Dinerbots 3: Who finds Italy, finds a friend

Act 1
It was a calm Saturday morning even in a busy metropolis like the city these stories take place in. As usual, dozens of diligent humans went out to the producer market to either sell or buy. It was early in the morning and the traffic was light. The temperature was neither hot nor cold. Perfect for a walk in one of the parks located in the city.

An old red cargo truck parked near the market. In it were Simmons and his personal assistant and caretaker Tory.
"Alright I know that you are excited to see the market for the first time but I want to remind you that-"
"We are only here to get some celery. Don't worry sir I am only here to help you! My curiosity is not important." the android said as she began counting the money they planned on spending today. Most of the time it was always Mr. Simmons who went out shopping for his restaurant. Even if he asked for some help, he never wanted any of his robots to go with him to the producer market. Even now, he only allowed his most trusted employee to help him.
"Good, good. I spoke to the celery guy last week this should be fast." Simmons spoke quickly. It was clear that he really wanted to get over this. The duo jumped out of the truck and the old man rushed towards the market at such a fast pace that he didn't lock the vehicle's door. Tory took it as just another thing old men do when they reach a certain age. She took a box out from the back of the automobile and followed her master.

She eventually reached her owner who stood next to a vegetable stand. But something was wrong. Instead of buying any celery, Simmons simply stood there. In front of him was an old woman around the same height as Simmons and behind her stood three young men, probably her sons.
"Is everything alright mister Simmons?" she asked as it was clear that there was a problem.
"We're late." the man gave a defeated response. The lady started grinning.
"Ah, Harry I see that you brought one of your tin cans with you! It only slowed you down, Harry... BECAUSE WE ARRIVED HERE FIRST!" the woman roared with a strong Italian accent. Two men behind her started laughing.
"I'm not sure if I understand the situation." Tory turned towards her owner who simply didn't react to anything. There were no signs of anger or sadness. He just stared at the woman who made fun of her.
"See this Harry? That's right I bought all the celery before you. Will you cry? Or will you say some really mean things?" the dame shouted.
"Let's just... Let's get out of here Tory." Simmons turned around and started to slowly walk back to his truck.
"Oh yes run away like a man without celery! Because you don't have celery, Harry! Do you hear me?! You are a man without celery!" the woman yelled with anger. Tory was confused and couldn't understand what just happened. She turned her back towards the strangers and went back to the car.

The two entered the truck without saying anything. Then Simmons furiously started the engine.
"I believe it would be better if you told me what happened there, sir." Tory asked concernedly while her owner drove out of the scene.
"Look, I never wanted to tell this to you girls but that vile woman over there..." he took a deep breath as the truck stopped at a red light. "Her name is Nerezza Mancinelli she owns some forgettable all Italian restaurant in the city. That's it we don't like each other end of the story."
"That can't be the whole story, I'm sure if I learn more about this rivalry then I can come up with a logical conclusion!" the android cheered while thinking about making the grumpy old man happy and free of another problem.
"Hey all I wanna say is that everyone can make a pizza but not everyone can afford a nandroid. Now I want all of you to stay out of this okay? It's my problem." the journey back home was silent. No one said a word and Tory knew that the situation was more serious than Simmons made it look like. If she only learned about this today then how old could this feud be?

Act 2
Tory spent the rest of the day asking her sisters if they knew something about this rivalry. Only a few of them heard about it, and only when they accompanied the old chap while buying for groceries. The only thing they knew for sure is that the other restaurant is in the Italian neighbourhood.
"I think she's some old girlfriend. I don't think you should worry about it." Beverly commented on the topic. Tory was still uncertain about what to do. Her duty was to help her owner.
"Maybe if ask the Italians we can learn more about this conflict? On second thought they could say mean things to us. I don't want to hear mean things." Weatherly stuttered to the others as she avoided eye contact.
"Hmm... Not a bad idea. If they are close to us then I will go there and take a look around." the other three nandroids in the main area of the calm restaurant looked at each other. "Hey what could go wrong? You want to help Mr. Simmons as much as I do."
"Alrighty then sis! If you want to disguise yourself then I can put some makeup on your pretty face! I found a decent set in the trash today." Bonny happily exclaimed.

It took Tory approximately half an hour to reach the other restaurant on foot. As she turned around the corner she noticed a tall building not far from her. Now that she was close to her destination she realized that maybe she didn't think this through. She also didn't have to courage to directly confront the 'enemy'. Instead, she grabbed the pair of binoculars that were hanging on her neck and started observing the restaurant for a few minutes. This time was mostly spent reading the lips of the people inside and trying to come up with an actual plan. Tory didn't discover anything interesting. Most customers spoke Italian, the price of the food was quite cheap and a few mafiosos were planning to launder money. Nothing out of the ordinary.
"I should check out their kitchen though. I wonder if they also keep the money there." she loudly whispered to herself, getting the attention of everyone on her side of the street.

She decided to get a bit closer. The loyal robot crossed the street and sneaked into the alleyways. She ended up at the back of the building and tiptoed under a window. Judging by the smell and the loud noise from the equipment inside, she came to the conclusion that the kitchen area must have been inside. Tory found a few small boxes around her and placed them under the window. She stepped on top of the packages and was ready to eavesdrop on the conversations inside when suddenly, a voice called out behind her.

The voice asked the nandroid if he can help her. The person was a young man in his early twenties and spoke in Italian. Tory quickly recognized him. He was with the weird woman in the morning.
"Oh hey um, I was just... I'm lost, can you guide me to the rich people district?" Tory nervously replied while giving the boy an uneasy look. But he simply asked her if she was sent here to spy as if he didn't hear what she said.
"Okay okay! Look let me explain just don't tell the others that I'm here." the robot yelped while jumping off the tower of boxes.
"I just want to understand what's going on. You know... Between our bosses." the boy nodded. After letting out a sigh, he told her that this rivalry is more than just a petty feud.

The boy didn't know much about why, how and when it started. He told Tory that when he arrived in America, "Donna Mancinelli" took her in. On his first day on his job, they told him the situation. How he should never go to the part of the city where Robotops is located, and even if he had to walk past the restaurant he has to spit on the door and say a prayer. From what the more experienced workers told him, the two were friendly to each other once and some people heard rumours about them being lovers when they were young. Then he finished his story by talking all kinds of things about his life in America so far. From not being able to learn the english language to the fact that on every Friday night they are always planning on sabotaging the Robotops with fear that old man Simmons might do the same.
"So that's why we bought laxative that time?" the nandroid said to herself. "Oh, my name is Tory by the way" she exclaimed while shaking the boy's hand. The young man introduced herself as Guiseppe. He told Tory that this rivalry isn't good for Mancinelli's health and he wished to end it. He asked the robot if she had any plans.

Tory started to think. She used all the marvels of Sterling's engineering inside her robotic brain to come up with a solution.
"I know! They just have to talk it out! We could make them meet somewhere and maybe discuss their problems during a nice supper!" she yelled. Guiseppe almost talked her out of it but before finishing his sentence he told her that it might actually work! After pulling a cigarette out of his pocket and putting it in his mouth, the Sicilian kid suggested that the Robotops would be an ideal place for this because many customers in Mancinelli's restaurant also hate Simmons. He also told her that he could convince his boss to meet up with Simmons there. Or at least he could tell her a lie good enough to make her leave the restaurant.
"That's perfect! Come Guiseppe, we have to tell this to my sister!" Tory grabbed his hand and forced him to follow her back to her home. Guiseppe was surprised and would have told her to stop, but his shift was over anyway.


It was almost midnight when Tory and her new friend arrived back at Robotops. She gathered all of her sisters to the kitchen area. They were alone, as Mr. Simmons took up the habit of going to bed sooner than usual.
"Okay, everyone. I called this meeting due to the fact that me and our new best friend might have found a solution to make Mr. Simmons smile! Just like that time three years ago." Guiseppe stepped out and shortly explained their plan.
"So Guiseppe here said that-" Tory was cut off by Beverly.
"Yes Tory, we know what he said we all speak Italian."
"Ah. Oh well, then I want you girls to close the restaurant early tomorrow. He might even stop going to therapy after this!

Act 3
Streetlights shined under the summer moon, as the restaurant closed an hour early. Simmons was quite confused.
"Tory, are you good? You are closing the place." he was confused but trusted his assistant.
"Well sir, you will have a visitor today and I thought it would be nicer if it was only the two of you. Alone." she responded in a smug voice. The old gentleman was even more confused. His most trusted companion wouldn't call the IRS on him, right?

A knock could be heard on the entrance's glass door.
"Oh, she's here! She's here!" Tory yelled out in joy. She took a look at her owner and calmed herself down. "Okay sir, time to open the door for her."
"Wait what how wha-" he panicked while he was pushed towards the entrance. He quickly noticed that the unexpected guest was none other than Nerezza Mancinelli. He turned around and was about to walk away when Tory gently pushed him back. Realizing that he had no other option, he took a deep breath and furiously opened the door.
"Well Simmons, I'm here. Despite the strange odours coming from this building, I decided to try your vomit-" Guiseppe - who silently walked up to her after parking his boss' car - coughed. "Your cuisine. Yes, I will try to eat your food."
"Yeah whatever." the grumpy businessman muttered after walking away from the door. As he turned around, he saw Bonny lighting a candle on a table nearby. The nandroids prepared this event without him even noticing anything strange until it was too late to act. He stood there for a few seconds until Mancinelli walked passed him. She sat down at the table, hinting Simmons to join her with angry eye movements. He sighed once more and took his place in the chair in front of Mancinelli.

The two didn't look at each other for minutes. Neither of them spoke a word. The awkward silence was ended when Beverly approached them with the menu.
"Here is our menu ma'am." she exclaimed with a bored voice.
"Let's see what kind of trash do you sell here Simmons." Mancinelli snarkily commented. Beverly rolled her eyes. "I would like some carp with lemon and a kidney pie."
"What would you want sir?" the robot turned towards her owner's direction. Simmons didn't say anything. The waitress let out a mechanical sigh and walked into the kitchen.
"I must say, Simmons..." Mancinelli smiled while leaning back. "they are cute little machines."
"Yeah" the reply came with a soulless answer.

Silence filled the air once more. Guiseppe quietly told his boss that he would wait in the car. After that, the two were alone for a while. They didn't look at each other. The lady was more civilized than Simmons expected. She calmly examined the restaurant and whistled a tune. Simmons sat there with his arms crossed. Hunched over with a face that would make a sinner go to church. Tory swiftly shoved Weatherly next to the pair. She was holding a violin and after Tory whispered something to her, she began to play a beautiful melody. Only a minute has passed and Bonny walked up to them with a bottle of red wine in her hands.
"French wine to the Italian lady. Quite funny isn't it?" she chuckled as she poured the liquid into the two glasses.
"Good to see that your taste in booze hasn't changed over the years" she congratulated Simmons after tasting the alcohol.
"Yeah" came the answer in a similar tone.

Bonny stayed with them for a while. Waiting for one of them to ask for something. The mood was unpleasant once again. The nandroid waited for a little bit longer but after a while, she quietly went back to the kitchen.
"They are diligent that's for sure." lady Mancinelli noted before taking another sip.
"Yeah" Simmons coughed in his old, dry voice.

Then, Beverly walked up to them, dishes in hand. She gave Mancinelli her order and put another plate of carp to her master.
"You didn't say anything sir so, you get carp too. Enjoy your meal." she nodded in the general direction of the guest.

No conversation happened during their meal. Sometimes Mancinelli looked at her rival but choose not to say anything. They peacefully ate their food without any trouble whatsoever. When both of them finished the dame stood up and looked at her pocket watch.
"Well, I need to go." she calmly spoke. There was no answer from the other party. She gazed at Simmons in a disappointed manner.
"What?" Simmons asked only noticing the guest after picking his nose.
"Will you be a true American gentleman and accompany me to the door or not?" Simmons gave a tired look and froze for a few seconds.
"No?" he answered the woman's question. To this, Mancinelli became visibly angry. "Okay fine." the old man stood up and escorted her back to her car.

The warm summer night became cold as the two walked out. Before opening the door to the passenger seat, Mancinelli turned back to Simmons.
"I have to say it, Harry. You are an ugly sad little manlet. But your robots bake a good pie." and with that, she got into the red convertible behind her. Her chauffeur driving off into the sleeping city of neon lights.
"How was it?!" Tory suddenly appeared behind her master. Simmons jumped but quickly calmed down.
"Tory dear, if something like this ever crosses your mind again..."
"Yes? Should I take you out to somewhere else?" she eagerly asked.
"...just shoot me instead." he sniffed with no emotion.