Hot Dogs of Fate[Frog]

While the lowest colony was considered to be the most peaceful, it’s main plaza was always quite busy and crowded, especially since the Maiden’s birthday was at hand. Haruo never actually loved to stand in the middle of a city, not just because guards could search for him in no time and bust his ass without too much to worry about, it was it’s ambience: those crude and overlapping sounds were so much different than usual, and that was already much to worsen his mood. As he slowly walked towards the center, wearing his usual long blue shirt and his light-gray trousers, all concealed by his white coat, the young albino wondered where he could find something to eat before going back home to his brothers. Whereas he preferred to “borrow” things instead of buying them, he had to spend part of his savings for clothes and other basic necessities.

It was starting to really get old, this neverending loop in which he found himself. People around him didn't seem to even notice his stand, save for several kids, but they were also discouraged from approaching by their parents just when he would think he'd be making some money. All in all, he sold two hot dogs that day, and that was long long ago already. It was sickeningly boring, almost pointless, sitting there like that.

The spicy fragrance of hot dogs emanating from the battered up stand wafted across the plaza, but to no avail, and soon, the man found himself standing by the stand instead of sitting behind it, using his tradmark 'teacher's glare' at potential customers to drive their attention. Needless to say, it only made matters worse. Just when he was about to finally give it up for the day, he heard a melodical grumble coming from somewhere nearby. His trained ears located the source of the sound and he turned to look at a young man, white as snow, walking his way. Not planning to get his hopes up or anything, he just stared at him in an almost confused daze. Only he knew, however, that his heart skipped a beat at the concrete sign of an empty belly in need.

Eyes widened with each step the young man took towards the stand. Unknown, long lost instincts took over and the man spoke up, in a voice that might have once been more booming than it was now, but still carried the highlighted intonation.

"Then my ears were not mistaken, I really have heard the grieving cry of a pained stomach!" The man straightened up and jumped over to the stand, immediately pulling out a slice of bread along with a single hot dog. "You have come to the right place, my dear boy! Our motto here is to never betray a customer's trust, and my personal motto is to help out those in pinch!" The man chuckled and closed his eyes as he slumped the hot dog into the neat slice in the middle of the bread. "Well then, will you be having anything with this?" He gestured towards the sauces, all the while holding the dog.

"Hmhmhm!" The man chuckled. Not one, but two? This meeting must have been orchestrated by mistress fate herself! "Of course, of course!" He quickly handled another hot dog, grabbing and emptying a bottle of mustard on it. "That will be, hmm, 15, because you made my day." The man gave the boy his hot dogs and extended his hand expectantly.

There was something real nice in actually getting what you have wanted after an ordeal such as this. The arrival was so much sweeter as it had been preluded by such a day. The man closed his eyes, crossed his hands, and sat back on the stool, wiping his hand nonchalantly on his clothes. Not only was this young man as kind as to buy two hot dogs, but he was making conversation now as well. The man shrugged. "It's like this every year. But the day really is nice, I'll agree with that. Hmhm." He didn't have anything against talking to this boy. Besides, it was a way to pass the time, and only perhaps, it was also a way to drive some more attention to his stand. "You likin' the hot dogs?"

"Yes, nothing much ever really happens." The man relaxed and waited for the boy's reaction. What he got was nothing short of an explosion. Honestly, it might've been just the hunger speaking for him, because his stomach was really sounding distressed, but then again... "Yes, I did make them, hmhmhm!" In any case, the boy started making a lot of noise, and Ironfist, boggled at first, but slightly smirking with a raised eyebrow (as if stating, "I know, I know, but you're making too much of a ruckus."), before he actually realized what was happening.


The kid had actually gotten some other people to notice the stand. A man and a woman, attracted by the noise, now stood before the genuinely surprised Ironfist, ordering two hot dogs. He almost looked like a cornered animal, looking at them like that from his spot with wide eyes, but then he shook himself out of it, "Right, here they come!", and jumped back up to give them their hot dogs. Money came and he set them off on their way, before turning to the boy, his mouth shaped in an 'o', and his frown frownier than ever, but in a positive way.

"How?" Was all he managed to utter.

"Hmm?" The man straightened up as he watched the boy with a raised eyebrow. The man and the woman had already left, obviously more than happy with their meals, but still... This young man, he said it was simple, but why wasn't it working for him then? He had sideburns, after all! What was there not to trust about a person with sideburns? Not only that, but he was now apologizing?

"Hmmmhmmm! No need to apologize, young man!" He exclaimed, his face stretching into a big grin before he went over and put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Say then, how would you like making some more of your magic and getting me some customers? I'd pay you." His grin widened as he leaned so that his face was at the same level as the boy's. "What do you say?"

"Haha! Splendid, young man!" The man burst into a laugh and patted the boy on his back. This kid was interesting, and also willing to actually work for him. Hmhm, maybe today wouldn't be that terrible, after all, now that he had found himself a customer-magnet. "My name is Ironfist, young man." He banged his fist against his chest. "You may refer to me as your boss, if you so wish, and I will refer to you as my assistant manager from now on. Formalities, as you must know, are important. In any case, let's get you to work, then. Hmm."

The man frowned as he scanned the area. He was bad at this, but the kid wasn't. He chuckled, "Hmhmhm!" as an idea suddenly crossed his mind. "Let's see how well you can really do this. As your first task as my assistant manager, I want you to find a suitable target and get them to buy one of my hot dogs. If you can do it again, like you did last time, I will know I can trust in your abilities."

"Hmhmhm! Alright then!" Ironfist said to the boy, proudly observing his enthusiastic explosion. Now, he just had to find a difficult target in the crowd... But who to choose, who to choose? That skinny little girl? That rotten old lady? The couple already eating an ice cream at a bench on the opposite side of the square? There were so many interesting possibilities. He wasn't gonna give up until he found a suitable target, though! Giving overly difficult tasks has always been his forte.

Looking back up and focusing once again, his eyes widened as a perfect target entered his line of sight. It was a rude, classy looking, really skinny teenage girl sitting on a bench with one hand around her boyfriend's neck as the two kissed, while, in the other hand, she held a half eaten, delicious looking sandwich filled with scrumptious salad and ham and whatnot, with the sauce dripping from it as the kiss continued into what seemed to be eternity. The teens were basically sucking on each other's lips, ha! Ah, the joys of youth! Anyhow, a wide grin plastered on his face, Ironfist placed a hand on his assistant manager's shoulder and patted him as he pointed his other hand in the direction of the girl kissing the boy. "There. I want you to get her to buy a hot dog. No, actually, make them both buy hot dogs, alright? Hmhmhm! That's how you'll prove me you can do anything!"

The kissing couple was far enough that Ironfist wouldn't be able to communicate with his assistant without shouting the distance, but still close enough so that he could keep a close eye on him.