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Table for Two 8: Soupe Maigre

By: Fillydelphian on Jun 20th, 2012 | syntax: None | size: 23.87 KB | hits: 326 | expires: Never

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How we doing on the pasta?
>”Almost done, Chef! Three minutes!”
Good, get it portioned and then move on to prepping the olives!
>”Yes, Chef!”
>It's Sunday afternoon. You've got four hours until the fundraiser starts and your team is working to get everything prepared for the dinner
>300 guests and 5 cooks, yourself included, to make sure the meal goes without a hitch
>”Pasta's set, Chef!”
Good colt. Get it chilled and get those olives ready! We've got four hours until showtime and I want this done right!
>You turn back to your cutting board and continue chopping onions for the soup
>Outside the kitchen, in the function hall, there are ponies milling about making last-minute changes to the decor and table arrangements
>You can make out agitated bickering between managers and planners
>Compared to out there, your kitchen is like an island of stability, except for one th-
>The doors burst open and a nervous-looking manager walks in
>”How are we in here, Anonymous? Everything going smoothly?”
Yes, it's fine, for the thousanth time, it's fine
>You put your knife down in frustration. This pony has been coming in every ten minutes, checking to see that everything is under control. He looks like he's about to have a stroke, too
>”Good, good...”
>He walks over to your station as you turn around
Something you need?
>”No, no, I just needed to see that nothing's going wrong”
>He idly starts fiddling around the cutting board
Well it's going fine in here. Why don't you look around if it'd make you feel better?
>”No, that's not necessary...”
>He casually moves towards your kitchen knife, looking at it curiously
>”That's quite an interesting knife, I've never seen one in that shape bef-”
1/x
>Your hand flies to the tool. You pick it up and ram the blade into the cutting board, where it sticks upright out of the wood
>The pony jumps back in surprise
Don't. Touch. My. Knives.
>You get right at eye-level with the curious manager
Understand me?
>He gulps, wide eyed
>”Y-yes, sir, Chef, sir”
Now get out of my kitchen. I'll call you in here if we need anything
>”O-okay. Sorry to bother you”
>He bolts back into the function hall and, after a second or two, the kitchen erupts in laughter
>You turn back to your work and wiggle the knife out of the cutting board
>”Oh, Celestia, he looked like he was gonna pass out!”
>”You see how pale he got? Priceless!”
Alright, alright, back to work. We've got ponies to feed
>”Yes, Chef”
>The laughter subsides and work resumes its fast pace
>You put the soup on a low heat and look at the clock
>2:30
Three and a half hours
>”Yes, Chef”
>You're feeling good, if nervous, about tonight. The cooks are making good time and everything is going smoothly so far, but you want to see this dinner go perfectly
>As you pass the door to the function hall, you steal a glance through the window and see Em
>She looks absurdly on-edge. The fundraiser is important, you know, but she's been almost freaking out about it for the past few days
>You've learned a couple ways to help her with stress, though you're pretty sure that would blow your cover...
>”Why are you smiling, Chef?”
>One of your cooks looks at you from across her station
No reason, Ginger. How are the antipasti coming along?
>”Almost done, Chef. At this rate we'll be ready for service by 5!”
Good to hear
2/x
>Ginger Gold smiles
>You hired her back when the restaurant was starting up. Since then she's been one of your most reliable cooks
>She's fast, efficient, and she takes the initiative any chance she gets
>Another year or two and she'll be great Sous material
>You make a note to yourself to put her in charge of the new kitchen-colt
>That'll be a good first test of her ability to manage
>But that's not what you're here to do
>In three hours, the function hall is going to be filled with Em's constituents; constituents who payed considerable amounts of money to attend this thing
>And you've got to make sure that every single one of them leaves happy with their meal
>On top of that, some of these ponies are big players in Ponyville and Canterlot
>You can't afford to screw up with them
>Not if you want to keep your reputation intact
>Plus, if you screw this up, you'll have Em to answer to, and not just in the professional sense...
>You walk back to your station and start preparing entrees
>Looking around the kitchen, you take mental stock of what's left to be done
>Most of the appetizers have been prepped, the desserts are nearly finished, and the entrees are well underway
>And you've still got plenty of time before you have to start service
>This fundraiser just might go off without a hitch
>The door opens and the sounds of the kitchen cease as you whip around, ready to scare another manager into letting your team alo-
E- ah, Madam Mayor...
>You recover in time to stop yourself using her nickname
What can I do for you?
>Ginger Gold looks concerned at your sudden change of tone
3/x
>Em glances over her shoulder at the mare and turns back to you, looking slightly confused
>”Just looking around, Chef. I saw one of my assistants run out of here a few minutes ago and I was wondering if you'd happen to know anything about it?”
>Her voice is cold and matriarchal. Her nervousness showing clearly through her official facade
>You hold yourself back from teasing the mare
>No matter how much you like seeing her vulnerable side, now's not the time
>Over the snickering coming from the cooks, you reply
Wouldn't know anything about that, Madam Mayor. Must've been his nerves getting the better of him
>She keeps her poker face up and motions for you to lean down to her level
>You lean in to the tan mare
>”I've got my eye on you, Chef”
>She speaks in a low voice but makes sure the kitchen can hear you
>You whisper back
Wouldn't have it any other way...ma'am
>She tenses up and walks out of the kitchen
>You catch traces of a faint smile on her lips as she goes
>Ginger Gold looks at you funny
>”Chef, what just happened? Did you say something to The Mayor just then?”
Just giving her the status on prep. We're ahead of schedule
>Ginger narrows her eyes, but gets back to work
>You're glad she's not as perceptive as Rose or Pinkie
>That might have been a close call otherwise
>You probably should have just played along with Em, but you couldn't resist teasing
>She's too cute when she's faking calmness
>Plus it made you feel a little less nervous about this dinner
>Work resumes and by 4:30 your team has finished prep for the fundraiser
>Just need to get everything straightened out and you'll be all set
4/x
Get those portions bagged and put in the walk-in, then everypony take a half-hour break. We'll meet back here at 5:00 and start getting the kitchen ready for service
>”Yes, Chef!”
>You walk out of the kitchen and wipe your forehead with a cloth that you sling over your shoulder
>The function hall is set up with banners, tables, and everything else a self-respecting fundraiser is expected to have
>Ginger accompanies you to the drinks area and the two of you take a seat for a pre-service coffee
>She looks pensive for a minute as she holds her mug
>”You know, I've never really thanked you for hiring me for your kitchen, Chef. I'd have never thought I could do something like this if you asked me a year or two ago...”
You're a talented cook, Ginger. I'm glad to have you on my team for this thing
>She looks really happy at that and gulps down her coffee before walking back to the kitchen
>”Thanks, Chef. I'm gonna go check on the others”
Alright. Make sure they're back in here at 5:00 or I'm gonna get out there and bust some heads
>She disappears into the kitchen and you turn back to your coffee
>The clock reads 4:45
>You look around the function hall and take in all the last-minute activity
>You're about to finish your coffee when a manager walks up to you
>”Chef Anon?”
Yeah?
>”I have a request from one of tonight's guests that I was asked to pass on to you”
What kind of request?
>”They would like to see your kitchen in operation”
But I'm not even using MY kitchen. And anyway, it'd be a hassle; I've got to cook. I can't be giving tours to upper-crust ponies at the same time
5/x
>”That's what I told them, but they were insistent. Besides, it'll be good PR for you, I'm sure. They'll be here with the rest of the guests around 6:00 and I'll show them to the kitchen around 7:00”
>You pinch the bridge of your nose
Fine, fine. But you tell them not to touch anything or get in anyp0ny's way. Got it?
>”Deal”
>Awesome. Now you get to show some rich pony around the kitchen instead of being able to do your job
>Comes with the territory, though
>Seems like every time you do a function like this, somep0ny or another just HAS to see the kitchen in action
>At the very least, it shows they're curious how the cooking world runs
>Though, more often than not, it's to see 'how the other half works'
>You head back to the kitchen and check the time
>4:55
>The cooks will be coming back in soon to get ready and clean everything for service
>Just an hour away from showtime now
>Nervous though you are, you feel a sense of pride that this has come together so well so far
>Three weeks of planning went into your part of this fundraiser
>All-nighters trying to get options just right, trying to test dishes to make sure they were perfect
>And now the moment of truth is right here
>5:00
>Your team starts filtering into the kitchen
>By 5:05 they're all in and cleaning
>By 5:15 everything is gleaming
>You look out into the function hall to see Em pacing, looking at the clock
>When the clock hits 5:30, everything is set up in the kitchen
>The function hall is ready
>The food is waiting in the walk-in to be plated and served
>It's only a matter of time now
6/x
>The dinner gets off to a good start
>Em gives a keynote speech to the gathered ponies, followed by addresses from a few other Ponyville notables
>The actual meal gets underway around 6:30
>The guests were asked to send their dinner choices in ahead of time so that you would know how much of everything to bring
>Meal cards come in in waves of 20 at a time
>You start cooking at top speed to make sure everp0ny out there gets their food in a timely manner
>The kitchen quickly fills with the aroma of mushrooms and grilled and roast vegetables along with the rapid, staccato clatter of knives and plates as you and your team get into full swing
>Waiters carry large platters of food out to the tables as more meal cards come in
>You look at the clock once the first courses have been sent out
>6:55
>Thank Celestia you and your team did all that prep. 300 appetizers in 25 minutes is impressive
>You're glad you've got 2 unicorns who can multitask on your team
>A pair of voices approach the kitchen door
“...said to him, 'I'm certainly not wearing those, even if they ARE the latest thing,' and do yo- oh, we're here?”
>A tall, slender unicorn stands at the entrance to the kitchen with the manager from earlier
>”I give you Head Chef Anonymous. He is running the dinner this evening. Anonymous, this is-”
Fleur. Fleur de Lis
>”You know each other?”
>She extends a graceful hoof, which you shake
>”How are you, Anon?”
>The manager looks out of place now. He searches for a way to stay in the conversation
>”Anonymous has run the kitchen at one of Ponyville's premiere establishments for the pas-”
>”I'm aware. If you could excuse us?”
7/x
>Em is seated at a large round table with Rose and several business friends and colleagues
>”This is going perfectly, I have to say, Em. Anon's really living up to his reputation”
>Rose takes a bite out of a stuffed mushroom and has a sip of wine
>Em smiles in agreement, but Rose catches her doubtful demeanor
>”Something wrong? Don't answer that, I know there is”
>Em sighs and leans in to Rose
I- ...no, it's stupid...
>”Em...”
>Rose's tone is commanding
Alright, alright, keep it down. Just I saw Anon earlier tonight with that young orange mare and she seemed so close to him...
>She looks at the kitchen
And she must be a great cook to be in his kitchen working with him...
>”You're jealous”
I'm NOT jealous, I'm-
>”You're so jealous!”
>Rose's tone becomes teasing and high
Keep it down, Rose!
>”Come on, Em. I've seen you two together. You've got nothing to worry about”
I know, I just- He's surrounded by young mares all the time, he's close with that white unicorn, Rarity, I mean, SHE'S an Element of Harmony...
>”...And he picked YOU out of all of them, Em”
>She sits back and looks at the ceiling
>”And he doesn't even know abo-”
Not now. We'll cross that bridge only when we have to...
>”It's only gonna be more awkward the longer you wait”
I know, it's just- is that Fleur de Lis going into the kitchen?
>Em leans towards the kitchen door, trying to see what's happening
>”Why, I believe it is. Interesting”
>Rose leans back in her chair and takes another bite of mushroom
>”These things are fantastic, Em. Have you tried them?”
>Em takes a large swig of wine
>It could be a long night
8/x
>”Of course...”
>The manager ducks out of the kitchen
I'm doing well, Fleur. What brings you to Ponyville?
>”The fundraiser, of course. Modeling has its perks, you know. One meets influential ponies when one is at all the social gatherings, as I'm sure you remember”
Vividly
>She pouts
>”No need to be so short, Anon. I'm in town today and tommorow and when I found out that you were working this fundraiser I just had to come and say hello. I know you're busy, but you've never been one to turn a girl down who wants to see what cooking is all about”
You know what my kitchens are like, Fleur
>”Oh come on. It's been so long since we've seen each other”
>You realize she's not going to take 'no' for an answer
>This is unexpected. You thought you were going to be showing some old money around, not Fleur
>A wave of nostalgia comes over you, bringing you back to your days in Canterlot
Alright, for old time's sake. Follow me
>”Yay!”
>She lights up and walks after you eagerly
>Ginger looks at you and mouths silently in disbelief
>”Whaaaaa...?”
>You mouth back
Long story
>She nods and gets back to preparing for the second course
>”So you're doing this whole dinner with a team of five? That's ambitious, Anon”
>You turn back to Fleur. It's a lull in service and your nerves are actually a lot less rattled than you expected. Everything's going smoothly
>You decide to enjoy the company
Hey, I didn't get to where I am by playing it safe. You know that
>”THERE'S my old Anon”
>She's walking next to you now, with all the poise that she's ever had
9/x
Do you still model for Fancypants?
>”I still do-Ooh! Are those the desserts?”
>Fleur rushes over to the walk-in upon catching a look inside when one of the cooks opened it
>”These look amazing, Anon!”
>She pokes around inside, looking at all the sheets of fruit, custard, and pastry like a little filly
Want to see where we grill everything?
>She looks up with a grin
>”Trying to get me away from the sweets? Don't worry; my agent would kill me”
>You motion for her to follow
>Fleur's surprise visit puts you in a good mood. You don't even mind breaking off what you're working on to show her around now
>The mare walks alongside you through the kitchen as you introduce her to the cooks and talk for a bit
>After about 10 minutes she looks at the clock and decides that she should probably head back to the tables
>”It was nice seeing you again, Anon. I'll be back in town in a month for some photo shoots. We should catch up then!”
I'd like that. Enjoy the rest of the evening, Fleur
>You walk her out of the kitchen and she gives you a light hug before going back to the tables
>A couple ponies give odd looks, but for the most part it goes unnoticed
>You head back into the kitchen just in time to start working on plating entrees, the meal cards for which start coming in two minutes later
>Ginger Gold yells to you over the noise of the kitchen
>”Nice one, Anon! Didn't know you had such high taste!”
>She's joking
Don't let her fool you, Ginger. She's a lot more low-brow in private!
>You're not
>The orange mare stares at you, mouth agape
10/x
>Em takes another drink of wine
>After seeing that gorgeous unicorn go into the kitchen her mood has really soured
>A waiter fills her glass again and she brings it up to her lips
>Rose looks on, concerned. She didn't think it was that big a deal, but seeing her friend get so down over something so trivial...
>She doesn't like it one bit
>”Come on, Em. Maybe you should slow down with the wine?”
>Em turns, her snout ever so slightly flushed
Bu-
>”No. Give me the glass and get some water”
>Em sighs and acquiesces, asking a waiter for a glass of ice water
>It's probably nothing
>She's getting worked up over something stupid
>She takes a sip of water-
>-Just in time to see Fleur wrap her delicate hooves around Anon's waist before walking away with a smile
>Rose looks where her friend's half spit-take was aimed
>”Oohhh... Yeah... Maybe they're old friends?”
Maybe...
>”Em, don't get down on yourself. I'm sure there's a reason-”
>Em sighs, dejected
You're probably right...She's just so much prettier, and she's young and-
>”Em, you're only like-”
Shhh! You want everyp0ny to hear you?
>”I still don't get why you keep it so secret”
It's a politics thing...
>”Nop0ny's going to care”
It's an election year. I can't afford anything that could cause a potential scandal
>”Like you an-”
>Em slaps a hoof over Rose's mouth
Are you trying to force that into the open?
>”All these secrets aren't going to end well for you, Em”
What should I do then, break it off?
>”No! Ponies' Sake, no! You really care about Anon?”
...Yes...
>”Then have this out in the open. Nop0ny likes keeping things like this secret”
>Em looks at the kitchen again
Right...
11/x
>The rest of the fundraiser goes off without problems
>You're feeling good about tonight. Service was efficient, nothing got sent back, nothing got broken
>Honestly, you were expecting at least a little trouble
>But you're not about to complain about a successful dinner service
>You walk out of the function hall into the cold autumn air
>A tune carries across your brain as you walk towards Em's house
>Em answers your knocks after a long pause
>She doesn't look happy
>More tired. Maybe fraught?
...Em? Everything okay? Can I come in?
>She nods and steps aside, letting you walk slowly into the house
Em, is something the matter? You seem down...
>She looks at the floor before casting her gaze right into yours
>”I saw you and Fleur de Lis tonight”
>...
You saw...Fleur and I?
>You didn't think it was a huge deal
>”I saw her hug you on the way out of the kitchen. I saw how delighted she looked...”
>The mare in front of you looks so vulnerable right now
>But it's not the cute, out-of-her-element vulnerable that you love to see
>It's something much more wrenching
>”Is there anything between the two of you?”
>There's a pause as you process the question
No. She's...an old friend from Canterlot. I haven't seen her in years
>She looks a little happier
>”Really?”
Yes, Em. We used to be close, but I moved and we drifted apart, I guess
>You'd hoped she would feel better at that, but she looks away with a solemn expression
Em?
>She turns to you again
>”So you're not just with me because you couldn't find somep0ny else? ...Somep0ny younger?”
Of course not
>You put your arm around her and she rests her head on your chest
12/x
>There's a long stretch of time where neither of you speak
>Em looks like she's thinking hard about something
>Eventually she looks up at you
>”I'm sorry for being so insecure”
We've all got our hangups
>”I know, but I hate that mine get in the way of things like this...I just see all these young mares around you and I can't help but think one of them would be better for you...”
I chose you, didn't I?
>”You sound like Rose”
>You both laugh
Feel better now?
>She smiles for a moment, but her face quickly falls
>With a sigh, she seems to gather up her nerve
>She looks into your eyes again
>”Anon, there's something I need to tell you”
What is it?
>”I haven't been totally honest with you about my past...”
>You've got a feeling this is going to get awkward
Your past? What do you mean?
>”Do you remember when I told you about my going to Academie de Selle?”
Yeah, you said you went for a semester before you left. It wasn't the right place for you. I asked if you knew Professor-
>”Hickory Smoke?”
>She looks off out the window
So you DID know him
>”...Yes, I did. Truthfully, de Selle was a great fit for me; I loved the atmosphere, the student body, the classes, everything was amazing...”
>There's a pause, like she doesn't know how to phrase something
So why did you leave?
>She sighs heavily, hanging her head, eyes closed
>Slowly she raises her gaze to meet yours
>”I got close to Professor Smoke...I was his top student amongst the First Years...even did a few functions alongside him”
>The look of shame and regret on her face tells you exactly what happened before she says it
You...with him?
13/x
>”Yes...”
>Her voice is so quiet it's barely above a whisper
Em-
>”Let me finish. Please...”
>You shift uneasily on the couch
>”We were together for a month before we were found out. Another student walked in on us and the news spread across the school like wildfire. A week later I was expelled and he was suspended. We carried on for a little while, but eventually he let me go, saying I was too immature...or some other excuse...”
>Wait...suspended... You remember him recounting a story like that once when you knew him. But that was only four years ag-
Em...
>She looks up again
When did all this happen?
>A pained look crosses her face and her gaze drops to the floor again
>Unconsciously, you edge away from her slightly
>”Twelve years ago”
Were you a late applican-
“No”
>...
>You edge further away
>She sinks forward
...Are you really as old as you say you are?
>She looks up one more time
>”I-I...”
>You look at the tan mare and get up from the couch
I need some air.
>”I'm sorry...I should have told you sooner...”
I'm sorry too. I'll see you later, Em
>”Anon, wait!”
>You ignore her and shut the door
>The air is cold. You walk through the darkened streets alone, thinking about Em's revelation
>Why the lies?
>Couldn't she be honest with you from the start?
>She was unceremoniously kicked out of culinary school, that's...not ideal...
>She slept with Hickory...okay, that's just uncomfortable...
>And she's been lying about her age since day one...
>You stick on that last one
>More than her expulsion, more than her affair with the stallion who was like a father to you, she lied to you about something so basic...so simple...
>You feel betrayed
> ...Alone
14/x
>You get to your house feeling more uneasy and conflicted than you have in a long time
>Tonight was supposed to be great. You were supposed to have a great service and impress your mare and then spend some time with her to decompress from weeks of planning-stress
>You weren't supposed to have this kind of thing laid on you and you definitely weren't supposed to end the night storming out of Em's house
>What the hell happened...
>You stop at the door and look back towards the city
>Going to bed early and angry isn't sounding good to you right now
>You find yourself thinking about Fleur now
>Em had lied to you about her own age
>You had lied to her about Fleur
>On the way to the inn you hear the town clock strike 10:00
She's probably not even there, come to think of it
>A pair of slender white hooves encircle you from behind
>”Who's not there?”
Speak of the Devil
>”Me? But I'm an angel...”
>You turn around and look at her
What are you up to tonight?
End

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How we doing on the pasta?
>”Almost done, Chef! Three minutes!”
Good, get it portioned and then move on to prepping the olives!
>”Yes, Chef!”
>It's Sunday afternoon. You've got four hours until the fundraiser starts and your team is working to get everything prepared for the dinner
>300 guests and 5 cooks, yourself included, to make sure the meal goes without a hitch
>”Pasta's set, Chef!”
Good colt. Get it chilled and get those olives ready! We've got four hours until showtime and I want this done right!
>You turn back to your cutting board and continue chopping onions for the soup
>Outside the kitchen, in the function hall, there are ponies milling about making last-minute changes to the decor and table arrangements
>You can make out agitated bickering between managers and planners
>Compared to out there, your kitchen is like an island of stability, except for one th-
>The doors burst open and a nervous-looking manager walks in
>”How are we in here, Anonymous? Everything going smoothly?”
Yes, it's fine, for the thousanth time, it's fine
>You put your knife down in frustration. This pony has been coming in every ten minutes, checking to see that everything is under control. He looks like he's about to have a stroke, too
>”Good, good...”
>He walks over to your station as you turn around
Something you need?
>”No, no, I just needed to see that nothing's going wrong”
>He idly starts fiddling around the cutting board
Well it's going fine in here. Why don't you look around if it'd make you feel better?
>”No, that's not necessary...”
>He casually moves towards your kitchen knife, looking at it curiously
>”That's quite an interesting knife, I've never seen one in that shape bef-”
1/x

>Your hand flies to the tool. You pick it up and ram the blade into the cutting board, where it sticks upright out of the wood
>The pony jumps back in surprise
Don't. Touch. My. Knives.
>You get right at eye-level with the curious manager
Understand me?
>He gulps, wide eyed
>”Y-yes, sir, Chef, sir”
Now get out of my kitchen. I'll call you in here if we need anything
>”O-okay. Sorry to bother you”
>He bolts back into the function hall and, after a second or two, the kitchen erupts in laughter
>You turn back to your work and wiggle the knife out of the cutting board
>”Oh, Celestia, he looked like he was gonna pass out!”
>”You see how pale he got? Priceless!”
Alright, alright, back to work. We've got ponies to feed
>”Yes, Chef”
>The laughter subsides and work resumes its fast pace
>You put the soup on a low heat and look at the clock
>2:30
Three and a half hours
>”Yes, Chef”
>You're feeling good, if nervous, about tonight. The cooks are making good time and everything is going smoothly so far, but you want to see this dinner go perfectly
>As you pass the door to the function hall, you steal a glance through the window and see Em
>She looks absurdly on-edge. The fundraiser is important, you know, but she's been almost freaking out about it for the past few days
>You've learned a couple ways to help her with stress, though you're pretty sure that would blow your cover...
>”Why are you smiling, Chef?”
>One of your cooks looks at you from across her station
No reason, Ginger. How are the antipasti coming along?
>”Almost done, Chef. At this rate we'll be ready for service by 5!”
Good to hear
2/x

>Ginger Gold smiles
>You hired her back when the restaurant was starting up. Since then she's been one of your most reliable cooks
>She's fast, efficient, and she takes the initiative any chance she gets
>Another year or two and she'll be great Sous material
>You make a note to yourself to put her in charge of the new kitchen-colt
>That'll be a good first test of her ability to manage
>But that's not what you're here to do
>In three hours, the function hall is going to be filled with Em's constituents; constituents who payed considerable amounts of money to attend this thing
>And you've got to make sure that every single one of them leaves happy with their meal
>On top of that, some of these ponies are big players in Ponyville and Canterlot
>You can't afford to screw up with them
>Not if you want to keep your reputation intact
>Plus, if you screw this up, you'll have Em to answer to, and not just in the professional sense...
>You walk back to your station and start preparing entrees
>Looking around the kitchen, you take mental stock of what's left to be done
>Most of the appetizers have been prepped, the desserts are nearly finished, and the entrees are well underway
>And you've still got plenty of time before you have to start service
>This fundraiser just might go off without a hitch
>The door opens and the sounds of the kitchen cease as you whip around, ready to scare another manager into letting your team alo-
E- ah, Madam Mayor... 
>You recover in time to stop yourself using her nickname
What can I do for you?
>Ginger Gold looks concerned at your sudden change of tone
3/x

>Em glances over her shoulder at the mare and turns back to you, looking slightly confused
>”Just looking around, Chef. I saw one of my assistants run out of here a few minutes ago and I was wondering if you'd happen to know anything about it?”
>Her voice is cold and matriarchal. Her nervousness showing clearly through her official facade
>You hold yourself back from teasing the mare
>No matter how much you like seeing her vulnerable side, now's not the time
>Over the snickering coming from the cooks, you reply
Wouldn't know anything about that, Madam Mayor. Must've been his nerves getting the better of him
>She keeps her poker face up and motions for you to lean down to her level
>You lean in to the tan mare
>”I've got my eye on you, Chef”
>She speaks in a low voice but makes sure the kitchen can hear you
>You whisper back
Wouldn't have it any other way...ma'am
>She tenses up and walks out of the kitchen
>You catch traces of a faint smile on her lips as she goes
>Ginger Gold looks at you funny
>”Chef, what just happened? Did you say something to The Mayor just then?”
Just giving her the status on prep. We're ahead of schedule
>Ginger narrows her eyes, but gets back to work
>You're glad she's not as perceptive as Rose or Pinkie
>That might have been a close call otherwise
>You probably should have just played along with Em, but you couldn't resist teasing
>She's too cute when she's faking calmness
>Plus it made you feel a little less nervous about this dinner
>Work resumes and by 4:30 your team has finished prep for the fundraiser
>Just need to get everything straightened out and you'll be all set
4/x

Get those portions bagged and put in the walk-in, then everypony take a half-hour break. We'll meet back here at 5:00 and start getting the kitchen ready for service
>”Yes, Chef!”
>You walk out of the kitchen and wipe your forehead with a cloth that you sling over your shoulder
>The function hall is set up with banners, tables, and everything else a self-respecting fundraiser is expected to have
>Ginger accompanies you to the drinks area and the two of you take a seat for a pre-service coffee
>She looks pensive for a minute as she holds her mug
>”You know, I've never really thanked you for hiring me for your kitchen, Chef. I'd have never thought I could do something like this if you asked me a year or two ago...”
You're a talented cook, Ginger. I'm glad to have you on my team for this thing
>She looks really happy at that and gulps down her coffee before walking back to the kitchen
>”Thanks, Chef. I'm gonna go check on the others”
Alright. Make sure they're back in here at 5:00 or I'm gonna get out there and bust some heads
>She disappears into the kitchen and you turn back to your coffee
>The clock reads 4:45
>You look around the function hall and take in all the last-minute activity
>You're about to finish your coffee when a manager walks up to you
>”Chef Anon?”
Yeah?
>”I have a request from one of tonight's guests that I was asked to pass on to you”
What kind of request?
>”They would like to see your kitchen in operation”
But I'm not even using MY kitchen. And anyway, it'd be a hassle; I've got to cook. I can't be giving tours to upper-crust ponies at the same time
5/x

>”That's what I told them, but they were insistent. Besides, it'll be good PR for you, I'm sure. They'll be here with the rest of the guests around 6:00 and I'll show them to the kitchen around 7:00”
>You pinch the bridge of your nose
Fine, fine. But you tell them not to touch anything or get in anyp0ny's way. Got it?
>”Deal”
>Awesome. Now you get to show some rich pony around the kitchen instead of being able to do your job
>Comes with the territory, though
>Seems like every time you do a function like this, somep0ny or another just HAS to see the kitchen in action
>At the very least, it shows they're curious how the cooking world runs
>Though, more often than not, it's to see 'how the other half works'
>You head back to the kitchen and check the time
>4:55
>The cooks will be coming back in soon to get ready and clean everything for service
>Just an hour away from showtime now
>Nervous though you are, you feel a sense of pride that this has come together so well so far
>Three weeks of planning went into your part of this fundraiser
>All-nighters trying to get options just right, trying to test dishes to make sure they were perfect
>And now the moment of truth is right here
>5:00
>Your team starts filtering into the kitchen
>By 5:05 they're all in and cleaning
>By 5:15 everything is gleaming
>You look out into the function hall to see Em pacing, looking at the clock
>When the clock hits 5:30, everything is set up in the kitchen
>The function hall is ready
>The food is waiting in the walk-in to be plated and served
>It's only a matter of time now
6/x

>The dinner gets off to a good start
>Em gives a keynote speech to the gathered ponies, followed by addresses from a few other Ponyville notables
>The actual meal gets underway around 6:30
>The guests were asked to send their dinner choices in ahead of time so that you would know how much of everything to bring
>Meal cards come in in waves of 20 at a time
>You start cooking at top speed to make sure everp0ny out there gets their food in a timely manner
>The kitchen quickly fills with the aroma of mushrooms and grilled and roast vegetables along with the rapid, staccato clatter of knives and plates as you and your team get into full swing
>Waiters carry large platters of food out to the tables as more meal cards come in
>You look at the clock once the first courses have been sent out 
>6:55
>Thank Celestia you and your team did all that prep. 300 appetizers in 25 minutes is impressive
>You're glad you've got 2 unicorns who can multitask on your team
>A pair of voices approach the kitchen door
“...said to him, 'I'm certainly not wearing those, even if they ARE the latest thing,' and do yo- oh, we're here?”
>A tall, slender unicorn stands at the entrance to the kitchen with the manager from earlier
>”I give you Head Chef Anonymous. He is running the dinner this evening. Anonymous, this is-”
Fleur. Fleur de Lis
>”You know each other?”
>She extends a graceful hoof, which you shake
>”How are you, Anon?”
>The manager looks out of place now. He searches for a way to stay in the conversation
>”Anonymous has run the kitchen at one of Ponyville's premiere establishments for the pas-”
>”I'm aware. If you could excuse us?”
7/x

>Em is seated at a large round table with Rose and several business friends and colleagues
>”This is going perfectly, I have to say, Em. Anon's really living up to his reputation”
>Rose takes a bite out of a stuffed mushroom and has a sip of wine
>Em smiles in agreement, but Rose catches her doubtful demeanor
>”Something wrong? Don't answer that, I know there is”
>Em sighs and leans in to Rose
I- ...no, it's stupid...
>”Em...”
>Rose's tone is commanding
Alright, alright, keep it down. Just I saw Anon earlier tonight with that young orange mare and she seemed so close to him...
>She looks at the kitchen
And she must be a great cook to be in his kitchen working with him...
>”You're jealous”
I'm NOT jealous, I'm-
>”You're so jealous!”
>Rose's tone becomes teasing and high
Keep it down, Rose!
>”Come on, Em. I've seen you two together. You've got nothing to worry about”
I know, I just- He's surrounded by young mares all the time, he's close with that white unicorn, Rarity, I mean, SHE'S an Element of Harmony...
>”...And he picked YOU out of all of them, Em”
>She sits back and looks at the ceiling
>”And he doesn't even know abo-”
Not now. We'll cross that bridge only when we have to...
>”It's only gonna be more awkward the longer you wait”
I know, it's just- is that Fleur de Lis going into the kitchen?
>Em leans towards the kitchen door, trying to see what's happening
>”Why, I believe it is. Interesting”
>Rose leans back in her chair and takes another bite of mushroom
>”These things are fantastic, Em. Have you tried them?”
>Em takes a large swig of wine
>It could be a long night
8/x

>”Of course...”
>The manager ducks out of the kitchen
I'm doing well, Fleur. What brings you to Ponyville?
>”The fundraiser, of course. Modeling has its perks, you know. One meets influential ponies when one is at all the social gatherings, as I'm sure you remember”
Vividly
>She pouts
>”No need to be so short, Anon. I'm in town today and tommorow and when I found out that you were working this fundraiser I just had to come and say hello. I know you're busy, but you've never been one to turn a girl down who wants to see what cooking is all about”
You know what my kitchens are like, Fleur
>”Oh come on. It's been so long since we've seen each other”
>You realize she's not going to take 'no' for an answer
>This is unexpected. You thought you were going to be showing some old money around, not Fleur
>A wave of nostalgia comes over you, bringing you back to your days in Canterlot
Alright, for old time's sake. Follow me
>”Yay!”
>She lights up and walks after you eagerly
>Ginger looks at you and mouths silently in disbelief
>”Whaaaaa...?”
>You mouth back
Long story
>She nods and gets back to preparing for the second course
>”So you're doing this whole dinner with a team of five? That's ambitious, Anon”
>You turn back to Fleur. It's a lull in service and your nerves are actually a lot less rattled than you expected. Everything's going smoothly
>You decide to enjoy the company
Hey, I didn't get to where I am by playing it safe. You know that
>”THERE'S my old Anon”
>She's walking next to you now, with all the poise that she's ever had
9/x

Do you still model for Fancypants?
>”I still do-Ooh! Are those the desserts?”
>Fleur rushes over to the walk-in upon catching a look inside when one of the cooks opened it
>”These look amazing, Anon!”
>She pokes around inside, looking at all the sheets of fruit, custard, and pastry like a little filly
Want to see where we grill everything?
>She looks up with a grin
>”Trying to get me away from the sweets? Don't worry; my agent would kill me”
>You motion for her to follow
>Fleur's surprise visit puts you in a good mood. You don't even mind breaking off what you're working on to show her around now
>The mare walks alongside you through the kitchen as you introduce her to the cooks and talk for a bit
>After about 10 minutes she looks at the clock and decides that she should probably head back to the tables
>”It was nice seeing you again, Anon. I'll be back in town in a month for some photo shoots. We should catch up then!”
I'd like that. Enjoy the rest of the evening, Fleur
>You walk her out of the kitchen and she gives you a light hug before going back to the tables
>A couple ponies give odd looks, but for the most part it goes unnoticed
>You head back into the kitchen just in time to start working on plating entrees, the meal cards for which start coming in two minutes later
>Ginger Gold yells to you over the noise of the kitchen
>”Nice one, Anon! Didn't know you had such high taste!”
>She's joking
Don't let her fool you, Ginger. She's a lot more low-brow in private!
>You're not
>The orange mare stares at you, mouth agape
10/x

>Em takes another drink of wine
>After seeing that gorgeous unicorn go into the kitchen her mood has really soured
>A waiter fills her glass again and she brings it up to her lips 
>Rose looks on, concerned. She didn't think it was that big a deal, but seeing her friend get so down over something so trivial...
>She doesn't like it one bit
>”Come on, Em. Maybe you should slow down with the wine?”
>Em turns, her snout ever so slightly flushed
Bu-
>”No. Give me the glass and get some water”
>Em sighs and acquiesces, asking a waiter for a glass of ice water
>It's probably nothing
>She's getting worked up over something stupid
>She takes a sip of water-
>-Just in time to see Fleur wrap her delicate hooves around Anon's waist before walking away with a smile
>Rose looks where her friend's half spit-take was aimed
>”Oohhh... Yeah... Maybe they're old friends?”
Maybe...
>”Em, don't get down on yourself. I'm sure there's a reason-”
>Em sighs, dejected
You're probably right...She's just so much prettier, and she's young and-
>”Em, you're only like-”
Shhh! You want everyp0ny to hear you?
>”I still don't get why you keep it so secret”
It's a politics thing...
>”Nop0ny's going to care”
It's an election year. I can't afford anything that could cause a potential scandal
>”Like you an-”
>Em slaps a hoof over Rose's mouth
Are you trying to force that into the open?
>”All these secrets aren't going to end well for you, Em”
What should I do then, break it off?
>”No! Ponies' Sake, no! You really care about Anon?”
...Yes...
>”Then have this out in the open. Nop0ny likes keeping things like this secret”
>Em looks at the kitchen again
Right...
11/x

>The rest of the fundraiser goes off without problems
>You're feeling good about tonight. Service was efficient, nothing got sent back, nothing got broken
>Honestly, you were expecting at least a little trouble
>But you're not about to complain about a successful dinner service
>You walk out of the function hall into the cold autumn air
>A tune carries across your brain as you walk towards Em's house
>Em answers your knocks after a long pause
>She doesn't look happy
>More tired. Maybe fraught?
...Em? Everything okay? Can I come in?
>She nods and steps aside, letting you walk slowly into the house
Em, is something the matter? You seem down...
>She looks at the floor before casting her gaze right into yours
>”I saw you and Fleur de Lis tonight”
>...
You saw...Fleur and I?
>You didn't think it was a huge deal
>”I saw her hug you on the way out of the kitchen. I saw how delighted she looked...”
>The mare in front of you looks so vulnerable right now
>But it's not the cute, out-of-her-element vulnerable that you love to see
>It's something much more wrenching
>”Is there anything between the two of you?”
>There's a pause as you process the question 
No. She's...an old friend from Canterlot. I haven't seen her in years
>She looks a little happier
>”Really?”
Yes, Em. We used to be close, but I moved and we drifted apart, I guess
>You'd hoped she would feel better at that, but she looks away with a solemn expression
Em?
>She turns to you again
>”So you're not just with me because you couldn't find somep0ny else? ...Somep0ny younger?”
Of course not
>You put your arm around her and she rests her head on your chest
12/x

>There's a long stretch of time where neither of you speak
>Em looks like she's thinking hard about something
>Eventually she looks up at you
>”I'm sorry for being so insecure”
We've all got our hangups
>”I know, but I hate that mine get in the way of things like this...I just see all these young mares around you and I can't help but think one of them would be better for you...”
I chose you, didn't I?
>”You sound like Rose”
>You both laugh
Feel better now?
>She smiles for a moment, but her face quickly falls
>With a sigh, she seems to gather up her nerve
>She looks into your eyes again
>”Anon, there's something I need to tell you”
What is it?
>”I haven't been totally honest with you about my past...”
>You've got a feeling this is going to get awkward
Your past? What do you mean?
>”Do you remember when I told you about my going to Academie de Selle?”
Yeah, you said you went for a semester before you left. It wasn't the right place for you. I asked if you knew Professor-
>”Hickory Smoke?”
>She looks off out the window
So you DID know him
>”...Yes, I did. Truthfully, de Selle was a great fit for me; I loved the atmosphere, the student body, the classes, everything was amazing...”
>There's a pause, like she doesn't know how to phrase something
So why did you leave?
>She sighs heavily, hanging her head, eyes closed
>Slowly she raises her gaze to meet yours
>”I got close to Professor Smoke...I was his top student amongst the First Years...even did a few functions alongside him”
>The look of shame and regret on her face tells you exactly what happened before she says it
You...with him?
13/x

>”Yes...”
>Her voice is so quiet it's barely above a whisper
Em-
>”Let me finish. Please...”
>You shift uneasily on the couch
>”We were together for a month before we were found out. Another student walked in on us and the news spread across the school like wildfire. A week later I was expelled and he was suspended. We carried on for a little while, but eventually he let me go, saying I was too immature...or some other excuse...”
>Wait...suspended... You remember him recounting a story like that once when you knew him. But that  was only four years ag-
Em...
>She looks up again
When did all this happen?
>A pained look crosses her face and her gaze drops to the floor again
>Unconsciously, you edge away from her slightly
>”Twelve years ago”
Were you a late applican-
“No”
>...
>You edge further away
>She sinks forward
...Are you really as old as you say you are?
>She looks up one more time
>”I-I...”
>You look at the tan mare and get up from the couch
I need some air.
>”I'm sorry...I should have told you sooner...”
I'm sorry too. I'll see you later, Em
>”Anon, wait!”
>You ignore her and shut the door
>The air is cold. You walk through the darkened streets alone, thinking about Em's revelation
>Why the lies?
>Couldn't she be honest with you from the start?
>She was unceremoniously kicked out of culinary school, that's...not ideal...
>She slept with Hickory...okay, that's just uncomfortable...
>And she's been lying about her age since day one...
>You stick on that last one
>More than her expulsion, more than her affair with the stallion who was like a father to you, she lied to you about something so basic...so simple...
>You feel betrayed
> ...Alone
14/x

>You get to your house feeling more uneasy and conflicted than you have in a long time
>Tonight was supposed to be great. You were supposed to have a great service and impress your mare and then spend some time with her to decompress from weeks of planning-stress
>You weren't supposed to have this kind of thing laid on you and you definitely weren't supposed to end the night storming out of Em's house
>What the hell happened...
>You stop at the door and look back towards the city
>Going to bed early and angry isn't sounding good to you right now
>You find yourself thinking about Fleur now
>Em had lied to you about her own age
>You had lied to her about Fleur
>On the way to the inn you hear the town clock strike 10:00
She's probably not even there, come to think of it
>A pair of slender white hooves encircle you from behind
>”Who's not there?”
Speak of the Devil
>”Me? But I'm an angel...”
>You turn around and look at her
What are you up to tonight?
End

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