I've had a few of these. Sometimes they are complete deal breakers. Others is where the two of you just talk things out and figure out equal ground on where to go. It could be a dinner, a beach (no water in Lala's case. Come on man), or maybe just a fun gathering. Where will these two take it?

Enjoy.

~~~~~

After drying off and no casualties, the two walked out of the apartment building on the way to midtown. A few shops, places to eat, a few fun places, and not many cars around. Somewhere quiet but not too quiet. Minus the big hustle and bustle with fast-paced motion. A little happy medium in midtown. Plenty of daylight too. Perhaps two hours until sunset. Day still a little young.

"If we stop by for ice cream you aren't eat it through your neck right?" Chef looked over to her.

"Maybe not brain-freeze, but some sort of freeze would happen. I can be civilized." Lala looked away.

"Kimihito told me he met you by just seeing your body first and then eventually it was just your head. We don't have to put you in the bubble right?"

"That's not dignified."

"Neither is drinking tea through your neck."

"Touché I suppose."

"Flavor?" He asked. This was a sure yes at this moment in time.

"Strawberry..."

"One of the best things they made was strawberry ice cream."

"Finally someone gets it." She smiled.

"I don't make ice cream because it is so easy to mess up in my opinion. Sometimes I overly freeze it or don't get the right mixture I like. So I buy it in the store and do other additions to it. Saves time and effort by a lot." 

Lala was confused. "So all these meats, fish, and all sorts of vegetables that have all of these different steps but won't do ice cream?"

"I know professional chefs that avoid making bread." He scoffed.

"Bread!?" Gasped Lala.

"You sound like this long, purple haired girl a friend of mine knows. Loves kinako bread. But yes the fact he doesn't have patience for bread and will slice up a fifty kilo pound fish first is something.  I don't get it either. I'll make the bread. Because why not?" Chef shrugged his shoulders.

"Bread?" She asked again.

"Bread." He nodded. "Chef Donny McDonough. His last name sounds like dough and yet that Irishman protested about making bread.  I'll never forget it. And they say in Italian, fugazy."

"Irishman that hates making bread. I don't know how that all works. What's next an Englishman hating pie?"

"I don't know but I imagine he hates it when everything comes in pie form too. Hmmm." He thought about it. "Even then, he's a black sheep."

"More Irish humor." Lala giggled as they walked closer to the ice cream shop. "At least you don't get bored."

"Impossible for me to get bored. Trust me." 

"It sure seems that way."

The two went inside and they did order ice cream. It was pleasant on their end because there was a harpy that was ordering a banana split with her human guardian which diverted less attention to the both of them. One monster gets all the attention. Two of them get it split in half. Regardless of looks. The two of them got two bowls of strawberry ice cream and got it to go to avoid stares from people. 

"You didn't have to do that." Lala insisted. "Hope I'm not ruining your image."

"I just wanted to save you a little hassle is all. At least try to." 

"Appreciate that. Is part of being a chef putting the other people first?" Lala pondered.

"It's putting something up to your standard for that said person even if you do not know who they are. And if it is not up to your standard to put that person first and make sure it is up to that level or start again. Period. I will take the rough and tough road if I have to. That's the choice I set out to do." Pride pays off. It lets one know how serious they are. 

"Thank you Chef. Truly. This is so good. And I am seeing some of you humans in a different light."

Chef smirked. "Light, huh? Funny. You say you are death. You don't mention light much."

"There are exceptions." She grumbled.

"Fair."

"So, any questions?" Chef offered as they began to sit down on a bench on the sidewalk.

"Favorite dish?"

"Anything with a sauce made from scratch." He responded with a very open answer. But did the job. To a point.

"Favorite wine?"

"Pinot Noir. Why? Because that is what I drizzle in the Shepard's Pie as well as other European dishes."

Lala had to get creative. "What do you like in a woman?"

"Passion, care, goals, not selfish. Not too much of a critique. Men aren't great on paper either." He sighed in relief. That could be a hard question for some. "But some are too into themselves, some don't want to work, and some have a certain image in their mind and they will not settle by any means."

This was starting to cook. Go smoothly. The chemistry and knowing one another was going more smoothly. Lala needed to build her personality outside of work. She was curious of Chef while she was knowing more about him. This truly was a first date. It didn't feel so forced anymore. Lala had more to go.

"What kind of lifestyle do you like?" She asked.

"Balance work with the cultures and small aspects of life that make it all worth it. Like food for instance, some will say it will make it all worth it. I've heard stories of a man going to Florida in America and sitting in this run down place where the table was a used wooden door and it was the best Cuban sandwich he has ever had in his life. He said his travel was worth trying it and finishing the whole thing. That,  right there, is one small aspect life can bring." Answered Chef.

"What the hell is someone traveling all that time for just for a sandwich?"

Chef gasped. "Never insult carbs my Dear."

"Dear!?" She scoffed. Then she blushed. Then an embarrassing whimper. "Mmm..." 

"Oh dear..." Chef looked a little worried.

"Stop saying that!" Lala continued to blush.

"Quite right." Two steps forward and right back where I started again. Curses. 

"What the hell Chef?" Lala opened her eyes. "Have you no shame on what you say to a woman in public?"

"Shall I put it in the mailbox? Perhaps ring on the tele?" He replied in a British accent.

"Man that accent gives a headache. What the hell kind of culture is that?"

"I'll show you when we get to the house. We are only a kilometer away. Shall we?"

"Please. Because I got to say this is not normal. What is in your thought to talk like that? You call that English?"

Lala was beginning a very long rant and ramble. This one was going to be for a few minutes. And when they got back to Kimihito's house, there was a chance it was going to be off with her head. Put in a box and let her think about her life as the body would get a little time to relax. 

~~~~~

Voice box, lala-in-the-box, walking down only a few blocks? You'll find out in due time. As there is about to be another cringey comedy that we are all here for. 

-Relly