The Grand Texan and the New Believer (Takumi)

[Frederick Cooper]

”Gimme a sec. It can be a pain to walk in the dark in here.” Actually, it really wasn't difficult at all. Even for a newcomer. But there was something wrong about to guys walking into a dark cafe together. That, and it just felt wrong to receive somebody in the cafe when the lights were off. Perhaps that was his professionalism. Thanks to that “time” having ended, power worked, and the large man set the lights on with a flick of the switch, waving for his newly found teammate to come on in from behind the counter. The ax had magically disappeared. That was another benefit of having walked in with the lights off. Hell, somehow, he had a nice, clean shirt on, too. Riki had skills. They weren't the most viable in a fight, nor did they really sell well, but they were skills nonetheless.

”It'll take a few minutes to get you something together. Gotta get everything out and prepped, after all. I don't skimp on the quality, nor do you get something that's been finished and fridged. That's not my way of doing things. So, before that, a drink. Coffee? Tea?” He was already heading into a room behind the counter. Or he was, until his head- cap first- popped out of the doorway. It honestly looked like his head, by itself mind you, sprouted from the doorway. ”Mountain Dew?” Why he made a big deal out of that last one would probably escape most people. Either way, while waiting for an answer, he retracted his head back into the kitchen, the sounds of various things being fiddled with echoing.

The cafe itself was pretty “comfy”, if a single word had to be assigned to it. The counter itself looked almost as though it were designed to be aesthetically similar to a bar. Various “stains” were purposefully implanted on the counter to give it that worn, dated look. Pretty much all the tables had nice, glossy finishes. The seats all had deep red cushions or padding, depending on their locations. At the end of one “alley” of seats, a stone fireplace rested. At least, that's what it looked to be. In truth, the mantle and all was legitimate, but the actual fireplace was electric. Mounted on the wall above the fireplace was an honest to God buffalo skull. Not the replica shit, either. For stereotypes, Frederick made damn sure it was one a part of a living buffalo. Really and truly, the cafe's seating area looked like an expansive “den” in some nice, cozy manor.

”Who the hell left the milk out?! Idiots!” Through the doorway shot a container of milk. One might have panicked about a display like that, but the container dropped, seemingly flawlessly, into a can against the wall. No, into a can actually mounted against the wall. Coincidentally, it was the only can in the outside area that was mounted. The rest were free-roam. ”What a damn waste. Could've been used for somethin' good. Shit.” He continued grumbling in English. Wasting good ingredients pissed him the hell off. Like RPGs. But worse!

”Takumi, man,” He started, clearly okay with talking with someone despite being in a different room, ”I am gonna hook you up. You're getting one of our super-limited house specials. People rush in first-thing to try to get these things. And not just any special. You're getting the special. Well, what constitutes as one. I'll eventually find something better. Then that will be the new special.” His words were proud and happy, like someone eager to show off their next piece of art.

”Oh, right. Allergies. You got any?” Normally, people ordering specials knew what was in them to begin with, and weren't stupid. Takumi was a newcomer and never experienced the glory. He had no idea. It was wrong to just go and make it without checking first.

[Takumi Fujioka]

Takumi was finally led over to what he could only assume to be a cafe. The young man cracked his neck with a blank expression as they stopped at its door. By the time they reached it, time had once again resumed. Not too many people were out walking around here. It was a bit different than where he lived. There was always noise going on outside his window. Honestly, that noise became essential for him to sleep calmly. Alriiight. He answered Riki while looking off down the road. He didn't pay much mind to what Riki was doing while he waited outside. Takumi just sort of zoned out until he could come in.

As the lights switched on, his eyes gazed over into the cafe. Seeing the prompt to come in, he walked in and took a seat at the counter. He folded one hand over the other and waited patiently. By all means, take your time. And tea is fine. He actually sounded rather polite. Looking at his blank expression may have given off the impression that he was just being a smartass though. Well, he narrowed his eyes, one twitching, as Riki pushed his head out once more to bring up one last beverage. Really? No. Thank you. This guy was definitely quite a character. Certainly not bad in any regard, pretty reliable, and reasonably sensible. This was just Takumi doing his usual evaluation of people. Needless to say, this guy passed as acceptable and useful. Takumi's mind trailed off a bit of the way in, though. He was mostly looking around the place. It was rather homey, from the look of things.

His calm demeanor was only interrupted for a brief moment as the flashes of English could be heard from beyond the counter. His head jerked up and his whole body jumped ever so slightly. Other than that he was calm. It was the throwing of the milk that made his eyes go wide and his body recline back a bit in surprise. What the hell? What kind of person react to spoiled milk like that? Well, that's what he could infer based on his limited English knowledge.

When Riki finally came around, Takumi gave him the same look he had been giving him. It was a blank look, of course. It seemed he was getting a real treat for helping this guy out. That was actually pretty great, considering he was in no mood for more instant noodles. Three packages a day every day for a few years was a bit tiresome. Sounds good. I look forward to it. He nodded, honestly answering the guy. He was hungry. And it wasn't like he was some sort of emotionless robot. No allergies. Feel free to go all out. He wondered if he would regret that last sentence. For all he knew, this was the set up to one of those tropes where someone is presented with a large amount of food that ends up being horrible, yet the person eats it anyway to not hurt the person's feelings. Maybe he should have kept that imagination under wraps? This wasn't some Slice-of-Life bullcraporama. He honestly was looking forward to the meal though.

[Frederick Cooper]

”Roger dodger.” Once he got the okay on allergies, Frederick made a rather proud expression as he got to work. Rather than simply going to work, though, he'd explain as he worked. To some, it might have been a sort of torment, but, for him, he knew it'd awaken the spirit of hunger in those listening. While the audience was but one, that single one was an audience in his own right. No matter the size, the host of patrons was, in fact, there. And, therefore, not one bit of the verbal process would be wasted.

”To begin with, all of our sandwiches use bread that's been baked here. Using the most cost-efficient, but highest quality, materials, we create whole-grain wheat bread in whole loaves. Unfortunately, given the amount of time it would take, I won't be able to prepare fresh bread for you this time. Instead, we still have bread left from earlier today. I assure you, it's still exceedingly fresh, soft, and altogether delicious, even if you were the sort to eat bread by itself, or as toast. In the house special, we lightly toast two slices, enough to give it a warmth and outer crispness while maintaining the core softness. Not hard, just enough to produce a tiny bit of resistance on that bite.” The fact that he was going over every bit, though, might have been viewed as excessive. Naturally, he was working on several things as he spoke, though, including a special serving of tea.

”After being toasted, the bread is then liberally swathed on one side with a special house-blend condiment. I can't ruin the surprise, but consider it a sort of 'garlic mayonnaise'. The flavors are subtle, so as to not overpower the other components, and blend well for a synergy uncontested. On the other slice, a similar blend is produced. It, and its sister condiment, produce an herbal atmosphere that blends well with the meat, which I'll explain next.” His voice had an oddly chipper tone. It was clear he was one hundred percent invested in the production of that sandwich.

”Now, in this version of the house special, we utilize sliced turkey meat. This meat is cut in-house, examined, and prepped based on the highest quality slices. Anything else is utilized in other recipes, or sold off to those that need seasoning. Anyway! These birds are properly cleaned, carefully seasoned, and baked in a manner that maintains the moisture of the meat and ensures that the flavors adequately permeate through the mass. The flesh is then cut off in strips that are validated and approved by yours truly. You won't find a lack of meat on a sandwich from me, no sir. Afterward, the slices are then treated with a peppercorn blend and served as the situation allows. Because of the timing, these slices are cold in the refrigerated sense, but that, too, will be fine, as it adds a contrast of warm and cool in your mouth.” The sound of a tea kettle whistling could be heard from the kitchen. The man was a on ball.

”One slice is distributed on either slice of bread, and a light swath of our special sauce is then added. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you what is in said sauce, but I promise that it adds a zesty kick that won't be forgotten. When you bite the special, it bites back. Finally, between these slices is a specially blended mixture of cheddar and swiss cheese. Typically best served on an altogether warm sandwich for the melting effect, but it's also excellent cold.” When the man returned from the kitchen, he did not come with food, but with a rather nicely sized mug that was steaming. At least, that was in one hand. In another was a small bottle of syrup.

”I took a little liberty when you said you wanted tea. This is a 'London Fog'. With Earl Grey as the base, milk that actually hasn't spoiled because some asshole left it out is them added. Finally, a small bit of vanilla syrup is added. Of course, this varies on personal preference. Add as you see fit.” He calmly placed both the mug and the bottle of syrup on the counter. With a smile the man stepped back and saluted. ”Your meal will be with you shortly. We apologize for the wait.” Clearly, there was no helping it, but he was still adding a slight bit of service. It might have been free, but Takumi was still a customer.

The man disappeared once more, returning after a couple more minutes with not one saucer, but two. Atop one was the “special” he had been going on about that whole time. It looked deceptively simple, but anyone that listened to him would realize that there was more to it than that. On the other was a bulkier sandwich. Turkey poked out, much like with the special, but there was also a slightly reddish-purple tinge to the meat, as though faint jam had been added. Either way, he placed one saucer down in front of Takumi.

”Everything mentioned before comes down to this single morsel, the 'house special'. It's a simple contraption, but one that's reasonably low in calorie content, easy to eat on the go, and a powerful punch to the taste buds. There's a reason they're the hardest sandwich to get here. As for me, a 'Sinner's Sandwich'. But that's a whole 'nother story.” Unlike Takumi's sandwich, which had a great degree of effort put into it, the Sinner's Sandwich was simpler and to the point. Frederick was fine with keeping it simple for himself. It was his new partner that got the treat.

”I'll stay quiet for now. Let you get that first bite. Some who take that first bite have problems holding a conversation until it's gone.” With a light chuckle, it almost seemed like Frederick's words were a boast.

. . . or were they?

[Takumi Fujioka]

With that, it seems he would be getting the full cooking channel experience. He wasn't sure if that was good or bad for him. On one hand, it was a nice way to pass the time, but on the other it was relaxing enough to make him tire faster. That, and it made him even more hungry. Takumi simply accepted his fate and listened to everything that was to follow. There was no point in arguing it, and the silence would have been annoying. Honestly, it might have been easier to fall asleep that way. Riki had started off with the bread. That was how Takumi knew this was going to be a lengthy cooking explanation. Even then, he sat there with that same expression, his hands placed together as he waited.

Well, the one thing that Takumi could be glad about was that he could confirm that Riki could indeed make good food. From the sounds of it, he wasn't adding anything obscenely odd. He certainly was making a unique sandwich, but everything could reasonably part of it. Oh, he was even making tea at the same time. Wonderful. When was the last time Takumi felt like this? Sitting in a place, eating somewhere other than home, and eating good food. He could recall his high school days when he was much more sociable. This sort of scenario was somewhat common back in those days. He'd sit in a booth, and often times there'd be a person next to him, a couple across, and maybe some at another table. Other times, it was just him and one other. He couldn't remember the people he spent those days with by name, but it was inconsequential. Any feelings he might have felt for those people must have been shallow enough for him to easily forget. Geez. Why was he thinking of something so nostalgic at such a time? Looking out the window to the night outside, he began to realize something. Wasn't this scene reminiscent of that famous American painting? Geez. Thinking about that made him feel really old. He sighed and looked back at the preparations Riki was making. Maybe he'd stop thinking such depressing thoughts after he got some food in his stomach. Also, why the hell did that tea smell so good?

You certainly sound like you know your stuff. How long have you been in the culinary business? He decided to ask a few questions in between so he didn't leave this guy in a long monologue like he was just some crazed cooking scientist. When he got to the explanation on the tea, Takumi could only blink. Not even he thought to add vanilla to Earl Grey. He normally didn't add milk to his tea, but that was mostly because he was a bit cheap with money. Takumi actually had to cough as to keep a straight face when he mentioned the spoiled milk. Seriously, what the hell was that about? As he received the syrup and the salute, he simply saluted back. Not at all. The explanation behind it all is entertaining. Takumi wasn't one to be taken back by such uncommon gestures like saluting. He could recall some crazy gestures he had the liberty of returning back in his day. Odd times.

The food came not long after that. Takumi only needed a moment to examine it briefly. The only thing to really note was the unusual coloration. Was that purple in there? Well, he had eaten stranger looking things. Honestly, some of the best food he had looked unappetizing. Snapper Soup looked awful to him, and yet he tried it without any fuss. He was glad he did too. So, since he was told to just start eating, he did so. Alright then. I'll get right to it then. He took his first bite, of which was decent sized. Though his expression didn't change much, it did lighten slightly. It was. . . really good. The only way one could tell was that Takumi just kept eating. He was still eating at a normal pace, with normal sized bites, but he was definitely focused on the food. Alright. Was definitely not expecting it to taste like that. It's definitely great though. He tasted his tea afterwards. He totally needed that too. The warmth of the tea helped him relax even more. Someone like him needed his tea. So, for him to get such a lovely treat was certainly great. So, Riki. He nearly remained silent, since it was hard for him to say names. He was odd like that. He preferred to just say 'hey, you' or 'do this.' What a nice guy, right? I'll come heal you whenever you need it. You have my word. For a second there, Takumi sounded really cool. He even gave Riki a thumbs up. Obviously he really liked that sandwich. The tea might have sent him over the edge. After saying that, he went right back to finishing this meal. This was bad. . . Takumi had the dangerous thought of getting used to eating more than instant noodles daily.

[Frederick Cooper]

”That's a technical question.” Frederick commented when asked about his experience in the business. ”If I'm taking it literally, then I've been dealing with business-related cooking for the past four years. But I'm gonna take it a bit liberally. I've been cooking since I was little. My dad, great as he is, ain't a good cook. And we never saw the point of getting a maid or someone to take care of menial things. So little ol' me took care of the food department. Had plenty of time to work out some kinks.” He didn't mention his mother. It likely wouldn't have taken a genius to figure it out, though. Not that he would have been bothered to explain. He just didn't want to put a damper on the otherwise pleasant atmosphere.

”I'm glad you understand.” The man nodded sagely as Takumi gave his thoughts on the sandwich. ”Now, personal taste is a large factor in the enjoyment. It's possible that that might not be the best match for you. But, don't worry. We'll figure out what works best for you.” With such a declaration, he bit into his Sinner's Sandwich. And it crunched. Clearly, the turkey and the red-purple jam was not all that was in there. Whatever that secret component was, it explained the bulky nature of his sandwich. The crunchy munching ceased only when Takumi got his attention. After the vow- which felt like some RPG shit, but the good kind- the man swallowed. Nah, that was less like RPG-shit, and more like fantasy, honor-bound agreements. Or feudal-era shit. The good stuff. With that thumbs up, the man just offered a warm smile.

”Got it. And anytime you need a snack, you let me know. If I'm here, I've got the means, and if I've got the means, I'll hook you up.” The man had sat on a hidden stool behind the counter. Normally, sitting at the counter, for those behind it, was a bit of a sin. However, this wasn't business hours. This was a meeting between two men that were enjoying good food. Such a situation allowed for comfort. ”Ah, right. Let me know if you run out of Fog. The stuff is still warm in the back.” Notably, the man himself hadn't gotten a drink. While Earl Grey was fine, he had access to the stuff at all times. Honestly, something zesty would've been pleasant to drink the time. Sadly, he didn't have the components to prepare the spiced tea he was wanting. Mountain Dew would have been fine, but he'd've felt bad for getting a massive-ass jug full of the shit and chugging it in front of Takumi.

Oh well.

[Takumi Fujioka]

Takumi just kept eating while he gave a bit of backstory to his question. A two person family, huh? Well, that's what it sounded to be, anyway. That seemed to be how a lot of people who found their specific craft were. By chance it hit them at a young age and they stuck with it for the rest of their life. Nothing unusual about it. But honestly, was he really expecting something spectacular? He certainly hoped not. I see. Nothing out of the ordinary I suppose. It was honestly just a question he asked on a whim. It didn't mean much too him.

Well, don't worry. I don't think I'll be hard to please. I've lived off instant noodles for the majority of my adult life; as short as its been. Truly, a statement like that is scary until you account that Takumi wasn't exactly very old, even if he could give off that impression generally. Whether it was his attitude or his lack of care for things, it was much too boring for a twenty-year-old. As this went on, he managed to finish his sandwich, and shortly after the tea. He pushed it off to the side and folded his hands after that. It was great. I'd like more tea, too. And, 'great' means a lot coming from me. Apparently I don't say it very much. So he had been told, his best response was 'okay.' He recalled someone telling him they were surprised when he had called something great. What it was had escaped him though. maybe he was mistaken when calling it great?

Takumi decided to continue the talk in a way he thought would work best. Honestly, I don't have much of a drive to even do this kind of stuff. This whole. . . shadow-fighting thing. I honestly spent the first few weeks just holed up in my room, knowing what was out there. Some of it was probably because I couldn't damage them with any weapons, but even I could think of ways to beat them. To say that I hid because I couldn't fight would be an excuse to me. Truly, he felt that his disability wasn't so bad. He was resourceful and knew it. He just didn't want to be bothered with dealing with such bothersome things. And yet, now I'm finding myself protecting and helping people as I go. I don't know why I'm doing it, but I am. He actually didn't consider that the person he was talking to was someone he was helping all this time. I'm probably doing it for answers but. . . not sure what kind of answers I'm hoping to find. He looked out the dark window that led to a night sky. It was past midnight, after all. In a way, it was calming.

[Frederick Cooper]

”Man, that's not even healthy. If you're trying to cut costs, we've got a budget menu. Try stopping by during the day if you want something cheap, and good, to take care of that stomach of yours. Even if we're a little understaffed, the wait is only a couple of minutes at best, and it's prepared on-order. Well, I won't force the issue, either way. But keep it in mind.” With that, the man set his own sandwich down, bits of cereal being seen firmly wedged into blobs of jam and between slices of turkey. He slid off the stool and grabbed the guy's mug before heading back to the kitchen to prepare a second cup. The wait was much shorter than before.

”As for the situation, well, I suppose I can understand. If I knew for sure others could, or would, take care of it, I might not have even bothered. But I don't know what they can or will do. All I know is what me and others I've seen can do. Answers. . . I could go for some answers. But, honestly, I just want it to end. It's annoying, dangerous, and all that.” He had already planted the mug down firmly, but gently, within Takumi's reach. Sitting down again, he took another sizable, crunchy, bite from his sandwich. ”But I am glad you're helping people out. Your presence was a big help, man. We may only be two people, but I'm sure we can bust some heads if we put ours to it. With enough time and effort, we might even solve some shit.” With a hushed slurp, he sucked the jam, and cereal, from a gaping point of the sandwich. He then followed the other's gaze.

”But, that's for another day. Right now, it's best to just chill and relax. All work and no play makes me a thin boy.” He chuckled, knowing that'd never be the case.

[Takumi Fujioka]

It seemed that Riki was showing some degree of concern over his health choices the past few years. No, it's a bit more complicated than that. Besides. Just recently I've acquired a means of getting all the food I want with no issues whatsoever. He didn't really want that offer on the table for him. While he appreciated it, he was saving all that money for a reason. As for his second statement, he knew it might have sounded sketchy to some. He didn't really care about that, really. It had been true though. This ability allowed him to gather whatever he wanted from the supermarket. It was quite funny, considering he only stole from that one supermarket. That one, being the one he worked at. Honestly he hated working there, so it was his way of getting back at them.

Indeed. Well, this guy could at least understand where he was coming from. This was a crappy situation, even if he imagined some of the younger kids were having a ball with it as some sort of super power. Hell, Takumi couldn't even do that. He had to be the one guy without that ability. His ability was simply to protect. He couldn't directly influence who was killed. He could only support. That was what bothered him more than anything. As someone who always found themselves as a leader before an eventual fallout with life in general, coming back to support people who seemed to behave like morons on average was hell. And yet, here he was helping out anyway. What sort of saint was he aiming to be?

Believe me. I'm aiming to find those answers. They just don't seem to be out there. But, yes. All I can really see happening is to wait until something happens. Its either that or this is something we live with for the rest of our lives. He didn't mind having an extra hour to kill time. There was all sorts of things he could do with that ability. Though, he could do without the things trying to kill him. Chilling is my aim for every day. I don't want to concern myself with silly things. Truly, everything that happened so far was a pain.

[Frederick Cooper]

”Like I said, I won't press it. But keep it in mind. I'll still hook you up anytime we fight together, though. Free of charge.” Frederick chomped and literally destroyed the last bit of his Sinner's Sandwich. It had. . . expired. In the proper way for food, at least. Takumi went on, spewing things the man could only agree with. Either they waited to find the chance at the truth, or they lived with it. Living with it was not an option, either. He enjoyed normal days. And, you know, being able to play games through midnight, if he actually wanted to. That was always fun.

”Amen to that bit, though.” Fred noted before collecting the two saucers and looking over at his guest. ”That said, you can chill as long as you'd like. I'm gonna go ahead and wash these up real quick. I like having everything situated for when the day starts up.” He calmly explained before heading towards the kitchen. ”But, yeah. Here's to hoping we find the answers we need. Or at least clear out those things. Can't get a damn thing done around midnight if it required technology anymore.” Towards the end, his words had descended into grumbling. His displeasure was obvious.

[Takumi Fujioka]

I'll take up that offer gladly. Getting someone to fight where I can't is beneficial to me. The food is certainly a nice bonus. There were a few formidable fighters that Takumi knew of. He didn't know specifics, but he could picture them in his head. Likewise, he could imagine a few supporters just the same. At the very least, he now had one he could rely on to some degree. Perhaps he should continue to build numbers in this manner? He could already contact a few of these people, but a partnership? Being able to contract people might be beneficial in case something controversial could happen. Maybe it was wrong to assume, but he wasn't very optimistic. If all the users were left with a moral choice, he didn't trust anyone but himself making it. If he could build up allies in this manner, it would be hard for people to oppose him. That was how he had always functioned. It was no different from before.

Right. He watched as Riki took the plates away. Certainly, he hopes such a time would not come. He hoped this would all end without controversy. His nature couldn't allow him to take that risk, though. He would need to form his own network of connections and alliances. This was a start. I think I'm going to head out now, actually. Work in the morning and all that. You know the drill. Thanks for the sandwich though. Feel free to call me any time. He got up and stretched after that. It was a solid meal after a battle. Could he even call it a workout? He hardly did much physically. Oh well. It was certainly something. And with that, Takumi took his leave. He would likely see Riki soon. That's what he figured, anyway.