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The sounds of Thimble in the kitchen echo through the café as Viv smiles over her morning brew, enjoying both the aroma of the coffee and the sight of Tandri slowly descending the staircase in the morning light.
She raises her mug slightly and gestures to the seat across from her.
“G’morning.” Tandri leans in for a quick kiss before taking her seat. “Any big plans for your day off?”
“Not really, I thought I might read some more in that new book that Fern sent me, why?”
“I thought we might take a trip out to the country, take a hayride, have some hot cider, pick out some pumpkins to decorate the shop with.” Tandri takes a sip of her coffee and eyes Viv’s reaction over the rim of her mug.
“A hayride?” Viv frowns, thinking about it. “Sounds… uncomfortable.”
Tandri grins. “You just haven’t ridden in one with the right company. Trust me.”
“I trust you, but I don’t trust the hay to be remotely comfortable. I suppose you already have a place in mind?”
Tandri holds out a flyer, “There’s a place just outside the city, Overbrook Farms.”
“It sounds like you have this well in hand then. Shall we bring lunch?”
A few miles outside the city, Tandri points to a side path that leads back into a clearing with a few small buildings, a fenced-in field, and pumpkins lining the ground as far as the eye can see. An archway done up with fall colored leafy garlands dominates the entrance, and tables have been set up with hot cider and ornamental gourds.
A hob waves to them, walking out from behind the loaded tables.
Viv looks around. “So, this is the place then?”
Tandri gestures to the wagon off to the side. It’s decked out with stacks of festive gourds. Bales of hay covered with burlap stack to form seating alongside the edge of the wagon bed.
“Seems like. This is going to be the perfect way to celebrate the turning of the season!”
“Welcome! Welcome! So glad yinz could come! ” The hob comes forward two mugs of hot cider in hand. “My name is Cris, that’s my brudder on da wagon, Bly ”
Tandri steps forward to take a mug “Nice to meet you, I’m Tandri--" she gestures as Viv steps forward to grab the other drink. “And this is Viv,”
“Good to meet you. Nice place you have here.” Viv smiles, being careful to keep her teeth hidden. “So, how does this work exactly?”
“Oh nothing easier! Two siller each gits yinz alls the cider yinz can drink, a nice cozy hayride around the farm, and alls the punkins and gourds yinz can carry whenever yinz leave,” Cris eyes Viv and grins, pointing to Tandri, “or maybe alls she can carry, times two.”
The driver turns to them and gestures to the makeshift seats . “Yinz may as well git up and make yinzesselves comfortable, don’t think we’s gon’ git much more riders today.” He gestures towards the dark clouds blanketing the horizon. “Looks like dere’s a storm a-brewing. Hope yinz brung yinzes rain capes.”
Walking over to the wagon, Viv looks at it, then towards Tandri, and then back at the wagon. She grins to herself and grabs Tandri by the hips and lifts her onto the wagon-bed.
Tandri mock-glares at Viv “I could have gotten up myself, you know.”.
“I know, but this way was more fun,“ Viv pulls herself up and gingerly settles back into the seat.
Tandri snuggles into Viv, as Viv wraps her arms around her.“Ready when you are, Bly!”
“Awright then, let's git going, Hold tight!” The hob flicks the reins, and the cart slowly moves down the path into the fields.
Rows upon rows of pumpkins lie in wait, as the two climb down from the wagon. Cris ambles over holding two cloth bags, and hands both to Tandri. “Yinz can fill dese wit as much as yinz can carry, enjoy yinzselves and have fun!”
Hand in hand, Viv and Tandri stroll through the fields, colorful leaves crunching underfoot as they look over the bounty before them.
Viv stops, and points to a row of small pumpkins, bright orange and about the size of her fist. “Hey Tandri, what do you think of these as decoration for the counter?”
“Well, they’re small enough to not be in the way, and that color is so vibrant. I think they would be great!” Tandri glances over to a row of green and white gourds, much larger in size. “And I bet these would look great if we carved and painted them, and set them out on the doorstep.”
As they walk through the fields to the entrance, laden with their chosen treasure, Cris walks over to them, holding a garland made from colorful corn, pinecones, and miniature scarecrows on either end. “This is fer yinz, jest a little summat ta brighten up yinzes shop”
Tandri takes the garland and drapes it around Viv’s shoulders. “Thank you Cris, it’s lovely! The next time you and Bly make it into Thune, you should stop and see us. We’ll treat you to coffee and the best pastries you’ve ever had!”
The hob grins at them. “Wit that kinda offer, how could we refuse? You'd better git gon’ now, before yinz git rained on.”
Despite the dark clouds threatening in the distance and a chill wind picking up, they leave the farm still dry.
As Viv hefts two bulky cloth bags over her shoulder and starts down the path to the city, she glances down at Tandri. “This was a good idea. I never would have thought of doing this before.”
“I’m not surprised, really,” Tandri smiles softly and takes Viv’s free hand. “I’m glad you came with me.”
Lightning flashes in the distance. Thunder rumbles, and gusts of wind press against them as they enter the city gates.
“We should probably pick up the pace before…” Viv breaks off as the sky flashes and a loud thundercrack booms. The heavens open, drenching them and their packages.
“...before that happens,” Tandri finishes wryly.
Viv and Tandri enter the cafe, shivering and soaked to the skin, as the storm continues to rage on behind them.
Thimble eyes them as they set down their loads. He rushes over with a couple of towels and ushers them closer to the ovens to warm themselves, while he unpacks the bags. He sets the gourds aside but looks thoughtfully at the smaller pumpkins. “These for me? I take?”
Tandri glances at the ratkin. “The pumpkins?”
Thimble nods.
“I mean, sure, they’re very decorative and festive, I guess. But what do they have to do with pastry?”
“Trust me. Old family recipe. Is favorite.” Thimble snatches the pumpkins and scurries back into his kitchen, a look of glee in his eyes.
He quickly halves the pumpkins, then quarters them. He scrapes the seeds out, humming softly to himself. Soon the pumpkin quarters are roasting in the ovens while he dashes around, pulling various spices and ingredients down to the worktable.
Tandri glances at Viv and says, “As interested as I am in what will come of this, I’m more interested in getting out of these wet clothes and into something warm. Coming?” The succubus raises an eyebrow and heads to the staircase, grinning crookedly. A flustered Viv follows behind.
Excitement bubbles in Thimble as he gathers ingredients: Velvety cream cheese, rich dark chocolate, fresh eggs, and the spice blend he’d been keeping back for this moment.
Soon, a row of bowls line the counter, eggs and sugar and butter in this one, cream cheese, eggs and sugar in that one, flour and baking powder in yet another. He adds the chocolate into a fourth bowl over a hot water bath to melt.
Thimble removes the roasted pumpkins from the oven and places them on the countertop by the window to cool. he deftly splits and scraps a vanilla bean into the bowl of flour followed by a bit of the cinnamon. After whisking the eggs, sugar,and butter together,he folds the chocolate into the bowl, and slowly adds in the flour mixture. The rich scent of chocolate and spices fills the air as he pours most of the batter into a baking pan and sets a small bowl of it aside.
He checks the pumpkins on the counter, which are finally cool. Grabbing a large spoon, he quickly scraps the cooked pumpkin into a bowl, and adds his spice mixture. He deftly runs the pumpkin through a food mill to make a perfect puree and stops to consider it. Tasting it cautiously, a small smile forms on his face. He sets a small bit of the mixture aside and adds the rest to the bowl with the cream cheese, eggs, and sugar, whisking it thoroughly. He then pours the mixture exactingly over the batter in the baking pan followed by the reserved dollops of the chocolate mixture on top, which he swirls, to make patterns resembling fall leaves.
Thimble puts the pan in the oven then grabs the pumpkin puree he set aside. He adds a bit to his latte, stirs, and sips--at first cautiously and then blissfully. The pumpkin and spices bring new notes of flavor to the coffee. Smiling broadly, he begins the clean-up while the brownies bake.
Viv and Tandri stumble down the stairs, not quite touching, with small, satisfied smiles on their faces just as the last of the pastries leave the ovens. The rich aroma of fall spices and chocolate wafts through the air, leading them towards the kitchen.
Thimble runs over to the counter, carrying a small platter of pastries. As they take their seats, he sets the platter down. He then dashes over to the coffee machine to make lattes, adding the spiced pumpkin to each one.
“Try them!” His eyes gleam with excitement.
Tandri lifts a square to her mouth, and bites. Her eyes go wide as the mixture of the chocolate, the spices, and the creamy pumpkin melt in her mouth. Tandri closes her and savors the rest of the pastry.“ Thimble, this is… incredible. This tastes like the hayride felt.”.
Viv sniffs the latte in front of her, and takes a small sip.
Thimble perks up as Viv’s eyes close and she takes a larger swallow, “Is good, yes?”
“Good Gods, Thimble, how do you keep doing this?” Viv snatches a pastry from the platter, and bites into it, ignoring Tandri’s amused look “I’ve never tasted anything like these before.”.
“Old family secret.” He smiles and heads back in the kitchen to start preparations for the next day
Viv looks Tandri in the eyes. “We need to get these listed on the board, for at least as long as we have them. I don’t doubt that they’ll vanish as fast as anything.”
“True enough, though I hope the brothers from the farm come in before we run out. I think they’ll be surprised at the magic that Thimble pulled off.”
She pulls out some chalk and a smaller slate, and adds the following underneath the main menu:
~Legends & Lattes~
~Seasonal Menu~
Pumpkin Latte ~ a spiced and creamy treat —1-½ bits
Try it iced! — ½ bit
Midnight Harvest Bar ~ a rich confection with the flavors of the harvest — 4 bits
WHAT FLAMES COULD NOT CONSUME, NEVER SHALL BE EXTINGUISHED