Seoul Kitchen: Side Dish #7 Part 1

It's Cheaper Than Whey 1

Making muscle wasn't just about lifting weights, it was also making sure that you had enough rest to recover and have the adequate amount of food to fuel the body. Diet wasn't just essential to gains, it was the key to it. How else was the body going to build all those muscles in the first place? It just couldn't magically bring all those nutrients into existence.

Thus, a strictly monitored and regulated meal plan was needed. "Fibers, Protein, Carbohydrates and Fats," Or so the mantra goes. A proper balance was necessary to ensure the body was at peak condition. Getting all that food without breaking the bank, however, was an entirely different matter.

"Better Chicken or Better Beef, which one should I pick?" Sasquatch muttered as tugged at her hood while she stared at the pop up display in front of her. Finding the best bang per buck when it comes to food was an all too familiar experience for her. Her physique does not come cheap after all. She needed good food to maintain it.

Glancing down on the price quickly had her changing her mind. "Too Expensive," She sighed as her shoulders sagged. Just as her muscle came at a premium, so too did the calories she had to take just to maintain it. "And I'm not just eating for one…"

Shaking her head, she walked away and moved down the aisle. MaxiMart sold everything and anything under the sun. Can't find anything? Just move down the aisle until you find something cheap enough for the budget.

With the constant hum of the harsh fluorescent light overhead and the refrigeration unit working overtime, she browsed screen after screen showing off various products until she found what she was looking for. "I guess it's back to basic," She muttered as grabbed packs after packs of SCOP.

It was unappetizing, the texture was horrible, but it was clean enough protein that it doesn't matter. It was also dirt cheap, or at least until All Foods decided to raise prices during their Board Meeting or if there's an accident in the farms. Speaking off, she glanced down to the price tag before grimacing.

"They raised prices on SCOP again?" She hissed. This was the third one this week. They really need to fix their farms or there will be a riot. Pushing the thought of dragging All Foods Execs out in the street, she turned back to completing her grocery list.

"Now where is the supplement aisle? I need to top up my Whey Powder tub again" She muttered, standing on her toes as she peered above the shelves, "I swear they move it again." She hated it when they did that.

Her search would get interrupted as a familiar face came bursting through the door. "Boss!" Cringing, Sasquatch turned away from her peaceful afternoon shopping, "Oh thank god, I found you." These gonks, she swore.

"God damn it Ulysses, "Eyes twitching, she let out a strained smile as she grounded out, "Didn't I tell you guys not to follow me when I'm out shopping?" This was the one time she had some peace and quiet, not work. She was wearing her favorite hoodie for a reason.

As the sweet man approached her, she grimaced, "And damn it, couldn't you have at least taken a shower before you ran all the way here?" Feeling the judging stares of the sweet couple on her back had her face burning in shame. She was going to have to switch shops, wasn't she?

"I know, I know," The man replied appeasingly before sending a file at her. "But you have to see this. I swear it'll make your day," He assured her.

Taking a deep breath, she sighed before she reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Fine," She muttered, headache growing as he accepted the Data Transfer, "But it better be worth my time or I swear I'll tan your hide!"

Taking a quick read, she frowned, "This can't be right." She had seen a few sales from various shops where the food was cheaper than normal, but never to this extent. The math must be wrong. Nothing could be that cheap, couldn't it? There must be some errors here.

"That's what I said," The man said as a shit eating grin stretched across his lips, "but then I crunched the numbers again."

She ran the numbers again and again, and yet the result was the same. "It's cheaper than Whey Powder?" She whispered in disbelief.

"It's cheaper than Whey Powder," He replied. Her men had just found a food stand where she could get good protein and it was animal protein. This was the stuff only sponsored athletes could dream off.

Grin stretching across her lips, she cheered, "Looks like we're going to Watsons!"

-x-x-x

Another day, another shift at Seoul Kitchen. The work was back breaking as usual, with the never ending tide of customers, but Chef was having the time of his life. Today was the All American Classic of Burgers and Fries. It was greasy, but damn it was tasty. Just smelling the grill made his stomach rumble.

Packing up another bag full of burgers and sending off the happiest Corpo he'd seen in a while, he shouted, "Next Customer!" He was still surprised that people in suits were flocking his stall, but he was selling at dirt cheap prices.

As he cleaned his station, a voice boomed, "I'll have Five hundred cheeseburgers."

Without looking up from his station, he replied, "Fifty cheeseburgers coming right up." Turning to the freezer to grab some patties, he chuckled. Five hundred burgers? Nah, he must have misheard that. Now way someone would order that many burgers.

"I said five hundred cheeseburgers," The voice insisted, making his stop mid wipe. Now while he wasn't against multiple orders, as a man had to eat, there was a limit to his patience. There was ordering a lot, and then there was just wasting food.

"Ok look lady, if you want a lot of food, I'd cook for you but…" Letting out an annoyed sigh, he turned up to lecture the person looking to waste food before he trailed off as he stared at the wall of muscle before him. Slowly, he looked up and found the frowning face of the amazonian woman and for the first time, Chef felt dwarfed.

"But what?" The woman grounded out, brows furrowed as ten more heavily muscled figures peered out from behind her.

Mouth hanging open for a moment, he gulped. "Would you like some Coleslaw to go with that?" He replied, voice breaking just slightly. There was tense silence as she glanced back, before she turned back to him with a smile.

"And can you add some milkshakes?" She added, voice hopeful.

Blinking, he replied, "This might take a while. My grill can only make a hundred at a time." They wanted food and they looked like they needed a lot of food. Who was he to turn them away?

"We could wait," The woman nodded, earning a groan from the line behind her. Looks like he was going to be busy for the hour. And so, Chef earned himself a loyal following of Animals. With one more Gang joining in the fray, he wondered if he'd eventually cater to them all. Definitely not the Scavs though. They were assholes.

A/N:

So thinking of inserting Chapters in between already written chapters just to flesh out the story a bit more. This would be one of them, a side plot to give the Natives more reason to love Seoul Kitchen, as well as have a bit of hijinks. What's your thoughts on that?