[Nurumaiel]

Hamson, after purchasing his dinner, put on his best sweet and friendly face and walked up to the table where Melilot was sitting alone. She scowled up at him, but he stood there, trying to look innocently lost and confused, which might make Melilot feel sorry for him. "Er, Melilot, I rather noticed you were sitting all alone, and I thought you might not object to me sitting with you?"

Melilot pursed her lips and seemed to consider, then with the attitude of a martyr said in a voice of supreme generosity, "Very well, Hamson, you may sit with me." She moved over a few inches to allow him to sit down.

"You have my gratitude," he said, taking the offered space. "I don't know how you were feeling, but sitting all alone over there made me rather lonely. But I don't know anyone here besides you."

"I'm sure if you looked very hard you could see one or two of your friends," she replied with a tone of disdain in her voice. It was plain to see that she considered Hamson's friends to be as low as Hamson himself was. "However, if you are quite positive that you see none of your friends here, you might stay. I still must discuss the business of that hole with you to completion."

Hamson paled a little and paused in his meal. "Oh, please Mel, let's not discuss that now," he begged. "Can't we just have dinner together and forget the whole business of the hole for a few seconds?"

Melilot fell silent for a few moments, then glanced at Hamson and said with a note of triumph in her voice, "It's been five seconds, so can we discuss it now?" She looked at Hamson's stunned and horrified face, then laughed her attractive laugh. "I'm not serious, Hamson," she said. Hamson looked even more stunned at her display of friendliness towards him. She must be in an awfully good mood. Little feelings of guilt ran through him and he uncertainly fingered the pepper in his pocket.

Melilot's eyes narrowed and she fingered her spoon for a little while, as if searching for the appropriate words to tell Hamson something of extreme importance. "By the way, Hamson, my name is Melilot and I hate it being shortened to Mel, so please refrain from that. Would you like me calling you Ham? That would lower you to the status of a pig. Though, now that I think about it, that wouldn't be too bad an idea."

All feelings of guilt left Hamson and his fingers clenched around the object firmly. Already decided what would make Melilot play into his hands, he took a sip of his tea. She glanced at him, then stood up. "I forgot to get something to drink," she said, and began to move away.

"Oh, please, let me!" Hamson said, catching her arm. "I'm nearly finished with my dinner, but you've nearly started." He winked at her. "You'll need to keep up your strength in this hopeless war you intend to have." Melilot looked slightly indignant but agreed to let him get her something. Smiling sweetly at her, he went to the counter, where he proceeded to order a cup of tea. His hand slipped in his pocket when the tea was brought, but not for money alone. After paying for the drink, he withdrew the pepper box from his pocket and opened it, pouring every last bit of it into the tea. Grinning innocently at all nearby who had observed his actions, he stirred it in and then returned to the table.

"Here, Mel...ilot," he said, hastily remembering she didn't like nicknames. He didn't want her calling him a pig again. Without so much of a word of thanks, Melilot took it up, not noticing how Hamson was slowly inching away from the table. One sip was all it took. The best way to describe what Melilot did would be to say she exploded. Whether from the pepper or from anger I don't know, but she had no one to vent her rage on, for Hamson had wisely disappeared to his room.