The scene opens in Anton Savor’s kitchen. He stands at a counter where a variety of ingredients are laid out.
“Joy is an alluring dish, isn’t it? Like a sweet indulgence meant to be consumed quickly. It’s the kind of thing people crave because it’s simple. It’s quick. It’s easy to swallow.”
Anton picks up a small pastry, carefully inspecting it.
“And that, Mighty, is what you’ve built your career on. Joy. Optimism. Happiness. A smile here, a laugh there. You offer the world a fast meal, designed to make them feel good if only for a brief moment. I agree, it may satisfy the audience. But when those lights dim and the crowd disperses, what will remain?
Emptiness.”
Anton begins slicing into the pastry in steady strokes.
“You see, Mighty, people like you exist only as crowd pleasers. You bring excitement and happiness. You know, those things that make the people cheer. But the thing about those quick, sugary highs is that they never last. And what you bring to the table? It’s nothing more than a spectacle, consumed and forgotten just as quickly as it arrives.”
He gently sets the sliced pastry aside.
“But let me tell you what I bring, Mighty. Because what I create isn’t meant to be devoured in a single bite. It’s layered, complex. Every detail, every flavor is designed to linger. To leave a lasting effect long after the meal is finished. My work, Mighty, is not like your joy. It’s not meant for cheap thrills. It’s meant to endure.”
Anton moves toward the stove, where a dish simmers slowly in a pot.
“While you’re offering the world fast food, I’m preparing a meal that will be remembered. A meal that stays with you long after that last bite is taken. When we meet, I’m sure that you’ll come at me with your smiles and your joy, believing that it will carry you through. But you see, Mighty, joy just doesn’t last in my world.”
He lifts the lid of the pot containing the simmering dish, releasing a steam and rich aroma into the air.
“At Vendetta, I will not give you the rush that you seek. I will not feed into your fast food ideology. Instead, I will strip away that sugary coating of your optimism. I am going to carve out that false comfort you’ve been hiding behind. Because joy, like a quick meal, fades fast. And once it’s gone, all that will remain is the emptiness you’ve been desperately avoiding.”
He steps away from the stove, folding his hands behind his back.
“When you step into my world, Mighty, you will taste something inherently different. You will taste the artistry, the expertise that you’ve been lacking. And when that joy of yours fades, when the people’s cheers are silenced, you will realize that your optimism was never built to last.”
Anton takes one last look at the dish, a satisfied smile playing across his face.
“At Vendetta, Mighty, I will give you a meal you won’t soon forget.”