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Post by Mattie Williams on Dec 15, 2011 20:04:54 GMT -5
... How had she been managing to carry so much? These bags plus those that she'd had... and these were heavy. Well, not heavy enough that he couldn't handle it; he'd carried heavier. That was what happened when one arm was dedicated to carrying your best friend, after all.
"... I... I'll make sure to, sometime, then." This time his smile lingered. "... Breakfast is sort of my favorite meal..." If she'd come to Al's as often as that, he was sure she'd noticed. Oh, and there was a thought. ... What if they could work something out between their shops? If he could serve her breads, or something... though he wasn't sure what she could do for him, not really, it didn't matter. He wouldn't mind helping her. He wouldn't mention it yet, though, not until he'd figured the details out.
"...Al's?" He glanced at her, then nodded. "... business is going well... pancakes and hamburgers are still the most popular..."
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Post by Elise Peeters on Dec 22, 2011 11:58:52 GMT -5
Elise recalled the page-long lists of pancake and hamburger varieties at Al's Restaurant and grinned. It was what the restaurant was most famous for - and Elise would gladly vouch for it.
"Ah, now you're making me think of food," sighed Elise teasingly. "I haven't had breakfast yet, actually. I had to wake up early to get the best deals in the market."
As her shop came up, Elise paused, peering into the darkened windows. The displays were the only things that brightened her otherwise empty shop.
"Hm..." Elise balanced the bags as best she could while fumbling for her keys and opening the door. "Now that I think about it, I am craving some pancakes. Why don't you come in and we'll just set the bags in the kitchen? I think I'd like to have brunch at your restaurant today."
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Post by Mattie Williams on Jan 11, 2012 17:32:10 GMT -5
She hadn't had breakfast yet? That wasn't good. "...Oh... I'm sorry... I..." They had 'deals' in the marketplace? Since when? ... It wouldn't matter. Mattie would pay what he'd always paid and then move on. If he couldn't, he'd find the next best thing and go from there. But by now, he'd made friends with the shopkeepers, so they worked with him.
The one thing Mattie needed in his life, more than anything else, was stability. Having to change shopkeepers, or items, or costs... it would throw the boy off for quite some time.
"... Pancakes?" For a moment, Mattie's thoughts had him off track as per what they'd been discussing. That didn't last long, however. "... Oh!... Sure..." Of course... He followed her in, peering around. "... Though I've got staff running Al's at the moment... If it's just you... and you're hungry... I don't want you to lose business... I can... I can cook for you here... if you like..." The offer was hesitant, unsure. "O-or I can make it and bring it to you..." After all, he did owe her. He'd knocked into her and caused her to drop some of her supplies today. It was only right he do something nice in exchange. ... Carrying the bags didn't count at all.
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Post by Elise Peeters on Jan 24, 2012 10:06:40 GMT -5
Elise was somewhat touched by Matthew's offer. It was not often that she was offered breakfast by someone willing to make it and bring it to her. Beaming, she took Matthew's hand and squeezed it gently.
"Oh, don't bother." She chuckled. "It would do me some good to be somewhere else for a change. I'm in this shop morning to evening nearly every day of the week. Besides, I'm quite curious to see how you make your pancakes."
Elise held up her hands in a placating gesture. "I'm not spying on you, I promise."
Winking, she bustled around to store her ingredients in their respective places. As soon as she was finished, she dusted off her hands and flourished toward the door.
"Lead the way, sir."
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Post by Mattie Williams on Jan 25, 2012 0:55:45 GMT -5
Mattie blinked, an ever so faintly pink tinge starting to cover his face, when she took his hand and squeezed it lightly, though as if on instinct, he squeezed hers softly in return. What had that been for? ... he didn't mind, whatever it had been. Not at all.
"... Well... the offer's open... any time you don't have time to eat, or stay and eat... if I'm there that day," as he often, almost always was, "I'll bring it here to you." Not everyone would get such a courtesy from him... Just people that he felt comfortable with. And he wasn't certain why he was comfortable with those certain people... but somehow, in their so-far short acquaintance, Elise had found herself on that short list. "But... I don't mind showing you..." At this, a grin sprouted on his lips. "You couldn't duplicate my recipe or technique anyway." It was something he'd perfected over time.
He watched as she moved around her kitchen, curious as to how she'd set it up. He did like to explore other people's kitchens... mainly because that was the one place outside of his home or restaurant that he would feel completely welcome and at home, no matter what.
"Lead the way, sir."
He nodded, and turned, beginning to walk to the door, holding it for her, and from there to the restaurant. "We'll go in the back... that way I don't disturb any of the servers or guests..." And besides that, he couldn't have other guests wanting to come back into the kitchen. That just wouldn't work, because he'd have to tell them that, no, they couldn't.
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Post by Elise Peeters on Mar 14, 2012 18:11:17 GMT -5
Elise's eyes widened in mock realization and she flounced out of the door. As she strolled along with Matthew, she smirked slightly. "Ah, I see. So this is to be a secret adventure into your kitchen then."
She made a twisting motion against her lips with her fingers, as if turning a key in a lock. "Don't worry. I won't breathe a word of it."
Giggling softly, she took Matthew's arm and held onto it for the rest of the way, admiring the unusual quiet just as the city was stirring into life. Few shops were open, and the only few people awake trudged along the streets with big yawns and heavy-lidded eyes.
It seemed that the only place fully alive was Matthew's restaurant. Elise beamed as she spotted the diners and the crew already at work, either eating or providing.
"So where is this secret, special back door you're going to take me to?" She turned to Matthew, her eyes twinkling.
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Post by Mattie Williams on Mar 19, 2012 12:06:54 GMT -5
Mattie couldn't help but smile back at Elise. Her good spirits were catching. "... Yes, something like that." Why not? A secret adventure sounded fun... it sounded like something he hadn't even thought about for five years. No. He wasn't going to think about it... if he thought about it, he wasn't sure that he'd be able to do this.
He offered her his arm as they walked, and had to fight with himself not to blush incredibly red when she took it - and held onto the rest of the walk. "The door? Around this way." And he directed her past the building and into the alleyway. The walk from there was short, and within moments, he'd pulled out a ring of keys and unlocked a cheery red door. "Through here..." And then they'd be in the kitchen. An incredibly neat kitchen, with a little table off to one side that could seat two people. Everything had a place, in Mattie's kitchen, and everything would always be back in it before he'd leave. That being said... everything wasn't exactly in a place another cook might expect it to be. Certainly, cold things would... but pots and pans were higher than the cupboards for food; silverware sat in ceramic holders on the counters instead of in drawers, napkins were in drawers... plates and cups were stacked to one side.
In all, it was a kitchen Mattie could work in, because he'd arranged it. Wordlessly, he looked at his companion to see her opinion. He'd ask what she'd like him to make her momentarily.
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Post by Elise Peeters on Mar 22, 2012 11:19:53 GMT -5
Elise took in the sight of Matthew's kitchen. She always was curious about how other cooks and bakers kept their work stations and how they were personalized. Her first impression was that this kitchen was neat and orderly, but in a much different way hers was.
"This is lovely, Matthew," she said, meaning it. "So is this where all the magic happens, then?"
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Post by Mattie Williams on Mar 23, 2012 11:38:48 GMT -5
Mattie couldn't help a faint grin. Maman had called his pancake-flipping skills magical before... it was a fond memory for the boy. He nodded. "Something along those lines..." He certainly wouldn't call his cooking magical though. It was just... fun. Fun was important. As long as he enjoyed it, he had something to live for, after all.
"... So.... what would you like along with your pancakes today, Elise...?" He queried, a little hesitantly. He'd make her pancakes, of course. She'd mentioned back at her shop that she wanted some. He didn't immediately start listing the menu; she said she'd come in before. Ten to one, he'd cooked for her before and didn't know it. Maybe her order would sound familiar? Probably not. The only order that was ever familiar was Gilbert's. He'd eat as many pancakes as Mattie could make, and bacon and sausage... but never eggs. It was rather funny to the cook - he hadn't yet disillusioned the military man that pancakes had eggs in them... and wouldn't.
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Post by Elise Peeters on Apr 5, 2012 23:03:06 GMT -5
Elise leaned on the counter and rested her chin on her hand, pausing thoughtfully. She was hungry, but she didn't want to trouble him with something too elaborate.
"Why don't you surprise me?" She was growing excited. "Anything would be special for me."
As she took another look around, her eyes caught the small dining table and chair. She straightened with a small laugh.
"Oh, I should have done this properly, shouldn't I? Like a real customer!"
Smoothing her dress, she strolled toward the chair and seated herself neatly on it. She cleared her throat with great exaggeration and adopted a stiff, prim tone.
"My good sir, I would like whatever it is you serve best." Her hand flew up to her mouth to stifle a giggle before returning to her act. "And make it a double, if you will."
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