Quoted By:
"How's the food?" Your curveball of a question manages to shock the Agent for a moment. He raises a finger up before lowering it then raising it again. Confusion is evident in every inch of his posture.
<span class="mu-s">"What?"</span> The Agent lets out a half-laugh-half-sigh <span class="mu-s">"I'm sorry, did I hear you right?"</span> It's a toss up whether he's mocking you or is genuinely confused by you asking him the question. Not that it really matters to you in this instance.
"Answer the question. Is it THAT hard to say how it tastes?" You cross your arms in a huff.
<span class="mu-s">"I was expecting a different opening. It tastes like a burger."</span> The Agent looks down at the half eaten burger, trying to understand why you're asking him this. <span class="mu-s">"You know, now that you mention it? That's all I can say. Doesn't taste like anything, really. It's more like the general concept of a burger?"</span>
<span class="mu-s">"Imagine the taste of chocolate in your mouth. It's that same faint recollection. It is a bizarre taste to say the least. Not one I enjoy."</span> The Agent pauses after he finishes his spiel. <span class="mu-s">"Wait, why am I talking about how a burger tastes? This is beneath me."</span> His opinion of you has lowered by a decent margin. You keep your composure together just enough to continue.
"Well, that sounds like an issue with the chef's cooking, no? Apparently there's some big shot who works here," You snap your fingers. "uh, what's his name. Benedict. Yeah. I heard rumors about him. Surely someone like you has heard about them too." You hope to god he has something to say about it.
<span class="mu-s">"Do you assume I don't do my due diligence? How lowly do you think I am, Nicole?"</span> The Agent scoffs. <span class="mu-s">"He's an interesting study but what is there to say about him? A pathetic perfectionist patently pushing people away? That man is nothing but ego and obsession."</span>
<span class="mu-s">"The only advice I'm obligated to give you involving him is to <span class="mu-b">try humoring his obsession.</span> That man's one wrong day away from breaking and, well. I rather not say anything else."</span> If you could make out anything about his face, you swear there would be a smile there. <span class="mu-s">"Or maybe do something that'll take his mind off matters. Who knows. I'm not your boss."</span>
"Yeesh. I guess that food critic rattled him if that's what your impression of him is. I would've expected SOMETHING positive."
The Agent tilts his head before returning back to a neutral position. <span class="mu-s">"Ah, <span class="mu-b">Giallo.</span> What about her? She's a snobby food critic who doesn't like much of anything. Typical woman behavior-"</span> He stops. He glances at you before letting out a forced half-chuckle. <span class="mu-s">"Right. It wasn't too long ago since that happened. Food started tasting like shit after. Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?"</span>
<span class="mu-s">"<span class="mu-b">Not like the laymen care THAT much about food critics, though.</span> They're a dime a dozen here. Businesses live or die by the actual quality of their service."</span> Well, cross 'mind-affecting critic'.
