The Stray

2-6: The Witch of The... Bakery

Timothy didn't have long to wait. He switched into the jeans V had lent him (and almost more importantly, the belt that would, if cinched tight as possible, maybe keep them up) and a fresh shirt, and waited. Larue bustled back down the stairs smelling delightfully fresh and rosy, with just a hint of a sweet perfume. Her wig was back on, and she was dressed in a pastel pink shirt, blue jeans, and a pale cream apron over the whole thing. She came down tying a pink bandana over her hair. She smiled down at him and got to her knees... where she was still somewhat taller than him. Sheesh.

"Good, you've changed. Here, I had an extra one of these." She slung an apron like her own off her shoulder, and passed it to him. It had a frankly adorable picture of a toony pink dragon flaming a pudding on its front. Was that meant t'be Kate? Timothy stifled a giggle. Then she reached into her breast pocket. "And, well, your eyes are such a pretty red, so I thought this would match. Here, close your eyes."

Timothy squirmed a little at that. She has way easier ways to kill me, though. He couldn't imagine gentle Mama Ashborne strangling him or something, though... so he closed his eyes. Her hands were warm and gentle as she brushed his braids back. Then she draped a cool cloth across his hair, and he felt a little twitch as the cloth was slit to fit his ears. She tied it on with a quick knot. "Here, have a look."

The wolf met his own eyes in a floating hand mirror. He had a bandana to match hers, only in a flower-red color. She'd tied it on real careful, just right to cover his head down to his eyebrows. It was open in the back to let his braids fall around his shoulders. It looked natural, even as it hid the brand mark. The rhino got up all dainty-like, and smiled down at him. "Well, I think you look cute!"

He blushed a little. Still... he focused, and the clan brand flickered to life even through the cloth. Well, all that meant is he had to not light it. Easy. He smiled up at her as the light winked out. "I like it. It's nice not to have to worry 'bout someone seein' stuff they shouldn't." He cast a small spell to stick the bandana down, just in case.

"Peachy!" She patted his head. "Though I think people here'll surprise you if you give us a chance."

He shuddered. The Ashbornes were one thing. For anyone else? Nothin' doing. "Let's not find out."

Mrs. Ashborne smiled gently. "That's alright. I think this will do. You really do look adorable!" The wolf blushed. She giggled. "I'll show you how to tie it on yourself another time. For now, let's get next door!"

———

"Welcome to our bakery!" Larue threw her arm out proudly. "Serving this community for goin' on 23 years!" Timothy took a deep breath. The place smelled like baking bread and delicious sweets. Again, the sheer size of the place was kinda overwhelming: it was built to accommodate large kindre, though he noticed there were chairs high enough for even small kindre to sit at the two tables. Not to mention the number and size of the display areas! There were shelves right in the windows to catch the eyes of folk walkin' by, and a wall shelf behind the counter, and even the counter itself was all glass!

Back home, most of their baking was done at a communal oven, so all this market stuff was foreign to'im. It would be a sight an' a half if they were full... but they weren't. He figured was their job for the morning. "This front room's where we sell and where we store and display fresh bread. In the back's where the magic happens, and where we're gonna work today. Come along, dear."

Timothy followed her into the bakery kitchen, then. Once again, it was huge. It made him think of his mother's smithy, actually. Where the smithy had a forge and anvil, the centerpiece here was a square of ovens stacked two by two at the far wall. Against the other walls, there were two counters, reminding him of the benches and stools used to do detail work; that connection was only stronger for the utensils in cups or hanging on walls, just like tongs and pliers and whatnot. A pair of sinks flanked the ovens, part of each counter, with foot pedals to operate'em. And of course, there were shelves of ingredients, one on each side next to the work counters. It was a pretty slick setup, and once your eyes adjusted, it wasn't that huge; he noticed though that there were long, wide step benches in front of both counters...