A/N: Here's another chapter of Blazin' Trails, and this idea's based on another I had while I was writing another story. And hopefully, this chapter won't make you hungry :D
This short takes place in the timeline of the "Sugar Junkie" short-in other words, based on the part where they learn just how different they are. This bit is where Ricochet and Droop-a-Long discover how different the two of them are when it comes to cooking.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Ricochet Rabbit or Droop-a-Long, people.
Story 19: Room for Improvement
It was late afternoon when Droop-a-Long walked into the office, carrying a small stack of papers in his hand. Not long after closing the door, the strong smell of spices hit his nose. He covered his nose as he went to the sheriff's desk, which was empty, and placed the letters on its slick surface. He looked around the office. "Uh, Mr. Ricochet?" he called out, searching around for the diminutive sheriff.
"I'm in the kitchen, Droop-a-Long!" Ricochet called back.
Following his nose, Droop-a-Long walked into the kitchen. Ricochet was standing in front of the stove on a small stepladder, stirring a large pot with a small wooden spoon. He turned around to face Droop-a-Long, a yellow apron covering his vest and splattered with red in places. "Oh, you're jus' in time, Droop-a-Long. I was jus' finishin' dinner," he said, wiping his hands on his apron. He noticed Droop-a-Long holding his nose, and his smile faltered. "Did ya catch a cold or somethin', Droop?"
"Uh, no. It jus' smells really, really strong in here," Droop-a-Long answered.
"It's jus' the spices I added in my famous Southwestern vegetarian chili," Ricochet said. After putting out the fire in the stove, he got down from the step ladder with the large pot of chili. "You go on an' wash up, Droop, while I plate the food."
"Sure thing, Mr. Ricochet," Droop-a-Long said, making his way to the bathroom. When he got inside, he let out a small breath of relief. "How much spices did he put in there?" he muttered. After taking care of his business, he made his way back into the kitchen to rejoin Ricochet, who was placing two slices of bread on one of the plates across the table. It was then that Droop-a-Long noticed how immaculate the table looked; normally, Ricochet would just toss whatever was on the table onto the floor and call it cleared.
"Perfect." Ricochet made his way to his seat, and looked up at Droop-a-Long expectantly as he sat down to his bowl. "Go on, Droop, give it a try."
Droop-a-Long looked at the bowl of chili, which was so red it could give a stop sign a run for its money. He gulped nervously. He didn't really like spicy things, but he didn't want to hurt Ricochet's feelings. Just from looking at him, Ricochet had probably spent all day preparing this meal, and he wanted to know what he thought of it.
It looked like he'd have to grin and bear it. Mentally crossing his fingers, he scooped up a spoonful of the chili and took a bite.
Almost immediately, overwhelming, searing heat filled his mouth, making his tongue and the insides of his cheeks felt like they were on fire. Tears rapidly filled his eyes, and heat raced to his face. He snatched the glass of water from the table and downed the entire drink in one gulp. The bite of chili he'd swallowed left a burning sensation in his throat, and he seized Ricochet's glass and downed that.
Ricochet stared at him, bewildered. "Are ya alright, Droop?" he asked.
"Wha..." Droop-a-Long cleared his throat, as the heat had made his throat go drier than cotton. "What did ya put in that chili, Mr. Ricochet?"
"Oh, nothin' major, Droop-a-Long. Jus' carrots, celery, black-eyed peas, jalapenos, green bell peppers, red bell peppers, chili peppers, white pepper an' habanero peppers," Ricochet explained, listing off the ingredients, "with a touch o' black pepper."
Droop-a-Long stared at Ricochet, wide-eyed. "Are ya tryin' ta kill me, Mr. Ricochet?"
"Kill you? Why would ya think that?!" Ricochet demanded.
"Because half o' the stuff you listed could do that someone!"
"I happen to like my food really spicy!" Ricochet protested.
"Well, I don't, Mr. Ricochet. I don't mind a lil' spice now an' then, but I don't really like spicy food," Droop-a-Long said. "An' you made that way too hot!"
"Why didn't ya tell me you didn't like spicy food, Droop-a-Long? I would've toned it down for ya!" Ricochet said.
"Well...mostly 'cause I didn't wanna hurt your feelin's, Mr. Ricochet," Droop-a-Long replied. "I mean, you worked really hard on that chili, an' you were waitin' on my opinion of it..."
Ricochet sighed. "Sorry, Droop-a-Long. Reckon I got a bit carried away with the spices. But that's kinda how my daddy liked it. Nobody else but me could handle it, an' I loved it ever since I was a kid." He toyed with his fork. "Plus..."
"Plus?" Droop-a-Long repeated, curious.
"Plus...I wanted ta impress ya," Ricochet admitted, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Impress me? You didn't have ta do that," Droop-a-Long replied. "I mean, ya already do with your speed n' all."
"I know, but that's not what I mean. A lotta folks think that because I'm the best sheriff in the West, I can do anythin', includin' cookin'. But the truth is, a lotta folks tell me that...well..." He sighed. This was harder to admit than he thought. "It's not that I can't cook, but a lotta folks tell me my food's pretty bland. Even you said my rhubarb surprise could use a bit o' salt an' pepper."
Droop-a-Long smiled nervously. "Well, I didn't wanna lie. I think I said that there was room fer improvement. My pa said that to me whenever he didn't take to a new recipe o' mine real well."
"That's surprisin. You're better than me when it comes to cookin', Droop-a-Long," Ricochet answered.
"Y-Ya actually like my cookin'?" Droop-a-Long asked, surprised.
"Do I like it? I love it, Droop-a-Long. I nearly had three helpin's of that vegetable stew ya made a few weeks ago, not to mention those fried mixed veggie cakes you made yesterday," he said. "Those were absolutely delicious."
"Aw, now you'll make me blush, Mr. Ricochet," Droop-a-Long said.
"Guess I have no business bein' in a kitchen," Ricochet replied, his ears drooping down.
"Aw, don't say that, Mr. Ricochet. It's not that you can't cook. It's jus' that you need to touch up on things. Iffin' ya do that, I'm sure you can be a good cook," he said. "Iffin' ya want, I could teach ya how to cook better."
Ricochet looked surprised. "Oh, you don't have ta do that, Droop-a-Long-"
"Mr. Ricochet, if I let ya have things things your way, I wouldn't be doin' much of anythin'," Droop-a-Long said. "Please, Mr. Ricochet. You teach me a lot of stuff 'round here. I'd like ta help you for once."
"Alright, Droop-a-Long. I suppose ya can help me touch up on a few areas I need help with," Ricochet answered. It was a bit difficult to say that, since he never thought he'd be asking for help with anything, let alone cooking. He gave his friend a small smirk. "I jus' hope you ain't a perfectionist, Droop-a-Long."
Droop-a-Long chuckled. "Trust me, I ain't, Mr. Ricochet," he said. He looked down at his bowl. "So, uh...whaddya wanna do with this chili?"
"I'll eat it, Droop-a-Long. I skipped lunch in order to make this," he said, taking Droop-a-Long's bowl.
"I don't know how you managed ta eat that as a kid, Mr. Ricochet," Droop-a-Long said, watching as Ricochet started to eat the chili.
"As my Daddy Ricochet used ta say, 'If ya can't take the heat, ya have no business bein' at the table'."
The End
This chapter also counts as a return gift to my good friend Vulaan Kulaas, who wrote a really cute one-shot for my birthday. Thanks, VK! :D
Earlier today, I was working on a short story on paper about Ricochet and Droop-a-Long recalling their first year working together, and it's filled with a lot of friendship chaos. I'll put it up when I'm done writing it out, but in one of the flashbacks, the two recall how they discovered that neither of them can make coffee (Ricochet burns his coffee, and Droop-a-Long is self-explanatory). That got me thinking of how Ricochet, while not terrible to the point where he should be banned from every and all kitchens, isn't as good a cook as Droop-a-Long, who usually cooks between the two of them and actually cooks very well (aside from the aforementioned coffee). His food tends to be either tasteless or overseasoned. And aside from his obsession with sweets, he also likes extremely spicy food, which was bad news for Droop-a-Long :D
I might as well say I'll update whenever. I know that I have a lot of stories to write, but I find myself writing this whenever I'm bored. Plus, it's just too fun to write about Ricochet and Droop-a-Long.
Not sure what the next short will be, since I have a good bit of shorts on standby until I update some of my other stories.
Oh, and in other news, I've started doing videos now! I've posted two already: one a Ricochet Rabbit video (surprise) and a Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha AMV. The link to my YouTube is on my profile, so feel free to take a look at them and let me know what you think!
Let me know if there's any room for improvement (see what I did there?) on this story.
God bless, iheartgod175
