Chapter Text
Something was up with Walter. Barbara wasn't sure what, exactly, was going on with the man, but something was definitely off. He seemed so nervous. She'd given him a chance to calm down when she went to the restroom, but when she returned, he still seemed nervous, though he hid it well.
The man couldn't seem to keep his eyes off her cup, and she was immediately suspicious. It didn't matter that she'd been getting to know this man, that she was essentially on a date with him, she knew how to watch for signs of drink tampering. She'd avoided that thus far, and she wasn't about to let something like this happen to her now.
So she brought the cup to her lips and convincingly pretended to drink, and Walter seemed to relax slightly as he also took a drink. That basically confirmed her suspicion.
"Oh. I think I'm going to need a bit more sugar in this," Barbara said, setting her cup down "I'll just go get some, shall I?" As she stood, she bumped into the table and caused her cup to fall, the porcelain smashing on the concrete below.
"Oh, my!" Walter said, startled.
"Oh, no! I'm so sorry, I can be so clumsy!" Barbara apologized.
"Oh, no, it's perfectly alright," Walter reassured. "It's just coffee." A flash of worry crossed his face for a split second before his expression smoothed out, and Barbara was certain he'd done something to her drink.
Barbara smiled sheepishly. "I probably don't really need the caffeine. I'll go get myself a bottle of water." With that, she left her companion to go do just that.
Strickler was a bit concerned. Barbara had only taken a sip of the charmed coffee. He couldn't feel any noticeable change, but he wasn't sure that he was supposed to. Angor Rot had said it was guaranteed to work, so his only option was to trust that it had been enough.