The bowls were nearly empty now. Only the fading warmth of the broth lingered in the air as Dican leaned back slightly, his fingers still loosely holding the chopsticks. Bian sat across from him, watching quietly as the alien man methodically placed his utensils back on the tray.
"Do you eat stuff like this often?" Bian asked after a pause, keeping his tone light. "You said you've been on this planet a while."
Dican shrugged slightly. "When I have to."
"Do you like human food?" Bian tilted his head curiously, searching for something — anything — that could spark a longer conversation.
Dican nodded once. "Some of it is tolerable."
"That's… the nicest thing you've said so far," Bian muttered under his breath, just enough to be heard.
Dican arched a brow but didn't comment. The silence between them stretched, calm but charged.
"So… who were you talking to on the communicator earlier?" Bian asked suddenly, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "It sounded… urgent."
That did it.
