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)
deercountry2021-10-30 10:27 pm
notimeforfailure) wrote in deercountry2021-10-30 10:27 pm
patisserie lysitherie: preparations
[a. video, un: charon, ota]
Good evening, Trench. The grand opening of... [she frowns as she says the next part] the Patisserie Lysitherie is currently scheduled for November 15th, pending any horrible Trenchian incidents. So most likely, November 30th.
As we prepare for transition into our new space, I'm seeking a few things.
First, Architects or anyone good with woodworking and metalworking to remodel the existing building and to install a few necessary appliances. I need more ovens. Anyone interested in helping with the business is welcome, too, of course.
Second, if any recreational businesses are interested in a steady supply of pastries - for instance, a café or a bookstore - I'm open to partnerships.
Third, if you've got a cake or a sweet from home you're just dying to experience, I'd like to start collecting recipes from all of you Sleepers. I began this business to revive my beloved nostalgic sweets, but I realize... I'd like to be able to bring that experience to others, too.
[b. Willful Machine, early November, ota]
Augh!
[There comes a loud explosion from a rather derelict building in the middle of the Willful Machine district. A half-dozen thumps and clangs follow. ...Then the upper story of the building drops about three feet, releasing an enormous plume of smoke that settles over wary shoppers and merchants. A girl covered in a thick layer of dust stumbles out ten seconds later and falls backwards on the ground.]
I suppose... that takes care of the rodent issue.
[The building belches out a gout of flame behind her.]
[c. Lysithea's home (Gaze), early November, for new and old customers, employees, or other general CR]
[With the bakery operations in full swing and the storefront not yet ready, Lysithea's home is in perpetual activity. Whether she's fulfilling orders, experimenting with new pastries, or bullying her employees, Lysithea works tirelessly to make her dream a reality. For the time being, her work as an Arcane Scholar in the School of Mutter is suspended as she focuses on her craft.]
Look out - hot pan behind you!
Yes, yes, of course - I can do a dozen mini-cakes for you by tomorrow; that won't be a problem.
Here to collect? If you would sign this form here and fill out what you plan to trade...
You've procured the cinnamon? Wonderful! How much did it cost us? Did you have to give up the hematite?
[Regardless of why you're here, she'll open the door with smudges of honey and chocolate all over her face and an exhausted, though satisfied expression.]
Good evening, Trench. The grand opening of... [she frowns as she says the next part] the Patisserie Lysitherie is currently scheduled for November 15th, pending any horrible Trenchian incidents. So most likely, November 30th.
As we prepare for transition into our new space, I'm seeking a few things.
First, Architects or anyone good with woodworking and metalworking to remodel the existing building and to install a few necessary appliances. I need more ovens. Anyone interested in helping with the business is welcome, too, of course.
Second, if any recreational businesses are interested in a steady supply of pastries - for instance, a café or a bookstore - I'm open to partnerships.
Third, if you've got a cake or a sweet from home you're just dying to experience, I'd like to start collecting recipes from all of you Sleepers. I began this business to revive my beloved nostalgic sweets, but I realize... I'd like to be able to bring that experience to others, too.
[b. Willful Machine, early November, ota]
Augh!
[There comes a loud explosion from a rather derelict building in the middle of the Willful Machine district. A half-dozen thumps and clangs follow. ...Then the upper story of the building drops about three feet, releasing an enormous plume of smoke that settles over wary shoppers and merchants. A girl covered in a thick layer of dust stumbles out ten seconds later and falls backwards on the ground.]
I suppose... that takes care of the rodent issue.
[The building belches out a gout of flame behind her.]
[c. Lysithea's home (Gaze), early November, for new and old customers, employees, or other general CR]
[With the bakery operations in full swing and the storefront not yet ready, Lysithea's home is in perpetual activity. Whether she's fulfilling orders, experimenting with new pastries, or bullying her employees, Lysithea works tirelessly to make her dream a reality. For the time being, her work as an Arcane Scholar in the School of Mutter is suspended as she focuses on her craft.]
Look out - hot pan behind you!
Yes, yes, of course - I can do a dozen mini-cakes for you by tomorrow; that won't be a problem.
Here to collect? If you would sign this form here and fill out what you plan to trade...
You've procured the cinnamon? Wonderful! How much did it cost us? Did you have to give up the hematite?
[Regardless of why you're here, she'll open the door with smudges of honey and chocolate all over her face and an exhausted, though satisfied expression.]
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[Lysithea's words spill out a bit too quickly when she opens the door. Her expression is distracted - it takes her a full second before her eyes focus on Peter, and she realizes who, exactly, is greeting her at the door. All the same, Peter's suspicions are likely confirmed.]
Apologies. I thought you were... Hello, Peter.
[A smile leaps to her face, more at ease than it ever appears for Paimon, despite that the demon is improving steadily in most metrics (sociability, batter mixing, selling-without-yelling)]
It's been a while. Ah -- come in!
[She steps aside and allows him to enter the workshop, which appears to be gently coated in a fine floury silt. It does not escape her that Peter's greeting was... also far more sociable than his usual manner.]
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Contrary to popular belief (and very valid assumptions), Peter isn't actually as oblivious as he might seem. It's mostly that he conveniently chooses to zonk out when he has the choice (unless he's involuntarily doing it). But this... even he can't pretend to not understand what the implications of this are......
He doesn't immediately freak out about it, however, which is... an improvement for him. No, the boy just steps through the door as invited, like the most awkward vampire, looking around at the sights of the home business. Lysithea's own smile makes it all a little easier, too. She's always made him feel... like it's okay.
When he turns back to her he's still smiling, despite the anxiety associated with the thought that Paimon has most likely been here getting up to who-knows-what (Peter's mental image is, of course, the demon terrorising the poor girl... throwing shit everywhere and stealing things. Setting customers on fire). )
This is really nice...! Is it going okay so far? Running a business seems pretty tough, dang.
( He genuinely wants to know — hanging onto the glimpses of normalcy before he brings up... The Bad One. )
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So the two of them shared no memories at all...
Curious.
Lysithea heads straight for the stove to put on the kettle.]
It's harder work than I had anticipated.
[She can admit this freely. Somehow, in her head, she had imagined some sort of utopia where the cookies baked themselves and everybody just partook freely from the fountain of sugar and joy. In reality, it was a juggling act of prepping, baking, haggling, selling, and delivering.]
But... rewarding. We're doing well - I get at least four or five sales a day and then the occasional friend who just pops in to have two cookies.
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It seems like a lot of work... I should've brought you a coffee or something as a pick-me-up. ....Though I uh, still haven't found any Starbucks around this place.
( He isn't sure if Starbucks is a thing back in Lysithea's homeworld or not, but the dumb smile he gives probably hints that it's a joke anyway. ...Sort of. Peter's painfully aware there don't seem to be any coffee shops around here, at least none that he's bumped into yet. It's really putting a damper on his whole "college student" vibe. How can one be a college student without fostering a caffeine addiction? )
What kinds of things do you charge? I'll definitely buy something. Er— trade for something. This place is weird.
( Bartering is not actually that weird of a concept, Peter... but he's still learning, and he also just needs to gently complain about Trench on occasion. He did choose to come here, but it's very much outside of his comfort zone in so many ways. He has to use a quill and ink at school?? )
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[Lysithea shakes her head with a faint smile.]
What could be a better pick-me-up than the sweets coming out of my oven? That's one of the main perks about this occupation, you know. [It's probably exactly why she's doing it.] Coffee is a tad too bitter for my preferences. [read: it's not made of pure sugar.]
I imagine coffee tends to be a bit of a luxury, anyway. It's already a hassle to get my hands on sugar.
You can trade me for anything you want. But, er...
[Is it worth bringing up that his body is regularly being nourished with her pastries already, anyway?]
Well, if you don't have anything of value on you, you can always do a few odds-and-ends for me.
[In other words, the same job Paimon usually does.]
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( Running the type of business that involves producing edible things.... Being able to eat the imperfect results... It's kind of a genius move?? )
Oh yeah? Is there anything you need help with right now? I'm not doing anything.
( He smiles, slipping his hands into his pockets and scrunching his shoulders upwards a bit, in his general "I'm perpetually out of place in my own skin even when I'm enjoying myself" way. )
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[asking / manipulated by lysithea into asking]
How do you feel about packaging? It's a little more straight forward than baking the treats, and I do find it so tedious. There are a few orders to fill for this afternoon - everything's baked, already; you just have to make it look nice.
[She ushers him further into the kitchen towards an area that appears to be piled with mountains of pastries.]
...Or you could help with the baking, too, if you'd like.
[Actually, she'd be curious to see how competent Peter was in comparison to Paimon.]
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However! He will at least try........ )
I could try a little of both. Maybe see which one I don't totally screw up at. ( It's said light-heartedly, and yet... It's nothing but complete truth. Peter isn't exactly hosting heaps of confidence. But the boy turns to the already-made pastries first, looking them over as he slips his jacket off and folds it up neatly to set aside. He does have manners, at least...... )
Do you have any already packaged yet? I could just copy what you've done there.
( If Paimon is a toddler who needs step by step instruction, Peter is a child a couple years older, who is capable of looking at something already formed and finding his way to recreating it... )
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[Lysithea has generally observed Peter in one of two settings: pensive or depressed. It's nice to see him enjoying his day-to-day life a bit more. She hands Peter some disposable gloves and a set of tongs, then places one of her finished baskets on the table beside him.]
You don't have to do it like this exactly - this one specified that they would like some work on the presentation.
You can also just sort them neatly into the boxes if that's easier.
Try not to stack anything on top of each other, but if you must, the heavier items should go on the bottom. Everything is labeled.
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It... doesn't seem like too hard of a task, though. Not initially. Just putting things in boxes and baskets and making sure not to mess up the pastries in the process. The problem is.
He has extremely nervous hands.
Unlike Paimon's ability to stay inhumanly still and steady (and not blink, ever) with careful fingers capable of piecing together intricate bits and bobbles, Peter..... is shaking almost immediately. Just a little, but it's enough that his handiwork is anything but steady. He's slowly moving pastries with the tongs, arranging them in one of the empty boxes, when his fingers fumble with their grip, and the tongs loosen, and the thing falls right to the floor. Upside down. )
Fuck! ( Peter hisses, and then — winces. ) Sorry, I didn't mean to say that. Uh— sorry, I'll clean it up.
( He's stooping to retrieve the fallen treat, lifting it up. Well... it actually doesn't look so bad? Like.... he'd still eat it. )
.......It wasn't on the ground very long. Maybe it's okay to still use?
( Paimon, come back to your job )
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No!
Toss it in the garbage.
[And as Peter is eyeing it suspiciously, with the air of somebody thinking the words, 'I'd still eat it,' Lysithea feels the need to append:]
Please do not still eat it.
We are selling these, you know. If I start selling floor cake, my business is going to go under quicker than you can blink.
Don't fret, though. I knocked over an entire tray of scones just the other day.
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And he slowly looks over to the nearby trash bin, a little mournful. Throw it... away..? But Lysithea, it looks so good.... He wants to eat this....
But with the dignity of his friend's business at stake, he shuffles over to the bin and drops it in, barely even pouting. A good boy, albeit a trash one.
He's about to (half-playfully, half.....sadly) ask if she had to throw away an entire tray of scones, when it happens. And Peter can't possibly know it's because Lysithea gave him an "order", and orders are very sacred things, and that it would stir up the ancient thing dozing quietly.
But it's there — an odd flutter, something that always feels so cold, like a ghost breathing out from beneath him. Peter suddenly shudders as though chilled. At the same moment, there's a soft gasp, one quick inhale. He can feel the demon stirring, and the boy takes an instinctive step backwards.
Just as instinctive is the need to run away. To leave, distance himself from anyone close by, but something keeps Peter there. ....This is what he wanted to ask her about, after all. It's just that he wasn't expecting Paimon to make some sort of direct appearance, and certainly not so quickly. And any moment now the demon could react in some unfavourable way: convulsing, snarling, thrashing him around. Peter's heartbeat quickens with an anxiety, just shy of panicked. )
—Um.
( How do you tell someone that you think your demon is waking up? Peter looks like any second he's about to bolt, or pass out right on the floor. )
I think he's— I think he's here.
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[She is reaching forward to attempt to steady him when he interrupts her with a quiet declaration. Her hand draws back.]
...Ah. But how...?
[This is... certainly new territory. Up to this point, she had communicated with Peter or Paimon and never the twain had met. To think of Peter being aware that the demon was on the verge of taking over -- was that what he meant? Or was it... that the consciousness had stirred to life within him?]
Never mind. Sit down, Peter. Is there anything I can do to stabilize you?
[Unconscious that she is continuing to give orders, simply because Lysithea gives orders as easily as she breathes, she drags over a chair and beckons him to sit before he falls over unconscious.]
Is he fully awake?
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Anxiety is swelling up in him so quickly that Peter finds himself grateful for any direction, too — immediately moving to sit down when Lysithea says to with an almost robotic obedience, eyes wide as he stares straight ahead.
Within him, the demon's spirit is simply further stirred by the orders, and Peter's mouth tips open for a moment before he blinks and looks hazily up to her, eyes strange as the pupils of them dilate and contract and dilate again, slowly. )
Uhhhh..... ( Peter's mouth hangs open for a few beats too long, and then he seems to remember how to speak. )
I don't think so? He's.... here, but he's.... kind of caught up in me, I think. ( It's strange, both of them being conscious together, albeit... not cleanly. Peter shudders, and the shaky breath he releases comes out in a literal puff of fog: some strange, supernatural reaction, as though he's sitting near a ghost.
But the worst part is he can't really be 100% surprised by this happening. )
.......He's been coming here, hasn't he?
( He looks perfectly miserable as he says it. This wasn't how he planned to ask......... )
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[Lysithea confirms with a nod, frowning as she pours out some hot water from the teapot. That puff of fog was not promising.]
I'm sorry. I thought you knew. ...Well, I realized when you came today. He's been... coming quite a bit, actually.
[Healing 101 in school had not covered 'what to do when somebody is on the verge of being overtaken by a demon' so she busies herself finding ways to make Peter comfortable, instead. She sets the cup before him and goes off to find a pillow of some sort.]
Drink.
Paimon has been wanting to learn how to help in the bakery. ...And how to be... more comfortable around humans, I think. He's not doing a bad job of learning, I must confess.
[And as she locates a fluffy enough specimen, she pauses.]
If you're here... together, now. Do you think you can communicate?
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( Peter admits, seeming ashamed as he says it. It's.... been easier to just try and ignore whatever Paimon is doing in his own time. He doesn't want to think about it. But he's losing more and more time, waking up disoriented and foggy and realising even more hours have passed — the demon clearly is living his own life quite comfortably, not hiding in this place as much as he had back in Deerington. And with them no longer living in a dream..... the restraints on Paimon have been lifted a lot more.
Maybe it's time to learn more about what he gets up to.
Peter reaches up to accept the cup, grateful for the warmth against his palms, and immediately takes a sip with that same obedience. Though he's startling again at what she says, looking up at the other with wide eyes. )
...He wants to help you in the bakery? ( That is absolutely NOT what he was expecting, having been preparing himself to hear that the thing was tormenting her or something. He knows Paimon seems to really like Lysithea (Peter hates this, thanks), but.... he hasn't been throwing things around and biting people's necks? Destroying her property? Lighting pastries on fire while screeching like the Damned?
He's about to answer that he doesn't think they can, that the demon's too hazy still, too muddled, when all of a sudden Peter feels a surge of emotion, like a pair of too-bright eyes have flashed open, and with them a swell of feeling that doesn't belong to him. He gasps at how abruptly angry and clear it is, the whispers of too many tongues like little grains of sand around him, abrasive. It seems Paimon has woken up more than he'd thought— )
Uh—! I actually think he's angry at me? For— being here?
( Of course he is!!! This is his job, why are you here, Peter?! Lysithea is his mage and work boss, how dare you....
It's at this point that one of Peter's hands (the other thankfully managing to keep hold of the hot cup in his lap) reaches up and starts scrabbling at his face while Peter gives a sudden loud scream. Hopefully there aren't any customers out there at the moment, because this can't be good for business.
But technically, this is communicating....? )
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[Lysithea looks on in shock for only a split second before she has moved into swift action. The cup is swept off his lap and onto a sturdy table and the scrabbling hand is seized as she calls out in a firm voice:]
Stop that at once.
[...It is clear who she's speaking to. This is the same tone of voice she takes on when she is consciously giving commands, training something that by nature ought to be untrainable. She continues on.]
If you're going to use the same body, you do need to share. Peter is a customer.
[And Paimon has received lots and lots of instruction about how he ought to be treating customers - or so Lysithea hopes when she speaks.]
He's paying us by doing a bit of packaging, but we still need to treat him the same way we do our other customers.
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He's silent. Listening obediently to her. Peter, for the moment, is held down where he cannot scream again.
A.... customer...? That does change things into a form Paimon can understand: categorising people is how he makes sense of... just about everything. If Peter is a customer then he can be here, he supposes..... and he has learned a lot about how to treat customers. He has tried to become much more Pleasant and Approachable, instead of Creepy and Intimidating.
Still. This is his thing, not Peter's, and he doesn't like that he's here. The demon frowns, eyes a mottled blend of Peter's warmer brown and Paimon's inky black. Worst of all, he's sure his host would make things harder for Lysithea.... (as if Paimon himself hasn't also been a headache.... Lysithea, you have to deal with a lot.) )
He is unskilled. And he will try to eat everything.
( ....He has a point. )
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[Lysithea responds in a forcibly cheery tone. After a moment of meeting Paimon and Peter's commingled eyes (she founds the effect truly very alarming), she releases the boy's hand and steps back.]
Now, if you'd rather Peter pay for his purchases some other way, we can negotiate that. I won't deny he's not very skilled, but this is a method of payment we accept.
[She points at the stacks of paper pinned to a bulletin board - the saved orders from the past months. On each one is recorded a customer, the requested pastries, and the manner of payment, ranging from 'a blue gemstone' to 'a pretty feather' to 'one day of delivery work'.]
Either way, don't squabble. It's bad for business -- and for the well-being of our cakes.
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Slowly, he lowers his hand to his lap, sitting up very straight with his back completely erect, an opposite to the way Peter tends to slouch in attempt to make himself as small as possible.
He knows he must do whatever he can for the well-being of her business, and the cakes. Of course, this is the most important.... He takes his day job very seriously. )
I believe we should make him pay another way. Faster. ( So he can get out! Paimon holds up his hand again, cups his palm in front of himself, and in a flash, a pure golden coin appears in the middle of it. He's gotten quite skilled at doing this, by now. )
He can pay with this.... If you find it suitable.
( Here Peter, your allowance. )
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Lysithea sighs after a moment's pause, though.]
I think for a deal to be proper, I've got to actually hear from the customer. Peter, is this acceptable to you?
[And... she would like them to communicate. Even a little. It could be the start of a slightly better working relationship between these two.]
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His stupid coins— he keeps making these stupid things—
( The coins tumble out of his hands as he lifts his palms up, the shiny objects clattering loudly onto the floor. )
I don't want to use his stupid coins and they're not even really worth anything—
( Peter is then flung off of his chair like a ragdoll and onto the floor. It's not too hard, certainly not enough to break anything: almost unceremoniously cast aside. He's just kind of... tossed.
Of course, it doesn't stop him from screaming again. Peter screams at the top of his lungs now, rolling on the floor.
Lysithea taught Paimon to respect the customer, that's very true, but this customer..... is causing problems for no good reason and Paimon's had it! Sometimes customers need to be knocked to the ground, don't they?? )
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[This rebuke is aimed at the boy first - he is far too old to be acting in such a petulant manner, particularly when it is clear that Lysithea is maneuvering for him to escape this with minimal damage. Her words come too late, though; Paimon has already reacted in the manner she anticipates:
Displeased.
The exact nature of his displeasure was impossible to predict, though, and Lysithea hops back as the boy begins to writhe across the floor.]
Stop! Stop, both of you!
[A wave of the hand, and a luminous orb of light hangs in mid-air before exploding into blossoms of sparks. This does absolutely nothing, but she remembers how magic has captivated Paimon in the past.]
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Peter's lack of respect for Paimon, the upset it coaxes from the demon....
Paimon's aggression towards his host, how it makes Peter dislike and disrespect him....
The inevitable result is an endless cycle of discord. This absolutely isn't the first time they've ended up rolling around on the floor, and it's less violent than what normally happens, at least (Peter, slammed against the wall or headsmashed into the nearest hard surface). ....Still, it's a certain chaos that doesn't befit the peace of a bakery. Lysithea doesn't deserve putting up with these large children.
Suddenly there's a flash of light, and they're freezing — Paimon first, attention immediately fixed on the spectacular sight, but it's Peter too: staring widely, mouth tipped open. They watch the shower of sparks, eyes slowly following the magical light downwards. They've gone completely silent.
Then they're sitting up, slowly; it's difficult to tell which moves the body and maybe by this point it's both, but there they sit on the floor. The expression on the face is, at least, genuinely apologetic. It probably is coming from both of them: the rare thing they have in common here is that they wouldn't want to upset Lysithea on purpose, whether she's perceived as work boss or friend. )
..........Sorry.
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[This is not precisely the right tone to take with your friend / demon employee, but Lysithea glowers down at the pair like a schoolteacher addressing the class miscreants. She is far too accustomed to instructing Paimon at this point to break character - especially if they're going to present themselves like faintly guilty children.]
If you're going to apologize, then apologize to each other.
Peter, I know antagonizing Paimon is your only way to voice your displeasure, but you must see that it's counterproductive. And Paimon - you obviously know that bashing Peter's head on the floor just gives you a headache, too.
Honestly.
[She sighs, and if neither of them immediately protest, she leans in and begins to remove some of the packed delivery boxes from the vicinity of the formerly thrashing boy.]
It's a very frustrating and wholly untenable situation for you both, and it's very unfair. But making it worse doesn't actually solve anything.
It literally just makes it worse.
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Finally getting to backtags, apologies for the delay!! No worries if you prefer to let this go!