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 Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 8:28 pm
The door chimed as he entered. Ivar was noticeably dressed more comfortably than when he had first visited the cafe, although his body language was as stiff as ever. He may or may not have been told by a certain frost demon to do away with the formalities, but the man was still discomfited at the idea of appearing too casual amongst acquaintances. Especially those related to her.
He had brought along several gifts to compensate for his lack of courtesy, including two special blends of tea that he was particularly fond of. The fact that a number of the cakes he had sampled were flavoured by some sort of tea was not lost on him, and as a fellow enthusiast, he was quite eager to share and discuss them.
The gift bag was set down on the counter top, and the man nodded a greeting to the Baku. "Good morning Miss Xiu, I hope you have been doing well?" he gestured towards the gift, "Just a small token of appreciation, I must apologise for springing these requests upon you so suddenly."
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:15 pm
With most of the morning rush having passed now, Xiu and Gene were busy cleaning things up in the aftermath. While the doppleganger ghoul was taking care of the kitchen, Xiu was wiping down tables and counters in the front and had just completed her job when she heard someone enter. She glanced up, on the verge of firing off her usual, cheerful greeting when she realize who it was.
"Ivar!" she exclaimed in surprise, only for the expression to quickly shift to a warm smile, "I've been doing well, thank you. And oh my goodness, how incredibly kind of you! Thank you so much." Xiu's eyes had gone wide upon seeing that he had brought her a gift, and although she was touched by the offering, the gears in her mind already started turning to return this courtesy with her own.
"Please, there's no need to apologize," she assured him, quickly sweeping out from behind the counter, "Why not take a seat? I will bring you some cake and tea if you have the time to discuss things today!"
And by that she meant the catering job that he had eluded to the last time he was here...andmaaaaybeabouthimandEdeltoolalala.
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 6:53 pm
The man bowed and awkwardly seated himself. Then he remembered that he was here to discuss business, and promptly straightened up himself.
"Thank you for that, and yes I would be most glad to discuss the details with you, I fear I may have not left you much to work with the last time we met," he nodded apologetically.
He waited for the baku to be seated before continuing.
"So, where shall we begin? Two art exhibitions and auctions, and one wedding," he listed.
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 7:44 pm
Xiu returned shortly after with a slice of cake and a pot of some of the most expensive tea she had obtained from her parents. He was, after all, an important person (?) to a dear friend and had even been gracious enough to bring her a gift. She just wanted to make sure to be just as courteous as he had been--that, and she genuinely liked the man and his affable nature.
(Thumbs up, Edel.)
"Those sound like quite important events you have coming up," Xiu smiled as she set everything down in front of him, and then sat down, "I suppose we should start out with how many people you expect at each?" Ever prepared, Xiu withdrew a notepad and a pen from within her obi, setting the former on the table while she the latter was poised and ready to write.
"Oh! And of course, I'd need to know the date of these events so that I plan for the deadlines."
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 8:26 pm
"Ah thank you, if I may?" he asked as a courtesy before taking a sip of the tea. His face lit up as he paused to contemplate its flavour, and as though he might have sensed that that particular brew was indeed something very special, he looked back to Xiu and smiled abashedly. "This is.... thank you very much."
Setting the tea cup back on the table, he proceeded to pull out a small leatherbound notebook and a pen. "Yes, perhaps we should begin with the wedding, that particular event would require the most planning for certain. The Smiths are uhm, well, I'd hate to gossip, but it would not be the first for either of them. Nonetheless they do quite like a show, particularly for an audience that may contain their exes." He stopped to laugh nervously at the lack of restraint he was showing. "So a very large wedding cake would be in order."
Ivar paused and breathed out, collecting himself. "They are still quite a lovely couple, and I wish them the best. Adrianne is particularly fond of lavender. It would be lovely to have the accompanying cakes for the reception feature a floral theme as well."
He took a bite of the cake and nodded. "The wedding will be in a month, I hope this is ample notice - the couple would also want to taste a few samples and preview the design of the cake before the actual day, if possible."
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 9:54 pm
Smiling at his reaction, Xiu lifted a hand and quickly waved away his thanks. "Don't mention it. It's always lovely to share a cup of tea with someone who you know will appreciate it as much as you do. You must have quite the palate for tea, Ivar." And wines, if that passing conversation the last time he and Edel had been here was anything to go off. He definitely seemed to be of the high class sort, albeit without that snobbish nature that some associated with fortune.
She listened intently about the details of the wedding and the couple that was to be married, lips twitching in amusement at the information that he provided. Tactfully saying nothing about the whole second marriage and showing off in front of exes thing, the ghoul nodded and jotted down some notes. "Okay, so a large wedding cake...four tiers, perhaps? I suppose it depends how many people will be attending."
Xiu's smile grew as she continued, "But I can most certainly do a lavender themed cake. Flowers are something I am well-practiced in making." Honestly, hearing that little detail of the order made her especially excited since she honestly adored sitting there and making each little blossom for her cakes. Sure, it took a hell of a long time, but the final product was always so satisfying.
"A month is fine! I'd be able to start the design right away, and so long as the couple can come in early on in the month for their consultation and tasting, I should be able to get it done by the wedding."
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 10:29 pm
"It was something that was acquired through years of being in this line of work," he answered sheepishly, "But I must say your blends have been one of the most delightful I've had in a while."
"Mm yes, that would suffice quite well, and I think Adrianne will be very pleased to find that is so," he smiled, "I will make the necessary arrangements with them then, I do apologize on their behalf if they may come across as a little overbearing - though that would be due to their excitement."
A note was scribbled into the notebook and the page was turned. "Next on the list would be the two smaller events, both being art viewings with a private auction at the end. The guests will be much fewer, less than 50, the intention is to hold a small reception for them. "
Taking another sip of the tea, he pondered over it and quickly revised an idea he had. "Mr Izumo's will be an outdoor event, featuring his sculptures amidst a garden setting. While I fear I may be treading the line of being too cliche, a selection of the tea flavoured cakes, as well as the tea itself might please the guests." He began to write in the notebook again before stopping suddenly. "Ah. Perhaps I may oblige you with one of his tea bowl ceramic works, I'm sure he would be happy to find it in the hands of an excellent connoisseur."
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 7:06 am
Xiu ducked her head in embarrassment, a sheepish grin on her lips. "Thank you, it really is a honour to hear you say that!" Considering this was coming from someone who had clearly tried a lot of teas throughout his lifetime, she really did take the fact that he enjoyed her blends as a high compliment.
"I'll certainly keep that in mind! I definitely wouldn't blame them for being excited for their wedding," Xiu laughed, using Ivar turning his page as a cue for her to do the same in her own notebook. She scribbled a header atop the page--"Art Viewings/Auction"--and then a few notes beneath it based ion what she was being told.
"I can definitely do tea flavoured cakes," Xiu smiled, her mind immediately jumping to which ones she could prepare for the event, "And if it's the small, sample-sized ones that you're seeking, perhaps a range of five or so different flavours?" She'd probably go for mild, bittersweet flavours rather than ones that were excessively sweet or topped with a ton of cream, at least for this particular event.
She would have spent that moment pondering on it a little more had Ivar not caught her off guard with his sudden offer. "O-oh, I...!" Looking nervous, Xiu set her hands in her lap and quickly shook her head, "That is terribly kind of you, but I couldn't, really! I'm sure they're incredibly beautiful and well-made, but..."
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 10:30 pm
"That would be quite right," he nodded, "We may have to narrow down the selection to 1-2 though, Mr Izumo believes in a less is more approach..." Ivar blinked apologetically.
"Oh not at all, he owes me a few favours that I've been meaning to cash in on," he chuckled and waved it off.
Taking another bite of the cake and a sip of tea, the dark elf took a small stretch before resuming. "And finally the will be one for the Raizon's ..." he trailed off, bringing his hand to his chin as he sighed.
"The theme... is a Macabre Love Story," he looked at Xiu, as though to say that this was simply out of his depth, "Would you have any suggestions for that?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 4:49 pm
"Of course, no problem!" Xiu replied brightly, scratching out something on her notepad and writing a correction in the margins, "That makes it both easier and harder at the same time, but I'll manage!" Easier since she only had to pick one or two, but harder because...well, she could only pick one or two. She would have to be extra selective and make sure that she chose a high quality tea that went well with the tea that was to be served.
"I...I couldn't possibly..." she protested weakly, clearing her throat and hastily trying to steer the focus to the other event instead, "Macabre Love Story, huh? I suppose that the first thing that comes to mind is...well. Have you ever had spiced chocolate before?"
Xiu tilted her head as she thought to herself, slowly pulling ideas from the corners of her mind. A spiced dark chocolate dessert, maybe? And perhaps a second kind that was slightly sweeter--a red velvet that was also mildly spicy--if the former was too "mature" of a flavour. Maybe that would work?
She unconsciously wriggled a little in her seat, eager to try making out test batches now that the thought had occurred in her mind. Even if they ended up going with something else for this "Macabre Love Story" theme, she still wanted to work on developing these cakes now.
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:54 pm
"Mm, I can't say I have..." he admitted, shaking his head, "I may have to leave this one up to you, if that's alright? These two event will be happening in the next two and a half weeks, so we would still have some time to do some taste testing..."
Ivar closed his notebook and stared off into the distance for a while.
"There is just one more thing..." he muttered, rising from his seat to move to the counter display. "Would you know what Edel might like? The anniversary is tomorrow..."
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:06 pm
Xiu visibly perked up. "Would you like to try a sample? I actually just whipped up a new spice and chocolate recipe the other day and was having friends taste test it for me. I still have an extra in the back." Andrew had liked it, and so had her uncle, so she had come pretty close to adding it to the menu. Additional opinions would help, so having Ivar sample a bit would probably be like killing two birds with one stone.
She wrote down a note about the timing of the event, and had been on the verge of writing something else when Ivar's next question suddenly caught her off guard. Eyes going wide, she whipped her head up to stare at him.
"I, uh...I'm sure I can help you find something for Edel," she said slowly before clearing her throat, "But um. Anniversary?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:57 pm
"I would like to to, yes," he nodded. The dark elf stared blankly at the baku's reaction. "Of our business partnership?" he blinked. He folded his hands together and gave a thoughtful look. "Though it seems she has been avoiding me lately..." he added as an afterthought, sounding almost a little forlorn. Kaiyumi phone tag excuse formatting |Daaa
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 6:51 am
"Oh. Oh." Xiu wasn't sure whether she felt more disappointed or more dumb with her hasty assumption. Yes, of course he had just meant their business partnership. Still, it was hard to think that there wasn't potentially more to the relationship when he got down on the possibility of Edel avoiding him, but--
--well, when she thought about it, maybe that was just a natural reaction to have at the thought of someone potentially disliking you. Dang, no new concrete evidence beyond a business partnership yet.
"Perhaps she just has things on her mind right now?" Xiu suggested gently, leaving her seat to retrieve the spiced chocolate cake as promised, "I mean, what with that uh...rare object she's come into possession of lately and everything." She didn't know how much Edel had actually told him, so she tried to keep it vague.
Returning to the table with the cake, she set it down where he had been sitting and then turned to look at him. "I can definitely pack up some cake and tea for you if you'd like to bring her some today though!"
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 8:23 am
"Perhaps. She doesn't talk about herself or Amityville Academy often..." he tried to reason to himself. He furrowed his brow at the mention of the issue with the rare object. "Hm, I still can't quite understand why it would cause her so much apprehension. We've dealt with very large transactions before..." he seemed a little perturbed at the idea that she might not trust him with that.
He reseated himself and sampled a bit of the cake, though his mind was clearly set on other thoughts. It took a while for him to realise it, after which he would mumble apologetically that it tasted very good, and to include it in the selection for the event.
The dark elf set his fork down and stared at Xiu for a while. "How do you know her to be, if I may ask? I feel as though I can't quite understand her, even after all this time."Kaiyumi hello shojo manga girl talk
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