deernet | video, un:charon

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video, un:charon

Good evening, all. I think this is what is termed a 'bandwagon.' However, as I imagine we will all be busy dead, dying, or in the process of resurrecting soon, I thought I had better commit before October.

I'm opening a bakery and sweets shop.

[Lysithea pans the camera to a table that is covered with pans filled with dozens of buns, cakes, and confections of different colors. It really looks extremely well done. One would imagine that Lysithea applies herself with the same intensity to any task she undertakes.]

Everything will be sourced from traditional Fódlan desserts, passed down through family histories and collected by hand in this book. I've realized that if I'm not the one who makes these treats, I'm... never going to taste them again. So I thought I should share.

[The view changes to an enormous tome currently open to a page titled Saghert and Cream in script prominently displaying a luscious picture of some kind of fruit and cream concoction. It really looks like this was drawn by hand.]

I'm baking from my room for now. If you want anything here, you can drop by or I'll bring it over. If you want delivery, you've got to get at least a dozen, because frankly, I'm not running all over town to give you one sweet bun. I'll open a proper location when it's not Death Month.

...Thanks.

[She signs off after a moment's awkward hesitation, as if she's not sure what to do next.]

[video pt 2, ten minutes later]

It's -- me again. Upon further reflection, I have no idea how to run a business, at all, apart from the portion where you confidently declare it in public.

I would... appreciate advice.

And help. If you are willing to be paid in cake.

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[ There's no sound, no movement at the window. After half a minute of silence, he's thinking he's at the wrong place and slides down by a make-shift ice ramp. Back on the ground, he checks once more for the landmarks he got including the house number. Once he's certain he's at the right place, he rummages for his device while his left hand evaporates the column of ice. Steam rises from the diminishing block of ice as he types up a quick - ]

I'm here.

[After a moment or so, the response is:]

Come inside! It's unlocked. I'm on the second floor.

[In the throes of baking, Lysithea frowns slightly. The window is open to allow the steam of baking to clear, but for some odd reason, there had just been a sudden wave of heat.

Clearly nothing to worry about.]

[ Clearly, it's nothing. By the time he steps inside, the block of ice is gone with very little melt to show it was ever there.

Climbing up the stairs, the scent of baking fills his nose tugging on his curiosity. His steps slow down near the top and he knocks on the side of the door to mark his entrance before stepping on the landing of the second floor. ]

Hello?

Hello!

[Lysithea is chipper. ...This is not a condition that usually describes Lysithea, but she is conscious that one must maintain a certain pretense for one's customers.]

Welcome! Come on in. I've already got your box set aside for you.

[It seems she's been getting a few more requests while he was traveling, too - there is a nice, neat pile of paper boxes tied up with string collecting in the corner.]

And to celebrate my first customer, I tossed in something I decided not to sell. I wasn't sure if it was a success or not, but it's a lemon square with curd. You can give it a try and tell me how it is.

[ The box is neatly packaged on par with what he'd get at a popular pastry shop. He's impressed considering the state of Trench. Together with her lively presence and the aroma of spices in the air, his first impression is probably exactly what she intended. Feeling welcome, he draws further into the room, his dual-colored eyes sliding over the other boxes she's put together. So many orders already? He's almost surprised he's the first to arrive. From what he can see, her business is taking off. ]

Oh. [ He steps up to his box curious about the extra sweet. ] Would you like me to try it right now?

Oh - if you wish. You don't need to on my behalf, though, if there's something else you'd rather eat first.

[The trouble with sweets is that one's stomach capacity is limited.]

And if you don't mind filling out this slip for my records:

[She hands him a hand-written note carefully listing each of the items he's purchased with a spot left at the bottom for him to fill.

Items Traded For:]

I can try it.

[ He says, but first picks up the hand-written note and looks over each listed item. Finding a new appreciation for each sweet neatly packed inside the box, Todoroki answers without hesitation, eyes still on the paper. Does he sign it? ]

Should I write down how many favors?

[ One for each sweet? Hours of manual labor? He's not quite sure how all this works yet. ]

That's up to you. I trust that people will make reasonable offers, though if my trust is abused, I might start imposing some sort of bare minimum. Two hours' dough rolling and menial chores.

Whatever you'd like to exchange now is fine. Consider it a first sale bonus.

[Lysithea is in a good mood, it seems. She would be a better businesswoman later, but for now, she's eager to see her first exchange completed.]

By the way, what was your name?

[ Taking her words into consideration, he writes down: four hours labor or two favors and signs as 'Todoroki Shouto' before adding the date. His writing is neat and unobtrusive. ]

Todoroki Shouto.

[ He answers, handing her the form, transaction complete. If she has a problem with what he put down, he has a feeling she'll let him know. For now, he reaches for the 'extra' sweet and picks it up by the decorative base on which it sits in order not to touch it directly. Lifting the lemon bar to his mouth, Todorki notes the scent of lemons before he takes a bite and blinks in surprise at the intensely 'lemony' flavor. It's not overpowering and manages to be tangy and smooth with a perfect balance of sweetness without an overly gooey curd. His tongue picks up the buttery crust after the fact, and he chews thoughtfully at the notes of caramelization so smoothly integrated giving it a nice contrast. ]

It's good.

[ He licks the crumbs at the corner of his mouth, very happy with the sweet. ]

I don't know what you're looking for but I'd like to get one of these the next time I get another box.

Edited 2021-10-11 16:19 (UTC)

Well, it's nice to meet you, Todoroki Shouto.

[She pronounces the name carefully, finding its tones somewhat similar to other names she has heard in the past.]

You aren't from a place called Japan, are you? I am Lysithea - of the County of Ordelia. Everything you see here is a traditional sweet from my home continent.

[As he eats, she takes the slip in hand and pins it directly in the center of a large, empty board hanging on the wall. Then steps back in satisfaction.]

I hope this will be filled someday. But in the meantime... your feedback is much appreciated. I'll keep that in mind when I start baking again. If you're offering 'four hours' labor', I can show you the process if you'd like to come around sometime.

[ Dual colored eyes lift to meet hers at the question. It wouldn't be all that eerie for someone in his world to figure out his country of origin, but what he didn't expect is for someone from a different world to know it too. ]

Yes, I'm from Japan. How did you know?

[ Did she come from his world too? It's an odd thing to contemplate made even more so when she names her home country and doesn't recognize the name. ]

Lysithea. [ He repeats, sounding out the name. ] You're pastries are good. [ Speaking of which, he takes a second, smaller bite of the bar and gets a contemplative look on his face as he tries to put into words what he's tasting. Usually, he'd eat it without too much fuss but she did ask for feedback and Todoroki means to give it to her. ]

The lemon bar - that's what they're called where I'm from - isn't too sweet or sour. It tastes like real lemons without being overpowering. The soft part [ the curd ] doesn't taste like eggs either like some of them do. And I like the crust. It's buttery but not too much. I like that it's not too sweet like other crusts of this type.

[If he keeps talking, she's going to turn bright red. As it is, Lysithea coughs to clear her throat, then turns away to... pick up and put down objects in the kitchen.]

Thanks - the specifics are helpful.

[Her voice is kept carefully neutral.]

Well, the one thing is... sugar is much more valuable than it was in Deerington - they used to just pile bags and bags of it on the shelf. And they never ran out. Imagine! It's more like my world here. A somewhat higher tier commodity.

So -- I'm not used to desserts being so sweet. It's like an art. If you overindulge in it, it detracts from the taste.

[Pontificating aside, Lysithea's face has cooled to its normal temperature enough that she feels comfortable turning back around.]

I was just guessing about Japan, though.

I've met a few people from a place called Japan at this point - and the sounds of their names are similar. But each world is different, of course. Like I said, I've never heard of... professional heroes.

You must tell me more about what that means.

[ The cough has him looking away from the lemon bar to regard her with a contemplative look. Was she sick or clearing her throat? Likely the latter. Either way, he does go quiet while he tracks her progress around the kitchen waiting for her to turn around with little idea of what's going on behind the facade of courtly indifference. It, like many subtleties of the human condition, goes over his head. ]

It's common where I come from. Most desserts are too sweet for me, but I like them anyway.

[ Growing up, he wasn't allowed anything too indulgent. With his meals carefully controlled to aid his physical training, he now likes to try what he missed out on, appreciating every new experience, even if it doesn't always suit his palette. It's why he was so curious about her shop. As for heroics, that's a different matter altogether. In the end, he did choose to become a hero despite the way it ruined his family. ]

It means we're public servants. We're trained in combat and emergency response and have to get certified in order to serve as heroes.

Edited 2021-10-18 01:41 (UTC)

It's a very lofty title.

[Lysithea remarks, an expression of curiosity on her face.]

It sounds vaguely like you share the responsibilities of knights in my realm. Although knights belong to a specific lord or organization, of course - and they are generally wielded for the aims of that lord.

[This... wasn't always in the public interest.]

Perhaps closer to what I've heard in regards to 'police'?

[ It's so commonplace in his world, it's what most people aspire towards when they're young and full of hopes and dreams. Not everyone makes it so he can see how it can be lofty. It's always been so entrenched in his life, he forgot that it's only a dream to some.

As for knights... well... It's not a comparison he'd ever make. Probably because they didn't have knights and lords and ladies. They were regulated to stories of the fantastical, not real life. Still, he knows what she means by it if only a little. ]

Police are public servants. Heroes work with private agencies. If I had to put it into words... we collaborate together in the pursuit of the public good.

Are there -- [and she smiles despite herself, finding the question faintly absurd] -- excuse me; I'm sure it's silly. There aren't professional villains where you come from, either?

[Perhaps the heroes solved crises and the villains created crises and they were all paid by the government to keep things entertaining for everyone.]

It just feels as if that's the appropriate counterbalance.

But it must be a very rewarding line of work. You must be close to my age though, right? You're already employed as a hero?

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