harmonize_rpg | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Haruka+Anyone (feel free to jump in and make subthreads across time and space!)
Where: Home Ec Room+Near Entrace
When: Wed April 19th (after school) and Saturday April 22nd (during lunch)
What: Drama Club spreads sugary goodness

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'DRAMA CLUB PRACTICES ARE SUSPENDED THIS WEEK FOR FUNDING SCHEMES AND BEGGARY' read the notice on the drama room door.

Instead, the members of the drama club were prepping for the bake sale planned for Saturday. After some wheedling with the Home Ec club for permission to use the room and even more wheedling to be allowed to put up ads and set up a table during lunch, things were well underway.

A few club members had already finished their contributions and were gone, leaving a boy who had to start over when he burned his batch (the smell wafting outside the open door), two girl who were spending more time talking than doing work, and Haruka. Haruka had her tablet on the counter, settled on a recipe for caramel chocolate cake, while she worked, taking her time as she went through each step. The kitchen station she was at was fairly standard so she didn't have much problem navigating but it was nice to not have to maneuver around people or fight for space anymore.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ryuta took a moment to process everything she was saying. After a moment of consideration, he shook his head. "While I see your point, I would have to disagree in this case. Some people do treat cooking as an art, displaying it in various forms to showcase their skill. However, that was not the intent behind making these particular goods. These were meant to be sold as food." He casually pointed in the direction of the burned cookies. "And in a school full of upper class students raised on high standards, these would not sell. Therefore they would go to waste."

He brought his hand back to adjust his glasses once more and quickly returned it to his side. "While learning from one's mistakes is important, they can be completely avoided after taking the proper precautions. That is why there are things such as cookbooks. If he had properly followed the steps to begin with, then he would not have burned the cookies." He looked toward the tall German, expecting her rebuttal.

Edited 2013-09-07 17:02 (UTC)

He really was a stickler, wasn't he? His unhealthy obsession with rules and guides was almost enough to make her scowl. Almost. Her expression remained unchanged as he brought up his points, to which she shook her head.

"Cookbooks are rough guides. You learn nothing from them except to remain inflexible."

She paused, her eyes falling on the particular cookbook Tanemoto had used. She knew of it, had looked through it on occasion. It was a very... basic cookbook, she had noted. Good for beginners. Poor for those wanting to make something that tasted unique.

"They are being sold. That means they must taste good, but also look presentable." She looked at his cookies, resisting the urge to frown. "Bland recipes will create bland products. Know your goal, adjust accordingly.... rules be damned."

Miyume gave Chloe a friendly little wave and hobbled over to where Haruka was. Whatever this argument was about, she wasn't getting involved in it.

"What kind of batter is it?"

Haruka, meanwhile, seemed to listen in on Abendroth and Tanemoto's argument a little longer before turning her attention back to Hazama. She said with a smile,

"Cake. If things work out right, it'll be mini caramel chocolate cakes."

"Those sound really delicious!"

And they did. The prospect of caramel-covered, chocolate-y goodness was enough to make her temporarily forget how much her legs hurt.

"What's the next step, senpai?"

"Batter mixing," Haruka replied, moving over to give Hazama some room. Most of the ingredients were already in the main bowl, except for a few eggs and the cocoa. There was also a muffin-type of tray which had a bag of wax-paper like cups.

"Then into cups, add caramel, add more batter, bake, and then drizzle with frosting and more caramel.

Miyume nodded at each instruction, then remembered Haruka wouldn't be able to see her. She hadn't realized just how much non-verbal communication she used until recently.

"Okay, senpai! Leave it to me," she said brightly, happy to be of some kind of use here after all.

"Okay then. Let's get started then," Haruka replied with a smile. She picked up one of the eggs. "Just grab and throw the rest in."

She cracked the egg easily before tossing shells into the nearby empty bowl with surprising accuracy.

"Wow, senpai, you have good aim," she said brightly and chuckled.

Miyume picked up an egg and cracked with far more concentration than seemed necessary for such a simple task. She discarded the shell in the same bowl Haruka had.

"Would you like the honors of sacrificing the last of our chicken young in the name of delicious cake?" she asked teasingly, smile and tone completely innocent.

Haruka took the last egg with a certain solemnness. She bowed her head and declared, "Amitabha Buddha. May you and your fellow young be reborn into high parts of the food chain next time."

And then she cracked it and discarded the shell without another thought to it.

"Decision event: do you want to mix it or grease the cups?"

Edited 2013-09-10 05:54 (UTC)

Miyume giggled. She was glad she'd come. This was much more fun than just sitting around her dorm room waiting for Mirai to text her. As enjoyable as the anticipation there could be.

"I'll mix it. We have an electric mixer, right?"

"Yep. Should be in the upper corner cabinet," Haruka replied. "Someone in the cooking club said it could be temperamental but should be okay with a firm hand?"

Haruka went over to the fridge and picked up some margarine she'd put into a small bowl earlier. She ripped off a sheet of paper towel and dipped it into the margarine, and started lightly greasing the paper cups one at a time before slotting them into the tray.

Just how temperamental was it? And how firm of a grip would she need? Miyume wondered these things as she went to the cabinet Haruka had indicated. She was able to get it open but the mixer appeared to be just out of her reach.

"It's too high for me to reach it," Miyume said, clearly dismayed. She looked around for a step or something she could use but to no avail.

"Hold on."

Haruka walked over and felt for the now open cabinet. She lightly brushed against Hazama as she touched the shelf with the mixer box and tip toed to push it over. The box scooted over more and more, nearing the edge and becoming more accessible. However-

"Ah-"

The box and the mixer began to fall.

Re: Wednesday

fassade - 2013-09-15 07:05 (UTC) - Expand

Ryuta held back his retort to her disregard for rules. Best to save that discussion for a later date. Taking a deep breath, he focused once more on the present matter.

"If the product is bland, then it is the fault of the one who made the recipe. That being the case, you use another recipe or make your own." Ryuta noticed her glance over his cookies. He motioned back over to said cookies, barely containing a smirk. "These were merely made as an example for the student. A simple, basic recipe to show him the proper procedure. If I were to make something, it would be a bit more 'presentable' as you call it."

"A poor artist blames his tools."

She said simply, shrugging only slightly. When he spoke of the purpose of the cookies he had made, she wanted to smirk, but again nothing made it past that grim mask she wore. An example, eh?

"An example? If you're going to make something, make it right the first time. Half-assed example cookies not meant to be sold are somewhat of a waste."

There was a definite steely tone to her voice as she said this, playing on the fact he had called the burnt cookies a waste. In her mind, these cookies of his were more a waste than the burnt ones. The German turned back to her cookies, took another one, set it on a napkin, and silently set it down next to Miyume before turning to pack up the rest of the cookies to keep them fresh.

"Well, being called a poor artist is an improvement. Better than 'mindlessly calculating' as you would call it. Glad to see I've stepped up in the world." He sighed, seeing now that he has somehow upset her.

"We shall see, won't we?" He maintained his calm demeanor, despite the obvious stab at his work. He then grabbed one of his cookies and took a small bite out of it. "Hmm. Not bad. Would be good with some tea. If we offered some warm tea with this, it could sell as a tea cookie." He said to himself and then finished off his cookie.

He then peered back over to Abendroth and saw her pack up the rest of the cookies. "Mind if I try one?"

The German had nothing to hide, so she opened the container again and offered the boy one of her cookies. The cookies themselves were still somewhat warm. They had a gentle sweet taste to them with just a hint of spice from the ginger. Soft, they were easy to bite into and would almost melt in the mouth of those eating them.

Mindlessly Calculating? She'd have to remember that one on account of the fact she hadn't even thought of it. She was quiet for a few moments before setting the container of cookies down again.

"No disrespect intended. I just don't agree with the way you treated that student."

Well... at least she was honest, right? Chloe placed the lid back on the cookies tightly and slid them over to Haruka, making sure not to jostle anything she or Miyume were working on.

"Take these for the sale. I can make more."

Ryuta selected one of her cookies and took a small bite of it to test it. He mulled it over for a moment before he came to a decision and promptly finished off his cookie. "That was surprisingly good. I'm normally not a fan of sweets to begin with. But I might have to make an exception."

"It's fine. I enjoyed listening to your take on things. It's always nice to hear another's perspective. And I am fond of a good debate as well."

"And I had no ill will toward that young man or you for that matter. I tend to take things too far sometimes it seems. Luckily, it all turned out rather well."

Edited 2013-09-08 01:54 (UTC)

Hearing the argument wind down, Haruka's head turned as she heard the tin Abendroth placed.

She picked up the cookie she left her and Haruka let out a genuine, "Yuuum." It was sweet and there was something else that she couldn't quite place.

"You sure? These and tea would be perfect for those lonely, cold nights studying."

If there was one thing she knew she could deal with, it was loneliness.

"I'm sure."

She said before turning back to Tanemoto. Her icy gaze actually fell on his face this time. The look she gave him was a calm, almost cold calculating look, but one that didn't seem to hold any malice towards him.

"... Noted."

It seemed now that the debate was over, she could stop speaking so much. Thank goodness. The first year took the apron she was wearing off, brushing it off for good measure and hung it back up where she had gotten it.

As Abendroth walked away, Ryuta finally remembered what he was originally doing here to begin with. "Ah yes, I almost forgot. Haruka?" Ryuta took a few steps closer to her and continued.

"The Home EC teacher wanted me to inform you that you need to record everything you and the drama club used today for the bake sale. It's so they can restock accordingly afterwards."

At the mention of Haruka's first name, sans honorifics, the other two girls suddenly stopped their conversation again. They had been just been packing up their brownies and hastily cleaning up when their attention turned towards them, glancing between Haruka and Tanemoto, before bursting into a new streak of conversation, including snatches like 'super familiar' and 'moves fast after all' and 'maybe they're already-'

Haruka looked mostly nonplussed. She just said, "Okay then. I can't speak for everyone but I can pester them over email."

Ryuta was lost as to why the girls started making so much noise. Really, you would think they would be considerate enough to keep it down for the other students. "Do you know why they are acting like that, Haruka?" He addressed her once more, completely unaware as to what is going on.

Chloe shot the two girls another cold stare, her eyes flashing as she actually stood up straight to her full height and squared her shoulders. She didn't like gossipy girls starting things they couldn't finish. She had half a mind to walk closer to their table and just stand there in hopes that the 'gaijin's' mere presence was enough to drive them off. It was mostly what she was good at anyway.