(no subject)

[sunbaked_baker]

October has been fired. It got no severance pay, that's for certain - not even a good letter of reference. Not with sudden de-aging leading to a week of withdrawal pains and awkward teendom, and then the sudden influx of the undead taking her friend from her - the thought that she could have saved him still echoes around her mind - and traumatizing another... A month can't pull that sheer amount of shit and not expect repercussions. Sunshine's just saying, November had just better be on its best behavior.

She would rather her nightmares not be the most predictable part of her life.

The baker in question is occupying her hands and mind in baking, today. The warm, comforting smells of wheat and rye and butter and yeast, apples and pecans and pumpkin and cinnamon, waft forth from the kitchens. Covered bowls of dough rise in the radiant warmth of the ovens as pies bake within.

Rae's tab is nearly paid off again, and her injuries have been healed. She'll soon have little excuse not to go back to her world. She knows it, but she just doesn't want to think about it. Right now, there is the task at hand. Something in which she can lose herself, for a time. She sings quietly to herself as she kneads the dough, filling the otherwise quiet kitchen with a melancholy, reflective tune.

Comments

[cook_the_rude]

"This smells delightful," says a voice from behind her.

[sunbaked_baker]

The morning's so far off from out here in the night...

Rae looks over her shoulder, smiling slightly at Dr. Lecter. It's a genuine smile, but her eyes are tired with interrupted sleep and lingering grief. "Thank you. The pies should be out soon, if you'd like to taste-test one with me."

[cook_the_rude]

"Of course I would," Dr. Lecter says. "Would I ever miss a chance to savour your baking?"

[sunbaked_baker]

Her smile grows stronger, pleased by the compliment as she stretches the dough, watching it to check the balance of its elasticity and strength until its the right length, then folding it in thirds.

"Which would you prefer?" she asks. "I've made apple, pecan, pumpkin, and sweet potato pies, so far. May make up a chess pie and a ginger-pear tart later while the bread bakes."

[cook_the_rude]

"I think I'd try the sweet potato one," Hannibal says. "But is there anything I can help with first?"

[sunbaked_baker]

The resulting dough is rolled out and then rolled up into a loaf. Rae seals the edges and sets the loaf into a lightly greased loaf pan.

"I think most everything is taken care of, for now," she says, moving the loaf pan to join its fellows next to the oven, and draping the corner of a beautiful, ancient linen bread-cloth over it. Some loaves will be ready to bake soon. Others are midway through their final rise. "Maybe some tea?"

[cook_the_rude]

"I can do that," Hannibal says, filling up the kettle and putting it on to boil. Then, he gets the teapot out, and starts considering the tea cupboard.

"What kind of tea would you prefer?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"A good black tea, I think, something strong," she replies, setting up a cooling rack for the pies. "It's been grey and miserably outside all day today, and there should be something to go well with the pie."

A tea to both wake one up and balance a pie's sweetness.

[cook_the_rude]

"A nice strong classic Assam, I think," Hannibal says, getting down a tin from a rather high shelf.

[street_sparrow]

"Such good smells", Gavroche says as he wanders in. "Like a kitchen should smell."

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae stopped singing when she heard someone approaching the kitchen door. No need to dwell on sad things at people.

"You're just in time for pie," she says, offering a slight smile over her shoulder at him.

[street_sparrow]

"Music to my ears." He grins and takes a seat. "What kind of pie?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"There's apple pie, potato pie, pecan pie, and sweet potato pie in the oven, just about ready to come out," she smiles.

[street_sparrow]

"Hmmm." He gives this due thought. "I don't think I've had sweet potato pie before."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Well, in a few minutes, you won't be able to say that any more," Rae says with a slight smile, putting water on for tea. Just because she's glad to see him doesn't negate the melancholy that has been plaguing her lately.

[street_sparrow]

"Always up for new experiences." Gavroche smiles, but he's looking at her carefully. "How have you been?"

[sunbaked_baker]

She smiles, but it's not true. It's a comforting smile, to hide one's hurt.

"A bit down, really. Halloween was a nice distraction, but too much has been... there's just been too much, lately."

[herr_bookman]

Autor knocks on the door before entering, offering her a little wave from the doorway. "Hello, Rae," he says, peeking in at the ovens. "What are you making?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"Spinach, feta cheese, and cracked black pepper bread," she offers a smile over her shoulder at him as she finishes forming the loaf and setting it into the loaf pan for its final rise.

"But also, pie," Rae adds, bringing the loaf pan over to the ovens where its fellows rise in the radiant warmth as the pies bake within. "Which you're just in time to taste-test with me, if you like."

[herr_bookman]

"That all sounds wonderfully passable," Autor says, and crosses to the counter at the invitation. "Who puts spinach in bread? I'll have to taste it and disprove my suspicions about such. Yes."

He leans on the counter. "Pie would be lovely, too. Can I help or get drinks or something?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"Glad it sounds passable," she snorts slightly, amused, as she covers the loaf with a bread cloth, leaving it to rise. "Though you'll find that spinach in bread is fantastic and should not be considered suspect."

"Drinks would be good," Rae agrees, and moves to put together a cooling rack for the pies. "I'll have whatever you're having." She trusts his judgement when it comes to drinks.

[herr_bookman]

"Well, all I have to go on is your word," he says, in a tone that implies that that's more than enough, "and my past experience with your cooking. Still. We shall see. I suspect the experiment to be very scientific."

He tilts his head, mulling over drink options. "What are we taste-testing?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"Well, if it's going to be scientific, you'll have to remember to write down all of your findings about spinach in bread," Rae points out. "Else it's not science."

The baker pulls on a pair of oven mitts, and heads over to the oven, where a timer helpfully bing!s at her.

"I've got apple pie, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and sweet potato pie," she says, carefully removing the hot pies from the oven and moving them to the cooling racks. "Which would you like to try?"

[herr_bookman]

"Wait, you have pumpkin? Really?" he blurts, cinching that option. "A little of that and the apple would be great! Er. Please. They're sort of traditional, but I like them."

He notes he's going to head out for drinks and returns with two vanilla milkshakes. "Bar put the sparkles in," he says, plucking the napkin from his hair.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Pumpkin it is!" she grins. "Is it okay if we just taste-test the pumpkin and not it and the apple? I'm hoping to sell these later today."

When he returns there's two hot slices of pumpkin pie served up and ready.

"Ooh! Good choice. Cold milkshakes to complement hot pie."