Ring of Trust

[Weonna]

Christina's eyes widened in surprise and delight as she realized they were at Menbakaichidai, the famous fire ramen restaurant. The sight of the fiery spectacle and the tantalizing aroma of the ramen cooking over intense flames filled her with excitement.

"Wow, I've always wanted to try this place!"

Christina exclaimed, her eyes shining with anticipation. She couldn't believe that Alexios had chosen such a unique and thrilling dining experience for their evening together.

As they stepped inside, the crackling flames and the sizzle of the ramen added to the vibrant atmosphere. Sitting down at their table, Christina felt a surge of gratitude for the thought and care Alexios had put into planning the evening.

As Christina sat down at the table in Menbakaichidai, she eagerly looked over the menu, her eyes lighting up with curiosity and excitement.

"Hmm...I wanna try the Signature Fire Ramen. What about you Alexios?"

Christina would ask.

[ScylliasExoter]

”That’s exactly what I want. And no white people spicy either. I want it as intended.” I took a gamble in assuming you like spicy foods. But given our cultures I thought it was a good fit.”

They walked up to the bar and sat down. Alexios ordered an Asahi Super Dry (and a water) to drink. It wasn’t long before other peoples’ orders were being made right in front of them. The two were periodically blasted with waves of heat as ramen bowls were lit on fire.

”I saw a video of this place on Buzzfeed and have wanted to come for a long time.”
He turned to face her and the next blast of fire lit up Christina with a beautiful orange-red glow. The reflections of the flame danced in her eyes.
“Wow” was the only word he could form.

[Weonna]

Christina chuckled at Alexios's comment about the spice level,

"I appreciate the authenticity I do enjoy spicy food, and I'm excited to try it exactly as intended too~"

As they sat at the bar, watching the mesmerizing display of flames and the skilled preparation of the fiery ramen, Christina felt a sense of anticipation building. The atmosphere was electric, and the heat from the flames added to the excitement of the experience.

"I think i've seen those videos too! The way they prepare the ramen here is truly something special,"

Christina remarked, her eyes gleaming with delight.

"I'm so glad we're here experiencing it together."


As the flames danced and illuminated the surroundings, Alexios's gaze met hers, and Christina felt a rush of warmth at his reaction. The moment felt magical, and she found herself captivated by the play of light and shadow in his eyes. Christina felt a deep connection with him, grateful for the chance to share this extraordinary experience with someone who appreciated it as much as she did.

[ScylliasExoter]

Alexios got lost in Christina’s eyes. He was snapped out of it by the cook asking for their order.
”I’ll have the signature fire ramen. And I’m Greek so don’t hold back on the spice.”
After Christina ordered, he turned back to her and asked,
“What do you like to do for fun when you’re not competing or training?”

[Weonna]

Christina smiled as Alexios asked about her hobbies outside of competition and training.

"Well, when I'm not focused on competing or training, I love spending time with my motorcycle. I find so much joy in the freedom of the open road and the thrill of riding. There's something incredibly exhilarating about the wind in my face and the hum of the engine beneath me,"

she continued, her eyes lighting up as she spoke.

"I also enjoy getting my hands dirty and fixing up motorcycles. It's a great way for me to unwind and express my creativity outside of the ring."

As she shared her love for motorcycles with Alexios, she could sense a genuine interest in his eyes, and she felt a surge of happiness at being able to open up about her passions with someone who truly listened and appreciated her interests.

"And what about you mister gold Medalist? What do you like to do when your not busy?"

Christina said teasingly as she giggled and perked her ears, ready to hear Alexios's answer to her question.

[ScylliasExoter]

“That sounds amazing. I’ve never ridden a motorcycle. My parents never allowed it. Maybe I could ride with you and snuggle up behind you,” he laughed.

”I love the water. Going to the beach, fishing, boating. You name it. Also dancing… and then I’m a meathead who plays Call of Duty and other video games. Really into Cyberpunk 2077 right now.”

Alexios’ eyes widened when the chef started preparing their ramen in front of them. He propped up his phone to take a video by itself and then was fixated on the massive column of fire when the chef lit up their ramen.

[Weonna]

As Alexios shared his interests, Christina listened with genuine interest, fascinated by the diverse range of activities that brought him joy. She smiled at his mention of wanting to ride a motorcycle and the idea of riding together, and she felt a sense of warmth at the thought of sharing that experience with him in the future.

"The water sounds lovely. I can imagine the sense of peace and freedom that comes with being out on the water,"

Christina remarked.

"And I've always enjoyed dancing too. It's a great way to let loose and have fun."

As the chef began the captivating display of preparing their fire ramen, Christina couldn't help but be drawn into the spectacle herself. The towering flames and the sizzle of the ingredients filled the room with energy, and she found herself captivated by the artistry and skill of the chef.

As the chef completed the preparation of the fire ramen, placing the steaming, flavorful dish in front of them, Christina's eyes widened with anticipation. The aroma alone was enough to make her mouth water, and as she took the first bite, she couldn't help but savor the explosion of flavors that danced on her taste buds. Her appetite seemed insatiable as she eagerly devoured the dish, her enjoyment evident in the way she savored each mouthful.

[ScylliasExoter]

Alexios was disciplined when it came to training. He was far less so with food. When the ramen was finished burning and placed in front of him, Alexios went to work. He first tried the broth. Naturally he was so eager it was still super hot. He blew on it and then his brain short circuited at the explosion of flavors from the ramen. The two of them ate in silence as they were engrossed with their ramen. As the ramen cooled he began the good old fashioned shoveling of noodles into his mouth. Alexios went to town on the ramen until he stopped. The ramen’s spiciness had caught up to him and his throat was now on fire. Alexios had a good tolerance for spicy food, but it was called fire ramen for a reason. His neck was red from the spice. He then switched to gulping down the water by his bowl.

After they had gotten to a good break point in their ramens, they stopped to continue their conversation.
”What kind of dancing do you like? And what’s Filipino dancing like? Greek dancing is communal line dancing, basically. I could show you sometime?”

[Weonna]

"Filipino dancing is incredibly diverse,"

Christina replied with a smile, wiping a noodle from her lips.

"We have traditional dances like Tinikling, where dancers move between bamboo poles, and Sayaw sa Bangko, where performers dance on top of benches. But we also have modern styles influenced by hip-hop and street dance which are my favorite. Have you heard of the Jabbawockeez? They're a dance crew from San Diego, which is my home town! I remember as a little kid, watching America's Best Dance Crew every week just to watch them. There are a lot of great dance crews on that show but the Jabbawockeez at the time were way ahead of everyone! Also there masks are really cool!"

Christina couldn't contain her excitement as she gushed about the Jabbawockeez while wearing her nostalgia glasses. After finishing her fangirling session, she would clear her throat and respond to Alexios's latest question.

"Oh sorry...got carried away with nostalgia...but... as for Greek dancing, I'd love to learn! It sounds like a lively and communal experience. Maybe you can teach me a few moves sometime~"

She chuckled, taking a sip of water before turning the question back to Alexios.

"And what about you? What's your favorite type of dancing, and would you be up for showing me some of your moves?"

[ScylliasExoter]

Alexios was feeling bold and went for it.
”I’d love to show you some moves sometime.”
His face somehow turned even redder despite the spicy ramen he was consuming. After collecting himself, he said, “Yes, Greek dancing is a lot of fun and I’d be happy to do a cultural exchange of dances. Yours sounds lovely.”
Alexios resumed slurping up noodles and pork like a pro.