JEAN CHANG
Civilian
PASTRY SHOP OWNER
空談燒不出飯菜
Posts: 41
MINI INFO - GENDER: Male
MINI INFO - D.O.B.: 13 NOVEMBER 1986
MINI INFO - OCCUPATION: Pastry Chef
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Post by JEAN CHANG on Jun 6, 2013 19:09:27 GMT -8
Jean sat behind the front counter of his pastry shop and contemplated whether or not he should close up shop early today. There was still another two hours before closing time but there was no one else in the shop and he was tired. On normal work days he was at work before the sun rose so that he could finish the prep work from the night before. Today, however, he got here a good two hours early at four in the morning just so he could make a specially ordered two feet tall croquembouche complete with ganache for someone’s wedding reception. And let Jean be the first to say that it was not easy, especially since everything needed to be absolutely perfect.
After completing the croquembouche order and prepping to open for the day, Jean found himself bored and tired. Based on his meticulously kept charts, business was strangely slow for a Wednesday. Perhaps there was an event that was drawing all of his customers. Or perhaps there was a new bakery in the area. The thought of having rival business did not sit well with him. He was confident that he was better but they were still nuisances. He couldn’t be sure but there had to be a reason for the slow business and he did not appreciate it. Nonetheless, he was not getting enough sleep and running a business on his own was tiring even for him. Perhaps he should hire someone to help. It would mean that he needed to pay someone else though. Decisions, decisions…
So this is what he did when he was bored and tired, he thought. He really should do something more productive in his free time. Like come up with new pastry ideas. Or begin prepping for tomorrow.
Jean sighed. He looked toward his display and then toward his door. In that moment, he made a decision. He could take a break once in a while couldn’t he? It was unlike him but he truly was tired and it really did not seem effective for business if he was falling asleep at the cash register. If there was no customer in the next ten minutes, he was going to close up shop and begin prepping for tomorrow. Once that was done, he needed a nap. He truly did.
Jean turned his stare toward the door, unsure whether he wanted any one to walk through it or not. There were perks to both but was money really worth not being able to sleep. No it was not. (And when money becomes unimportant you know that it’s serious.) And after his nap, he was needed to figure out why business was so slow. Closing shop for good was not in his foreseeable future. There was no way he would go down without a fight.
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Post by QUENTIN CHOU on Jun 7, 2013 9:12:27 GMT -8
One wouldn't expect Chinatown to be known for its bakeries, but if you asked Quentin they were one of the few places in the whole of Los Angeles that did their bread right. The glaze on the savoury buns was just salty enough, without overwhelming the soft, chewy taste of the bread, while the sweet breads had their own, distinct flavour that drastically differed from those anywhere else. Quentin was quite the connoisseur, even if he were to say so himself, and he could afford to be picky with what he ate. After all, there was no sense consuming bad food. A complete waste of calories, if you asked him. Quentin wouldn't tell anyone, but he did have his own ways when it came to maintaining his figure, and choosing his food wisely was just one of them. As for the rest, he would just chalk it down to magic.
Either way, work had been slow that day at the Magic Shop in Disneyland. Only natural, seeing as it was a weekday and everything, but it didn't change the fact that he'd been rather bored. He did enjoy entertaining people, after all. It was always amusing to watch their reactions as they laughed and clapped at his tricks. While he had initially been surprised that they would be so receptive to tricks that Quentin would have considered easy, he had had to step back and remember that people weren't used to this. They didn't know what a simple illusion could do, and he wasn't about to blame them for it. Quentin was certainly not delusional. After all, as a child, he had first been wowed by the magician at a birthday party as well, and everybody began from somewhere. Dare he say that one day he hoped to incite a child to follow the same desire as well? But alas, this day there were few children to impress and adults to charm into buying the products he was helping to sell, which meant that even if he had been bored, at least he had the energy to drive down to Chinatown to pick up some bread.
It was a fairly long drive, but Quentin was quite used to it. He did frequently make stops on the way back, after all. This time, he'd decided to pop into somewhere new, a bakery just three doors down from where he normally went to. Adventure was the spice of life after all and he wasn't about to deny himself other options. Options were good, as long as you were a decisive person, and Quentin did believe himself to be one. Parking his car in a space nearby, the magician strolled into the bakery, and his nose was hit by an onslaught of wafting smells, and pleasant ones to say the least. He smiled with approval as he glanced around, noting the different pastries and breads around. Seemed strange that the place was so quiet, but then again, he was willing to give even quiet a shot. Maybe it was just new. Brown eyes met those of the man behind the counter's, and Quentin nodded in polite acknowledgment as he walked up to the man.
"Nice place. Any recommendations?"
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JEAN CHANG
Civilian
PASTRY SHOP OWNER
空談燒不出飯菜
Posts: 41
MINI INFO - GENDER: Male
MINI INFO - D.O.B.: 13 NOVEMBER 1986
MINI INFO - OCCUPATION: Pastry Chef
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Post by JEAN CHANG on Jun 13, 2013 13:17:38 GMT -8
Despite having already buried his face in his paperwork in an attempt to get even a few minutes of rest, Jean immediately knew that there was a customer in the shop. Some might call it a sixth sense. Others might say that he was woken up by the smell of money. Then again, the doorbell that sounded every time the door was opened might have something to do with it too.
Jean picked his head off the desk and attempted to make himself presentable. Then again, he never really cared before so why should he care now? Because customers, obviously and he needed to make a good impression especially since he had never seen this particular customer in his shop before.
Jean quickly gave the newcomer a once over. This person, however obviously seemed to care about his appearance. The man had pink hair for goodness sake. Jean had friends that cared a bit too much about their appearances and he knew just how difficult it was to maintain dyed hair. It was one of the reasons he never tried dying his hair some unnatural color. It was too much work and his one red eye was more than enough to make a lasting impression. He had to admit though, the man was good looking. Jean was never one for hitting on his customers (it was unprofessional) but a little look here and there never hurt anyone.
”Welcome,” Jean stood up with a smile to greet the customer. His heavy French accent was clearly audible despite having been in the United States for some time now. ”Recommendations?” Jean looked at the man. He looked Asian and yet he was not. Was he mixed? In that case he would suggest pastries from both cultures. ”Well today we have some freshly made blueberry mousse blueberries from local organic farmers. The madeleine cakes are also popular. And if you prefer Asian pastries the pineapple cakes are a favorite. I also have some sun cakes that came out about an hour ago.”
Jean paused. ”Is this your first time here? If you have any specific requests or have any allergies feel free to let me know. I can help you with anything you need.”
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Post by QUENTIN CHOU on Jun 13, 2013 14:01:48 GMT -8
It had likely been a long day at work for the other man, which was understandable. Work in the service industry was hardly an easy task, and from his frazzled expression and messy hair it was evident that he'd had a hard day. Perhaps it had been a particularly difficult customer, or just an unusually long day where business was slow; sometimes, those were even more tiring than days in which he had plenty of customers. Boredom was draining, and there were times when it certainly left him with a sense of inexplicable lethargy. Either way, he was a good-looking man, with dark hair and-- Quentin raised a brow as he noticed the red eye. Probably a contact lens, since the other certainly wasn't pale enough to be an albino, but either way, it showed that the other man cared about his appearance more than he seemed to let on. Interesting, very interesting indeed.
He was already fascinated, and he hadn't even gotten started on the breads yet. The other man was speaking about the different cakes and pastries available in an accent that was distinctly French, and Quentin made a mental note that this man had certainly lived in that part of the world before. He wanted to say that he could have been adopted into a French family, but held back upon that. Quentin could only make deductions, but as Confucius say, man who jump off cliff jump to conclusion. It was dangerous to make any final assumptions before he was absolutely sure. Leaning on the counter with a friendly smile, Quentin tapped a finger on the surface in contemplation.
"I can't think of anything I'm allergic to, though I'm certainly partial towards Asian flavours." He still dreamed of the melon bread he had in Japan every night. "Do you happen to do in-store samples here?" The pink-haired male quirked a small smile. Friendly, but not too friendly. Flirty, but not creepy. If he was going to suss this man out, he supposed that might just go all the way, and one thing was to find out just how he swung. Who knew? Quentin could just find himself with some free food and a new toy after this afternoon.
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JEAN CHANG
Civilian
PASTRY SHOP OWNER
空談燒不出飯菜
Posts: 41
MINI INFO - GENDER: Male
MINI INFO - D.O.B.: 13 NOVEMBER 1986
MINI INFO - OCCUPATION: Pastry Chef
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Post by JEAN CHANG on Jun 13, 2013 14:41:47 GMT -8
Judging by the man’s expression, he had noticed his red eye which made Jean smile. Just a little bit. It was always amusing to see the expressions of people that noticed his eye. Most people were smart enough to assume that it was a contact lens but there always were those few that were gullible enough to ask if it was real. Jean wondered what kind of person the pink haired man was. He would know soon enough just from observing. There was only one customer anyway so he could focus his attention on him. ”That’s good. No allergies means that there is more variety that you can try,” Jean remarked with his business smile. It was one that he used daily even if he was not feeling well like today. It was not his real smile but it made people feel welcomed and Jean found that it sold pastries. Americans, unlike the Europeans, needed smiles and faux joy in from their servers in order to feel reassurance. From Jean’s experience, the French servers do not smile unless they have a reason to. But no matter. Jean could adapt and change as necessary. His success was obvious evidence of just how effective he was as an entrepreneur. Jean was a bit irked at the mention of in store samples but did not show it. Even though the customer as Jean’s type, if the customer expected him to give food away for free, he was clearly mistaken. Then again, this could be a very good chance… ”Normally, no. I usually don’t have any in store samples. However, today might just be your lucky day. Wait a moment, won’t you please?”Jean went into the kitchen and quickly returned to the counter with a plate of experimental pastries – not that the customer would ever know. Quentin did not consider these a success but loathed to throw them out. Perhaps he could kill two birds with one stone with this. ”I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard of Mister Donut donuts from Japan but they are favorites of mine from my days back in Taiwan. Would you like to try some?”
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Post by QUENTIN CHOU on Jun 13, 2013 15:59:29 GMT -8
It wasn't common for most bakeries to have in-store samples, but the bakeries in Little Tokyo had been a different story. Many of their displays had a little container full of bite-sized pieces of the breads that they served. He knew that it might have been presumptuous to do so, but he'd figured that it wouldn't hurt to ask. The good thing was that this man was not his customer, and that in fact, it was the other way round. He'd been taught that the customer was always right in the service industry, and the worst that the other man could say would be to decline him politely. In that sense, Quentin had the upper hand in their current situation, though he wouldn't say that he was manipulating it just yet. He believed in playing by ear, after all, and he had supposed that he could chance the question.
Either way, the other man didn't seem too annoyed when he asked. Instead, he went to the back, bringing out some samples of Mister Donut Donuts from Japan, mentioning that he'd spent some time in Taiwan. Quentin couldn't help but chuckle a little at the mention of his father's home, and he picked up one of the donuts, examining it like a connoisseur.
"I do feel extremely lucky. Thank you, you certainly didn't have to make an exception." He'd seen several Mister Donut Donut outlets during his travels, and had never had the fortune to try them before. He hadn't enjoyed the time he had been forced to spend in Taiwan, especially because of all the food he wasn't able to taste, and he was still mentally chastising himself for not at least having a taste in Japan. Quentin lifted the pastry to his lips, taking a tentative bite. Harsh browns widened with pleasant surprise, and he finished the first bite, turning to the other man with approval.
"This is excellent." He wasn't about to withhold praise when it was due, after all, and Quentin was certainly honest when it came to pastries and bread, even if not about anything else. Taking another bite, he noted the light taste of the sugar, the springy texture of the bread; it was probably the best donut that he'd tasted in a long time. "I've never tasted these before, even when I was visiting Taiwan myself, but I'm impressed. Where were you trained, out of curiosity?" It didn't hurt to ask a few more questions, engage in conversation before he made his purchase. Whatever kind of person that Quentin decided this other man was, he was definitely an excellent baker. The male suspected that he was probably not leaving the bakery without a considerable haul.
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JEAN CHANG
Civilian
PASTRY SHOP OWNER
空談燒不出飯菜
Posts: 41
MINI INFO - GENDER: Male
MINI INFO - D.O.B.: 13 NOVEMBER 1986
MINI INFO - OCCUPATION: Pastry Chef
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Post by JEAN CHANG on Jun 13, 2013 17:57:50 GMT -8
Jean watched as the customer examined the donut with an insightful look. Though the pink haired male said that he did not have to give him free food, Jean wondered what would have happened if he had declined him. Realistically the man would probably have been disappointed. That would then either lead to an argument with the customer and or the high chance of said customer leaving the store without buying anything. At least by giving him his failed experimental pastries, Jean gets rid of pastries that can’t be sold and he satisfies the customer. And even if the pastries were not up to his standard, with Jean’s level of skill, the pastries would still taste delicious. He would still be able to hook him as a new customer to his pastry shop.
And then the pink haired man took a bite. He smirked. Success, Jean thought to himself. The sight of the customer’s astonished face simultaneously pleased Jean and raised his ego. Jean didn’t even have to ask how it was before the customer began to compliment his baking skills.
Jean grinned. ”Thank you. I’m glad you enjoy it.” He looked down at the rest of the donuts on the plate. ”Actually, would you like the rest of them? I won’t charge you of course. It’s been a slow day and I’d rather not seen these get thrown out.” Jean did not mind giving away good but below standard food. He just hoped that the customer did not make a habit out of his kind offer.
”You have also been to Taiwan?” Jean was pleasantly surprised. It was always nice to talk to people about his place of birth. He loved the United States and would not consider moving but Taiwan would always hold a special place in his heart. He would never admit it but every time he saw commercials about Taiwanese tourism Jean found himself missing the tiny island and wondering if he should find some time to visit Taiwan. ”My training began at Kai-Ping culinary high school. After graduation I trained in France for five years. The training has paid off, no?”
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Post by QUENTIN CHOU on Jun 14, 2013 6:37:31 GMT -8
Whether Quentin would have been disappointed or not was not the other man's fault. But from his well-placed question, he had managed to deduce that the man was not only a salesperson, but also the baker; judging by the authority he had that allowed him to go in the back and take out some experimental pastries, it was also safe to say that he was at least the manager of this branch, if not the owner itself. The latter was more likely, seeing as Quentin had never heard of this bakery before, and he did consider himself quite knowledgable about the bakeries around Los Angeles. It was probably a small startup, which suited him fine. Perhaps if this place did well and he did well too, he would be able to invest some day.
However, he wasn't counting on it. Not that it was improbable of course, but there was no use counting your chickens before they hatched. Speaking of which, he certainly hadn't counted on being offered the rest of the donuts for free. Quentin blinked with surprise when the other male mentioned that he was going to just give them to him, a look of shock registering on his normally neutral features for a split second before fading away. That had been an unexpected twist, though not an unpleasant one. Free food was always a positive thing, and he wasn't about to refuse it especially when it was so good. Nevertheless, it wouldn't do to be rude and not thank him, and so Quentin smiled.
"That's unexpected, but thank you. I'll definitely have to shop around and look at what else you have to offer." His eyes scanned the display of pastries and breads, wondering whether there was anything else that he could pick up for breakfast. The blueberry dessert the other man had mentioned earlier definitely sounded appealing. As for the man's statement about Taiwan, Quentin nodded. While he did enjoy maintaining an aura of mystery there was no need to hide basic details like that, such as where his parents were from.
"I do have family in Taiwan, and used to visit them every so often when I was a child. Where in Taiwan are you from? And yes," Quentin nodded, locking his gaze with the other, "It's definitely paid off. I haven't tasted such good donuts in a long time." Already, he could tell that this connection could be useful, and not an unpleasant one to boot. The fact that he had lived in both France and Taiwan would probably mean that he was an interesting one. Quentin enjoyed dissecting people in a sense, but it didn't mean that he didn't actually like them. "The training must have been rigorous."
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JEAN CHANG
Civilian
PASTRY SHOP OWNER
空談燒不出飯菜
Posts: 41
MINI INFO - GENDER: Male
MINI INFO - D.O.B.: 13 NOVEMBER 1986
MINI INFO - OCCUPATION: Pastry Chef
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Post by JEAN CHANG on Jun 27, 2013 15:21:59 GMT -8
As Jean conversed with the customer, he had the sudden realization that somewhere along the line he had dropped his guard. And he was talking more about himself than was actually comfortable. It wasn't like his heritage and training were any secret; if anything he enjoyed showing off his culinary prowess and lineage. However, this man had walked in mere minutes before and already Jean was feeling comfortable enough to discuss Taiwan with him. And what did he know about the other man? He was obviously vain enough to dye his hair another color and the makeup, no matter how little was on his face, did not go unnoticed. The man was also confident and unafraid to get what he wanted. Not everyone was brave enough to ask for free samples without worrying about offending a business. Other than that, Jean realized that he knew little about the other man. This would never do.
"You're very welcome," Jean said graciously. The surprised look on the pink haired man's face made him happy in the same way as watching competition destroy themselves: it was pleasant and more than anything, it inflated his ego that much more. And he also appreciated the smile that he received in return for the doughnuts. Hitting on customers was a no no but it certainly never hurt to look once in while. It was such a nice sight too. Jean kept himself composed. He would never be able to live with himself (or his teacher) if he hit on a customer. The service industry is a strict one with lots of rules in order to gain perfection.
So he was correct. This man was of mixed descent. No wonder he was so attractive. The people around him always did claim that children with mixed blood were the best looking. But above all, he was also Taiwanese. It gave him a sense of camaraderie and made him like the customer just that much more (which is not a lot but still more than the average person). Jean's pastries were largely influenced by Taiwanese cooking so it was no surprise that it attracted the Taiwanese in droves. "I am from Taipei," Jean said smoothly. It was a lie, but not an obvious one. He did come from Taipei where his high school was located but he was technically from Kaoshiung. There was no way for this person to know the truth, especially since he had worked so hard to get rid of his country accent. He'd be damned if he got made fun of for his country accent in America as well.
Jean looked back at the man with a faint smile. Someone who actually looked people in the eye and held their gazes was a rare sight especially in the cities. "The training was indeed difficult but it taught me a lot. I am proud to be able to say that I have graduated from the top culinary high school in Taiwan." Jean glanced down at the clock on the counter next the donuts. He had wanted to close early today... Perhaps he could get started cleaning up even with the customer around. Really, all that was needed to do for today was to close the register and lock up, beginning with the back door. He looked back at the other man. "Would you like me to box these up for you while you look around? I'll be right back, however I have a bit of work to do in the kitchen. Please just call for 'Jean' if you need anything."
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Post by QUENTIN CHOU on Jun 29, 2013 0:43:00 GMT -8
tagged: terr time: 2nd May, 4 pm. speech: quentin. notes: super pink table go! "My family is from Taipei," Quentin added. He wasn't particularly close to them, and didn't particularly like them either, but they were from Taipei nevertheless. The fact that they were so bland and boring that he couldn't even find some sort of entertainment value in them spoke volumes, but he dearly missed the place and the nightlife back there. Perhaps if his family hadn't been there he would have enjoyed going back more, though conversely he would likely have never stepped foot in Taipei if he didn't know the people there. "One of my favourite things about Taipei was the Shilin Night Market. I still have dreams of the fried chicken." He quirked a smile at the thought. A love of food was certainly common ground between the two of them. Who didn't love food, however? Upon hearing about the other man's study in a culinary high school, Quentin nodded.
"It must be useful being a baker. It's a useful skill to have. Marketable and satisfying." As for performing magic tricks, it wasn't exactly marketable, but it was satisfying all right. At that point however, the only magic trick that Quentin wanted to perform was to make all of the bread and pastries in the vicinity disappear into his belly. "Yes, can you please box these up? I'll definitely be looking around." The other man had yet to explain his French accent. It sounded far too natural for it to be put on, but upon hearing that his name was Jean, the situation seemed curiouser and curiouser. "A French name. Is that also where the accent comes from?"
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JEAN CHANG
Civilian
PASTRY SHOP OWNER
空談燒不出飯菜
Posts: 41
MINI INFO - GENDER: Male
MINI INFO - D.O.B.: 13 NOVEMBER 1986
MINI INFO - OCCUPATION: Pastry Chef
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Post by JEAN CHANG on Jul 14, 2013 19:04:31 GMT -8
So his family was from Taipei, huh? Based on the phrasing, it was safe to assume that the customer himself was not from Taipei. Good, this would make it easier for him to hide the fact that he is a country boy if they were to speak to each other again in the future.
It was funny that the customer mentioned the fried chicken at Shiling Night Market. In fact, his mother had a fantastic recipe for Taiwanese fried chicken that he was able to perfect during his culinary training. He was enrolled in the pastry arts section but that didn't mean that he couldn't cook. He should make some for dinner tonight. That sounded very nice.
"Useful is one way to put it, I suppose. It can be a bit difficult in the service industry what with the economy. Not to mention, small, locally owned stores can be difficult to market unless they've found a niche to fit in. After all, people pay more for the brand than the actual product." Jean could not understand why people would choose some second rate cake mass produced for a market chain over the fresh cakes that he baked daily. It was both insulting and ridiculous since buying locally helps the economy more than buying at big name stores ever would.
Jean paused from his task of boxing up the donuts at the customer's question. Curious, now are we? he thought to himself. He smiled before launching into a explanation of exactly how he came to speak this way. "Why, yes. I'm sure it must seem unusual for someone from Taiwan to be speaking English with a heavy French accent. After graduating from high school, I was able to become an apprentice of a top patisserie in France where I received my Western name and learned to speak French and English. It's also why my creations are so heavily influenced by French and Taiwanese styles of baking."
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Post by QUENTIN CHOU on Jul 16, 2013 7:10:52 GMT -8
tagged: terr time: 2nd May, 4 pm. speech: quentin. notes: super pink table go! Curious would only have been half of the truth. In reality, there lay the fact that most people genuinely enjoyed talking about themselves. It made them feel comfortable, and when they felt comfortable around you they were more likely to trust you. And, Quentin knew, it was better to have an army of people to watch your back even if you didn't care for any of them. Though he certainly found that he was warming up to this man fast-- he definitely had an interesting background, more so than the average person. People who had moved around always had an interesting story or two to tell, and as far as he was concerned, he was ready to try to learn his.
"Sadly, it's all a matter of publicity. All you can hope to do is try to build it. I could put you in touch with a couple of friends in advertising that might be able to help you out, unless you've done it already." It wasn't going to cost Quentin anything, and would help his friends get some business. And this man had just given him free food, after all, so it wouldn't hurt to nudge him in the direction of some people who would help him get the word out. Besides, it would be for the best if this place remained open for a good part of the foreseeable future.
He did really like the donuts, after all.
"Ah, was your name given to you or did you choose it yourself, then? Speaking of which, I don't think we've traded names yet," Quentin added. Names were important, after all. It helped establish some sort of rapport and connection. He extended a hand to the other. "My name's Quentin. Nice to meet you. How long were you in France for? I've never visited, but I've heard it's a lovely country."
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JEAN CHANG
Civilian
PASTRY SHOP OWNER
空談燒不出飯菜
Posts: 41
MINI INFO - GENDER: Male
MINI INFO - D.O.B.: 13 NOVEMBER 1986
MINI INFO - OCCUPATION: Pastry Chef
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Post by JEAN CHANG on Jul 26, 2013 12:07:03 GMT -8
Jean knew that he could keep a straight face. He always knew how to act around people and what best to say and what not to say in order to get what he wanted. However, this was one of those rare moments that Jean found himself a bit speechless. When he realized what had happened, he quickly composed himself but the damage had been done. He wasn't sure if the customer had noticed but in that split second of surprise, Jean had felt the irritation of being outmaneuvered. There were few people that could catch him off guard and somehow this man had done it in less than an hour on their first meeting. Needless, to say Jean could feel himself both irked and pleasantly surprised by the man's offer. He needed a rebuttal.
Jean smiled (a real smile, mind you). "Really, now? You would do that for me? I have not actually done much advertising. I did do a bit when I first opened the shop but I have been relying on word of mouth advertising as of late. You would really do all that for some donuts though? Perhaps I should also throw in a baguette. Or some churros, 'Spanish Donuts', if you will. If you really do this for me, I would like to show my appreciation."
"It's nice to meet you Quentin," Jean said pleasantly as he grasped his hand. Names were good. People enjoyed being called by their name. It made them feel more comfortable. It was one of the reasons customers kept coming back - he remembered their names and faces. It made them feel special. "I did not name myself. My teacher did, actually. It made it easier for those around me to address me. I was in France for a good five years before I moved here."
The memory of his time in France and his teacher made him smile again. He had a great respect for his teacher.
"And France was indeed lovely. I learned much during my time there."
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Post by QUENTIN CHOU on Jul 26, 2013 12:52:04 GMT -8
tagged: terr time: 2nd May, 4 pm. speech: quentin. notes: super pink table go! "There's a lot that I'd do for bread and good pastries. It would benefit us both to have this place thrive. All I'm doing is putting you in touch with the best in the business. A win-win situation for both you, and my friends." With that, Quentin pulled out his phone, scrolling through it. "It might be easier for you to send you the contacts individually, so might I have your phone number? Otherwise, I can just write them down on a piece of paper." A subtle ploy, or just laziness coming into play? When asked later, Quentin would have cited the later, but in reality the answer was unknown even to himself. This man was certainly attractive but he could already sense some sort of subtle similarity.
In a sense, he couldn't help but feel as though this person would be worth keeping around.
But there was no time for this, when there was food to be had. Quentin smiled at the mention of more bread. This man was definitely generous with the giving, which was something to note; either he was a genuine person or did not enjoy being indebted to anyone. Both were commendable traits to have, though it was debatable as to which was more dangerous to the person. "That won't be necessary. It's nothing." He was fairly full, after all, and he wanted to see how this man would react. It was definite that he intended to share some of his food, but his motivations would come out later. If it was simply generosity Quentin supposed that he would be more likely to give up. "Jean's a good name, though. You seem to have taken to it well. I can't imagine being called anything but Quentin, but that's also because I'm used to it."
"Tell me more about France, then. One day I'd love to visit and tour the place. My mother's side of the family has French heritage, after all. Who knows what history I might uncover there?"
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JEAN CHANG
Civilian
PASTRY SHOP OWNER
空談燒不出飯菜
Posts: 41
MINI INFO - GENDER: Male
MINI INFO - D.O.B.: 13 NOVEMBER 1986
MINI INFO - OCCUPATION: Pastry Chef
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Post by JEAN CHANG on Jul 26, 2013 13:41:10 GMT -8
While it was good to know that Quentin would do a lot for some free pastries here and there, Jean had to wonder how he might be of use to him. It was quite a nice thing for him to give him the contact information of advertising firms but if that was all he had then Jean might need to curb how much he gave him. Admittedly, he was only half joking about giving away food though. He was a business man. He could not give away free products to every pretty face that walked through the door but he liked to keep his life balanced. But Jean staunchly believed in karma and he would not be able to live it down if he owed Quentin. If free food was what was needed to repay him, Quentin would receive free food.
And what was that? Did he just ask for his number? Was Jean being hit on? Jean would certainly think that way. Or rather, he certainly hoped that it was the case. He would play it safe, however. Either he was right and he would soon land himself a new toy or he was wrong and he would lose a customer and the customer's contacts.
"I can give you my number," Jean complied. He grabbed a pen and an order slip off the counter and scrawled his name and cell phone number onto the sheet. Normally he would have just typed it into the other person's phone but it did not seem very polite to just wrench it from Quentin's hand. "Are you in the advertising business yourself? Or perhaps a field related to it?"
"Why thank you. It is difficult at first but in this case, the Western name is similar enough to my Chinese name that it was not too difficult to become accustomed to."
So Quentin was of mixed descent, and of French and Taiwanese descent at that. No wonder he was so beautiful. "I lived in Paris for the entirety of my five years in France. Because it was such a big city (and so full of tourists Jean thought to himself) I was able to pick up both French and English fairly quickly. My favorite place in all of France are the French alps, however. I went on a trip there and saw snow for the first time. It was spectacular."
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Post by QUENTIN CHOU on Jul 26, 2013 15:01:55 GMT -8
tagged: terr time: 2nd May, 4 pm. speech: quentin. notes: super pink table go! While it might have been nice for Quentin to pretend he was in the advertising business, to state that he really was would have been a lie. And while lying was justified in other circumstances, he definitely foresaw some sort of relationship forming between the two of them. Jean seemed like a fascinating person to be around, for one, and he was easy on the eyes, for another. Quentin didn't believe in jumping the gun, but he had a sneaking suspicion that this was yet another door opened. It would only be a matter of time before he hopefully had this under lock and key, but for now he would wait, and be honest.
"I mostly work in entertainment. That's how I'm in contact with marketers and advertisers." There was a lot of mingling going around in his field, after all, and it was important to meet people. To remember them, to form some sort of personal connection. It was how he had gotten the gigs that he had, and the jobs that he wanted. It wasn't about what you knew, but who you knew in the business. "I'm a magician. I do stage shows, but I also work at Disneyland. Working the streets is a hobby of mine as well-- you'd be surprised how much exposure it gets you. More so than a full-time job at Disneyland would, surprisingly, or I would have taken on that offer." Either way, he took down the other man's number, sending him the contacts through text message. An association made was always something gained.
"If I were you, I would call David or Alexander first. They're the best in the business, in my opinion, and remember to tell them that you know me. They'll be able to arrange something." There were perks to knowing everyone and being able to twist them around his finger. "They're both busy men, but I'm sure they'll be able to slot you in. Rachael is also excellent but I'm not quite sure whether she's into the food business as she is into technology and shops, but if she agrees to help I would say she was a good alternative option." He couldn't help but perk up when the other man mentioned France once again. Some day, perhaps, he would go there. Some day.
"Did you climb them yourself? Was there a chance to go skiing? Personally I've seen enough snow from my college days to last me a lifetime, but I'd love to try skiing for once. I'm not quite sure whether I'd be able to last without falling, however."
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JEAN CHANG
Civilian
PASTRY SHOP OWNER
空談燒不出飯菜
Posts: 41
MINI INFO - GENDER: Male
MINI INFO - D.O.B.: 13 NOVEMBER 1986
MINI INFO - OCCUPATION: Pastry Chef
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Post by JEAN CHANG on Jul 26, 2013 15:30:28 GMT -8
Jean had never heard of Quentin. It wasn't all that surprising. Jean was never one to follow news regarding the entertainment industry. But before he heard the rest of the explanation, for just a moment, Jean thought that Quentin might have been some sort of superstar. Having someone famous visit and enjoy your food was great. Knowing someone famous and having connections was even better. Nonetheless, famous or not, Jean would be lying if he said he didn't like Quentin. He did and felt compelled to keep him, if only as a customer.
Jean pulled his own phone out of his pocket and looked at the numbers he had just received. "Disneyland, hmmm?" I've been to the Disneyland in Paris but not the one here," Jean murmured. He doubted that they could be very different but it never hurt to visit. Baking is an art and inspiration could come from anywhere. And even he had to admit that some of the restaurants there provided world class cooking.
Without looking up from his phone, Jean continued. "Being a magician sounds like fun. I'm sure you must be skilled." He looked up from the screen. "You know, now that I think about it, you do bear similarities to Cyril Takayama. Have you heard of him?"
"Anyway thank you for this," Jean gestured to his phone. "I'll be sure to give them a call when I get the chance."
"I didn't ski. Although I did try my hand at snowboarding a bit. I never was good at sports but I can manage to get down a slope at least," he chuckled. "When you grow up in Taiwan, you're lucky if you see snow on the mountains. To see that much snow at once was a bit overwhelming I must admit. I'm sure you'll do just fine on the slopes."
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Post by QUENTIN CHOU on Jul 26, 2013 15:53:07 GMT -8
tagged: terr time: 2nd May, 4 pm. speech: quentin. notes: super pink table go! The other man's offer of baguettes and churros was momentarily forgotten as Quentin quirked a smile. He was genuinely finding himself interested in this other man-- the conversation seemed to flow freely, with little force and little prodding. A few guiding questions and they were already in quite a natural cycle of chatting, information being thrown back and forth with the ease you would expect from old friends. Jean was a charming man, yes, which also made him somewhat dangerous.
"Cyril Takayama was one of my early inspirations. As a child I was told that it would be difficult for anyone with Asian blood to succeed in the entertainment industry, though it's good to see that it has now changed. However, he was one of the people who I kept in mind. He made me feel like I could make it." Sure, he hadn't quite gotten there yet, but he was determined to do so: there was a difference between earning enough to live off of, and earning the amount he wished he could have. A lot of people would have to some day choose between practicality and passion, and Quentin sincerely hoped that he would never have to make that decision. "I made a difficult choice, but I'm proud of doing so." The Asian relatives had deemed him stupid, of course, but he hadn't cared about what they thought. Not at all.
"Sports were never my forte either." He was relatively co-ordinated, but he was also lazy. He had preferred to spend his time and energy practicing tricks. "I've heard that snowboarding is harder than skiing however. If you can do the first, you should be able to do the second easily. As for the amount of snow, I can relate. After living in California all my life, my first real winter in Boston was... Something, to say the least." Quentin raised a brow. "Let's just say that there's a reason I moved back here, other than for the industry of course."
They had been talking for a while, much longer than Quentin had anticipated. But there was no reason to stop, not while he was the only man in the store. In a way he felt oddly drawn to this person-- compelled, perhaps, to get to know him. "You should come and see me in Disneyland sometime," Quentin offered. "Magic and baking are both art forms of sorts, so that's something we have in common here."
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JEAN CHANG
Civilian
PASTRY SHOP OWNER
空談燒不出飯菜
Posts: 41
MINI INFO - GENDER: Male
MINI INFO - D.O.B.: 13 NOVEMBER 1986
MINI INFO - OCCUPATION: Pastry Chef
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Post by JEAN CHANG on Aug 19, 2013 21:22:26 GMT -8
Jean found himself enjoying the conversation with Quentin. Jean was still in the process of analyzing him as they talked about random subjects and got to know one another. However, he did admit that he came close to dropping his facade a few times. Jean decided that it would not take long before he would feel completely comfortable around Quentin.
How... odd.
Quentin was quickly becoming a part of Jean's comfort zone and the thought actually put Jean out of his comfort zone. But it was too soon to dismiss this man. He would not do anything until he was sure and at the present, there were too many variables to be considered before he would actually start distancing himself from Quentin.
"I understand, truly I do," Jean responded empathetically. His baking aspirations had created a big divide in his family over whether or not it was a viable option for him. He didn't even want to think about what would happen if he came out as gay to his family. "The traditional Asian family and upbringing leaves the newest generations in a difficult position. The merging of the Western world and the Eastern world causes many conflicts. I remember how much I fought with my parents just to be able to go into the baking industry. I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to disown me for being gay." He sighed. "But the strict upbringing does have it's positives, no?"
Jean smiled at Quentin's offer to go see him at Disneyland. It was a kind offer but one that Jean was sure to reject. He did like this man but he did not feel like spending an outrageous amount of money to get into a park where he would spend the day alone. Yet, anyway... It was one of the many reasons Jean gave himself to avoid going to the park. To this day, Jean has never been to Disneyland and probably wouldn't go unless he had a very good reason. For example, if he was closer to this person or actually had a need to go to Disneyland, he might actually be inclined to pay the park a visit. But at the present, the answer was going to be no. "I appreciate the offer but I have too much work and too little free time at the moment. Though, it would be a pleasure to see you perform someday. Perhaps at a future date, yeah?"
"But I must agree, baking and magic are both arts in their own right. They both require imagination and skill to do well. I suppose we are similar in that repsect."
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Post by QUENTIN CHOU on Aug 21, 2013 5:16:44 GMT -8
tagged: terr time: 2nd May, 4 pm. speech: quentin. notes: super pink table go! So he was gay as well, huh? That was convenient. Quentin chalked that down as a mental note. Not that this would be particularly relevant at any point in time, but it was always useful to collect data on others, and one's sexuality was a large part of themselves. Of course as an Asian it would likely be difficult for him to deal with family if he decided to come out to them, but that was an inconvenience that they would all have to deal with at some stage. Quentin's father was largely okay with his children's sexuality, though if Rhiannon brought a girl home he supposed that poor Papa Chou wouldn't be seeing any biological grandchildren any time soon. Sadly not everyone else was as lucky.
"Asian relatives. I can definitely relate," Quentin said, shaking his head. "I think that it's just a clash of generations, really. They blame anything negative on Western influence while we think that they're backward. It's just a result of our upbringing. My parents were okay with my going into what I did, as long as I did a supposedly respectable degree first. My fail-at-life plan is to go into programming." Which was most peoples' dream, at the end of the day, but he wasn't most people. It had been clear from the start that Quentin Chou had wanted to do something else, be something different. And if it meant that he could try to create magic in a mundane world, so be it. "I suppose as someone who grew up with an Asian father but White mother, I got the best of both worlds. I do have to be grateful to my parents for everything they gave me." He made no comment on the other's sexuality, though he did lean in just a little more, ever so subtly. Most wouldn't even have noticed.
"Well, it seems as though we share a lot of common ground." He smiled once again, but this one was different-- less charming, perhaps, but more genuine. "I hope I'm not disturbing you by lingering here for too long? It has been nice talking to you, after all," he said.
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