(exec).flip_00110010 || [ VOICE / ACTION ]

[cluster]

[ voice / filtered from Aoto ]

I have an urgent question that must be answered.

How does one go about melting chocolate without burning it? Furthermore, how do you sweeten it properly? This is an emergency. If this matter is not resolved, you will have ruined my special day with my darling. It will weigh on your consciousness for the rest of your lives. Furthermore, I will find whoever does know and chose not to help, and sign them up for annoying subscriptions and chain mail letters.

I hope you've all realized how serious this is now. So then, please answer as soon as possible.

[ action ]

[Those in community building #5 may smell the scent of burning chocolate coming from the first floor's kitchen. If they investigate, they'll find Tyria in the middle of cleaning out the sad remains of her latest chocolate making attempt, with piles of baker's chocolate and different kinds of sugar stacked along the counter-tops.

With everyone in such a lovey-dovey mood, she's not expecting very much help. Maybe someone will decide to lend a hand anyway? ... Or tell her off for ruining their special moments with the scent of burnt chocolate. That works too.]


[[OOC: Tyria is not evented, even if she's technically "with" someone, so consider this post totally open to all!]]

Comments

[Voice]

[lezareno_prez]

The best way to do so would be by putting it in a double boiler. That will keep it from burning and sticking to the pan, though I suspect you've already discovered that it does that for yourself.

[Voice]

[cluster]

[Oh, an answer! She sort of was expecting nothing, so she does look vaguely surprised when a voice comes out of her journal.]

I have. There isn't even a warning about that on the packaging. The makers of these blocks of chocolate will be receiving many angry letters from all the distressed last-minute chocolate makers of Luceti very soon.

[ ... ]

... What does a double boiler look like?

[Voice]

[lezareno_prez]

I'm sure they will think twice about their lack of warnings once they receive all of those letters.

[Oh, he's smiling.]

The easiest way to make one is by filling a large saucepan with water and then floating a smaller pan in it. That will allow you to warm the chocolate indirectly and prevent it from burning.

[Voice]

[cluster]

... I didn't realize making chocolate required such complex maneuvers. Maybe I should have just bought some and decorated it.

[Not that "floating one pan in another" is actually complex, but she's already thinking of all the ways that could potentially go wrong.]

[Voice]

[geniustheveil]

I'd be happy to help. A special day shouldn't be marred with any difficulties like that.

[Voice]

[cluster]

I'm glad you understand. [ ... ] How do you plan to help?

[Voice]

[geniustheveil]

I can give you chocolate-making advice from here.

[She'd offer to come over, but something romantic like this should be done by oneself!]

[Voice]

[cluster]

All right. I was told about floating pans in other pans already, as well as microwaves. Are there any other methods I could consider for doing this?

[Voice]

[geniustheveil]

You can also melt the chocolate within a liquid such as milk. It removes the problems of overheating and can be easier.

[Voice]

[cluster]

Ah. Is it? [ ... ] I will try that, then.

[Voice]

[geniustheveil]

Please remember you'll only need a little bit.

[Voice]

[cluster]

A little. I will remember.

[She starts working on her chocolate again in the background. Ami may catch a glimpse of her picking up a measuring cup that is ... definitely not meant for "a little" of anything. Tyria figures that, since she wants to make a lot of chocolate, she should be using what would be considered "a little" for what will be "a lot".]

[Voice]

[geniustheveil]

Ah... [This is the hesitant voice of someone not too used to confidence in correcting others.] It might be better to use a smaller cup, I think.

[Voice]

[cluster]

I'm making a lot of chocolate. Wouldn't a larger cup be better instead?

[voice]

[mirrorblade]

[Is that a threat... He's not really intimidated, but if he knows the answer, he might as well try to help.]

You could also melt it in the microwave, but that takes a little longer.

[voice]

[cluster]

[It was totally the most threatening of threats. Just imagine how much junk mail you could've gotten if Luceti had a post office!]

... I did not consider melting it in a microwave. Doing it that way doesn't increase the chances of it burning, does it?

[voice]

[mirrorblade]

Not if you do it right. You have to put the chocolate in for a few seconds, then take it out and stir it. You just keep doing that until it's melted the way you want it.

[voice]

[cluster]

Ah. That doesn't seem difficult. It doesn't even seem like normal mode.

[voice]

[mirrorblade]

[That makes him laugh.]

Nope. I don't think it requires a high cooking skill, either.

[voice]

[cluster]

It doesn't sound like it does. Anyone can put something in a microwave. [Hmhmhmmm, putting some chocolate chunks in a bowl now.] You can even train small animals to do so. Then you can enter them in contests.

[voice]

[mirrorblade]

Um... Yeah, I guess you could. Are there really contests for that sort of thing?

[voice]

[cluster]

Of course. People love showing off the animals they've collected and trained into doing ridiculous antics. People love to watch these antics just as much. Will the large dog win the blue ribbon, or the tiny hairless one? It's thrilling enough for some to bet money on.

[voice]

[mirrorblade]

I've never heard of people training them to use microwaves, though.

[She did say ridiculous, but...!]

action.

[steeplejack]

Man, what stinks in here...?

[ Don't mind him just wandering on into the kitchen in search of munchies. ]

action.

[cluster]

[Hi Aoto. You're about to be greeted with the heavy scent of dark chocolate, splotches of confectioner's sugar on the floor and countertops, and tons of blocks of baker's chocolate and bags of sugar on the dining table.

And also your I'm-Your-Girlfriend-Whether-You-Like-It-Or-Not!Girlfriend. Wearing her old school uniform and a pink heart apron. And staring blankly at you, as if the thought of you ever coming in to the kitchen was completely beyond her.]