InsaneJournal

Who: Tinkerbell and Peeta
When: Recently
Where: Peeta's Bakery
What: A visit
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete



Tink was in a better mood than she’d been in in weeks. She had the stitches out of her wing, which was healed. Sure, she missed the Old Man who owned the garage where she worked, but she found out that he left everything to her. She had keys. She was the proud, new owner of a four bedroom house, the Garage, and all of his stocks and bonds. He was grumpy and stingy, so he’d amassed a small fortune over the years. Now Tink was owner of it all.

She just hoped she wouldn’t blow it.

Feeling the need for chocolate in a celebratory way rather than a ‘feeding depression’ kind of way, Tink headed to the bakery to visit Peeta. She was smiling brightly, much happier than she’d been in a long time. The door chimed when she stepped inside, and the tingle of the bell made her smile even more brightly.

Peeta had been hanging out behind the register. There was a slight lull for the moment as the last customer had left just a bit ago after making a decent size purchase. So, he was surprised to see Tink come inside and with such a big smile as well. Well, well. What a change in attitude from the last couple times he had seen her and she certainly looked much better with a smile on her face than a depressed look.

“Wow. I don’t think I’ve seen that big of a smile on you before. Something big must have happened to you. And obviously something very happy,” Peeta pointed out with a laugh as he watched her come into the shop, “Is this the end of my business?”

Tink laughed. “I can buy chocolate when I’m happy, too. I just don’t need it as much.” She walked up to the pastry case to smile at him over the top, hands shoved in her pockets. “I can buy things other than chocolate, now, too.”

“Everyone always needs chocolate. It makes the world a much happier place,” He pointed out to her with a laugh, “But I’m excited for you to try new things then. And even more excited because you’re actually smiling. What brought about this change in you?” He was curious to know what happened and thankfully it was going to be a happy story and not one of woe. He always felt terrible when she was down because there wasn’t much that he could do for her besides listen.

“Everything seems to be going right,” Tink responded after a moment of consideration. “...my injury is healed, my former boss left me everything in his will. I’ve got a new place to live, a new outlook on life.” She explained. “What can I try that’s good? Doesn’t have to have chocolate in it.”

“Oh wow. He left you everything? That is amazing!” Peeta was quite impressed that the former boss had done something like that for her. What a nice guy and what a great opportunity for Tink. Hopefully it would only go up from there and he was excited that Tink was happy now, “And hm… I’ve got some cookies, a fruit torte that’s really good, and some muffins.”

“It’s… going to change my life.” It was mostly that the Old Man didn’t have anyone else in his life. He outlived his wife and only son, and pushed away most of his friends and distant relatives in the last twenty years of his life. Tink was with him for the last ten or so.

“Tell me more about these cookies,” she said, bending over to get a better look in the case. She was rubbing her hands together, excitedly. “Which kind is your favorite?”

"Yeah it is. That is so great. I am so excited for you and the amazing opportunity you are about to embark on," he gave her a bright smile and then moved with her towards the case that held the cookies, "White chocolate macadamia is awesome. I also made a white chocolate raspberry cookie this morning."

Tink chuckled shyly. She was excited, too. It was really nice to know that she had someone in her corner, backing her up. Peeta was such a nice guy. So nice of him to be there for her when she’d obviously been having such a crappy couple of weeks.

“Oh my God. Those sound amazing. I’ll have one of each.” She said, and stood upright again. “How much for the cookies?” She asked, pulling her wallet from her pocket. She made sure to stuff a big tip in the tip jar.

“You get my favorite person of the day discount,” Peeta commented with a laugh as he packed up the cookies for her and handed them over, “So, no charge. You’re finally having a fantastic day, so I only want to add to it with some free cookies. Besides, you just tipped me so it’s like you paid for the cookies.” He didn’t usually hand things out for free, but he saved that for people that he really had built up a rapport with and he wanted to make Tink smile some more since it had been a tough few weeks for her.

Tink beamed brightly. She accepted the cookies. “Thanks, Peeta.” How kind of him! Her day was just getting better and better. “Hey, I would have left a bigger tip if I’d known… here.” She pulled out a couple more dollars and set them on the counter. “Pay for the next customer’s cookies or something. Pay it forward, right?” She poked her nose into the back and inhaled deeply, loving the smell of the chocolate and the raspberry.

“I can certainly inform the next customer that they get a free cookie courtesy of Tink. You need business cards so I can promote your business while paying it forward,” Peeta commented with a light chuckle, “So, are you going to open up the garage again? I would hope so since it seems to be something you love doing and then I can stop by if I need things fixed in my car.” He would definitely give her his business if she opened it back up and make sure to promote it within his friends.

“Oh yeah, that’s a good idea!” Tink beamed. “I’ll bring a stack next time. I’ve got to get the new name of the Garage printed on them.” She was kind of thinking aloud now. “I’m going to call it ‘Tink’s Garage’ and start doing a ton more advertising. I don't think the Old Man did any at all.”

“That’s a great idea. I’m sure you’ll get a lot more business. Advertising is key and I am sure people will be happy with the new change in management,” he was sure that she would do a great job with this business. It would flourish under her management and he was happy to help her do some advertising, “Feel free to stop by anytime with those business cards once you get them sorted. You can even put a coupon on them.”

“God, you’re full of fantastic ideas,” Tink said, softly. “Putting a coupon on the back… that’s good. Ten dollars off an oil change. I bet that would bring them in.” She was grinning so brightly it hurt now. “...I should put you on my payroll.”

“Haha, you’re just lucky because I have my own business to run so I’m full of good ideas. And I would totally come in with a ten dollar coupon. But I am always willing to help you come up with some ideas. I can give you the number and names of some of my advertising people that I use for flyers and stuff like that,” Peeta offered with a smile. He definitely had a small team when he needed them and he liked Tink enough to help her out.

“Really? That’s… generous.” Tink said, beaming at him over the counter. “I’d love the support. I’ve got some ideas, but I’d love any input that I can get. This is all so new to me.” She said, the smile fading just a little. “I’m a little worried I’m not gonna be able to handle it.”

“You’ll be able to do it. You just need a decent group of people to back you up, which includes employees and some people to help do some advertising. I’ll create a list of people I work with and send them over to you. You can go from there and contact them and see if they’d be able to help you,” Peeta was more than happy to help. It would really help her out and he wanted to see her succeed.

“Thank you.” Tink was a little overwhelmed. It was such a kind offer. Peeta was… well, he was wonderful. Tink smiled shyly, her heart beating a bit more rapidly in her chest. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I’m happy to help you and see you succeed,” Peeta waved her off with a grin, “Maybe my first couple oil changes can be free.” He added a wink at that comment and then turned to greet new customers that were entering the shop. The couple was just looking around for the moment, but he knew that he would have to cater to them soon and they were possibly his cake appointment.

Tink chuckled softly. “You’ve got it. Free oil changes I can do.” She turned to glance at the other customers, then back to him. “I’ll let you get back to work. Stop by the garage some time. I’d love to see you. --There,” she corrected quickly. “I’d love to see you there. Sometime. Okay, bye.” She gave him a wave, then turned to let herself out of the shop.