Chapter 46: A Family Dinner Pt.1

[POV: Livre -3rd person]

It was a busy day for Livre back at Leschots's Clockwork Workshop. Livre was selling Fidget spinners to many different children, rich and poor. Carman had said that they should keep the price of most of the spinners low as to allow more people to buy them, due to the low cost needed to produce them, Livre had agreed.

The workshop had been positively flooded with customers every few days as word spread about the mesmerizing gizmos. Nobles asked for custom spinners, made with more expensive materials such as silver or rose gold. One noble even submitted a commission for a spinner made from gears cut from sapphires with golden details.

Thankfully word had also gone round that the fidget spinners, also known as "handheld gyroscopes" were patented and none of the other stores, despite seeing the market from such toys had, had tried to test Leschots's workshop's patience and risk being brought to court for patient infringement.

Thankfully, in the afternoon, all of the children had gone home, or to school. This gave Livre some much needed quiet and rest time.

Looking at the street outside, Livre contemplated the time he had spent with Carman the day before.

It was nice going to the performance with Carman and Ms. Ryuzu yesterday, though I'm not sure why Ms. Ryuzu started blushing when the ghost girl kissed the Gardemek. Carmon seems to not be much of a fan of it either. Perhaps it wasn't a genre that he enjoyed? I'll have to ask him later when we have dinner. Thought Livre.

It still supprised him at times how mature Carman was in certain aspects, but utterly childish in others. Like that time Carman had almost called him "Dad," when he heard that something changed inside of Livre. Sure he had felt a strong urge to protect the kid before and care for him, teach him in the craft of Clockwork Engineering. But he also now felt the urge to tease the kid and make bad jokes, which he had felt before, but now to a larger degree.

But more than anything else, he wanted to hear Carman fully call him "Dad" or something similar. He wasn't sure why, but maybe it made him feel like he was raising him right? That Carman also saw him as family?

Livre felt insecure at times about how well he was raising Carman, he didn't even live with Livre, so the majority of the time they had spent together was working and learning in the workshop, with the occasional walks around the streets to clear their heads after a tough project. Though he did his best to talk to the kid and teach him things other than Clockwork Engineering, there were a surprising amount of subjects that the boy was close to or more knowledgeable about in regards to life compared to him. Ryuzu had been a god send, without her helping with finances as an adventurer he was sure he would have had to take out another loan to find a better place to raise Carman.

Despite his current dwelling being very cramped, he hadn't asked to move in with the two yet, just because he felt like he would be intruding, at this point he felt like Ryuzu was like a parental figure for Carman while he was more like a mentor. All he had done was teach Carman knowledge on a trade that he knew, and took him out for dinner when his finances could support it.

Speaking of, Livre had promised to put together diner that evening, he had an idea of what he could cook, he just needed to do some grocery shopping before heading over to Carman and Ryuzu's apartment to use the kitchen.

This would be the first time Livre had stepped foot in the place, though he did have the address and a copy of the key to the apartment.

He knew Carman enjoyed savory foods with cheese in them, specifically noodles with cheese sauce, he called it something like "Mac and Cheese." Which was apt enough of a description for the waiter that had been serving them to understand what he wanted, a dish full of macaroni pasta with steaming cheese sauce mixed into it. To be perfectly honest, despite how simple it was, Livre had found the dish rather appealing, so today he would attempt to make his own version.

Sadly he wasn't sure of what Ryuzu's palet was, she had never mentioned what foods she preferred, it was quite odd in Livre's opinion, she seemed to come from noble upbringing, and was a nice looking young lady, most people with those characteristics tended to be very vocal about their preferences. She however seemed to always aim to fade into the background.

Putting his thoughts aside, Livre spotted a customer walking into the shop. They walked in, the bell on the door ringing as it swung open revealing a Melusine. The cute Fontainian resident slowly walking over to the table. Melusines were born with all sorts of colors and patterns on their skin, this one was a combination of light tan and yellow, they wore blue shorts and a navy blue sailor top with white accents, on their head was a miniature diving helmet that served no functional purpose.

Hopping onto the stool children used to see over the counter, the melusine's head popped over the edge, their antenna quivering slightly from the movement.

"Hello sir, I came here to make a commission." Said the melusine.

"Of course anything for you dear customer." Said Livre.

"I wanted to know if you could make one of those fidget spinners that have been going around town as of late." Said the melusine.

"Of course, so long as it isn't too complicated, we should be able to make what you desire." Said Livre.

"Uhm.. could you make one that is see through? I also want it to twirl like a whirlpool pulling things to the depths, and move in one's hand like water does when you submerge your hand in it." Said the melusine with a straight face.

"Well, that sure sounds complicated, but I am sure we can figure something out. What name should I put down for the commission, an what is the best way to reach you?" Asked Livre

"Ah, I am Calypso, and I work for the lost shore diving company, you can send a message to them and I will get them."

"Very well, once we have a design, we e will send it to you along with the cost of the commission for you to finalize." Replied Livre.

"Thank you sir toymaker!" Said the melusine, Calypso, as she hopped off of the stool and slipped off towards the door.

The rest of Livre's working hours were uneventful, with only a few children and parents stopping by to purchase spinners.

After he closed up the shop, Livre walked down to the grocery stores, picking up some smoked meats, various cheeses, a few bottles of cream, ground salt, and various other ingredients, seeing a package of specialty noodles labed "Rotelli" he smiled, these would definitely make this "Mac and cheese" special.

For desert, Livre purchased three slices of cake from a cafe and carried them in a small box.

Making his way into the apartment, Livre carefully made his way into the kitchen.

Looking around he found the tools he would need and got to work.

-To be contiued