Chapter Text
One of the greatest signs of respect is courtesy. Whether courtesy or basic manners, in order to belong to a higher society, one must own these qualities. Wear a suit, a tie, heck, anything formal– and you're good to go. Brush your hair with a wide comb. Don't stare. Smile. Stay polite. Show you're one of them.
Now, Ratthew would lie if he said he enjoyed playing this role. Sure, wearing an expensive suit was fun yet also such a pain in his tail– no droplet had better get on this thing! Keeping it spotless is also a sign of respect. More of self-respect, like you know how to take care of yourself...
"Hey, Rattina," a black mouse with surprisingly soft fur that gave him a plush look spoke, "What d'ya say? You think they're gonna accept me as one of them?"
"Geez, Ratthew," an identical black mouse squeaked back, fixing her velvet pink bow in the mirror. "It's just a dinner. You'll be fine. You fit in just like that."
"I mean, they wouldn't be able to tell us apart if I came in your dress." The other one shrugged as he held a comb in one paw and– was that hairspray?– in his other paw. "It's just– you know. My department doesn't do all of this fancy shit yours comes up with."
"It's not just my department!" Rattina protested as she walked towards the couch in the middle of the room, plopping down on the space between two striped pillows. Her tail flicked as her beady eyes watched her brother. "Okay, sure, we in finance– came up with that. So naturally, accounting department has to show up, too... Now, the invitations are allowed to expand as much as we can permit. C'mon, it's a privilege to be a plus one anyway!"
"I know," the other one replied, closing his eyes as the hairspray smell filled the room for a second. "It's just, y'know, so many people at once... You can't trust them all. At least one of them has sick motives."
"Like you?" A giggle followed.
"Look, I'm doing this out of strictly investigative interest. And I'm grateful you're not–" a chuckle from his side– "ratting me out."
"Gosh, your jokes are so– I'm not gonna comment on them." Rattina couldn't help but giggle at her twin's words, getting up from the couch as she moved closer to the mirror. A twirl to check her dress state before she grabbed the car keys from the bowl on the dresser below the round mirror. "Of course I'd never. I know you mean it well. Oh! Perhaps you'll enjoy the company, after all."
"I thought all you guys would talk about is, uh, something about money? Finances?" Ratthew asked as he stole the car keys out of his sister's hand, heading out of their apartment and down in the elevator to the parking lot. Working for the government surely paid them well.
"I know you find our departments terribly boring, but I can promise you we've got other interests too. Remember Colt? Yeah, well, he's into cosplays. You'd never tell by his perfectly neat suits." Rattina followed her twin brother without complaint.
"Who's Colt again?" His voice followed as both stood in the elevator and he pressed the metallic button with the number "-1" engraved on it.
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The soft autumn air was noticeable at this hour. Not too cold, yet not warm enough either– luckily blazers helped. Ratthew couldn't help but worry about his sister's warmth for a second, yet her body language showed no signs of discomfort. The sound of crickets faded as the noise of voices went up– all while approaching this restaurant that rose three stories above the quiet street, its architecture borrowing from traditional Japanese design. Dark timber beams framed crisp white walls, while gently sloping roofs layered one above another, their edges softened by the warm glow of lantern-like street lamps. Light spilled from every floor, turning the building into a welcoming beacon against the clear evening sky.
A small garden stretched before the entrance, carefully arranged with their neatly trimmed bushes and cut grass. Smooth stones bordered a clear pond where faint ripples disturbed the reflections of the lights above. Clumps of bamboo swayed gently in the breeze beside neatly trimmed shrubs. A narrow wooden bridge arched over the water, its polished planks creaking softly beneath each step as it guided guests toward the front doors.
Ratthew noticed that the path leading to the bridge was paved with pale stone, decorated with embedded river rocks that formed subtle circular patterns beneath visitors' feet– or, well, paws. Though trees and greenery surrounded the property, creating the illusion of seclusion, the distant hum of conversation escaped every time the entrance opened. Laughter, clinking glasses, and the rhythm of a busy evening drifted outside, making it clear the restaurant was filled nearly to capacity.
"I never knew we had so many people in these departments," Rattina mumbled as she clutched her purse, her current posture radiating more discomfort rather than excitement.
Beside the entrance stood a simple wooden reservation podium, its clean lines matching the rest of the building. A discreet sign rested upon it, while a host greeted arriving guests with an easy smile before ushering them inside.
"Charming evening! May I have your names?" the lady at the entrance asked, her curls carefully tucked behind her antlers, some even braided into them and secured with wine-red ribbons, matching her suit.
"Of course! I'm Rattina, Ratthew is my plus one." The twin sister chirped in, smiling at the host as she spotted her own name on the list.
"My my, you must be twins?" The host remarked as she checked their names, giving the guests a nod. "Your seats are on the second floor. I'm sure you'll recognise the table immediately. Enjoy your evening!" Her polite smile indicated the end of their small-talk as she moved to the couple behind the rats.
Beyond the doors, the warmth of polished wood wrapped around every corner. Honey-toned floors reflected the soft amber lighting overhead, while exposed beams and finely crafted lattice details gave the spacious interior a quiet elegance. The color palette remained understated– natural wood, crisp white walls, and muted sage green accents woven through cushions, ceramics, and carefully placed plants. Tall bamboo arranged in minimalist planters softened the looks, adding a touch of living green without overwhelming the space.
Floor-to-ceiling windows lined the outer walls, dissolving the boundary between indoors and the surrounding garden. During the day they flooded the restaurant with natural light; by evening they reflected the golden glow within while offering glimpses of the illuminated pond and swaying bamboo outside.
As the two passed by, Ratthew made dozens of mental notes. Tables filled each level without making the rooms feel crowded. Sturdy wooden chairs surrounded neatly arranged settings, each table separated just enough to allow private conversations while preserving the lively atmosphere. The gentle murmur of dozens of voices blended with the quiet clink of porcelain, the aroma of fresh tea and grilled dishes lingering comfortably in the air. Despite its size and constant bustle, the restaurant never felt chaotic. Everything, from the symmetry of the architecture to the restrained colors and natural materials, created an atmosphere of calm, where elegance was found not in extravagance but in thoughtful simplicity.
"Here we are," Rattina mumbled to her brother as they stopped at the stairs, the second floor sporting a different look compared to the entrance. The floor had porcelain tiles, not slippery but providing enough grip. Who would even install slippery flooring in a restaurant? Surely that violated some sort of codex.
Grabbing Ratthew's wrist gently, she led them towards two free spots right in the middle of the long rectangle table. On one side, a blue bunny with glasses and a serious look was busy fumbling with his suitcase, not paying that much attention to his surroundings. Next to the other empty seat, this cat with black pointy ears was actively chatting with another colleague.
"If this isn't Ron!" Rattina smacked her hand on the bunny's shoulder, giggling as she earned a gasp out of him. Ratthew noted the flabbergasted yet offended look on– what was his name again?– right, Ron's face.
"Rattina– Ugh, I told you to stop scaring me like that. Good evening to you, too," he rolled his eyes as he fixed his glasses, moving his chair to the side a bit as if to make more space.
"If you think I'm annoying, you should try Ratthew next!" Rattina smiled playfully as she bared her fangs a little, pointing at her brother. "Come on, I'm just kidding. You two have fun getting to know each other, I'll go say hi to Nina!" With that said, she quickly disappeared, heading towards her colleagues.
"Ron, huh?" Ratthew repeated after a second of long awkward staring, taking a seat next to Ron as his sister already claimed the other seat, chatting actively.
"And you're Ratthew." Ron stated blatantly, his gaze pulling away from the shorter rat as he glanced at the table in front of him. His face surely did make this table cloth seem like the most interesting object in this room.
"Are you, like, an introvert?" Ratthew moved a little bit closer to Ron, his elbow resting on the table, hand supporting his face. "You're not exactly talkative."
"Yet you are." Back with his short statements, the bunny glanced down at his wrist watch. "Rattina mentioned having a sibling, but not a whole–" gesturing with his paw, he finally turned to Ratthew, "uh, twin. You two look identical."
"Thanks!" Ratthew grinned as he enjoyed the confusion on Ron's face. "I used to write her math exams for her. And now she's there in the finance department..." For a second, he stayed silent as his gaze narrowed. "Wait, how do you know my sister?"
"She was in accounting before she moved to finance. Rattina was the one to help me with training when I first came." Ron replied casually, shrugging. His facial expression somehow always looked mildly annoyed.
"Uh-huh," Ratthew leaned in closer, squinting at Ron in distrust, "And what do you want from her?"
Ron stared blankly at Ratthew before blinking. "Rattina? Nothing. Not my type."
"Ouch!" The black rat grabbed his own shirt dramatically, "Can't believe you just insulted us both!"
"Rattina was right. You are, in fact, more annoying." Ron sighed– either from annoyance or relief as he saw Rattina return– and he glanced away, busy with his own thoughts again.
"They said the dinner is coming in five minutes!" Rattina's voice filled the conversation as she sat next to her brother. This evening surely would be one of the least boring ones in their lives– at least Ratthew was convinced by that thought.