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 Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:14 pm
She returned Shin’s grin with a smile of her own, pleased to see this wallflower of a person relaxing, if only for the meanwhile. ‘It’s all a game of trust,’ reminded a small voice in her head, but she silently suppressed it. High school warfare was just that, a bunch of adolescents scheming and conniving to climb a social ladder. Which, incidently, ended up leading to nowhere. Sadly, she acknowledged that those long passed mind games were probably the reason why she managed to breakaway from her home with such ease. Only family boundaries, and heck, those got pretty banged up by the end.
Marie took a sip of her green tea to buy her some time to fix her thoughts back on the present. Her father had always commented on her social drawbacks, such as daydreaming in the middle of conversations, or zoning off from time to time. Both, airs that she did not want to give off in front of Shin.
“It’s not,” she spoke, “That she doesn’t like it, but it’s probably that her tastes are too unsophisticated at the moment to handle this.” Chione snorted, one of her little hands sneaking over to Marie’s side and pinching down on her guardian’s flesh. Yelping quietly, Marie managed to slam her can of green tea down on the table top without spilling it. “It’s true, you know,” she said sternly to the petite child, but her tone was ruined by a grin that spread over her features. “Sure,” remarked Chione, with a mock sarcastic flare.
“So,” said the older female, in a definite way, “You mentioned earlier that this was your first visit here. How’d you stumble on this place?”
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:30 am
The bell rang once more as yet another new face entered the bakery. Her long, light brown hair was kept in a ponytail at the base of her neck by a white scrunchie, with stray strands falling to either side of her face and over her shoulders. Her light blue eyes scanned the place before she took a few more tentative steps in, revealing what looked like a slightly plump woman in a white t-shirt and an empire-waisted, pale yellow jumper that reached her ankles, giving way to sturdy brown sandals. Or...she looked plump, until you noticed her arms and legs were slender, it was just her belly that bulged slightly.
She had a canvas bag slung over one shoulder, filled with vegetables and various paper packages, and a basket filled with plastic bags of fruit and vegetables balanced between her opposing elbow and the corresponding hip. Esme had just finished up at the Farmer's Market, and was looking for the last things on her shopping list. One of her favorite vendors had told her about this place, and how the sweets and breads were wonderful! So...here the pregnant seamstress was. Now she just needed to find whoever was in charge of the counter that day...
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 5:38 pm
Shin didn’t know about Maries social problems she may or may not have had at home. He didn’t realize she was thinking about any of that. He didn’t even realize she was worried he would think she was being spacey. He did think she was thinking though. Whenever he was quiet it was because so many things where rushing around his head nothing else moved. The world still moved though as the mind played the body stiff or mute. He could only, imagine, wonder, or ask of what she was thinking about. He wanted to ask her what she was thinking about but he was scared to. In the end though maybe it was better left unknown?
He watched her little movements, so he wasn’t too surprised when she started talking again. Ah so that was it? Chione didn’t have sophisticated tastes? But he liked tea ever since he was itty bitty. Maybe it just depended on the person. His taste in foods and drinks never really changed over the years. In a few ways he acted young still, loving sweets and tea just as he had as a kid. But that was alright, after all sweets and tea tasted so good./ How could anyone resist not liking ether? Then again that was an opinion not a fact and he knew that very well.
“Maybe, but maybe she just doesn’t like it. Some peoples tastes change over times, some people continue to enjoy the same wonderful things though. Wont really know until she gets bigger, right?”
When she asked how he found the bakery he smiled. That was a simple little answer.
“I love sweets. I’ve always loved sweets. When I moved to town there was a nice place that was sort of like a coffee shop only the sweets they sold there was all made there. It was really good. It was especially good to go there when I wanted to think or I was troubled. I could drink something warm, soothing and sweet, eat something tasty and relax. The world seemed to vanish with the radio tunes they played coming from the counter. Sometimes I would take a few papers with me and start writing out everything I felt. It felt small and secure there.
It closed a few days ago though. Since then though I got really curious about this place. I had never been here but I would always hear people at work talk about it. I had already tried a lot of other places before this one but I guess the other place spoiled me. It just wasn’t good enough to me because they never make my favorite cake good enough. So I guess to put a long story short.. I herd about it from rumors and that’s how I came here. After hearing about it all it really took was looking for the location in the phone book.”
The other place was gone but thinking of it made him feel a bit warm. At the same time though he hadn’t ever made any friends at the coffee shop. He was always too scared to speak up. When a new sound came in to the bakery he looked over with his big green eyes, spotting the pregnant women. She was carrying a lot of things. He thought when you where with child you where suppose to take it a little easy. It looked like she was set in full drive.
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:17 pm
Marie took a moment to ponder over his response. It almost had a defensive ring to it. Maybe she had mis-spoke earlier? Even so, it was hard to get worked over green tea, at least in her opinion, but she supposed she, too, would rise to be a shining knight if her own likes were brushed off. All of her silent reasoning, however, was lost on an ever-reddening Chione.
While the little girl valiantly struggled to stay "composed," with a child's concept of a straight face involving a twisted lip and overly expressive eyes, she lost the war. Embarrassed over her lack of taste, at least how she considered the situation, the peasant-clad female buried her face into Marie's soft shirt. This gesture, along with a growing sense of awkwardness on Marie's part, lead the older girl to respond to Shin's question. "You could say that," she said, all the while stroking Chione's hair, a truly unconscious reaction to the child's mortification. "I mean, my tastes blossomed over time. I remember being a little girl and refusing to eat nothing but sweets. These days, my diet consists primarily of lattes and salads, though frankly, it's more my budget than my choice. And then again, who knows what will happen with this one? It's not like we even share the same blood."
With a loud series of pats on her back, just three that resonated throughout Chione's body, Marie signaled to the little girl that her comfort session was over. Still, even as she sat upright, a tinge of blush clung to the child's cheeks. The guardian held on to one of her ward's braids- it was more than long enough to do so without harming the girl and still keep her hands in her lap- and fiddled with it under the table.
A grin crossed her face with Shin's description. The bakery just had that way with her. Each to their own life, but every story with this little nook in the city seemed to have a happy ending. "And this place? Does it meet your fine standards? I would hope so," she asked, her speech light.
"To me, this bakery is fantastic," Marie continued. "My mother worked magic in the kitchen. I mean, her fingers just always seemed to know how to make the most out of a series of ingredients. She made the most delicious pecan pie, always burned it too, but even with a charred crust I could- and I would- be able to eat it again and again and relish every bite. While I haven't tried that pie here, I suppose I don't want to find out that my image of my mother's cooking is not as perfect as I like to think of it, I’ve tried many of her other baked goods here. And each and every time, this bakery manages to produce better food, even without the "love" factor. Or maybe I’m mistaking the situation, because Audley at 'ere does seem to embody bright qualities."
Her monologue might have droned on, but the female was cut short by the sharp cry of the chiming bell. Her sharp eyes swept over the new entry and she suppressed the instinct to gap with awe at the lady. Balancing that huge load of vegetables and being deep into her pregnancy at the same time? It must be a feat harder than it appeared to be, and Marie wasn't even doubting the appearance. The young artist was pretty much convinced that either task on its own would prove impossible.
"Hello," pipped up Chione, startling Marie for a second there. The little girl was watching Esme with curiosity, a friendly smile on her face.
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:45 pm
((aww I guess truth isn't posting again >< awww))
Shin wasn't sure if smiling or frowning would have been appropriate in this case. He hadn't meant to upset Chione with what he had said. It hadn't been meant that way at all. Still, he couldn't deny the little looks she had given off while Marie had given her kind little bits of attention that kept her cool. How could he make it clear what he was trying to say? Well trying was better then not saying anything at all.
"I don't think blood has anything to do with what you like. Its just everyone different in their own ways. I don't think everyone should like tea or sweets and cakes or chili’s and beef. Everything is better when everyone has even the slightest difference in taste. In the end theres no right or wrong when it comes to what someone enjoys eating. As long as they enjoy it then its more then good. Pleasure in food or drinks is a very special thing. They both are the same that way. If her taste changes or not it doesn't really matter if she keeps not liking tea as long as she keeps drinking things she likes. That’s the most important thing right?"
There, he hoped after saying that it would clear up his words a bit better. After all it was bad to be misunderstood right? yes. It was also bad if those misunderstandings hurt peoples feelings right? Of course so even if she didn't scold him or tell him anything like that the strange half Japanese knew it was better to try to clear and fix things up what you said. Even if nobody said it was wrong doesn't mean it wasn't wrong. Nothings right about making a young girl feel bad.
When Marie asked if it met his standards he blushed a bit, nodding. He didn't like that he had standards but he did, and they where high and picky. Still, with the many coffee shops and bakeries and such that failed it this place had not. He hadn't been there for a long time but so far...
"It has a sweet smell here, it feels more relaxed and not stuffy or not like they where trying to make it feel warm to grab people over. The sweets.. as far as I can tell are amazing here too. I haven't been here long but so far I can't see a reason why not to come back here again, none at all."
The feminine male listened to her story. It sounded very sweet. Ones mother making a fresh slightly burnt pie. Still, loving making it taste wonderful and irresistible. It was a sweet story. He couldn't understand why she said without the love factor though. Did she think food could taste so good without it?
"They say the best chefs are very strange in their own ways. I think people best at any profession, no matter how different put feelings in to it. After all, if you do something, and you really mean it then isn't that putting your feelings in it? Its not a mothers love but I doubt whoever that Audley person is he could never have made such wonderful things without pouring feelings of some sort in to them. That’s what I believe. If you don't pour your emotions somewhere they'll tip over... Did that make any sense?"
Maybe he wasn't thinking enough. He should always check twice at least before saying something. Thinking that made him pick up his can of green tea again and start drinking.
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Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 11:54 am
"Good point," remarked Marie, after Shin had finished. "I suppose," she continued, "That I keep thinking of all the 'It's in our blood' statements that were thrown at me, growing up. My highschool especially, was huge on stereotypes, and i'd hate to admit it, but some of them probably ingrained themselves on me. But, what you said makes the most sense. And I agree- what's important is that she consumes what she likes."
Chione, at this point, still was blushing from her former embarassment, however the quick child had followed the conversation with ease. "Does this mean," she said quietly, "That I don't need to eat tofu again?" Marie turned to her ward, "What do you mean by that? You only ate it once." A little fire in her eyes, the child retorted, "But you make it all the time!" Her guardian groaned, "It's good for you. And the taste will grow on you." Glowering, Chione didn't bother to reply.
Marie turned back to Shin, doing her best not to pay attention to her troublesome counterpart. She grinned, hearing him talk about the bakery. "That's good, because I would want to see you again. And it's not like we're going to bump into eachother or anything, out of here. Though we might."
When Shin started talking about emotional outlets, the female bobbed her head in agreement. "I know exactly what you mean. I do it all the time when I paint. Of course, it's usually not love that I get out, but probably closer to frustration. It's easier to take out that on a canvas than to let it boil over. The results aren't pretty if the latter happens." Her speech finished, she mimiced Shin and took a sip from her own can.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:23 pm
Shin smiled, giggling a little.
“That’s alright. Sorry for giggling though, I was just I was thinking of what I would ear like if I ate things what where in my blood. All sorts of icky stuff, it would be funny. If I was a stereotypical Japanese..”
He then stopped giggling giving a little frown for a moment. It wasn’t long though, soon it was replaced by a smile again. It was just a little thought, how strange he was. He dressed like a women, bleached white streaks in his hair and was gay. In Japan he didn’t really fit in, but he didn’t fit around here ether. He didn’t really fit anywhere did he? But he couldn’t help being himself. He was who he was.
“I’m glad to know you want to talk with me again. You and Chione are both so nice and sweet. I feel so lucky to have met two nice people that could be my friends in such a busy city. Your even an artist, you must have such a beautiful soul Marie. Chione, do you have any hobbies? You do something real good for your age don’t you? Because I think you have a beautiful soul too and if you tried doing something you really wanted to I bet you’d be really good at it with practice if you aren‘t already.”
Everything done well was done with practice and heart right?
When Maria started talking about her painting and emotions he gave a little blink. She put frustrations in her art? Its better then boiling over but it made him wonder what would get her so frustrated. Still, it would be rude to ask yes? That sounds private. He didn’t want to be rude and ask about such things.
“You paint frustration but what kinds of emotions do you think he puts in his foods? What do you think it tastes like it has in it?”
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Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 7:56 pm
Marie chuckled quietly, her eyes shining bright with even more suppressed laughter. Ah Shin. She tried to picture him, as he had stated, as a stereotypical Japanese. The mental portrait failed miserably. "Don't frown," she beseeched him playfully, half-guessing at the reason behind the sad emotion portrayed on his face. "Please don't frown. You're so unique! I'd hate to see you as the perfect person, as a cookie-cutter formed you." Her laughter slowly faded from her voice, but her eyes remained twinkling for a while after.
She felt a great warmth well up in her chest as he complimented Chione and herself. It was such as nice, refreshing comment. "Thank you," she replied simply, before falling silent to let Chione speak. The child looked as if she was struggling to summon words to answer Shin's questions. Her petite face was scrunched up in concentration as if she was seriously debating what to say.
After what felt like an eternity to Marie, who had been watching her ward with interest, the child finally pipped up. "My age? I've been growning up awfully fast." She paused for a second, her mud-colored eyes darting over the far counter and through the door way to where the old oven was situated, as if she felt a tug from the tool of her birth. The motion, however, was not distinct in the least. "I like to dance," she continued. "Marie doesn't like it when I trip over her paints and make a mess, but she does like to paint me. Right?" The last carried an undertone demanding that Marie take over this portion of the conversation.
"Of course," said the guardian, smoothly. "It's good figure work," she explained to Shin. "And besides, it's a lovely source of inspiration." The older female fell silent to listen to Shin. When he had finished, she quickly broke in. "Not only frustration, mind you. Everything. It just happens to be a good outlet. Matter of fact, I rarely sell the frustrated paintings. They turn out a little too.. generic... dare I say, to add to my professional collection."
"As for Audley," Marie continued. "I would presume he cooks with love. And passion, that cannot be forgotten. Happiness, maybe? I've never really thought along these lines. How about you? What do you think he cooks with?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:59 pm
"But.. maybe a few changes would be better." Shin said with his feminine soft voice, poking the empty can that once held green tea in it. He could think of a lot of good reasons to change. He wasn't perfect or ideal at all. "I dress like a women, look like a women, sound like a women.. All the guys I end up as my boyfriends end up violent and hurtful. I'm a complete cowered always second guessing everything I think. Even if I shouldn't be poured in to some mold there’s still a lot of things about myself that could be changed."
But what he just did was pretty brave for someone always second guessing themselves. It was even a bit brave for anyone. While being feminine wasn't a crime, the other things where important things he needed to change. It was never good to be in bad relationships like that. Someone should also not second guess themselves so much, or at least work on being more brave.
When Chione talked about how she liked to dance Shin smiled a bit, imagining the cute little girl trying to dance. It probably looked very adorable. Children where so pure it was wonderful. She was a very nice one too, oh he hoped she got very good at dancing one day. He didn't think the growing up fast comment was odd at all though. All children must have felt that way at some point or another, like they where growing up very fast.
"It sounds wonderful, dancing and painting and such."
When she asked what he thought the man cooked with he thought for a moment. He wasn't sure, he only at one of his sweets before. After a bit of thought he nearly gave a little laugh.
"I'm not quite sure but I've also only had one sweet of his so far. Maybe love, or caring, gentle, sweet, happiness, I really don't know. I'm going to buy another sweet, do you suggest anything? This is still my first time here, I've only had one. Perhaps you would know the best sweets here?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 7:09 pm
Marie felt her innards cringe as Shin denounced himself. She practically physically cringed, however, her face remained clear of any emotion, a result of her last ditch effort to avert her body. The effort? She had bitten her lip, a painful experience and a miraculously easy one to execute quietly. To her relief, the tiny stream of blood it provoked, dripped into her mouth, rather than running down her lip, keeping the injury well concealed from Shin and Chione alike.
“Everyone has things they don’t like about themselves,” she started as neutrally as she could manage. “But that doesn’t mean that those parts are all bad. I mean, heck, some things aren’t in style yet. You say you dress like a woman. Well, I dress like a man, and no one bats an eye. Go back a while ago and women wouldn’t be caught dead in these jeans, eh? Just give it time.” It was a weak argument, in Marie’s opinion, but she continued. “And... and... I can’t begin to tell of all the times I’ve been mistaken as a boy.” Under her breath, she added, “From the back.” “It’s probably my short hair and my flat figure,” she said with a weak chuckle, the laughter turning sour with the final two words. She sighed, her words dying on her lips.
Chione blew upward, making a loose strand of hair flutter against her face. Maire pulled herself out of self pity, eyeing the child with interest. Was she bored? Nodding to Shin’s comment about dancing and painting, generally paying only the slightest attention, the older female slowly snatched her cellphone out of her bag.
“The cupcakes here are delicious,” she said with a grin, all the while flipping open the phone with her pinky. She gave a little gasp in shock. “How time flies. It’s been well over an hour!” Chione snorted, the sound acting as the unstated “No duh.” Marie glanced over apologetically at Shin, “I really have to run. It’s a pity that Audley never materialized, but the day is going faster than I’d like it to. This has been such a pleasure.” She slowly rose from her seat, Chione a heartbeat behind her. “Thank you for the log,” said the little girl with a broad smile, making a curtsey. Where the girl picked that up, Marie had no clue.
As the guardian turned to go, she froze. “Oh yeah,” she said with a grin. “Did I give you my number? Don’t answer, I don’t think I did. It’s eight-one-nine, eight-eight-one-nine, with the usual area code for the city. Feel free to call me whenever.” With a sigh, goodbyes really weren’t her forte, Marie stated, “Well... ciao.” With a little wave, she made her way to the door where Chione stood waiting. “Bye,” declared the little girl, rather loudly too, and then she pushed her way onto the street, tugging Marie after her by the hand.
With a jolly ring, the door shut behind them.
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:42 pm
Shin looked over at Marie, listioning to her for a few moments. When she and Chione left he turned to face them again, watching them leave with his green eyes. They where really nice... OH! He ran back over to the table, quickly putting his bag down. Pulling out his notepad he wrote the number down, reviewing it in his memories twice before deciding he was sure it was hers. With the number down he closed the notebook then put it back away. Going back over to the counter he Bought a few different kinds of cupcakes before walking out of the store himself. He had a few things he should do himself.
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