Squadron 4 Dorms, Spectre HQ
"What's taking Takeshi so long?" Akemi groaned, her head rested firmly upon the soft pillow in her bunk.
"He's probably still talking with Maddox. He can be a real conversationist, you know." Oxford replied, lifting hundred pound weights in each hand with ease.
"Takeshi's a kiss ass. He's probably just trying to get a pay raise." Cutter interjected, reading a newspaper in his bunk.
"Or maybe he genuinely likes and respects Maddox and is intelligent enough to carry a conversation with him?" Akemi hissed back, quick to defend Takeshi in his absence.
Cutter backed down as he returned to the paper in his lap.
The squadron dorm was rather small, about the size of an apartment in Liverpool, the same size of space Riley lived in. It was complete with bunk beds for each member, a kitchen, and a few extra things like Oxford's weight rack and Cutter's dart board.
"We're back! Sorry we took so long. Charlemagne and I were planning a little get together with the captains." Takeshi barged in, letting Riley enter the room first as he followed.
"Oi, what's the little bugger doing with you? Isn't he staying somewhere else?" Cutter poked, putting down his publication.
"No, he's staying here. Didn't I tell you to get a bed ready for him?"
"Oh...you did didn't you…"
"Yes, I did. Now get on it. Captain's orders."
"I don't know what kind of insane miracle you want me to pull, Takeshi. There's not an extra bed in sight. I don't even know if we got anymore cots in storage, either."
"Head down to storage and double check. Meet us at the mess hall when you're done."
"I'll look, but no promises. Last time I heard, we were fresh out of anything to sleep on."
"Whatever. I'll run it by Charlemagne and see if we have any extra money in the budget to invest. We're gonna have an awful lot of recruits coming in now."
As Cutter exited the room, he grabbed the newsie cap sitting on the hatstand. Before he could leave, Riley got a good glimpse of his head without the hat. He had thin brown hair, slicked back well. The sides of his head had been shaven, leaving only the mound of spiky strings utop. Riley didn't know why he wore the drab cap when his hairstyle looked pretty cool.
"So, what did Maddox tell you? Did he send you back or threaten your life when he heard you were useless? What time do you have to be out by tomorrow?" Akemi jumped from her bed with a joyous hop in her step.
Retorting with a burst of confidence, Riley was slightly satisfied to respond with positive news.
"Actually...Maddox really likes me. So much so, I've been invited by him personally to join. And I have. So hah! Take that!"
"WHAT!? What does that old geezer see in you!?"
"He said I had the potential to become the perfect thief." Riley turned his head snobbishly, grinning a bit. He was mimicking Akemi almost perfectly.
"No way! You're a failure! You have the perfect gift but don't know how to use it! What makes him think you could ever become the 'perfect thief'?"
"He just sees something in me. Something you should start seeing too, since I'm an official member of this guild now." Maxwell laughed more, basking in the great feeling that was proving Akemi wrong. The young Japanese girl was clearly shaken and angered, her face red, a vein popping from her forehead.
"Not quite yet, Riley. You'll need to get your identification card as well as your branding. After that, you'll attend the recruit ceremony and then be officially inducted into the guild." Takeshi explained.
"HAH! So you're not an official member yet! EAT YOUR WORDS!" Akemi laughed in Riley's face.
"NUH UH! EAT MY TROUSERS!" Riley snapped back.
"YOU TWIT!"
"YOU...YOU...PRAT!"
"LIGGER!"
"TROLLOP!"
"LAZY SOD!"
"PILLOCK!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH, YOU TWO! BREAK IT UP!" Takeshi intervened, pushing the two aside.
"She started it!" Riley shouted, pointing rudely at Akemi.
"NUH UH!" The girl childishly whipped back.
"Cut it out. I'm warning both of you. No dinner tonight if you keep this up." Takeshi hissed, his eyes losing the warming charm that had been present only moments before. Now, it was gone without a trace.
"Sorry. That was...childish." Riley admitted, rubbing the back of his head.
"Yes, very much. I have too high of a standard to be acting like this. As for you, you should learn to keep your mouth shut." Akemi said.
Cutter re-appeared at the door, pushing it open.
"Bad news, Takeshi. No cots or beds in the storage. We're out of luck."
"Alright, we'll figure it out later. I don't know about you all, but I'm starving."
"I can eat. Why not." Cutter added.
"A fine man deserves a fine meal. I am up to it." Oxford dropped his weights, flexing as he answered the call.
"You got me. I'm in." Riley interjected.
"I suppose." Akemi joined.
"Alright. Let's go." Takeshi guided the squadron once more into the centerfold, then into the mess hall down the way. Riley was quick to notice all the people still up this late in the night. Conversation was bustling and loud, people gambling and drinking pints of fine ale.
It was a rather open space with lots of tables scattered about. It was well lit with orange gas lamps that gave the wooden walls and floors a warm feeling to them, which matched the general temperature of the room. In the very back, there were open windows where the chefs could peer out from and hand out food. Surprisingly enough, staff was still up and on duty at this time.
"I can't believe it. I've never seen so many people up this late, let alone eating and drinking. And they're still working!" Riley noted.
"This guild is like its own little ecosystem, one could say. We have many functioning parts that must be working at all times to keep entire machine as a whole running. Chefs switch out on shifts here so they are always open. They can also make just about anything you can think of." Takeshi explained.
"I must say young man, the bangers and mash here are to die for. Also, the tuna rolls are particularly a delight." Oxford spoke up, now clothed with a tight fitting long sleeve shirt.
"Bangers and mash? Tuna rolls? What are those?" Riley asked, scratching his head.
"You've never heard of them? At all? Where are you from kid, America?" Cutter spat, fixing the cap on his head.
"No. I've just...Well...I've never really had...good food before. Best I've ever eaten is my mom's home made miso soup. Also, my neighbors used to bake really good rolls, so I guess that was nice as well. But, I've never really tried anything beyond that." Riley went on.
Oxford, clearly stunned by his statement, lurched forward and lightly pressed his hand on the boy's shoulder, looking him dead in the eyes.
"You may not know this, Maxwell. But besides being the strongest and most handsome man in the world, I am also a GREAT FOOD CONNOISSEUR! AND AS A MAN OF SUPERIOR TASTE I MUST EXPOSE YOU TO THE AMAZING FLAVORS OF THE WORLD! JOURNEY FOURTH WITH ME, MAXWELL! EXPLORE THE OUTER REGIONS OF YOUR TASTEBUDS! EXCITE THE SENSES YOU'VE NEVER FELT BEFORE! Take a whiff! Smell the air, right now!" Oxford demanded. Following his guidance, Maxwell sucked in. Delightfully surprised, Riley raised an eyebrow in inquiry.
"What is that? Like meat of some sort?"
"Beef stew, Maxwell! The greatest in United Japan! COME ALONG! JOURNEY WITH ME THROUGH THE WORLD THAT IS FINE DINING!" Oxford pounded his chest, a cloud of steam shooting from his nostrils as he marched over to the food window, Riley enthusiastically following behind him.
"I will never understand Oxford." Akemi admitted, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"The man's extravagant. It runs in his family. He fits in quite well, I'd say." Takeshi noted, a light grin on his face.
"You're right. This whole guild's full of pansies and psychoses with too much power and skill. I sure as hell don't understand anyone. And I don't plan to." Cutter said, reaching for the newspaper in his coat and sitting down in the farthest table away from everyone.
"You know, you really ought to have him sit with us for now on. It's not good for teamwork." Akemi suggested to Takeshi, who had trailed the mercenary with his eyes.
"As much as I'd like to, at the end of the day, the man's on a contract. Nowhere on it is he obligated to like or fit in with the rest of us. If he wants to be alone and distant, that's his preference. As long as he cooperates and works with us on missions...that's all that matters." Takeshi responded.
Akemi grunted lightly, snobbishly turning her attention away from the knife thrower in the corner.
"Aye Takeshi! Can you help carry my plates to our table?" Riley pleaded, pointing at the five sets of food at the cook's window.
"All that is for yourself?" Takeshi said surprised, his eyes widened comically.
"Heh, you think this is a lot, look at Oxford!" Riley pointed.
Oxford swerved by Takeshi and company, ten plates of food in each of his hands.
"Jeez, what else is new…" Tanaka murmured.
"Well, let's eat!" Riley shouted, darting toward the table with food in hand. As he ran by, Takeshi couldn't help but smile at Maxwell's enthusiasm.
"He's going to like it here. I know he will." Takeshi smiled brightly.