dreamcrystals | Best served hot, be it passion or pie.

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Best served hot, be it passion or pie.

Sender: Madhuri
To: Everyone
Subject: A sweet little Valentione surprise!

Darling dreamers, it has been a while! My Starlight spirit rests for now, but like the bud bursts into bloom, my other passion unfurls and becomes a thorn in my detractors' sides: Valentione's season is upon us, an early stretch before we have ourselves a little springtime again!

The tradition is simple: Think fondly of or spend time with your loved ones, and exchange sweet treats. I think in the wake of so many dreadful nightmares and the missing moon, I'd like to double up on my efforts. So I offer my expertise to all of you: I'd be happy to make shaped chocolates in a bevvy of flavors or bake some of your loved ones' favorite cookies for you! I would also adore the opportunity to teach you how to make such things. I can take orders here in the journals, or you can give my shoulder a tap in town and sing to me your desire.

Then think of the possibilities, of inviting someone over and you open the door to the smell of warm chocolate and sugar in the air! Perhaps they'll want a bite out of the lovely baker after having a few bites of confections~

I'd like to offer such services as a way to oh-so-subtly advertise my up and coming little bistro and bakery, The Lady of Bliss. I'd like to feed you and get to know you! I'd like to know what kinds of things you eat or what you've always wanted to try. I'll be offering said cooking lessons over the next few days, but I do have my own plans in about a week, so I'm afraid I'll have to leave you to your own devices then.

[A pause.]

Ultimately, I'd like to show that I am personally unafraid of the thing that stole the moon. Should it hand the moon back peacefully, I will serve it a piping hot pie with no questions asked. Of course, the alternative is my axe and ample indignation, should it persist in being stubborn.

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[His long legs make it easy to keep pace with her. He listens intently to her words, humming with thought.]

Interesting. Very interesting.

And what about the noctaere? Where would they fit in with this "tempering" of yours?

Noctaere are very strong negative emotions, I believe. If they're able to radiate it, feed it into everything we all feel to some degree deep down inside, infect us...? That's a bomb waiting to blow if you ask me.

It's part of why I use my Kriegstanz, draw out the negativity. Nip them while they're small and manageable.

[She caught on quick enough, and stepped over to reveal the power switch and speed settings.]

There you are. Nice and slow. Time out sixty seconds, then add each egg at a time.

[Meanwhile, she's gonna get these strawberries sorted. Pardon her while she gets a puree going but maybe helps herself to some of the extra mash on a little bit of leftover baked bread.]

...So I take it you're moving along apace on the butterflies front?

[Ah! They were that easy. Technology sure was something. With it working now, she added eggs in one at a time when needed. Watching the dough to make sure not to overdo it.]

U-Uhm... W-What do you mean? [Gosh. She really had to bring that up?]

[Hoping she was kidding, she waited as she chewed on that bite of toast. Really, Mirai, you're incredibly adorable. Sweet summer child.

...

Man... no, huh?]

Might you know about love languages, perchance?

[There was that time that the Marshmallows decided to tag team them if that counted.]

Uhm...n-not really?

And a rather peculiar bomb at that!

[An ear twitches in curiosity.]

Your...? Pardon me, I'm not familiar with the word you just said! Sounds German.

Weeeeell, there are five common ways that folks show affection to one another: Words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service, and receiving gifts.

We all do some combination of the five, but our specialties lie in one to perhaps three of them. Never think any less then all of them is invalid. Instead, consider the things you like to do to show another person that you care and embrace it. I myself confess that I don't receive gifts well. But I'm happy to use my skill to keep them well-fed and speak from my heart. I'm also fairly touchy-feely.

Now, you... I don't think you'd jump into something quite so complex as this for someone you bumped into on the street.

It's a magical dance that draws upon wicked thoughts and emotions and makes them manifest. I learned from Rokurou that, because demons tend to be powered by such things, I could in fact summon him should I perform the dance.

It's part of why I had your name sent my way. You, as a demon, may bear similar qualities. Were I to dance, would you perhaps pop to my side?

I'm afraid my own demonic nature doesn't work like that. Still, if there was intent to summon me, I suppose I might feel it though I'm not sure if I'd be forced to respond or if I could ignore it.

[Assuming she didn't keep up her dancing, thinking that she'd failed. That could get annoying.]

I suppose that's fair. Will against will and all. Demons tend to have their own ways of being summoned, right? Some need blood, or circles of... things.

What's yours? Handsome cuff-links and a freshly-shined pair of shoes?

Honestly, I'm not sure! Nobody's ever tried to summon me before!

Though I quite like the idea of a circle using a radio along with those cufflinks and shoes you suggested as the primary offerings!

A fluffy pancake sounds perfect!

You really know your stuff.

Isn't it hard to make though? Cooking takes some skill.

[She laughed.]

I'll keep that in mind in the future. Any music genres you like?

It can be, but nobody made perfect things on their first try. It all takes practice. The trick for souffle pancakes is to make sure you put in as much air as possible, then treat the mixture very gently. I can show you how.

Jazz in all its myriad of flavors: swing, big band, chamber, free, Dixieland, even the newer styles like electro swing! Though that should come as no surprise. Why, a Nawlins native like me who didn't like jazz? I'd be more likely to be tarred, feathered, and run out of town!

[There's a slip in Alastor's accent when he says "Nawlins". Instead of the Transatlantic one he typically speaks with, the Southern American accent comes slipping out.]

Practice makes perfect! Alright.

I hear souffle pancakes are delicious too. Is that true?

Have you eaten them before?

They're as tasty as the regular ones, so very, very tasty. But they're better in the very best way: They're like eating little clouds with butter and syrup on top.

[She offered a gentle pat of his arm, bidding him pause. She needed to stop here for another trade while she was here. All she needed was one of these furs here- she'd get it herself- and smiled at him.]

I can't say I've been to Nawlins, nor do I think I'm versed on jazz. You'll have to find some way of having me listen to a little bit sometime!

[Let's see, a bundle of white tubers in exchange for the fur, a treat for her chocobo. She added those to one of the baskets.]

Trying them sounds just as exciting as making it.

I really enjoy cooking. There's nothing like preparing a meal for someone you care for.

When you describe it that way I have a feeling the person I'm thinking of will really enjoy it.

So, what's your favorite food?

I love buuz! They're meat buns. They go wonderfully with suutei tsai, which is a wonderful milk tea with toasted millet, butter and salt.

And now I'm making those tonight because I just made myself hungry and homesick.

Oh, that's simple enough to do right now! Let's see...hmm...What might suit your tastes?

[Suddenly, he's projecting the sound of flipping through radio channels as he rifles through his brain for some solid examples.]

Dixieland? [Suddenly, Livery Stable Blues by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band is playing.] Hmm...Maybe a little too slow.

Big band, maybe? [And here comes Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman.] Bold and brassy with lots of energy. Good possibility.

Swing has always been popular! [Next up is In The Mood by Glenn Miller.] And it's seeing a recent upswing of interest with the "electro swing" style. [And now the song shifts to the same song, only now in electro swing.]

[She gasped when he projected sound. Someone else who could do that!! Madhuri was overjoyed, all those days wondering where music was coming from when everyone else looked down on her strangely.

But she was soon bopping along with Sing, Sing, Sing and oh, In the Mood...! That she was.]

Oh, it's wonderful, Alastor...! That's so much fun, it's no wonder. I can see everyone with their instruments unable to keep still in their chairs for sure. You wonder if they may be compelled to dance as well, or grab someone from the crowd and twirl them around!

Oh absolutely! Speaking from experience, it's just as much fun to perform as listen to!

[Both via voice and various instruments. Seriously, whoever can sit still during a jazz performance has no soul.]

What world have I been in that lacks something like that!?

Thank you ever so much for sharing that with me. I always try and do cultural exchanges- dreams of home, music and stories and everything else- and I try to write songs and see how it affects the dreamotion in the area.

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Best served hot, be it passion or pie.

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Unexpected boon of playing Alastor: My History of Jazz elective from college comes in handy.

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