à toutes les sauces (open)

[france]

Francis sighs as he steps down from the ladder. He tilts his head back and brings his hand up to shield his eyes taking in his masterpiece. The small white sign swung over the door way of tge shop. On the sign was a delicately painted picture of a wine bottle near a steamed fish, each stroke lovingly layed down. Under it , in curvy black lettering reads 'Poisson sans boisson--c'est poison.' Below that in bolder letters 'à toutes les sauces'.

He smiles at the sign and sighs, leaning back against the wall, letting his eyes wander from the sign to the world around him. He reaches into his pocket, fishing around, and pulls out a cigarette. Putting it between his lips he lights up, breathing in slowly, savouring the flavour as he gave himself a moments rest.

He had spent the better part of the day decorating for the up coming festival and his opening day. He loved this time of year, and it seemed entirely appropriate that the opening day be right before the festival. So he had made sure the airy space of his restaurant has been decorated in pale green silks pastel yellow paints. Fine embroidered table cloths were now draped over over the small round tables with various spring like centrepieces to catch the ey.. Each table had been set with silverware and napkins, each folded to resemble a flower.

He had even bought a piano, just in case he ever needed to entertain those who came for his cooking. In fact he could see the sleek black thing through the large bay windows. He took another drag, bring his eyes up once more to focus on the sign. Now the final touch was in place and he was ready, excited even. He had been working to get this place ready for years, and now his dreams would come to fruition. He stubs the cigarette out and pushes himself off the wall with a sigh and a long lurid stretch. One hand reaches up to push back a strand coming out of his pony tail.
He picks up the ladder and carries it around back, placing it in a small storage room before fixing himself up to be presentable. One last look over to make sure his work had done no damage to his outfit, and then he situates himself at the Hosts booth.

à toutes les sauces was now open.

[taiwan]

Mingxia watched from a modest distance as Francis climbed down from his ladder. It had been a few years since he had asked for a few Sol to help buy the stove he needed for the kitchen. After that, she kept putting money into it when she could, knowing that the man had big ideas for the restaurant she was investing in.

After Francis went inside, Mingxia followed, smiling modestly. Glancing up proudly at the sign for 'a toutes les sauces', she stepped inside. "Did I come at a bad time? The lunch rush can be hard to deal with, xi?" she asked, glancing around. The place was beautiful- maybe she could bring her new friend here sometime, if it was alright with Francis to bring a Lowlander into the establishment.

[france]

Francis jumped. He had relaxed, not expecting a costumer to come in on his first day, after all much less his investor. He had not liked having to ask for help, after all his father had left him a good amount of money, but when he had run the numbers...

Well as Father had once said : “When we don't have what we like, we must like what we have.” Besides Mingxia was kind and willing to help. Who was he to deny the money she poured in to help him with his dream. He smiled brightly, glad to see her now.

"Ah Bonjour Mademoiselle !" He swooped out from behind the Mahogany desk. He wanted to at least show her his respect and gratitude for giving him a chance. He moved forward and gave her a quick double kiss. "How are you this fine day?"

[taiwan]

Mingxia blushed and returned the cheek-kissing timidly. "Li ho," she said, smiling. "I'm well! I'm happy to see this place finally up and running." For once, Mingxia wasn't really worried about everything- but that was because anything she worried for was being eclipsed by her excitement for her older friend.

"I like the way you painted the sign, Francis," she complimented, pointing out the window as she sat at a small table set for two. She picked up the menu on the table and began skimming it with a mild fascination. Nothing she saw was out of her price range, but it looked so... elegant, extravagant even.

[france]

Francis smiles , nodding at the complement and goes to the back to get her some iced rose water he had set out in case someone had come along. Pouring a large glass full and applying a single rose petal as garnish he brought it over to her. Placing it down gently, so as not to make undue noise he stood back. On the way back he prattled about how hard the work he had to do was.

"What would you like today?" he asked pulling out a pad of paper and a pencil. He pushes his hair back and looks down at her. It was a wonder such a beautiful young lady had come into his life. Indeed it had allowed him to peruse his dreams with out delay. He had come to like her since their first transaction. A little bit of a worry wart though.

"For you all food from here is free. "

[taiwan]

Mingxia smiled up at him when he brought her the rose water and sipped it politely as she browsed the menu. Goodness, the man was handsome, but Francis was almost as old as Yao. Highlander or no, her parents would certainly worry. So Mingxia always appreciated him from afar.

Something on the menu caught her eye. "Oh... The black pepper pork with wine sauce sounds delicious. And can I get some sherry granita for dessert?" She asked quietly.

[france]

Francis nodded and quickly took the menu quickly, not even using the pad. He tucked it under his arm and sauntered away back into the kitchen. He would, he pondered as he dropped the menu into the menus bin, have to get some help besides the kitchen staff. He pushed into the Kitchen proper and spotted the help lazing about playing cards.

Well that would not do at all!

With a quick burst of speed Francis was near them, his voice, normally soft and elegant, had taken on an edge of athority. With sharp movements he scattered the cheifs, telling them to work and make sure each dish was something he would feed himself as his last meal. When they were properly chastized he puffed his cheeks out one last time and swept back towards the door. He pauses once more to take a glass and catches the Cooks looking at him. He glares and they shame shamefacedly turn back to their work.

"Dépèchez-vous!" He reminds them sharply.

With that he glides back out into the main area, looking no less elegant for his out burst. He moves over to Mingxia and sits, his own glass joining hers.

"It will be only a few moments I am afraid. I know it is a minor inconvenience for you mon cheri, but for me it is a minor blessing. " He pushes his hair out of his eyes. "For it means I have a few moments to share with you. " He flashes his winning smile, for really he truly means this. Yes it might seem flirting to those untrained but to Francis it was real. He loved others coming in for a chat now and again, and it had been such a lonely day. So why not treat the lady kindly?

[taiwan]

Mingxia smiled. "It's no problem, really... I don't mind at all," she said. "I-I mean, the first meal served here should be wonderful, msxi?"[/b] She sipped her rose water and fidgeted with the flower in her hair. Today, a small dahlia bloom was affixed above her ear, a mauve-purple color to coordinate with her sage green sundress.

"You'll be needing waitstaff soon, it seems," she offhandedly remarked. "That is, will you be able to take care of the place with just yourself serving? I-I mean..." she trailed off, eager to amend her statement. It was presumptuous to say such a thing, so...

"Ah! Where did you get these recipes? I've always wanted to ask..." she suggested. A topic change always was well-meaning enough. Hopefully he would dismiss her rudeness.

[france]

Fancis smiles and nods. He pours himself some rose water, and after a moment of watching the condensation gather before bringing the cool drink to his lips and sipping.

"Indeed I was just considering that. I am just not strong enough to take care of this place all on my lonesome. " He waved his hand over the room. "Surely when the rush of people who will come for my cooking arrive I will need help. "

He took another sip and focused on the changed topic now.

"Ah from my Mama, or people who have been willing to share their recipes." he said happily, "You see a recipe is a wonderful thing." He set the glass down and leaned forward. "Do you know why?"

[Kiku Honda]

Kiku's stomach growled as he looked at the 'closed' sign hung on the door of Yoshinoya, his favorite restaurant. He had gone to The West to eat lunch. His mother was working and, since there was no school today, Kiku stayed at home. When it was lunch time he was supposed cook but discovered he had no ingredients to do so.

So he came to Yoshinoya for their famed beef bowls. 'Why...? Why are they closed!? There should not be any reason for them to be closed at this time... Do they not realize certain people consider a Yoshinoya Beef Bowl at lunch time a necessity!?' Kiku thought angrily, shaking his fist.

Kiku sighed as he walked along the street of restaurants and cafes, away from his disappointment. Until something caught his eye. A restaurant he had never seen before. He came to The West very often so he was sure this was new.

A cute little sign hung over the door. 'à toutes les sauces' it read. Kiku was open to trying new things and his growling stomach was persuading him so he put his hand on the doorknob, twisted it and...

((OOC: Ahhhhehe. That last part was so Mingxia and Francis could finish their thing about a recipe. I'll go in when it's safe. :>))

[taiwan]

Mingxia looked at him curiously. "No, why is that, Francis?" she asked politely. Recipes were good things because you could build on them and make them your own, but Mingxia figured Francis had a good answer of his own. Knowing him, it would be romantic to the highest degree, not that it mattered to her. He was such a nice man, and just listening to him talk was an art.

Mingxia glanced out the window and blinked. Kiku? What could he be doing here?

[france]

Francis smiled widely and tapped the table as if teaching her a particularly hard thing to grasp. He loved these conversations, the ones where pearls of wisdom made him truly the richest man when combined with lovely friends.

"Recipes are a window into the soul. They tell you so much about a person. When a person cooks, that is they cook for themselves, they bring their tastes into the recipe. Spicy , sweet, or sour! The tastes tell you about the cooks own wants and needs, their view and out looks. Not only that but when they cook for others they bear their soul on the plate. Tasting another persons food is a way of communing with them. They pour themselves into the food and you can tell by taste a persons thoughts, feelings, mood and even their out look on you by tasting their food. That is why food, good food, brings people together, warms them, and makes the world so much easier to understand."

He paused as he noticed the girl was not looking at him and turned towards the window.

[Kiku Honda]

...Opened the door. He stepped inside to find a beautiful restaurant. It was extravagant. The decorations layed around the walls and tables complimented the flower like napkins on the tables.

Kiku stared around until his eyes came onto a customer and a waiter. Both of them were looking at him. The customer looked familiar. Long brown hair, a flower attached to it. And a familiar yellow silk purse.

"M-mingxia?"

[taiwan]

Mingxia stared at Kiku. "X-Xi..." she stammered. What was her friend from school doing here? "Why are you here?" she asked, fidgeting with her flower again. "The restaurant just opened...."

She turned to Francis. "O-oh! How rude of me! Francis, this is Kiku Honda. He's a classmate of mine," Mingxia introduced. She bowed to Kiku. "Kiku, this is Francis Bonnefoy. This is his restaurant, I've been investing in it for some years now."

[france]

"Bonjour Kiku." Came the reply, open warm and inviting all at once. "Welcome to my home, please wait but one moment and I will seat you."

Francis looked between the two as he stood. How intresting, he thought as he idly walked to the back, that these two young ones would come to the same restaurant on their day off. He smiles lightly as he brought another glass out to the front. He quietly poured more rose water and brought another chair to the small table. He set down a menu and went back for a pad.

He didn't interrupt though, allowing the two to continue as he considered what the young man might choose. He considered the posture and pose of the man, the way he held himself and the way he expressed himself. It was a small game for him, one he had often played in his own mind with friends.

Something... not too spicy. Perhaps a little beef, yes that seemed right. Strong tastes might not suit this young man, but then mabye...

(yes Francis psychoanalyzes via food . :3 )

[Kiku Honda]

Kiku sat down on the chair Francis provided for him. "Thank you very much." Kiku said as Francis set down a menu in front of him. However before picking the menu up he looked at Mingxia and smiled. "Good afternoon, Mingxia." Kiku said as he bowed in his seat.

"I never would have expected to see you here, let alone discover you've been investing in it for a quite long time." He said as he took a sip of the water. His eyes lit up. 'How nice. Rose water.' He thought to himself. Savoring the sweet taste of the water.

Kiku then started looking through the menu. 'Such a wide array of food.' He thought to himself. 'Black Peppered Pork With Wine Sauce... Baked Scallops With Parmesan... Fried Calamari Served With A Special Sauce...' Kiku silently thought as he read through the menu. 'Such interesting food. I'm certain such recipes were finely crafted and perfected with time and much effort. How I would like to do justice and try them all!' He thought, his eyes gleaming at the thought.

It was no secret. Kiku loved food. He loved learning new recipes, trying new food, all of it. But then he came across an entry in the menu that caught his eye. 'This... is it.' Kiku raised his hand as a gesture to call for Francis.

"I would like to order the Shredded Beef With Steamed Rice, please."

[france]

There was a momentary pause as Francis mentally patted himself on the back. Nothing too flavourful but with beef. He wrote it down, making a mental note to make sure that he cooked this himself. After all his first costumers would have to have the best. He paused and then prompted:

"Anything else to drink? We have some freshly made Lemonade. Perhaps a Dessert? For today these will be on the house. "

[taiwan]

Mingxia smiled. "It's a funny story... He needed a few extra Sol to buy the stove for the kitchen. I gave him enough to buy an even better one, and I've just put in money where I can ever since." She winked at Francis. "Put it on my tab."

She pointed at the dessert list on Kiku's menu. "I'm getting the sherry granita, do you want to try some when it comes?" She asked. She'd had crushes on Kiku before- the smart one in their class, and the class president as well- but she never really had time for dating. It was a wonder she even had time to be here now.

[Kiku Honda]

Kiku smiled at Mingxia. "You've always been quite generous, Mingxia. I am sure you and Francis will make great business together." Kiku said happily.

Kiku looked back to Francis. "Lemonade sounds perfect, Francis. Thank you for waiving the fee. As for dessert, I think a Parfait would be nice." He said. Such a nice atmosphere, such a nice waiter. 'I just might frequent this restaurant.' Kiku thought to himself, liking the idea.

Kiku then turned back to Mingxia. "Yes. I would enjoy that, Mingxia. I'll also be sure to share my Parfait." He said, putting the menu down.

Kiku took another sip of rose water and looked at Mingxia. Her eyes looked a little distant. 'I should be the one to start conversation.' Kiku thought to himself. After thinking of what to say Kiku said, "How has your entrepreneur career been, Mingxia?"

[france]

Francis grins and swoops away with the menu, off to the kitchen to prepare the food. It would still be a while on Mingxia order and he had to start on the more simple plate for Kiku. He smiled when he saw they were all hard at work. He swooped in and began to prepare.

First the lemonade, he squeezed fresh and put in just the right the right sweet and sour. Then he sliced a lemon rind just right and layer it on top before putting a little slice of candied lemon on it. He sent that out with a Kitchen hand and continued about his work.

Out loud he began to sing.

(going to just spend a few cycles doing this for the sake of letting you two get into a convo, and to practice some rping :3 ) feel free to skip over me if you wish. I will just sprinkle it in.)