best.
“How about Umeboshi?”
“What?”
Maxim was looking at Raven, his gaze unwavering.Raven was wondering how Maxim saw him now.He couldn’t shake that question, but it wasn’t as burning a question as it had been when he’d been worried that Maxim would want to… When he’d been worried.
“Umeboshi,” Maxim said.“It’s a pickled Japanese plum.And the breed is from Japan.It’s also food.Less on the nose but still fitting.”
The dog looked at Maxim, his pointy ears attentive.
“Umeboshi, huh?”That had the dog looking back at Raven—likely more coincidence than anything else, but Raven decided it was good enough.“Umeboshi it is.”
Maxim raised his cup to Raven.“Should we drink to that?”
“With blood?”
Jason leaned on the bar.“Oh!Me too.Clement, can I have some blood, please?”
“If you’re set on proving that you cannot learn from your mistakes, of course.”
Jason giggled, munching down on some more of his fries.“So grumpy.Oh, and spicy.Just a tiny little bit, for Umeboshi.”
Clement shrugged.“To toast the pickled plum.You may tell the toilet bowl his name, and I shall rub your back while you do so.”
He walked off, presumably to get Jason some blood.
Raven frowned.“You know, if this isn’t good for you… It’s probably like if I tried eating your chili flakes with fries.”
Jason shrugged.“I love living on the edge.”
Maxim shushed him.“Don’t let Clement hear you.He might lock you in the bathroom for your own safety.”
Raven saw something like hope flicker in Jason’s eyes.When did that start?Really only today?Things can change in a flash, between one moment and the next.Raven smiled at Jason.I hope this makes him happy.
Jason flushed.“Do you really think he would?”
He sounded hopeful.Raven felt awkward, more so than he had before, scared maybe, but he decided to focus on wishing the best for Jason instead.Even if it meant being locked up in a bathroom.
Chapter 23
MaximcouldtellRavenwas getting tired soon after having a good amount of blood, and to make things easier, so was Jason.
“I should go back to the dorm at some point,” Jason said, flicking the now-empty shot glass of blood Clement had allowed him.
Clement sniffed.“Pah.Temporary housing.It’s barbaric.”
