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The female was in the process of chopping up the vegetables for the ramen. Once she was done cutting up the vegetables, discarding the unnecessary parts, she gave the seasoned beef a quick sear, a few minutes per side. The amount of oil used in the pan was just enough to gather the heat for the surface of the meat. After the frying process, she placed the meat on the plate, concealing it with the aluminum foil and letting it rest to ensure that the juices would settle back into the meat. After all, she wouldn't want her chopping board to be messed up.

She was about to cook the aromatics next for another step when she heard the barks from the two puppies, almost startling her. Her eyes darted to the dogs and then to the owner, a red-head looking a bit unrefined but not without a touch of sexiness, especially with the outfit he was wearing. Based on the way the man tugged on the leash and carried the two animals, it seemed that the dogs were having behavioral issues as of that moment. When the man apologized, the violinist waved her hand sheepishly, a sign to show that she was completely fine. "A-ah, it's fine. You don't have to worry too much. It may seem that the dogs are on hyper mode today, hence the mischievous behavior."

Solaris just giggled sheepishly at the red-head man's remark, gazing at the man who may look like a punk but may have the opposite behavior. Those two puppies were a rowdy bunch, but she had understood that animals would sometimes misbehave. After all, gaining trust from animals would take a long while until both the owner and the pets would be on the same page. Indeed, it was a different manner from her interaction with Mel and Lelwani. When the man asked about the menu for today, especially with the curious look at her handiwork, she smiled. "It's beef ramen, a Japanese specialty. Knowing that today's a rainy day, the customers could at least have something to beat the chilly weather outside." She was thankful that the menu for the lunch special today was fit for the moment. She would hate it when people would end up getting sick because there was nothing warm to consume.

It was then that the man introduced himself as Seth Ryujin. She smiled at the name. "I have to say that the name is nice. And my name's Solaris Windstorm, just one of the people working here in this establishment. It's a pleasure to meet you alongside those cute dogs." Indeed, she just wanted to pet the two animals but that would wait until she was done cooking the food. "The ramen will be done after a short while. I still have some stuff to do. You can sit down near one of the vacant tables if you like, as the food will be worth the wait." Her works were spoken professionally and she let out one last giggle before focusing her attention on her next task. After all, the broth needed to be done aside from the noodles.

When Seth mentioned that he hadn't tasted ramen in a long while, being a childhood favorite, her eyes lit up in surprise. She was indeed amazed at the newfound discovery from her newfound acquaintance. It would certainly mean one thing: that she would try to re-live his nostalgia in any way that she could. Music was always her method for the audience to remember their past memories before things have changed. Now that she was working as a chef at such a prestigious establishment, she was privileged to accomplish the similar thing with the food conjured by her skillful techniques in cooking.

At the redhead's remark at her name, she blushed faintly. "T-thanks a lot." It was then that Seth remembered that he had left his bag near the table he was currently occupying and she allowed him to depart so that he would attend to his belongings. Now she could finish the ramen without that much fuss. Her focus was sharp as she went along with the processes, cooking the aromatics, preparing the broth and finally cooking the noodles. It took her awhile before she was finally done with the bowl, the noodles and vegetables being neatly placed and the beef slices arranged beautifully. Smiling at her result, she placed the bowl on the counter and rang the bell, signaling the waiting to pick it up. "One bowl of beef ramen for the table with the puppies!" Indeed, she was moving along like a well-oiled machine, inspired by Seth's enthusiasm.

She wasn't paying attention to his remark, being focused on cooking the food for the other customers who were also waiting for their orders. After all, they must have been staying there also to enjoy the vacation on the beach only to see that it had begun raining outside. Considering that they have been bummed out by the bad weather, she should at least try to cheer them up. She was still improving on that aspect even with Amadeus as her primary weapon, but her cooking would also help, too. Even her baked goods would be enough to cheer someone up, as she still remembered about Priya and her treats. Perhaps, she should visit her tomorrow during the chef's day off since it had been a while since they last saw each other.

The chef was just done with the next order when Seth remarked on how good her cooking was. She smiled, accepting the compliment with such grace. "Well, I just starting cooking back home in Australia when I was around... eleven or twelve years old, I think. But I also bake stuff, too." Indeed, she wouldn't mind showcasing her creations that would come out of the oven with hard work and a touch of magical decorations with her adept creativity. If the dog owner would like her domestic side, she would end up having a new friend.

{Location:Amour de la Mer}
{Mood: Pleased, Relaxed, Thoughtful}
{Thoughts:If only the sun were out.}
{Company: --}
{Money: Cash: $89.00 - Account $699,850.00}
{Currently Listening To:As Time Passes Us Byand Sommarfågel}

As usual, Hiraos was up far earlier than most, even though the weather outside made him want to stay in bed, and he might have too had it not been for the whining coming from the foot of his bed. He lifted his head with a sleepy smile and laughed at the small Australian Shepherd as it wagged it's stump of a tail in greeting. He laughed and got out of bed, taking the excited puppy out of the room and into the expansive back yard. What was he going to do today, he wondered as the dog rambled about, looking for the driest spot in which to do his business.

Once back inside, Hiraos spotted a parcel on the counter. It had been delivered the evening before, from his sister back in England. From the weight and shape, he could guess what it was, but at the time of it's reception, he was dealing with laying down the ground rules for the puppy. He had not the chance yet to open it. He did so now. Ripping off the brown paper, the parcel revealed a very intricately decorated, leather cover of a heavy tome. The title read, H.P. Lovecraft - The Complete Cthulhu Mythos Tales. A smile broke out across his face as he finished unwrapping it. It was beautifully bound and stamped with gold leaf. "Thanks, Annie." He muttered and cracked open the book. The smell of the paper and binding floated up to him and it was one of his favorite good mornings he had received in that mansion of his.

Looking up and out of the window, he figured out what he was going to do today. As he had yet to go grocery shopping, there was no food in the house save the dog food he had bought with the puppy. Setting the book back on the counter, he fed his dog and went upstairs to put on warm clothes. He was going to that Bed and Breakfast he had spotted by the beach the day before last. It would be warm, quiet at this time of day, and he would be able to enjoy the sound of the ocean while eating a good breakfast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Food ordered, and sitting happily by the window, Hiraos took a sip of his hot chocolate and cracked open his book, feeling the rush of excitement of starting a new adventure as he began to read. His food would surely take some time, as it was a large, meaty order. That was fine by him. He had the horrific tales of a sea dwelling deity to keep him occupied.

Every now and then, Hiraos looked up from his book and out over the tremulous sea, imagining a ship being pulled asunder by enormous tentacles and sinking into the writhing waters. The grey of the sky and water reflected into his eyes, making the normally sapphire orbs look more like cold metal under glass.

{Location:Amour de la Mer}
{Mood: Pleased, Relaxed, Thoughtful}
{Thoughts:If only the sun were out.}
{Company: --}
{Money: Cash: $89.00 - Account $699,850.00}
{Currently Listening To:As Time Passes Us Byand Sommarfågel}

Hiraos was so absorbed in his reading and the music playing in the single ear he had left the bud in, that when the scent of lupine entered the area, he barely noticed. Lovecraft had worked his way into Hiraos' soul in the first few paragraphs of the very first short story, and the enthralled male was unaware of his company, even as she spoke.

However, his upbringing and breeding that was hard wired into his very being took over slightly, and though he did not look up from his book at first, he answered, "Hmm... Yes quite, but it's only just begun." It was more than a whisper, but less than a mutter, but it was enough to click on some awareness, and after a few moments he jerked his head up and placed the book down, closing it on one of his fingers so as not to loose his place. "Oh! I'm so sorry! I hadn't noticed... I mean I-" He looked at her and hastily pulled out his earbud, tucking it into the front of his jacket. "Excuse me. I was quite enthralled. I hadn't noticed your approach. Forgive me." He managed.

After a pause to recall what she had asked, he answered more satisfactorily, "But yes, these tales are on the eerie side." He smiled and placed the ribbon bookmark in it's place, then stood. "Hiraos Luna." He stated and extended his hand in greeting, "Are you a fan of scary stories?"

Just then, the waitress came bearing his rather large breakfast. The three plates she produced had a plethora of meats, sausage, bacon, thick sliced ham, as well as a bounty of eggs cooked in various ways, and to top it off, fat, fluffy biscuits and orange marmalade. He moved his outstretched hand out of the way for the overburdened waitress and waited sheepishly as she placed his meal(s) on the table, along with two sets of silverware. She must have assumed he was meeting someone.

The waitress left with a polite smile, one that Hiraos returned with a nod and a charming smile of his own, then forced himself to look at his visitor. She must think me a glutton... or perhaps she might assume I am meeting someone as well. "Again, I'm sorry. My name is Hiraos." Again he offered his hand, his face a few shades redder than before.

{Location:Amour de la Mer}
{Mood:Slightly Embarrassed}
{Thoughts:Company couldn't hurt}
{Company: Carmen Rowson}
{Money: Cash: $89.00 - Account $699,850.00}
{Currently Listening To:Chasing Shadowsand Maître Gims Est ce que tu m’aimes MCAR}

Clearing his throat and trying to look composed, Hiraos greeted his guest without further interruptions. "My pleasure to meet you Carmen." he said with a smile, "and you weren't being a disturbance. I was just a bit lost in the book." he gestured to the tome on the table amongst the plates of food. The topic of his dining company came up, as he thought it would and his smile shifted in slight shame. "Actually I am here alone." he answered honestly. "However, I was not aware of the portion size here and it seems I may have ordered a bit much." he looked over his feast. In all honesty, it was smaller than what he was used to seeing on a table, but that was when he lived with his family, and all of them were big eaters. Three course meals were the norm for breakfast in his family.

The food sure smelled delicious, and he was sure that, if he took his time, he could finish it all. However, the question was did he want to. He would have to go running an extra few miles to burn it off, and it was raining outside. He remembered what happened the last time he had gone running in rainy weather. He did not want to suffer that again. "Actually, call me forward, but would you like to join me? I hadn't really thought my day through and believe it or not, you would be doing me a favor if you helped diminish this feast. I despise waste, and breakfast never reheats very well." He motioned to the seat across from his with an inviting smile.

Now that his focus was completely on Carmen, he took a moment to observe. There was something about her that kept demanding his attention, but at a glance he couldn't tell what it was. There was a certain... scent about her, and his nostrils twitched ever so slightly as he took in her scent. His eyes widened. He knew what she was. She was very much like him. "You..." He had known that there were other wolves that the ones in his family, but he had never met any. He hadn't even known there were any in this town. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize... Um, please." He again gestured for her to join him. He was a bit more insistent, but no less friendly.

{Location:Amour de la Mer}
{Mood:Slightly Embarrassed}
{Thoughts:Company couldn't hurt}
{Company: Carmen Rowson}
{Money: Cash: $89.00 - Account $699,850.00}
{Currently Listening To:Carmen}

For a moment, Hiraos worried that he really had been too forward, and that he might have weirded out the first other wolf he had come across, and at the same time offended a lady. However, after a moment of thought on her part, she accepted his invitation and Hiraos found himself relieved. He laughed at her literal response to his invitation and sat after she had. He glanced at his book and moved it aside to the windowsill, safe and away from the potential mess that the act of breaking fast tended to make.

Carmen shifted in her seat, and with the fluttering of her long, dark hair came a fresh plume of her scent. Now that he was aware of the unmistakable scent of wolf, he could smell her many other scents. The shampoo she had used to wash her hair, the soap on her skin. The laundry detergent on her clothes. Everyone had these scents, but coming from his new acquaintance, he found it soothing rather than interesting. Was she wearing perfume? He figured not, as to most wolves, artificial scents were very overpowering.

Hiraos chuckled at her comment about her sudden appearance and responded, "Not as weird as a total stranger asking you to breakfast, no doubt." He began to load food onto his plate, making sure not to take more than half that was available. "Honestly, I'm glad you did. You are the first wolf I've met since I left my family, and I hadn't met many others then either. Even then, they were distant relatives. So please forgive me if I seem a bit... awkward?" So she could relate. That was comforting.

Hiraos winced when Carmen hit the nail right on the head. "Is it that obvious how new I am?" He asked sheepishly. "I moved in about three weeks ago, but I've mostly stayed at home, unpacking and getting the house situated." He felt like he was talking too much about himself. It was time to get to know his guest. "What about you? You seem to know your way around this place a bit better than I. How long have you lived here?"