“It feels like it is getting worse…”
“Pardon?”
Kuta sighed, realizing he had spoken out loud. “Sorry, was lost in thought.”
“It is fine, dear!” Trismit put an arm around Kuta. “Is something bothering you?”
“Yes. It feels like the Secret collapse is getting worse.”
“Oh.”
“Do you not feel it too? That overarching silence?”
Trismit thought for a moment. “I… I am not sure. It has always been a little quiet.”
“Quiet? It is nearly silent.”
“I guess…”
Trismit fell silent, then sighed, not really getting what Kuta was talking about. Thankfully, the telepathic silence was broken by the noise of a very excitable child.
“Theia Trismit! Theia Kuta! Yay!”
Rett bounced up and down as she spotted her adult friends from across the room. She skipped over, ignoring the other diners in the restaurant, and immediately climbed into the booth where Kuta and Trismit were sitting. Still standing at the doorway though were Rett’s parents, Gath and Talmin, who were being given menus by one of the waiters.
“Sorry…” Gath muttered as he came over and sat down. Talmin offered an apology as well.
“Do not be sorry!” Trismit smiled. “It is always lovely to see you!”
Kuta smiled as well, glad that both the real ambience and the telepathic space were no longer silent. “Little Rett, how are you doing?”
“I had ice cream! I want more though!” Rett wobbled in her seat, barely visible above the table. Gath pulled out an inflatable cushion, which he quickly blew up then placed next to Rett. She immediately clambered onto it, desperate to see more of the table.
“If you eat your dinner, we will get more ice cream, alright?” Talmin replied, placing a couple of menus down on the table. “I take it we all want some sort of pizza, right?”
Everyone nodded, all feeling a bit more cheerful now that everyone was here.
“The question is, what do you put on your pizza?”
“Good question, Trismit!” Kuta beamed as Rett pushed her cushion closer to him. “Little Rett, what do you want on your pizza?”
“Can I have ice cream on it?” Rett asked.
“Well, you could put ice cream on pizza, but it will all melt before it gets to the table.”
“Aw…” Rett clicked her tongue in annoyance. “I do not want melted ice cream.”
“We can get ice cream after pizza!” Gath reassured Rett. “I think I would like a seafood pizza.”
“I was considering going more traditional pizza with salami and cheese on it…” Talmin mulled over his options. There were far too many of them.
“I want cheese!” Rett squeaked. “Can I have cheese please?”
“Cheese is good!” Kuta added. “I love a good, multi-cheese pizza. If you want, you can order a tiny one for Rett.”
“I want big cheese though!”
Gath smiled. “Let us compromise, you can have a medium pizza, Rett.”
“Oh… okay…” Rett slumped in her seat a little. “But can I have a fizzy pop too?”
“Sure.”
“YAY!” Rett squeaked some more.
“What about you, Trismit?” Gath asked. “What do you like?”
Trismit picked up a menu and showed it to Gath. On it was a picture of a pizza with a stuffed crust and absolutely covered in different meats. “The Big Supreme is what I always get.”
“I… hm I do want that, but I also want the seafood one.”
“Get both!” Kuta grinned. “Whatever you don’t eat, we can take home.”
“Good point…” Gath had another look at the menu. “Screw it, let us get both. I am hungry.”