THE PIE HOLE

[xxii_thefool]

WHO: Minako Arisato, Lancer, Kanaya, and YOU, plus appearances by Archer.
WHERE: The Pie Hole pie restaurant and bakeshop.
WHEN: October 1-31
WARNINGS: It could vary, though not too high please.
SUMMARY: This log is forever open to fraternize, socialize, and otherwise eat pie in Ned's restaurant. If you would like to make your thread closed to a specific person (be Minako or another character) put their name in the subject line. If your thread is open, a server will be with you shortly. Feel free to tag other open threads or eat with strangers too! Anything goes.

Increasingly throughout the month, the Pie Hole will be decorated for Halloween! All day on the 31st there will be candy apples and popcorn balls behind the counter for trick-or-treaters and anyone else adventurous enough to come in wearing a Halloween costume.



MENU


whole pies or by-the-slice
apple apple ......................................................... your traditional apple pie
appleberry ......................................................... a delicious blend of apple and fresh berries
banana cream ......................................................... fresh ripe bananas and whipped vanilla cream
black cherry temptation ................................. for those who might enjoy a darker spin on a classic
blueberry skies forever ......................................................... the freshest picked blueberries
cherry creme fraishe cherry cream ................................. cherries and creme fraishe double layered
coconut custard ......................................................... a tropical and perfectly creamy smooth custard
double-shot espresso ................................ also known as "The Mitch" - always available in dairy and/or gluten free as well as traditional
key lime to your heart ......................................................... key lime pie served with fresh strawberries
lemon meringue ......................................................... your traditional lemon meringue, whipped to perfection
melt-in-your-mouth mince ........................................ a festive mix of raisins, rum, apples and spices
over the moon pie ......................................................... chocolate fudge cream pie
peach melba ......................................................... peach pie served with fresh raspberries and sliced almonds on top
pearway to heaven ......................................................... pear pie with gruyere cheese baked into the crust
pecan pecan ......................................................... your traditional pecan pie
strawberry fields ......................................................... the freshest picked strawberries, served with a mint leaf
three plum ......................................................... a lusciously layered plum tart
tripleberry ......................................................... the freshest blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries in one pie

cup-pies
berry petite ........................... the smallest pie often packs the most flavor. this tiny selection is overflowing with fresh, seasonal berries
brownie sundae ......................................................... brownie, white chocolate mousse and chocolate with hot fudge and almonds on top
cocoa coffee ......................................................... layers of brownie, chocolate mouse and chocolate ganache
coconut chocolate cream ......................................................... coconut and rich vanilla, topped with chocolate fudge
key lime ......................................................... creamy key lime in a graham cracker crust
lemon cream cheese ......................................................... lemon tart with a cream cheese topping
pecan ......................................................... carmelized pecans in a luscious filling
lemon raspberry ......................................................... raspberry vanilla, creamy lemon, raspberry lady fingers and lemon mousse
vanilla bean ......................................................... layers of vanilla cream, vanilla mousse and whipped cream


gluten-free dairy-free vegan options
made with an almond crust unless otherwise specified. available as whole pie or by-the-slice.

almond creme dream ................... slivered and crushed almonds in a cocoa custard
apple brown betty ..................... a traditional apple with heaps of brown sugar
black current cobbler ................... fresh black currents with a gluten-free cracker crumble
coconut decadence ........................... a light whipped coconut custard served in a coconut crust with a candied lime on top
double-shot espresso shot ............................ also known as "the Mitch" and inspired by our fair mayor. this pie is loaded with antioxidants and CAFFEINE. also available in decaf
tart date and cashew tart ............. fresh cashews, dates, and cranberries toasted in blue agave
not-so-traditional key lime ................... some like it sweet, but this one's a little sour
even-less-so lemon meringue ............... how did he make this without cream, it's a mystery

SPECIALS
available all month long as whole pie, cup-pie, or by-the-slice

toffee apple ......................... a festive, candy-laced twist on the old classic
autumn pumpkin .......................... spiced to perfection (jack-o-lantern decoration optional - ask Minako!)
chestnut cream ............................ smooth cream filling made with roasted chestnuts

SOUPS
available all month, two different soup choices per day. served with (optional) grilled cheese/cheez of your choosing.

Comments

[retropolis]

[ It's not like he likes it or anything!! u///u

He purses his lips slightly, looking at her curiously. That's the first time he's heard someone actually agree with his intention. It's a little uncomfortable, yes, that it's this teenage girl (what does that even say?) but there's something reassuring that someone else understands. ]

I do know. Um... yes, and I think you're right. Not everyone's story ends the way they planned it, there's something to be said for making sure you're with the people you want to be. [ A pause. ] I mean when it comes to romance. In a novel.

[glowsferatu]

And there was a somewhat hopeful note at the end, wasn't there? I mean, it can certainly look depressing if you're only examining the events from some general cultural standard of death, but...they did, didn't they? Reunite, I mean.

There was a chance, at least, and that can't be all bad. What else would Nora have left otherwise?

[ it may be a bit of a red flag to have kanaya be the one to understand it, given her own history. but he wouldn't know about any of that, which is probably the only reason she could talk openly about this without him freaking out on her. ]

[retropolis]

[ He nods absently, but in agreement. Still -- best to be careful. While it's concerning, it's not quite alarming enough at this point, given that they're discussing a work of fiction. Still. He knows to tread lightly. ]

From what I can tell, it sounds like it was meant to be a happy ending. As much as the characters could ask for, that is -- or, um, deserved. I'm sure if she were real she would find something else to live for. [ Maybe. ] In books everything's allowed to be simpler.

[glowsferatu]

Mm. Eventually, I'm sure.

[ she silences herself with a bite of pie before she can say something stupid like "though sometimes you just have to die first to find it." ]

I suppose it must be very different when death still means something, when it has that permanence we don't often face anymore.

[retropolis]

In one way.

[ He takes the moment of silence to take a bite himself, as well as a sip of coffee. He's a little less tense, though not quite crossing the line into "wistful" yet. ]

On the other hand, no matter how long dead a person is, that might not always be the case around here. Even if it's only here that you might get to see them again. I think that's a little hopeful. Though -- also unsettling.

[glowsferatu]

[ she lets out a long, frustrated hum, shaking her head. ]

They won't always see it that way. And I can't entirely blame them, how would you feel to learn you have only death ahead in your future?

[retropolis]

[ His eyebrows raise slightly. It's a good question; all Nelson knows of his future is that the Crimebusters fail, because it was also his present. How does Hooded Justice feel?

Angry. ]

... If it were an accident I'd wonder if this was supposed to be some kind of fresh opportunity. A new start, maybe. As hopeless as the future might seem at times, you can at least make the most of the present.

[glowsferatu]

[ which is how kanaya wishes nepeta could take it, that she wasn't so intent on them no longer being friends just because there's nothing that can be done to change her future.

kanaya at least wanted to see her avenged, but she had no success executing it. but that doesn't mean she never cared. ]

And what if it isn't an accident?

[retropolis]

Well...

[ It isn't murder that comes to Nelson's mind first, but rather the other thing. His eyebrows furrow, lips pursing a little tightly. ]

Then I guess it might be a disappointment.

[glowsferatu]

Now there's an understatement if ever one was made.

[ she doesn't want to get into the details of her nepeta problems, they don't really have a solution and the whole discussion's taken a more serious turn than she intended. all the same, he seems to understand a bit more than she would have expected. ]

They may get the wrong idea, start thinking there's something to do to prevent it.

[retropolis]

[ He blinks, looking at Kanaya in mild surprise and silence. She's talking about something (someone?) else, he knows, but it's eerie how much of what she says is exactly Hooded Justice's situation. ]

Better that than taking it out on the people close to them. At least a little hope does a person no harm in that area, from what I hear... it doesn't matter what happens here once you go back. Assuming that you ever do.

[glowsferatu]

[ future dead people, they all have problems. sometimes a young girl will have them the exact same way a middle-aged man will. ]

Yes, but trying to make them to understand that isn't as easy as that fact is immutable. And then they start taking it out on those same people.

It isn't any better at all.

[retropolis]

[ It's kind of awkward, isn't it... pretty much dropping (most) pretenses: ]

But just what are you supposed to do if they're that stubborn about it? [ Hell if he's solved this. ] No matter what you say they've still convinced themselves of the opposite, it's like you may as well be talking to the radio for all the good it does.

That's the worst part, being powerless in the fact of what they've convinced themselves of.

[glowsferatu]

[ at least the radio sings to you while it's at it. ]

I'd love to give you an answer to that, but I've yet to find it myself. In my experience, they'll only make you the villain for being honest about the reality of the situation, and then they won't talk to you at all.

[retropolis]

[ He does like the radio. It's good company even if it can't hold conversations with you. He sighs. ]

If anything I should be the one of us to have the answer. I'm more than halfway through life and I still feel like half the time I don't understand what it takes to please the people I'm closest with. I may just have poor taste in... friends.

[glowsferatu]

[ that's a slightly distressing thought, she'd hate to get to his age and find that her life is pretty much the same issues over three times the period. though she's also thinking more of the last three than the thirteen before it. ]

I don't know that friendships are the sort of thing you really choose. They just happen, and circumstances between each determine whether they strengthen or...fizzle.

It's rarely the ones you want to keep that remain.

[retropolis]

[ Does this mean Kanaya has adult problems or that Nelson has teenager problems, is the biggest question. He leans his chin on his palm, taking another careful bite of his pie. ]

And often the people you don't want kept in your life are the ones that can stick around longest.

[ Or outlive you, in the case of Eddie Blake. ]

Well -- not across the board, of course. Some people have better luck with that sort of thing.

[glowsferatu]

[ she shakes her head, knowing the feeling all too well. but she's never had very good luck to begin with. ]

No, I know exactly what you mean. Even when you've cut them out of it as literally as one possibly could, somehow they seem to latch onto your life and never release themselves. Like one of those aquatic things, the ones with all the teeth.

[ she pauses, her eyes rolling upward. ] Lamprey, or maybe it was Remora. The second sounds frightfully appropriate.

[retropolis]

Like a leech?

[ He smirks a little. ]

I was thinking of something more like a shadow. Or, you know, a bad habit. But it also reminds you what to look for, right? And what to avoid.

[glowsferatu]

No, a leech is a hemophage, [ ~* her kin *~ ] and not always aquatic. I think it's definitely one of those fish.

But I...suppose I know what you mean. It even works in some cases, when the signs and parallels are strongest. With others, I can't help thinking the only common pattern is me.

[retropolis]

Well -- yes, of course you'll be a common pattern in your own relationships. Whatever exactly that means usually still has a lot to do with circumstances. Sometimes they're more spontaneous than anyone can predict, for better or worse.

You just have to try your best.

[glowsferatu]

You shouldn't give it any less, but...what I mean is that sometimes we may be the common element bringing them to that inevitable ruin. Maybe it isn't the other person's fault at all.

Well, not completely, at least.

[retropolis]

[ He frowns again, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. It's a little too close to home. ]

I have a hard time picturing what sort of common element could make that possible.

[glowsferatu]

That may be a failure of imagination. [ or just a less potent self loathing. ] What I mean is that when things sour with people, we always tend to think on how awful they are for bringing it to that point, but what if they aren't the ones who were ever awful? What if it was us all along?

[retropolis]

[ Just a lot of denial to accept responsibility. He bristles a bit. ]

Maybe that happens sometimes. The few good people I know that are still alive I've managed to keep on good terms with.

[ His frown tightens for a moment then relaxes a bit, along with his shoulders. He admits: ]

... It was different when I was younger. I just didn't understand what the problem was, back then.