YOUR EXISTENCE IS MEANINGLESS WITHOUT ICE CREAM

[all_wound_up]

Who: Nano Shinonome and anyone who wants free ice cream
Where: Amagi Inn lobby
When: Sunday afternoon
Summary: Nano's perfected a recipe for sea salt ice cream and wants to share
Warnings: Action brackets? Action brackets. Also, first thread is backdated to Saturday and locked to Xion.

Ever since Nano's memories got all jumbled up with Xion's, she's been trying to recreate a very specific taste that she can still faintly recall: the salty-sweet taste of sea salt ice cream. Apparently it was important enough to Xion that the taste remained on the tip of Nano's tongue too, and she thought it would be nice if she could figure out how to make it here in Hinoto-Ri to share not only with Xion, but with all of her friends. So today, after some taste testing and the Xion seal of approval, she's finally ready to reveal her creation to the world - and what better venue than the Amagi Inn, considering that Nano's now a co-manager there and that half the place's staff is already composed of people intimately familiar with the taste. On Sunday morning, after she's finished getting everything ready, Nano sends a message out to the COMPs of everyone on the Visitor network:

Today there will be an ice cream social at the Amagi Inn. I'm trying out a new recipe for sea salt ice cream, and thinking of adding it to the inn's summertime menu. Everyone is free to come and try some!

Once the guests have arrived at the inn, there will be a small reception area set up in the lobby of the inn.  Nano is there, wearing a pink kimono and eagerly waiting with an ice cream scoop and bowls to serve the guests.  She also has a number of sea salt flavored popsicles in a mini freezer that she borrowed from the Ichiban Market for the occasion, and to help keep the ice cream nice and cold while she waits for the guests to show up to try some.  Otherwise, it's just a nice little social event where everyone can get a cool treat and relax a little while they mingle with the other Visitors looking to beat the summer heat.

Comments

[all_wound_up]

Yes, it's for everyone! Would you like some?

[a_gentle_boy]

Um, yes! If that's OK.

[He'll flash a grateful smile and glance into the items in the freezer.]

It all looks so pretty... I know this box is to keep things cold, right? What kinds of things are inside?

[all_wound_up]

It's sea salt ice cream. It's salty and sweet at the same time.

[a_gentle_boy]

I see...

[...Lucas doesn't have the least idea what ice cream is, but asking for further explanations would probably be awkward. He'll open up the case and bask in the refreshingly cold breeze for a moment or two before reaching in for one of the popsicles.

He was pretty sure the tubs of ice cream wasn't meant to be handled by hand, anyway.]

...Are you sure you don't want something for this? It's awfully nice of you to be giving it all out.

[all_wound_up]

No, it's all right. I'm trying out the recipe for the first time, and I wanted to share it with everyone to see what they thought. If enough people like it, I was thinking of selling it either here or at the grocery store.

[a_gentle_boy]

Ah... I'm sure it will be great since you put your hard work into it. Thanks again.

[Lucas will tear open the wrapper and bring it to his mouth with slight hesitance. He was slowly adjusting to the food of this city, but he had never had anything like this before...]

[all_wound_up]

I hope you enjoy it.

[Nano smiles, bowing her head as Lucas tastes the ice cream.]

1/2

[a_gentle_boy]

[He takes a lick.]

[a_gentle_boy]

Oh -- ...!

[Gaaaaaaaaasp.

This was... This was......

Cold. The light shock of the frozen treat icing over his taste buds strikes him first, and he pulls it out of his mouth with a slight gasp. Creamy. Defrosted moments later, he can properly appreciate the subtle textures of the mouth-feel, swirling around his teeth and his tongue. Melodious. The sweetness of the cream is accentuated by the granules of salt, and the harmonious flavors unveil a perfect symphony of taste.]

.....

[Lucas blinks at the popsicle for a moment before shoving it back into his mouth.]

[all_wound_up]

[Lucas should get a job as a commentator on Iron Chef.]

...Is it good?

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas removes the popsicle from his mouth with a slight flush and nods his head quickly.]

It's very good. ...How did you make something like this?

[all_wound_up]

Do you know how to make custard? It's a lot like that, actually.

[a_gentle_boy]

Custard...? Like with milk and cream?

[Lucas stares somewhat blankly as he licks at the popsicle some more.]

[all_wound_up]

That's right. It's more like frozen custard than actual ice cream. With just a little sea salt added for flavor. It has a very strong taste, so just a pinch goes a long way.

[a_gentle_boy]

Ah.

[Frozen custard. The concept of freezing things was still relatively foreign to him, coming from a farmstead trapped prior to the Industrial Revolution as he did. But the thought was intriguing. ...Making things cold during the summer would make them more appetizing, wouldn't it?]

...You know, I have a pudding I've been saving. Do you think it would taste anything like this if I froze it in the box?

[all_wound_up]

Well, not exactly like this, but I could give you some popsicle molds if you'd like. If you pour the pudding into those, put in little wooden sticks like these ones, and freeze that, you'll have delicious pudding pops!

[a_gentle_boy]

Ohh...

[It's even more magical than PSI Lucas blinks at Nano as the words settle on and he suddenly begins to fidget as he tries to slide his pack off his shoulders.]

I think I have it here in my backpack still...! Is it OK if we try it now?

[What is he doing carrying pudding around in his backpack]

[all_wound_up]

In your backpack...?

[That's a little strange, but oh well.]

I suppose it's all right.

[a_gentle_boy]

Uh-huh! I have a lot of them.

[Lucas rummages around for a few moments and what the heck he has a perfect egg pudding wobbling on a tiny white ceramic plate. ...It doesn't stop wobbling no matter how steady he holds it.]

It's a Magic Pudding! It's good for, um... mental fatigue. If it's frozen, I bet it will be good for physical fatigue, too - after heat exhaustion.

[all_wound_up]

It looks very delicious! I'm sure it'll taste just as good frozen.

[a_gentle_boy]

Let's see...

[Lucas prods a little at the pudding, and it continues to wiggle around in place.]

It's a little jumpy sometimes, but I think I can squeeze it into a mold if you've got one.

[all_wound_up]

I should have another one in the kitchen. Hold on, I'll go look.

[Nano disappears into the back for a few minutes before coming back with another popsicle mold, the same size as the ones she'd been using for the sea salt ice cream.]

[a_gentle_boy]

Ah, thank you!

[After some finagling, he squeezes the pudding into the mold and locks it up securely.]

...Is it OK if I just leave it in this box here for a little while?

[all_wound_up]

Yes, that should be all right. I'll write your name on it so nobody else takes it.

[Nano pulls out a black marker she sometimes uses at the front desk before realizing she doesn't know Lucas' name yet.]

Oh, umm...

[a_gentle_boy]

Oh! I'm Lucas. Sorry, I should have introduced myself earlier.