Tartelettes et Barquettes

The kitchen of the restaurant “Meridian” was cacophonous and filled with the sound of clanging dishes and sauteing meats and vegetables. Madeline “Maddy” Purcell was busy at her station, julienning vegetables for around seven different dishes.

She was dressed in her standard attire for her shift, black pants, a black shirt and a red apron. She was the sort of person you could imagine working in food, she had the air of wanting to take care of people, was slightly chubby and just gave off the impression of enjoying good food. She smiled as she finished on the mushrooms, her wavy blonde hair bouncing as she called out “Mushrooms ready chef!”

This was responded by her coworker Nina dressed nearly identical to her grabbing the plate and taking it to the next section. After a moment there was a male voice calling from deeper within “ETA on veg for the duxelle?”

Maddy was already moving her hands and with her fingers tucked in rapidly bringing her knife down on an onion, “45 seconds chef!”

It was prime time for Meridian, the dinner rush. Meridian was one of those restaurants that was only open for a few hours every day, with a distinct menu for lunch and dinner. The restaurant loved to brag about their farm-to-table produce and made-to-order food. What this translated to was a kitchen that was only open for six total hours, required around eight hours of preparation work, and for four of those hours was a non-stop frenzy of food prep and cooking.

Maddy had started work here just under four years ago, her cousin knew the owner and had been able to set her up with a job washing dishes. Eventually, she received a chance to work on the line, it has been simple things and even now she had just moved up to preparing mise en place and fine chopping. But even so, it had been more than she had ever thought of achieving after she couldn’t afford culinary school anymore.

Someday she dreamed of wearing a proper chef’s jacket and being able to modify and add recipes of her own to the menu, but that was still a long way off. Even so, the thrill she got from working in this kitchen thrilled her.

The hours went by and eventually, the kitchen quieted down. Even after closing, there was so much to be done. Senior members started working on inventory, their bakers were getting the dough ready for tomorrow which left Nina and Maddy sweeping up the kitchen.

Nina had started around the same time as Maddy but was a few years older and had finished culinary school. She kind of took over a mentor role for Maddy even though as far as their roles in the kitchen were concerned there wasn’t much difference. But she would also take the time and explain the gaps in Maddy’s knowledge. Maddy was happy they were sweeping together because it gave them time to chat.

“So uh, you mentioned yesterday you had a date with some guy? How did that go?” Maddy looked over at her friend, her voice quiet.

“Oh yeah, it’s alright I guess, I didn’t feel much of a connection. But you know his dad knows my dad and we’re both single so they had to try I guess?” Nina pushed some debris into the bin

“yeah…I guess I understand…no not really, sorry” Maddy mumbled and Nina rolled her eyes. Maddy was so loud and energetic in the kitchen yet that confidence flew away the moment the topic wasn’t food.

Nina came over with her broom and nudged her “Hey, so still having issues in regards to dating? I know you don’t have much experience but…you should put yourself out there more.”

Maddy frowned, the correct phrasing would be she had no experience in that field. When she was young she hadn’t really considered it, just between how she looked and not wanting to make trouble for her parents. Now…she still doubted her appearance and getting out and meeting someone scared her.

Nina continued “Haven’t seen that guy in awhile either…”

“Which guy?” Maddy’s voice raised a pitch in confusion

“You know the one…he always would make sure to thank you after his meal, came here way too often based on how he was dressed…” Nina rambled off

“...He hasn’t shown up for years.” the blonde mumbled

“Ah! So you do know who I’m talking about!” her mentor smirked and gave her another nudge.

“Yeah but…no it was weird, right? Like he only talked with me and thanked me. That’s weird!” Maddy through out her arms emphatically.

“Not if he liked you…”

“No, no, if he liked me why wouldn’t he like…I dunno do something about it. Maybe he just pitied the chubby girl washing dishes” Maddy pouted

“Jeeze girl you need to ease up on yourself. You’re cute, you’re a hell of a cook, there’s not a guy who wouldn’t be lucky to date you. Hell I’d snatch you up if I wasn’t tragically straight” Nina posed dramatically throwing her hand over her face as Maddy got increasingly flustered.

“I…uh…I, I don’t know if” she stammered and Nina threw a washcloth over her face

“Calm down goldilocks, it was a joke. But seriously you should have more faith in yourself.” She paused “We’re about done, why don’t you head home and think about what I said?”

Maddy gingerly put her broom away and then shuffled off, “She makes it sound so easy, but I know what guys like and it’s not…me”

Arriving at home Maddy threw her apron onto the table and walked over to a large jar filled with pinecones and water. She leaned in and rubbed her face against it as she burped the lid “Oh mugolio, you’re the longest relationship I’ve had and you’re rotting…in a good way of course” She smiled slightly, she had fermenting these pinecones to make her own pine syrup for almost a month now and soon it would be time to reap the rewards.

She teetered over to her couch and laid down feeling the exhaustion of the day overtake her. Nina was always so nice to her, her parents were proud of her and she loved her job at Meridian. She had every reason in the world to be happy. So why did being alone here in the dark hurt so much?

She closed her eyes and let herself cry a little as the world went dark.

She found herself hunched over, tears still glistening in her eyes as a bright light shone down on her. She was on some sort of stage, she could gather that much. Some sort of dream? A stress-induced hallucination? Her thoughts were cut short by a voice coming from next to her which made it evident that a tall man was floating in the air beside her and she let off a small shriek.

Lucian cleared his throat “Entering now is contestant number six, Madeline Purcell! Now not to offer spoilers but her and her next contestant share the distinct pleasure of being stalked by our young master.”

Caleb groaned “I didn’t…stalk them”

“Followed them to their workplaces because you wanted to ask them out but never could? Sure, alright fine, not stalking. Would you prefer tailing?”

Caleb crossed his arms and then put his head down clear that he was not going to make himself look any better here.

Reyna tugged on Lucian's coat tails “Lucy…the introduction”

The demon’s temper flared and flames licked at the edge of his fingertips “I was getting to that!-Ahem, now dear why don’t you introduce yourself to our lovely audience?”

Despite the terror at clearly having been **** by a madman, Maddy found herself compelled and smiled, tears still in her eyes “Uh Hello! My name is Madeline Purcell, though my friends call me Maddy. I um…I’m a line cook at the restaurant Meridian where I have been working for around four years. I don’t…really know the Master but he used to come to the restaurant and thank me after he was done his meal if he saw me…it was a little strange sorry,” Caleb sunk further into his chair “,Oh and I’m a virgin, I’ve never dated anyone before.” Her face reddened at the final admission.

As she finished Lucian brushed Reyna off and glared down at her “Take her to her seat please”

Ignoring or ignorant of the host's anger, Reyna smiled brightly as she flounced over to Maddy and wrapped her arm around hers “Right this way dearie”

Heaving a large sigh Lucian looked back out “We’re down to the final two, the anticipation is killing me! Next on our list- Stella Vincent!”