Food for thought (Deshi)

Fang would consider what the other said with a thoughtful expression before nodding with approval.

“Oh, you’re good at reading people. Sure there are some flaws here and there, but you’re the first to read me so well. That is an impressive trait. As for Gurdy here,” he would pause and pet the little one he still held a light smile on his face. “You won’t find another with much love for such creatures. What can I say? I like the odd as much as I love knowledge,” he would say to the other he had grown quite relaxed around as the time ticked on. The man may have been selling hot dogs and perhaps had a bad stroke of luck in life; however, the guy still had his edge and passion for what he loved and perhaps. Perhaps that is why Fang liked him. This combined with his honesty made him an interesting fellow in the doctor's eyes.

He appreciated the difference in a rather ordinary world. Appreciated it enough to not be bothered by the bargaining game they were playing. If this had been a normal vendor trying this with him, the vendor would find the doctor had little patience for such games; however, this one on the other hand was stubborn and persistent, rather than annoying and nagging like other vendors. He didn’t seem to be in it for the money, but more for the game. So when the other gave his counter offer, Fang would nod with approval.

“Alright then,” the doctor would say as he sat Gurdy on the ground before digging into his pocket once more for his wallet. Still confused, the little creature would watch, but once it saw the money being exchanged it would wag its tail in joy again. Ohh! This meant it would get food! It gave a few little snorts of joy as it waited for the food.

In any case, when Fang handed over the money Ironfist would notice that the amount was way over the 24 he had asked. A good 30 over. Was this a mistake on the doctor’s part or was he rewarding the other for amusing him so?

It was hard to say and even harder to decipher as Fang waited not for the change, but the hotdogs he had paid for. The doctor would stay quiet for a bit before speaking once more.

“Ironfist, did you ever consider taking up teaching once more?” he would ask the other in calm tones as his eyes watched the scene around him as he contemplated something.
_______________________________________________________________

Note: :

"Hmhmhm! It comes naturally with time and experience." Ironfist merely chuckled in response. His correct assumption seemed to impress the man of science, but it wasn't as much of a talent as it was, as he had said, experience and expertise. Without getting much into it, one can really get to know how to read people by observing them from behind a food stand as they mingle with one another.

And would you look at that, the doc agreed on the price! And Ironfist was looking forward to at least one more round of the game! Haha, well, whatever, at least the lil' thing would be happy now. "Ohoho! If you're sure, coming right up, then." He grinned and grabbed the money the other was handing over to him. Immediately, however, he noticed something was wrong. The bid was 24, so why did was the amount he held in his hand... Umgh, numbers. Had it been fists, he would be able to promptly handle the issue, but this way, he wasn't sure he saw it alright the first time around, so he had to count it again and it said... 54? So he had been right, after all. Still, he couldn't really believe it, and gave Fang an confused look before, almost hesitantly, stuffing the money into his pocket. "Heh." He grinned as he pulled back behind the counter, ready to start making the hot dogs. This man, he was really an oddball, was he not? Giving him 30 valor too much... That had to have been deliberate, but why exactly... Ironfist couldn't deduce, but that didn't mean he wasn't grateful. His day suddenly brightened by this unusual customer, it gave Ironfist even more drive to make the hot dogs.

He would've finished them in a jiffy, had he not received another question from the man. Ironfist stopped in his tracks, left hand holding two already finished hot dogs while he somehow handled making the third one only with his right hand. He raised his head from his work, and just watched the other for a moment again. "Hmm." He nodded in response and continued working on the dogs. What was up with this man... For whatever reason, looking at him felt wrong at the moment, even to Ironfist, so he lowered his eyes to the hot dogs before speaking up while finishing them. "Never stopped considering, heheh." He grinned, but not as brightly. Once he finished the hot dogs and handed them to Fang, the pile counted not four, but five of them. Leaning against the counter, Ironfist winked at the man, waving his index finger. "The fifth one is on the house."

“Time and experience, huh?” Fang repeated back as he thought on that. He supposed there was truth to that. Someone could learn from practice to master something, but reading people? He wasn’t sure that one was so easy. If that was the case, then he the sad exception to the rule. He could real people, but peg them like that? Nope. He simply could not do that. Even with experience and time he simply did not do well in that department. Regardless of thought, he would considered what he learned and store it for later.

In any case, a price had been settled. Was it the agreed upon amount? No, but Fang could not resist rewarding the guy for the game. It was rare he found someone that could actually hold their ground in the court with himself, so it was much appreciated. However, it appeared the amount made the other hesitate when it was given without a reason.

The hesitation showed the man was honest and perhaps quick to understand that the money was for him since he pocketed the money after a moment of waiting to see if something would occur otherwise. Seeming to have more fire than before the man went to work as Fang went to observing the scene around them. He would watch people enjoy themselves and children run by out of control. Thanking the higher beings that Gurdy was not like that, his eyes would shift to observe his little friend.

She was more calm and patient…well somewhat patient. She was currently standing on her hind legs looking up at the ho tdogs with wide eyes as she wagged her tail.

Hmph. Well at least she was being held in one space by something so that was a plus. Besides, it was kind of nice chatting with this gentleman. When Fang asked about teaching he took note how the other seem to falter in his cooking for a bit before answering. When he heard the answer, the doctor would close his eyes a bit and nod as he came to a conclusion in his head on something he was pondering.

“Well then,” he said as he turned back to the other just as he finished the hot dogs. As he saw the pile, he looked from it to the other raising an eyebrow slightly as way of questioning him for the extra one; however, the man seemed to understand what was coming for he gave a quick response. To his words, Fang gave the other a lopsided smirk of appreciation.

“Thank you kindly,” he said giving Gurdy four hotdogs and a half. The other half he munched on himself. Gurdy, on the other hand, did not seem to notice as she went after the hot dogs with a content grunt. Heh. They really were good for hot dogs. Or maybe being in good company made the item taste better. In any case, Fang would pause on eating the half as he narrowed his eyes slightly at Ironfist as he thought carefully on his words before speaking.

“If you ever feel like it, I have a small bunch of students that perhaps you can teach if you have the time. Considering these are some of the more brilliant minds in the pool, they don’t see any teacher fit for them and so has chased them off with their…unique methods. It would be nice to see a teacher hold their ground against these three. What do you think?” he said before falling silent and finishing the hot dog.

"Huh!?" Ironfist looked over at Fang. He was offering him to teach. But, for whatever reason, he was feeling a sort of nagging at the back of his head. Nervousness, was it? He almost never experienced that sensation, so it confused him, especially now that he was being offered something he would definitely enjoy doing. Or would he? How long has it been since he last taught? Has he ever even taught anybody? He had grown accustomed to the life of a hot dog chef, as stupid and depressing as it sounded. So was he not ready to take on students again?

Would he even try to find out?

Ironfist sighed and grinned lightly. "I'll get it touch with you if I ever decide to take these students of yours on, heheh." He said and chuckled, falling silent in a conflicted state. It would be apparent that the two have talked for enough time now. Perhaps it was time to move on for the day. Besides, Ironfist was sure he wouldn't be getting many more customers anyways, and not like he even bothered to think about it anymore. What was on his mind was the proposition he had received from the mysterious doc. Would he take it? He was yet to decide.

"Thanks again, have a nice day, hmhmhm." He would wave goodbye to Fang when the other would decide to leave.

A certain something within him sighed in frustration as Ironfist began pushing the hot dog stand up the street and into the orange light of the sunset.

-Exit.

[NOTE: It ain't sunset when they part, it's sunset when he goes home.]

Surprise or shock, it was hard to say which it was the other displayed as he reacted to the question Fang had posed to him about teaching a group of rather stubborn students he had on hand. The man seemed conflicted as he thought, but Fang did not disturb him as he allowed the man to think for the moment. As the other thought, he cleaned up the mess of papers from Gurdy’s hotdogs and tossed them into a bin. The little critter was quite content and happy now that its belly was full.

As he returned from the bin, he would get his answer and give the other a polite smile. He liked the idea of the other finding him again perhaps with a more full answer than the one he currently gave. For now though, the unsureness was satisfactory to the doctor.

“Ah, I see. Well I look forward to meeting you again, Mr. Ironfist and further chatting with you,” Fang would say as he watched the other become silent after giving his answer. The conflicted state still seemed to be there. Curious, but nothing the scientist would question for now as he looked at his watch and then seeing the time decided it was time to go.

“Well, then. Until next time,” he would say giving the other a polite bow before he would turn and leave the stand with Gurdy behind him. As to where the doctor went after leaving that hotdog stand, well that was something for him to know alone.

-Exit. Thread has ended –

Note: