| Once Upon a Block of Tofu | ||
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One such place for Carnivores borders on the part of the slums where the Back Alley Black Market was located. One grocery store in particular caters to Carnivore dietary needs -- in a completely legal way -- but isn't exactly the most well known unless you have some familiarity with the area and how it has redeveloped since the riots that tore down the original marketplace. Rumor says that some of the gangs that used to rule the area are still around, though not as blatant. Police patrols are not uncommon, yet one would be hard pressed to find Herbivores wandering through the area. A bear wanders the indoor grocery with a basket hooked onto one arm. A few bagged snacks and spices are settled into the container, yet his focus seems to be on heading toward the more fresh produce available. Lost in thought, he wanders the sea of animals carefully. For a Carnivore and a Large Breed, he stands taller than most. Wouldn't want to bump into anybody. There, on the rack ahead, is one last container of freshly made savory tofu. It's made locally, so it sells quickly, and the umami flavor is said to rival that of actual meat. The bear's pinprick teddy bear eyes widen just a little and his pace picks up before reaching out to put his hand upon it. Agata roams the indoor grocery store with a few bagged items in the basket he's currently carrying, having a need to fetch some food for his home; some vegetables, meat substitutes and seasoning for variety's sake. He would often shop in this particular area if there was nothing available in the modest shopping centers that surrounded Denko. Something he's had to deal with sadly for his specific tastes when dealing with food. The lion shuffled about while making sure not to bump into anyone along the way, heading towards the cash register after making sure that he's obtained everything he needs. That is, until he spots something out of the corner of his vision that causes his eyes to widen in shock. He couldn't believe his luck, tofu that Free almost constantly talks about on a daily basis! With zero hesitation he walks over to the rack displaying the last available one, focus entirely set on nabbing it before anyone else can get it. As he grew in proximity, he reaches out with a hand. A large bear hand quickly settles atop the lion's hand as this happens, fingers lightly curled, holding Agata's in place against the cool packaging of the limited supply soya curd. The bear doesn't immediately pull his hand away. There's a bit of an awkward moment and he freezes up, eyes still affixed on the double-handed tofu container. Blinking twice, Riz's head turns to look at the lion. Carnivores are not a pacifistic kind. Dating all the way back to when they were known as Life Animals, they've always been aggressive and prone to acts of physicality. Anybody looking at the chaotic mess of the crowded Carnivore train cars in the Subway shows that much. Fierce, wild, but not exactly dangerous...to one another. It's just part of who they are. And what better catalyst for this behavior than a contested food item? Riz has, by default, a kindly face that belies his immense strength. For but a brief moment -- the briefest of moments indeed -- that facade blips away to show a far more predatory expression. As quickly as it shows, it's gone, though, leaving the bear to simply smile. "Pretty sure I saw it first," says the bear, even if Agata's hand is the one touching it first. The bear makes no attempt at pulling his hand away yet. Agata stares at the large hand that's laid on top of his, wondering when and how that got there until his ears perked up at the sound of a voice close to him. Turning, he looks up with his eyes and head to see a bear that's almost unnaturally tall and, judging from what he saw after giving a quick once over, seeming to possess immense strength. At that moment, every single fiber of his being is telling him to release the tofu and just run for the hills and never come back, but somewhere deep inside told him to keep hold and stay. So, with a polite smile of his own and clutching the packaged item, he responds in kind. "I'm sure you have, but I'm the one touching it." "Well, by that logic we could lay claim to anything we put our hands on," comes the rebuttal from the bear with the slightest little flex of his fingers atop Agata's. A battle of manners, wit, and smiles? This is an Herbivore's game! "I plan on using it thinly sliced to garnish a Masala Curry after a slow cook with a side of long grained rice. What do you plan on doing with it?" Still, the bear doesn't move his hand away. This must be one of those dominance contests. Probably not the first time Carnis have gotten into a fight over this particular tofu, either. "I plan on using it for...some Donburi..." the lion answers confidently at first until quickly faltering when realizing that this sort of dominance contest is something he's never won against any of the lions or Louis for that matter. He may be a decent cook, but when it comes to anything fancy, it all just falls flat. Soon, his round ears flatten in shame and the grip he's had on the tofu ever so slowly begins to wane. As if sensing that loosening grip, the bear's grows more firm. The container beneath the lion's hand isn't just cool to the touch, but it has a gentle firmness with a little bit of give. All as one would expect from tofu. The color is more brown, though, due to the marinating and spices it endures to produce a special batch. Riz's hand, in contrast, is very warm. "Donburi? But the flavor of any fish might be lost next to the potent umami of the special tofu. If anything, perhaps a soft-boiled egg would do, split open to allow the yolk to give the rich flavor a creaminess that allows it to be coated by the rice." The hand atop the other might be reaching an awkward point and other Carnivores might actually stare. "A shame there's not enough from one package for us to share equally. My recipe needs at least two-thirds of this." Hearing this, the lion's ears perk up and a warm smile graces his muzzle this time, almost beaming. "Huh, wow, you really know your way around food and a kitchen. Never tried with a soft-boiled egg before, so thank you for the tip. And, umm..." he looks down to see that his hand is still in the bear's hold, having noticed that it now gripped his more firmly. His face started to flush. Just how long were they holding hands like this? It was starting to get awkward and he wasn't sure if he could handle other Carnivores seeing this. "You can...let go now." "Hmm, you're right," agrees the brown bear as he looks down to where hands are held atop the seasoned bean curd. Riz begins to move his hand, but only so he can curl his clawed fingers to pull Agata's hand away, as well. Seems he's not going to admit defeat so easily, but if successfully so doing would have them continue to hold hands. "Wouldn't want the tofu to get too warm. And I do enjoy working in the kitchen. I'm looking to take a culinary course once I finish High School this year to become a professional chef. A year late, but at least I'm not dropping out." That makes the bear close to Louis in age, slightly younger. He's big! Agata's face begins to flush even more from the continued contact of his hand being held by the large bear. "Oh, well that's--" he pauses, eyes going wide as he looks towards the bear with a somewhat penetrating stare. The mere mention of the words 'high school' set the gears in his mind into motion, effectively connecting the dots. Louis did mention a bear named Riz a couple of times whenever the topic was brought up, yet only the name and species, along with the story of what transpired in Cherryton. "Huh, so I've finally met you, Riz." If anything, calling the bear by his name only prolongs the hand-holding experience. He simply stares, going fully silent, displaying that gentle harmless smile while his teddy bear gaze moves to lock on eye contact with the lion. Mental gears are turning and Agata is being sized up. While the bear tries really hard to keep the details of the recent past a secret, when they do pop up it can result in different kinds of reactions. Riz's silence all but confirms Agata's deduction and all he gets for it in turn is a deep leer, a slightly tightened grip on his hand, and the opportunity to speak again. Agata doesn't flinch or waver from the subtle reactions that the bear is displaying, only to stare back and smile ever so slightly as he leans in close, just enough as his voice is but a mere whisper. "Yes, I've heard about you and what you've done, and I'm no stranger to 'accidents'. With that said, what's happened in the past stays there, so please keep your emotions in check. It's a nice day, and I wouldn't want us to cause a scene." He draws himself back, eyes showing just a hint of understanding while offering a small smile to the bear. "You'll have to show me your cooking skills sometime." Riz's silence persists. He continues to stare, studying the lion even as he offers a few very personal words with much familiarity, before, at length, eventually speaking up. "The dark-furred lion with spots on his face. I remember seeing Louis' first speech as CEO. They were still broadcasting when you and your friends attacked and kidnapped him. I recognize you, now." It's almost amazing how gentle the big bear's voice can be compared to his overall size...and history. "Police reports said a dark-furred lion from the Shishigumi jumped from a speeding car to confront chasing cops, but then surrendered alongside his buddies. Hmm." Riz, still holding Agata's hand, looks down over the lion. "You don't look like much of a gangster anymore. Can't say I've ever invited a former prison convict over for dinner, either. Pretty sure they don't want you around school grounds, though, so it'd have to be at your place." An expression of surprise passes over the lion's face, but only for a small fraction of a second until letting out a small chuckle. "Someone's been paying attention. But sure, my place it is." "I planned on making my Masala Curry for my roommates, but sometimes plans change. First thing is first, though..." Riz turns to look back at the tofu. Clearly, it was the most important ingredient now. After all this fuss, how could it not be used for it? Only... The tofu isn't there. The bear widens his eyes and looks around. It didn't fall on the floor. It's not in his basket or Agata's. Riz looks to the lion before panning his gaze further to where a short shiba inu dog carries the tofu package off toward the checkout area. "H-hey! We saw it first!" The dog hurries up and the lion, still awkwardly hand in hand with the bear, just might find himself pulled along in a sudden chase. The short bastard must have snuck in while the two larger Carnivores were confronting one another. | ||
