Baker, Baker, Where Are Your Buns?

[Drayel]

Shade barked and immediately was on the sausage man's heels, prancing almost as they walk out the door despite Sausage's protests. Drayel watched the two of them go before snorting and continuing to tend to his wounds. He didn't like the smell of this odd concoction but if Mrs. Idris said it was for the best then he'd let her feel more eased. He'd seen the concern she tried to hide and pondered a little how he could fix it.

"You don't need to worry Mrs. Idris." Drayel stated as he kept his eyes on the cloth on his arm. "Compared to most battles, I went off near untouched. Though, this will remain a lesson to me not to damn well forget my sword. Of all the blasted moves to do...."

He grumbled before examining his work with a frown, lip twitching slightly when he saw a bruise the shape of a heart. "Look. He loved me enough to give me a heart. How sweet." Drayel snorted with a slight roll of his eyes. "Bloody idiot needs to find another way to show affection I'd say."

[Talia Idris]

"Nearly untouched? I'd hate to see what a real battle would do." Talia grumbled to herself still silently fretting as she dished up a plate of food for herself and Drayel.

Taking the couple slices out of the oven then she had stuck in to toast up she added it to the fried eggs and sausages already on the plates.

"Here, eat up. You've had a busy day and its still early." Before sitting down herself she went to the store front area and unlocked the door and opened the window blinds to let to some light in. 'Bepa's Buns' was open for business.

"If you want anymore help yourself to what is on the stove, of course you probably should leave some for Shade as well." She said as she reentered the kitchen and sat down to quickly eat while keeping her ears open for potential customers. After breakfast she also would have to finish up with the sausage rolls and maybe if she had time and no more crazy things happened she could even makes some cookies!

[Drayel]

Drayel dug into his breakfast, wincing a little when food brushed against his lip. He watched as Talia herself ate quickly, mused and approving for some odd reason as she chomped up her breakfast with an odd crinkly look on her face. He distantly wondered what she was thinking about but said nothing, simply keeping to himself the best he could.

This was an odd moment in Drayel's life, unsure what to do as he simply sat and ate in quiet. He wondered if Father ever had these issues with Mother and if so, what did he do about them? What was he suppose to do? Small talk? Fat chance seeing how he probably stressed her out more with his beat up appearance this morning. He grumbled. A compliment then? Would it boost her ego to high? Another tricky thought. What came from his mouth however was nothing he expected to happen.

"I want to go to bed." Drayel said flatly as he stared grimly into his food. "Not my guards house mind, that's noisy and the people are idiots but an actual bed like back home. Of course, the farm is probably full of moths and rats by now. I doubt I could scrounge anything out of that carcass."

He sighed at the thought of his home. He hadn't been there since... well since that 'accident' occurred. He never had the heart to go there. He glanced up from his food to blink up at Talia, realizing suddenly that she was there. Straightening abruptly with a pained grunt he fumbled out a question in hopes to distract her.

"So, did you always wish to be a baker than Mrs. Idris?"

[Talia Idris]

She often ate her breakfast alone, that is when she actually remember and had time to eat breakfast. So having someone with her, for the second day in a row, was almost a treat. Or it would have been if it wasn't so silent. With her day all planned out there was nothing left for her mind to really wander to except for the situation at hand.

What was she supposed to say? He seemed too eager to brush off his encounter this morning and the thought of it made her feel a little queasy so that topic was out of the question. Asking about his tattoo seemed a little personal at this point, and it would seem like she had let her eyes wander too long. Perhaps....ah, but Drayel had chosen to start talking first. She breathed an inward side of relief.

Talia didn't quite know how to take his first statement. If anything it seemed more like he was sleep talking or something rather then talking to her. But she nodded anyways, she doubted a guards house would be ideal for sleeping or much else concerning non-guard duties.

She avoided Drayel's eyes and toyed with her fork, pushing around the half sausage that remained on her plate. She didn't really like talking about her past, and it wasn't the best thing for small talk anyways. But Drayel was trying so she might as well try to come up with something.

"Gardening." She finally blurted out before continuing slowly. "I have always loved gardening. But I grew up learning how to cook. Through various circumstances I started to work cooking and baking for different taverns and inns. The occasional restaurant too. Vadim and his wife found me working at one place and offered me a job and lodgings. I've been working here for over a year now."

Talia looked up at Drayel who almost seemed to be falling asleep where he sat. "I know you said no earlier....but you are welcome to rest for a couple hours in my place. It's just one room with a small bathroom. You could use the shower, warm water probably would feel good for all those bumps and bruises." She stood up and tried to go back to work. She turned around to face Drayel, he face flushing a bit. "I know it's not ideal and such..." She realized it probably sounded inappropriate, inviting a man to use her shower and sleep on her bed. "But I would stay down here until you came back down. And Shade should be here soon. I'm sure you could send him to get clean clothes for you."

She paused before talking again. Might as well give him some time to think on her offer and not make it too awkward if he chose to refuse again. "So how does your family feel about all this? I mean the guard thing. You have spent so much time here I'm sure that there is someone getting impatient waiting for you." She grinned as she pictured the sight. His parents where probably too old to manage the farm he had mentioned. She could see his mom, or maybe a girlfriend, scolding him for being gone so long or working too hard. If that was the case she didn't doubt that she would be approached by some woman scolding her for expecting special treatments from the guards, more so Drayel. Although it wasn't her fault that he didn't seem to be willing to just write a report and leave. Maybe her baking really was that good.

She chuckled to herself although it didn't last for long when she looked up from her work and caught a look at Drayel's face.

[Drayel]

Drayel felt himself go stiff as his look became cold. He knew she hadn't meant offense, how could she? She didn't know of his past, as she'd said she only worked here for a year and his...accident happened years ago. She was trying to make small talk was all. Still...

"I am alone." Drayel said flatly. "I have no wife nor parents to speak of."

Rude and blunt, his trademark personality began to show once more as he stared at her from across the table. He leaned back a little in his chair with his arms folded firmly near his chest, his gaze fixing on her with an almost watchful look. He gave a bit of a growl.

"Again however, I will pass on the arrangements. It is inappropriate for a male guard to sleep in his watch's bed or use their shower. Thank you for the offer however." Drayel nodded stiffly. He felt his eyes turn to look around with bit of strain, leaning on battered muscles as he forced out a low gruff sigh. "You say you like gardening then? What sort of garden? Vegetable, flower...?"

[Talia Idris]

Talia hadn't realized that she was broaching a touchy subject for Drayel. How was she to know? Although perhaps that way he seemed to be more like the 'strong and silent' type. Something must have happened to make him turn so...bitter? Or maybe that was just the way he was.

Although even with his mysterious attitude it did kind of surprise her that he didn't have a wife, once you got pasted the outter layer he seemed like a decent guy, and wasn't hard on the eyes either...but enough of that. Whatever happened, he didn't need to kill the mood by getting so cold. Rather then saying anything Talia just continued working in silence.

She shrugged her shoulders at his refusal to her offer. Really this man was confusing and infuriating at times! He practically asked to sleep here, or so it seemed, and then he got all high and mighty guard like. She took a breath to calm down before answering his question as she pulled the rolls out of the oven.

"A bit of everything really. I have a bit of a green thumb. Right now I can't do much but I have some small planters where I have some flowers and herbs growing." She eyed Drayel debating about her next question and decided to go through with it anyways. "You mentioned a farm earlier. Do you, or did you ever do any gardening?" She was trying to turn the conversation away from herself. If she wasn't careful he was going to start asking her questions that would makes things harder for her to explain without going to into her past which wasn't a pretty sight either.

Before Drayel had a chance to respond to her question Talia heard the bell at the front door ring, letting her know that people were already starting to arrive. Grabbing the hot tray with her apron she rushed up to the front. Seeing several people already lining up she realized that today was going to be busy since most people had been unable to by bread yesterday. Most likely she would have to make more bread in the afternoon as well.

She rolled up her sleeves and and smiled at the people in the store. "What can I get you folks today?"

[Drayel]

Drayel watched as she rushed out the door, greeting the customers outside as though everything was pleasant only moments before. He was honestly baffled at the sudden change, reminded again how people wore masks to hide their thoughts. He was no different.

His eyes turned to the dirty dishes from earlier, his lips curling down thoughtfully as he debated cleaning them. Well, he had been rather rude and no way in the damned was he going to go near that flour again. Why not be handy in the kitchen? He grunted with approval before getting up slowly from the chair, grinding his teeth when his back wailed protests. He told those protests to shut it by walking stiffly to the sink and starting to fill it with water.

Dish after dish, more and more pans and random bowls or utensils. He vaguely wondered why there were so many pans, not noticing Talia wander in and out nor the fact that Shade was sitting at the kitchen table with nothing but his boots and a pair of pants on, munching away on an apple as he watched the guard viciously scrub away filth.

Twice he had to toss out the water and come back for more, growling sharply at the occasional gawker before stalking back inside and starting again. Dunk, scrub, rinse, scrub, rinse, dry, put aside for Talia to put away later, repeat. Over and over until he barely thought about it or why the dishes kept randomly vanishing from his hand.

Scrub, rinse, dry, put aside, repeat.

[Talia Idris]

Grabbing the dishes as Drayel had finished drying them Talia carefully put them away. Doing this brought back memories of watching her own pseudo parents do dishes together. Of course that was a situation that had ended badly and so she didn't often think of that time.

It had been a busy morning, and early afternoon, for her. One customer would leave only to have another take its place. Soon Talia was running in and out of the kitchen, grabbing new product or trying to make more. She had noticed that Drayel had started on her dishes and she had shot him a grateful look although she doubted he noticed. He had, and still seemed so wrapped up in his own thoughts that she didn't bother to interrupt. She could thank him later.

Eventually it had calmed down and she had wandered back into the kitchen, stared at Shade who was now in his human form but without a shirt. She shook her head and choose not to approach that whole situation right now. She didn't need a repeat of last night! Instead she walked over to Drayel and started to put away the dishes he had already dried and set aside. Some of them he had actually washed twice since during that day she had simply grabbed the cleaned dishes, used them and then replaced them in the dirty dish pile.

Looking over her shoulder she shot a playful glare at Shade. "You do know you have hands now right? You certainly could be helping out like Drayel here rather then sitting there and gloating over who knows what."

[Drayel]

"Nah. He's the one brooding, I'll just get in the way." Shade chuckled waving a hand passively. "Why? Want to see me work then? Show off my manly physic?"

"Shut up and sit there or get up and help." Drayel snapped loudly as he turned and glared fiercely at the shifter. "You're useless and lazy as is and I don't want to hear that fat mouth of yours either. Why are you here anyway? You're only needed at night you know."

"I like to see you flustered." came the witty response. Drayel felt his brow pinch tighter as he seethed. "What?"

"Go away." Drayel grouched as he turned back to his dishes. Shade laughed as he threw a leg over the other and jiggled his foot childishly. Drayel sighed with clear irritation before glancing down at Talia. "You'll have to ignore that lazy slob I'm afraid. Without the prospect of women, money, or some sort of gain I doubt he'd get off his ass for anything."

He gave his eyes a roll as he handed her the next dish.

"Truth be told, I'm sure if I told Lucy he was bugging a poor defenseless Baker woman and of the events he tried last night, I'm sure she'd have a word or two to say as well." Drayel stated pointedly as he gave Shade a slight smirk. "Wouldn't she pup?"

"Oi! You don't tell her nothing or I'll-"

"Or you'll what? Bite at my knees? Grow fat off apples and sit on me? Honestly, your threats are pretty useless against me and you're quite aware of it." Drayel snorted. "Now, helping or shall I speak with Lucy? I'm sure she'd love to know."

"Alright, aright. I'm up." Shade growled as he shoved himself off the chair and stomped over to them. "What do you need me to do? I'll dry if you put away Talia."

[Talia Idris]

She was starting to get a feel for a love-hate relationship going on between these two men. She wasn't sure if she should laugh at the sight, and sound, of them bickering like and old married couple. If she did laugh one or both of them probably would turn on her and she would lose her entertainment of the day. Yes it would be best to try and hid her chuckles and grins.

Rolling her eyes she allowed Shade to take her place beside Drayel and started to scurry around the kitchen putting things away. It was much faster with the three of them and she hated to think of what it would have been like if she had been required to do them on her own!

"You know, I am not completely defenseless you know." Talia said coming back for the big frying pan from breakfast. "And Shade hadn't tried anything, at least not yet. Merely saved me from a back full of bruises. Speaking of which, how are yours doing? Need another vinegar wash or cold cloth?" Talia eyed up his bruises as she asked, not really realizing that it might seem awkward that she was staring at his chest.

[Drayel]

"They will suffice." Drayel answered immediately. Shade glanced back at her and winked before cracking his palm flat against Drayel's already battered back. Yowling in pain Drayel spun on the grinning wolf with a snarl, reaching for his neck and quite ready to throttle the idiot. "What the damned was that for you idiot?!"

"You said it was fine." Shade answered dancing out of the way of Drayel's hand. "I was proving my own point. Stop being a manly man and gets some help. Hell, use that bed she suggested earlier! Just do somethin', ya look worse then a woman in labor."

"Idiot." Drayel grouched before returning to his post and finishing the last of the dishes.

"I'm right though." Shade said nudging the other firmly. "What's it gonna be? Cloth, bed, or a massage from yours truly?"

"Don't touch me."

"Okay, so cloth or bed?" Shade repeated pleasantly as he sent a wink at Talia. "Because, I'm sure she won't mind either way. Really, this whole manly thing is going to kick you in the ass by nightfall and we're gonna need you so either buck up and get a pat down or wimp out and go to bed. It's not hard to figure it out."

"..."

"I will have fun pressing my thumbs in your sore points." Shade said smiling. Drayel grimaced. "Yes, I will dig my pads right between your shoulderblades and in that nice juicy bruise on your hi-"

"Vinegar water." Drayel said shuddering. He glared at Shade. "Remind me to shove you in the sewers."

[Talia Idris]

This time Talia couldn't help but laugh. They really were a like married couple! "So how long have you two worked together?" She asked between giggles as she put the kettle on to warm up some water.

Grabbing a clean bowl she added the vinegar and leaned back against a counter and smiled. "Although Shade is right, you really do need to get some rest if you are planning on being up all night again. If anything you can head home for a bit. I doubt Shade will try anything in broad daylight and customers popping in and out. And as I said before I can handle myself." She gave a firm not for emphasis as she mixed the water in and handed the bowl to Drayel along with a fresh cloth from a drawer.

"Let me know when you need help reaching your back." Talia offered as she turned to give him a bit of privacy as he washed his sores. It probably would hurt a little and she knew guys had a bit of pride when it came to this sort of thing. Might was well not have him bruise his ego as well by worrying about wincing in pain with her looking.

Looking at the clock she realized that soon it would be closing time and then she would have a few free hours before having to come back and start making bread for tomorrow all over again. Maybe she could make an excuse to get out of the bakery so Drayel actually get some sleep. He was already grumpy enough, she didn't want to see what he would be like about 48 hours with little to no sleep as well!

[Drayel]

"I got him." Shade chucked as he lay claim of the bowl and shooed at Talia. "You go do what ya gotta. Answerin' your question though, we've known each other since we were kids."

"Only because you tried to bully me and I broke your nose." Drayel stated flatly as he made a swipe for the bowl and missed. Shade tisked in response before putting it on the counter, out of Drayels reach. "and the fact that I dragged you from that park bench. In fact, I seem to have been cleaning up your mess more and more recently."

"Only because you're easy to use." Shade snorted as he not-so-gently pressed into Drayel's back. Drayel grit his teeth and glared at the smirking shifter. "What? It's true. Can't wait till you get a woman, that'll be a hoot."

"I'll be sure to let you know when I find one. I wouldn't want you to miss your entertainment." Drayel growled crustily as he let out a strained grunt. "To think, you may have to go on without the thought of something else to pester me with."

"Hahaha, you know it." Shade mused as he dug the cloth hard into the large one in his spine. Drayel let out a yelp before glaring ahead again. "So, how's the bruises goin'? Feeling any better?"

"No. You make them worse." Drayel snapped. "Though you probably knew that already ya damned cur."

"Ooh, you're mad now. Don't use that one unless-Oomph!" A blow to the groin made Shade's eyes bulge and drop the cloth as he too fell to the floor. His eyes watered as he now was the one to glare at the guard. "C-Cheap shot...."

"I could've hit harder and you know it." Drayel stated flatly as he calmly stood up and plucked the cloth from the floor whist dodging kicks. He dipped it in the vinegar water before dabbing it gently on his wounds. "Besides, you had your chances and you know I don't like pain any more than the next man."

Drayel glanced up at the door and felt his lip twitch.

"Besides, I think I've made sure you'll stay out of trouble while I sleep."

[Talia Idris]

Talia had left the room briefly after Shade had offered to take care of Drayel. Locking the store front doors and closing the blinds only took her a minute but somehow it seemed to be enough time for something crazy to go down.

"What is going on here?" She asked in surprise as she looked at Shade laying on the floor while Drayel stood over him. "Goodness, I can't leave either of you alone for a minute can I? You either mess up the place, get hurt or hurt each other. Its like taking care of children!" Talia tried to act serious but she couldn't help but smile afterwards.

"Well I don't know what plans you men have, but I'm off duty for a couple hours. I will be back around six to get ready for tomorrow." Searching around she found the spare key and set it on the table. "If one of you decides to stay a bit longer, here is a key for locking up."

Turning she ran up the stairs and grabbed her cloak and tucked her little dagger into her belt. She always took it with her when she went out as a force of habit. It had come in handy before and she knew that it probably would again, especially if she was ever caught out after dark or took quiet shortcut.

"Drayel, I hope you get some sleep." Talia said as she reached the bottom of the stairs. "And Shade....well....have a good day?" Talia really didn't know what to say to that fellow.

[Drayel]

"If you have no protests, I'd like to walk with you actually." Drayel said looking up at her. "After what happened to your friend, I'd feel better if somebody went with you. I'm in need of exercise I think lest I get fat. Though if you're uncomfortable with me, Shade will go I'm sure."

Shade grinned weakly through his wheezes.

"idiot." Drayel grunted before glancing over at Talia with a hum. "Well Miss Idris? Would you mind if one of us went with you? After all, we wouldn't want another disaster to happen while you were gone."