XIX

[rashness]

[So Sanji went home over a week ago. Honestly, Seventh Heaven’s been struggling to stay open since and he been conspicuously closed in the mornings where it hadn’t been before since then that time. You see, while there is a part time chef (Spock) and four members of the serving staff left, there is only one full time chef and at least one of the serving staff members isn’t coming in.

Oh, and there’s also a robot. Specifically mecha Sanji. It’s been picking up the cooking slack some, but for all of its frankly impressive robotics, it still can’t really think for itself or do much more than copy stuff it’s already seen prepared. ...Well and shoot lasers, but you know, robot. That is, until Pascal came in sometime yesterday and gave him some programming to "help" out at the place.

Or rather, to get more help. Which is way, sometime in the the afternoon today the robot steals Rin’s journal when the boy isn’t paying attention to make the following voice entry-]

[Voice / Action]
[This post begins with a hideous mechanical thing coming onto the picture, and beginning in a mechanical voice-]

My name is Sanji. We need more shitty workers at Seventh Heaven. Would you like to-

[And then there’s a sound of surprise as Rin comes into the room and exclaims-]

What the hell’re you-! [WAIT ISN’T THAT HIS JOURNAL HAS THE ROBOT GONE ROGUE? Pascal warned him about this!!]

Hello Rin. I am recruiting more shitty workers.

Who programmed you to-- no, dumb question. Just stop it already!

But we need more-

Hydrozz-- aalo nii-san! No, Hydra- Oh come on! [And at this point Rin gives up and goes to tackle the robot, because he turned his face back to the journal to continue his speil. And he seems to struggle with the robot for a bit, including an explosion before a shout of of-] Tell me you damn shut down phrase already!

Hydroxylammonium nitrate-- [And then a buzzing sound before, upon hearing the word, the robot shuts down. Rin sighs in relief and goes to pick up the book himself-]

S...sorry ‘bout that, everyone. [A beat] ...But the thing kinda has a point. We’re short handed, and while we don’t have a new boss or nothing, or even a head chef, if anyone’s willing to help us out however you think you can, could you stop by Seventh Heaven? I’m Rin, by the way, so I guess me and whoever else is here’ll be talkin’ to you.

[Because he wouldn’t want to pull a fast one on Miyabi or the others or anything. He’s really got no authority to do this in the first place...

And for the action portion, true to his word, Rin will be at Seventh Heaven all day. For once, he isn’t in the back cooking, so you might not be able to get a meal, but that’s because he’s manning the fort for anyone who might willing to help out here. This post was made in response to this OOC post]

Comments

[16autumnroad]

[Chouji raises his eyebrows. He isn't so much surprised by the fact that Rin can lift the heavy robot as he is by the whole image. Mecha Sanji at least is less disconcerting now that he's stopped talking. Chouji's only real experience with robots was with droids on the draft. The odd mix of foreign and familiarity will be jarring until he gets used to it. And does Rin have a tail?]

Of course! You're all set with that, right? [Rin doesn't look like he needs any help on robot transportation duty, considering he managed a wave without even putting it down.]

[rashness]

[Yes he does. It's a fluffy demon tail... thing. A little cat like. But he nods and then turns to get it back in the kitchen. and with it he goes to take it back to the kitchen, sets it down, and after a thud comes back out]

Sorry about that.

[16autumnroad]

No need to apologize!

...What was that, anyway?

[Rin may notice that Chouji is holding a very familiar-looking book.

And because Mecha Sanji has proved sufficiently distracting, Chouji just now gets around to introducing himself.]

I'm Akimichi Chouji. It's nice to meet you.

[rashness]

Oh, uh. That was a robot form of the boss, and I'm Rin Okumura. Nice to meet you too.

[A whole lot of stuff there, and he brushes his hair back a little]

[16autumnroad]

[There isn't really anything more to be said about Mecha Sanji, but Chouji shoots another look in the direction of the kitchen.]

I was a friend of Sanji's, and he lent me his cookbook. [He holds it up.]

I wanted to return it, and offer to make some of his recipes if you need another cook around here. [It isn't the same as Sanji still being at Seventh Heaven, but his recipes are something at least.]

[rashness]

Hold it... is that his personal recipe book? [Rin's worked with it before. A little bit. But his eyes widen - he thought that thing was gone. Yes, they need the chef and yes, he needs to accept it. But... yeah]

[16autumnroad]

It is. We were talking about recipes from other worlds, and he offered to let me look at all the ones he'd put together while he was here. I still had it when he... [Chouji trails off. 'Left' doesn't seem like the right word, since it certainly wasn't Sanji's decision to do so. For lack of a better alternative, he uses it anyway.] left.

[rashness]

Yeah? Wow... I guess it's kinda lucky you had it, when you look at it like that.

[certainly, he didn't really expect the thing to still be around. Things vanish when people go back, that's the way it's supposed to work, right? So following that logic, it would be gone. But apparently, this object had found a new master... or was just Seventh Heaven's more than it was Sanji's]

[16autumnroad]

Yeah. I'm glad it's still here, so I wanted to bring it back to Seventh Heaven.

[Chouji definitely doesn't consider the book his. That's why he's here. Sanji's food, or as close as they can manage, should stay at Seventh Heaven.]

[rashness]

Well good. Thanks man, I really appreciate you bringing it back here.

[16autumnroad]

You're welcome!

Are you still in need of cooks?

[rashness]

Oh-- yeah! Probably! We're still workin' on who's working where, but that'd be great!

[16autumnroad]

I wouldn't call myself a chef, but I can definitely follow a recipe! I appreciate food enough not to ruin any of it.

[rashness]

It's okay, I'm not sure I'm that much of a chef either, even if I've been here a while. I'm sure we can work stuff out together.

[16autumnroad]

Yeah, I'd like that! [Obviously any experiments or collaboration are excellent if they result in food.]

Just let me know when you need me to work, and I'll be here.

[rashness]

Eeeeh, whenever you're able? If I'm still here once it starts up I kinda wanna try going to school, so someone getting more hours in would be nice.

[Or was that more of a phone in when needed thing. Oh well]

[16autumnroad]

Oh, sure, I can work during school hours so you've got time to go.

[rashness]

Sweet! And-- actually, there's one more thing, but if the Boss gave you the cookbook, I guess it's sort of a formality... but the other people who wanted to be chefs here I've been givin' the same test the Boss gave me. So do you have time?

[16autumnroad]

Yeah, that seems like the fairest way to do things anyway. I have time.

[rashness]

Good! So, let's just go back to the kitchen, and then I'm gonna ask you to just make anything you're confident about how you make it.

[And he motions for the guy to follow him back - he can set the book off back there anyway.]

[16autumnroad]

Got it. Full meal, or just a main dish?

[Chouji follows, considering what to make. No harm in waiting to see the available ingredients before deciding, he supposes. Inspiration might strike.]

[rashness]

Probably just a main dish unless you're gunna help me eat it. We don't wanna waste it, after all, and I already ate.

[16autumnroad]

I definitely don't mind helping to eat, but that sounds fine. [He gestures around the kitchen.] Do you mind if I start opening doors to see where you keep everything?

[rashness]

No way - if you're gonna be working here, you might as well learn where everything else. Go get a feel for it. [Thumbs up]

[16autumnroad]

[Chouji goes ahead, in that case, briskly opening cabinet doors and leaving them open, finishing at the refrigerator. Once he's there, he works his way back through the kitchen, taking out ingredients and necessary implements as he goes and shutting every door. Based on what he takes, Rin may guess tempura before Chouji actually begins cooking.]

I'll get started, then. [He lays out fish and vegetables on a cutting block and takes up a knife, testing the blade and nodding. Chouji's focus is on what he's doing rather than on Rin's opinion of any of it. Food is important enough that it warrants the attention.]