Lunch With a Friend | Toshioni

The streets were lined with people, all milling about in search of excitement, as they often did. For the little boy and his slender companion, the only excitement was finding out exactly just what the specialty of the day was.

Deathsteraunt's, the premiere eating establishment in Death City. It was rumoured that the Academy's staff and most celebrated alumni dined here - although, as with most rumours of a similar ilk, that was probably just something that was founded to attract significant increases in customers. Certainly, few people actually ate here, and even then, only a minute percentage of those were students of the Academy; the meager allowance they received being scarcely enough to cover the cost of the "complimentary" water that was served before each meal.

Yet the young man had scrimped and saved copiously just to afford to eat here. He would treat his friend to a good meal, because - at least in his radiant perspective upon the world - that's just what friends did for other friends.

"C'est ça, mon ami," he said, pushing the door open with some force of effort and allowing his new best friend to enter before him. That was also something friends did for other friends.

And he was going to be the best friend in the whole wide world!

Emile had led him quite a ways across the city.  That was absolutely no problem!  Walking at this pace was relaxing and let him rest up his awesomeness.  Soon, he could let it spill out and show the world how truly marvelous he was.  He did this often enough; the world was used to it.  However, after a while, he almost began to question Emile where they were going.  He snapped out of this though.  It had to remain a surprise for him to be...well, surprised.  Surprises were their own little fun and excitement in the world.  The supernova maintained to bide his time and see for himself.  However, it wouldn't be the quiet, small diner that Toshioni was hoping for.  As he rounding a corner, he saw what seemed to be the only restaurant in the little square they stood in currently: Deathstaurant's...damn.

Toshioni gulped slightly as he saw this place.  The food was good, yeah.  But, he'd had the misfortune of taking its prices in the face when he'd brought Hani-chan here.  He didn't eat for days...shhhhhhhhit.  With a small look to Emile, he offered a nervous smile as he brought him ever closer to the establishment of impending doom.  "Oi, Emile-kun.  This, uh, this place is a bit pricey, ya know.  I mean, I'm not saying I mind, but it might be kinda strenuous on a Student's allowance, ya know?"  When nervous, Toshioni's verbal mannerisms were greatly intensified.  But he wasn't scared or anything.  No.  Super awesome supernova Meisters like him were never scared...right?

Emile opened the door for him and he very nervously went in.  He looked around at the fancy restaurant and then down at his clothes...he was so under-dressed, and he reeked of sweat and cheap deodorant.  This wouldn't be good, yeah?  Yeah.  It most certainly would not be.  With a faltering grin, Toshioni turned back towards his friend.  
"Uhhh, Emile-kun, I'm not really dressed for this place, ya know?" 

Emile nodded and gently nudged his newfound compatriot into his favourite eating, meeting and greeting establishment. It was like a miniature, yet still veritable, palace in and of itself; the maitre d' gave the two youngsters a coy glance as they entered, though the sight of the DWMA student identification card that Emile drew from his shorts pocket lessened his ire. They were ushered to a table at the far end of the foyer, just barely adjacent to the actual dining space itself. It was a carefully constructed ruse on his part: maintain an air of popularity with the DWMA students sat next to the front window without actually giving them the benefit of a proper seat.

Emile was fine with that, though. He just wanted the opportunity to treat his friend!

He perused the menu that they were left with, burying his face behind the laminated sheets that bore the foreign cuisine of his all too distant homeland, lands he had never visited and lands he long hoped to some day frequent. He took a sip of the complimentary water - flavoured, as it was, with a sprig of lemon - and gave a meager peep at his accomplice.

"I hope you like it here," he said, nodding profusely as he did so, "It's very good...I'm sure you'll enjoy it...right, mon ami?"

Toshioni could feel the man at the front giving him a type of gaze he didn't particularly like. With a nervous smile, he really wished Emile had just listened to him and they had postponed this little outing such that he could've showered and changed. He was pretty sure that bad smell filling his nostrils was his own sweat, not the French food. As they were ushered to their seats, the young Meister said a small thanks that they were placed almost out of the way. That was great! Emile might not have cared how his friend was dressed, but Toshioni was a little self-conscious. Like, a supernova should never be caught off his guard like that. He had to look his best to steal the show.

"It's very good...I'm sure you'll enjoy it...right, mon ami?"

Laughing nervously, he looked at the menu slightly and realized that he had no idea what any of this food was or tasted like. He hoped he picked something good. Or, maybe he could just ask Emile to recommend something, yeah, that'd work...probably.

"Yeah, so Emile. I've never been here before and I don't know what's good, ya know? So, what would you recommend to me to try?" he asked, as he turned the menu sideways a bit to try to read it better or make sense of some of the French names. Unaware that he was being ten kinds of comical as he did this.

The pungent odour that emanated from his accomplice's underarms may as well not have existed, so oblivious to it was the little lad; that being said, it was also perspicacious that he had elected to wear half a bottle's worth of spiced apple, cinnamon and orchid aftershave for just such an occasion. In truth, the mere scent of the concoction singed his sinuses and made him sneeze profusely, but that was what boys did. He, in truth, vastly preferred perfume. He had to make these small sacrifices first, though - otherwise, he would be left out in the cold when it came to making the big sacrifices.

He shook his head and, with an eager smirk, peered out from behind the leather-bound curtain separated the two patrons.

"Well, mon ami, if this is your first time eating such exotic cuisine, may I recommend something simple? The canard à l'orange is always a favourite! Caramelised and sticky, with just a little sprig of mint leaf...just like Mama used to make it!"

"Well, mon ami, if this is your first time eating such exotic cuisine, may I recommend something simple? The canard à l'orange is always a favourite! Caramelised and sticky, with just a little sprig of mint leaf...just like Mama used to make it!"

Toshioni founds this item on the menu and saw the price. It wasn't the most expensive dish on the menu by any means; but it still wasn't cheap. To be honest, he felt bad about having Emile paying for such an expensive treat. However, it would be rude if he tried to back out of it at this point. A cool guy like him didn't reject someone's hospitality like that; that was just not awesome. And if there was one thing Toshioni was, it was awesome. With a small smile to his friend, he folded up his menu and sat down before sipping some water and trying to ignore the stinging odor of sweat that was rolling off him in excess. It was kind of hard to do. Even his odor was a try hard. Well, nothing he could really do about it now that he was here...just needed to eat quickly and get out.

"Thanks for the recommendation Emile-kun. So, your mother's French? Did you live in France before you came to the Academy?"