Tag Archives: shsl-queenofcakes

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Offer me

Leave a “Offer Me” in my ask, and I’ll write a drabble about my character giving yours a gift.

It wasn’t much, but Hakuba found that Occam’s Razor was often just as applicable to gifts as it was to everything else, so he didn’t feel too worried about it as he set the basket down on the step on front of the bakery. He knew that the baker in question wouldn’t be around for another half hour at least, early as it was, but he hoped that she would find it before anyone else did.

Tulips, a thank-you card, and a tiny stuffed rabbit were nestled in quite comfortably in the tissue paper, only the flowers peeking out of the top. He didn’t dare give her anything edible, not when her own confections were quite simply the best around, but the rest was something she might enjoy. 

Mischief managed, the detective snuck off back toward his car, enjoying the pre-dawn light with a crooked smile. 

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shsl-queenofcakes replied to your post:Have you ever been under an anesthetic?

“I will pay you cash money to find a safer line of work.”

“Ah, Kanoya-san… you have always been so kind to me, and it’s sweet of you to be concerned. Alas, I’m not interested in the financial aspect of the job… though it does pay fairly well as a private consultant… It’s the work itself that calls to me. 

"Rest assured, however; if I am ever rendered physically unable to continue the work, I would consider taking tenure as a professor at a university. I don’t expect that should happen – without rather unfortunate circumstances – any time soon, however.”

“You needn’t worry, though, Kanoya-san… It would take a lot to take me down. Particularly when I have dear friends like you to live for~”

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Six more have entered the bakery.

shsl-queenofcakes:

She shrugged, cleaning her hands with a damp cloth she’d soaked and wrung out in the sink around the corner. “It’s a good school. You’re practically guaranteed success, although..” She swept a hand towards him, gesturing at the aura of success he radiated. “I don’t think you have any worries about that.”

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At his admission that he’d be leaving soon, Karin felt a hint of disappointment. She’d hoped they could be good friends, and if they did end up growing closer she’d miss him terribly when he went. Not that she pitied him that plane ride. Yeesh.

As she was shuddering at the mere though, her detective friend had picked out a seat to sit in and was ready to, when he offered to share his time with her a bit more.

“Oh…if it’s quite alright with you, I’d love to.”

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The praise did not go unnoticed; Hakuba looked quite pleased as Karin spoke, inclining his head toward her with that same, confident smile. Things were developing well, which was good. Yes, there was the case that still needed to be taken care of, but the detective was always in need of good company. 

“Oh, yes, please do. I’d love to get to know you better, particularly if your eclairs are as good as they look. You’ll have me as a regular customer, and I should very much like for you to like me!”

Since she was joining him, Hakuba pulled out a seat for her first. He waited for her to take it, pushing it in after before sitting across from her. 

“I’m… keen on learning more about Hope’s Peak. A baker… The only other student that I know from the institution is a detective. It must be quite diverse there.”

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Six more have entered the bakery.

shsl-queenofcakes:

“Wow, really? That must be a hassle.”

Karin hated to admit it, being a baker who, obviously, traveled around the world a lot, but she absolutely could not stand planes. She dreaded ever going on them. And to have to, to be able to get between homes? That sounded like a horrible situation to be in, from her point of view. At any rate, she led Hakuba over to a vacant table by the windows, not having any more customers lined up at the moment. At his question, she found her lips quirking up into a smile again.

“Familiar with it? I go to school there, believe it or not. I’m the Super High School Level Baker.”

Despite her modest tone, there was an easily detected undercurrent of pride in her words. She’d worked hard for that title, and liked to think she’d earned it.

Hakuba was unfamiliar with the title structure, though he decided not to say anything about it, instead nodding his head. “I’ll have to look into Hope’s Peak more thoroughly at some point; I have to admit that I only briefly looked through the pamphlet when I was considering educational institutions before moving back to Japan… I’m only here temporarily, anyway. In just another few months, I’ll be headed back to London, though I’m not entirely certain how long I’ll stay." 

Speaking of staying, the detective shrugged his shoulders, and pulled out a seat for himself at the table. Before sitting, however, he looked to Karin.

"Will you be joining me, Kanoya-san?”

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Six more have entered the bakery.

shsl-queenofcakes:

Karin’s smile only widened at his enthusiasm, her heart nearly melting into a little puddle in her chest. This kind of reaction was what she lived for.

“First one’s on the house, Hakuba-san. Anything for an eclair enthusiast.”

She prepared his order, placing the eclairs carefully on a light blue china plate, somehow managing to do this all one-handed. It only took her a few moments to get it all together, and as she handed it to the young detective, she couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at his remarks.

“Seventeen, and a detective already? Have you been invited to Hope’s Peak as well? Sounds like you deserve it.” Pouring the milk into a tall glass, she continued. “Break ins, huh? Is there anything I can do to help you?“

"Ah, thank you very much, Kanoya-san!” Such good fortune that he should try this shop first. The detective looked very pleased indeed as he watched Karin move about, handling the order with care and professionalism. He could very easily respect that.

Hakuba leaned on the counter while he waited, pulling back only when the plate was offered, and took it in his hands with a grateful nod. “Ah. Hope’s Peak? I had considered it, but I travel far too much for that to be in any way practical… I’m between Japan and London at any given time, unfortunately. Are you very familiar with the school?”

There was the case to consider, too, but it could wait. He still had a couple of days before his report deadline, after all.

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Six more have entered the bakery.

shsl-queenofcakes:

“Hakuba-san, then. A pleasure to meet you! My name is Karin Kanoya. And what’s this about a case? How old are you? You don’t look any older than me. You’re a police officer?” She frowned, crossing her arms. “I can assure you there aren’t any criminal activities going on here. Feel free to ask me anything you like, though.“

At his sheepish admission, Karin’s smile returned, her attitude melting away in the face of his request. “Of course I have decent eclairs. Best eclairs in the country, if I do say so myself. And I do. And so do three of the nation’s top food magazines.” Laughing, she pulled a pair of tongs from under the counter, gesturing to the display case to her left. “I have chocolate, vanilla, and spiced cinnamon at the moment, but the last one changes every few days. I get bored.“

The young detective listened intensely to everything that the baker said, hesitant, curious… but relaxed in relief at the news about the eclairs.

"Oh, thank God,” Hakuba said, smiling. “I’ll take one of each, please… and a glass of milk if you have it? I can’t tell you how terribly I’ve been craving them." 

He stepped up against the counter, eagerly, and remembered that he’d been asked other questions. "Oh, and ah, I’m seventeen. I’m a detective – private consultant, really… for investigations. I work with the police force on cases now and again. The, ah, case I mentioned earlier concerned some break ins recently, actually…”

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Six more have entered the bakery.

shsl-queenofcakes:

She snorted, wiping her hands on the yellow-dotted light pink apron tied around her neck. “Sorry about that, shop rules are that I have to make at least one horrible pun per customer. I’m running out of them, so they’re getting worse.“

Smiling, she offered her flour-dusted left hand to him in a show of camaraderie. “Anything you need, Mister….”

“Hakuba,” the detective answered with a smile as he took her hand and shook it, gentle and firm. “Hakuba Saguru. I’m actually investigating a case and have some questions about your customers, if you’d be so obliged. Though…”

Hakuba glanced sideways, somewhat sheepishly. “I’m, ah, also wondering if you have eclairs. It’s been so long since I’ve had a good one I think I might die if I don’t find a decent bakery soon.” He paused, briefly, to knit his brows, apologetic embarrassment scrawled on his face. “Please tell me you can help me?”

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Six more have entered the bakery.

shsl-queenofcakes:

Lifting her head from under the counter, where she’d been attempting to dislodge a jammed drawer, Karin was hardly surprised to see her shop filling up. After all, she was among the best in the country; it was to be expected that her bakery would be popular. Nevertheless, she appreciated the business and the warm chatter that generally accompanied it.

“Hello! Welcome to Turnover A New Leaf. If you order our lemon cake, I’ll regard you as one of Madeira friends!”

Oh god the puns. When did she even start with these?

The young foreign detective came to a halt as he entered the shop, turnign attention to the woman at the counter. Madeira? he wondered, but decided not to ask and instead, somewhat sheepishly, resumed his approach.

“Ah, hello there… I’m not looking for lemon cake today, but I was wondering if you’d be willing to help me with something, miss…"