NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43: Not Ready. Yet.
"That man out there. A News Loo dropped off a Poster for his arrest about three days ago if I remember. I could be mistaken." He said as he dried his hands off and walked to a corner.
Seeing someone carrying a dish from their station "Corner." He spoke out as he crossed in front of them. The same "Heard Chef." was called out.
"A bounty? Really? Huh, I wonder if he breaks the record of the highest-bountied pirate to dine here!" Noir spoke playfully, adding in a roll of his eyes. Clearly, he didn't believe a tiny thing like that could have a high bounty of any amount, but that pirate might have had a bounty. Noir couldn't help but wonder what that idiot did to piss off the Marines.
Just as Ducasse did, he moved smoothly throughout the busy kitchen, feeling at home in the constant chaos of the place. It was second nature to him to simply weave through everyone, almost gracefully with how he moved.
On the way through the kitchen, he made sure to grab four glasses for the crew, swiping up a bar tray along the way before continually following the chef, right beside him.
"Behind, Chef Ducasse?" Spoke out a chef coming from behind
. Ducasse turned around and nodded to them "Yes Chef?"
"Table 12 ordered Spaghetti. But it's 86'd what should we prepare?" Asked the in an almost worried manner. Leg bouncing as her hands were clasped in front of her
"One chef, Keep your head up. It's not the end of the world. Two Fix Carbonara, A la Minute. We should've have everything for that prepped already." Ducasse spoke confidently, and reassuringly.
"Yes Chef." They then turned around, alerting the line to what was going to need to be prepped before looking back to Noir.
"About what he said, Have you given it any serious thought?" He gave an almost teasing smile that caused his bushy Goatee to shape around his mouth
Noir looked completely shocked as Ducasse grinned at him. He quickly retorted in pure shock. "Oh good heavens, I don't even know them!"
"If they seem alright, maybe you could join them. Accomplish that Fantasy of yours. I know you've been wanting out of here since you were 16" He said giving a nudge as an order came through. Ducasse Took it and Spoke it out to the line
"Tomahawk Stake, Over medium. You know what to do!"
"Sommolier?" A head peaked out from around a corner in the back "Yes chef?"
"Pair it with something nice for the table. Your choice."
Ducasse then turned back to noir
"Even if I did want to get out of here, which I do not-" He said with a pointed look. "-Why would I ever go with them? They seem absolutely dreadful... One of them had his bare feet up on the table!"
Well, it was a big lie that Noir didn't want to get out of this place. He was absolutely itching to go out into the world, but he could never bring himself to do it. He didn't feel like his debt to Ducasse had been paid off yet... plus he had spent so many years already trying to forget that dream he had when he was a child. Noir was mainly disappointed he hadn't hidden that craving well enough.
"I have a job to do here anyways, chef. I can't just... run off, you know! I gotta help you and everyone else out here." Noir said it as if it was a 'and that's that' statement and started to head over to the drinks area, grabbing the pitcher of sweet tea and water to pour them into two cups.
"Yes. Yes you do Noir."
"But you're not gonna be here forever. You've got big aspirations about you son! I can see it in you." He then put his hand on his shoulder. And looked down to him a bit. Being many inches taller than him
"You're the best of all of us Noir. It'd be a damn shame for that to be wasted all in here!" He had spoken loud enough, that the line had heard them. Despite what noir wished, it was not a secret.
"Ain't that right, line?" Spoke ducasse. Many faces noir knew well would look up for a moment with smiles on their faces as they spoke
"Yes Chef!" Chuckles reverberating through the line as the continued their work.
Looking up around the kitchen as each of the staff called out to the both of them, Noir couldn't suppress the tiny smile appearing on his face for a moment. His heart almost won... but his logic shot it down at the last moment as he sighed and shook his head, turning back to what he was doing.
He didn't feel like he was ready to leave yet.
Ducasse's brow pinched as he looked to the young man in front of him. "Now go on and get those drinks out and get the orders back in here." He gave him a pat on the side for encouragment as he gestured his head to the main restaurant
Noir only paused for a moment with what he was doing to look back up at Ducasse, a small frown appearing on his face. He didn't like the idea of leaving the restaurant one bit. It had been his home for years, becoming a safe space for him to somewhat make friends with the rest of the staff and find some sort of mentor that he trusted. Why would he give this up for a life on the seas?
The reassuring hand on his shoulder only soothed him lightly, now looking a little troubled as his mind waged a war against his heart, both of them trying to take over.
"Thank you, all of you... but I can't right now, we are in the busy season right now. Maybe another time, when I find a respectable pirate crew." Though half tempted to simply just keep declining each crew that walked through those doors until his personal debt was paid off, he would think about leaving the restaurant.
It was only because of Ducasse, that he was alive in the First Place.
Noir filled up the other drinks, pouring sparkling water and some cola into the last two cups before grabbing the lemons. He grabbed one of the knives from a nearby knife holder, cut one lemon up into slices, and dropped a sliver into the tea before setting the other slices aside for someone else to use.
He took the same knife, and cut the next lemon in half, before squeezing the juice from both ends into the sparkling water. With a nod to Ducasse, he placed the drinks on the bar tray, and picked up the tray with one hand, before heading back out to the dining area.