[❀24] Sweets for the...degenerates

[styxiedust]

Who: Botan + YOU, yes you over there
Where: Your local Honeyed Soul sweets shop in Goldenrod City
When: The merry month of…August
Summary: What's a girl to do when a load of her friends have suddenly shipped out from the wonderful world of Pokemon? Throw herself into her work, naturally! Botan's opened up the shop with a load of free samples and a suggestion box + anybody that wants to come and say hi or get themselves something custom.

Just don't scare the Phantump babies, they're sensitive.
Rating: It shouldn't go above PG I don't think? If it does, it's definitely for language and nothing else
Log:


[Now with handy-dandy optional scenarios to start things off!]

[A]

[Botan can be found at first setting up signs outside the shop—the signs are, appropriately, covered with cute orange ghosts and display the name of the shop along with "open house."

What does open house mean? The next sign Botan puts up spells it out: "free samples inside! This is your opportunity to taste test and give us feedback!"

Yep, it's free samples day, and actually entering the shop one will find that its temperature is…at a certain chill. Not uncomfortable, but one look at the little Vanillite sitting next to some mochi ice cream will illustrate why the temperature is that way. Iwamoto, the Vanillite, waves at all incoming visitors and holds up a mochi ice cream to them, try one! It's sweet and cold! Flavors come in the standard strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate as well as green tea, matcha, and some berry varieties for the Pokemon visitors.

To the right of Iwamoto, a pair of Gengar wearing bowties appear to be setting out samples of pies—Cheri berry pie for the Pokemon, chilled chocolate mousse pie for the humans, and lemon tart for both. 2shade and Wicked G are still reeling from the loss of Veronica, but as long as they have their little Nin and pie to keep themselves busy, they'll grin at customers just the same.

Botan, to the left, is setting up non-mochi ice cream with what looks to be a large Vanilluxe ice cream maker and her Phantump children are appearing in and out of the walls to set up sets of fudge of different types, chocolate of different types (spicy that crackles and pops in your mouth as well as sweet, etc), and cakes.

Yes, cakes.

It's quite a busy scene.]

[B]

[Botan is taking a break from all the making of things and setting up a box at the counter. This box is designed after a Swirlix and has just one line of writing on it: "Suggestions." Next to it is a pad of paper and pencils to write with.

Once she's finished with that, Botan sits down at one of the tables in the café section with a can of green tea. She looks pretty tired, but otherwise watchful of who comes in and out of the shop and—namely—who fills out a suggestion. She'll ask them about it immediately to see if it's something she can make right away.

Her Pokemon seem to be taking a break as well, 2shade and Wicked G are sitting on another table eating some of the leftover pie samples while more Phantump flit in and out of the room to check on things.

Iwamoto has fallen asleep among his mochi brethren. He's very content.]

[C]

[Milkshakes are supposed to bring boys to the yard, right?

Well, too bad, Botan's capping off the open house day by making milkshakes with leftover ice cream. This can come sprinkled with tiny mochi balls or whatever other accessories people desire with milkshakes.]

Comments

A

[pipers_son]

[Sometimes when you have 20 Litleo, even with a large area like a whole circus, you need to take them out to stretch their legs. That Joker and Invidia's goal today, both of them with a pair of Litleo each that are attached to harnesses and leashes. Fireproof, because you can never be too careful.]

[The shop catches their attention, and the Litleo are already scrambling into the door as Joker is pulled along.]

Hey, hold on there!

[styxiedust]

Oh dear.

[Wicked G and 2shade seem amused by Joker's misfortune, though Botan leans over the counter to get a better look at the pack as if this is something she deals with everyday.]

Hello there, little ones! What can I do for you today?

[And to Joker:] Good day, Ringmaster. Having fun?

[pipers_son]

[There's a cacophony of meowing that Joker does his best to ignore. The cats, immature children that they are, want everything.]

Oh, everyday's a blast with this lot! Give 'em a chance ta stretch their legs and they drag ya halfway across the city!

[styxiedust]

Sounds exciting. They've picked the right day to come, we're having a free samples day to get some feedback from potential customers.

[There's quite a few Litleo...but she's prepared, definitely.]

It's just a matter of what they--and you--would like to try.

[pipers_son]

Ain't that a delight. We'll have ta get our cats in order first, if ya don't mind the wait. Invidia, if ya could, lad...?

[The Zoroark gets to work cat herding, trying to get the little group into a line.]

Looks like ya got a lot ta choose from!

[styxiedust]

Oh, certainly. We've all been up since dawn preparing for this.

[Actually Botan's been working since last night while her Pokemon slept. This is fine.]

You're not obligated to buy anything, though suggestions for new treats would be appreciated.

[pipers_son]

'Til dawn! Well, I can't deny hard work like that.

[He takes a glance around, casually ignoring how a Litleo bites on his pants leg and is gently pried away from their Zoroark handler.]

So ice cream, pies, cakes... And chocolate, eh? For the samples.

[styxiedust]

[Adorable. She should get herself a Litleo one of these days. A third Gengar comes through the wall to join the two, looking not terribly impressed with the lion hoard. He takes a piece of pie and munches on it slowly while staring.]

My Gengar will assist with anybody that wants pie, since there are some that are safe for only Pokemon to consume and for people only. Iwamoto here--[meaning the Vanillite]--will assist with ice cream, my Phantump children will with cakes, and me with chocolate.

[Next she directs her attention to the Litleo.]

What about it, little ones? What would you like to try?

[pipers_son]

I wouldn't mind any pie myself. As for them-

[There's a chorus of meows and scrambling claws that has him wince at the volume of it.]

...Hold on a tic.

[With Invidia's help, Joker turns to the small pride and starts to patiently sort through them. Eventually, there's a trio that are happily positioned in front of Botan, one in front of the Phantumps, and one little oddball looking eagerly up at Iwamoto.]

Alright, that's everyone, I think.

A, hope you don't mind a super late tag-in to this!

[unkinder]

[Nagi didn't go shopping very often. When he did, it was usually only to stock up on potions and things, but today he was busy buying new TMs to teach his Abra, Neba. He'd been heading back to the house with bags in hand and Abra perched on his shoulder when the Pokemon noticed the little sweets shop they were passing. He lifted his head, ears perking as he spotted the Vanillite hovering next to the tray of Mochi balls. And of course, there's no way he misses the sign there: free samples.

All of a sudden the weight on his shoulder is absent, prompting Nagi to stop walking and look over.]

Neba-?

[If Botan is watching, she'll see that Neba's teleported over to where Iwamoto is, hovering just in front of the ice type with his claws outstretched to take one of the offered pieces of Mochi.

Nagi, meanwhile, lets out a long-suffering sigh. This is why he hasn't taken Neba out in Goldenrod in a while.]

[styxiedust]

[Whoa.

That's definitely an Abra, one that doesn't belong to anyone she knows.

It's...it's taking the mochi, that's so cute.

Iwamoto himself is slightly surprised by the intrusion, but still offers the samples as he was told to do anyway.]

Hello there, little one. Where's your trainer?

[unkinder]

[The Abra takes a bite of the mochi before actually responding, floating back into a sort of mid-air sitting position before pointing a claw back in Nagi's direction. Nagi freezes, his grip tightening on his bags, but he doesn't actually walk over yet.]

Neba, that isn't yours. We need to get home.

[He didn't actually see the sign for free samples as he was passing by, but it wouldn't surprise him to see Neba just take something just because he wanted it. It hasn't stopped him before.]

[styxiedust]

Hmm? [She smiles, tilting her head with a look of amusement.] Of course it is, it's his free sample. You're allowed a sample too, if you like, no obligation to buy anything. It's our open house day.

[Some might call that "a little too generous" but hey, life's too short to spend it hoarding snacks.]

[unkinder]

Free?

[Nagi echoes, stepping a bit closer now since he knows Neba isn't going to leave unless he forcibly drags him away. ...and since he uses Teleport liberally, that's easier said than done.

Meanwhile, said Abra is busy stuffing his face with his mochi with no shame.]

[styxiedust]

Yes, that's the word.

[Either he's unused to the idea of free samples or he does not actually understand the word. Usually it's the former, though, so she errs on that side.]

Be careful about which you pick, though, some flavors are strictly for Pokemon. You'll notice by them being made from berries.

[unkinder]

[It's more the former. Though he has encountered them before, of course. It just seems strange to give away so much for free when you can't really expect anyone to buy anything after...

He eyes the ice cream for a moment, not yet taking anything for himself.]

Did you make all of this?

[styxiedust]

Yes, I did. Some of my employees are out today, I'm going at it solo--ah, although, I do have my Pokemon here helping me, so it's not all by myself.

[The Gengar twins nod enthusiastically and Iwamoto claps his stubby little hands together. At least one Phantump peeks out from the doorway behind her before shyly going back in.]

[unkinder]

[After a pause and another glance over the mochi, Nagi finally gives in and picks up one of the matcha flavored ones. Might as well, if it's free and all. At the same time he can see Neba contemplating seeing if he can get away with taking a second one, but refraining and actually behaving for the moment...likely because he knows Nagi would be frustrated with him for the rest of the day if he dragged him over here only to get them both kicked out.]

Right...I guess it's the right weather for ice cream, anyway.

[That much is obvious, but he's trying really hard to actually make some sort of conversation.]

[styxiedust]

[This kid sure is awkward.]

It's always the right weather for any kind of sweet treats, at least that's what Killua tells me, I'm not very fond of them myself.

[In all honestly she only was able to confirm to herself how good they were by how much spirit energy they restored for her coworkers, that they also happened to enjoy the taste was a bonus.]

I also accept feedback and suggestions for current or new products. I only know about a certain set of treats and I'd be delighted to learn more.

[unkinder]

[He takes an experimental bite of the mochi while Botan talks, his eyebrows raising a bit.]

Mm...for someone who isn't fond of sweets...these really aren't bad at all.

[styxiedust]

Thank you!

[She'll take "not bad at all."]

Moto-kun here has a lot of fun with helping me make mochi balls. [The Vanillite waves, that's him! He's Moto-kun!] I hope your Abra is enjoying them, too.

[Technically she could ask the Pokemon directly, but Botan generally doesn't trot out the "talking to Pokemon" talent until later.]

[unkinder]

He seems to.

[In fact he's hovering near the other desserts now, clearly trying to make it obvious just how hungry and deprived he is in front of the nice lady so Nagi will feel obligated to buy something. Maybe.]

This is strictly a sweets shop, then?

[styxiedust]

No, it started out as such--since that's all I can make--but since we've gained more employees, we've been leaning towards getting other items on the menu and making it a relaxed cafe sort of place. It's too bad one of our chefs is traveling right now, he can make some incredible meals.

[The open house is dessert-based solely because she's flying solo today and it's all she can make.]

He can take another type of item if he likes.

[unkinder]

[As long as Nagi's been here he hasn't thought to visit this place. He knew it was here, of course, but...seeing how close it is to the house, it's tempting to start visiting on a more regular, deliberate basis. The food isn't anything to sneeze at, and he really isn't one for sweets.

At the next thing she says, Neba almost immediately turns his head to look back at Nagi, his ears perked expectantly.]

...One.

[AND he's off, zipping further in to see what other treats he can plunder.]

I may have to come try some of your other items, then. Do you know when he'll be back?

[styxiedust]

Next week at the earliest, I'll be sure to give him a call so I know he hasn't been eaten by wild Pokemon along the way.

[That's a slightly morbid thing to say with such a cheery smile, but it's just how Botan rolls.]

Your Abra is quite energetic, you must take very good care of him!

[unkinder]

[Where that might have bothered anyone else, Nagi doesn't seem all that perturbed. In fact, he actually smirks a little. ...whether it be at the thought of that or something else is anyone's guess.]

He just wants attention, that's all. He's always like this when I take him anywhere.