let-remy-cook

[let-remy-cook]

Remy's heart warmed, as though he had dipped it, like a biscuit, into a steaming cup of hot cocoa. Oh, it as one thing to cook for others; it was another to cook with another! Remy, a lover of music and dance, could only compare such a ritual to a waltz or a tango-- though such a metaphor did not entirely capture the experience. After all, a dance only lasted as long as the music did. But cooking could take much longer. And the music existed in the food itself.

What a blessing that this young man had someone to cook with and to cook for!

If Remy lingered on the thought too long, he'd be overcome with nostalgia and loneliness. But there was a recipe waiting for him. So he took that feeling and ran with it instead.

"Ah, well to the produce of course! A hearty cawl needs only the best vegetables to start! Come, come, I'll show you how to pick out your ingredients."

He ushered the boy back to the front of the market. "Now, does your beloved not like any vegetables?" Remy himself couldn't stomach that thought but he was well aware of people's preferences.

@edward-andalasia

Lost in Translation || Open

[let-remy-cook]

The beautiful woman blushed and the air was as sweet as gardenias in first bloom.

Remy beamed. Ah, how he had always loved blushes! They were sweeter than any sugar, often added to potions if only to dull any unpleasant tastes or hide any less-than-ideal smells. One drop and any poultice was transformed into a delicious elixir.

There were other uses for blushes, of course. But as the once-upon-a-time rat of a kitchen witch, taste and smell had always been at the height of Remy's concerns.

"Ah, but of course, mademoiselle! I'd be honored to be your escort," said Remy. He offered his arm and felt his back straighten, feeling every inch of his height as he led Colette toward his restaurant. "But my dear-- excuse me, but I am not sure I caught your name? And what is it that has brought you to our little town?"

@collette-richards

it’s my season | open

[let-remy-cook]

And here Remy was again, in his second home away from home: the Moon Market.

Ah, he loved this place! He loved to step into the warm welcoming lights of the store and be greeted at once by the rainbow colours of the produce, so juicy and fresh, plucked right off the farm. Remy could spend hours there alone, turning different vegetable and fruits in his hands to find the best possible ingredients for his variety of dishes. And he would spend hours, if he had hours. Because he usually only had one, Remy had to make brisk work of his trip through the market instead.

But it still felt holy to him -- for what was a grocery store to a chef but a kind of church?

With his basket already full up, he was making good time but still lingering every now and then. It was in one of these moments, as he inspected different vinegarettes (not to buy! But for inspiration! Remy himself made all his vinegarettes!) when someone approached him.

"Hm?" said Remy and he looked down at the book.

And ah! Young Edward couldn't have picked a better person to ask.

For Remy spoke all languages and certainly no language more fluently than the language of food.

"Oh, er, well-- my Welsh is perhaps a bit rusty, but I have made Cawl before, so you are in luck, monsieur!" Remy lied smoothly. "Though I am also afraid you are in the completely wrong aisle!"

@edward-andalasia

Lost in Translation || Open

[let-remy-cook]

Drakken smiled at him and Remy already felt wistful-- wishing that he could stretch out the hour into another one and perhaps another one. He had only started to get to know the teacher. And what if there was not another chance? After the petition was submitted, there would be no reason for Dr Drakken and Remy Gusteau to meet. In fact, Remy expected it to be quite hard to do so.

Well, unless Remy did something now. Asked, perhaps, for him to meet again. If he'd like to go for drinks.

The question rose inside him but did not make it all the way up his throat. It fizzled, then fell, Remy's shyness overcoming him.

"Ah-- oui, oui." Remy ducked his head with that shy, regretful smile, the moment slipping away from him. How could he grab it? Somehow, the opportunity felt too large and his hands too small.

"Thank you again, Dr. Drakken. Perhaps you can-- let me know how the petition goes-- when you submit it?"

@dr-drckken

Grilling The Public || Blue Rat

[let-remy-cook]

Remy's smile spread easily and he couldn't help but puff out his chest a little as he confirmed-- "Oui, I am the executive chef of Gusteau's."

He relished the words as though he had just taken a bite into a perfectly cooked piece of steak. He had been Executive Chef for--? Well, ten years! And before that, he had been a chef for other restaurants, going far back into the fifties after the war. Yet despite his long history, he never got tired of those words. Saying them made Remy feel tall.

But well, it was one thing to say he was a chef-- and another to prove it! This woman, so beautiful, was in need of a good meal. If he won a smile from her just speaking about his food, he was eager to see how her eyes would light up if she tasted some.

"In fact-- my word, I am sorry, I should introduce myself-- Remy Gusteau, at your service."

And he took the woman's hand and placed a kiss on top.

@collette-richards

it’s my season | open

[let-remy-cook]

Remy smiled at young Su Qin and waved as she pulled away. Then he glanced down at the petition which was starting to fill out with signatures.

Unfortunately, as the signatures multiplied, Remy's free time diminished. He checked his watch. Ah-- he should probably start heading back to the restaurant now.

"Will you be alright on your own, Monsieur?" he asked Dr. Drakken, meeting his gaze. "I'm afraid I will need to get back to check on things before Gusteau's opens for lunch."

@dr-drckken

Grilling The Public || Blue Rat

[let-remy-cook]

Remy's business, it must be said, catered first and foremost to tourists.

That was what it meant to run a two-star Michelin restaurant! One star indicated that it was a very good restaurant-- the best perhaps in its field among local competitors. If you had to choose between two French cuisines, you should come to Gusteau's.

Two stars, however, meant that his restaurant was worth the detour-- worth making the trip! And so he had people come from all over England to try his various recipes! He booked out weeks in advance!

One day, when he got the third star, then Gusteau's wouldn't be a restaurant; it would be a destination. A reason people traveled to the very country to dine.

And so as he heard the womans' accent and saw how flustered she was, he assumed that she was visiting here. Instantly, Remy felt the tug of his duty. He must be the woman's host and leave upon her a fantastic impression to make up for Swynlake's other wiles.

He grinned. "This? Oh yes, it is. The ripest I could find in the bunch," he said as he held up the small pumpkin -- clearly for cooking, not carving. "It is for my restaurant. We make a delicious pumpkin risotto at this time of year. Do you like pumpkin?"

@collette-richards

it’s my season | open

[let-remy-cook]

These were excellent questions. He'd already had a high opinion of Su Qin (based on nothing else but the fact that she was a witch and worked in a kitchen) but now his good opinion of her solidified further!

She belonged in a place where she could have that talent nurtured.

Like Gusteau's.

But ah... that was not the point of this conversation. "This petition encourages using lidded grills by giving them incentives, but it doesn't punish others," he explained further. "It's to make people more aware of the potential effects of grilling too!"

@dr-drckken

Grilling The Public || Blue Rat

[let-remy-cook]

Remy loved the fresh flavours of fall.

Of course, Remy loved all the seasons and the unique flavours they brought. While in the middle of one, how could he think of any other? And so he had shed summer, and like the rest of the world, now embraced notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise, and pumpkin. He had launched his fall-inspired menu at Gusteau's, including his famous butternut squash ravioli with creamy lobster bisque and pumpkin risotto.

But he was still finessing a new dish this year to be released by the end of the month-- or so he hoped. It was a langoustine and pumpkin dish with distilled cucumber juice. He was still working on balancing the bright tanginess of the cucumber juice, which was why he had popped into the Moon Market for some fresh ingredients, to be whisked into the kitchen...

But a beautiful stranger stopped him.

Remy turned around. She had one of those smiles that immediately made Remy smile too. "Ah, it seems that Swynlake is playing tricks on you," Remy quipped. "You are quite far from the antique store now. You will probably have to go back down main street, mon cher but I cannot guarantee that you won't end up right here again! Sometimes, when Swynlake puts you somewhere, it's where you are meant to be."

He glanced toward his restaurant, nearby. "Perhaps it thinks you should stop for a bite to eat!"

@collette-richards

it’s my season | open

[let-remy-cook]

"Well-- it is encouraging people to use one type of grill," Remy clarified again.

Because of course there were many times of grills and some did not have lids! But this was about encouraging people to use grills with a lid instead of lidless grills, at least for outdoor cooking.

"Grills with a lid," Remy said again. "So as to protect the environment and also encourage a set of safety standards in the community, no?"

@dr-drckken

Grilling The Public || Blue Rat

[let-remy-cook]

Ah, young Su Qin.

Remy knew of her because of-- what else-- but her magic. She worked at Tiana's; Remy wished that she would work at Gusteau's instead. Perhaps one day... when he achieved his third star, and then could be more experimental and hopefully represent magical food on his menu. Then a young witch like Su Qin would flock to his restaurant, non?

That was the dream. Ah, Remy had so many dreams.

"Actually, this petition is more about personal-use grills," clarified Remy, though he understood why Su might have jumped to that conclusion, considering his presence. "We want to encourage sustainable and safe use by rewarding those who use lidless grills only!"

@dr-drckken

Grilling The Public || Blue Rat

[let-remy-cook]

"Yeah, true," Nemo said, the boy still looking rather shy and embarrassed. He handed the clipboard back, his signature on it.

Well, even if he had not read it fully, at least they were one more signature closer to their goal!

...what goal, Remy was not quite sure. As many signatures as possible, non? Was there a number? He'd have to ask Dr. Drakken.

"Anyway, I'll um-- keep that in mind. I hope this gets passed, Dr. Drakken! You always have great ideas," complimented Nemo. He then dipped his head respectfully to his old teacher, and then once to Remy as well. "And er, you uh-- too! Chef!"

Then the boy skittered off.

Remy smiled after him fondly, then turned that fondness toward Dr. Drakken. "Ah, your students admire you so. You must leave quite the impression."

@dr-drckken

Grilling The Public || Blue Rat

[let-remy-cook]

The door swung open, night air sweeping into the kitchen. Remy instantly darted that way--

You like to eat rubbish, don't you?

The words smacked into Remy as sharp and painful as a meat cleaver. Oh, they shouldn't have hurt him! He had lived with such words and false assumptions all his life. And in a way, those assumptions were not entirely inaccurate. There was treasure to be found among the trash heaps, perfectly good food lingering there, thrown out for an aesthetic flaw or other petty reason. When he'd been just a rat (not Josephine's esteemed familiar and confidante), he dined on the rubbish heaps and enjoyed himself.

Of course, he didn't do that now. And because of the sneers and shrieks of humans, the idea of picking at the rubbish bins filled Remy with immense shame and anger.

This was what humans thought of him though. He belonged among the trash.

He wanted to turn around and tell Tiana exactly how wrong she was. However...! Well, then he'd really put himself in a much different pickle. And so Remy, with his head ducked and his whole body burning with shame, left the kitchen and ran toward those trash heaps, confirming all such assumptions.

And he was no closer to figuring out what magic Tiana was using either!

What a terrible night!

@truitt-story

Miss Truitt And The Rats Of Tiana's Place | French Quarter

[let-remy-cook]

Remy watched the exchange, the stress and confusion from the previous interaction simply...melting away.

Now this was an impressive man, eh! It was one them to know how to lead a group of people; to convince a group of people to vote for you and believe in your ideas. But it was an entirely different skill to teach someone. Remy had been a student of life from the moment he was born and so he knew the importance of having good mentors to inspire the listless.

This was a side of Dr. Drakken that he'd never seen. It was a side he admired. For a moment, he gazed at Drakken, feeling as though the light had shifted. Was Dr. Drakken always this ah-- well spoken? Always this-- handsome?

Nemo blushed a little. "R-right, yeah. I know you're right," he confessed. "I dunno, I just didn't want to take up your time or anything. I'm kind of a slow reader."

"Ah, nonsense! You can take as long as you need," Remy encouraged.

@dr-drckken

Grilling The Public || Blue Rat

[let-remy-cook]

Ah-ha! The element of surprise!

Tiana leaped up into the air, clearing Remy's path to slip between her legs and to the other side of the kitchen. She tried to swipe at him with the box, but Remy was much too quick. This was another thing about his rat-shape that he missed many times. Humans could be so clumsy and slow. They moved through the world like molasses. But rats? Rats were as slender and graceful as-- well-- rats!

Rats could also run much longer than humans could.

So, Miss Truitt-- you were not incorrect. But certainly, Remy was going to outrun you.

He scrambled up onto the top of the station next, drawing Tiana's eye away from the floor. He still needed a way to get her to the door, so he could escape!

@truitt-story

Miss Truitt And The Rats Of Tiana's Place | French Quarter

[let-remy-cook]

Ah--! Remy's spirited smile faded quickly into confusion. He watched Hatter go with a remark frozen on his lips. Why hadn't he stopped to chat? As a fellow food connoisseur and a kitchen witch, he should have been quite invested in safe food preparation!

Ah, how disappointing.

But c'est la vie. Remy did not have the time to go chase after the witch and demand a few of his moments. Besides another person was approaching-- a slight sparrowman with a large smile on his face.

"Dr Drakken!" Nemo said cheerfully. "Oh I mean, duh! I'm in the Environmental Club at Pride U now, yanno!" He puffed out his chest a little, clearly bragging to his-- Remy deduced quickly-- former teacher?

"Ah, perhaps you want to take a look at our petition?" said Remy. He offered the clipboard.

"Oh totally-- grills?" Nemo skimmed. He only looked at it for perhaps three seconds. "Oh yeah, this looks great! Do you guys have a pen?"

This was the exact opposite of most of their interactions thus far-- quick and easy. In fact...too easy.

"But-- don't you want to read it?"

Nemo shrugged. "Dr. Drakken's super smart. I'm sure he did his research and everything."

@dr-drckken

Grilling The Public || Blue Rat

[let-remy-cook]

Remy scoffed.

Now, if only he could address Tiana as a proper familiar would, perhaps this would all be sorted out. But if Tiana was terrified of a rat-- would a talking rat make anything better? Not at all.

Remy would just have to do what he had always done: outwit, and outrun.

He cleaned his whiskers. His pounding heart had slowed enough that he was ready for round two. Now, the challenge would be to get through the swinging doors... it was his most direct route, but his little paws could not push them open!

Maybe he could get Tiana to do it for him? Yes...yes! He would go on the assault! Catch her by surprise and make her run!

With a decisive flick of his tail, he darted out from under the station and headed straight for Tiana's shoes.

@truitt-story

Miss Truitt And The Rats Of Tiana's Place | French Quarter