PMDU (C. Fields) G. Task: The Great Cactus Cookout

Finally the time for the cookout has arrived, as crowds of people began to flock around the inn’s outside and also within the building as well. The scent of many different foods wafting throughout the air was already causing the Meowstic’s stomach to rumble from just the smell alone. Now all he needed to do now was tell his sibling the good news of his success with the assistance of Timothy, and see how his brother fared with his own tasks as well.
Mathilde attempted to squeeze his way through the crowded inn, weaving the best he could between any openings he could find until he finally managed to reach what appeared to be a counter top. He crawled up one of the nearby stools, and sat down in the seat as he looked around behind the counter to see if he could spot his sibling.

Among the few people tending the counter, the Meowstic could spot his older brother in the middle of making a drink for a customer on the other end of the counter. It definitely seemed like he hasn’t lost too much of his skills he had from those years ago even with the time that has passed. As Vincent poured the cocktail into the glass and placed it out for the patron to grab, his eyes darted over to his left when he spotted his sibling at the counter. He placed down the shaker he was using on the counter top and made his way over to the other side. “Mathilde! How did your task come along out there? Did you get along without Vincent?” he questioned, cleaning one of the glasses from the counter all the while he spoke.

“Y-Yeah actually. I got the assistance from someone and I managed to grab all the samples as planned.” Mathilde responded, pulling out the few phials with the spores contained to show him what he had obtained. “His name is Timothy. He said something about wanting to meet you, but he had to go handle his delivery for Sherman first. He said he will try to find us when he is finished. He lives in Andalusst like us though from what he told me.”

“Wonderful, Vincent is impressed greatly! Vincent’s task went marvelously as well, believe it or not. She even allowed me to assist with the bar here for tonight as well.” Vincent responded, chuckling to himself all the while. “So Timothy, is it? Vincent wouldn’t mind meeting him in person as well.”

However, before Mathilde could say anything in response, another customer began motioning his sibling for a drink. “One moment, ma’am! Be right back, Mathilde. Vincent would like to continue this discussion after he finishes with this one customer real quick.”

As the Zangoose started walk off, the Teddiursa from earlier sat himself down next to the Meowstic in the nearby stool. “Howdy Matt, how’d it go with your brother?” he inquired, a smile plastered across his face as he spoke.

Mathilde quickly turned his head to side towards the direction of the question. “O-Oh hey Tim. He just left to help another customer actually. H-He will be back in a moment though. How did your delivery go?”

“Went well enough. Decidin' to stick around for tonight, though I am probably headin' back for Andalusst in the mornin'. Don’t usually get the opportunity to be at a cookout back in the city. Plus it’s too late to go back tonight anyway.” Timothy retorted, a sheepish grin on his face. He admittedly wasn’t fully expecting to have the delivery take as long as it did, but he did manage to still get it done in the end at least. Plus he managed to help someone out in the end as well.

Not a moment later, Vincent returned from assisting the customer from earlier and headed his way back to the other end of the counter again. However this time he noticed someone this time next to Mathilde. “Hey, are you the person Mathilde told Vincent about? Or is Vincent mistaken? Timothy?”

“Mathilde? Huh, I thought it stood for Matthew. Ah well. Name’s Timothy. Tim is fine with me though.” the Teddiursa replied, extending out his hand for a quick handshake which the Zangoose quickly accepted.

“Great, it’s nice to make your acquittal. Vincent Kaufman is Vincent’s name. Thanks for assisting his younger sibling! He really appreciates what you done for him!” He responded, still holding the shaker in hand as awaited for another customer to call.

Suddenly a look of confusion grew on his face as he tried to figure what the Zangoose just said. Why was he speaking like this? Was this normal for him? “Wait, when you say 'he', do you mean Mat or you?  Well either way, you’re welcome. I'm glad I could help! Also, acquaintance. I think that be the word you're looking for.”

“Acquaintance is the word Vincent meant, yes. Thank you.” Vincent responded, reaching into his coat for a moment and pulling an extremely similar looking card to the one he gave Sherman earlier out from inside of it. “Here is Vincent’s card. Perhaps you can visit from time to time, if you would like. The address is on the front. You are from Andalusst, yes?”

“That is correct. Market district. Mostly work at my dad’s bakery actually so we ain’t all too far away from each other either from the look of things.” Timothy retorted with a smile as he slipped the card inside his bag to bring home. “You two are in the Researcher’s guild if I remember right?”

“Correct, we are of the Researchers. Team Melting Pot to be exact… You know, Vincent wonders if we should change our team name. It doesn’t roll off the tongue as much as he thought it did at the time. Vincent shall negotiate the idea with our registrar later.” He responded as he stared upwards as he tried to run through a couple names in his head to find a better fit to him.

Timothy snickered briefly, although Melting Pot definitely wasn’t the weirdest name he had heard of in his life so far. “Well, I want to ask you two something. Would y'all happen to be lookin' for new recruits for your team, by chance? I’m interested in joinin' if you would have me along. I will ask Pa about it first, see if maybe someone else could fill in from time to time possibly.”

“Y-You sure? I-I mean I don’t think we have any objections to the idea really, but what made you decide on it though?” Mathilde questioned, scratching the back of his head as he asked. This was fairly unexpected to hear from him, since it didn’t really occur to him that he would have been interested in the first place.

“Well I reckon I have a couple reasons for it. One of them being somethin' I would much rather keep omitted. Mostly though, you guys do seem like the good sort 'nd it does sound like it could be fun.” He retorted, a warm chuckle coming from him as he leaned forward a bit.

“Very well, Vincent sees no real issues with this for the most part. If necessary, Vincent shall ask his superiors about the idea as well.  Welcome aboard, Timothy! It shall be a pleasure working with you in the future as a member of Team Merchant’s Union.” Vincent stated aloud, pleased with himself over his new idea for a team name as he went into a heroic pose. However, he soon broke out of it once the voice of another patron calling over for a drink caught his ears. “Ah well, Vincent should get back to work now. See you around in the future, Timothy.”

“See ya later, Vincent.” He responded before rubbing his eyes in a sleepy daze. Today took most of his energy out of him. “I think I'm gonna head off for bed for tonight. I already asked Sherman for a room here for the night. See you around Matt, have a nice night!” As he said that he went down from the stool and walked off to one of the bedroom to rest.

“I should probably do that too.” Mathilde thought to himself as he lowered himself down from the stool to head off for bed, wanting to sleep in early enough so he doesn’t end up sleeping in. As he walked into the room he and his brother was given, he promptly shuts close the door behind him so he could doze off.