Bianca White
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Just wanna be good to the people who raised me
Posts: 48
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Post by Bianca White on Dec 4, 2010 0:50:25 GMT -8
Time: Day Two, Early Afternoon Weather: Rainy Warnings: None. Characters: [OPEN]
Carrot cake with smooth and tangy cream cheese frosting.
Flaky and golden mille-feuille with rich custard and strawberries.
Dark chocolate cake, with thick fudgy icing.
And now it was time for Bianca White, pastry chef of the Sugar Rush, to start preparing some pies. You can never tell who in Greenvale would like a good slice of pie for dessert or an indulgent treat in Greenvale. Bianca put the finishing touches on organizing the cake slices that would be sold for later in the front counter, humming cheerfully all the while. The carrot cake was a new item the Sugar Rush owner told her to make after testing out a recipe he approved of. Bianca herself was eager to see how customers would recieve it.
The weather was worrisome though. Being a resident of Greenvale for the majority of her life, Bianca knew it was harder to get business during a rainy period. Of course, some people would come in regardless, but it would mean a slower day. It didn't help that there was also that unfortunate incident that occurred...
But no matter.
Most of the pie preparation was done already and all Bianca needed to do was wait for the pies to cook in the oven. For now, she could occupy herself with frosting one more cake near the front counter (it was extra service for the customers, letting them see the cook at her work.) She took off her earrings and placed them in the pocket of her apron and put herself to work.
"I hope someone comes in. Baking is fun and all, but no fun when people won't come out to seek the goods," she murmured to herself.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Dec 4, 2010 1:07:25 GMT -8
Sadly, no one walked through the door - but there was a loud ring that cut through the quiet, sounding once, twice. Someone was calling.
--
On the other end of the line, Michael sat at his desk, back stiffened against his chair and fingers drumming rhythmically upon the desktop. He was agitated...he had a great deal to do, but Mister Stewart had insisted that he take a few minutes to take a break. When he had objected, he was only given orders to call Sugar Rush for a thing or two...presumably to try and cheer him up. He appreciated the sentiment, but still, he was feeling markedly impatient....
Besides, this was unusual. They had never called the store for delivery before, and Michael wondered why they would start now.
Honestly, Mister Stewart was simply very concerned about the younger man, and he just wanted to find some way to divert his attentions to something more pleasant.
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Bianca White
New Member
Just wanna be good to the people who raised me
Posts: 48
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Post by Bianca White on Dec 4, 2010 1:12:39 GMT -8
The phone on the wall was ringing. Bianca blinked, interrupted from being immersed with frosting. There were more calls during rainy days when people wanted their desserts to be delivered. Well, the cake was mostly done anyways. Bianca could get one of her co-workers to finish decorating it so she could attend to other matters.
Besides, she had a somewhat good idea of who would be calling right now.
She answered took the phone off the wall and said in a polite voice.
"Hello, this is the Sugar Rush! How may I help you?"
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Post by Mister Stewart on Dec 4, 2010 1:26:41 GMT -8
The voice that answered was one that Bianca would certainly recognize - no one else spoke quite so lyrically in every day conversation. "Miss Bianca White." Nor did anyone else address people at the start of a conversation that way.
"I - that is to say, Mister Stewart - would like to place an order for delivery. For health concerns, it is unsafe to go out in the rain, you see. So says Mister Stewart." Strangely, Michael's voice - usually so clear and concise - sounded a bit raspy today, a slight tired drone slurring his words just a bit near the end of his phrases. This was very unusual for him...usually he took such pains to speak clear as a bell. There was a sound of paper being fidgeted with.
"When you are ready, go ahead and say - Mister Stewart wrote the order down for me to relay."
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Bianca White
New Member
Just wanna be good to the people who raised me
Posts: 48
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Post by Bianca White on Dec 4, 2010 1:37:19 GMT -8
"Oh, hello Michael," Bianca said pleasantly, not at all phased by the poetic speech Harry Stewart's attendant was known for. His tone was rather different today though. She wondered if it would be all right to ask if he was feeling well, but that could be saved for later.
"And of course. What would Mister Stewart like for dessert today?"
Something with strawberries, Bianca supposed. They had some strawberry pie that was taken out of the oven an hour ago, strawberry shortcake-- perhaps she could recommend the mille-feuille?
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Post by Mister Stewart on Dec 4, 2010 3:06:02 GMT -8
It was nice to deal with someone he knew, Michael thought to himself. After the day he had had yesterday with newcomers, he wasn't really feeling much up to new acquaintances today. Turning his eyes down towards the paper he had been given, he read over it a moment before speaking again.
"We would like an order of strawberry shortcake, please - also, a couple of chocolate eclairs. Delivery would certainly put us at ease, if driving in the rain is something anyone dares." ...Not all of Michael's rhymes were gems. Sometimes, they were completely impractical - but if they were hard to think up, he would never make it known. His voice remained calm and deadpan, though there was a faint shake he had to cough to clear away. Was he sick?
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Post by Atlas on Dec 4, 2010 11:20:47 GMT -8
Atlas parked in the lot of the pastry shop. Despite the rain that everyone fear and loathed in Greenvale, it's doors were still open. He wondered why, but decided not to complain. "Sugar Rush. A sweet tooth's dream come true, and a diabetic's worst nightmare." he thought at the title of the stop. He open the door and alright felt like he was getting drenched. He quickly got out and shut the door. He walked calmly towards the entrance of the shop and opened the door.
A bell rang as he opened the door. He looked inside and was immediately able to grab the fresh aroma of baked goods. He looked around and up ahead. A glass display showing several different cakes, pies and pastries, kept cold to stay fresh for the day. There was a young, pretty looking brunette behind the counter, taking a call. "So, this place does deliveries, huh. I'll keep that in mind."
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Bianca White
New Member
Just wanna be good to the people who raised me
Posts: 48
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Post by Bianca White on Dec 4, 2010 11:30:46 GMT -8
"So, that will be a strawberry shortcake and chocolate eclairs," repeated the young woman. She took a notepad and wrote down Mister Stewart's order.
"And delivery won't be a problem. I'll come by in about..." Bianca looked up at the sound of the bell tingling. There was another customer and someone she could honestly say she did not recognize as being part of Greenvale. She moved the phone away from her ear to tell Atlas politely,
"Welcome! Just take a look around and I'll be there with you soon."
She returned to the phone to finish her conversation.
"I'll be there in about fifteen minutes. Will that be all right Michael?"
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Post by Mister Stewart on Dec 4, 2010 12:21:44 GMT -8
"Fifteen minutes would be fine - please, drive carefully, take your time. It would be best to use our second drive - it would make it easier to tell when you've arrived." Michael was referring to their second driveway, further up the road from the first. It was still gated, but used a great deal less...a service entrance. There was another paper rustling sound - he turned a page on the bank book in front of him idly, double-checking some random numbers in his head. He didn't feel very focused today.
"Thank you, Bianca, for your time - please, don't worry about lateness if there is a line."
With that, he hung up the phone with a click, running his hand back over his hair in a slightly exasperated fashion. No time for this. I need to vacuum guest rooms three and seven today, and the linens need changing soon....
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Post by Atlas on Dec 4, 2010 17:20:53 GMT -8
"Alright, take your time." Atlas replied.
he took a brief look around. There were some tables set up, though they looked abandoned. There were various different desserts, including strawberry shortcake, chocolate eclairs, carrot cakes, and even a big dark chocolate cake. And yet, no cheese danish? I am disappointed. It seems no place stocks them these days.
He decided what he would want for lunch. Not the healthiest way to go, but that's the price for not stopping by the Milk Barn yesterday.
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Bianca White
New Member
Just wanna be good to the people who raised me
Posts: 48
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Post by Bianca White on Dec 4, 2010 17:26:11 GMT -8
Bianca hung up the phone around the same time Michael did. His directions were still fresh in her mind and she made the mental note of where to park when she got to Harry Stewart's house. Now there was a customer to attend to first. Might as well get that out of the way. She hurried back to the front counter.
"Is there anything you would like in particular today sir? Our carrot cake is a new item the owner just recently added," said Bianca, pointing to the freshly cut slices.
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Post by Atlas on Dec 4, 2010 17:34:06 GMT -8
"The carrot cake sounds delicious. However, I will only take a slice. I live with no one else that would be able to finish off the rest." Atlas responded. "Also, do you serve coffee. It's alright if you don't, but just wondering."
He had heard she was about to make a delivery and looked outside. Rain. Lots of it. Normally, most locals wouldn't even think of venturing outside.
"So, I hear you're making a delivery in the rain. You're obviously a lot braver than most of the folks here."
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Bianca White
New Member
Just wanna be good to the people who raised me
Posts: 48
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Post by Bianca White on Dec 4, 2010 18:07:46 GMT -8
Bianca smiled and nodded.
"All right then. One carrot cake slice to go."
As she opened up the sliding door of the counter to take out a slice of cake, Bianca chuckled at Atlas's remark. He probably was somewhat new here then, but had been here long enough to know of people's preference to stay out of the rain in Greenvale.
"You couldn't help but overhear huh? I wouldn't call it brave. It's just me helping the business run, rain or shine."
She carefully placed the slice into a paper wrap and then the wrapped up cake went into a small red box.
"Of course, most folks here in Greenvale prefer to stay out of the rain, but there will be some who go out regardless. There are things that need to be done and a little rain just isn't an excuse sometimes."
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Post by Atlas on Dec 5, 2010 18:55:53 GMT -8
"That's a very admirable attitude." Atlas responded. "Of course, I close the office during the rain only because no one really shows up, but if someone did and I happened to be there, I wouldn't turn them away..."
He thought a bit about her last words. "Sometimes, there are things that need to be done a little rain sometimes isn't an excuse, huh?" he thought. "That reminds me, I should go there afterwards..."
"Maybe I should introduce myself. Atticus Lasseter, Attorney at Law. My friends and loved ones call me Atlas."
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Bianca White
New Member
Just wanna be good to the people who raised me
Posts: 48
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Post by Bianca White on Dec 5, 2010 19:04:46 GMT -8
Bianca nodded in recognition and handed Atlas his packaged cake slice.
"Atticus Lasseter... I knew I didn't recognize the name. Either that, or I haven't been keeping up with who's who and what in Greenvale."
Bianca couldn't say she was on buddy-buddy terms with everyone in Greenvale, but seeing as the population was small, she knew at least knew most of the townspeople by their names. Even after four years away in college didn't soften her memory of the town.
"How long have you been here Mr. Lasseter? Oh, and call me Bianca White. I'm one of the pastry chefs here."
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