Sebastian, the Assistant Chef

Sebastian had spent the evening preparing for a romantic evening with Sarah. He had picked out a movie, set out a bottle of wine with a pair of glasses on a blanket in the living room, and had cooked a new recipe that Jack had recommended for him. This left him completely deflated when he received the message midway through his prep work that some coworkers had invited Sarah out. He knew that she would jump at any opportunity to make connections and advance her career, even after she had spent a few years at her new company. He had always admired her ambition and drive, but he couldn't help feeling that she was leaving him behind. When they first met, they spent all their time together, at work, at the game nights that the Roost hosted for the employees, and eventually, going out with each other's friends when the two had become an item. But, ever since she'd moved into her new position, the time they spent together had gotten less and less. He'd hoped moving in together would help, and he was constantly trying to find new ways to make their time together special, but still, it seemed like her work always came first. There was a dark part of his mind that wondered if he had outlived his usefulness to her.

He tried to shake these dark thoughts as he packed up the meal he'd cooked into containers that she could bring to work for lunch, reminding himself that, if that were the way it was, she would have left him as soon as she had gotten her new job, which had been several years ago. He packaged up the meals, unable to hold back a frustrated flourish in the process that he secretly hoped Sarah would return to see, but knowing that, in all likelihood, she wouldn't be home till very late. His mind kept going back and forth between fear and frustration about the status of his relationship, while he tried all the while to buffer himself by telling himself that, for all of her distraction, she still loved him.

When the kitchen was clean, he retreated to the bedroom, where he pulled out a book of Creole recipes that Jack had asked him to review to discuss adding to the menu. At some point, he heard some shuffling on the stairs and looked at the clock, surprised that Sarah was returning home so quickly. Part of him wanted to tell her how much her decision had hurt, but he knew that would start a fight, and he didn't feel like he would get anything out of such a discussion. Instead, he decided to feign sleep. It took longer than expected for Sarah to finally come into the room, and he had to keep himself from rolling away from her when he felt her crawl into the bed. Moments after she did, there was a bright light that shone through his closed eyes, and he found himself opening his eyes, lying on a metal floor.

The next circle illuminated, and a man appeared. He was several inches over six feet tall with a slightly feminine face, a prominent nose, and short dark hair. He was nearly a foot taller than his girlfriend and fit, but more gangly than muscular. He was only wearing boxers, which showed off his body. He had apparently been asleep or about to fall asleep, as he was on his back on the metal floor, with a book on his chest. Aaron winced at seeing the pose, since they had left him without the pillow he'd been lying on, and he wondered if the slight elevation of his head would eventually exhaust him. While he pondered that, he'd also started to feel relieved. With the first few appearances, he had worried that, with the way the host robot was speaking, this might have been some strange dating show. Still, the addition of the two men and Jenna, who was barely an adult, made him feel at least a little more confident that, whatever this was, it at least seemed less likely that they were setting up any romantic competition.

"Sebastian Ledale is the Assistant Chef on the restaurant side of the shop, who joined the kitchen about four years ago after relocating to the area from Vancouver, Canada. He is 34 and, as said previously, is currently dating and cohabiting with our other contestant, Sarah. He loves experimenting with new recipes, everything science fiction, and simulation games. He and Aaron have spoken to each other less than any other two employees. This could be because the two are both intensely introverted and because Sebastian joined the store just as Aaron started being less social, or it could be because of silently stewing resentment the two have over Sebastian's relationship and Aaron's crush on Sarah. Who's to say? Still, there has never been any visible animosity between the two. That can't be said about the last of our initial contestants. With apologies to our guest of honor, it's time to meet Daisy Alberts!"