The enticing aroma of an amalgamation of foods was making Vanna incredibly hungry. As they continued into what she presumed was the market district, stands dedicated to street-foods started to appear by the dozens. Quynh was walking very quickly, and it was difficult to keep up, so she didn't have the chance to indulge in any of the local delicacies.
They had wandered into an outdoor mall, lined with stores of every kind. Clothing, jewelers, hardware, home decor… everything. Vanna assumed the wide variety was due to the fact that it was a port city, so the amount of international goods that travel into and out of it made for good business.
"Where are we going?" Vanna asked. "We haven't run into anything particularly suspicious this entire time, and it has been almost an hour."
"Yes, I know. That's why we're visiting someone of conversance," Quynh answered with a sigh. "He runs a business around here."
Shizuka added, "It's actually quite close, we'll be there in just a few minutes."
Vanna nodded, slightly apprehensive about meeting another person that was affiliated with her new companions. It had definitely not been easy trying to accept the three odd people on even just a fundamental level – adding even more strange people to her list of acquaintances sounded overwhelming. Not that she had much choice in the matter.
They rounded the corner, the sounds of the bustling market square fading behind them, and entered a quaint street lined with restaurants and eateries on both sides. Vanna felt like Quynh was torturing her on purpose, knowing that she hadn't eaten yet.
"We're here," Quynh stated, motioning to the shop that they were standing in front of.
The establishment was built with unpolished stones bricks, which made it stand out amongst the rest of its neighboring buildings. It had large windows lined with well-manicured greenery, and within, Vanna could see delicious baked goods placed inside of a glass display. The front door was wooden with another small window, and it was painted a dark pink.
"A patisserie?" Vanna wondered aloud.
"This is not a patisserie!"
An irritated voice came from behind the three of them, correcting Vanna in an irritated tone. The moment the words were uttered, Shizuka's shoulders slumped and she became visibly deflated. Quynh, Shizuka, and Vanna all turned to face the man who had spoken.
"This is a boulangerie," he said firmly, leaving no room for argument. "It is worlds different from a patisserie. There's a sign right next to you that states it!"
Much to Vanna's surprise, the opinionated stranger was an incredibly beautiful, feminine man. He had long, ocean-blue hair that was tied into a loose bun, and a large flower ornament placed above his right ear. Vanna studied his face with great interest, and was nearly swallowed whole by his enrapturing sapphire eyes.
Despite his rather abrasive remark, his expression was kind. He had plump, red lips that were pulled into a gentle smile, and his eyes were soft as he looked back at her. After a moment, he seemed to have an epiphany, and glanced at Quynh and Shizuka.
"Oh! It's you guys! How wonderful it is to see you both again!" he exclaimed with a gasp, placing the shopping bags he had been holding on the ground before rushing to give the two of them each a hug. The eccentric man then returned his attention to Vanna, and placed one of his hands gently against her cheek, caressing her jaw gently. "Who is the pretty lady you brought with you?"
Quynh's eyebrow twitched in annoyance, but he replied, "It's nice to see you, too. This is Vanna – she's a guardian, too. The phoenix, to be exact."
"Ooh!" the stranger said happily, still staring intently at Vanna. "Which one are you?"
Vanna swallowed uncomfortably. "Um… the Golden Phoenix?"
"Wow! This is my first time meeting one of the phoenixes! I wasn't even alive when your predecessor was," he answered excitedly. He retracted his hand and placed a light kiss on each of her cheeks, then backed up. "I'm Mako Auclair – but I would love it if you just refer to me as Mako. It's lovely to meet you, Miss Vanna."
Vanna felt a heat rush to her face, even burning the tips of her ears. "It's nice to meet you too, Mako."
"Auclair, this is rather urgent," Shizuka stated.
"We're here for business, Auclair," Quynh added with a stern glare.
Mako's expression turned to one of exaggerated sadness, "I've told you to just call me Mako so many times. I wish you would! Calling me by my last name feels so distant."
Quynh didn't grace him with a response, and instead maintained his unfriendly expression.
"Yes, of course you are here for business," Mako pouted, admitting his defeat. "You guys would never visit just to see me. I'm sure you're here about the report I gave you, anyway. Come along, let's head inside."
Vanna took it upon herself to pick up one of Mako's bags to help bring it inside; he had been carrying two armfuls, and she thought it polite to do so. As soon as she did, the boulanger served her a dazzling smile. He grabbed the remainder of his goods and opened the door for the others. The moment they stepped through the doorway, the smell of fresh bread washed over them in a wave.
"So… what exactly is the difference between a patisserie and boulangerie?" Vanna asked as they entered, unable to hide her curiosity.
Shizuka shot Vanna with a glare that nearly froze her on the spot. Her animosity was palpable, and made Vanna question all of her life's decisions… but why was she so angry in the first place?! It wasn't like Vanna had committed a crime.
Mako beamed at Vanna and placed his bags on the counter. "I'm so happy you asked! Go ahead, you can put those down right here. I appreciate your help, by the way."
"It looked heavy." Vanna shook her head dismissively. "It's nothing."
"To answer your question, dearest phoenix," Mako began enthusiastically, emphasizing each word with his hands, "the main difference between a patisserie and a boulangerie is that a boulangerie does not specialize in pastry. Although we do make several kinds of delicious pastries, we don't focus on them. Instead, a boulangerie is essentially a French bakery – but better, of course. I make all of the bread myself, baking fresh batches every morning, and use it to…"
Vanna realized what she had done wrong when his explanation started to stretch longer… and longer…
Quynh and Shizuka both looked murderous, and Vanna remorseful, but it was too late to stop him now. So, they all sat in long-suffering silence for the next half an hour.