The Secretary Ingredient

So Gwen's techinally open her Dad is manning the shop today the towering Sylph Man is shockingly good natured but gives up a very /army/ vibe if you know what to look for. As for Gwen she's in the kitchen one, two in a maid outfit and three? Has an Apron on Texan BBQ is King on it. She's clearly working on something at the moment but what? Either way anyone entering the shop will smell wonderful food.

"I am on a Quest from Fuka!", Uta exclaims, abrupt, as she steps into Gwen's shop. As a Spriggan, her Sneaking is second nature, so it's unlikely anyone heard her arrive. One moment she wasn't there, the next- bam.

"I am supposed to..." Look down at her notebook. A finger runs through items. Look up, "...enjoy life without overthinking and overorganizing it! Just go with the flow! And the next task on the list is-" Look down. Run finger. "...enjoy good food!"

Ayame, as a Sylph, is a natural at Searching. This meant that when musical kung-fu nurse Spriggans make their way somewhere, especially when holding notebooks, her own curiosity is engaged. After all, notebooks belong to her! Or something.

So she slips in after Uta, not really taking note of the store, smiling as her heels sound on the floor as she approaches behind the Spriggan "That's an interesting task list" She grins faintly, glancing up.

And then her smile fades. The horror. The horror!

And as a Cait Sith... wait, that wasn't going to work in the same context, they're mainly good at being thrifty and mercurial, does that even apply? Maybe the latter could. But it was mostly Gwen's family being her adoptive family (even if Morri is downright scary at times) that tends to bring Shiruba around. That said she does have pretty good hearing, being part wolf, to catch part of the comments as she arrived. "... I would comment on a list of things to do being a bit counteractive to the purpose, but it's Uta. She'd probably forget what she was doing and end up on the wrong part of the continent again."

Uther smirks at the new arrivals "Welcome Gwen's in the kitchen, go on in. I'll also distract my wife if she turns up, yes your welcome."

Gwen is sinning away as she cooks but without song it's a bit painful as she does it, it's clear she's having fun though and just what is she making? Uther comment to Shiruba "She's not invented Flannel ... yet."

Oh he knows about what happned after all he was there...

Uta turns to Shiruba, eyes fixed on her, if a bit out of focus. "...we're on a continent?", she asks. She looks up, away, and taps her chin. "That's an interesting question. Do the Islands of Yamato count as Continents? What is a Continent if not an Island with a lot of clout and weight to pull? Where do you draw the line?" She sighs and shakes her head. "Alas, I lack the Cartography skill, so these answers are beyond me."

"Gwen! For the love of the Goddesses!", Uta winces at the Singing. "I got you a Phonograph for the Bonded Hearts festival, you can use it, you know?"

"Thanks!", Uta beams at Ayame. "I wrote it myself! Based on what Fuka told me, that is. It really-" Uta blinks at Ayame's smile fading, and her look of horror. She looks at her friend's face, waves one hand in front of it, then turns to look at what might have terrified her.

"... this isn't a safe place" Ayame says with a nervous laugh "But still. Let's visit Gwen, yes" The Sylph smiles to Uta and Shiruba, nodding her thanks to Uther, as she trots along and in

"And what did Fuka tell you?" She asks thoughtfully, considering.

"I've been meaning to ask. Do any of you know where I might get a fire crystal?"

Shiruba makes a bit of a face at Uta's questioning. "It sounded better than saying Server," is her answer.

Then she turns her head to give Uther a look when he promises to distract Morri. "Appreciated... But please try to do so in a manner that doesn't require me to repair the bed. -Again-. I might not have time before heading back to Seeker's Landing."

She doesn't elaborate, but most people here can probably guess the context. Shiruba heads into the kitchen, arguably her favorite place in the whole shop. "Hi Gwen!"

Gwen pauses for a moment and looks sheepish. "I didn't expect to have an audiance you know." She will put said creation on and get a soing going. "Fire Crystal? What sort if I might ask? Whatcha got in mind Ayame?"

Uther smirks "Hey we pay you a bonus when that happens."

Gewn beams

"Shiruba! I was trying to work on something new... Texan Curry..."

"I did discuss it during our trip through that little pit. With the sno-lem" Ayame says with a sigh "I want to see about potentially making a wand with crystals of each element. I've five of the six, but one of Fire is eluding me, which is irritating" She gives a little chuckle.

"And you make a darling cook" She tells Gwen with a wink "It's very cute on you."

"No idea of where to find Fire Crystals," Uta admits, still not sure of what, -exactly-, Ayame objects about. I mean, this place has food and... and... and... uh... does this place have anything but food? Uta's brain seems unable to hold onto the suddenly slippery concept. It's lunchtime. Scrumptious aromas waft through the air. Attention span is limited, any other inputs shall be jettisoned.

"I know I got a few Elemental crystals as drops in the Karluin dungeons, but-" An apologitic shrug, with an equally apologetic grin. "-I fear you'll have to ask someone who works with them. An Enchanter? An Alchemist?", she hazards. "Fukaziroh or Haru, probably. They both are interested in enchantments that involve a variety of elements."

"As for what Fuka said..." Uta flicks through her notebook organized with the kind of maniacal precision that might tickle Ayame's happy secretarial spots. Her finger stops, taps the paper, and the Spriggan starts quoting, "What I mean is, all you need is to let yourself live a little bit. Take a hot bath. Enjoy some ice cream or a sweet cake. Get a massa... well, probably not that. Just enjoy yourself when you get the chance! THAT, I think, is what the creators want. To see players having FUN!" Flick page, more quoting, "But that's why I say you have to live! Act now, do the stuff you enjoy! Don't neglect to do what you have to do, but don't neglect the things you WANT to do either" Flick page. "Working hard at relaxing? That sounds like fun!" Finger slides down a few lines. "Time to have FUN!"

Uta closes her notebook, and nods solemnly. "I think this sums it up. I have, therefore, made it my duty to neglect my duties for a very specific amount of time per day."

"Texan Curry?", Uta asks, her ears peaking up with interest. "I don't know this recipe. What is it like?"

Once again, back to Ayame, "Of course her apron looks good. She's Moonlight Tailor. Her crafting skills take her above most of the population."

Shiruba ohs at Ayame. "Well they definitely exist, but sometimes crystallized elemental energy like that isn't easy to find without locating a dungeon it's present in." Then she squints at Gwen. "... do we even have the right spices available for curry?"

Ayame certainly appreciates the notebook, looking at it with interest "I'm afraid I don't busy myself in quite the same way. My work keeps me busy and I enjoy it thoroughly, so I don't typically feel the need for frivolity. No, changing the type of work I do keeps me busy" She smiles quickly

"I already spoke to Haru on it. It's worth attempting, but I still need to find somewhere with the crystal. Sooner or later." She explains with a shrug and sigh.

"And I'm aware Gwen is a Moonlight Tailor. That's why I fear her" She confides with a laugh

Gwen Says "I wouldn't mind trying to use some to make a BBQ or a new type of oven. Ohh maybe a heating system!" She seems to be getting ideas as she works for a moment on that. "Hit up Haru he might be your best best for those Ayame."

Now looking at Uta for a moment and she grins.

"Should see if anyone is willing to teach me ot play Majong or go. Yes Texan Curry and no I'm just working on it."

"Also thank you for the compliment.":

Realization hits Uta, and she shushes Ayame in a hurry. "Don't remind her!", she mouths, without actually uttering the words, of course.

"I've heard the Hunter's Guild is offering a quest to find some sort of stone that has special properties for stabilizing flames," Uta begins to drop, like the Lore Pinata she is. "They're called Igneous Stones, they are very rare, and the secret of their manufacture has been lost to time. They're found in ancient temple-like structures devoted to the Burning One, in Eastal. I am not sure if it'd work orn ot, but perhaps they could be used to make a very special oven?"

    Hifumi, being a human... is good at negotiation... but he's not really here for that, and besides he's a businessman... like third, first of course he's a chef. But Gwen had brought up something and while he'd been busy with things like... developing new monster cuisine and hadn't gotten back to her.

    So now here he is, a trip to work out details. The middling height, middling aged, middling appearance guy in his black chef clothing walking in. He rubs his right hand along the wall as he comes in, a habbit people are likely to have noticed over the last few years they've all been stuck together.

Shiruba sits herself in a comfortable spot both to watch Gwen work and converse with people in general. Taps a finger along her chin. "Majong is... well, it's not hard to learn. Hard to master all the tricks and combos though, that's a different story. You'd need an actual set.... Though the tiles could be carved."

"We went there lately. There was a sno-golem" Ayame sighs "It was irritating. Also, there was far too much fire. I got singed everywhere. Frankly, I need a few things that are a touch less flammable" She considers, and then shrugs

"But I'm more than willing to go back. My skillset is fairly wide and open, and I can manage to be of general use there, I think. Whenever's good to visit, Uta, and we can see what we can find. Just ... don't bring Haru. So much fire. So much."

"I played a lot of Go with Kuroyuri before we came here" She says after a moment "I do enjoy it"

Gwen looiks over to Hifumi and saves to him as she's working on her food. "Oh Hifumi! Welcome what can I do for you?" She keeps at her food in process.

"CErtain spices beef or something close enough to it, still thinking on all the veggies other than potatos and carrots." She grins "So long as we don't anger the burning one in doing it? I'm down! Oh Shiruba I got a few things for you..."

Shiruba sits up, ears perking. "Oh? Did you finish repairing my winter jacket?" She doesn't want to consider what else it could be. Or that Morri is trying to put her up to. Again.

Gwen says "Yes but that's not all Shiruba. One I have a swimsuit for you so you can fend off my mother come summer. Sides if you want to get her off your back we need to find you someone no?"

    Hifumi runs his fingers through his hair, his left hand that is. "I just came to discuss the osen idea with you. It's been a bit but I got caught up in things like my Pickled Triffid Salad and I'm working on getting a cooking school started so I'll have more trained souschefs and line cooks available when I expand." he explains.

Ayame looks around, ever so slightly hunted "I thought Morri was busy?" She murmurs, the secretarial sylph stumbles on her speech slightly, surreptitiously stealing sights around the place with a sigh

"Well, if you cook as well as Gwen, I might enjoy your meals a little. Anything I can eat with one hand as I work with the other is fine" She grins a touch

Shiruba lets out an exasperated sigh. "Not like she needs help trying!" A pause. "... But a swimsuit will be nice for when Spring comes again." She trusts Gwen to not get -too- carried away. Unlike her mother. Who means well but tries a little too hard sometimes.

But there is a better topic to catch her interest, ears perking towards Hifumi. "Expanding?! Where are you expanding to? Somewhere I-Imean-everyone won't have to travel all across Yamato to get your food?"

Gwen Says "Oh that's good to hear Hifumi and yes I am a Moonlight Tailor. I make Paris and New York look like hacks but lets be honest no real people would wear anything the design and their models look starved." Well she's a world away from those folk now isn't she? "Oh how Sozoko Nezumi doing? I haven't been over in a while."

She looks to Shiruba "I should expand as well and maybe we could combine efforts?"

"I have never been part of that particular quest for the Igneous Stones," Uta mentions to Ayame. "I'd love to give it a try." She laughs. "Sounds like my brother alright. He' been in a fire binge of late. Because of his adventure involving Feng Huang in the Palace Lands, I beleive. It would make sense."

"Oh, hi Hifumi!", Uta greets. "Glad to see you around!"

Some thought, and she adds, "I doubt we'll end up angering the Burning One. Those things have been abandoned for ages. I hear they're covered with vegetation. They're more like archeological digs than anything else. In fact... I'm wondering if the Burning One won't actually be -pleased- that we salvage some of those ancient items from the monsters that will certainly have taken over the area..."

"Cooking school..." Uta trails off in response to Hifumi. Her stomach growls. She grimaces. "Don't remind me... living a nomadic life on a Traveller's Wagon... the times I get to eat proper food are few and far between. What I wouldn't do for even some proper beans cooked in a pan... on a campfire..." Here we have Pavlov's Spriggan. Cue bell.

She turns to her much, much taller amazonian Sylph friend, in the process of replicating Texan Curry. "I should take you up on that offer to teach me how to cook, Gwen..."

"That's how I look at dungeons like that," Shiruba replies about the aspect of being archeological digs. "Study, retrieve and preserve. It's what the museum is for." Though there also being discussions about food going on makes it hard for her to keep her focus on one passion.

    Hifumi runs his fingers through his hair, using his left hand of course, his right hand is busy stroking various textures of fabric. "Sozoko is doing very well, her kitten has gotten quite large and loves unagi." he says with a shrug. "I'm planning on getting started over at Fort Ouph and then probably the town of begining, and then over in the dessert... and at the very end of the line is opening up somewhere in the Palace Lands." he nods his head. "But I was hoping to get the Osen in so I can see if it needs to be part of the plan." he reaches into his inventory and pulls out a Tasty Rat Bento with Pickled Triffid Salad rather than umaboshi rice. He hands it over to Uta.

Gwen says "Oh yes the Osen with the Palace Lands out of Yamato we can get back to that can't we. We should get one that as soon as possible and I'd suggest hiring Goldenblade on as well for this." She stirs the pot and she looks to Shiruba. "Oh I'm think I have a material idea you know all those 80s and 90s OVa Fantasy shows we watched recall the form fittingbody suits under all the armor? I think I figured out how we could make it..."

Shiruba chuckles a bit. "Hifumi is going to be Yamato's first franchise." But then Gwen starts talking fashion again, and something that gets a tilt of the head out of her both curious and a bit of concern. "You mean.. spandex? But isn't that a bunch of artificial materials that don't exist?"

"You know what, Shiruba? I've never been to your Museum. I've meant to since forever, yet, it hasn't happened yet. I'll have to book a personal tour one of these days."

Uta blinks as food suddenly appears in her hand! What is this miracle? Did her prayers to the Goddesses be answered?

Alas, this is not a NetHack scenario. After skidding on the slippery surface of her thoughts, her brain eventually gains traction and realizes where the tasty bento comes from. "Oh... Oh. OH. Wow," Uta exclaims. "For... for me?" Silence. "How can I repay you for this? Is... is there anything I can do?"

"Isn't the Hunter's Guild technically a franchise?", Uta wonders aloud. Taps her lips, looks up and away. "Hmm. I mean, I'm not sure it's technically a business. Is it? Is it more like a... public service? A nonprofit? I've... I've never really investigated these details. I probably should..."

"Oh, Onsen? I can help there!" She beams! "...I think!", she then adds, more dubious, as she scratches her chin and looks away. "Here, let me show you!" She moves off to a side room, currently used for... storage of random items, but not much else, where she is still visible by the rest of the group through the door. She flicks through her menu, and materializes a sphere with an organic look, as if it was the abdomen of some sort of creature; it is not Uta's usual stress ball, though, this one looks hard and solid.

Uta kneels down, touches the floor, which is pretty much bare earth, unencumbered by boards or tiles, and-

The ground cracks, rearranges, possibly with (or possibly without) the help of Uta's Earth magic, and soon, within the hole in the ground, a miniature, weak geyser spurts into existence.

The small, natural-looking pool (in the sense that it is not nice and rectangular, more like a 'naturally occurring hole in the ground') slowly fills up with the water form the miniature geyser which, once the pool is full, keeps bubbling underneath.

"Ta-daaaaa! Private Jacuzzi Onsen!", she exclaims, pointing with an open palm of her hand, and beaming.

    Hifumi chuckles "I was talking about adding the osen to Isekai Ryokan so you could get the build tested? Then you'll have the plans and I'll be able to see if having an osen improves profitablity for when I expand." he shrugs. "I'm hoping to actually introduce the concept of francise, get landers to invest and run the other locations using my menu and helping to bring a taste of Japan to all of Yamoto and not just Dun Lorieg."

Shiruba's attention gets perked as Uta brings out a Relic that seems to produce water of its own. "That's handy. Don't have to worry about you if we ever have to go out in the desert again... And of course, Uta, any time I'm available I'll happilty share. Loremaster to Loremaster." Then nods to Hifumi. "You already have the resturant and an inn, a osen would be a logical step."

"We will not have to worry, no!", Uta confirms. And returns to look at her recent 'creation'.

"Granted, this thing is... rough around the edges...", she begins, gesturing at the improvised pool. "Paula would certainly do a far better job at it. Not sure how watertight it is or if it's going to leak into-" Silence. "Uh... I haven't thought about that. It should be fine but- you know, just to be on the safe side, uh... contact Paula to make sure things are fine and this is not going to leak into the rest of the shop in the long term, hm?"

Back to the group at large, "Oh, speaking of Loremasters. Wake recently dropped her book of Lore notes on Haru and I. There's a lot of stuff, and some of her notes are as thick as molasses. We'll need all the help we can get to sort through them. This is a work for the LOONS!" Shiruba. Gwen. And- Oh.

"...Anyone who wants to join the Loosely Organized Open Network of Students is welcome! Only requirement is a passion for Lore, and sharing findings openly. That's it."

"We still need a cooler acronym," Shiruba chimes in. But it gets the job done, even if LOONS sounds... self-insulting....

Gwen is working on her food still but thinking about the Onsen.

"people will have need for swim wear all year round with such things!" She's almost giggling then stops stares and goes to Hug uta. "THIS IS AMAZING!"