[ And neither is Akira, but the bar seems like a reasonable place to start. He doesn't see why they wouldn't sell them a bottle if they offered money for it. ]
Let's find out.
[ So he leads the way into the bar, a bit smaller and dimmer on the inside than the tavern where he works part-time. Not to mention much more quiet at this time of day. It reminds him a little of Crossroads, and recalling the welcoming greetings Ohya and Lala-chan would give him brings a fond smile to his face. ]
[The quietness of the time soothes him somehow. A little like a cafe, but not, given that he can smell the underlying alcohol. Akechi glances at Akira to speak and notices the smile on his face. He's caught on it for a moment, wondering what kind of thought brought it on, before he clears his throat.]
Red. [ But that's kind of vague, so he thinks back on the labels of the wines he's seen in Leblanc's kitchen. ] I think Sojiro's used both merlot and pinot noir before, so it might not matter that much which kind.
[ They might be called something completely different here, after all. ]
[It may seem a little sudden but here's some trivia for you.]
It is extremely unlikely. Wines are named by region or the variety of grape used to make them. The divide is typically between 'New World' and 'Old World'. Old World tends to be by region while New World tends to be by the type of grape, though there are exceptions. Old World makers believe the region the wine was made in matters just as much as the type of grape, if not more. Soil type, soil quality, weather and so forth go into the grape itself. For example, Pinot Noir is called Burgundy in France, where it was born. Merlot, meanwhile, is a type of grape that was usually blended into other wines until it came to America.
[ They're making quite a pair so far: the one who knows how to make the curry but little about anything that goes into it, and the one who doesn't cook but is full of trivia about all of the ingredients.
Akira's taken off guard by the sudden onslaught of information but listens with interest nonetheless. It's a useful piece of trivia to know right about now, but that means... ]
I stand corrected. [ An amused noise. ] Since none of those places exist here... I guess we'll have to pick something and hope it's close. [ Since it's not like he knows the taste of the wine itself to compare to. ]
[At least Akechi has some very specific uses. He smiles.]
For our purposes, just a red wine will probably be fine. Red wine is best, flavour-wise.
[Akechi goes up to the counter, asking for a small bottle of red wine. He specifies that they'll be cooking with it just to get the point across that it doesn't have to be too special. When given a selection the bartender finds best for cooking, he just mentally shrugs and accepts it, though he does split the cost with Akira again.
He does hope they didn't get scammed into buying something too expensive but cost wise, it leaves them enough for the rest, so he thinks it will be fine.]
[ And just like that, the wine is acquired. That should be the most expensive ingredients out of the way, leaving behind mostly just the simpler ingredients that should be easy to find at the stalls along the street: things like fruits and vegetables, rice, honey, and so on. They still have to figure out what to do about the nonexistent ones, but before that...
He steps back out into the daylight and throws an inquisitive look over his shoulder. ]
Where would we find chocolate around here? [ Akira has an inkling that Akechi already knows exactly where to get some. ]
[ Akira easily falls into step with him, having expected Akechi to start leading the way. ]
They're all right. I like it when they have another taste rather than just sweet. [ Something to give more depth than just the overwhelming taste of sugar. ]
Complex flavours are good in sweets, too. That's why I like parfaits and crepes. You can get different flavour combinations that complement and contrast each other. Of course, just a well-made chocolate bar is good, too.
[ That's the sort of sweet he can appreciate, something versatile. It doesn't even necessarily have to be sweet. ]
There was a place back home that did unusual crepe flavors. I wanted to go try them sometime. [ But it's obvious what happened before he could get around to that. ]
[The first thought he has—that Akira will get to try them eventually—gets discarded. He doesn't particularly want to think about the fact that Akira will someday go home. After all, if anyone can do it, it would be Akira. But no, another day. He can be sad on his own time, as per usual of how he deals with emotions.]
Hmm, you're going to have to learn to cook a lot of different things, I see...
[Instead, he opts to ask for crepes in a roundabout way.]
[ It's also a thought Akira would rather not linger on, though it's more that he's not sure when he's going to be able to make it back.
Much easier is throwing Akechi a look when he seems to be making an indirect request, grin barely contained. He'll have to do better than that if he wants to put Akira to work. ]
Don't worry, I won't make you my guinea pig for all of them. I'm sure someone else would be willing to test the crepes.
[How rude. Akechi purses his lips in a little frown, realising what Akira must be angling for and also realising if it will get him free crepes, he will go ahead and do it. Except, of course, he'll do his own twist on it. He gives him an especially cute smile, the kind he has given Sae many times for free food.]
Since you know how much I like them, I think you actually feel excited to make them for me.
[ Oh, that's a smile he's not used to receiving from Akechi. He's not unfamiliar with its type, though, and hides his amusement behind false consideration. ]
Do I? I think I'd be excited if it was more challenging. [ Is he complimenting his own cooking skills or calling Akechi's standard for sweets low? It's hard to tell with the mirth now peeking through in his eyes. ]
[Wow. Rude much? At least Akira seems to be enjoying himself, so he tries playing along the angle given to him.]
Of course it will be challenging. It can't just be any crepe. It has to be something unique. It has to be your version of a dessert crepe, right? That alone must be different than any other crepe out there.
[ Maybe he's giving in too easily in this playful little tug-of-war, but Akechi has laid an interesting challenge in front of him. Better yet, a couple of ideas have already popped into his mind—inspiration, if you will. ]
Alright. Will I get anything if I make this unique crepe and you like it?
[ It's actually a pretty weak offering from someone who recently promised to help him however he needed. Then again, Akira isn't really in it for a reward. Having some sort of stakes just seems customary for this type of thing. Honestly, with the ideas brewing in his mind, he's just looking forward to experimenting until he comes up with something that will please Akechi. ]
[At least he accepts it. Good enough for him. And frankly, now he's rather intrigued.]
Oh? That is quite a boast. I'm very eager to see if you manage to live up to the expectations that it sets.
[Though even if it doesn't, just having something to look forward to feels good. Akira even seems sincerely happy about it, too, rather than put-out or anything like that. It really does just feel... nice.
Akechi leads them into the sweets shop and pauses looking in at the glass display of different types of candies wrapped up: toffees and caramels and fudge and marshmallows and hard candies, too. He knows they're here for a reason but he can't help being a kid about it at times.]
[ Akira only has a promising smile for him. It's mostly just a bluff, thrown out there to fan the flames of this little challenge for fun, but his ideas are catered specifically to Akechi's tastes, so—who knows, maybe?
He follows into the shop, and rather than get straight to work locating the chocolate, Akira allows himself to linger at the display as well. These aren't the kinds of sweets he's particularly into, but it's a nice image to see them all neatly lined up and interesting to see what exists in this time and place. ]
... What's your favorite kind of sweet? [ It's not asked for any deeper reason than curiosity; he just realizes in moments like this that for as much as he knows about Akechi, there are so many shallow little details that he has no idea about. ]
It depends on my mood. If I want something light but quick, a marshmallow-based sweet is perfect. If I want something richer, then caramel or nougat is good. Hard candies are good when I have to savour the taste for awhile. I think what is nice about sweets is that even though they have the 'sweet' aspect in common, there is a vast difference between all the types.
[Then, laughing a little, he glances at him with a smile.] Sorry, that was a bit more complicated than you asked for, wasn't it?
[ The mirth in the glance he sends Akechi's way says it all: Akira would never ask him a question expecting a simple answer. He knows better. ]
You answered my question. Sometimes answers aren't that straightforward. [ Shrugging a shoulder, he slides fingertips along the top of the display as he moves farther down, eyes peeled for chocolate that would be easy to use for their purposes.
It was really just because he was curious, but Akira files the information away for the future, crepe recipes or otherwise. ]
[It pleases him more than he can say. But for now he allows that to be left unsaid with just a smile before he flags down the shopkeep and asks for a bar of a specific type of chocolate, assuming there can't possibly be that much chocolate needed. The owner teases him about how he's asking for less than usual and he clears his throat with a laugh.
He doesn't say it but not in front of Akira??
He pays for the bar himself since it's not expensive at all, handing it to Akira.]
[ Akira isn't about to be so rude as to butt into the conversation between Akechi and the clerk, but he does turn his head away to hide brief, quiet laughter at the teasing. It's barely been a month, and he's already a known regular? Akechi's sweet tooth is the real deal. ]
Thanks. [ He accepts the bar and slides it into his bag as well. It's a good thing that it's just going to be melted into the curry because he's not sure its shape is going to hold through the warmth and humidity of Maiuril while being jostled around inside.
On the way back to the door, he mentally reviews the ingredients list. ]
Honey, rice, apples, the vegetables... Some substitute for yogurt and steak sauce. [ That one is entirely reliant on Akechi and his food smarts, though. ]
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Let's find out.
[ So he leads the way into the bar, a bit smaller and dimmer on the inside than the tavern where he works part-time. Not to mention much more quiet at this time of day. It reminds him a little of Crossroads, and recalling the welcoming greetings Ohya and Lala-chan would give him brings a fond smile to his face. ]
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What type of wine was it again?
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Red. [ But that's kind of vague, so he thinks back on the labels of the wines he's seen in Leblanc's kitchen. ] I think Sojiro's used both merlot and pinot noir before, so it might not matter that much which kind.
[ They might be called something completely different here, after all. ]
no subject
It is extremely unlikely. Wines are named by region or the variety of grape used to make them. The divide is typically between 'New World' and 'Old World'. Old World tends to be by region while New World tends to be by the type of grape, though there are exceptions. Old World makers believe the region the wine was made in matters just as much as the type of grape, if not more. Soil type, soil quality, weather and so forth go into the grape itself. For example, Pinot Noir is called Burgundy in France, where it was born. Merlot, meanwhile, is a type of grape that was usually blended into other wines until it came to America.
[And that's your wine trivia for today!]
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Akira's taken off guard by the sudden onslaught of information but listens with interest nonetheless. It's a useful piece of trivia to know right about now, but that means... ]
I stand corrected. [ An amused noise. ] Since none of those places exist here... I guess we'll have to pick something and hope it's close. [ Since it's not like he knows the taste of the wine itself to compare to. ]
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For our purposes, just a red wine will probably be fine. Red wine is best, flavour-wise.
[Akechi goes up to the counter, asking for a small bottle of red wine. He specifies that they'll be cooking with it just to get the point across that it doesn't have to be too special. When given a selection the bartender finds best for cooking, he just mentally shrugs and accepts it, though he does split the cost with Akira again.
He does hope they didn't get scammed into buying something too expensive but cost wise, it leaves them enough for the rest, so he thinks it will be fine.]
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He steps back out into the daylight and throws an inquisitive look over his shoulder. ]
Where would we find chocolate around here? [ Akira has an inkling that Akechi already knows exactly where to get some. ]
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Oh there is a very nice candy shop not far from here.
[He begins walking again, most excited for this part.]
But I'm going to guess you're not really big into sweets, right?
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They're all right. I like it when they have another taste rather than just sweet. [ Something to give more depth than just the overwhelming taste of sugar. ]
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Complex flavours are good in sweets, too. That's why I like parfaits and crepes. You can get different flavour combinations that complement and contrast each other. Of course, just a well-made chocolate bar is good, too.
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[ That's the sort of sweet he can appreciate, something versatile. It doesn't even necessarily have to be sweet. ]
There was a place back home that did unusual crepe flavors. I wanted to go try them sometime. [ But it's obvious what happened before he could get around to that. ]
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Hmm, you're going to have to learn to cook a lot of different things, I see...
[Instead, he opts to ask for crepes in a roundabout way.]
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Much easier is throwing Akechi a look when he seems to be making an indirect request, grin barely contained. He'll have to do better than that if he wants to put Akira to work. ]
Don't worry, I won't make you my guinea pig for all of them. I'm sure someone else would be willing to test the crepes.
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Since you know how much I like them, I think you actually feel excited to make them for me.
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Do I? I think I'd be excited if it was more challenging. [ Is he complimenting his own cooking skills or calling Akechi's standard for sweets low? It's hard to tell with the mirth now peeking through in his eyes. ]
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Of course it will be challenging. It can't just be any crepe. It has to be something unique. It has to be your version of a dessert crepe, right? That alone must be different than any other crepe out there.
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Alright. Will I get anything if I make this unique crepe and you like it?
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If I really like it... then you can get a favour from me.
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[ It's actually a pretty weak offering from someone who recently promised to help him however he needed. Then again, Akira isn't really in it for a reward. Having some sort of stakes just seems customary for this type of thing. Honestly, with the ideas brewing in his mind, he's just looking forward to experimenting until he comes up with something that will please Akechi. ]
I just might ruin all other crepes for you.
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Oh? That is quite a boast. I'm very eager to see if you manage to live up to the expectations that it sets.
[Though even if it doesn't, just having something to look forward to feels good. Akira even seems sincerely happy about it, too, rather than put-out or anything like that. It really does just feel... nice.
Akechi leads them into the sweets shop and pauses looking in at the glass display of different types of candies wrapped up: toffees and caramels and fudge and marshmallows and hard candies, too. He knows they're here for a reason but he can't help being a kid about it at times.]
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He follows into the shop, and rather than get straight to work locating the chocolate, Akira allows himself to linger at the display as well. These aren't the kinds of sweets he's particularly into, but it's a nice image to see them all neatly lined up and interesting to see what exists in this time and place. ]
... What's your favorite kind of sweet? [ It's not asked for any deeper reason than curiosity; he just realizes in moments like this that for as much as he knows about Akechi, there are so many shallow little details that he has no idea about. ]
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It depends on my mood. If I want something light but quick, a marshmallow-based sweet is perfect. If I want something richer, then caramel or nougat is good. Hard candies are good when I have to savour the taste for awhile. I think what is nice about sweets is that even though they have the 'sweet' aspect in common, there is a vast difference between all the types.
[Then, laughing a little, he glances at him with a smile.] Sorry, that was a bit more complicated than you asked for, wasn't it?
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You answered my question. Sometimes answers aren't that straightforward. [ Shrugging a shoulder, he slides fingertips along the top of the display as he moves farther down, eyes peeled for chocolate that would be easy to use for their purposes.
It was really just because he was curious, but Akira files the information away for the future, crepe recipes or otherwise. ]
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He doesn't say it but not in front of Akira??
He pays for the bar himself since it's not expensive at all, handing it to Akira.]
What do we have left?
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Thanks. [ He accepts the bar and slides it into his bag as well. It's a good thing that it's just going to be melted into the curry because he's not sure its shape is going to hold through the warmth and humidity of Maiuril while being jostled around inside.
On the way back to the door, he mentally reviews the ingredients list. ]
Honey, rice, apples, the vegetables... Some substitute for yogurt and steak sauce. [ That one is entirely reliant on Akechi and his food smarts, though. ]
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