nexus_crossings | Grand Opening!

Grand Opening!

There's always a lot of paper litter in the Nexus Plaza. Pamphlets and flyers and signs explaining the hows and why's and what's of the Multiverse. People looking for others from their own world. People looking to barter for safe return to their own worlds.

There are a different sort of flyer around today though.

Bakery and Restaurant Grand Opening!

Come support your local Nexus denizens in their new business venture. Located along the main thoroughfare of the Plaza heading toward downtown. (Actual location may vary as Nexus fluctuations have been known to occur.) Housing a variety of Nexus-world pastries and foods made by Katsuya Suou and Head Chef Ice Bear. Have a request? We'll make it or die trying!

Please join us at our open house for free samples and help name this new addition to the Nexus Community!

The bakery itself is tucked along the main road with a large sign that says "Name Us Please!" hanging out front. The suite inside the brick building has a homey and comforting atmosphere painted in warm reds and oranges and lit by soft yellow lights hanging inside large industrial size mixer whisks. Two display cases frame the register while a large open door gives a clear view of the kitchen, specially modeled to allow a full sized polar bear to work his kitchen magic. A smaller work area is lined with windows allowing customers to watch the baked goods being prepared and decorated.

Free food? Familiar faces? A chance to make Katsuya say a naughty word out loud if someone immature suggests a name for the bakery? Surely there's only one question to ask here.

When are you going and what would you like to sample?

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Large, fuzzy creature with big claws. Check. Furiosa isn't afraid so much as utterly bewildered. The largest animal she's ever seen was a seventy-pound hunting dog, a tough creature but hardly as intimidating as a full-size bear. On the other hand, she's being spoken to in English, and he's being quite polite.

Slowly, she nods and sidles closer, looks at the chair, looks at him, then decides what the hell, and sits. "Okay. Is that your name? Ice Bear?"

Seated, she has to really crane her neck to look up at him, and also restrain a sudden urge to ruffle fluffy white fur. That would probably be rude.

[The reaction isn't quite what Ice Bear was expecting, but is welcome never the less. Getting people to calm down from a frightened state is much harder than it looks. Once Furiosa has taken a seat, the bear starts answering her questions.]

"Yes. Ice Bear is happy to serve you today, Miss. Ice Bear is the chef here, at this new cafe." [He tries to bend down a little, so he doesn't have to strain her neck while looking at him.] "What would you like to eat? Ice Bear can make just about anything."

She actually gives him a small smile, unwittingly charmed by the gentle courtliness. You don't get a lot of that in the Wasteland (but you don't get a lot of bears in the Wasteland either, maybe good manners are inherent to the species?). She can't wait to tell the war pups at the new school about this encounter.

"I didn't come on my own behalf," she says, a little sheepish. Not that she couldn't eat, but she keeps telling herself she doesn't come to the Nexus just to enjoy herself. There has to be a purpose for her visits. "I was looking for a treat for the pups back home...the children. Some kind of small biscuit, maybe?"

[Ice Bear just happens to be one of those nice bears, even if his stoic nature says otherwise. He just has a difficult time expressing himself, that's all. The response Furiosa gives him is not really what he was expecting.]

"Nothing for you?" [The idea doesn't sit well with him, but the talk of getting to help children is a plus. At least, that's whom he thinks she's talking about when mentioning pups.] "Ice Bear has a good idea for something to take back. Give Ice Bear a few minutes."

[He's already walking back to the kitchen area, and within a few minutes, he returns with a large bag full of baked goods. Specifically, warm and good-smelling croissants, all neatly wrapped up for the travel home.]

"Honey-glazed croissants. Nice and flaky. Should go over well." [He places the bag on the table, but also places a warm bowl of beef stew on the table in front of the warrior. He won't stand by and see her eat nothing. Thankfully, he's also added a roll to accompany the warm meal.]

"I'm pretty well-fed," she tells him mildly. Which is true; if she really wanted to, she could have more than her fair share of rations back home, what with various factions trying to either curry favor or express genuine affection. Plus, in the Nexus she has access to all kinds of things that aren't available in the Wasteland.

Of course, it would also be both foolish and impolite to turn down good food, so when he brings back the stew, she's not about to protest. "Glory," she comments, peering into the bag and breathing in the scent. "That smells good. They'll be thrilled, thank you!"

She's not given to being effusive, but he's being generous, and she's pleased by the thought of how the children will react to honey-glazed. She hasn't seen honey around for barter in quite a while. She offers her arm to clasp, only a little hesitant when noting the size difference between his paw and her hand. "I'll tell them who made them, when I give them to the kids."

"...Ice Bear takes pride in cooking. No one should go hungry." [He gestures to the bowl with one paw, taking great pride in his creations. He's not letting Furiousa leave until she's eaten some of his cooking. He takes a few steps back, in order to give her some breathing room and not hover over her forever.]

"Ice Bear hopes they'll enjoy the treats. Do not hesitate to ask Ice Bear for food to take home to the children." [There's a small smile on his face, if only at the thought of helping young kids in need. He's not such a stoic bear after all, once certain topics are brought to light. He takes her hand, giving it a gentle shake in return.] "...Do not forget to take care for yourself. One cannot protect others without considering their own health. Ice Bear's stew is filling for that purpose."

"Cooking is very utilitarian where I come from," she says. "Limited ingredients. We have some treats, though, now and then."

Fresh croissants will be a cut above slivers of sugarcane or toasted grasshoppers, though.

He doesn't really need to coax her. Even if the stew didn't smell delicious, she's too conscientious to waste food under any circumstances. She sits again and dips the spoon in the broth to taste it. By her standards, it's incredibly rich, and it takes her a moment to process the various flavors--meat, vegetables, herbs. Her sigh of satisfaction is hopefully gratifying.

"...never had anything like it," she says honestly. "Where'd you learn to cook?"

"Limited supplies are tricky. Tough to cook with." [Even Ice Bear knows the struggle of that, let alone if you mess up with those scarce ingredients. And to be fair, if he knew the children of the Wasteland ate grasshoppers, he would be taken back. He's already making a mental note to give Furious food at any possible time.]

"Ice Bear watched tv shows. Read books." [There's a small smile on his face, both to the visible praise and being asked about his cooking background.] "Ice Bear can teach you sometime."

She nods pleasantly, and continues eating. "That, and we have a lot of mouths to feed. More now than before."

Not because of a population boom, although there's been a little of that, but certain segments of the populace didn't get rations before. She's pleased that now everyone gets something, even if it isn't much. But he doesn't have to feel bad about them eating grasshoppers. Furiosa, at least, thinks they're delicious.

"We have a few books, but they always seem to call for things we don't have. Herbs we don't grow, or butter or some kind of fish. Maybe what we need to learn is how to improvise." She smiles back. "Can you teach that?"

"Sounds difficult. Ice Bear senses that you're strong, however. Can help those in need."

[He continues to watch over her with a kind look, even if his expression doesn't show it. Her question does cause him to stop and think for a long time, given his easy-going lifestyle allows him to cook with whatever at any given time. This task might be daunting, but the bear seems confident that he can find a way to help Furiosa.]

"...Ice Bear is up for the challenge. Ice Bear will try to come up with a cook book that works for your people." [He's already pulling out a pad of paper from his apron, along with a pen.] "Ice Bear needs to know what you have to work with for starters."

"People have been telling me that," she says wryly. She hears 'strong' and 'tough' frequently. 'Scary' less often, but sometimes she thinks that's what people want to tell her.

She's patient while he considers, enjoying her meal thoroughly and seeing no reason to press for his thoughts. He surprises her, though, when he speaks again. Offering to write a book for her people is not what she expected at all. "Glory me...that's a lot of work. Are you sure? Is...there anything I can give you in return?"

The latter is a wary question. She doesn't like to take something for nothing, and he's already been very generous. He seems pretty honest in his kindness, though.

"Is it a bad thing?" [Now he's wondering if he's accidentally offended the woman with his words.]

"...Ice Bear would like to try it. Ice Bear has always had an interest in the culinary arts field." [He nods his big fuzzy head a few times to emphasize his point. Even if a book might take longer than usual to make, it seems like he wants to do it without hesitation. Cooking is both an art and a challenge to him.]

"Tell Ice Bear about your world. Ice Bear is interested in different places."

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Grand Opening!

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sorry for the delay

no need to be, I'm a slow tagger anyway

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