wondering why her "grand frère" is so very concerned with Halloween... it's a little odd, though cute too.

would actually be very happy with a visit if she wishes... and it's because he gets to bake!~ Any opportunity to make something is quite

fun.

knows that well, so she will visit him and bring some nice wine and treats as a small courtesy gift.

very glad for that!~ And he wonders if there's anything she would like for him to bake?

if he has plans to bake some profiterole!

would love to do so, if she wants some. Would she like to help?

she will! She's now knocking on his door, bringing a small basket of fresh fruit and a good muscat bottle. "Grand frère...?"

pauses from baking egg tarts to answer the door. As he does, a smile lights up his face. "Ah, ma cherie!~ Thank you for visiting."

smiles back at him. "And thank you for your invitation as well! It's nice to hear from you..."

"Of course!~ You are always welcome here... Ah!" He eyes the basket in her hand. "Are those for me?"

nods. "Of course. I cannot just show up with empty hands when you're baking, hm?"

laughs. "You know me too well! Come in, come in." He ushers her in, taking the basket and setting it on the table. "Would you like to eat

some of the fruit?"

follows him, chuckling. "Both fruits and wine are yours, so it's your prerrogative now. Do as you wish!"

sets out some ingredients for the baking, as well as the utensils. "Very true... ah! Then some wine it is." He sets aside his current chore

to grab some glasses.

brings the bottle. "Yes, and it's a muscat. It'll go well with any desserts, either fruits or pastries..."

nods and pours some ample amount into two glasses. "Ah, so... what is it you wanted to make again?"

takes her glass when he's done. "I wonder if we could make some profiterole, or anything with choux paste."

laughs. "A sweet tooth there, ma cherie? Of course, we can make some profiterole... though I lack some ingredients for them..." He glances

at the clock; no, not too late. "Would you mind accompanying me to the store?"

nods. "Not at all! I'll do what I can to help."

takes his coat and walks outside, since the store's not too far. "So, how have you been, ma cherie?"

fixes hers and follows. "Working, going to the Opera and cafes, waling own the beach... a bit of everything, mon frère."

perks up a little at that. "Ah, I have heard the Opera is in town... I did not know you liked that. Do you mind accompanying me next time?"

smiles brightly. "Yes, that sounds nice! Opera, ballet, classical music, I have a soft spot for all of it..."

chuckles. "It seems as though I may have rubbed off on you a little." He fiddles with his phone. "Ah, are you going trick-or-treating this

year?"

nods. "Maybe i will, maybe i won't... depends on how tired I will be that night. I'll still have sweets for those who will!"

"I think you should! It's always more fun to get the sweets than give them away." Then he adds as an afterthought. "Then if you're too t

tired* to go to your house, you can come spend the night at mine...~"

raises her eyebrows a little, but smiles sluightly. "I will keep your offer ion my mind, mon frère..."

waves his hand callously. "Oui, especially because I offer the best company on lonely nights like Halloween, you know..~"

lets out a chuckle and makes a little curtsy. "Ah, indeed. You are very special, nobody shall deny it."

take that as a compliment, regardless of... the context. He chuckles at her curtsy though, and returns it with a bow. "I would very much

appreciate your company, ma princesse.~"

a little flattered, and very amused. "Princesse... it has been a while ever since you called me like that."

smirks a little. "Indeed.~ But you always did look so nice in your dresses..." He gives her an appraising look. "I think perhaps it is time

to bring them out again!"

blinks. "A-are you sure?"

surprised by this response. "Oui... why would I not be? Ah!" Wonderful idea. "You should be a princess for Halloween, and I, your lovely

prince.~"

actually thinks that sounds good!"It's a lovely idea... Very well, then! I do approve of it, mon frère"

laughs and is glad for such positive feedback. "Then, I will come over so we can make sure not to clash, oui?"

nods. She knows her brother well, so she's sure she can keep both of them focused. "I agree. Better keep things planned before time!"

now excited for this whole prospect, and wonders... "Ah, should we go for the classical Victorian look, or... perhaps a more modern

approach?

listens patiently. "Classical maybe, since we're talking about classic arts...?"

could definitely go for that. "Oui! That will work... but we have to think about the weather as well... what if it rains?" He does not want

his well-made clothes soaked, thanks.

of it. "Coats, raincoats... we may have to see some as well. And umbrellas, too.... hm."

shakes his head. "I was thinking umbrellas... can you imagine the fashion faux pas if we wore raincoats over our attires?"

blinks and then lifts an eyebrow, chuckling. "I thought it would be a ~practical move~, mon frère... what if the umbrellas are not--

--enough to protect our costumes, hm?"

What is practicality in the face of fashion! "They will be! I will make them work!" Nothing of this century would ever go well with any-

thing classical.

nods. "So what do you have in mind, then...?2

"We could put transparent - but fashionable - shower curtains around the fringes of the umbrellas so we're fully covered!" Genius.

doesn't look that convinced. "Wouldn't that make it hard to walk for us, though?"

shakes his head. "For the sake of looking good, walking is something we can give up!"

takes that in consideration. "renting a car, you mean?"

nods ecstatically. That was genius! "Oui, that works.~ And we must rent a limousine; nothing less for us."

smiles. Oh, she does kinda like where is this going. "I know it well, grand frere. It'll be a great time, indeed"

looks around and notices that they've finally arrived at the store. He opens the door for her. "Of course, it must be flashy. We cannot

just simply parade around the neighborhood like the rest, oui?"

steps in and nods, givin her approval and then looking around. "What do we exactly need...?"

makes a mental inventory of his house... "Ah, just the specifics for profiterole.... meaning choux paste. I've only recently taken to baking

cookies.~"

nods. "Choux paste requires mostly basic ingredients and good pastry bags. As well as lots of care and some whipped cream, hm?"

makes a note of all that. "Oui; I only have the ingredients for the pastry, but not the fillings. I'll go grab some whipped cream, then?"

a can of whipped cream on one hand and a bottle of fresh cream on the other. "Hm, which one will be better...? One is more work, but the--

other can be tastier..."

that that's no question. Never sacrifice taste! Always pick the tastier one, yes.

sees the glint in his eyes and realizes what he's thinking of. "May be a little more work, but it will be worth it." And so she chooses--

-- the fresh cream. "What else should be purchase now?"

smiles at her; she knew him too well.~ Now then, what else would they need...? "Ah... not sure. Perhaps just more flour and pastry

ingredients in case we go overboard with the baking?~"

approves! "It'll be better to have ingredients handy rather than lacking them..."

// And she is now looking at different flour brands, hmmmm. "Special pastry flour, maybe?"

happy he has a fellow baking enthusiast! Following her along, he peeks over her shoulder. "Ah, that brand. Non, I've tried it before and

it produced insufficient results." It made his bread taste like England's. It was that bad.

still getting the hang of high-tier baking, but she's willing to learn! "So you say non to that... what about the one on the left, huh?"

it's never too late to learn, and he would be glad to offer lessons. At his house, of course. He looks at the next one, pursing his lips.

"Hm..." He picks it up and reads it over. "This one... looks much better. Shall we give it a try?"

consider accepting his offer, hmmmm. "I agree, then. Only the best ingredients for the best baking plans, oui?"