First Meetings (aka more homoloids™)

Feasting For Free (MeiLuka)

Happy birthday, Clockwork-Doll! This is your present from me; hope you had a great day!
Also gonna tag Valechan34 for when she's back.

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Luka walked down the street, her heels clicking against the pavement as she made her way down.

She had had a tiring day at work, serving the most rudest and indecisive members of the public their much-needed Winter coffee. She'd been bitched at, people had asked to see the manager over the tiniest of decisions, and she'd had people asking her what was being served despite the fact that the coffee shop had menus. Truly, Luka despised her job. But money wasn't going to come to her out of thin air. She lived comfortably, yes, but she'd never be able to eat out somewhere. She was condemned to a life of tinned products and instant ramen.

As Luka walked down the road, she took in all the different smells. There was another coffee shop nearby, which looked a lot fancier than the place where Luka worked. The smell was rich, Luka could tell that they used only the highest quality coffee. It made her envious; why couldn't she work at a place like that?

Luka looked ahead, and could see a large building that proudly stood over every other building in the area. It was covered in all sorts of flashy, neon lights, and there were all kinds of expensive-looking flora coating the outsides. Four bright stars outlined the entrance, and as Luka got closer, she could see clearly what it was. A four-star restaurant.

The delectable smells wafting out of the restaurant were beginning to make Luka hungry. She could only imagine what was being served in there. Steak, salmon sashimi, sukiyaki. Luka's mouth began watering, and it was with slight regret that she made the decision to just walk past the restaurant and forget about it. A girl of her salary would never be able to eat at such an amazing place.

Luka walked on by, but within seconds she heard the restaurant doors slam open loudly. A woman's screams and complains could be heard, and the confused Luka turned around to see what was happening. The restaurant doors wide open, a woman was being escorted out of the place. The woman was kicking and screaming, cursing all sorts of expletives at the man who was almost physically pushing her.

"Alright, alright!" The woman screamed, snatching her bag out of the man's hands, "I get it, I get it, just gimme my bag and I'll be out your hair!"
The man raised his hands in the air, as if begging the woman to stop. He slowly backed away as the mysterious screaming lady wrapped her bag around her shoulders. The woman began walking down the street, in the same direction as Luka. Luka didn't even move or continue on walking, she was somewhat intrigued as to what had happened.

The lady approached, and upon noticing Luka, she turned to her and began ranting angrily out of nowhere.
"Can you believe the service there?" She rolled her eyes, "They practically shoved me out the door before I'd finished my food!"
"Uh..." Luka didn't really know what to say, so she just spoke up with the first thing on her mind, "...Why exactly did they kick you out?"
"Oh, yeah, that's a long story!" The woman said, "But if I had to shorten it, I'd shorten it to 'I had no money on me'!"
"Wait, what?" Luka choked a little on her own breath, why would a person go and eat at a fancy restaurant if they were broke?
The woman sighed, "Well, y'know, I never expected them to figure out that myself and Lily weren't really together!"
"I'm...lost." Luka spoke with confusion.
The woman shook her head and sighed. She looked Luka in the eyes, and patted her shoulder gently.
"Then I shall explain." The woman spoke.

"You see, myself and my friend Lily have this usually-foolproof plan!" The woman explained, "Have you ever noticed that when people propose in restaurants, they don't pay afterwards?"
Luka shook her head, "No, I don't go to restaurants. I'm kinda broke."
"Ditto!" The woman laughed,"I don't have nearly enough money to eat out at the places I visit!"
Luka was taken back slightly by this somewhat proud-sounding declaration. Whatever this foolproof plan was, Luka wanted in on it.
"Look, whenever a person takes their SO to a restaurant and pops the question, it's very rare that you see them take their wallet out after the meal." The woman continued on, "And a while back, I discovered why! Most restaurants give engaged couples the meal for free to congratulate them on their next big step!"
'Looks like I need to find someone to propose to...' Luka thought to herself bitterly, before reminding herself that her last relationship ended in tears.
"So then I formulated a plan!" The woman spoke, "If it works for those couples, it can work for me as well!"
"Oh!" Luka made a realisation, "Is this Lily person your fiance?"
The woman snorted a little, then burst into small amounts of laughter. She wiped away an imaginary tear, and shook her head as she chuckled.
"No, no, no!" The woman said, "We're just friends! But the restaurants don't know that!"

Luka thought it through for a moment. She put together all the things she'd been told by this mystery woman, and finally figured it out.

"Wait, do you pretend to have a fiance in order to get free food?" Luka gasped, half hoping that she was wrong but also slightly mad that she herself hadn't thought up such a scheme.
"Bingo!" The woman cheered, pumping her fist into the air energetically, "That's exactly what we do! Eat everything, pay nothing!"
Luka stared at the woman in shock. How many times had this person and their friend Lily pulled off such a stunt, how many restaurants had they fake-proposed in? Luka wanted to know how much success they usually got out of this.

"How often do you do this?" Luka asked.
"At least once a week." The woman said, "Sometimes twice if my cupboards are looking a 'lil emptier than usual!"
Luka opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted as the woman sighed.
"Of course, I can't pull it off anymore." She said, "Lily totally betrayed me! When we got caught, Lily went and paid for the dinner so that I'd get kicked out instead of her! I bet she's been well-off for months!"
"How were you caught though?" Luka asked, "You said the restaurant doesn't know about your relationship!"
"Well, via one harsh coincidence, the guy at the table next to ours recognised us!" The woman gestured angrily, "We'd proposed in front of him before, apparently! He snitched on us!"
"So, you and Lily won't be faking a relationship for a while?" Luka asked.
"You got that bloody right." The woman said.

A bulb went off in Luka's brain. This was too perfect an opportunity, it felt like it was fate in some way. Luka lived on a diet of junk food and crap due to her awful job. This mystery woman needed a new partner for her elaborate restaurant stunts. It was clear to Luka as to what needed to happen. Luka took a breath in, but was cut off as the woman grabbed Luka's hands, and held them in her own.

"Ay, this works out, y'know!" The woman said, "You told me you're broke, and I've got a space available for fake fiance!"
Luka was surprised, this woman had figured out the situation as well! Luka didn't believe in fate, but she was starting to get a little dubious.
"You took the words right out of my mouth!" Luka gasped with a smile, "O-Of course, though! Sure!"
"A'right!" The woman cheered, "Lemme give you my number; one sec!"
"And perhaps your name?" Luka requested with a chuckle, "I kinda need to know your name if we're gonna be faking a relationship!"
"Oh, yeah, that'd be swell to know." The woman said, reaching into her bag, "The name's Meiko. And you are...?"
"Luka." She answered, watching as Meiko took out her phone.
"Well, Luka..." Meiko grinned, "Welcome aboard! Many free dinners are coming your way! Say, how about we celebrate with a trial run?"
"A trial run?" Luka asked.
"There's a less fancy place down this way!" Meiko said, "I've still got my fake ring in my pocket, how about I show you the ropes?"

Luka nodded, and laughed a little as Meiko took her hand and pulled her down the street. This situation was almost ridiculous, and nothing that Luka could ever expect to encounter on her walk home. It almost seemed too good to be true; Luka pinched herself to see if she was dreaming. It was no dream; this was all real.

'Getting to eat free food with a pretty lady? Today might just be the best day of my life...' Luka thought, running down the street as she held onto the arm of her fake lover.

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To be continued!