[Comm] Dango 101
With the Cherubmas season in full effect, Darling had little time to relax even if that’s what the holiday was all about. She had to make sure her employees were covered, that catering was taken care of, and most of all: she had to put what she learned with Hops to good use. After her little mixology lesson with the gluttonous bartender, Darling found herself impassioned with new ideas to create for her loyal patrons. Her ideas became so popular that she drew in Succubuns and Cherubuns alike once she was able to incorporate some simple ambrosias through the Heavenly Embassy.
In the late evening, when most of her patrons were gone and the store was a little less busy, she decided to grab a pick-me-up tray of delicious confections from Dan’s Dango Shop, hoping to treat her cafe workers for all their hard work before they took a much needed break for the celebrations. Her working relationship with Dan was cordial, just as it was with the other bakers in Burrowgatory. She appreciated his craft and he respected hers even though they both specialized in different things. Dango was not one of Darling’s strong suits, though she always appreciated the chewy texture and sweet coatings that Dan seemed to lace his with.
She entered the store and much like her own cafe, there were barely any patrons in her at all. She peeked at the glass display next to the register, seeing how almost everything was sold out and only the fake, plastic dangos were all that were left. On the counter behind the register, Darling noticed Dan working away with his hooves, rolling up little balls of sticky dough.
“Darling, thought I’d never see you.” Dan called out, nearly startling the pink sloth bun. She passed the threshold between front-of-house and the register to stand beside him, careful not to let her gaze linger too long on his work in case he didn’t want to share.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were expecting me Dan.” Darling said sheepishly, rubbing her hoof over her limb. “Though, you seem to be busy as usual. Dango?”
He nodded and beckoned her closer with a tilt of his head, to which she easily obliged.
“Dango, our best sellers. I think I’m going to make a batch of strawberry and mitarashi, they’re simple enough. You were supposed to visit a while ago so I could teach you…if anyone’s busy around here, it’s you.” Though his tone sounded flat, there wasn’t any bite in his words. The pink Sloth bun smiled warmly now and stood beside the blue Pride bun, watching him diligently roll the dango into a consistent, perfect size before he poked them through on a skewer.
“May I?” Darling inquired only for Dan to nod. They both knew it was important to practice first hand rather than just observe. She followed his movements, awkward and inexperienced with the sticky rice flour, before it all settled into place. Hers still needed some work but it seemed for her first couple tries, they weren’t too bad.
After she made what she was permitted, she took her batch along with some of Dan’s back stock of dango to take back to her cafe, happy to share a little reprieve doing the one thing she loved the most.
