“I take it you’re not used to dining at places like this?”

A voice cuts through the silence efficiently, his voice as smooth as honeyed mead. It resonates in the space around their dining table, and Joseph finds his attention returning to the older man, his dining companion, sheepish and embarrassed. Ever since they entered the restaurant, Joseph found his eyes wandering around, taking in the lavish decorations that surround them.

Truly, dining at Tantalus is a transformative experience for someone like him.

Hector Nobles seems amused. In the faint candlelight of the table, Joseph sees the edges of his lips curl upward. Hector leans forward, looking as though he is considering something. The heavy silver rings across his fingers somehow seem to shine brighter in the restaurant’s dim light.

Joseph wonders why Hector invited him out tonight, but he pushes that thought to the side.

“No, I’ve never dined anywhere like this before,” Joseph answers truthfully.

“Are you interested in doing more?”

“Well, I guess I’m open to doing more…”

Joseph looks around and notices for the first time that aside from the employees, he and Hector are the only people inside the restaurant. He chews his lower lip and wonders if Hector had bought out the entire restaurant for tonight. Doing so would have cost a lot, far more than anything Joseph could ever hope to be able to do.

In his thoughts, Joseph misses the signal that Hector gives and jumps slightly in surprise at a body appearing at the edges of his sight. His eyes glance up to a waiter holding a plate of food. They’re faceless, a shade that has only come to serve them both. Quickly, efficiently, an offering is placed in front of them both. Joseph turns back to face Hector, who still looks at him, smiling.

On the golden plate in front of him are six bites of food, phyllo dough tarts filled with brie, pomegranate seeds, hot honey, and rosemary.

Hector picks up his knife and fork to cut into the first of his bites, daintily eating them.

“But I can’t really afford to eat at places like this,” Joseph finishes.

His voice speaks out, saying the thought that runs through his head. He doesn’t know what Hector is after, not exactly. There’s a guess, but he’d rather be wrong than right here. Joseph’s hands rest in his lap, quietly, as he watches Hector continue to eat. Hector closes his eyes as he savors another bite of food before he responds.

“You don’t need to be the one paying.”

“How else could I eat here?”

“Perhaps if you had a partnership with someone.”

Joseph snorts a laugh. “What sort of partnership would allow me to eat here?”

“The one that I’m willing to offer you.”

Time freezes. Joseph doesn’t know what to make of it. Everything else around them seems to fade away and his attention is entirely focused on Hector, who continues to eat, as though he hadn’t said anything that would change Joseph’s life. It’s astounding, really, how different their situations are. Eating at Tantalus is a once in a lifetime experience for him, but Hector can reserve the entire restaurant just so they could have some privacy.

“What do you get from striking a partnership with me?”

“It’s simple really,” Hector says, placing his fork and knife back down onto the table. “You give me what I want, and I let you experience the finer things life can provide.”

Joseph’s plate remains untouched. He reaches out, his finger sliding along the handle of the knife. Waiters continue to stand at the edge of his vision. They stand idly along the walls of the room, waiting for something more to do.

“And what do you want?”

“To put it simply: you.”

There it is, confirming what Joseph had been wondering. It’s amazing, really, how quickly a sense of calm fills Joseph’s entire body. There’s no more wondering what is going on, what Hector might be thinking. With everything laid out, it’s as though Joseph can finally think clearly.

Did you ever wonder what the pomegranate Persephone ate tasted like?

He’s thought about that before in his studies. What taste did she experience after not eating for so long? It’s something that’s plagued his mind. Did she find some joy in eating those pomegranate seeds? How did Persephone feel after finding out that she was now married to Hades after taking those few bites?

He takes a deep breath and steadies himself, ready to make his choice.

Joseph reaches out to lift a single tart from the plate. His eyes rest on Hector as he places it into his mouth and begins to chew. The taste of the pomegranate colors his tongue and he closes his eyes as the flavor floods his senses. In his mind, he imagines his life with the partnership Hector offers him. Everything he’s ever dreamed and wanted at his fingertips. He thinks of all he must give in return. Hector’s hand heavy at his lower back as he’s guided through life. He imagines the touches that Hector would leave along his body, and he feels shivers run down his back.

When he swallows, he opens his eyes once more to see Hector look at him, his eyes gleaming like jewels.

Hector leans forward, expectantly. “Do I have an answer from you?

Joseph answers with a smile of his own, “I accept your offer.”

The pomegranate was delicious.