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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What would she like to sample? Secretly, everything. But Radio's here today on business, not pleasure. In fact, she's going to be here on business most days. She works here now, which is such an exciting and daunting notion at the same time. Starting ~~her own~~ a friend's business in a place she still knows so little about...

Well, the best way to get to know it is to get to know its people, isn't that right?

Today she's placed herself off to one side of the pastry display, mindful to stay out of the way of the goods while also being noticeable at the front. Her hands are folded in front of her and she's practicing a smile that shows no teeth. Be polite, be friendly, be there to greet the guests...

[And to round out the trio is Ice Bear, all decked out in his cute cooking apron and chef hat, his cute little polar bear ears poking out at the top. He’s already in the back of the kitchen, double checking all of his supplies. Knives are sharp? Check. Silverware and plates all clean? Double Check. Somehow, through means no one but the bear himself can explain, Ice has acquired unique and rare ingredients to be used in his cooking.

Speaking of cooking, Ice Bear has made sure to lay out different menu’s for people to look at, even if the advertisement said he could make anything. Some meals take extra time, after all, and the menus are a good way to get indecisive people to pick something without difficulty. Ice will still try to fulfil requests, if at all possible. It also helps that people can see Ice Bear flipping pancakes or making calzones in the back, getting customers excited about the upcoming meal.

So feel free to say hi! Ice Bear will make time to talk with people, however stoic he may be.]

"I've got mini fruit tarts, individual chocolate mousse cups, and single serving slices of castella cake up for sampling." There are no fancy chef coats on this police officer, just a red apron he's wearing over his usual button up and slacks. Though he has gone casual and skipped the tie.

"Do you think that's enough for a start?" He wanders around to the front of the store after filling the display cases as best as he can. Katsuya's been here since dawn preparing, and he seems cautiously optimistic about the whole affair.

"This place looks great, by the way. You've outdone yourself, Radio."

Katsuya even has a matching apron! Though his is red. There's a smudge of flour on his tinted lenses when he heads over to the savory kitchen with a plate of treats in tow.

"I brought you a bit of everything I have made so far. Do you think I should have something else? Cookies perhaps?" Poor Katsuya's been at the bakery since dawn preparing and while he's fretting he seems much more excited than anyone has possibly ever seen him.

Radio accepts Katsuya's compliments with a humble half-nod and a wry smile. "I love that you want to give me so much credit, but don't forget who's the mastermind behind it all." ~~Her~~ Katsuya, of course!

Then she reaches out as if to pat Katsuya on the back, but her hand merely hovers behind his shoulders. "I think the samples you've put out are fine, Officer. Or do I call you Chef now? Head Baker? What will it take to finally inflate your ego, Katsuya?"

"Mister Ice Bear!" The bear makes it so easy to smile, not in the least because of his adorable outfit. Radio steps toward the door that separates the kitchen from the dining area and lingers there, leaning in to get a look at him.

"You're looking very professional today. Very serious. You know you're allowed to relax, right? Nobody will think less of you if you smile, just for today. As of tomorrow you can go back to stoicism, but this is our grand opening!"

Let it be said that Dia will never turn down the chance to have some kind of free food. Such as the point today as she arrives at the bakery, curious and interested. For the moment, she's simply looking around and examining things visually, mostly trying to decide what she wants.

[Ice Bear has an adorable blue apron with snowflakes on it, so the colors are polar opposite to Katsuya's. Not like Ice Bear even cared about matching fashions with his companions. He finishes putting a round dish into the oven, before turning to see the different treats Katsuya has baked.]

"Looks good. Ice Bear is coming up with a few good dishes as well." [He can't cook everything as quickly as the pastry chef, due to the desire of keeping dishes fresh and safe. But, it looks like he might have a few samples ready to go soon.] "...Don't overwork yourself. Making too much can be challenging. Ice Bear thinks you have a good selection so far."

"Ah, Radio."

[The bear manages to turn and face her, even while flipping a medium-sized pancake onto a nearby plate without looking. It lands perfectly, showing just how long he's been making this breakfast treat.]

"...This is how Ice Bear always looks." [His smile has, unfortunately, scared customers away before. Or was that because he was wearing a creepy cupcake costume? Either way, it's hard to get the bear to show anything but a neutral expression. To prove his point, he offers the chocolate pancake plate to her, fork and syrup included.]

"Ice Bear is cute as is. Ice Bear will win people over with his cooking."

"You? This would just be another shelved idea otherwise."

Katsuya gestures around them and this time his smile is brighter. More excited. This is actually happening. It's not some what if dream or plan for someday. They've actually put this together and it's happening.

"Just Katsuya is fine, but if this goes well, believe me I'll be quite pleased with myself." As well as Radio and Icebear, obviously.

The colors don't have to match, Ice Bear's apron is adorable just the way it is. Aprons instead of stuffy chef coats is the way to go, definitely. Thankfully pastries tend to keep a bit better than a cooked meal, so Katsuya's prep just means he'll be better able to play soux chef for Ice Bear if the other needs a hand when the guests are mingling.

"I can't hardly help it. I'm incredibly nervous about all of this. Excited, don't get me wrong. But very nervous."

"Welcome!"

Katsuya's greeting is cheerful from behind the glass where he's putting the finishing touches on a tray of miniature fruit tarts. The small bakery is already teeming with the smell of freshly baked cake, fruit, pancakes and other delicious treats Ice Bear is preparing.

"We have fruit tarts, chocolate mousse cups, and castella cake samples if you're in the mood for sweets. Otherwise, our head chef said something about a mighty fine quiche, and I know I smelled pancakes earlier."

Radio snags a nearby menu and fans herself with it after Katsuya goes so far as to inflate her ego twice in a row. "Keep talking like that and sooner or later I'm going to start believing you, Katsuya."

Then she swats at his chest with the paper. "Don't say 'if'! Say 'when'. There's nothing wrong with being confident, you know? It's going to go well because we're going to work to make sure it does. I'm not going to have my first business venture in the Nexus fall through. Your dreams, my reputation, and Ice Bear's salary are on the line here." She winks and smiles for Katsuya.

Then shifts her eyes toward the kitchen. Quietly but amusedly she whispers, "He's taking this very seriously, isn't he?"

[So far, Ice Bear has everything mostly under control, except for the 'waiting for customers' part. Here's to hoping people aren't scared of a big polar bear, but instead, think he's cute. For now, he's mixing ingredients together swiftly and with a great deal of accuracy. ]

Don't be. Nervousness will show in Katsuya's cooking then. Stay calm, but have fun.

[Is that what cooking is to him? Perhaps, but the bear has no intent of ever revealing his secrets.] ...Things will be fine. Ice Bear will make sure of it.

Furiosa has no clear idea what a bakery is, or a restaurant. Not that she's never read the words before, but such establishments are for the most part too quaint for the Wasteland. Bars are a bit more likely, but still few and far between. She's curious, anyway.

She's also a little cagey, entering the building and hovering by the door for several moments, just breathing in the sugary scents.

[Ice Bear happens to be the first one to spot Furiosa as she hovers near the door. Her appearance doesn't even faze him, but he is worried that she'll be scared because he's a bear. The thought quickly passes, as he steps out from behind the kitchen, gesturing to her politely with one paw.]

"Please don't be afraid of Ice Bear." [As if to further emphasize his point, he quickly pulls out a chair at one of the tables, offering her a seat. Hopefully she won't run?]

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."

"I really can't help but to be nervous, Radio."

Katsuya's voice is quiet but there's a hint of pink on his face in embarrassment. He fidgets slightly with his apron, smoothing out nonexistant wrinkles down it's front. He's not wearing his tie today or you'd best believe he'd be straightening it and adjusting it instead.

"I never thought....you know. That I'd be doing this. I'm grateful to have you and IceBear at my side though." He pauses to take a glance into the kitchen and smiles again. "I'm glad he's confident. Between you and he it does help ease my nerves."

"It's a fair point. My hands weren't shaking when I was here this morning, but now that we're open I feel like a wreck."

Katsuya gives a weak chuckle, but he seems to be inspired a lot by the calm Ice Bear is showing over all of this. He stands a bit straighter and adjusts his apron.

"Admittedly, I don't think I've smiled this much in years." The confession earns a chuckle from the officer. "I'm very happy to be here."

Katsuya watches Ice Bear welcome Furiosa in, a smile on his face and a nod of the head in way of greeting if she catches sight of him watching her from over at his decorating station.

He has a large bag in his hands that he seems to be manipulating to dispense precise little dollops of chocolate something or other into individual serving cups. There's a twist of his wrist while he works, giving each a nice little swirl on top.

"Would you like a sample?" When he does finally speak up, the tray of little mousse cups is finished, decorated with chocolate curls on top.

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?"

She's watching him, too, curious. She's seen plenty of cooking, but most of it has been extremely utilitarian. The way he's putting effort into the appearance of what he's making is new and different. It almost seems a shame to eat something so pretty and delicate.

She shrugs at the question, awkward. "Is that really chocolate?"

She's heard plenty about chocolate, from the older Vuvalini. She's certainly never tasted it.

Katsuya moves to the front of the bakery to begin filling a section of the display case with the little cups, but he leaves one on the sheet pan he's carried these out on to carefully place on a saucer instead and set on the counter in front of Furiosa along with a spoon.

"Indeed. It's a rather popular dessert ingredient, so I thought I should have something chocolate to sample here today."

"...oh." She looks strangely hesitant, staring at the dessert. Glory, but it smells good.

"I don't think we have much of that available where I come from, any longer. The plants to grow it need a great deal of water, I think?" She picks up the spoon, puts it down, takes it up again and scoops up one of the decorative curls to taste. "It's pretty. Kinda hate to ruin it by eating."

That, and if she develops a taste for this stuff, she'll never be able to get it at home, just in the Nexus.

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Grand Opening!

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