“Well Benny,” Benny is such a stupid name for a fish. Leave it to the humans to name things they don’t need to. Ezza thought. Sighing he looked at the fish in the aquarium for a few more moments before leaving the bedroom.

“Ah, there you are. I was just about to call you. I finished dinner.” Zas said putting the plate of food down on the dinning room table. He turned on the TV to the news and the two men watched as they ate their dinner. Ezza washed the dishes after they were done as Zas fixed himself up in the bathroom. It was almost time for work. Not that Ezza minded, he loved being a Mixologist. It was the constant flirting between Zas and Katrina that he couldn’t stand. Why can’t they still be fighting?

************

“Oh wow these are really good, and you say you have a lot of them? What is a lot?” Clara asked. She was sitting in her office with Zas and Ezza across from her. They had come in on their break to pitch Ezza’s idea.

“Well I have an almost constant supply, and as you can see it much better quality than what we have been using. Plus I’m still trying to improve it.” Ezza said.

“I can see that yes, and I think you’re amazing for being able to do this, but I’m running a restaurant. I need a large supply, so while you have a lot now; you may not later. That is a problem.” She said. She wanted to help them out, but Make A Dish was her baby and she wouldn’t tank it to help a friend.

This isn’t going well.

Just hang in there.

“Well, what about a small, constant supply? We could do specialty dishes. The chefs would love that! I know I would. Higher quality ingredients in a higher quality dishes for a higher price. The customers pay for something special and you have a new special menu.” Zas said.

“Hmm, I don’t know.” Clara said. She was fidgeting with her papers on her desk. Zas recognized the signs of someone stubborn, but wanting to yield. Just a little push.

“Well, how about a trial basis? We do it for say a month. That should dry up the current huge supply. If it works out, we make them a special item and you only have a few available a day. We can work something out after that.” Zas said. Clara nodded and agreed to the trial period. Zas sat back and let Ezza handle the payment negotiations.

 

“Ugh! I-hate-this-game!” Ezza hollered. Zas dropped his cooking and came running over to grab Ezza. Ezza had knocked over his chair and kicked the table holding the Don’t wake the Llama game over, scattering the pieces all over the floor and under the bed.

“Whoa! Calm down there buddy. It’s just a game.” Zas said dragging him away. As Ezza sat at the table, Zas picked up all the pieces. Ezza sighed and collected himself.

“Sorry, I… it’s not any fun anymore. It’s impossible. I’ve tried and tried and tried! It’s so frustrating. Why do we even have it!?” Ezza yelled. “I’m going out to the garden.”

Zas sighed as Ezza walked out the door. He sat thinking for a minute and then went out to where Ezza was. Ezza sat in the chair by the fire pit. Zas sat down across from him.

“So, something the matter?” Zas asked.

Ezza sat back and looked at the trees in his garden.

“I’m just tense. I work all day, and you can only relax so much while gardening. Then I decide to play that stupid game. You can’t win, there’s no possible way to win! I need something, I just don’t know what.” He said sounding miserable.

“I do, and we’re going out tonight. Bella put on that list at the Discotheque de Europa and we’re going to use it tonight.” Zas said getting up. “Get ready.”

Europa was amazing. Zas could actually feel the music pounding through his body and he wasn’t even on the dance floor yet. Ezza stayed behind him, almost like he was using Zas as a shield. Slapping a smile on his face, Zas descended the stairs onto the dance floor.

The two danced for a bit, feeling the crush of all the human bodies around them. Zas true to form hit on anything he thought might be a woman. Ezza laughed and enjoyed himself until he noticed Zas wasn’t beside him anymore. Looking around as he slowed to a stop, he spotted Zas standing in a corner of the club talking to a redhead. Curious he danced closer.

“- really? Come now Katrina, why bother? I know what you’re up to and I want no part of it.” Zas said. He had an angry tone and a rigid stance. Ezza had seen Zas like this, but rarely when it involved a woman.

“I keep telling you it’s not what it looks like!” Katrina yelled back. She reached out to touch Zas’s arm and he moved just out of her reach. Ezza sighed, so much for a fun night out. Ezza headed up the nearby stairs to the bar area. There were a few tables and a large bar at the end. As he approached a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

“Ezza!” A happy voice behind him said. Ezza turned and looked behind himself.

“Dina!” He said a smile spreading across his face. The two began striking up a conversation as they approached the bar. Ezza watched the bartender very carefully as he made drinks. It made the man chuckle. He introduced himself as Luciano Jolly, the three of them started talking about mixing drinks. Ezza explained his fascination with it, and Luciano began giving him tips for later. Dina laughed watching Ezza get so excited. Then they heard a loud shout behind them that made them all jump.

“Zas! Don’t be an idiot!” Katrina yelled following a few steps behind Zas. Zas had a scary look on his face as he stormed up to the bar and grabbed Ezza by the arm.

“We’re going.” Zas said firmly while tugging on Ezza’s arm. Ezza pulled his arm out of Zas’s grasp.

“I’m having fun here. With Dina by the way, you never said hello.” Ezza said. Zas turned and looked at Dina. She smiled a little uncertainly and gave a small wave.

“Hello. I’m not staying Ezza. This place is toxic.” Zas said. Ezza nodded and told him to go. Dina promised to make sure he got home okay. Katrina followed Zas as far as the club entrance trying to get him to listen to her with no luck.

“What’s that all about?” Luciano asked. Dina shrugged her shoulders. Ezza sighed and then told them how Zas had been out with Maria and met Katrina. How he liked her and then found out that she was seeing Mortimer Goth.

“He’s just a heartbroken idiot.” Ezza said trying to mix up a drink like Luciano had taught him. It was a slow night and Luciano was bored. Teaching was better than staring at a wall he had said.

“She’s not seeing Mortimer. He just an old family friend.” Dina said accepting the newly made drink from Ezza. She tried it and sighed, it was good. She passed it over to Luciano who tried it. Smacking his lips he pronounced it good, then ordered Ezza to make another drink and told him how to put it together.

Dina and Ezza talked into the wee hours of the night about Mortimer and Katrina. Luciano listened intently. Juicy gossip and excellent drinks were just what the doctor ordered for a boredom cure. Eventually close to dawn, Dina dropped Ezza off at his house and took a depressed and slightly juiced Katrina home with her.

The next morning Ezza was woken up by Zas slamming their few pots around in the kitchen without actually making anything.

You’re such a child.

“I am not. You however, are a horrible friend. Did you have fun with the Caliente sisters last night? How long was Mortimer there?” Zas practically spit out the last question.

“He wasn’t.” Ezza said. “How was Maria?”

Zas looked over at Ezza like he thought he’d lost his mind.

“Maria was never here. How juiced were you last night? Are you still juiced?” Zas asked.

“No, would have been better if I was. Besides you’re acting like a child. Katrina isn’t seeing Mortimer. They’re families have been friends forever. She’s pursuing her music career here, Mortimer and his wife Bella moved here shortly after the Caliente’s to get away from Gunther. The Goths hit it rich almost immediately, well and they had started with some money. Katrina had to give up everything to come here with her sisters. She was struggling and Mortimer helped her out, became her patron if you will.” Ezza told him. Zas sat at their table, his mouth hanging open.

“Feeling like an idiot now?” Ezza asked rolling over to face Zas. “Katrina thought you were dating Maria. It took a lot for her to come on to you. She’s been burned by some Don guy before. Then you blew up at her. She felt bad because now she thinks she started a huge fight between you and Maria the love of your life. Almost drowned herself in juice last night. I couldn’t believe it, Dina told me this is normal for Katrina. I honestly think you’d be perfect together, I didn’t think there was another being in the universe as overly dramatic as you.”

The next few days were unbearable at home. Ezza ended up pitching the tent from granite falls and staying there. Zas was a mess at home, moaning about being an idiot and crying out for Katrina to come back in his sleep. He would break down on occasion and get depressed about being stupid. Maria had come by a few times, but after being called Katrina one too many times she left and never came back.

At work Clara had received a call from Luciano about Ezza and his skills in Mixology. It was decided that Ezza would train under Luciano to become a Mixologist. This of course meant that Zas would too. He was to train under Jacques Villarreal. This meant that they trained at the Discotheque de Europa. Since it was the place where Katrina frequented, they saw her and Dina there a lot. Dina often came up during their training and talked. Zas pressed her for information about her sister, but it never worked.

After the kerfuffle with the game, the boys bought a computer and got rid of the game. Summer was nice enough to come over and help them set it up.

“So now you’re all good.” She said clicking the screen off. “I’ve even set you up with that new program that’s all the rage.”

“What’s that?” Zas asked.

“It’s this one,” she said pointing at the screen. “Now you can talk to other people back home as long as they have it too.”

I doubt it.

Shut up Ezza.

“Thank you Summer. We really appreciate it.”

“Oh no problem. You’ve seemed down lately at work. Don’t worry I’m sure Dina will give in soon.” She said patting him on the back. Ezza snorted and then tried to stifle his laughter. Zas glared at him.

“Oh, did I get it wrong? Maybe she’s after you and you’re trying to get her to back off?” Ezza burst out laughing.

“No, I’m not interested in Dina. I’m just trying to get her help with something.” Zas said placing his hand on Summers back and steering her towards the door.

“Oh good.” She said practically glowing. Zas bid her good night and then went back in. Ezza had collapsed on the bed, still laughing. Zas walked over and hit him with a pillow he had picked up.

Sorry, sorry. It’s just that was hilarious. You better be careful at work or we’re going to have another ZJ6-OMQ situation again.

That wasn’t my fault!

Yeah, yeah, I know. Natural charm, uh huh.

Zas sat at the computer checking out its specs while Ezza made a few more ointments.

“I think, with a little tweaking I might be bled to rig this thing to get a message back home. I need some supplies, and of course those will be hard to find.” Ezza wandered over while screwing on a lid. They talked about it a bit more, then turned in.

On their next day off, Ezza was working in the garden and Zas was poking the fire with a stick, when Dina showed up with her sister Katrina in tow. Zas practically fell all over himself welcoming them into the cube. Dina came outside and joined Ezza in the garden leaving the two of them to talk alone. Just before they left Zas and Katrina exchanged numbers. After that it was hard to get Zas to come down of cloud 9.

 

At work Clara called them into the office. She agreed to their deal about the produce and they sat and talked prices for a bit.

“Okay, now onto usual business. I’ve been hearing amazing stuff about your Mixing skills Ezza. Zas you’ve been doing well too, but Ezza has taken to Mixology like a duck in water.” Clara prized them. “I think it’s time to try something new, and I mean both of you. You’re now Make A Dish’s new Mixologist team. Let’s blow the competition out of the water!”

Zas and Ezza thanked her and backed out of the office slowly. Clara could be a bit maniacal about competing with the other Restaurants in town. Fortunately their new promotion and bonuses came at just the right time. When they got home, they discovered that their toilet had broken down and couldn’t be fixed.

On their next day off they went shopping and found a new one, plus some extras. Deciding it was time to expand a bit, they bought supplies and Zas built another room. They put their new furnishings in and even convinced Bob to help them get their counters from storage. It was a lot to do, and it kept Zas running like a chicken, but at least now they wouldn’t be tripping over each other.

*****

Outside there was honking and Zas came flying out of the bathroom. Ezza shook his head and shut off the lights. He got into the front seat next to Dina. In the back you could hear Zas and Katrina flirting with each other, and spouting how they’d miss one another while they were at work. Ezza shook his head and Dina gripped the wheel harder.

They reached Make A Dish, both Dina and Ezza wanting to throw up. They were going through the employee entrance when there was a loud slapping noise behind them.

“I never want to see you again you cad!” Katrina yelled. Zas came walking up with a red mark on his face. Ezza looked at him for a moment then decided not to ask.

“You’re sleeping on the couch tonight.” Zas said with a grin. Ezza smiled.

“I figured that.” He said, as Zas chuckled to himself as they walked into the office to see where they’d be stationed this week.