Participants:
| Scene Title | A Morning Muffin |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Alia stops by A Piece of Cake for a muffin and meets Brian for the first time. |
| Date | July 05, 2009 |
The front room of the bakery is a long and narrow one. A great glass window covers the wall facing the street, so that anyone outside can see in. The door is glass as well; on bright days the shop is filled to the brim with sunshine. Drop lamps abovehead help at night, casting a warmer and softer light. Classic black and white tiling collects smudges more often than not on the floor and walls. In the back is a hallway which leads further to the kitchen, a small bathroom for customers to use, and a set of creaky stairs that go up to the second floor. The entire building is warm, and the air is redolent with the scents of pastry both savory and sweet, cookies, muffins, chocolate and fruit, bread and more.
A long, waist-high counter is on the left after stepping inside. The top is flat so purchases can be set down, and baked goods of all sorts are on display inside. Down at the far end is the cash register: leaving means walking past all the tempting wares all over again. Though it isn't particularly fancy, a coffee machine next to the register has a sign that reads "Donations": the cups and plain coffee are free, but change dropped inside goes to local charities. Three small bistro tables sit along the right wall; it's a tight fit, but three (or four if they're close friends) people can sit at each to enjoy a bite before going on their way. A bell above the door jangles merrily whenever it's opened.
The radio is blaring, well, quietly blaring. As blaring as you can get with an old lady who might not be particularly fond of blaring radios. Especially when said old lady will most likely have some choice words with him soon. Very soon. So when the word 'blaring' is used, it actually means; playing softly in the background. But it's a rather irreverent station, at least. He has to rebel a little bit.
Brian has just opened up shop for Mrs.Hadley and is dreading her coming down to berate him any moment. So he's doing his best to have everything pristine and prepared for when she decides to come tell him off. Maybe that will lessen the blow a bit. Currently he's going over the front room with the broom, for the seventh time.
Alia comes to a stop outside the bakery, the address seemed to be about right. She picks up her skateboard, tucking it under one arm before stepping inside, adjusting the backpack on her back as she looks about the very swept front room, tipping her cap back a bit so the brim doesn't block her vision.
The bell on the door jingle jangles at Alia's arrival and Brian glances towards the stairs for any sign of Mrs.Hadley. His lips draw thin in.. fear? But the expression is quickly masked with a broad smile. "Welcome to Piece of Bakery Cake." He lets out before screwing up his features and trying again, "Welcome to Piece of Cake Bakery. Mrs. Hadley is uh.. busy, at the moment, can I help you with anything?"
Alia grins a friendly grin, and asks ever so hopefully. 'Chocolate muffin?" It's a simple request, in simpler words. She adjusts her backpack a bit and tilts her head as she looks about, noting the amount of cleaning done, looking moderately impressed.
"Can do." Brian responds back just as simply going to abandon the broom ever so carefully next to the door near the kitchen as he goes to fetch the chocolate muffin. Hoping Hadley wouldn't mind him actually selling something. But with the amount of anger she probably has towards him, what is another chocolate muffin on top of that? Once the requested muffin is procured he goes to set it on the counter. "That will be.." uhh. "Does it say the price, on the display there?" Winters asks, leaning forward hopefully trying to find out how much the muffin is.
Alia looks to see if the price is there as she digs out her wallet. She reads the price off, and hands over a five, giving a hand wave to say keep the change.
Brian frowns at the hand wave. Nooo. No tips. Not when he's already on thin ice. "No please, I must insist you take the change. I would feel impugned if you didn't take your change. Ethically impugned." Brian attests, digging out the exact change of the cash register that he has watched Hadley open so many times. And then hand it over, and then he goes to handwrite the receipt as he has watched Hadley do. "Hold up miss…." A glance up at her, accompanied with a smile as a substitute for her name and he's back to his writing.
Alia smiles. "Alia" She says as she isn't in a great hurry, even as she takes a bite of the muffin.
After insisting that she take the change, and the muffin Brian continues to finish writing the receipt. Once finished with it, figuring it's closest to how Mrs. Hadley does it, he goes to tuck the small piece of paper with the change in Alia's hand. "Alia? That's a really interesting name. Had a sister named Natalia, but we just called her Yaya." Winters says, though it's odd to think about. That family he grew up with, that family that isn't his family. Geeze. "Nice to meet you Alia, I'm Brian."
Alia smiles as she puts the muffin to one side to pocket the change. "Pleasure." SHe's a lady of few words alright. But the smile tries to make up for it, as she offers her hand to shake. She doesn't give much thought to the gesture, but she grins even mroe at the the story of Brian's sister.
"Well anyways, it's a pretty name." Brian wraps up, going to take her hand in a brief shake before pulling it back and setting his hands on the counter. "Pleasure's all mine. Enjoy your muffin Alia." Brian says with a conjured smile.
Alia nods again as she goes back to eating the muffin, enjoying the morning bite to eat right in the bakery. It's apparently that good.
"You don't talk much." Brian notes. She's the only one in there, and so she's the only one to talk to. Talking to Gillian has been so much effort in trying to keep her calm, trying to bring her out of that depression to no avail. And Hadley.. well.. let's not even go there. And even Veronica, is gone. So it would be nice to talk to someone, but… "Why is that?" Winters asks quietly.
Alia sighs. It's a question you can tell by her expression she gets lots. "Trouble… putting thoughts to words" She finally manages. "Fustrating."
A little grin crawls up his lips at her frustrated expression. He quickly represses the grin as to not seem rude. "Sorry. I get frustrated too sometimes. Completely understandable. You go ahead and enjoy your muffin, I won't bother you. Unless you want something to drink, and then I'll get that." Winters adds on, gesticulating with his hands before turning to grab a washcloth and continue his fierce attack on cleaning the front room.
Alia smiles and shakes her head. "Thank you." She says in true relief. NOt many really seem to understand the fustration she faces, nor would she wish it on anyone else. She finishes the muffin, being careful not to get crumbs all over, before getting rid of the little paper cup they are baked in into a proper garbage.
With that, Alia walks back out of the bakery and on her way to wherever she was off to on that Sunday Morning.