patisserie lysitherie: preparations

[notimeforfailure]

[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.]

Comments

[notimeforfailure]

It's a bit difficult to explain.

[Lysithea turns now, and the sober expression on her face makes it clear that she does not especially enjoy the explanation.]

There is a particular element of magic in my world that traces its origins to the influence of the divine. It manifests in blood - much like the blood abilities found here, it is both a physical, tangible thing, and a supernatural power.

I am grateful that here in this world, its influence has been removed. I had very little time left in Fódlan.

[This is a euphemism. Lysithea hopes she does not have to elaborate further for Luna.]

We do not have demons of this form, exactly, although we do have monsters, creatures of the abyss, Demonic Beasts. The idea of a 'demon' as a... a sort of person who does wicked deeds is something that exists only in tales. To me, Paimon resembles a sort of a fusion of a dark mage and a minor deity, perhaps.

He is supposed to be much stronger, isn't he? And less childish. I suspected he had degenerated over many centuries - I believe the same can happen to deities in my world.

[creidim]

... It's not something that could ever be removed, in your own world. [ More a statement, but somewhat a question. Although perhaps if it were removeable, it might have been done long before now.

Whatever power within her was something slowly consuming her, until the end and then, well— Luna... understands the euphemism. She's solemn for a moment, eyes lowering briefly. It is something of a relief that she's able to to live without its influence, a kindness almost.

She tentatively reaches out, tries to take her hand if the other girl will allow her. Just a brief holding of her hand, squeezing it gently before she lets go once more: ]

I'm sorry.

[ It does hit quite close to home, considering Peter. ]

I see. He is... considered a deity of sorts, in some texts. [ Some have the word 'goddess' thrown in, it's hard to really decipher the languages. ] Others call him a Djinn, which is a genie, a wish-granter. But, yes. He's meant to be very different to how he's described.

[ Rather than the twisted, lost thing he is now. It's something even Paimon himself laments over. He understands he's broken, that something is wrong with him. Luna's been trying her best to help him, even if she's stumbling in the dark as much as he is some days. ]

He was placed within Peter almost immediately before Peter came to Deerington. [ She shakes her head, whatever's happened to Paimon wasn't something that took a long time but rather a very terrible short amount of time. ] ... I'm not quite certain, but I have suspicions there's been other hosts. But... this would be over decades, not centuries.

[notimeforfailure]

Shall we say, nobody believed it to be possible with the current knowledge we possessed?

[Though truth be told, she could not imagine anybody who would care enough to pursue such an aim. Perhaps Professor Hanneman, with his Crest obsession, but they certainly didn't have that kind of relationship.

When Luna reaches for her hand, Lysithea is surprised - but she does not pull away completely. Her younger self would have certain been too prickly to allow such a gesture, but she has been learning to accept such physical acts of comfort. Still, it's clear this isn't something she's wholly used to.]

Thank you. But you don't need to be. I am... free now. Free from the obligation of Crests, free from their malign power. That's what Trench means to me, really.

[As much as she missed her home, it was the reason she had found purchase here. To be able to open this place, to be able to pursue different dreams and goals... Trench was a nightmare, but then, so was a world engulfed in war where she was doomed to die in five scant years. At least here, she had choice.]

...You are worried for him, too, aren't you?

You perceive him as a victim, as well. Of all this. Of what happened to Peter and the cult. You wish him restored to his normal senses, not just for Peter's sake.

[creidim]

[ Luna tries to let her gestures be as less fuss as possible, generally. Nothing too overwhelming, keeps them simple. She's quite aware people can find such gestures difficult, after all. Peter was often like that at first, when they first met. Terrified of being touched, unused to affectionate gestures. Holding hands probably came easiest. ]

I can understand that. Being in Trench kind of... freed me too, in a way. [ Freed her of her fate back home, whatever that might have been. Something terrible, she suspects. With her likely not living past the new couple of days, considering the Wizarding World being on the eve of battle. Still, she smiles gently. ] I'm glad this place has allowed you to have some peace, let you make your own life for yourself.

[ It feels like that for many, she supposes. ]

... I am, yes. [ In truth, yes. Paimon is much a victim as Peter is. Peter the unwilling, unknowing host and Paimon the demon manipulated, treated incorrectly — for perhaps decades, thanks to Peter's grandmother and those who followed her. ]

He's... he's his own being, one that's been twisted and stripped of himself. It's hard not to feel pity for him. Nothing, no one should exist like that.

I... suppose I'm a bit protective of him, at times.

[notimeforfailure]

((apologies for the delay! got covid, trying to keep up with current events and let some things fall on the backburner!))

...Thanks.

[Lysithea responds, a touch of softness coming to her expression that she has not previously displayed. She will allow Luna's hand to linger as long as she wishes.]

What I seek from Trench is something that I'd never truly be able to have in my home world. And for that, I can feel grateful. Even despite the... incidents.

[Many Incidents.]

I've never thought of Paimon as an individual until recently, to tell the truth. I'm afraid I saw him as a sort of... ailment of Peter's. But he does have his own personality, doesn't he? His own needs and wants and wishes and goals. He's very bad at expressing them - and it's possible some of those wants are not compatible with what a human society would allow, but...

It's fair to want more for him.

I admit I fear what will happen if he gains his full power. ...To him. And to Peter.

[creidim]

(( gosh, don't worry about it! I hope you're feeling better! ❤ ))

[ Luna smiles at the thanks, nodding gently. She understands, she does. The freedom to have what they can't back home. She's certainly grateful she's been able to come here, with friends in tow. Even if it did meant leaving her own world behind. She'll miss it, and there's new difficulties here, but— she's optimistic. ]

Funnily enough, I used to think he was some sort of curse that had been placed on Peter before I learned what he was. [ The first time they ever met was during one of Paimon's restless fits, and she had to try and calm him down into submission. But the term 'demon' didn't really come into the equation until several months later. ] It's something I've been trying to work with him on, trying to help him work on what he wants in order to help him feel fulfilled. I do know he feels content to serve, it's one of the core parts of him that he does remember of himself.

[ It's something that's so unknown to both of them. Paimon doesn't remember himself, Luna has never worked with a demon before. It's a... learning journey they're doing together. It's certainly not easy and it's had its setbacks but — they're trying.

As for the last thing, Luna smiles weakly. ]

There's... not really much of an answer for that. What... might happen. [ Especially now the rules have changed. This isn't Deerington. But she does worry one day she might lose Peter. ] But... I do think my influence can... keep him reigned in, sort of speak. Demons like Paimon aren't meant to exist on this plane untethered. They need to be kept in check by summoners, witches, magicians, mages. And Paimon does understand how important Peter is to me.

[notimeforfailure]

[She nods, slowly.]

I've noticed... he has become particularly docile in response to my commands. It was not something I expected. But if the nature of a demon in his world is to act servile towards a human user of magic, it would make logical sense. Odd that Peter's family conspired so to revive something that prefers to act in deference to humans.

And so he considers you his summoner...

[She makes a soft noise of thoughtful contemplation under her breath.]

Then I shall have to trust you, of course. In your relationship with him. I will continue to train him to ah, participate in human society as much as I can, but I imagine those are goals we share.

[creidim]

Mm, he does work well with commands. [ She nods before pressing her hand to her chest, her heart. ] He understands it, well— feels it, in his spirit? It's important to him.

[ If that makes sense. ]

For the riches, I suspect. [ People can be greedy, can't they? Paimon might be able to offer assistance in form of supernatural means, but according to texts he can grant vast amounts of material wealth. ] People like money, don't they?

[ It's a... yes, that's pretty much it. She nods again, smiling faintly. And now she's his summoner. Even if the... whole thing wasn't... perhaps quite so to the letter. They're both stumbling around in the dark, though. But it's... alright, really. They're okay with that. ]

I would really appreciate that. Admittedly, it's a large task and I suppose I'm being cautious with him with others— [ But she feels relatively at ease with the other girl. ] but if it's helping him with something like that, it does help me, too.

And I'm still quite happy with him working for you. It's nice he's found some work to do that's something positive for him.

[notimeforfailure]

Oh -- I... did forget about that.

[Lysithea, who envies and desires things unattainable in the material realm, has never given much thought to hoarding wealth or goods. She blinks, as if the thought has struck her for the first time.]

So in a sense, he has perpetually been taken advantage of, hasn't he? And... that's why he keeps manifesting coin as an attempt to appease me when he upsets me.

[She is speaking to herself, as if coming to a realization for the first time. Perhaps a part of her does feel more sympathy for the demon now.]

Well, I'll try not to let you down. I run a tight ship around here - Paimon isn't allowed to scare or harm any customers, of course, but I also have expectations that might not have been placed upon him before.

He doesn't seem to mind it much, though.

[creidim]

[ It's honestly one of those things Luna doesn't really get, either. Sure, money can be helpful in certain circumstances but she's never really been all that interested in it. ]

I believe so, yes. I suppose some part of him understands that people like gold, so he's kind of using that as a blanket rule for everyone. And to try make magic users he interacts with in general happy. [ He knows Luna's an exception. She's told him flat out she has no need for riches. But he's even been manifesting gold coins for her too, anyway. He's very keen to impress her.

There's a weak little smile at that 'scaring or harming customers'. She... really hopes he's on his best behaviour. He's... still kind of working out how to be around people properly. ]

Oh, that's not a problem. The routine and strictness is really good for him. [ It's something he very much needs. ] But if you do have any issues that you might need hand with, please feel free to contact me and I can come over.

[ There's a pause. An afterthought concerning Paimon working here: ]

... I also feel I should pay you something for the baked goods Paimon's brought home with him for me, if you'll allow it.

[ By the looks of things, she has been working very hard! ]