Scene #1270:

Owner	Pose
Auron	There are times that Auron wants to get out and about. Granted, they are very rare, as he tends to keep to himself. But now that he can't really walk around Spira anymore, even disguised, it's become necessary to go get food at outside places. The Bar and Grill at the Edge of the Multiverse tends to be one of those such places. People generally don't look at him funny, get creeped out by his presence, or go into fanboy mode. Bleh. Anyway, that leaves Auron at a booth near the door, having placed an order and waiting for it to be brought out. He's got his tea, though, and he sips at that while he waits.
Grumble	The door chime tinkles as the Bar and Grill door opens and closes with seemingly no one entering. Unless they were to look down to find a confused looking pug. Grumble had been exploring somewhere in the forrests where he had found an abandoned factory. Then as typical his tummy grumbled yet he did not know what he wanted. He just knew he wanted something to eat. Pushing his way in through a slightly open door, had led him here. In this new completely different place. He knew instantly because it smelled completely different. Had he teleported subconsciously again? Sniffing around he sees a person behind a counter. "Hello! Sir where am I?" Those that know his voice my recognize him as the he is informed it is the bar and grill and asked if he wanted a table for one. "I am not looking to purchase a table sir! Is this a furniture store as well?"
Auron	Auron doesn't look up as the door opens, until he notes that it closes and it doesn't seem that anyone's entered. He turns his head, sees nothing, and then looks down. A dog? That's odd. Animals didn't wander in when they got hungry, did they? Of course then it all makes sense when the dog speaks. Not only because 'talking animal', but because he knows that voice. He's heard it on the Union radio. The exchange gets a small smirk, and he notes, "He's asking if you'd like to sit down and eat," he replies to the pug. Auron's voice, though far less heard on the radio, might be recognizable. "This is the Bar and Grill at the Edge of the Multiverse. Perhaps you are hungry, or want to socialize. That seems to be the most common way of ending up here."
Grumble	Grumble looks up at hearing the familiar voice! "Mister...Mister...Whose name I cannot remember! I am sorry! It is you. I know you. Oh! So that is what he meant. I would love to sit down and eat." Looking around his ears drooping he stares at Auron with his big puppy dog eyes and whines a tiny bit. "May ...may I please eat with you sir mister?" Grumble hated being alone. Here was a potential new friend he could eat with. He would not miss this chance if he could help it!
Auron	"Auron," he replies when Grumble seems to hesitate for his name. He speaks on radio infrequently enough that his name can be missed. No titles or last name, just the name. The puppy dog eyes and whine brings a quiet chuckle. "Of course." He slides over in the booth a bit, so that Grumble can jump in. "Can you manage the seat?" Booth seats are kind of low, so the pug shouldn't have much trouble. A chair might be a problem. Auron doesn't know what Grumble is capable of, and he really does look like a typical domestic dog.
Grumble	Gives a happy bark as his new friend 'Auron' accepts. Hopping into the air and simply flying to his seat across Auron he can barely be seen over the lip of the table. Scootching up so his chin rests ontop of the table he stares at Auron and grins. "Hello Mister Auron! I am Grumble! A pug of my burrow! It is a pleasure to meet you in person. Thank you for allowing me to join you!" If one were able to see it, his tail would be wagging wildly.
Auron	And this also brings a chuckle. "You're quite welcome," he offers quietly. He does ask, "What sort of dog is a 'pug', if you don't mind my asking? The dogs of Spira are a bit different. They resemble... I think you would know it as a 'collie'. But with long ears, like a rabbit."
Grumble	Looking around trying to figure out how to get food now that he is seated. He is knocked out of his musing by his new friend's question. "Oh! Pugs are companion dogs mister Auron! As I understand it, we were bred to be companions to chinese emperors. As well as to protect them from assassins!" Sniffs the lip of the table. There has been many meals here...but where was the food? Licking the edge in hunger he turns his eyes to Auron. "Mister Auron. How do I get food here? I am so very hungry."
Auron	"Protect from assassins? You must have a very good sense of smell," Auron observes. Blood and metal could be smelled on someone's person when they approached a person of power. In fact, speaking of that? Auron smells like metal. Metal and... water, oddly. A kind of... charged water. Light it smells right before a thunderstorm. Lightning water! Grumble's question gets an answer! "In a restaurant, food is ordered via a waiter or waitress." He indicates the waiter/waitress here. "You tell them what you'd like from the menu, which tells you what they have. And once you're done eating, you pay for the food, as well as the time and manpower it took to prepare it."
Grumble	Grumble thought mister Auron smelled very nice! A bit like miss Ayako but with more lightning! Then he hears the explanation. He himpers as he hears he has to pay for the food. "Mister Auron..you mean I must exchange payment? But..I do not have any money. Miss Friend Toph said I was payed by the union. But I do not know what she meant. Then she forbade me from making gold in public....I do not know what to do." With those words his tummy can literally be heard rumbling.
Auron	"I can probably cover it," Auron replies. "Though you should probably be taught how to use your salary at some point, too. Though yes... making precious metals can destabilize an economy if they use certain money systems. A metal is generally precious because there's not much of it. If there's an endless supply of it, it's not worth much, so the value of /all/ money in that world decreases." Though on to the food! "Do you know what you want to eat, or do you need to see what they have here?" he inquires.
Grumble	Grumble considers the explanation about gold. No wonder miss Toph was so insistent. That sounded terrible! Even if he didn't understand it completely. But he only gave it a few moments consideration before turning to the important matter. What did he want? He didn't know what they served and he was always interested in trying out new delicious foods. "Do they have any delicious meat items Mister Sir Auron? If so I would like anything you recommend."
Auron	Meat items! Not surprising. He rubs his chin in thought. "I had heard garlic and onions were bad for dogs' digestive systems, so I would suggest against the spaghetti and meatballs. The seasonings in the meatballs could upset your stomach," he observes. "Would you want anything else aside from the meat, or would the meat be all you wanted? If you were only looking for meat, there's always a steak."
Grumble	Considers carefully. Meat was the greatest food! But he knew that some non-meat things were also tasty. Like Peanutbutter! Oh so delicious peanut butter. So creamy and lickable and sweet. The sound of his stomach grumbling snaps him out of his daze. He was getting distrated. Meat and something else would not be bad he supposed. "My favorite is the meat mister sir Auron! But other nommies would be welcome as well! As long as there is nummy delicious meats!" Giving a little bark in excitement he rises up so his front paws are resting on the table as he pants excitedly.
Auron	Auron 'hmmms' thoughtfully. Admittedly the front paws resting on the table, with the panting, is quite adorable. Though he is thinking. A hamburger would be hard for a pug to eat because he doesn't have hands. Then again, so would a steak, because cutting it would be hard. Ah! An idea. "What about a bowl of beef stew?" he suggests. The meat would be the base flavor, with vegetables to accent it. "They have an Asian beef stew here that's quite good."
Grumble	A beef stew! An excellent idea! He had never had beef stew before though he had smelled it in passing. This would be a wonderful opportunity to try it. "Yes! That sounds delicious! Please! I want the beef stew? How do I order?!" He seems to have grown to excited and is pacing back and forth on his booth seat. "Stew! Stew! Please!" He is practically drooling as his tail wags so energetically it occasionally hits the seat back padding making silly little thumps.
Auron	Auron chuckles. "Like this." He flags down a passing waiter/waitress. "Excuse me, my friend would like a bowl of the Asian beef stew. Add that to my check, if you wouldn't mind?" The order's written down, and as the waiter/waitress begins to leave, Auron adds, "Thank you very much." Looking to Grumble, he gives a bit of a restaurant primer. "Waiters' and Waitresses' jobs are to get your order into the kitchen. There are cooks in the kitchen, who... well, cook the food. And then the waiters and waitresses bring it out to the people who'd asked for them." Forever Mr. Exposition.
Grumble	Nods and listens carefully to Auron explain everything. Though sitting on his hind legs makes it so only his eyes and ears can be seen over the edge of the table. "I see I see! Then you eat the delicious prepared foods and then give them money to compensate their work? So interesting! Thank you for explaining all this to me Mister Friend Sir Auron. Human society is oh so complicated and hard to understand. I am glad you are now my new friend." With those words, he floats up into the air and hovers over the table to land in Auron's lap. Giving his hand a few licks of gratitude and affection.
Auron	Auron nods as Grumble adds to the end of the chain of events. "That is correct," he confirms. Though he smirks as Grumble mentions human society's complexity. "Complicated indeed," he agrees. "Often needlessly -- and foolishly -- so." Suddenly pug in lap! And licking! Is it proper to pet one's allies? Well, Grumble /is/ acting like a typical domestic canine. And they like pettings, right? It's a bit hesitant, but Auron returns the hand-licking with a scritch behind an ear.
Grumble	Enjoys licking his new friend! He tastes of dirt and metal! When suddenly, like a jolt of electricity he feels the most marvelous scratches upon his head. Bumping his head against the hand that gives scritches of joy he can't help but make contented noises as he loses himself in bliss. Literally forgetting everything else at the moment.
Auron	Auron chuckles. "Ordinarily I would question the social acceptability of petting one's allies," he offers, with an amused note in his voice. "Though I think it's all right in this case." At least Grumble's not trying to crawl into the place in his coat where he tucks his arm. Cats are known to do that, and for no apparent reason!
Grumble	For the next few minutes all Grumble does is enjoy the scritching. Licking Auron's hand everytime it tries to draw away as he begs for more! At one point he tires of just head pets and rolls on his back pawing at the air to encourage his friend to rub his belly.
Auron	This is just amusing to a high degree! Auron is not known for smiles, laughter, or being genuinely happy about things. Grumble's sort of making that rather a thing here, though! It's still a quiet laugh, definitely not a guffaw or a loud laugh. But it's a laugh, nonetheless. Belly rubs will happen, yes! Though once the food arrives, Auron will note, "Ah, your stew is here." Food vs. further belly rubs... oh, the decisions a pug has to make!
Grumble	Grumble was in heaven. At least he thought he was. The joy of so much physical contact in the form of pets and bellyrubs, clouding his mind in pure euphoria. But then, through the haze he heard an all imporant word. 'Stew' There was stew waiting for him. Within in his mind a battle raged. 2 sides mini soldier pugs in military uniforms clashing in a civil war. Flags held high. One side under the banner NOM, the other under Unity of PETS. Heroes were born and heroes lost as pug fought pug in a never ending war. Til suddenly....Grumble's tummy grumbled and the war was instantly decided! Rolling instantly to his feet and searching for his feet, Grumble exclaimed, "Stew?! STEW!!" With a flight assisted leap over the table he practically buries his face without care into the savory dish.
Auron	Shaking his head in amusement, Auron leans back to let the server put his food down on the table as well. He'd gotten some kind of noodle soup, it looked like. Probably better than the stuff one gets in the packet. Has Grumble ever seen anyone eat with chopsticks? That's what's with this! He seems to take an inordinate amount of interest in breaking the chopsticks apart correctly and evenly. Though once he's managed that, he looks to Grumble, with his face buried in the stew, and inquires, "How is it?"
Grumble	The deliciousness!! THE DELICIOUSNESS. These thoughts were all that filled Grumbles mind at the moment as he endevoured to shove his face further and further into the bowl of stew. Tongue lapping up the delicious soup with fervor. His tail wags wildly as he stands directly on the table without manners at all. Then a loud 'SNAP' breaks his concentration and he rapidly tries to look up...an effort hindered by the fact that he has shoved his face so firmly into the bowl that it is now stuck! OH NOOOOOO!
Auron	Auron's still quite amused by all this, though he recognizes the actual danger in what's going on. As humorous as it is, there /is/ the distinct possibility that Grumble could hurt himself like that. "Here, I'll help you," he offers. He scoots his food to the side so he won't accidentally knock it over, and then reaches across the table to take hold of the bowl firmly with both hands. "Pull back," he instructs.
Grumble	Whimpers and replies to Mister sir Auron's instructions with a few indistinct whines muffled by the bowl. Then he struggles to pulls his face out of the demonic trap! Paws clambering on the slick tabletop and finding very little purchase he struggles!! He would not allow this trap to defeat him! He would find freedom AND get his stew! If his feet could not pull him back. His mind would! Floating into the air until he is vertical, butt pointing straight up, he mentally pulls his own buttom. Legs flail uselessly until with a sudden POP! he is free! The sudden lack of resistence surprising him Grumble is helpless as he summersaults through the air and lands with a splat upon his booth seat.
Auron	Auron holds the bowl as well as he can, placing it upon the table when Grumble's nose popped free of the trap. He stands, looking over the table to the seat as he notes where Grumble fell. "Are you all right?" he inquires, concerned.
Grumble	Grumble is there, staring up dazed. Muzzle covered in stew as he blinks. "Someone must have layed a nefarious trap for me mister Auron! Some Villain attempted to get between me and the stew! Did you see anyone?! I think it was those devious squirrels!" Snorting and sitting up, he stares at the bowl with a glare...obviously wanting to continue his meal but cautious of more squirrel terrorism...
Auron	"No. I think the bowl is just a little bit too small to put your face in that much," Auron observes, amused. "They're made to eat out of with a spoon, not put the face into. Also your face is a bit differently-shaped than a human's." Bit of an understatement, though true. Pulling his food back over to him, he notes, "Just be careful, and you should be all right. Or I could have them bring a plate out and put what's left on that to make it easier." He starts on his noodles, though he's still paying attention if Grumble speaks.
Grumble	Grumble tilts his head..then nods..What Friend Auron said did make sense. Squirrels were not THAT smart. So carefully staring at the bowl..then back at Auron...then the bowl...he carefully starts eating. Though his face is still a mess of soup. "This is so good mister sir Auron! Thank you for saving me."
Auron	Auron chuckles. "You're welcome. Just be careful, or you may get stuck again." Since the bowl's probably not big enough for a pugnose! It's notable that he's actually kind of noisy with his noodles, too. Not obnoxiously so, though.
Grumble	Grumble carefully finishes his stew....then flops his buttom on his seat and stares at his friend Auron eat. The noisy slurps fascinating him as the noddles zip into his mouth. The way the funny humans use weird things like sticks to eat...Sticks were for chewing and chasing! Not for eating noodles. Hilariously as he stares, he attempts to lick his own face clean. A failed attempt as his tongue can only reach so far.... "Mister Sir Auron! Why does your food make that noise? It is like it is trying to escape!"
Auron	In mid-bite, Auron pauses, looks up to Grumble. "Mm?" He finishes the bite, puts a hand on front of his mouth so as not to be rude and talk with his mouth full once he's cleared his mouth, he notes, "No, that's just the way I was taught to eat it. Air in the food changes the taste of it, so it would taste different if I didn't do that."
Grumble	"Air makes food taste different?" He tilts his head and looks on in wonder before sticking his tongue out and apparently trying to lap up air. "It doesn't taste like anything! Are you sure mister sir Auron?" Padding across the table he seats himself by the bowl and stares as Auron takes each bite. Head bobbing up and down as he follows the chopsticks.
Auron	"Do you know how it smells when something good is cooking?" Auron replies. "Air picks up the flavor of food and intensifies it." He doesn't know the specifics behind it, but that's what he's been told anyway. Slurrrrp.
Grumble	Grumble nod nod nods in reply. "I can smell REALLY good mister sir Auron! So food taste better with more air?" He tilts his head and then sniffs at the soup. "Why do you use sticks to eat mister sir Auron? They are for chasing and chewing. Is it not hard to use?"
Auron	Auron nods. "Think of it this way-- delicious smells make delicious food more delicious." The soup smells like beef and green vegetables! And something starchy! Probably the noodles. Slurrrp. "Chopsticks? Some people eat with them. On Earth, I believe those who live in the eastern part of the world eat with them. Probably not exclusively."
Grumble	Grumble decides that while lecture is interesting...he wants more pets and rubs. So with a little hop. He claims Auron's lap once again and flops. Thoroughly claiming it for himself. He attempts to nuzzle Auron's free hand, but his messy soup covered face just ends up smearing across Auron's hand.
Auron	Auron makes an odd sound at this, surprised, and gets a napkin. "Hold on a moment." He wipes the stew off his hand, and then gets a different one. "You have food on your face," he observes with a chuckle, and begins to try to clean it off of Grumble's face.
Grumble	Grumble tries to hold still but can't help but struggle around while Auron grooms him. He is so very nice! Right there and then he decided that Mister Friend Sir Auron and him would do more things together! "Thank you! I could not reach it with my tongue!" He licks Auron's hand in thanks happily before curling back up in the warm lap.