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 Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 6:09 pm
Melisande shook her head, still holding the oven door. "Not childish. You're fortunate. You have a place you belong." She offered him a fond smile, watching him slide the German rolls into the heat of the oven. After everything her dear friend had been through, she was truly glad he something so familiar, so stable. The Muse knew the importance of that.
His question was a difficult one for her to answer. She shut the oven carefully and met his eyes, brushing a curl away from her cheek with the inside of her wrist. "I am happy. But I'm still not sure I've found my own space." She smiled recalling what Cesc had said about the bakery missing her. It was a charming idea, the thought that she had a place here, however small. "I stay with Vi sometimes, or the Loft, or Aria's manor. The boys let me decorate the balcony of the Loft, which was very kind. I've always dreamed of somewhere new, though. A...blank canvas?" She made a spreading motion in the air with both hands, smile dimpling for a moment. "I'm not sure I have the savings for that, yet. It's a big step."
Pasha took a deep breath, still smiling. She loved the smell of the bakery, especially with the warm scents of the bread starting to rise. "What's next?"
A hint of pink rose in her cheeks. She'd been smiling at him for a little too long, hadn't she? The Stag was beautiful, easy to admire…but Melisande dropped her eyes and tried stay focused. The little bird didn't listen.
"Displays?" The memory of his words cut through the memories of his face, so close to hers.
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Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 6:40 pm
Cesc lowered his eyes as he listened to the muse speak. So many different places... He wasn't certain who Aria was, truly, but he knew Vi, and he knew from the word boys what (and whose) the loft was. He didn't understand why Melisande didn't have a place of her own. It seemed to defy explanation. Why should she not have a place of comfort and peace? Her own solace? Why did she have to hop from place to place?
It was good that she had those who loved her, who would welcome her. It was, he knew, and he further knew she always would. But that wasn't the issue. She deserved her own place.
"A blank canvas is always good," said the stag softly, turning back toward the lines of cupcakes and goods waiting for their turn for attention. "I was always appreciated that Shepard and Vivi didn't decorate my room before I came... I at least got to do that much as time's gone on. But a whole new place, that would be perfect for you."
His smile warmed. "Not that I have any fears of you being able to leave an impression on any place, but you deserve a place wholly your own. What about an apartment? Or are you saving for a home?"
Part of Cesc wanted to offer her to stay at the bakery. But he thought it unnecessary. She had places to stay. And he hoped, he hoped, that she knew, anyway...
... she had to know. He'd made it obvious, hadn't he?
"Displays. We're doing autumn, transitioning into our Halloween things. I have some nice autumn-leaf cookies here, and a few nice quince macarons and pumpkin miniature cheesecakes. We just have to make them all attractive with each other now."
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Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 6:54 pm
"I think any place could be a home, no matter the size. An apartment, first, I think." She watched him turn away, and took another deep breath. The cupcakes renewed her blush, but Melisande pressed forward, floating up alongside Cesc to gaze down at the selection.
"Perhaps a few fans of leaf cookies accenting a macaron here and there? They already look like little gifts, they hardly need anything to shine!" Pasha realized again that Cesc was doing this all on his own, and she was filled with pride for her friend. She settled a hand on his upper arm for a moment, gently. "You did amazing."
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Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 7:03 pm
Cesc smiled broadly, a touch of pride in his expression as she complimented his work. Immediately, he began to take her advice on decorating, using a nearby platter to start the arrangement. "Thank you. And that's a great idea. You've got a knack for that."
He watched his own hands as they set the cookies together, the way his own fingers worked. He let a silence explore the room as the scent of bread and pastries began to take hold of the space. He looked up at Melisande now and again, just offering her a grin as he worked and allowed her to work.
It was so companionable to work with her. So easy. She had the talent to do so many things...
"I think..." said Cesc, after a moment, looking down at his finished place. "I think there's a few places near where Granny lives that are up for rent -- they're a little older, but they're well-priced." He cleared his throat and floated back to look at his handiwork. He straightened a cookie and then looked up at Melisande.
"I could help you find somewhere, if you'd want."
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Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 7:19 pm
Pasha worked in silence for a while beside him, occasionally leaning back to move the same curl out of her face with a puff of breath. She flashed a true smile back to him as he grinned across at her, feeling warm to her very fingertips. She pulled back before the Stag, letting him make the final adjustments and admiring it beside him.
Melisande glanced up as he spoke, and was surprised when it was about a place, rather than his creation. "I…yes! I mean, thank you!" It was rare the Muse was flustered, but she'd almost forgotten what they'd been talking about. Her smile blossomed all over again. "I'm not in a hurry, so forgive me if I hold out for something perfect, but I'd love your help." With everything he'd been experienced lately, and an entire bakery to run…and he'd been thinking of her?
"How are we on time?" Focus. "Coffee?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 7:25 pm
Cesc quickly shook his head. "No -- no, you should hold out for something perfect." He straightened. He noted her rebellious curl, even as it began to snake around itself and fall again into her face. He took one of the pins out of his own hair with a boyish half-grin, and leaned over to her, carefully and gently taking the curl to the side and sliding the hair pin around it.
His voice was warm, rich, low, and near. "You deserve to find something perfect. You'll get it, even if you have to wait."
The stag pulled away. His smile became sheepish. Had he overstepped? He didn't ask her if she'd wanted help. He tugged on his apron, at the strap around his neck. It was still fitted to him from when he was a frei, and now too tight for his bigger frame. He shook the watch on his wrist and checked the time.
"Ah -- we're fine on time. We can just slide in the trays and I think we'll be good for coffee." He lifted his own tray and began to head back out to the main part of the bakery. "Maybe even drink a cup!"
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Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 8:18 pm
She held still as Cesc carefully pinned her hair into place. Her lips parted as she started to thank him, but his voice, so close, made her breath catch. The feeling moved through her, and the spiral of her ribbon missed a beat. "Cesc…"
It took her a moment to realize that he had already pulled away. Her smile flickered back to life. What had she been about to say? "Thank you. Let's…let's do it! That would be amazing if we had time for a cup." Melisande rallied her motivation, wings fluffing before settling again against her back.
"Cream tangerine and montelimat, a ginger sling with a pineapple heart!" Pasha sang to herself as she lifted a tray, following Cesc's lead. She glanced again at the cupcakes as she passed, smiling. "A coffee dessert, yes, you know it's good news~"
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