Who: Izzy and Billy When: Mid-September Where: Baxters Bakery 2 What: Introductions and new friends Rating/Warnings: Low/None Status: Completed gdoc
Billy liked to get baked goods now and then, especially since he worked early hours at the radio station. As a gopher, he often carried documents overnight to be delivered as soon as places opened, and thus, he was up even earlier, hitting bakeries for breakfast before the government and business offices opened.
Today, he was trying out one he had heard of on the Valarnet. Baxter’s, right? Right. Supposedly really good, but he was willing to try it, anyway.
Stepping in, wearing his business casual outfit, a courier sash across his chest and his helmet for his moped under his arm, he looked around at the place, and at the menu as he approached the front. It was early yet, and seemed still quiet.
Maybe this was a good place to start after all.
***
Izzy loved the bakery before the rush of the morning started, when hardly anybody was in yet and she was just waiting for the next batch of baking to be done. At first she’d found the mornings hard when she’d been starting out with Audrey and learning the ropes but now opening up was her favourite thing. Of course filling the bakery with freshly cooked baked goods was also a bonus. Even if it did make her hungry too.
Smiling at the young man who had just walked in she nodded, “Morning, welcome to Baxter’s. Just starting a shift or just finishing?” she asked.
***
“Just starting, or starting soon, anyway.” He patted his messenger bag which had several parcels in it this morning. “NO rest for a gopher.”
He grinned as he approached. “This place smells amazing. Do you cook all this wonderful stuff?” He inhaled the scents and closed his eyes, just grinning.
***
“That is an early start so let’s make sure you have a good breakfast to keep you going” Izzy said with a smile before nodding, “Thanks, we do indeed. Everything is fresh everyday, made and baked here on site using as much local produce as we can”
It was one of the things she and Audrey were most proud of. Using local small farmers and helping out the independent businesses.
***
“I love to get going in the morning. One good thing about this job. I am never bored.” When he had down time, he studied or did homework, and it worked out well. He loved it.
He inhaled and groaned. “God, it all smells good. I need something with protein for sure, and milk, and maybe some sweets to boost my sugar for the moving and the doing this morning, and maybe something to take with me for later?” He grinned at her hopefully.
***
“I was never a morning person until I started this job, but now I’ve become someone who enjoys the sunrise” she told him.
“We have some lovely smoothies for your milk need, and how about high protein blueberry pancakes? And I can definitely pack you up a buttery croissant and a couple of muffins for later” she suggested, “Or if you have anything specific in mind I can see what I can do”
***
“Yeah? I always hated mornings until suddenly I liked them. It was odd.” He grinned at her, and listened.
“OOo, those sound good, all of that, please. “ he waved a hand at her suggestions. They sounded good and his stomach grumbled right about then.
***
“Around here odd is pretty much the norm” Izzy said with a grin.
“Alright then. Let me grab you the smoothie first so you can be enjoying that while I prepare the rest. Please take a seat, I won’t be long” He’d still be able to see her while she worked, the only thing customers didn’t see was the ovens, everything else was viewable.
***
Billy nodded his agreement. “True facts.”
“Okay!” he bounced and settled as he found a seat, eyes alight with delight as he was enjoying himself. It was a good morning, he felt.
***
“So how long have you lived around here?” she asked him as she whizzed up his smoothie, bringing it over before moving back to get his breakfast. She liked it when it was quiet and she could actually chat with and get to know her customers.
***
“All my life. Been living and growing and working and hoping since I was born, an Orange County original.” He grinned at her.
“And you?” He liked being able to talk to her.
***
“I’ve been here over 4 years now. I moved out here when my brother did, he’s since moved back to New York now but I’ve got a career and a boyfriend and well my whole life here now really. And I do love it, despite the crazy happenings” The OC had been good to Izzy and she liked the life she had here.
***
“Cool! Well, I’m glad you’re here. I like you. You’re cool.” Billy nodded. He was glad for knowing her.
“The crazy happenings are weird, but, sometimes fun. I got to beat up stormtroopers. How cool is that?” He grinned wider.
***
“Thanks, I like you too. It’s not often you come across cheerful people in the morning” Izzy said, bringing over his breakfast and placing it on the table along with napkins and cutlery.
“That is something I’ve enjoyed doing myself” she admitted with a grin, “And it was definitely cool”
***
Billy perked up at that. “Really? Cool!” He did a little dance sitting down. Then he inhaled the scent of his food and groaned like a man who'd gone to heaven.
“Oh, Gods. This smells Divine.” He gave her a smile and dug in. A few bites on, he grinned. “This is amazing! So good.”
***
“Definitely, I’m a deadly baker” she told him with a smile, it was strange how all of the skills from the dreams didn’t define her here like they did there. But then she supposed she hadn’t grown up in the Institute and the shadow world wasn’t really a thing here either so it made sense her purpose had shifted.
“I’m glad you like it” she said, “I change and experiment with recipes a lot so if you start becoming a regular I might have to get you to try some of them out for me”
***
Billy chuckled around his food, swallowed, and grinned at her. “Deadly, huh? Should I be scared?” He grinned again, eyes twinkling with mirth as he attacked his food like the growing young man he was.
He was rapidly making a dent in the food. “It is good! You are really good at this. I need to learn how to cook like this.”
He nodded, eyes wide.
“With food like this? You’re going to see me in here every day.” And so she would
***
“I think you’re safe” she told him with a wink, “As long as you don’t turn into a stormtrooper or a zombie or something”
She smiled brightly, “Thanks, I’m glad you like it. We offer classes sometimes so I’ll let you know when we start them again, if you’d like” she laughed softly, “You are very welcome every day”
***
“I sincerely hope not. I would hate that.” He made an ewwww face. Billy grinned at her then.
“You do? Cool! I would love that.’ He smiled wider, thinking that this could be very cool.
He swept her a bow. “Then I will be here.”
***
“I’ll be sure to let you know then. It’ll probably be soon, so we can help people make all those things that remind them of Fall and Winter and all that kind of thing” Izzy said before bowing back, “And I will be here to greet you”
***
Billy smiled at her, and nodded. “Then It sounds like the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” He grinned and went back to eating, finding himself in great spirits!