Are you fr-
No, I’m not. I’ll be at my office all day.
I didn’t even get to finish my sentence.
I knew what you were going to say, that’s all.
When do you get off work?
I choose my own hours. I leave work when I want to.
(Wait, why am I telling him this?)
Will you be at work all night, too?
...
I want you to come by my place to taste test for me.
...Why me, exactly?
If you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly fond of you.
But you are fond of my cooking.
Plus, your honesty and critique can be constructive.
Unlike those other food critics that try to flatter me, you already
dislike me as a person so no need to worry about preconceived bias.
...
..11PM.
11PM?
I’ll be by your place at 11PM.
..! Okay. Here, my address is-
I already know where you live.
Excuse me.
I said I already know where you live.
...
Can I pay for my meal now?
..Of course. 
[Later in the day]
You came. 
I did. Do I look like a liar?
No, that’s not what I- 
Can I come inside now?
..Yeah. Come in. 
Wow, your apartment looks…
My apartment looks.. What? 
..Where’s the food?
Here, just come to the kitchen.
[Vince leads Allen to the kitchen.]
Nice kitchen.
Oh, tha- 
I was being sarcastic.
...
(Don’t insult my kitchen.. I could stab you right now if I wanted
to,) 
?
Nothing.
Is that a lemon tree?
Yes. I grew it myself.
I didn’t know it was possible to grow one indoors,
You must’ve put a lot of love into raising it, there’s a lot of fruit
growing.
… Thanks. 
Here, you came right as I finished cooking the appetizer.
[Vince sets down a small plate of food.]
Looks nice.
What is it?
[As Vincent explains the dish, Allen pokes at it with his fork before
taking a bite.]
Well?
(chewing)
It’s good. You managed to make the texture palatable while
maintaining how it’s meant to taste. You put a nice spin on it.
..! 
Could use something to balance the flavors out, and the serving
portion is too big for an appetizer for my taste.
[Allen lists off his critiques while Vincent flips through a booklet
and takes notes.]
Something about it feels off, though.
..Like what.
I don’t know.
Well, while you finish that, I’ll cook your next course.
Okay.
What’s your favorite food, Allen?
Uh.. oatmeal?
I don’t have much to choose from.
Hah. You and me both. 
Ugh, don’t relate to me.
Right, right. We’re complete opposites, I forgot.
Are you being sarcastic with me right now?
Haha, maybe?
I can’t stand you.
And why is that? What did I do?
Well for starters, you never say what you’re thinking.
Oh? What makes you so confident in saying that?
I’m a private investigator, it’s my job to look into people and past
their false-faces.
Right..
Something about you is off-putting.
You have something weighing down on you, one misstep and you’ll fall
into the abyss that you’ve dug for yourself.
Wow, were you a psychologist too? That’s a lot of armchair psychology
you’re pinning onto me.
It’s almost like you’re projecting.
Or maybe we’re too similar.
[Vincent laughs coldly, before setting down another plate in front of
Allen.]
The side dish,
That was fast.
I like to think I’m getting closer to perfecting my craft and
methods.
Also, I did some meal prep before you arrived.
Mm. Well, tell me about the dish.
[Vincent explains the side as he flips through his booklet, pen in
hand as he makes notes in the margins. Allen nods along, chewing
thoughtfully.]
How do you alter the recipes so that I can stomach them?
Ace. 
Ace?
Mhm. Ace told me about how he used to cook for you sometimes in
college. 
He kept the notes he took and shared them with me.
I simply built upon his discoveries.
He’s a very talented man.
So, what do you think of the main course?
I like it. Simple, flavorful,
Any critiques?
It could use more..
Hm.
It could use more.. What?
(chewing)
I dunno. I mean, it is pretty good.
[Allen gives a dismissive wave of his hand as he leans back in his
chair. Vincent, frustrated, grips the pen in his hand tighter.]
Right. Well, here’s the main dish to accompany the side.
Bon appetit.
Mm. Looks good.
You don’t seem very happy, Vincent.
How could you tell.
Your body language is getting less controlled.
I’m starting to see what kind of person you really are.
From the way Ace talks about you, I expected you to be more..
honest.
Honest? I can be honest.
Authentically?
..Just what kind of person do you see me as?
That’s for me to know and for you to wonder about.
Hm.
I don’t know what exactly you said to Ace to get him to swoon over
you, but I swear if you ever hurt him-
Hurt him? No, I’d hope he stays in my kitchen for as long as
possible.
As I’ve said, he’s a talented chef.
I intend to make good use of that talent.
..Hmph. If you say so.
You’re very protective of Ace, aren’t you?
He’s a friend. I try to look out for those I consider a
friend.
Am I your friend?
Stupid question.
No, really, I’d like to know.
You hate me, but you came over anyway.
..You made a convincing point earlier, that’s all.
(That easy, huh?)
I love your cooking after all, I’m not gonna turn down dinner that I
can actually eat.
Right, right.
[Allen begins to carve and cut into the main course, closing his eyes
thoughtfully as he chews. Vincent's jaw is clenched as he mulls over
what Allen said.]
It’s good.
The taste this time is.. A little off. Might be something with the
ingredient used or cooking method. Texture is decent.
.. (writing notes)
The dish is good overall, and the side complements it nicely.
(nodding) It’s satisfactory, but something about it leaves me feeling
a little..
Unfulfilled?
Yeah.
…
Hm. Alright. I’ll get the dessert ready.
[Vince sets down his booklet and turns back to the kitchen to prepare
the last course.]
(looks through the booklet)
Wow, your handwriting is..
Awful?
Nah, I can actually read some of it.
Really?
Yeah. You have handwriting similar to..
..
..?? 
Wow,
What?
(I was right about my read on you. This guy is obsessed with his
craft.)
Allen?
Do you see cooking as an art of some sort?
..Yeah.
[Allen smiles lightly, it’s barely there and easy to miss. Vincent
stares back at Allen for a moment, silent.]
I can tell. Art often brings your inner world to the forefront for
everyone to see and observe.
Everyone can interpret it, eat it, taste it. Most people will happily
eat your food, it’s expensive and tastes good after all.
But it’s a reflection of you after all.
Even if you hide it well, it's clear there’s something wrong with
you.
.. Shut up.
?
(Shit, that just slipped out,) 
See, you’re getting less controlled to closer I get to the
truth.
Here, just- 
[Vincent places a small plate in front of Allen. He looks irritated
but seems to be holding his tongue for now.]
Crepes?
Lemon Cheesecake Crepes to be exact.
I’m not a huge fan of sweets.
It should be fine. They’re not that sweet anyways.
Did you make them with the lemons you grew over there?
I did.
Hmm. (takes a bite)
Well?
.. I like it.
It isn’t too sweet, and it.. Hm..
What?
This one, it feels like there was more.. Care put in?
More.. depth?
Can you explain more?
(shrugs) I don’t have any critiques here. I liked it, the texture is
good and it tastes nice.
A good end to a full course meal.
..I see.
Well, your feedback is just about what I expected,
Was it useful?
Not in the slightest,
Hmm.
You say that, but you’re already revising your notes and
whatnot.
..
Well, thanks for the dinner.
No problem.
..Thanks for coming over. [As he gets up to leave, Allen wanders over to the lemon tree. He
holds an unripe lemon in his hands, not plucking it just yet.]
..Hey, can I take one?
That one isn’t ripe yet.
I know.
..Here, let me pick one for you.
[Vincent looks over the growing fruit on the lemon tree before
picking a small but plump lemon.]
Thanks.
I’ll be going now, bye.
Bye.
[Allen exits the apartment. Vincent returns to his kitchen, cleaning
up as he mulls over the conversation he had with Allen.]
[He glances over at his lemon tree for a moment, recalling what Allen
had said about it when he first arrived.]
[“You must’ve put a lot of love into raising it, there’s a lot of
fruit growing.”]
Love, huh…