Reincarnated In ToonTown Chapter 199: Apprenticeship I (Patreon)

“Well, that was fun,” I said with a grin, packing up the little left I had to take with me from the food stand. 

“Fun? You spent most of the party behind the grill,” Megan muttered as she stood by the car with a conflicted look on her face, “I know you enjoy cooking, but I thought you would at least want to swim a little.” 

“People were hungrier than expected,” I said with a shrug before stopping and reading the situation, “But you’re right, I should have spent more time with you two, so I’m sorry for not doing that.” 

“We’re not mad that you didn’t spend time with us,” Patty spoke up, “I mean, it would have been nice, but we’re more upset that you didn’t take time for yourself. Your weekends are hardly relaxing with you spending them down at the farm working with Ashe and doing a hundred other things.” 

“Girls, I’m fine; we literally spent last week on a yacht,” I said as I moved around to the back of the car and opened the trunk, “Besides, between the two of you, Summer and Tricia, I always know I can find a way to relax if the stress gets to me.” 

Megan rolled her eyes, “You know that’s not what we’re talking about. You need a genuine chance to relax, one where you're not planning anything or putting down your credit card for the bill.” 

Patty nodded along in agreement, “You need to let us take care of and spoil you a bit.” 

“I feel like you two do that every day,” I replied, but when I got a stern look in response, I quickly backtracked, “But I understand where you're coming from, so next weekend I’ll leave my schedule open and let you two spoil me however you want.” 

“Good,” Megan said with a smile and a kiss as I walked past her, “Are we going home now?” 

“Just a second, I’m waiting on someone.” I said with a grin as I looked back toward the pool just in time to catch Pacifica leave and walk toward us somewhat nervously. “I told my mother I was sleeping at a friend's house, so I’m all good to go.” 

 “You’re coming back with us?” Patty asked looking from me back to Pacifica, who shifted uncomfortably. 

“I told her she could pick a reward after helping me out all night, and this is what she asked for,” I explained calmly, “I assumed that wouldn’t be a problem with either of you?” 

“Of course not!” Megan said cheerfully as she sauntered over to Pacifica and threw her arms around her, “Come on, you’re sitting in the back with us, seems like Patty and I should get to know you better if you’re gonna be sleeping over now.” 

“I-I wasn’t trying to make a habit of it,” Pacifica said, showing that she really wasn’t used to socializing with people outside of her normal upper-class dynamics. 

“Well, you should,” Megan countered as she started to pull Pacifica towards the car, “Seems like there actually might be a decent personality underneath all that projected insecurity.” 

---

Getting off his bike, Dipper took a moment to lock it around a street sign before glancing at the restaurant he had stopped in front of, ‘Ramon’s Grillhouse, right into the belly of the beast.’ 

Taking out his phone, Dipper quickly texted Mabel that he was about to start reconnaissance before taking a steadying breath and walking through the front door. 

Stepping into the restaurant, Dipper found exactly what he expected, a fine dining interior with a surprisingly homely feel, one that would lure Ramon’s unsuspecting victims into a false sense of security. 

‘A perfect mask to conceal his dubious and nefarious-’ 

Dipper’s internal monologue was interrupted by a burst of giggles that came from above, and he looked over just in time to watch a group of girls all walk down the set of stairs leading to the upper level of the restaurant. 

For a moment, Dipper’s thoughts failed him as his brain registered several sets of full lips and hips, ‘It’s even worse than I thought…he’s employed a completely female staff, no doubt in an attempt to-’ 

“Oh, Dipper, you’re here.” 

Dipper blinked as his eyes looked beyond the blatant appeal of the group and found Pacifica looking at him expectantly with an uncharacteristically joyful smile on her face, “P-Pacifica… you work here?” 

“Not officially…I’m just picking up a shift for the day,” Pacifica explained only hesitating a bit, trying to push back the usual wave of shame she associated with having to work. 

“Oh, so you’re Dipper,” Megan spoke up, “You’re here to help in the kitchen, right?” 

“Y-yep, that’s me,” Dipper replied before coughing, trying to clear his suddenly over-tightened vocal cords as Megan smiled at him, “Is uh Ramon here?” 

“Yeah, he’s in the kitchen. Feel free to head right on back,” Megan answered as she pointed at the kitchen door. 

“R-right, I’ll just go then,” Dipper said awkwardly before briskly walking away, much to the amusement of the girls who had the decency to suppress their laughter. 

“Oh my god, he reminds me so much of my awkward little brother,” Summer laughed, “Seriously, I thought he was going to trip over his own jaw.” 

“Don’t be too hard on him, Summer,” Tricia chastised, though she couldn’t completely hide her smile, “Though I have to be honest, I couldn’t tell if he liked mine or Megan’s tits more?” 

Pacifica scoffed, “He’s always been like that so smart until a cute girl starts talking to him, then he’s just like every other guy.” 

“Ohhh, sounds like the two of you have some history,” Summer teased as she gave Pacifica a gentle elbow, “Let me guess, childhood friends?” 

“Ugh, no, of course not,” Pacifica muttered, “We just knew each other when we were younger, but we definitely were not friends.” 

“Really? Did you have a boyfriend or something at the time,” Patty asked as she glanced at Pacifica only to find her blushing and looking away uncomfortably. 

“Wait a minute, Pacifica you’ve dated a guy before right?” Summer asked with an almost evil grin, as Pacifica’s blushed deepened, “Oh my god…are you a virgin?!” 

Pacifica’s science was defeaning and the following collective scream was loud enough to make Dipper pause in his tracks, ‘This might have been a mistake.’ 

“Everything alright out here…oh hey Dipper you made it.” 

The kitchen door opened as Ramon poke his head out only to find Dipper waiting for him, “Come on in, me and T are about to start making the pastry dough.” 

“T?” Dipper repeated even as he stepped into the kitchen and looked over to see dark skinned woman step back from the fridge with a several stacked baking sheets draped in plastic wrap. 

“Tiana, my sous chef,” Ramon introduced as Tiana out down the trays and unwrapped them revealing thin sheets of frozen butter, “Tiana this is Dipper he’s looking to learn something about working in a kitchen.” 

“Is he going to be staying through the dinner rush?” Tiana asked as she grabbed a pinch of flower from a near by clay jar and threw it across the counter dusting it perfectly. 

Ramon shook his head,“No I just told him he could watch a bit for prep and ask questions about anything he saw.” 

“Alright then,” Tiana nodded before turning to look at Dipper, “Just stay out of the hotzones when we get close to opening don’t be surprised when we start shouting at each other.” 

“I can do that,” Dipper nodded and gave a thumbs up making Tiana smirk, “So your interest in cooking…is it a recent passion?” 

“Y-yeah, I-I mean I’ve always been into food and stuff but I never thought of it that I could take seriously,” Dipper stammered. 

“Oh so cooking isn’t a serious job?” Tiana asked as she fixed Dipper with a look. 

“T-that not…I-I didn’t mean it like that!” Dipper scrambled to explain and apologize only for Tiana to break out into laughter. 

“Don’t mind T, she’s just messing with you,” Ramon explained as he walked back over with an apron around his waist, “Don’t let her bully you out of your passion.” 

“Oh right,” Dipper chuckled sheepishly, ‘God, my nerves are already fried and so far I haven’t even seen anything strange or odd, this si gonna be tougher than I thought.’