[FIN] Welcome to Hell

[BlackFireKitsune]

Oh no, here he was again with a tray full of things, and oh no why did she have to do this training exercise? What purpose did it serve? She didn't want to do this, she really didn't, but what choice did she have? None, save to obey, and obey she did. Steeling herself, the fire-type waited for an opportune moment, watching the target very carefully, noting how cautious he walked, where his eyes went, waiting, waiting until the most opportune moment when he wasn't watching his feet, wasn't watching what was on the floor in front of him... She darted out in that moment, aiming to trip him up when his feet were already going, hoping that being interrupted mid-step would have a better effect than not, but no matter what, once the deed was done regardless of the outcome she hastened off into the multitude of legs - from people or tables or chairs - rather than stick around and feel worse about this whole ordeal.  

[TawnyAngel]

Okay, he retracted the bit about coincidences.

Taavi had stumbled over the Vulpix this time, not fallen, and though he didn't see it leave he was pretty sure that it had been the Vulpix and not something else. So, why?... Okay he had a suspicion but was he just being paranoid? Taavi delivered the meals he was carrying, took an empty glass from the table and promised to return with a refill. When he left he realised that he hadn't smiled as much as maybe he should have done, he was letting this - whatever it was - distract him and he couldn't afford that! You had to keep the customers sweet if you wanted tips.

A few minutes later the green-haired man's new order was ready; Taavi picked up the plate and headed over to the table, forcing himself to smile as he approached. "Hello, I'm really sorry about your last order, I hope this is better! Um, please do let me know if there's a problem or if you need anything else." You snot-haired a*****e.  

[BlackFireKitsune]

Damn, just another stumble that time... And judging by how his positive attitude seemed to slowly decline, all the falls and stumbles were getting to him - or maybe that was simply wishful thinking on his part? At any rate, the waiter hadn't completely broken down yet, so he still had buttons to push. But which buttons...? What to do, what to do... Nothing that would get him outright kicked out of the restaurant, of course, as that would end his fun prematurely. Tripping didn't seem to be working as effectively as he'd hoped, so... Ah, maybe that would do the trick.

As Mark made his way back to his table, Sync's hands were in his lap and not visible - at least, not to his waiter, but they were perfectly visible to Vulpix. The little fire-type frowned, confused, as her trainer gestured for her to return. But the waiter was right there... Was she just supposed to walk right past the waiter as if nothing had happened? ...apparently she was. Extremely hesitant of this new plan and with her tails low and ears slicked back, Vulpix tried her very best to make herself appear as small as possible as she trotted out from the sea of legs, past the waiter and under Sync's table. "I hope it is, too," Sync replied as he pretended not to notice the fire-type, even as she hopped back up onto the bench near him, though tried to hide out of sight in the far corner. "I will."  

[TawnyAngel]

Oh. Oh. Well that explained a lot! That a*****e had made the Vulpix trip him up! It could have been hurt, and did he even give a crap about that? Probably not! With an increasingly tense smile Taavi asked; "And can I get anything for your Vulpix? Maybe a drink of water?" He was not a naturally violent person but right now he felt like it would be really satisfying to pick up the plate he'd just put down and break it over the Valued Guest's head. Who did that?  

[BlackFireKitsune]

Ahh, there we go! Ha, look at how tense he looked; he definitely noticed. This was really satisfying, and Sync found himself quite glad he'd decided to come here today. To Meat Palace - ha. His gaze didn't leave Mark even as he asked about Vulpix. Instead, hints of satisfaction crept into his expression as he said, "Maybe some dessert." A pause, in which a tiny hint of malice slipped in alongside the satisfaction, "Perhaps some ice cream?"

Vulpix sank as low as she possibly could onto the seat, hoping to disappear from view, if not disappear from the restaurant entirely. Ohh, why did they have to do this...  

[TawnyAngel]

...Okay just... just get through the shift. He could rant about it later but right now he needed to get through the shift; he couldn't lose his temper with a customer, he knew he was replaceable - easily - and he really needed this job.

"Icecream," Taavi echoed with a tense smile, "of course sir, what flavour would she enjoy? We have vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, mint chocolate chip, cookie dough, or bubblegum. You can also have that with a wafer or a flavoured syrup for no extra cost," he listed the syrup flavours, "or both for fifty cents extra."  

[BlackFireKitsune]

"Chocolate with a wafer is fine," he said; he didn't particularly care what flavor, to be honest. He still wasn't even sure he'd give it to her in the end anyway. Though he couldn't help but add innocently as he lifted his glass to his lips, maintaining eye contact, "And do be careful, I'd hate for you to trip and spill it everywhere."  

[TawnyAngel]

Taavi's smile faltered for a moment before returning brighter and more plastic than ever; his jaw felt like it was going to crack with the effort. That b*****d. That b*****d! "Thank you sir, I'll be careful. I'll be right back now."

And he was, bowl of icecream with wafer held in his right hand. "Would she like it on the floor or the table sir?" Taavi asked, forcing a polite tone out between his teeth despite wanting to do nothing but snarl and spit cusses at the green-haired a*****e. "If she'd like it on the table I can go grab a booster seat for her if you like, or it's fine for her to sit on the table as she's small."

In all of this though, furious though he was, the one he felt really bad for was the Vulpix. When the meal was over he never had to see this guy again, the Vulpix had to live with him forever. It was times like this that he really felt like Plasma had had the right idea after all, more or less. If pokemon weren't tethered to trainers by pokeballs they'd only stay together if they wanted to.  

[BlackFireKitsune]

Ha! Ohh, the look on his face was priceless. He hadn't snapped yet though, and that was rather disappointing. What could he do or say to bring him closer to the brink... A few things came to mind but, once again, he had no intention of getting thrown out... And what was this about all the spots she could sit? As if he'd let her sit on the table near his food. "She'll have it wherever," the grunt said with a small dismissive wave of his fork. Wherever he told her to, if he even deigned to give her the ice cream at all.

Once Taavi had set down the ice cream and left, Sync pulled the wafer out of it and ate it himself, took a couple bites of the ice cream, then ate more of his own meal while letting the frozen treat sit on the table, otherwise untouched. Vulpix remained curled up on the seat with her ears pinned back, still trying to figure out the purpose of the training exercise and if it was really even necessary; her thoughts weren't on ice cream or food at all. Surprisingly, though, after a few more minutes (and a few more bites of the ice cream), Sync set the bowl down on the seat beside him to offer what was left to the fire-type. She lifted her head and blinked in mild confusion. What was this? He was.. giving her something? A treat? She had to have done well indeed for him to give her a treat, so she dutifully crept forward to sniff at it, then gave the ice cream a few experimental licks. Unfortunately for the little pokemon, her fiery typing only served to melt the ice cream before she could even eat it. Indeed, even her breath had started to melt what was left in the bowl, so with a shrug Sync set it back on the table and replaced it with a small bit of meat from his dish instead. Judging by her wide eyed reaction and quick, careful reflexes to retrieve it, the grunt found it safe to assume she liked that much better. She wouldn't get used to it, he knew; the treats he deigned to give to his pokemon were very few and far between as well-deserved rewards. It was hard to get used to something that rarely ever happened, after all.

Once more or less finished with his meal - he didn't completely finish anything, though he did eat most of it - the grunt flagged down Mark in particular, rather than any other waiter, with the request to speak to his manager (because who better to get the manager than the one you were about to complain about?). He had every intention of telling said manager all about his clumsy, rude, impatient waiter that stepped on his Vulpix on purpose - look at her limp, the poor thing - and didn't seem to care even a little about his patrons.