The Heart Shaped Pastry Shop

[Missy_Vonheart]

“Hiya! Welcome to my Pastry shop! How can I help you?” I smile as I wipe my flour covered hands on my flour covered apron, “Oh hey, it’s you! C’mon in, have a cup of coffee! How ya doing?”

You look around the quaint shop. Stain glass windows with pictures of flowers; rose colored, stained, wood floors; up above you ivy hangs gracefully from the dark wood beams that run parallel to the eaves of the roof. Delicious smells hover in the air smelling of something wonderful baking in the oven, spices, and coffee; you spy shortcakes, rolls, muffins, donuts, cookies, snickerdoodles, kolaches, lefse, and krumkake sitting in dishes and trays all over the counter space. Cozy chairs surround a low sitting table in one corner; in the other corner a fluffy, fat cat is curled up in a pile of cushions snoozing away the afternoon.

~Hey gang! Let me know if you ever want to chat, are bored, or have a riddle up your sleeve. I’m almost always on the forums (unless I’m not) and this is my chill spot. Feel free to grab a snack, they’re on the house always! Von appétit, er I mean, Bon appétit!~ -M.V.

[Azeline_Darkheap]

I come across a quaint little shop, drawn to it by the flavorful aromas that seeped out the windows. I might as well get some coffee before I start work with Miss Kareena. My black steampunk trench coat flaps in the breeze as I enter the elegant pastry store.

"Good morning, miss. I assume I'm your first customer today? Come to think of it, am I your very first customer? I don't believe I have seen your store around here before. And one cup of coffee for me, please. To go."

[Missy_Vonheart]

“Yes’m! One cup of piping hot amazingness to go!” I dance to the back of the store humming to the tune of “Give me oil in my lamp” while I image coffee instead of oil in the song. I pour the brew into a cute brown paper cup and the steam carries the wonderful smell up to my face causing my goggles to temporarily fog over (not that kind of fog). “Here you are, miss! Enjoy!”

[Emily_Purplebottle]

I step into the street, my cloak hood pulled low over my face. I see a sign for a pastry shop and slip in. Pulling my cloak around me and pushing the hood back a little, but not enough for anyone to see my eyes, I walk to the counter.
“What would you like?” Asks the woman at the counter, eyeing me a little suspiciously. “I have shortcakes, rolls, muffins, donuts, cookies, snickerdoodles, kolaches, lefse, and krumkake!”
I look around the building as she says this, seeing another woman with a steaming mug.
“Um. I think I’ll have five donuts please.” I say, pushing a loose strand of dark brown hair behind my ear. “And,” I say, leaning in a little. “Do you know of any mysteries afoot?”

---

@Missy_Vonheart

[Missy_Vonheart]

“Do you know of any mysteries afoot?”

I glance quickly at my first customer but she seems absorbed in her own thoughts. I give a little jerk with my head to indicate to the second to follow me behind the counter. “The donuts are in the back, follow me.” She steps through the little swinging half door at the counter and we slip past the kitchen into the storage space in the back. “Odd for you to ask a question like that right off the bat; tell me about yourself, I may have some information for you.” @Emily_Purplebottle

[Azeline_Darkheap]

I nod my head as a token of my thanks and take a little sip of the coffee as the strong aroma fills my head. Hmm, needs more sugar. Did she even put any in? A young, hooded lady enters the shop and asks about any mysteries. My ears are pricked, and just as I look up to ask the owner for more sugar, the owner and young lady are gone. What was that about a mystery? Maybe I should stay for a few more minutes. Any information may be useful for the mission I'm sent to this area for. I should say I want another beverage to go, a little treat for Miss @Kareena_Northheart. I decide to stay around for a few more minutes and use my acute hearing to locate where Miss Owner and the young lady are.

[Sheka_Crinkleaddled1]

I entered the pastry shop, feeling a little exited about what they might sell. Cupcakes and cookies and douhnuts and.... when I entered the room, my childhood came flooding back. That smell when you pull a freshed-baked goodie out of the oven, reminded me of the times my mother would make her apple-pie. The cozy, feeling of it reminded me of the small dome that I once called home. Hello? Is anyone here? I knew someone was here, I just got that feeling, that instinct, and I knew there was something in this little shop that was off. I put my ear to a wall, and heard two voices

[Missy_Vonheart]

“Snore!” The cat’s noisy sleeping interrupts @Azeline_Darkheap and @Sheka_Crinkleaddled1’s thoughts.

[Azeline_Darkheap]

I lean against the counter, waiting for Miss Owner, when suddenly another young lady enters the shop. She appears to not notice me and is lost within her own dreamland. "Hello? Is anyone here?" she calls, still not noticing me. She unknowingly passes by me--her thoughts apparently still in her own dreamland. She appears to be absorbed in the sweet aromas of the shop, when suddenly she puts her ear to one of the walls of the store. What a wonderful way to spy. How unnoticeable. Rather than speaking, I remain silent and watch in amusement at the intriguing little sight. A cat snores in a corner, and I immediately ponder whether it is from one of those "Resisters."

[Sheka_Crinkleaddled1]

I roll my eyes at thy noisy cat, trying to get back into the strange conversation. "When we do this," one of the unknown voices said. "The empire will give us so much money we'll be able to buy the Snowmoors!" The other spoke in a sarcastic tone. "OR we just get the shipment of fog-flamethrowers to evercity, then see what to do with all the cash." my eyes widened and my jaw dropped. There were criminals hiding behind the wall!

[Missy_Vonheart]

“Here are your donuts!” I hand a crisp bag full of goodies to @Emily_Purplebottle as we wander back to the front of the shop. “Thanks!” Elm responds cheerily.
“How can I help you?” I smile at the newest customer who for some odd reason is listening to the wall. Suddenly she jumps, starts tapping the wall, and says, “Uh er, you might want to check for termites. The wall seems funny.”
I raise one brow, “Oooookkkkkk...”
“And I could use a cinnamon roll please.” She finishes.
@Sheka_Crinkleaddled1
The first customer is still standing at the counter, “Did you need anything else, Miss?” @Azeline_Darkheap

[Missy_Vonheart]

(*Em not the tree lol)

[Azeline_Darkheap]

The first customer is still standing at the counter, “Did you need anything else, Miss?”

"Yes, two more cubes of sugar, please. And another coffee to go, with cream puffs on the side."

[Peregrine_Appleclock]

My mouth waters at the sight of the multiple choices of donuts, cupcakes, cookies and rolls in the display case. My nose tingles with the smell of sugar and frosting and bread, the smell one can only trace into a bakery.

Waiting for the attendant, I busy myself fiddling with the chain on my spectacles and gazing at the pastries, trying to decide which goodies I want to tackle first.

[Azeline_Darkheap]

"Yes, two more cubes of sugar, please. And another coffee to go, with cream puffs on the side."

"Sure! Coming right up!" Miss Owner takes my cup of coffee and goes to add two sugar cubes to it. As I wait for my order to be made, I pretend to be conversational and ask Miss Owner about the cat in the corner: "What a lovely feline you have there. Is he, or she, yours?"

[Sheka_Crinkleaddled1]

As I munch happily on the cinnamon roll, I start forgetting about the people in the wall. Maybe they're just kids, trying to joke or something. Or perhaps playing a game. "Is that your cat?" I hear one of the other customers ask. I walk out of the pastry shop, my craving content for now. Today is so beautiful.

[Missy_Vonheart]

“Coming right up!” I pour more coffee and pop some sugar into it. “Any cream?” I ask as I hand the package of cream puffs to the lady.

[Missy_Vonheart]

“I recommend the strawberry tarts, Miss.”
The newest customer looks up.

[Azeline_Darkheap]

“Any cream?” I ask as I hand the package of cream puffs to the lady.

I take the package and reply, "No, but milk will do."

I pretend to be conversational and ask Miss Owner about the cat in the corner: "What a lovely feline you have there. Is he, or she, yours?"

[Peregrine_Appleclock]

"Oh, hi! Strawberry tarts? Umm... actually I don't.... I think I'll take... a dozen donuts. A variety would be great, but no jelly-filled. I'm not big on fruit," I say with a flustered grin.