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 Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2016 8:58 pm
Arias was preparing for another busy season; things had picked up this Halloween and they'd had much more business than last halloween, but the first day of November had told him all he needed to know for the Winter Season.
He had twice as many customers as he'd had any day in the past month, and the number hadn't dwindled. People were placing advance orders for Christmas and were buzzing about to try to new recipes. Several of which, were specifically Arias' creation--something he was very proud of.
With the increased business, that meant that they'd hired two new assistants--which was enough to let Arias continue his usual interaction with the regulars while keeping the lines moving.
Today he was stocking a few shelves, replenishing their prestocked boxes of sweets while answering questions and making recommendations. Despite how busy it was, he was in a good mood--better now than he had been in a while.
For the first time in a while, it felt like things were slowly falling into place.
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 6:14 am
Karone was hungry. She had been hungry for a few days now, but nothing she had eaten had filled the void that was deep inside of her belly. She was craving something she just...wasn’t quite sure what that something was. But she knew that when she got it, she would be beyond happy. But so far...she just hadn’t found…it. Not yet, anyway. Something in her gut told her she had to be getting close...even though the big issue with everything was her stupid gut.
She was walking down the road, and walked right past the bakery without even really taking it in, though she paused, and looked at the building for a long moment, before walking backwards and pressing her face against the glass.
The smell coming from the place was to die for. At once, she remembered how good these cookies had been the last time she had tried them, and now she just wanted them again...but it was so crowded…
How was she supposed to get fresh out of the oven cookies when the store was so packed? It was awful, and she knew now without a doubt, that it was those cookies that she needed. More than anything else, in the whole world.
Her belly was screaming for them, and it was screaming loudly.
She slipped into the shop and, spotting Arias, made her way towards the male. “Hey! Remember me? I mean, I’m sure you don’t, but whatever. I was in here a few months ago and I got cookies for me and my girlfriend...Do you have any cookies now? Like, hot cookies? Like, warm chocolate chip? I would literally kill for a warm chocolate chip cookie right now.”
And she would. Like, the desire was so real, that she would happily rip out a starseed and give it to him if he wanted. Or if he didn’t have those cookies...ripping his starseed also seemed like a good idea.
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 9:25 am
Arias turned from the shelves he had been stocking and looked at the girl who was speaking to him. It took him a few seconds, but a smile appeared on his face and he waved in greeting. "A few months ago!" he said incredulously. "I think it was a bit longer than that!"
He withdrew his phone and glanced at the time before pocketing it. A smile was still plastered on his face. "--If you're looking for a fresh batch of cookies, you're in luck! The last batch should have been pulled out three minutes ago, so it should be cooling in back, waiting to come out. Do you want just one, or can I pack you up a box?"
He didn't seem to have any issue with heading in back and getting her what she was looking for; in fact, he was sort of looking for an escape from the business--even if only for just a moment.
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 4:38 pm
“A box? How many cookies are in a box?” And would that box alone be enough…? “You have a whole batch cooling? I don’t know, why don’t you just pack all of them up for me. I might have some regrets later when I’m dying of a stomach ache, but boy will I be happy in the moment.”
She was in such a good mood for a change, and it all had to do with the cookies she was going to guzzle down.
“Maybe not that much longer, it doesn’t feel like it was long at all…and I tell you, if the cookies are as good as I remember, I’ll be back quicker this time, I promise.”
Karone grinned, eyes roaming around the shop. “You’re crazy busy today, huh? I’m glad that you’re doing so well for yourself! It’s nice to see a small business thrive.”
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 10:02 pm
"A dozen in a box," Arias said, smile still on his face. "And if we weren't so busy, I'd be happy to load you up with as many cookies as you can carry, but I suppose--in the spirit of the season--it might be nice to share with some of these other people in line."
He laughed but seemed happy to grab her a few cookies. "But, since I like you, I can sneak in a few extra in that box? --We have some new flavors, actually. I wanted to try a few things, but the recipes are still a little in the works. I'd be grateful if you'd be willing to take a few of those too, and then go online and give a little feedback? I mean, if you really wanted to see a small business thrive."
He kept a smile on his face, and while he was teasing, he wasn't entirely kidding. He was more than happy to throw in a few extra cookies--especially if it meant he could get some thoughts on the recipes before he put them out for the store.
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Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 5:25 am
“Well I suppose that it might be nice, but who says I’m a nice person, hm? Besides, oh, well okay. Just be sure you save me a few dozen some other time then.” Of course, the idea of trying new recipes that he was making was a pretty good thing to distract her from the not so subtle slight that he wasn’t giving her all the cookies that she wanted...so maybe she really wasn’t too mad.
A little, but not too mad.
“I am glad you like me, that does my wallet good, and don’t you worry, I would just love to sample some of these surprise flavors that you’re working on. When it comes to cookies, I’ll always be a guinea pig. Hell, call me sometime and you can test every recipe that you have in your head. It’ll be fun.”
Glancing around, Karone grabbed a napkin from off of one of the small tables and a pen from her pocket, scribbling down her number and handing it to Arias. “I’m serious though. I’ll try everything, legit, I didn’t even realize how much I was craving these cookies until I walked by and got assaulted by the smell.”
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Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 3:49 pm
Arias seemed hesitant for a moment, trying to figure out if she meant anything by the number exchange outside of just offering to be a guinea pig. For a split second, he concocted some terrible nightmare in his head--that Nick would find the number in his pocket and see who it was, accuse him of cheating...
....And then Arias nearly snorted.
With all the fuss he'd made about Nick maybe liking other people, he was certain that he wouldn't come to that conclusion.
He took the napkin with a smile. "I'll do that," he promised. "You wait here, I'll be right back."
He pocketed the napkin somewhere safe and then slipped to the back. Though he was gone for just a moment, when he returned he came back with two boxes--one filled with easily a dozen and a half chocolate chip cookies, the other with two cookies of several flavors. Each pair of cookie was wrapped in a different color of parchment paper and he had scribbled down a note identifying each flavor by its color.
"Here, come on over," he said, gesturing for her to join him at a currently unattended register. "Let me ring you up real quick. Do you want some hot chocolate or something, to go? It's getting chilly out there."
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Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 5:16 pm
So. Many. Cookies. Karone nearly jumped on Arias to get the boxes, but somehow managed to restrain herself, promising that she could eat all of them just as soon as she got home…where she could be a glutton without any fear of judgment.
“I would love some hot chocolate, I can’t say no to anything that comes out of this place, or at least that’s what I’m beginning to think. Seriously though, if you don’t see me back in here within a month, call me and remind me to get my butt back in here, okay?”
She pulled out her wallet and handed over a few bills. “Keep the change, It’s the holidays, you can use the money, no matter how much your shop is flourishing. Honestly though…I might end up coming here next week or something and get the cookies to bring to Christmas at my mom’s place. I’ll tell her I made them all myself and she’ll be so excited, and I know my sister will love them.”
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 9:28 am
Arias looked at her and offered another smile as he took the bills and thanked her. He couldn't help but laugh again when she said she'd come pick up some cookies.
"Well, I suppose if you're going to lie, at least that's not hurting anyone. If you want," he reached over for a card with the bakery's address, phone number and email and put them all in a bag. "Send me an email with preferences, I can make a custom order for you. We can schedule a delivery for you--or you can come pick it up."
He disappeared for just a moment to get her a cup of hot chocolate. This was business, but he couldn't help but be interested in her passion in sweets. She seemed like she was a fun person--especially when cookies were involved.
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 5:06 pm
When Arias got back with the drink, Karone took it and the cookies and nodded. “I’ll make sure to do that, thank you.”
With a small wave, she left the shop and started for home, idly munching on some of the cookies and sipping the hot chocolate.
Craving satisfied. Fully satisfied.
What a great end to a day, and now her stomach was pleased, so she was too.
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