Rebecca and Sophie's

Rebecca and Sophie took their seats, Sophie scraping her chair on the floor loudly. Rebecca scoffed.

"Can't you at least fake being sophisticated in this place? This will probably be the only time we get to eat in a place like this, you know."

Sohpie winked at her. "Lighten up! Now that we're 'set', we could eat in p;aces better than this for snacks, if we want to. Besides, what's the point of eating with friends if you're not gonna be yourself around them?" Rebecca couldn't argue, or wouldn't rather, and looked around for a waiter. When he came, Rebecca ordered a simple potato and rice dish, while Sophie ordered something made of ingredients she liked separately. The silence was deafening.

"So..Sophie. Why are you always trying to get Sagus and Marianne together?"

"Because they both want to be, of course. You've noticed it, haven't you?"

"Of course I have. But I don't interfere. If they become lovers, let them do it themselves. It's not my concern."

"Rebecca, has anyone ever told you you have no sense of romance?"

"And you do?"

"I know two people who long for each other when I see them. And those two fit the bill perfectly."

"I know that. I'm just saying I'm going to let them do what they want without trying to influence them."

"To each her own. Just don't expect me to sneak you into the wedding."

Rebecca scoffed. "weddings...Anyway, why do you care if they get together or not? It has nothing to do with you."

Sophie smiled a philosophical smile. "I guess you could say they're like ingredients that combine to create something...great. Like hydrogen and oxygen. What's an alchemist for if not to make sure everything that can and should be created is created?" Sensing her answer was unsatisfactory, mostly from the cue of Rebecca's raised, unimpressed eyebrow, Sophie sighed and smiled. "You really wanna know why I want those two together?"

"Not really."

"Well, too bad. You're gonna hear it anyway!"