"No problem, man." He sounded casual, but a corner of his lips was curled like a pleased devil's tail. Maou heard the message loud and clear, and it was enough to drive away a good chunk of the dark cloud that was tailing him.

As far as the restaurant went, Maou agreed. "It's a good balance, right? Though . . ." He leaned an elbow on the table himself, bent over the wood. "If you keep starin' at everyone, they're gonna give ya weird looks that'd rival the ones they gave my inspired speech about eatin' innards."