( open )

[hoasen]

Who: YOU, MY FRIEND & The friendly staff of Thistle Do Nicely, a humble flower shop.
When: IC: 29th January to February 14th (OOC: Starts 3rd July, full month log.)
Where: Thistle Do Nicely, Shopping District.
What: It's nearly Valentine's Day, so there's sales and events! Want to learn how to make chocolate? Look here! Cashing in your coupon for the upcoming Blind Date player event? That's here too! This is a mingle log, so everyone come mingle to your hearts content, and come in anytime, there's no such thing as late.
Rating/Warning: Nothing so far. There might be some future nightmares.

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NOTE: There are some forward-dated prompts/part of prompts in this log. This is to coincide with the Blind Date Player Plot this month! More links and updates will be posted here once they come up.

Also if you wanna know how this works, it's just a mingle! An example here, our previous open mingle log. Treat it however you like, open and closed options welcome.

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Welcome to Thistle Do Nicely! Make yourself comfortable and browse the grand selection. In spirit of upcoming Valentine's Day, the store is decorated in pink and red, hearts scattered here and there. Sweet soft toys are on display, and there are bargains to be found. The tea shop is also decked out, but there seems to be something extra special happening on that side too.


A: ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE DISCOUNTED

[Are you here for the flowers? Sure you are, it's a grand tradition that all Valentines must share: the giving of flowers to loved ones. Roses are a definite favourite, but maybe you're after something more unique? Then look no further! Ask one of your friendly staff about it. Or maybe they're coming to you! But if they do, some may have the misfortunate of being told by the mysterious NPC boss to repeat the following: "What can Cupid's assistant do for you today?" Yeah, it's pretty embarrassing.

Or maybe you've bumped into a friend! In that case, buying flowers for Valentine's Day? Are you proud of this, or are you so embarrassed you must hide all evidence.

Alternatively, time has passed and you're now here because you have coupons for an additional price cut on your flowers if you are taking part in the Blind Date event. Blind dates can be particularly nerve-wracking, so let this store make things a little easier for you. You'll thank them for it.]


B: ANYONE WHO HATES CHOCOLATE IS A MONSTER (no we're kidding we still love you)

B.1: KITCHEN NIGHTMARES

[In all walks of life, chocolate is a very popular gift for Valentine's Day. And in some places, even more importance is placed on whether it's homemade or not. A section of the tea shop has been cleared just for this: earthy tables now have small stoves on them and ingredients set out. It's time to learn how to make chocolate. These classes are lead by head chef Shokudaikiri Mitsutada and his (reluctant) chef's assistant Ookurikara, but you can be sure that all the other reliable staff of Thistle Do Nicely are getting in on the action to help out (or learn themselves) too! Maybe Mitsutada and a handful of staff will make this great. The other half...

Everyone interested in these classes will gather round each of these tables, and together you will learn how to make chocolate. It's a team effort, so discuss with each other and work together to perfect it! In the end, you will be given cute little boxes or bags to put your chocolate in so you can give it to those intended. Or yourself, you can eat them too. Alternatively, you were forced into this mess, or have no idea why you're here but you're going to roll with it because it's chocolate.

The classes are free, happening a couple hours a day, but the ingredients require a small donation to keep the classes going. These classes are ongoing, so by the time you've gotten your Blind Date, you don't have to donate if you show them your coupon.]


B.2 CHOCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

[Or maybe you're not here for the classes, you're spending time on the other half of the tea shop where it's still set for customers. The tea shop half of the entire store is not actually that big, so you might be finding it a bit cramped.

That being said, a treats bar has been set out as a complimentary offer. There's a chocolate fountain in the middle of this bar, and you know you wanna dip some heart shaped marshmallows or fruits in that sucker. There's also these flower shaped gummies. No one actually knows how they got there, but maybe for the sake of science, you want to coat it with chocolate and eat it.

Do it.]


C: WILDCARD.

[Because there's so much more to explore! Or maybe you're just here to visit and laugh at them. Or maybe you wanna use the tea space as a PLACE FOR A DATE, AYYYYYY in which the scene from Lady and the Tramp could happen and there will be a cute musical number (look, I'll have it arranged, I'm not even kidding. Too bad I can't get an Okiayu character to do it though, you might have to make do with a loser girl). Or maybe you've MESSED UP THIS ENTIRE PLACE Vietnam will kill you with her bare hands (unless she likes you, then you will live).]

Comments

Open

[reprizesal]

► B.1: Who Let Him Cook
[Ever since he heard about it, Sayo decided to try learning how to make chocolate. It would make for a nice present to everyone he knows, like his brothers, Haru and the residents in the Kumonji household.

Standing on a stool to give himself a boost (he's quite short, after all!), Sayo is dutifully following the instructions on how to make the chocolate.

But at some point, the smell doesn't just seem right...?

Oh god, the chocolate is burning.]

Is this right...?

► B.2: A Fountain of Goods
[Sayo is at the chocolate fountain, looking up at it in fascination. People can just dip food in it and eat it? How nice.

He goes to check out the marshmallow and fruits, looking at what's available. Obviously, the first thing he looks for is his favourite fruit. He turns his attention to the nearest person, who is also looking at the fruit selection.]

...Are there any persimmons?

[Help him, oh most likely taller than him person. Or if they're not that tall, maybe someone with a better perspective than him.]

► Wildcard
[Run free with your prompts, people.]

b.1

[hoasen]

[MMMMM the fresh smell of...

...burning?

Vietnam (who was making the rounds right now to see if the others needed help) smelled burning chocolate and quickly rushed over, switching off the stove immediately first.]

A-ah, let us slow down, just a little.

Re: b.1

[reprizesal]

[He looks up at Vietnam with a blink.]

...Did I do something wrong?

[DID HE MAKE A MISTAKE SOMEWHERE]

[hoasen]

[She's trying to see where he went wrong, only because she didn't get to see everything that happened. It was more than likely to be the heat, though.]

Hmm, the stove may have been too hot.

[reprizesal]

[He looks at the pot again, tilting his head.]

Maybe. How can you tell if it's hot enough?

[hoasen]

[That is a good question, but since they have time here, and she'll let him stay for longer--]

As long as there is heat, it will be hot. Start off gently first if you are not confident. Also, you can always try measuring it with this. [Voila! Cooking thermometer.] You do not want a strong heat because it will burn, or one that will boil the chocolate. Do you have still have some mixture left?

B.2

[protectthecastle]

[Veronica had made her way here out of curiosity, paying the donation and cheerfully learning alongside everyone else. She'd briefly studied making chocolates which is why she's looking down at the burning chocolate right now and wondering why they hadn't used a double burner.]

I think it is burning, actually.

[She sure is calm about it, at least.]

Re: B.2

[reprizesal]

[Sayo blinks and looks a little...alarmed? Because if it's burning, then this chocolate is wasted. He picks up the pot by the handle and move it off the stove, before turning it off.]

Is that why it smells like that?

[protectthecastle]

Yes. And if you look at the bottom...

[Veronica puts her hand over his and tilts the pot so he can look in it.]

A little bit of it is solid. [Don't look so alarmed though, Sayo....She smiles reassuringly at him.]

But I think some of it is still useable.

[Now where were the molds...]

[reprizesal]

[He peeks into the pot and see what she means. There's some solid chocolate in there, but the rest look usable?]

I hope so. I don't want to waste it because of my mistake.

[The molds should be in the drawers.]

[protectthecastle]

It will not be wasted, so do not worry.

[She locates the molds in the drawers and places them onto the counter, carefully pouring all the salvageable chocolate into the holes.]

There. It is alright now, I think.

B-1

[birthmarkless]

[ Some swords just want to watch the world burn.

Like, if Sayo burn this place, he's going to be able to work somewhere else that he might found good. YES. ]

The fire needs to be stronger, Sayo.

[ This isn't even a gagtag. This is a serious tag. ]

Re: B-1

[reprizesal]

[Some swords just don't know enough about cooking.

So when Sayo looks up to see Ookurikara, he slowly nods. Right, the tachi works here. So he clearly knows something about cooking. Mitsutada is just better at this, but surely Ookurikara knows enough to steer him in the right direction.]

Alright.

[And he makes the fire burns hotter. Someone, stop these two.]

[birthmarkless]

[ He kinda feels bad for tricking Sayo into this, really. But well, he ought to have fun once or twice in his life so this is totally a fucking legit move. ]

Hnn. It's going to taste a little bitter like this, but it will actually taste better for some.

[ Except not really.

Guess what's crossing his head he watches the flames? I should throw gasoline there. ]

[reprizesal]

[He should feel bad. Look at how much Sayo trust in his instructions?]

Some people like them bitter?

[Huh, must be an acquired taste thing. Sayo prefers his sweets simple and light. He looks down at the boiling pot. The smell seems to be getting a little stronger?]

[birthmarkless]

Aah. Myself, for instance. A lot of people like them sweet, however.

[ ....

Yeah, he feels bad already. Not for the cafe, but for the tantou in particular. Perhaps he should limit this shit at this point. Especially with what kind of monstrosity that would come out from that kind of flames. ]

I guess the fire is big enough, Sayo. Tone it down now.

[ He's... going to apologize to him after this. Probably. ]

B.2

[oneirism]

[Of course Lapis would eventually wander over to the fountain, since there's no way she could resist free chocolate. So she was just shoving another chocolate covered strawberry in her mouth when she hears Sayo, and she peeks down at him with a blink.]

... Persimmons? [Luckily Lapis is pretty tall and she has a look around, humming to herself in thought.] Let's see...

[After some searching, she reaches over to grab the small bowl of them and offers them to Sayo.] Here you go.

Re: B.2

[reprizesal]

[He looks up at her and waits, until she finds the fruits he wants. He reaches up and accept the bowl of persimmons from her.]

Thank you. [There's a bit of a pause, as he looks down at them - they're all sliced for easy dipping - and back up at her.] Would you like one?

[oneirism]

[Lapis smiles at him softly at his thanks, nodding. Only to blink at his offer, but she doesn't hesitate to nod again.]

... Yes, thank you. [She reaches for one of the sticks used to pick up fruits, skewering one of the slices before dipping it in the chocolate. Once it's covered in enough chocolate, she plops it into her mouth with a hum.] Hmm, it's pretty good.

[reprizesal]

[He watches her eat the chocolate covered persimmon slices. At her reaction, he nods, seemingly pleased. His favourite fruit tastes good with chocolate, great!

Sayo pick up his own sticks and skewer a slice, dipping it for a moment and pulls it out. Hm... enough chocolate? He brings it to his mouth and eats it, blinking and looking happy at the taste. He probably got some chocolate smeared around his mouth, though.]

[oneirism]

[Seeing his reaction gets her to smile softly, and she reaches for another strawberry for herself to dip in chocolate again, happily munching on that.

Though when she sees how he got some chocolate smeared around his mouth, she blinks, before reaching for a napkin to quickly clean it away. Despite the fact she probably has some chocolate smeared around her mouth too.]

... It's pretty good, huh?

B.1

[fallingsakura]

[It might be from her job as a teacher back home, and soon here, that she's quick to pick up that something isn't right. That and the smell...

Looking at the mess in the pot she quickly moves over and offers a smile.]

It's looking okay, but we need to turn the temperature down just a little.

[Botan moves the dial down and then looks at what's burnt and what is savable.]

Re: B.1

[reprizesal]

[There's a fair amount of salvageable chocolate inside the pot. The rest are just a bit... burned and solid for them to use. Sayo looks up at Botan, and then at the pot.]

Did I make a mistake?

[fallingsakura]

[She has been getting the hang of this cooking chocolate thing. It was always good to learn quick but kids, she assumes he is one, just need practice. Shaking her head points to the burner.]

It's fine, see we still have some we can use! The burner just went higher than we needed. Sometimes patience is what we need, not speed right?

[reprizesal]

[Outside of his age and his obsession, Sayo is still like a child in many ways. His physical form being basically a young boy's body just adds to it. He looks at the burner and nods in understanding.]

Right... So I have to lower the fire and be careful with it.