[Comm] Mochi Master

After her lesson in dango making, Darling went on a short spree of making just that for a couple days. She wanted to try her very best to mimic the way Dan made his, wondering if the secret was more in the rice flour or if it was in the glaze she would put. She restocked on food dye to make sure her dangos matched the flavors they would eventually become: green for matcha, pink for strawberries, and black for goma. Her batches were small, reserved only for those close in her life, before she made limited batches for her most loyal patrons. She took everyone’s notes and continued to refine it, though her efforts were still not as close as what she tasted at Dan’s.

Refusing to feel discouraged, she made time to visit the confectioner at his shop once again. Darling decided it was best to go before the crystalline canopy brought along morning and before any customers could distract him. It was blistering cold, even for Burrowgatory standards, but she managed to make it to him before tucking away her scarf and hat onto the nearby coat stand. The store filtered in the softest light from outside and from where the pink Sloth bun could see, she was certain she saw the smallest bits of Shibani underneath all his pillows in his pile in another part of the store.

It wasn’t until her eyes adjusted that she saw Dan finishing up setting up the glass displays with dangos he’s made and some out-of-season mochi. The Rosewater mochi at the top row caught her attention, enraptured by its beautiful, delicate design. She’d have to ask him about that after her first request.

“Darling, you’re just in time.” The blue Pride bun cut through her thoughts, catching her off guard as he did some time ago. The pink Sloth bun felt a pit of deja vu in her stomach as she tilted her head, curious as to what she was in time for.

“I am?” She echoed, careful in case she was in any sort of trouble. She doubted it, of course, but it never hurt to be prepared anyway.

He nodded and without another word, walked towards the kitchen while Darling followed in tow, hesitant but curious. She followed him all the way in and stood before what appeared to be a large brown barrel with a smoothed wooden basin atop. Beside it was a large mallet, one that Dan seemed to pick up with relative ease. Darling’s curiosity shifted to nervousness as she hoped that Dan wouldn’t ask her to wield that–even if it was for making whatever tasty confection he was hoping to make.

“I’m going to show you how to make mochi today. The rave is the Holy Holly and Ice Cream mochis, seasonal favorites. I sometimes put out of season ones if I’m able to get the special ingredients for them. Depending on the ingredient, the taste can be a little strange to us but imps love this stuff.”

Darling thought of Cheesecake and Tiramisu at home, remembering the first time she brought home a Rosewater mochi to share between the three of them. She didn’t think much of it at the time, but now that she was on a roll with these sweet treats, she couldn’t help but think how happy it would make her imps if she brought them homemade goodies as well.

“I won’t have to make it with you right now, will I?” She would do just about anything to make a delicious treat but not at Dan’s expense. He shook his head and began pounding away at the mochi before him, tenderizing the mixture until it became that familiar, sticky texture.

“It took me years to get this good. Even then, I can always improve…” Dan muttered after he was done, wiping invisible sweat from his fur. “It’ll take you just as long, if not longer, if your heart isn’t in it…but at least for yourself, you’ll be able to make decent mochi.”

She took some of his words to heart, nodding before she continued to talk shop to him. After she was done, she took some of the mochi he made and thought about how she could be able to make some herself and maybe bring it home for her imps.