Lysithea von Ordelia (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
notimeforfailure) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
deernet2021-09-30 08:49 pm
notimeforfailure) wrote in deernet2021-09-30 08:49 pm
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.
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.
no subject
The idea makes him ache a little. For Lysithea, maybe, and all that she thought she couldn't have, for himself and all the dreams he'd shoved away when the world fell apart. He'd wanted to take over his parents' shop one day, have something of his own the way his father talked about.
Mako hasn't thought about that dream in a long time. He swallows, looking briefly away, trying to hide the rush of feeling he can't explain. Homesickness, maybe? ]
Now you do. And, honestly, that doesn't sound like it was a stupid idea. I, uh... there's something to stability and making something instead of fighting and war.
It's nice. It makes sense. Your parents like baking, too?
no subject
[She gives a faint shrug. Parents, past a certain age, were like that. Especially doting parents like hers. Lysithea is conscious that something has changed in this conversation - that Mako is speaking of something not wholly theoretical. She regards him with faint curiosity.]
You... have the Raccoon Room now, of course. So perhaps it's a similar idea.
no subject
[ Mako shifts, just a bit, watching Lysithea quietly for a moment. Fabric rustles, and beside him, Zuko lets out a little trill. Snorting, Mako angles the Omni toward her little scaled face. Look at her instead of him, and maybe he'll feel less like he's baring something he wasn't ready to. ]
I mean, it was Wu's idea. I'm just helping out, but... it's nice. Like a chance to build something instead of just surviving. Same thing with your bakery.
I don't buy all that symbolic metaphor stuff, but you get what I mean.
no subject
This mostly just means a short 'aww' sound.]
Symbolic metaphor stuff?
I don't know if it's so complicated. I have a dream I want to follow here - crystallized by a prompt from somebody who possibly knows me a bit too well at this point.
And you... well, you have the chance to follow a dream, too, right? The Raccoon Room - teaching. What is it you want to follow?
no subject
You know, Wu asked me the same thing, and I... I don't know. Honestly, I'm pretty impressed you... you know. Figured out what you wanted and then did it.
Thinking about the future's not exactly a habit of mine.
no subject
[Lysithea gives a shrug. Her fingers vaguely itch to pet a cute animal, but until Omnis produce tactile holograms, that's probably not happening. She settles for waving instead.]
I like to maintain the illusion that I'm constantly in control of my situation, but the truth is, I don't know what I'm doing. And I don't know if this is a good idea. Most people are inclined to believe that you're competent if you speak with assurance and you put forth a plan.
In truth, it's simply something I'm attempting.
Perhaps you can just attempt different things, too.
no subject
I'm pretty sure that's why Beifong offered me a position on the force. Sure acted like I knew what I was doing. It's not the trying I have a problem with, it's the... I don't know. Idea generation. Maybe I should just talk to Wu.
Or, you know, if you need an accountant, maybe I'll try that.
no subject
Well, I won't say no if you want to help out with my venture in any way. But I feel you might wish to strike out on your own in some capacity, too. Exploring whatever interests you might entertain.
I'm sure you'll find something tickling the back of your mind sooner or later.
Perhaps you can make a list of your hobbies?
But Wu does seem to have a knack for knowing people.
no subject
...did you... have hobbies? Before?
[ Surely they are something that he, a healthy adult human, is supposed to have? But he... definitely doesn't.
Unless you count cooking, which is more of a necessity, really. ]
no subject
[...Lysithea blinks at him as if not entirely understanding the question.]
Well, I mean. Eating cookies is a hobby, right? [it's not] Besides that... I enjoyed reading, obviously, and studying esoteric magic texts. I had a modest interest in the normal things expected of someone of my family - music, fashion.
[A faint pause.]
Are you saying... you don't?
no subject
[ Yes. ]
I didn't have time for hobbies. I was trying to keep Bolin from starving and do my job. Hobbies are for people with time and money.
no subject
[Lysithea tilts her head to one side and examines him critically.]
Well, there are things you like doing, right? Even outside the context of your job. You like... investigating things.
[mako can run an escape room
or maybe collect scarves]
Wasn't there anything about the leisure afforded by Deerington that you found enjoyable?
1 / 2
2 / 2
Seriously. How did you figure out all the stuff you liked doing?
no subject
[Lysithea stammers, because... she has no idea how to answer that question.]
It's... straightforward, is it not? You just... see what you enjoy. Well, it's not something you can really describe, is it? I derive an inordinate amount of pleasure from stuffing sweet cakes down my throat - but I couldn't explain why, really.
You... like things, don't you? I mean - you like Wu. And you like your friends and you just said you liked bartending, so. There are activities that give you those feelings. That make you think 'I want this and I want to continue doing this.'
If you don't know any yet, you can try more things. You must find something you enjoy - not for other people, but for your own sake.
no subject
Mako doesn't know how to prioritize himself or his wants. He tried, back when they were pro-benders, following an impulse that originated with Bolin, and that led him down catastrophic pathways. He thought he should want Asami. He thought he wanted Korra, and then those things imploded and all he had was work he was good at but hadn't really chosen, and then Wu yanked him into something else and then the world was ending and then, finally, when he'd gotten his feet under him and was starting to set up something like a life with maybe a little too much work—then the dream.
Lysithea, he thinks, gets it. He remembers mountains and her calm certainty that her life had a defined endpoint. She was just smarter than him, maybe, because she enjoyed the life she had. ]
So... try stuff until I see if I like it, basically.
[ Way to sum up all those lovely words with that, Mako. ]
no subject
[Lysithea nods in assent after a pause. She understands the idea of sacrificing all else in service of your goals - but she couldn't contemplate the idea of a life without feeling any personal gratification whatsoever. Even as she drove herself to the limits of magical research in Fodlan, there had still been time enough at least for a lemon drop.
Perhaps Mako had never allowed himself to even consider the idea of pleasure. Or perhaps he was expecting too much and he was waiting to be awed by some undiscovered source of elation when the little mundane pleasures of life had been there for him the whole time.
Either way, she feels a strong need to fix this.]
And if you can't think of things to try... I'll help you brainstorm and we can try things together.
You wouldn't happen to want to start with baking, would you?
[This is probably a joke. ...Probably.]
no subject
I... do like making steamed buns. And I think I owe you mochi, if I can get my hands on some rice flour.
no subject
[It takes her a solid ten seconds or so to understand.]
Oh. Yes -- you did say that, didn't you? Quite some time ago. I had completely forgotten.
Well, that's right then! Reneging on your promise for four years. Awful, Mako.
no subject
But, no, I know. I'll make it up to you. D'you really think you'll need help baking?
no subject
[Lysithea sniffs, never one to admit weakness.]
But I would be a fool to refuse any offers of assistance while the business is still in its infancy.
[yes, the answer is yes she needs any help she can get]
no subject
[ Mako hadn't even really meant to say that much—he doesn't like talking about his time in the Triple Threats, and he isn't sure Lysithea even knows how long he used to run with a gang—but the point stands. He coughs and hurries to continue, ]
Could be a nice way to see if I like it and then you don't have to worry about it. So. Win-win. For both of us.
Yeah.
no subject
[Lysithea smiles.]
We'll find something you're passionate about yet, Mako. Even if it's... keeping track of numbers.
[...]
Actually, I wouldn't mind having someone sort through the bags of... payment and miscellaneous junk. I've just been storing them in my closet, but they're beginning to take up space.
1 / 2
...yeah, give me a couple days and I'll deal with that. You're as bad as Wu.
2 / 2
(no subject)