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All over Grandis you’ll find an assortment of cuisines. Many different flavours and experiences from a multitude of communities combined together into a melting pot of recipes.
As such, you could find some particularly interesting combinations in forms you might not expect them in otherwise.
Nowhere was this more true than in various bakeries and dessert shops, particularly small, independently owned businesses.
The quaint pastry shop seen today had its own reputation. Small and staffed by cute women- granted, it usually only had three employees on at a time due to the cramped space. The Baker (and owner of the establishment) arrived early in the morning to prepare everything before leaving about an hour after the doors opened.
And there was a lot to be made. For a place so compact a majority of the interior was filled with refrigerated display cases- packed with a large variety to choose from, rotating stock frequently.
It must have something going for it, if it was visited by someone with such high standards as Mateo.
And honestly, a handsome Esper was always a welcomed change of pace. Particularly appreciative was the server Evie, who was happy for the chance to fawn over a customer instead of the usual vice-versa scenario that the pretty girl was usually subjected to tolerating at work.
The others didn’t mind all that much either, the regular could be a bit tactless with his words but was overall respective of the hospitality staff, and would chat casually as he placed his order.
His appearance wasn’t always guaranteed- While the time was usually the same, the days were sporadic at best. If there was a pattern, no one had figured it out; and Evie had racked her brains out trying to do so, just to align her shifts properly.
In contrast to that, his purchases were almost always the same.
Two of the Orange & Dark Ganache Cream Buns, which couldn’t be found anywhere else locally- there was a solid possibility that they were actually just an experimental treat that stuck.
A six-pack of mixed macarons, one of which was always one of their rarer flavours- Lavender.
And a Long Black Coffee for the road.
After a few visits Evie asked about the cream buns specifically. They were usually brought by most as a novelty, to try something new, but rarely as a repeat item.
His answer was vague, yet still conversational.
“I tried making them myself once; don’t know what magic your boss is using, but it’s got me beat.” Cocoa powder was a miss, mixing in a seperate ganache mixture into the dough was… A mess, to say the least. “I can handle dinner, but desserts like these stay beyond me for now.”
“Cooking’s a really attractive skill to find in a guy,” Eve wasn’t the subtle sort to begin with, and earned a weird look from her coworker Marina whenever she was so forward with the man.
“It’s a basic skill to have. It’s one thing to keep yourself fed, but it’s pathetic if you can only make trash for other people.”
Tell us how you really feel, Mateo. The man was holding himself to high standards in the very least- His repeated visits must have meant that he held the baker’s work in high regard.
A few more visits, and a few more flirts that Evie wasn’t quite sure landed. She would usually notice a hint of a smirk, but otherwise she wasn’t quite sure if it was understood- let alone reciprocated.
She followed up about the macarons during one shopping trip as she packed the food items away in a carry bag.
“I can ask the baker to try making some new ones if you have any flavours in mind~” Evie cheerfully offered, earning yet another judgemental look that day from Marina when she handed Mateo his coffee. “You buy a lot of the chocolate orange items, so I’ll ask if that’s a possibility.”
“Appreciated, otherwise I’m fine to settle with anything new that comes in.”
“Any flavour combos spring to mind?” Marina quizzed, Evie shooting a glare at her. “I’ve seen those ‘Fatcarons’ taking off in Gyrate.”
Mateo snorted, and Evie noticed a smile different to his usual one. It was soft, like one accompanied by a sweet thought or memory. “Those might be a bit much for one sitting, but I wouldn’t mind seeing them decorated more boldly.”
That would take some convincing, but Evie would give it a go. As Mateo took his leave, she turned to see Marina being dragged away and scolded by her other regular co-worker, Kathlyn.
Probably spurred on by the entertainment of the scenario, Kathlyn was Evie’s biggest workplace cheerleader. After chasing Marina back into the storeroom, she’d returned to offer her friend a strategy for the next appearance of the fiery Esper.
Each morning after that she would put away a few extra portions of the cream buns, just in case. Even if his visits were difficult to predict, it was roughly a fortnight before he came by once again.
As talkative as Mateo normally was, it was clear from his rather steely response (or lack there of) when she inquired about his absence that he was one of those guys who left work at work.
He’d actually appeared visibly annoyed when she pestered him, so she instead decided to go ahead with the devised plan to steer the mood back to something less… Hostile.
“Oh, here, since you’ve been gone so long and they’re your favourites!” Evie hurriedly packed the extra sweets away before proudly handing the bag over.
She had her response rehearsed, perfected with Kathlyn’s assistance. Unfortunately…
The statement only worked if she received any variation of thanks; which was said, but-
“Well damn, thanks!” Looks like it certainly redirected things, Evie was dazzled by the man’s sharp smile and the colour of his flames. “My wife loves these things.”
Record scratch. ‘You can thank me with dinner tonight’ was no longer an appropriate response.
“O-oh, I’m glad to hear. Enjoy.”
He absolutely, without a doubt, knew what he was doing. Perfect timing for him to finally give away that information, like he was curious to see how far the bolstering of his ego would go before he needed to put his foot down- and putting his foot down was what he was doing.
Rather than her whole life flashing before her eyes, it was all the moments of their interactions coming through at once while realising, that…
Yeah. He never once mirrored back what she was putting out. It was a dick move not to be more blunt about things, but that didn’t change anything for Evie’s current situation.
And just like that he was gone again, additional sweets in hand.
“Oof.” Kathlyn encapsulated the feeling of anyone viewing the scene. “Girl, you got played for some cream buns.”
She knew they were good, but damn.
“I shouldn’t be surprised, but I’m absolutely devastated.” Evie admitted with a sigh, leaning on the counter as she contemplated all of the life decisions that lead here.
“Are you telling me that, after all this time, you didn’t know?” Marina’s voice echoed behind the two with clear bewilderment.
“You did?!”
“Yes? Why do you think I kept looking at Evie like she was some sorta home-wrecker?” Receiving ‘wow’ from the aforementioned woman only made her shrug- it had been an understandable assumption given what she knew personally, but likewise it was insulting. “Then again even if you were, with the way he gushes about his wife you didn’t have a snowballs chance in hell. Seriously, ask him about her next time, the guy’s eyes light up, literally with the right one.”
“When did this happen?” Kathlyn asked, defeated.
“You both aren’t the only ones he chats to, jeez.” People often talked to the barista, in fact. Always be nice to the people who make you your coffee. “He was showing me pictures of his kids last time.”
Evie put her head in her hands and groaned. “Oh my goooood….”
Kathlyn patted her friend on the shoulder, refraining from saying another appropriate ‘oof’.
“All three cats.” Marina was quick to continue as she sipped her own pre-prepared coffee.
“Well that’s less ba—“
“And his toddler, she’s absolutely adorable.”
“He has a kid?!” Sorry Evie, we’ll leave several Fs in the chat for you.
Marina continued to be baffled by the lack of knowledge her coworkers displayed. “Yeah? Who do you think he keeps buying the macarons for? Apparently she wants to try all the ‘pretty ones.’ But loves the lavender flavour most.”
A pause from Kathryn. “I thought Espers couldn’t have kids?”
“Apparently that’s what he and his wife thought, too. Whoops.”
It’s certainly an odd wivestale that’s caught on, given that the Esper Union has a maternity ward in Gyrate and all that… Oh well.
Evie took a deep sigh, stood up straight and dusted off her apron. “I’m just gonna go cry in the walk-in freezer okay?”
“Take your time girl, take your time…”