"I called Vlad, by the way," Dina said as they ladled shimmering, steaming broth into a pair of bowls. "He and Luu will be here in a bit to walk you both home."

"Aw, you didn't need to go and do a t'ing like t'at," Teige groused, and muttered, "He'll be smug, and all."

The restaurant was dark except for one light right overhead, illuminating the corner of the bar where Teige sat, and a range with a lone stockpot left warming on it. Hawk emerged through a curtained door just behind Teige, out of the light, looking exhausted, though much less green. Dina placed the bowls on the bar and frowned at Teige.

"What? Were you going to walk home alone after all that??" they wanted to know, as Hawk sat himself down next to Teige and immediately took a bowl. Dina hesitated. "Er, speaking of, sorry that we couldn't find that bit of your ear."

Teige listed to one side, hovering a fingertip over the cut part of his ear without fully touching it. "Ah, no bodge. S'pose it doesn't matter ennyway, it's already healing."

Something caught his eye--there were a couple of books sitting at the corner of the bar, just to his left. One was a notebook, open to a page of notes with neatly-drawn little diagrams and highlighted bits.

"Mm," Hawk groaned around a mouthful of soup. "Shit, this soup is goddamn good."

"That's just the leftover broth," Dina told him. "You should come by when we're open."

"Someone's homework?" Teige asked suddenly, still looking at the notebook. Dina glanced over as they lifted the stockpot off the range.

"One of the server's," they said. "He's been studying for R.I.T. between tables."

Hawk looked up, startled. "Wuh--studyin'?"