[b]"There's no need for that."[/b] A voice said in reply to the idea of getting a rice cooker. [b]"Not while I'm around, at least."[/b] The voice added.

[b]"In fact, there's something which I'd really like you [i]friends[/i] to try out for me."[/b] The voice spoke once again. Whoever it was had put emphasis on the word 'friends' as though they were trying to feign sincerity; it wasn't very convincing.

From under the table crawled out Vernon Thorton Winslow, tinkerer extraordinaire and untrustworthy fiend around other human beings. As always, he was dressed as if he was going outside in the snow, yet for some reason he never seemed to overheat from it. Just why was he under the table anyway? And what had he [i]seen[/i] under there? He presented this new invention of his before the others would ask either of those questions. Still on the ground, he dug into his pocket and pulled out some sort of chrome coloured cube with a single, blue button on one of its sides. Vernon stood up, and slammed the cube on the table. 

[b]"I'm sure you're all wondering what it does... Naturally."[/b] He pressed the blue button, and with an distinct [i]click[/i], the cube began to shake. Vernon took a few steps backwards, bracing himself for the almost-inevitable explosion that would follow. But it didn't.

Instead, a slot opened up in the invention, and out came a single piece of buttered toast. Vernon was surprised, although he didn't show it in order to maintain his illusion of expectancy.

[b]"It makes toast."[/b] He announced triumphantly. [b]"Infinitely."[/b]

[b]"And all of you get the [i]privilege[/i], the [i]opportunity[/i], the [i]entitlement[/i] to be the first test subjec-I mean taste testers of this revolutionary invention: The T0@ST3R! Patent pending."[/b] He stood, awaiting the response of the group.