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 Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 1:51 pm
While Spring may have held sway over the land, Summer’s fast approach meant a bevy of new styles, colors and arrangements in all things decorative. From fashion to flowers and cakes, all things that might elevate oneself had taken a turn. Ever one to be ahead, Mya’s was already well underway in their preparations and with his dear wife’s help Aurick prepared a variety of deliciously decorated pastries for his patrons to fawn over. It helped, having someone with such a mind for these things and combined the two of them had certainly set their mark within the community.
His family was flourishing. Things with his children and their schooling had calmed – at least for the moment – and his siblings were taking off. With so much to be thankful for it was hard not to smile, even when he had to wake up well before dawn just to get a jumpstart on orders. He’d been in the kitchen for hours now, sweat melting his hair to his forehead, but there was a joy in it. A passion that made it’s way into the delicate little tarts he so lovingly crafted for that mornings display case.
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 1:52 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
With the transition of spring into summer there was little time for anyone in the family including Harika to rest. The seamstress was busy with her designing, working on summer attires for fashionable names in the entertainment sector, helping with her husband's bakery that had taken off which allowed her to demonstrate the growing set of baking skills she had acquired over the years since meeting Aurick, watching over her children as they concluded another year of school and prepared for the summer break while also updating her family's attire for the new season. Still, despite all of it the hybrid was happy as could be since she flourished the most while keeping busy with everything. Though admittedly she did have a reason to pause as she studied an old dress that she had kept from last year's collection, Harika frowning as she realized that it would need altering to fit her slightly bigger waistline. Not that it was the only piece with such a thing, her current attire also could do with a little adjustment which gave her even more concern. She had just worn this a couple of weeks ago when sorting through her wardrobe to try to see what she would bring back with the summer season....so why? Had she given into so many strange food cravings lately that it had started to show? Like those sour cupcakes she had tried baking, little flecks of pickled vegetables added to the batter instead of the typical berries that one would prefer just because she thought it sounded good in the moment...
And those were some pretty strange cravings...the last time she had wanted strange food was when she was pregnant back then. Oh, oooooh. Harika blinked as she leaned into the mirror to study her flushed cheeks closely. Was it possible? They had gone quite a few years without any surprises past that color changing pollen, but maybe now it was finally time for another twist of fate. Not that she would be impossibly upset by it, if anything Harika would be far from upset if her suspicions were correct. It made her more energetic as she finished with some melted chocolate molds, making miniature boquets to fit on top of cakes for the bakery to celebrate the changing of seasons, and while the last few may have been a bit hasty it allowed Harika to dash to the bakery a lot earlier than expected. Once she was there at the bakery though? Harika could only halt as the chiming of the bells announced her arrival, the hybrid slowly approaching as she peeked around the corner to catch sight of Aurick. Did she say something right away or wait a moment longer? "How goes everything?" She finally managed, raising a hand while holding out the box of chocolate decorations as an offering to her husband.
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 1:58 pm
[2]
“Welcome! I’ll be with you in a moment.” Aurick called out from the kitchen. The heart of the operation was tucked in a separate section of rooms, just beyond the main lobby itself, but if one were to peep around a corner they would be able to see the goings on easily enough. Maybe it was a bit suspicious or even defensive, to have their secrets hidden from public view, but in a city full of bakers it was hard enough to stand out, let alone to maintain the praise.
Honestly, Aurick wouldn’t have bothered looking up if there had been anyone else in the kitchen with him now, but maybe that was for the best. When he did tear his eyes away from the tarts it was to his wife. Flecks of flour and a berry jam coated his arms, but Aurick was quick enough to wipe them off before coming to her side. “Why don’t you tell me? I may have made a few of your favorites.” Motioning to the tarts before him, Aurick delicately took the molded chocolate and smiled. “Lovely as ever, Harika. Your chocolate work, too.”
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 1:59 pm
[Sabra via discord]
Harika couldn't help smiling at the sight of Aurick in the zone. No matter how many years it had been since she had first stumbled into this bakery, the sight of her husband always filled her chest with warmth. It was hard to hide such feelings especially with how her own gaze reflected light and warmth back towards him, not that Harika even tried to hide how she felt anymore. That was forfeit ever since they had gotten together that summer at the farm. As it was, she simply ran a hand over his arm to wipe off a fleck of flour before shaking her head. "As delightful as the idea sounds, I would feel bad for taking up your precious baking time during a busy time. I just happened to finish early and wanted to see if I could help out with anything else after doing those." She gestured towards the chocolates. "And if there's a few extra pieces that don't turn out perfectly then maybe I can help dispose of them." She teased lightly as she leaned forward on tiptoe to kiss Aurick's cheek.
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 2:00 pm
[3]
“A few extra pieces, hmm? There might be a little duruf but I’m sure I can manage.” His eyes drifted vaguely – and none too subtly- toward a few tarts with oh so animalistic features. Little whiskers of baked tart and a ring of golden, toasted ‘fur’ around the rim to set it apart from the rest. Aurick wasn’t ready to admit just how long he’d spent getting them to look just right, but the mound of ‘experiments’ that lay off to the side on a tray was telling enough. The end result was pleasing, though, and tasty, if his earlier stolen treat had been telling enough.
“What do you have planned for today? Or were you coming by to offer a hand?”
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 2:01 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"A little..." Harika's voice trailed off before a laugh escaped her lips at the sight of the duruf tarts. "Oh, how cute!" She commented as she looked over the little tarts. "You know those turned out paws-itively amazing." The hybrid grinned towards Aurick, proud of herself for the attempt since she had been working on getting better with puns over the years before nodding at the question.
"I wanted to offer a hand, if you wanted some company. I figured we can't just waltz out of here for a date just yet, so this works for me." As much as she enjoyed the idea of a vacation or just taking a day in the city even Harika knew that they had work to do. There would always be time to visit the farm later on in the year, the harvest season one of her favorite times for all the dancing and festivities that happened with Aurick's family.
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 2:02 pm
[4]
“I hope I can live up to such fur-midable praise.” Aurick smiled down at his wife and knocked his hip against hers. He didn’t know if it was a blessing or a curse that she started to pick up on his punnery; he adored it, but to his family it was just another cause to groan.
“Maybe we can take a walk about this evening? Iona can always close; it’s not as if I’ll be needed after the lunch rush anyway.” Once the busy hour was over all the pastries for the day would have been cooked and his cousin was more than capable of selling through the remaining stock on her own. If anything he could always ask one of her siblings to stay with her for a little extra coin.
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 2:03 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Harika could only shake her head, the smile on her lips still showing that she was more amused than anything by the response. "I'm sure you will." She giggled before brightening up even more at the idea of a walk, her mind still racing with how to share the news with Aurick.
"A simple walk sounds lovely." Harika acknowledged after a moment, considering things a bit more as she walked around the counter and continued casually speaking. She truly couldn't hold back on sharing things with her husband, especially not news like this and waiting until evening sounded like torture. Not when she was fairly certain the more things were piecing together after this morning. "As long as it stays simple, that is. I shouldn't be running marathons or hiking mountains now, else I'll get chastised by a healer once they confirm something...but you know. " Her teal gaze floated towards Aurick, the hybrid peeking at him through her lashes as she stood on the other side of the counter now after making a round about the kitchen to see if her words would arouse any suspicion. "I think we might have to redecorate that extra room at home and move out my sewing supplies for other...furniture as well." She would just have to condense her supplies into one room or perhaps consider doing an extension or building somehow around the outside of their home.
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 2:04 pm
[5]
“Chastised by a healer…?” Aurick murmured, and really looked at his wife. “Did you hurt yourself?” Was it a work accident? She didn’t look like she was limping and even when he tilted his head he didn’t see anything outwardly wrong with her. So maybe it was an illness? He paused, one hand on the table as she continued speaking and the phrasing of her words…Well, it did more than raise suspicions.
“Uh huh…” He drawled, his eyes slowly lowering to one particularly spot in her anatomy. “And why would we need other furniture? We have enough for everyone…don’t we? Or are we…expecting visitors?”
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 2:10 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
The gleam in Harika's gaze only brightened as Aurick started asking questions, the hybrid trying to give nothing away as she grabbed a damp rag to wipe down the counters for the next baking project. Somehow it looked like a little flour bomb had gone off in one area, Harika not even questioning it as she continued to lightly wipe down the wood as Aurick started studying her more. "I didn't hurt myself." She began finally after a long pause, looking back towards Aurick again as she finished wiping up the one area and slowly moved a bit closer.
"Visitors? Or rather a long-term guest, perhaps?" She mused lightly with a small shrug. "I hope it's alright with you even if it's a bit unexpected. I think they'll fit right in though, might even consider them family." Despite her playful words there was that nervous flip in her stomach as the realization actually started to sink in. If she truly was pregnant then that was a whole new life that she was bringing into the world, expanding their family...they would have to confirm it and then tell the children. She just hoped Inali and Eyvin would be okay with the news as well, it definitely would be an adjustment that much was for certain. Speaking of changes though...would the child take from her current appearance after that strange pollen or reflect her old one? She would love them either way, she just hoped the others would feel the same. The very thought made her stomach do a nervous twist, Harika feeling slightly sick despite her smile though the feeling could have been more from her current state and less from her nerves.
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 2:19 pm
[6]
“So you’re- we’re – you-“ Aurick fluttered his eyes as he tried to make sense of the words fighting to get out of his mouth. It was as if a thousand questions were vying for the top spot and still managed to make a fumble at the last second. “Harika that’s wonderful. Spectacular, even!” The massive baker gave a nervous laugh and his smile – oh how it grew. “Of course it’s alright – better even – “ And he made his way around the table, not even so much as pausing to wipe off his hands before he took hers in his. He wanted to pick her up, to swing her around and kiss her, but maybe once she was a little more settled into things.
“I’ll add a new wing onto the house if I must. Any child that we’re blessed to have is welcome, expected or not.”
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 2:37 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Harika could only nod, the reveal bringing tears to her eyes. So much for not crying. She thought as Aurick came around to take her hands. "I'm so happy that you feel that way. I know it's abrupt and I'm not the best at presenting news...maybe I could have sewn a little outfit as a hint?" She shook her head, trying to laugh even though it came out a bit shakier than anticipated due to her tangled emotions now that she was acknowledging the pregnancy in front of Aurick. "I should have a healer confirm as well but I know I've been having weird cravings like I did with Inali...like who would want chocolate drizzled on pickled vegetables or something like that?" Another laugh as she thought about the weird snacks she had been picking at over the last few days when no one else was home. "Then there were a few mornings when breakfast didn't settle and now my wardrobe isn't fitting and I know I eat a bit of sweets but it's a lot and I just wore that dress last week so..." She continued on a bit of a ramble, a flush rising on her cheeks alongside the tears that fell despite her best attempt to appear calm and casual about the whole situation. So much for that, right?
Still, Harika couldn't help smiling at Aurick through the sniffles. "I'm really glad you think that. I don't doubt you'll shower them with love, just like you do with all of us." She managed as she squeezed his hands affectionately. "At least this time we can just expand the house and not find a new home, right? As big as that one house was I would prefer to not have something haunted on our hands." It had been tempting though until they realized there were graves buried in the backyard, now that had been a bit of a damper on things before they found this much brighter townhouse even if it had also needed some updating when they acquired it.
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 2:48 pm
[7]
“Hey now-“ Aurick very nearly cupped her face, but when he raised a hand and saw the state of it he lowered it with a shamed clearing of his throat. “Yeah that sounds really gross.” He admitted with a laugh. The man couldn’t stop his lip from curling, but if his wife wanted it then he’d just add it to their rotation of snacks at home. At least there was nutrients in vegetables even if they…were…coated in something utterly awful.
Unwilling to let the tears free fall, however, Aurick leaned forward and placed a kiss just shy of her left eye, then the right. “Time for a new wardrobe then, hmm? Good thing I know one dandy of a designer who might be able to get in you in this week.” She wouldn’t be able to wear some of her more delicate fashions this Fall, but by then most of society would be seeking out comfort and warmth anyway.
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 2:56 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"Right?" Harika managed, the question coming out as more of a squeak with her torn between letting out a laugh or crying. "It's definitely not something to add to the bakery menu, that's for certain." Who knew what would be next? At least when the cravings turned towards spicy she could make a curry that the family could enjoy, even if her bowl was a bit more hellish in comparison to the spices in everyone else's meal.
"Oh?" Harika managed, swallowing as each kiss made her heart swell. Somehow the simplest of motions could truly move her, especially when it came from Aurick. "You're already seeing a new designer, hmm?" She tsked him even as her gaze still burned with tears. "I suppose I'll have to see what can be arranged, my own schedule was pretty busy up until this point. Oh spirits. Do you think I can manage appointments all the way up until I'm wobbling about again? I didn't want to take off too early, but I may have to stop taking requests closer to autumn again." It would be a bit earlier than planned but if she took on extra work now...well things would be okay, right?
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 5:10 pm
[8]
The same fear that always plagued him when it came to childbirth and pregnancy flitted through Aurick’s mind. Just because she’d made it through twice, with two healthy children, could they be so lucky with a third? Or what if – Now isn’t the time for that. Worrying himself into an early grave would help no one, and why shouldn’t he be able to just be happy for happiness’ sake?
“I think that you will finish your current projects, making take on a few others, but slowly decrease your workload. Remember last time? I had to follow around after you, picking up pins and patterns you couldn’t reach.” He admired a strong work ethic, but honestly, she could have done with the rest!
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