22nd Card [dictated]

[legacydeck]

...Oh dear.

[Clow seems to be speaking to himself rather than the journal, though he clears his throat and addresses it specifically now]

I was going to ask for new employees for the pie shop anyway, but given that we seem to have moved several centuries back, technologically speaking, it seems like that may be a little more urgent now.

[a sigh]

And I'm going to have to redecorate again.

Comments

[peacockherald]

They did not take your chair, did they?

_{[ He had worked hard to save that chair too when you first left. ]}

[legacydeck]

I'm not sure - I haven't had the time to figure out where Chimera has disappeared to yet.

[peacockherald]

Probably to one of the towers. It seems appropriate, after all. We'll find it eventually.

[legacydeck]

It would be nice to have the view back.

[peacockherald]

True, even if my work room did not have it - for safety. But when I took breaks it was quite nice.

[deadlybanker]

Beyond the trouble of needing to redecorate, will it be difficult for you to run your business with the shift in technology?

[legacydeck]

Not overly so - I do remember life before electricity myself. But I may have to spend a few days setting everything up properly again.

[deadlybanker]

Then you are not from a more modern age? That should make the adjustment easier for you.

Actually I think wood fired pies taste better than these electric made ones anyway.

[legacydeck]

[Clow chuckles, just a little]

More that I've seen more history than most - but it does help, yes. There's a certain convenience to electricity, but you're right, the flavor isn't quite the same. Worse for breads, if you ask me.

[deadlybanker]

It is as you say. It is little wonder when modern people eat it that they try to hide the bread under so many coverings, jam, butter, peanut butter... Anything to give it flavor, hm?

Have you been in the bakery business long?

[legacydeck]

Quite true, though the English in my experience have a long history of preferring food as bland and overcooked as possible. I suspect the electric oven was invented by an Englishman.

And not particularly long - I needed something to occupy my time when I first arrived here, though.

[deadlybanker]

Entirely possible! I have heard they do not have the same flair for seasoning that an Italian Chef would.

But, capisco, this is a situation I can appreciate. I will need to find something to occupy my time eventually.

[legacydeck]

Having travelled extensively in Europe, I think I can say with some certainty that the English are behind nearly every other culture when it comes to food, and most certainly behind the Italians.

[deadlybanker]

So your Bakery, can we expect the culinary treat that is English cuisine or do you diversify and create wondrous treats from many different areas?

[Either way he will likely end up visiting some time. Might as well!]

I am so sorry this is late, con happened @.@

[legacydeck]

I try for some diversity - though I'm not sure how well red bean paste would go over with many of the residents here.

How fun! ^^

[deadlybanker]

Perdono, red bean... paste?

[legacydeck]

Hóngdòu - it's a type of bean native to East Asia that's typically boiled with sugar until it forms a paste, which is used as a filling on many desserts.

[deadlybanker]

How unique.

[Not sure if this would be good, but it is unique!]

You could make a small sample batch and see if these bean filled desserts can find a market here.

[legacydeck]

Quite true. If they didn't sell I can always eat them myself~

[freeslider]

Oh no! What happened to the shop?

[legacydeck]

The kitchen has been rather forcibly retrofitted to stone ovens. And I think we'll need some wall sconces for lighting.

[freeslider]

...wow. I didn't even think about it, but it makes sense it would happen. Can you still bake in an oven like that?

[legacydeck]

Yes - I learned to bake in similar ovens, actually. But it does mean resorting the process some.

[freeslider]

You did? [How old or from when are you, dude?]

Well...okay...but it sounds like a whole lot more trouble to me.

[legacydeck]

I did. It'll be a bit more trouble, but I can work things out.

[freeslider]

I'll leave that to you expertise, then. Is there anything I can do?

[legacydeck]

Probably not, for the moment. Rearranging the kitchen is going to have to come first, and even with magic that might get a touch iffy.

[freeslider]

So, about that...is there a reason you can't use magic to cook?

[legacydeck]

Not really, but I don't think it tastes the same. Like using a gas oven instead of wood-fire for something.

[freeslider]

I guess I can see where you're coming from, but it would make things awfully convenient.

[legacydeck]

It'd take the fun out - I actually do enjoy baking quite a bit.

[freeslider]

Where'd you learn to do it?

[legacydeck]

Originally? Watching the cooks at my father's estate. There wasn't much else to do other than read, really.

[freeslider]

[That tells her a lot but...]

I meant the magic, actually.

[legacydeck]

[He laughs slightly, though more at his misjudgement of the question than Wade] Much the same - though with some actual teaching from both sides of the family.

[freeslider]

[Baking is great and all, but Wade has nothing but stars in her eyes over all things fantastic and magical.]

So it was sort of like a family business for you?

[legacydeck]

In a sense, though some of my relatives would bristle at calling it 'business' - it would be like calling what a fine artist does for a living 'business'.

[freeslider]

Well, I would, assuming you actually make a trade out of it. Some people don't give proper to respect to skills like that.

Maybe tradition is a better word?

[legacydeck]

[He laughs] Better, yes - and more apt, I think. It runs in both sides fairly far back - not all make a trade of it, even in the indirect sense of being attached to a noble house.

[freeslider]

Can anybody learn, or is it only the kind of thing that runs in families?

[legacydeck]

The talent doesn't always run in families, and there are some things even the ungifted can do, but yes, it does take a certain something not everybody has.

[dictated]

[rapscalliongirl]

Pie shop?

[legacydeck]

With some other pastries as well, but yes. It passed through several hands before coming to me.

[rapscalliongirl]

There any meat in them?

[legacydeck]

Some of them, yes. Though the fruit pies were more popular.