video | un: vivelafrance, IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

[ringlette]

[ The feed starts with Marie's face showing up again, over a week after her first post. Her pose is the same, composed and unflinching, but there are glaring differences between then and now; namely, the jellyfish tentacle hair replacing her twintails and the large swan wings that sprouted on her back just today. It's still a bit hard to adjust to them, but she looks not really distressed by the ordeal. ]

Bonjour à tous! It is me, Marie, again.

At the start of this month I have announced my birthday, and how I decided to celebrate it along with my new business' grand opening. Sure enough, the time has come for everyone to finally learn of the truth surrounding my project. It's with the greatest pleasure that I can finally bring this up...!

[ She rummages through something offscreen, then brings up a sign, painted in refined cursive and very fancy golden glitter and decorated with rose and other flowery drawings. ]

✨ SALON DE MARIE IS NOW HIRING! ✨

The business I am opening in a few days is a maid cafe! Everything is almost ready to be launched, except the most important part: the staff! I am looking for not only maids and butlers who would like to help me improve the happiness of Prismals and Moonblessed alike, but also other staff members like cooks and security. In order to apply, you need to compile your details over here and send it to me!

The grand opening is going to occur in the last day of Iris, on November 15th! The food will be free for this day, so do not worry about your Chroma funds! Just know that if you come with ill intentions, I shall not hesitate to kick you out myself if security didn't get you first!

[ She says... that... with her most amiable smile. ]

That is all for today! I hope many of you join me in this new adventure, and... Vive La France!


((OOC: There will be a log, hopefully on the 15th, for the grand opening. Use the links above to reach my info/application page if you want your character to join the business!

Also, the lovely Marie art in the first link was drawn by Chi (@gothard) so praise her for that!))

Comments

[ringlette]

[ After a bit of humming... ]

Give me a taste of Fraisier cake. I would also like to make macarons my best selling point for the cafe, so bake me a few colorful ones.

[getting_better]

Hmm a Fraisier cake and macarons...

[There's the sound of rattling steel bowls as Bishop trailed off, followed shortly by the familiar sound of a refrigerator being opened.]

Okay. I can deliver on those. Shall I bring to your home?

[ringlette]

Oui! Here is my address.

[ She quickly sends a text message with the address to her apartment. ]

I shall be waiting patiently for your results!

[getting_better]

Got it.

[With that he sets off, raiding his fridge and pulling out all the necessary pots and tools he'll need. He set himself a time limit, one that he cut pretty close, but after three hours or so he knocks on her door with three boxes in his hands. One large one containing the cake, and two smaller ones holding seven macarons each.]

Miss Marie. It's Bishop. I have a delivery for you.

[ringlette]

[ By her standards, that was rather quick! Marie had been spent those three hours chatting away with her friends and having a long relaxing tea party with herself. The cup is empty and chill when she hears the knock. Eager steps lead her to the front door, and when she opens it Marie finds the aspiring cook presenting three boxes with undoubtful content in them. She can even smell it! ]

Bonjour, Bishop. Thank you for completing the task properly. Please, do come in!

[ She lets the man in and, with a bounce in her steps, leads him to the kitchen table he can unload the boxes on. ]

[getting_better]

Thank you!

[He says stepping and admiring her rather lavish decor.]

You have a lovely place, I wish I had an eye for home aesthetics.

[He praises in passing before finally reaching the kitchen and placing his boxes down to open, starting with the smaller ones.]

I wasn't sure what kind of macaroons you liked so I made all kinds, this one has cream flavored ones, and the other has fruit flavored ones. [He tilts his head a little sheepish.] I went a little over board when I was stocking up my apartment and bought a bit too much jam so. Yeah.

[Opening the two boxes reveals a very colorful set of macaroons from pastels to vibrant solid colors with complimenting cream or jam stuffed between each sandwich.]

And for your biggest order...

[Bishop undoes the ribbon holding the box together to reveal her requested cake with a curved white chocolate feather on top.]

Tada...The feather is my sort of signature.

[ringlette]

Merci beaucoup. It costed me quite a bit of Chroma, but I am glad for the customization freedom this place has.

[ Time to get down to business, though. Marie waits for the boxes to be placed down and then shifts over to the table across Bishop, looking down at the assortment he brought in. She leans a bit over when he reveals the macarons, colorful and bright like Lunatia's nightly street lights. ]

My, they look absolutely palatable.

[ The moment she plucks one pink macaron out of the pile is when Bishop shows her the grandious Fraisier cake she ordered him to do. She gasps at how better it looks than some picture she's seen around for display. Her mouth is watering and she has to gulp down before speaking again, deeming it very uncouth to drool in front of the man. ]

Even just the appearance makes it seem perfect... I-I'll get the knife!

[ Marie chuckles and pops the macaron in her mouth, quickly pleased by the delicious taste of strawberry cream, while leaving for a moment to get the knife. She hands it to him afterwards, placing down a couple plates. ]

I must ask to serve me a slice before I can fully allow you to pass the test! It is a mere formality!

[getting_better]

[He's confident he did a good job but seeing Marie's reaction to the unboxing of the cake made him smile. Reminded him of his reaction when he first worked at the bakery.]

Of course. Allow me.

[He takes the knife cuts a clean slice for Marie with the filling just barely clinging to the steel as he slides it under the wedge, plates it, and serves.]

Here you go, one slice of Fraisier cake. Enjoy!

[ringlette]

Merci beaucoup, mon ami!

[ The french rolls off her tongue perfectly as usual, and she takes up the dish as it's served to her. After paying some attention to the details of the slice, Marie takes up the spoon and cuts apart one bite to help herself with, daintily bringing her to her mouth and allowing the flavour to spread through her palate.

...

She brightens up shortly after, radiating joy, and then speaks after swallowing. ]

C'est parfait! Dèlicieux! Magnifique! You have exceeded my expectations! I love it!

[getting_better]

[He's not going to lie but there was a little bit of a knot of anxiety in his chest for the short time Marie was silent, but her joy and her declarations made him sigh and smile with relief.]

I knew there was no reason to doubt but, I am glad you like it. Hopefully I did my teacher proud.

[He really hopes he did, or he'd be dead if he ever saw him again.]

[ringlette]

I do not know your teacher, but I am confident you would make them proud!

[ Or at least she hopes so? Teachers tend to be pretty strict. She takes another bite, and sighs happily. ]

It would be a waste if I ate all this blissful food alone. Please, do help yourself as well.

[getting_better]

I certainly hope so. He's a big Frenchman by the name of Claude Rollot. Former marine, so he was more than a little strict and intimidating in the kitchen. And I was a soldier too.

[He chuckles, though it also has traces of a little fear at the mention of him. At her say so, he cuts himself a slice and plates it the same way.]

So, this maid cafe. I'm familiar with them back when I lived in Tokyo but I just want to make sure, is this to be the same kind? A little bit of dancing and singing, cute girls in frilly outfits kind of place, or the more sophisticated variety? More reserved, quiet and relaxing place.

[He's hoping for the former. Cute maids are relaxing to the soul, but he will admit that being served by one is quite embarrassing for someone like him.]

[ringlette]

[ French people... are the best... and Marie smiles all the more pleased when she learns that yet another Frenchman spread his legacy around. It makes her eat with more gusto. ]

A soldier and a cook? Hehe... I know someone else like that!

[ It's more like he's a Servant, but Archer Emiya pretty much fits the bill as well. She thinks it might be fun to have him and Bishop go on a cook-off or something. ]

I have the former in mind! Cute people should spread their beauty around, and singing and dancing are one of many ways with which they can serve their patrons!

[ As much as she wouldn't mind a more refined place with peace and quiet, it wouldn't feel the same to her. ]

[getting_better]

I see. I've been to a maid cafe before so I know a little bit of what to expect.

[He takes another bite of his cake slice while he goes through his memory to pick out dishes that would be appropriate for such a place, but then he realized something in Marie's announcement.]

Wait, you also mentioned that along with maids you'll have butlers too if I'm not mistaken.

[ringlette]

[ She nods, humming a long time in nice bliss after another mouthful of cake. ]

Just in case my future employees are not comfortable dressing in a maid outfit! I am giving them free choice on what to wear, regardless of their gender as well. If men want to dress up cutely as maids, I would not stop them!