Quoted By:
>Flesh: A to Bond
Employee A steps up to the chef, crossing his arms.
A: Sup. What's been going on, Arty?
The chef squints. It's clear he recognizes the nickname, at least.
ANOMALY: Yes? I do not require meat right now. I have cooked a meat close to Perfection.
A: Perfection, huh? I heard Vince talk about that. You really did a number on him.
ANOMALY: A chef must learn to reach Perfection. There is no other way to live. No other way to be.
ANOMALY: If you do not strive to keep improving, to keep groping for it, what will you become?
A: Man. I got a lot of things to improve on. Like not being mentally fucked with for days.
A: But constantly focusing on Perfection blinds you from other things, you know? Things that might also help you.
ANOMALY: Nonsense. You speak like Adam, that filthy cur of an apprentice. That <span class="mu-r">BASTARD</span>, oh, that bastard.
ANOMALY: He strived for imitate having Perfection. He couldn't put the hard work into actually reaching it!
ANOMALY: So he strived to make people think he was good enough. That his hard work wasn't wasted! That he didn't need to be the best.
The chef slams his fists onto the ground.
ANOMALY: NO! YOU MUST MAKE SACRIFICES! YOU MUST REACH THAT PERFECT STATE OF BEING! IF YOU DON'T REACH IT...
A: What's the point, you were going to say? I get that. Wanting to try to be the best.
A: But it's not just the pound of flesh and blood you pay, is it?
ANOMALY: What do you mean, flesh creature?
A: Perfection just isn't a thing here. You want to be the best that there can be but...
A: Can you really ever reach it? Who's to say Adam wasn't trying to reach Perfection too, in his own way?
ANOMALY: Nonsense! Perfection is Perfection, there is only one way to be PERFECT! Only one cut that's perfect.
ANOMALY: Only one temperature that's perfect for chicken!
ANOMALY: I must be perfect. I must be the best. I must show the world that these efforts were worth it! That these materials were not spent on a fantasy!
ANOMALY: Perfection is what I must strive for! Even if it takes my humanity, I must strive towards it!
ANOMALY: Why don't people understand that? Why don't people accept it? Why don't people <span class="mu-i">try</span>?
ANOMALY: I just want to be perfect. No one can see that. No one accepts that.
A: You're missing the forest for the trees here.
A: The journey is just as important as the destination. Preparing is just as important as the food being consumed.
A: Constantly rushing to an end isn't perfect. You miss out on the tiny details. The things that add soul.
A: Would you really be content if you were just made perfect right this moment?
ANOMALY: OF COURSE NOT! IT MUST BE EARNED!
A: Of course. You want to each it through effort.
A: And isn't that effort a result of the journey? You keep focusing on the wrong thing.
ANOMALY: But, I mus-
<span class="mu-i">Is he right? Have I been missing something all this time?</span>
A: I'll leave you to think on it. Good job on the meals. They smell <span class="mu-i">excellent.</span>
Employee A exits.
