Best served hot, be it passion or pie.

[songbird_slayer]

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.

Comments

[fatedmahou]

Valentione's season? I'm not really sure what that is. It sounds wonderful, though.

I'd love to learn how to cook if that's possible. I never really had the chance to learn before coming here.

[What little she knew was from peace long past.]

[songbird_slayer]

That won't do at all! I'll get you fixed up with a lesson or two, as well as an "ungodly" amount of cookies to come away with.

[fatedmahou]

I'm always okay with cookies. What time works best for you?

[songbird_slayer]

Are you free tomorrow, perhaps noon? I wouldn't wish to pull you away from today's plans by rushing you.

[fatedmahou]

I don't have any plans today, but tomorrow is fine. Where should I meet you?

[songbird_slayer]

[She's become a bit of an artiste these days, what with everything she's been drawing today. But have a rough little map with the corner building circled.]

Perhaps the future ~hub of culinary bliss~?

Journal → Action

[fatedmahou]

Sounds good! I'll be there tomorrow then!

[Mirai made sure to get there on time, dressed warmly for the weather. She knocked on the door politely while waiting.]

[songbird_slayer]

See you!

---


[So she was laying it all out, the cocoa, the vanilla, the butter and sugar, and those leaveners. She dusted flour from her hands over her apron when she heard the knock.]

Come on in! It's open. I'm just setting up.

[Let's see, that should be everything, and the oven was going. She'd been baking all morning, so it was OK to have a little shortcut of not needing to wait for a preheat.]

[fatedmahou]

[Entering upon her approval, she glanced around at all of the supplies for a moment.]

It smells great in here. Did you need any help with anything?

[songbird_slayer]

Oh, no, you're fine! Thank you. I wanted to bake some melonpan for the neighbors as a gesture of good will.

If you'd like to try one, they're over in the basket. They're little rolls baked with a layer of cookie dough on the outside, so it's crispy out and fluffy in.

[They really did look like golden brown little melons, too.]

Now, do you have anything specific you'd like to make? Something with chocolate, something cinnamon-sugary, something with fruit...?

[fatedmahou]

[Mirai would turn down her offer, going to grab one for herself. She's never heard of melonpan before, but that was likely the case for most food. It didn't particularly matter to her if it was new to her or not though. Madhuri's food had been tasty so far, so this was likely no different.]

Hmmm... I haven't really thought about it. Something with fruit sounds tasty though. What would you recommend?

[songbird_slayer]

Let's see... what's in season around now are things like clementines- little tangy oranges- or pomegranates if you're feeling like a daring little Persephone for your Hades.

It's a little early, but I've managed to get my hands on some wild strawberries, too. Ooh- [She snapped her fingers.]

Maybe some eclairs with strawberry cream inside, and topped with a ribbon of chocolate? Utter sin.

[Gods, she was wiggling, rubbing her hands together.]

But it's as you like. I've plenty of everything.

[fatedmahou]

[Oh no. You have her sold. She's not sure what eclairs are either, but that sounds delicious!]

That sounds great. How about the eclairs?

[And that way Madhuri could have something that sounds good to her too]

[songbird_slayer]

Wonderful! Then we're on a mission.

[She reached for a notepad and a pencil. She wasn't an artist by any means, but it was easy enough to draw the dang things.]

So our plan is to make what's called 'choux pastry'. A lot of pastry doughs are mixed, shaped and baked as-is, but this type is a little different. We mix it together in a pot and cook it a little, but not too much. This toughens it up, so it keeps the shape we want when we bake it.

[Let's see... she set out the water, milk, butter, sugar, and salt. She grabbed one of her cookbooks and opened it up to a handwritten page. She tapped the recipe.]

So! Since we're cooking this, let's get these in that pot right there and start warming it all up. We're not making tea, so we aren't going to boil it, but we wish to make a warm and lovely bath for the flour when it comes time to put that in...

[Mirai wasn't the only one diving right into something potentially difficult: Madhuri had her process and had been cooking for years. To move slowly and teach through each process was a lesson in learning how to invite into each step rather than 'do this then this then this'.

But she hoped she'd manage to impart. After setting the stove and showing where her measuring cups and spoons were, she would observe the other girl and see to being as absolutely hands-free as possible. These eclairs were gonna be from the heart!]

[fatedmahou]

[She really should have come with a notebook to write notes down. The journal might work, but probably better to have something separate. She'll just have to make internal notes for now.

So cook but not for too long. Got it. She'll start putting in the ingredients that Madhuri pointed out in as instructed. The hardest part so far was to make sure she was grabbing the right measuring cup.]

Right. What's next?

[songbird_slayer]

Let's see... hey, you're a natural! Look at that shiny dough. Like a gil coin.

Alright, ooone sec...

[She neatly hauled a burly looking table mixer from one table to the other. It definitely made a sound as it was placed. Perhaps the auri's skinny arms were made of liquid steel.]

Mixing time! Dough's gonna go in here on very low speed. We want to cool the dough down now so it won't cook the eggs we need to add next, one at a time. Three total. While you're doing that, I'll start getting some strawberries in a puree for you.

I think for some extra decadence we'll toss the strawberries and some sugar into cream cheese once we get the dough in the oven. We wanna make a one-two punch of sweet lovin' with our eclairs, and nothin' says lovin' like a cheesecake center if we can get away with it!

[fatedmahou]

[By the sound of it, it certainly sounded like it was heavy. Appearances could be deceiving though. After all, she was much stronger than her appearance let off; perks of being a Mahou, despite the nerfed strength here.

While listening to her instructions, she began working on mixing the dough. Or... would have had she known what to do. How do you use this thing??? Magic she could do easily. Technology?? That was a whole different story.]

R-right!

[Come on, Mirai. You're embarrassing yourself.]

[songbird_slayer]

[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?

[fatedmahou]

[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?]

[songbird_slayer]

[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?

[fatedmahou]

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

Uhm...n-not really?

[songbird_slayer]

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.