Re: thursday business (open)

by **Akuji** Fri Aug 10, 2012 1:34 am

"You don't really look like a cookie person. Is it for, you know?" Kier questioned. Akuji closed her eyes and took a breath. She didn’t want to dwell too much on her past. She already told herself a million times that she had to let go.

“Do I really have to look like a cookie person to buy cookies?” She replied blinking her eyes open. She hoped he didn’t realize that she dodged the question, but turned to see that he was already stuffing his face with pie. She looked back up at the counter and took the cake.

"Cookies for here or to go?” the cashier asked.

“To go, please.” Akuji took the cake and spotted a man in the corner of the store that didn’t seem to be there earlier. She took no note of it and went to join Kier. He looked like he was really enjoying the peach pie. Of course he would, she thought, everything here is good.

She took a bite of her cake and this time she really couldn’t help but let herself reminiscence about the good times.

by **Kier** Fri Aug 10, 2012 2:42 am

Swallowing the last of the first slice, Kier looked up at Akuji again. He shouldn't have brought up her sister in such a public place, especially when he himself would hate it if anyone brought up his past. They all wanted to move on without being reminded about their...mistakes. He was grateful that the cashier didn't pry though.

"Want some?" He slid his plate over to the blue-haired female. "It's really good~" With his fork still hanging in his mouth, he turned to watch the hooded guy order. He couldn't hear what the guy said, God he spoke so softly, but his body language showed his discomfort. When he had walked in, Kier caught sight of a shock of ice blue behind the customer's bangs. The color was brighter than Akuji's hair.

"So many Harbingers here. Not that I'm complaining." He thought it was nice that there were so many outcasts here, even the reclusive-looking ones that look like they'd rather not be out during the day. "Must be because of the food," he joked. But he knew, it was the store owner that created such a comforting place. And of course, the pie.

by **Akuji** Fri Aug 10, 2012 3:22 am

Kier’s voice cut through her thoughts like glass. Rolling her eyes, she declined the peach pie and continued to consume her own pastry. Forkful still in his mouth, his eyes were watching the silent man she had passed earlier.

"So many Harbingers here. Not that I'm complaining. Must be because of the food,” said Kier, who was obviously joking. Akuji could feel her eyes roll once again. She never had much of a problem with harbingers. More than 3/4th of the population feared them, but their presence never seemed to scare her. In a way, they were kind of like her. They were just lonely people who gone through many hardships and pain.

Sure, there were harbingers that couldn’t control their powers, but she knew that it wouldn’t have mattered to Keaira. Her sister would have done anything to befriend them. It was what she was the best at, comforting others.

"Just shut up and eat your pie," she sighed.

by **Fye** Fri Aug 10, 2012 11:39 am

A silent nod was his only acknowledgement of her request; he bent to fetch a small box from underneath the counter, assembling it the same way he had for the covered girl earlier, before lining it with wax paper and placing a baker's dozen of butterfly cookies inside--closing it up, he taped it shut, setting it on the counter next to her plate of buttercream cake, and rang her up.

As she walked away, he turned his attention to his newest customer... though he was... a bit quiet. Fye bent a little, tilting his head in his direction, processing the request, eyes fastened on the boy, before straightening and replying, "Ten cents for a slice, 3 credits for a half-loaf, 5 for a full loaf. How much?"

by **Tora** Fri Aug 10, 2012 2:40 pm

A moment’s hesitation to decide; “Just a couple slices thank you.” He raised his volume this time since the baker was straining to hear him. God, it was just simple ordering why couldn’t he even do that right. “So many Harbingers here…"

That snippet of the conversation finally urged him to give a glance around. While taking out a crumpled bill, the accusing bright irises were indeed everywhere; Except for the blue haired girl who seemed partially exasperated by the one who was stuffing his face with food. Strangely, the discovery of Trevor being in a room full of people like him just made the socially-awkward male want to get out even quicker.

by **Fye** Fri Aug 10, 2012 4:35 pm

The blond nodded once in response, reaching below the counter to fetch another plate as well as a bread knife, stepping out from behind the counter to cross the room to the display case that held the loaves of bread, selecting one and cutting two slices before returning to his usual place behind the counter, brushing crumbs off of his apron.

He set the plate down on the counter and rang up the boy, accepting the bill and returning a handful of change as well as a receipt, nodding a little further down the counter at a few toasters sitting on the stone surface. "If you want."

As the boy moved away, Fye slipped out from behind the counter again, picking up discarded plates and wiping down tables, before returning to his seat, picking up the car magazine again and keeping a weather eye on the patrons of his shop.

by **Tora** Fri Aug 10, 2012 4:48 pm

He pocketed the change and ignored the plate, just picking up the two slices in his hands and tearing off a small piece from one to place in his mouth. Glad the blonde haired store owner wasn’t pressing him for a conversation. Trevor walked in a round-about way to avoid walking through the other two customers, leaving as silently as he came in. Exiting and casually tearing off small chunks of and eating them. It tasted good and the food was cheap. He made a note to try and come there again despite the metro cost and the distance to travel.

by **Kier** Fri Aug 10, 2012 8:24 pm

As the hooded man left, Kier polished off his pie. He got up to leave but not before asking Akuji, "So, want to come with? I've got time to kill." Despite being so serious, she was never boring and she certainly knew her way around this area better than he did. He gave her a smile and headed for the door without waiting for the blue-haired woman to reply. And then stopped.

"Thanks again for the pie. I can't remember the last time I had such good food," he said, walking back up to the register. "Also, do you make any mango-type cakes, or pies, or cookies, or some other sort of pastry?" He just needed to know that one last thing before he left. Oh right, one more thing too. "Do you normally get this many Harbingers?" He was starting to sound like a kid again, but he just wanted to see. It'd be nice to find more places that didn't discriminate and hate on his kind.

After he got his answers, he'd be out.

by **Fye** Fri Aug 10, 2012 11:11 pm

Fye turned a page, looking up occasionally and nodding goodbye to familiar customers before returning to his magazine; eventually though, there was the scrape of chairs and a voice directed at him. Fye looked up from the pages to meet the eyes of the loud redheaded Harbinger from earlier; with a quick glance at the rest of the store, he realized that the three of them were the only people left at this point.

"Thanks again for the pie. I can't remember the last time I had such good food. Also, do you make any mango-type cakes, or pies, or cookies, or some other sort of pastry?"

Fye held perfectly still for a moment, eyes unfocusing as he thought, and then replied, "Mango tart."

"Do you normally get this many Harbingers?"

In response to Kier's question, Fye raised one finger to tap below his right eye, indicating it's clearly abnormal, cat-slit nature, as well as its vibrant color. "I keep the place welcome," he said simply.

by **Akuji** Sat Aug 11, 2012 12:02 am

Taking the last bite of her cake, Akuji wiped her mouth with a napkin and followed Kier to the counter where she picked up the cookies and paid her bill. She turned back to the door to wait for Kier. She wasn’t really interested in their conversation about mangoes although the word harbingers did make her ears perk up.

Well, the bakery had been storming with many of them that particular day. It was probably in Kier’s nature to be so curious about such things. Sometimes she would almost forget that he was a harbinger himself. His outgoing personality always kept her entertained.

"I keep the place welcome," she heard the baker's voice say.

“Kier, let’s go.” Akuji didn't think it was in his place to pry. The blue haired woman opened the door and nodded a goodbye to the man behind the counter.

Hearing the light chimes once more, she thought to herself, Maybe I’ll come back again.

Spoiler:

by **Kier** Sat Aug 11, 2012 12:42 am

His eyes probably brightened at least two shades when the cashier told him about the mango tart. He would definitely come back soon for it. Watching the blonde gesture towards his own blue-green eyes, Kier couldn't help but laugh.

Smiling, Kier gave one more thanks before heading to the door after Akuji. He felt the warm air as soon as he stepped outside, door closing behind him. This District suddenly didn't seem so bad.

"I keep the place welcome."

The baker's line made his day, which couldn't possibly get any worse now. With the sun steadily setting, warm hues of red to yellow filled the sky. Under the orange light, he caught up to Akuji and pestered her for a cookie.

by **Fye** Sat Aug 11, 2012 12:59 am

Fye smirked once at Kier's enthusiasm and his loud laugh, watching he and the blue-haired girl leave the bakery--he had a feeling at least one of them would come back eventually--and then turned his attention back to his magazine. The rest of the day was slow, people trickling in and out after the lunch rush hour, and eventually the clock on the wall ticked to six.

Fye had tidied up the place, taken in plates and washed some, turned on the lights, swept the floor and straightened chairs. Sometimes he got some people coming in after dinner, looking for dessert or doing late-night shopping, and it was best to have things nice--if nothing else, it would save him the work when it came to closing time.

He seated himself back behind the counter again, this time with a sandwich and another book, having gone through the car magazine.

by **Flara** Sat Aug 11, 2012 1:26 am

After aimlessly roaming the streets for another couple hours (and occasionally checking her phone for the time), six o' clock came and Flara headed back to the bakery. When she poked her head through the door, she was relieved that there wasn’t any other customers− though it was mostly Kier that she didn’t want to see.

Flara entered the shop and surveyed the menu. She wanted to try something else because she had to take advantage of being able to afford pastries and desserts. The girl took a short moment to decide what to get before walking up to the cashier (who was reading again).

“I would like a loaf of butter bread, and a slice of butter cream cake for here, please." Flara glanced at the menu again before adding, "And a loaf of sourdough bread to go.”

Yes, she was going to eat a whole loaf. Screw saving money; Flara could earn more.

by **Fye** Sat Aug 11, 2012 1:49 am

At the jingling of the shop bell, Fye glanced up from the diagram of a circuit in his book, spotting the girl from earlier.... he raised a single eyebrow, but declined to comment, instead sitting quietly until she came up to the counter and placed her order--upon which he moved, rising up from his chair to take out a plate and a small tray from below the counter.

The slice of buttercream cake went on one, and Fye stepped out from behind the counter to fetch the butterbread loaf, returning and placing it and a breadknife on the counter next to the slice of cake, ringing the girl up: "Eleven twenty-five."

Once she paid and he traded her money for a receipt, he reached below the counter once again to assemble a loaf-shaped box, lining it with wax paper and moving back to the bread display case to place a sourdough loaf inside, taping it up and leaving it on the counter for the girl to pick up when she returned. He was actually slightly intrigued, curious if she was planning on eating the entire butterbread loaf in one sitting, but didn't visibly show it, instead picking up his book and finishing another quarter of his sandwich.

by **Flara** Sat Aug 11, 2012 2:33 am

Flara waited a moment for the man to get her order. When she received the food, the girl paid and took a seat, near the cash register this time. It’s not like the sun was bright enough for light to come in anymore (which was the reason Flara had sat there earlier) but it was still too early for the stars to come out.

The female ate her loaf of butter bread slowly so that she could savor the taste. It was the best bread that she’d ever eaten, though she shouldn’t have been surprised considering how amazing the meat buns and pie tasted. The two people ate in silence; the only voices in the store came from the radio.

Flara finished the last bit of her bread and was about to start on the cake when she was suddenly aware of the awkward silence. After a few seconds of just sitting there, she decided that she would say something to break the still atmosphere.

“Sooo,” the girl started.

What was there to say? …Nothing, really. But Flara didn’t really like feeling in the air. Something popped into her mind and came out of her mouth before she even thought about it.

“Sorry about the disruption in here earlier.”

Um, wait, what?

by **Fye** Sat Aug 11, 2012 5:19 pm

The silence he was fine with--it wasn't nearly as oppressive as the tension of waiting, and the radio served as company enough, music loud enough to be heard but not loud enough to mask the sounds of movement (once a fighter, always a fighter)--when the girl who'd come in actually said something.

He glanced up from the diagram of a circuit breaker in his book, just a flicker of his eyes, and stared at her as if echoing her 'So...?', utterly nonverbal. She continued.

“Sorry about the disruption in here earlier.”

He held her gaze for a moment longer, then returned to his book. "I don't need the apology. Say it to the right people."

by **Flara** Sat Aug 11, 2012 7:35 pm

Wait, it’s not like I should really be apologizing to him…

"I don't need the apology. Say it to the right people."

And, there. The guy practically voiced her thoughts. There was nothing else for Flara to say so she dug into her butter cake (which was delicious like everything else this bakery sold). Apparently, talking didn’t really help the mood at all.

Flara ate her cake bit by bit because she wanted to savor the taste of that too. She did eat slightly faster than earlier, though, because it felt awkward to be in such a still area. The girl was more used to the busy bustling streets (filled with homeless people) that formed the South District. The radio definitely did not make enough noise to compare to that.

After finishing her slice of cake, Flara got out of her seat and retrieved her sourdough bread on the counter. “I’ll be going now,” she directed to the man as she turned to leave the bakery. Flara could hear a faint sound of the bell tinkling behind her when she closed the door. On second thought, maybe coming here for dinner wasn't such a great idea.

by **Fye** Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:10 pm

Evidently the girl didn't have anything else to say after that; she finished her cake and came up to fetch her loaf from him, Fye giving her a nod as she spoke to him, watching her leave before turning back to his book and finishing his sandwich.

The rest of the night passed uneventfully, Fye serving a few other people as they purchased cake or cookies, one man even coming to pick up a cake he'd custom-ordered from the blond for his anniversary, but soon enough seven o' clock rolled around and it was time for the Emberwheat Bakery to close shop.

He tidied up the place, sweeping the floors and collecting all the unsold baked goods, turning off the lights in the front and locking the door, turning the sign to 'Closed' before taking the load of dishes from the day back to the kitchen, and coming back out to fetch the rest of the bread. Rummaging in the cupboard, he took out an old-fashioned storm lantern, one of the ones that still ran on oil, checked the level of liquid inside before lighting it with a gentle huff of breath, unlocking the kitchen's side door and reaching up to hang it above the door on a metal hook. It was a sort of signal for those who knew in the area--if the light is on, Fye has food. This space is welcome.

The Harbinger started washing dishes as he waited, a cigarette hanging from his lip--if anyone needed anything, they would knock.

by **Asche** Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:09 pm

Asche was out of breath. She told her grandpa that she was going to be back by supper. I’m probably going to make him worry again. After all the failed salvage trips, she was determined to find something today so she hadn’t realized how late it had gotten. Asche had decided to take a short cut through the districts by cutting through back alleys and side alleys all the way to the closest Metro station.

At first she broke into a sprint. Just up ahead, she noticed a lantern lit at the side of a door. The light it gave off seemed different. She then slowly started into a jog. She was desperately trying to catch her breath and stopped to observe the lamp. It’s not electric. It’s not like the electric street lamps that she always sees. The lamp was old and it ran on oil. She smiled. It gave a warm comforting feeling. “Old and comforting, just like grandpa.” Asche murmured and gave a small, exhausted chuckle.

by **Fye** Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:50 pm

Despite the gentle clatter of the dishes as Fye washed, he heard the mumbled sentence spoken outside--the voice sounded female, young, and tired. Taking his hands out of the sinkwater, shaking off the drops before reaching for a dishrag and drying them off, the blond went to the door, taking hold of the knob and gently opening the door: sometimes, especially if they were new, those that came to his door were skittish, easily frightened off. The least he could do was be quiet and slow.

He opened the side door, not too fast, but enough to be deliberate, and poked his head out into the alley, looking around until his eyes landed on the small, female figure lingering in the pool of light from the lantern. He considered her for a moment... and then smiled. "Hungry? he asked simply.

by **Asche** Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:47 pm

Asche closed her eyes basking in the warmth of the light. She decided to take a breather. She started to relax and felt her own heartbeat in the process. It began to steady, but quickly sped up again when she heard a low voice. "Hungry? Asche stared at the blonde floating head that was poking out of the door. Sweet aromas escaped from behind the man, but Asche was more focused on how high the head was from the floor and pictured the tall blonde. She didn't realize the colour of his eye until later.

I need to get back home. I don’t really have time for this. If I run, will he follow me? If he does, I don’t think I can out-run him. The leg difference is massive. Asche began weighing her options. Maybe it wasn’t the best decision to run around in unknown alleys, but she wanted to get back home right away. She decided to explain it to the person. The sweet aroma and comforting light hardly made him scary, but she was still cautious.

“Um… grandpa’s waiting at home with-” Suddenly, she heard a loud rumbling noise and looked around to see where the noise had come from. She realized the rumbling noise came her small body and she blushed. She hadn't eaten anything since lunch.

by **Fye** Sun Aug 12, 2012 12:56 pm

Fye deadpanned at her, silent as she stammered out something about a grandfather, and then couldn't hold the blank expression any longer as her stomach rumbled: the straight face gave away to an amused grin. "Hold on."

He ducked back into the kitchen for a moment, opening a cupboard to grab out a paper sack, small and waxed, placing about ten butterfly cookies inside it, folding over the top before opening the door again, stepping fully outside this time and offering the bag to the girl. "Cookies. They're leftover. Better hurry; be careful. Don't make your grandpa worry." The sentences were practically a speech by Fye's usual standard, but he couldn't pretend he hadn't heard anything. He entertained the thought of walking her home, but with the way she'd looked at him earlier, he thought that this act of kindness was probably pushing it. He'd be asking for a kick to the balls if he pushed.

by **Asche** Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:40 pm

Asche stood there waiting without moving even a single step. She really needed to get going , but she decided to wait. The man quickly came back just as he left and this time he was holding a small, waxed back, but this time he stepped outside leaving the door open. She saw a glimpse of an oven when the man said, "Cookies. They're leftover. Better hurry; be careful. Don't make your grandpa worry." He was offering the bag to her. As a reflex, she stepped back a bit. Asche gave him a quick glance. A Harbinger? Asche thought deeply of his gesture. He seemed sincere but Asche didn’t like the thought of accepting food from strangers even if they were as tempting as cookies.

By piecing together the sweet aroma from before and the oven, she assumed the man had to be a baker of some sort due. Were the cookies that he was about to give him rejects? Either way, she had planned to tell the man that she wouldn’t be as foolish to accept cookies from strangers like Hansel and Gretel, but, as always, the words that come out aren’t the ones she thought of, especially when she communicates to strangers. “Accepting cookies from strangers, Hansel and Gretel are foolish.”

by **Fye** Mon Aug 13, 2012 12:35 pm

He raised an eyebrow at that, curious, but replied after a second, "Hansel and Gretel win in the end." Fye paused, utterly still on the step as he considered the best way to convey his intentions, then settled for, "I'm the owner of this bakery. These are leftovers from the business day. I can't sell them anymore, and it's too much for me to eat. I give them to people who come to my door." He tilted his head to the side, a curiously serpentine motion, cat-slit eyes widening and then slitting again as they adjusted to the amount of light. "There are no dragons in Hansel and Gretel's story. Only a witch, killed by her own ovens. I mean no harm."

by **Asche** Mon Aug 13, 2012 7:12 pm

Asche was a bit taken back at the thoughtfulness of his answer. She was more surprised in how well he responded to her sentence. A lot of people had laughed or ignored her when she had made mistakes such as the one she had made, but he hadn’t. She gave in and decided that she would accept the cookies, but she wanted to make sure of one thing first.

Asche left the comforting light and ran up the side alley far enough to see the front of the building. Now that she confirmed that he was an actual baker of a bakery, she headed back into the alley and was engulfed in the light of the lantern once again. She wasn’t sure how to say that she’d like to accept the cookies. To prevent another confusing sentence, she extended out her arm, raised her head and made direct eye contact just as her grandfather had taught her, even though she failed at it most of the time, hoping that the man would understand. In addition, she decided to say just one word, “Sorry.”

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