Andy Dubois

Copper still wasn't totally sold on the muffins, but he had to admit that Andy's enthusiasm was starting to intrigue him. This guy was a baker, and he knew what tasted good in baked goods; what reason did Copper have to doubt him? The answer was there was none - he had no reason to. Still somewhat tentative, Copper conceded, "Alright, twist my arm why don't you?" but he had a wide smile on his face, clearly just joking. He took one of the muffins, hesitating just a little, and then he took a bite. Right away, Copper realized he'd made a grave error, and once he swallowed, he looked at Andy with an unreadable expression on his face. Finally Copper said, "Okay, I was wrong. This is amazing." And then he took another bite.

After devouring his muffin and considering another, Copper was excited to talk business with Andy. "That sounds great," he told the other man. "Honestly it's whatever you feel comfortable with. I just know that they're going to sell fast, and I'm excited for people to see how good you are." He liked seeing how excited Andy was, and Copper was glad he'd come up with this. "Just tell me what it cost to make everything, and I'll pay you that upfront plus whatever you feel is fair so you make a profit." Despite owning a business, this was the sort of thing Copper wasn't very good at, the business side of things. He was doing alright, but there was room for improvement.

Andy watched the way Copper's face changed completely as he lifted that muffin and took the first bite. His curious expression shifted to a light-humored 'I-Told-You-So' look. "Hmmm, it's almost like I know what I'm talking about..." he said with a little smile on his face. "Take as many as you want! Best way to sneak in your veggies for the day," he joked. Eating pastries definitely wasn't the same as eating healthy, but that never stopped Andy!

Copper's offer made his day, his week and maybe his month if he was honest. While he was having a great time at the bakery, he also liked the idea of having a side gig doing what he loved most. "Alright, let's do this. I will make a grocery list of what I need to make a couple of batches. I'll buy them, and get copies of the receipts for your records, so you know where your money's going. I'll take note of how long it takes to make everything, and then charge by the hour," he proposed. "Then add in the price for the total goods and we'll have a good baseline fee," he proposed. "If that sounds good to you, I'll start a list later tonight and give you a call once it's done."

Closed starter: Andy ( @andydubois ) Location: Hometown Grocers

Griffin was craving something sweet, but Colt definitely was. Whereas Griffin could pretty much always eat a piece of cake or pie or a cupcake or cookie or anything of that nature, Colt only had a sweet tooth once in awhile, but when he did, he was basically ravenous. It was kind of funny actually, though it was also a little scary if his appetite wasn't satiated. Add the fact that Griffin was trying to get closer to his siblings, and, well...here they were at Hometown Grocers. It was closer to where they'd been when Colt's sudden craving had struck than any other bakery, and besides, Griffin had tried those already and not found what he was craving. This was his last chance.

There was a man behind the counter, the baker seemingly, and Griffin told Colt to decide what he wanted before getting the other man's attention. "Excuse me," he said, "do you by chance have pignolata?" As soon as he asked it, Colt looked at him and rolled his eyes, and Griffin warned, "Not a word out of you about my 'bougie' tastes." Colt smirked, and Griffin didn't know if this was good natured banter or if Colt was going to be telling his friends tonight how pretentious his brother was. But to Griffin, it wasn't pretentious. In fact, pignolata wasn't even that expensive, it just wasn't as common here as it had been in NYC, where he could basically get anything at any hour of the day. It was taking a lot more getting use to than Griffin had expected, living in a small town again. "It's cool if you don't, but I figure it couldn't hurt to ask," he said to the man. Looking at him, he wondered if he knew him from when he lived here before or from his visits; he seemed younger but not too much so. "I'm Griffin, and this is Colt, my brother," he told the baker. "I'm actually a Cardinal Hill native, but I just moved back a couple of weeks ago.

#andy music #he definitely sings this into a spatula to Claire in the kitchen while he's baking and doing a lil dance

Andy could bake French pastries with his eyes closed. He learned from his mother and grandmother, recipes passed down by generations. They were recipes he would've been happy to pass down himself, had life been any different. But he didn't linger on the shadow of that thought as he moved throughout his day. Lattice cakes had been restocked, as had been the buttery sweet Madeleine cookies.

He had been busy restocking the donut display when the pair walked up to the counter. He closed the case and smiled at them. "Hey! It's nice to meet you," he said when Griffin introduced himself and his brother. "I'm Andy, I'm the baker here." He looked around and shook his head a little.

"I don't have any pignolata, but I know exactly what that is. If you give me about three hours, I can make some. I know three hours sounds like a lot, but there's a lot that goes into it if you want it to come out right, like from an Italian bakery," he mused. "Now, I'm not Italian myself, but I did learn how to make that from a lady who used to work as a baker in Sicily. It's been a little while, though," he nodded.

#griffin & andy

“You’re very talented,” Amin complimented Andy about his decorating skills. “I certainly couldn’t do all that lettering,” he added. Amin could barely hold a pencil properly. He couldn’t imagine wielding a piping bag and writing legibly. It really was impressive what Andy could do with ease it seemed from the way he spoke about baking.

Amin wasn’t envious hearing about Andy’s checkered work past in Cardinal Hill. As soon as Amin got a job in Cardinal Hill he’d begun working the butcher counter at the grocery store and been working there since. He wasn’t passionate about the job but it was easy and he’d gotten enough raises over the years to make it lucrative to work there if he had no reason to leave. “I’m glad you found the bakery department. It sounds like that’s the work you were looking for,” Amin commented. “And working here at the grocery store isn’t bad. A discount on groceries is nice.” Outside of rent his grocery bill was his next biggest expensive in life so it was nice getting a discount on it even if he wasn’t doing anything with the money he was saving.

"Yeah, I guess I do," Amin confirmed though he didn't really think about it much. Cooking was a necessity to life and he'd been responsible for his meals his entire adult life though Amin was reminded that there were some full grown adults who relied entirely on the frozen food section of the grocery store they were in. "If you really want, I promise my cooking isn't anything exciting," he insisted. Amin ate very simply and he wasn't even sure what dish he could even cook that would be worth trading especially with someone who was a professional baker. "I don't have a cat allergy either. I could cook in your kitchen if you wanted," Amin offered though that felt a little bold to propose. Swapping dishes was one thing but actively cooking around each other was another but he already mentioned it and he couldn't take that back now. "I didn't know you had a cat," he followed up switching gears a little. Amin had grown up around animals his entire life but he'd yet to find a companion of any sort since moving to Cardinal Hill.

Amin's compliment made Andy beam. His cheeks always had a little hint of rosiness to them, but it seemed a little deeper now as he looked away with a shadow of shyness. Baking and decorating were more than just an art. For Andy, it was a lifeline. He'd felt fortunate to have gotten a job at the bakery department. It needed new life breathed into it, and Andy only hoped he was able to do that with his skill set. "I'm glad I found it, too," he said, letting the words taper off into a gentle silence. He smiled and took a sip of his drink, then looked up at Amin again.

They both considered swapping dishes, and when Andy hinted at inviting Amin over, he smiled at the other's question. "Yeah! I have a real pretty calico. I'm not sure of her breed, though. I think she's British longhair but might be mixed with Maine Coon, cause she's a bit big," he started, unsure of whether or not Amin knew anything about cats or cat breeds. "But regardless, she's very regal. Her name is Claire," he smiled. "I never really had pets growing up, so Claire was my first foray into having a pet and it's actually been working out great. Low maintenance, except for when she requires attention and snuggles," he said matter-of-factly.

"Not that I like... do that a ton! I don't track cat hair everywhere, don't worry," he said, suddenly aware that he sounded like a crazy cat lady and showing off that his shirt was free of any pet hair. He would die of embarrassment if any cat hair got into his baked goods!

Nodding, Copper agreed, "Yeah, I get it. It's probably the way an artist would feel about their work, and...I guess you kind of are. An artist, I mean. Baking is another creative skill that not everyone has." Copper definitely didn't. He wasn't very skilled when it came to anything art related. "I don't know that I have what it takes, apart from pizza crust, which you're right, it is much better when you make it yourself. I'm more of a wordy sort of person, which is why I'm a writer, not an artist." Though by Copper's own logic, maybe that was art too. He tried not to look disgusted when Andy talked about his lemon blueberry cucumber muffins, but honestly that just didn't sound like a very appetizing mix. But he also trusted Andy. "What does it taste like then?" he asked. "I guess maybe it's similar to the way people put zucchini in baked goods, right?"

"It's okay, I didn't actually specify," Copper told Andy. "And I do live with a dog, though he's my brother's dog." Copper and Baxter got along, but he was definitely more of a cat guy. He continued petting Claire, so enamored with her, though he paid attention to what Andy was saying too. He smiled at the other's reaction to Copper's idea, glad he'd brought it up. "I'm serious," Copper confirmed, turning toward Andy again while still petting Claire. "I think people in town would really like something homemade like that. Some of what I put out is sort of mass produced, like it arrives from somewhere else. Some of it even arrives frozen. So I think this would be something special and unique." Nodding, he assured Andy, "Yeah, we'd start small and see how it goes, how much free time you have and all of that, but it could be a good way to test out new recipes too."

Andy couldn't remember the last time anyone called him any kind of artist, but if Copper was calling him one, he was absolutely taking it. Most days it felt like he was just going through the motions, and it was easy to forget that baking wasn't just a labor of love, but truly a work of art sometimes. He had to laugh at the look on Copper's face when he described the muffin concoction. "Okay, okay, I know how it sounds, and you're right. It's kinda like that, yeah, or like carrots in carrot cake. Only cucumber isn't as fibrous. Better mouth feel," he tried to explain. "Just try one! The blueberry lemon flavor really does all the legwork, I promise," he said, trying to reassure Copper.

The more he thought about it, the more Copper's offer seemed like a good move for him. It would get his work out there, and generate him a little more income and give him a little more disposable income. "Alright... How about... we start with some basics. Raspberry thumbprint cookie batches in little bags, some fudgy brownie bars, anddd... something cakey. Maybe a classic lemon fluff cake for the summer. I can whip those up, write you an invoice and bring them by whenever you want. You just tell me when?" he asked. This was all incredibly exciting, and it showed in the way his eyes almost gleamed. "I guess it helps when you're friends with a coffee shop owner, right?"

As he listened to Andy talk about his love of baking, Copper smiled. "I can understand the appeal," he replied. "I mean, not only do you get delicious treats - well...usually at least - but there's probably a sense of accomplishment when a recipe goes right. It's like...putting a puzzle together. If the pieces don't fit together perfectly, then it won't be right, even if it resembles the picture of what it's supposed to be." Copper looked at the different baking ingredients and tools around the kitchen, and he thought that baking wasn't for him; it seemed so complicated, though he supposed there were some exceptions. "I make my own pizza dough," Copper told Andy. "I mean sometimes I just buy the shell already or the pre-made dough to make the crust, but sometimes I make it from scratch. It always tastes better that way. So I get what you mean I think." Copper always felt so accomplished when it came out right. "I know recipes are important," he said, "but do you ever modify them, make them your own?"

Copper was already obsessed with Claire, and he felt pleased that she was giving him a chance. "It's an honor, m'lady," Copper told the cat, giving her a small bow and laughing. "You're a soft girl, aren't you?" he commented, smiling at her. Looking back at Andy, Copper said, "See, that's why cats are just better. It just means more when you earn their affection and trust." He continued petting Claire until he heard Andy's reply, and then Copper stopped and turned back to him. "Oh Viktor isn't a dog," he told the other. "He's a cat too. I don't think I'd ever have a dog to be honest, though I guess I kind of do now since my brother moved into my house recently and brought his with him. He's kind of a pain in the ass." Copper loved Baxter too, but he was definitely more high maintenance than a cat was.

"Maybe you could sell them at like a local farmer's market or something," Copper suggested. "That way you wouldn't have to advertise yourself or anything. And there are always the different festivals in town too you could sell your things at." Then he had a thought, and Copper suggested, "Or I could sell them for you at the shop. People will buy them, trust me. I hardly ever have anything left over at the end of the day, and what I do, the baristas take home. So it never goes to waste. Of course I'd buy everything off of you upfront, so you wouldn't lose money if that happened."

#copper & andy #he's so excited about this LOL!

"There is! I think that's part of the draw for me. I like feeling like I've poured my heart and soul into something and made something worthwhile and worth sharing," Andy said with a nod. "Pizza dough is definitely one of those things that make a world of difference when you make it yourself instead of buying the pre-made shells at the store," he said, commending Copper for that. When asked if he modified recipes, Andy nodded. "Oh, absolutely! All the time! That's how you really grow as a baker. I love combining different flavors into things to make something new. Sometimes it's a bit of trial and error, but I wouldn't have my lemon blueberry cucumber muffins if I didn't! And before you write them off, the cucumber isn't vegetable tasting at all when you combine it with everything else!" he said, holding a finger up like he's made a big discovery.

Andy watched as Claire let Copper pet her. It was such a rare occurrence, that it made him laugh quietly. He gave Copper an apologetic smile when he corrected that Viktor was a cat as well. "Oh! I don't know why I had the impression that he was a dog! But yes, I would love to meet him. Cats are just wonderful company most of the time, when they're not being sassy about wanting attention."

Copper's idea of selling baked goods at a farmer's market was actually really good, and it had him thinking for a moment. "Hmm... maybe when they open up applications for vending, I'll give it a shot." And then Copper suggested selling his baked goods at the coffee shop, and Andy's face lit up. "Really? You'd wanna do that?" he asked. He'd never really considered a side hustle as an independent baker before, mostly because the idea of starting up his own business scared him. It was a big commitment. But this? This he could do. "I guess I could start out with something small at first... and then you can give me feedback on how well it does, if people like it. Then I could prepare more things. Maybe start out with some coffeecakes you could slice up, and maybe some cookies? Things that'll keep well throughout the day," he nodded. "What do you think?"

hearthandhallows

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Oh, Andy, I think I’d have a heart attack if I didn’t measure. I admire that about you.” He laughed, shaking his head. Felix loved baking, but he treated it like a science, and even though he knew most of his recipes by heart, he’d still have that cookbook open, reading from it. Maybe that was part of going through the motions, like Andy, just a bit different.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ When Andy asked for an elaboration, Felix felt their chest flutter softly. “So… it started out silly.” he admitted, laughing lightly, brushing his hands together as if to shake off the nerves. “After that big storm a while back, I was out walking around town. Just... restless, I guess. I didn’t really plan to go toward Breaking Glass Bar, but I found myself there anyway. Like my feet knew where to go before I did.” He glanced down at his fingers, fidgeting now, not with anxiety, exactly, just a familiar rhythm he fell into when sorting through feelings.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Have you seen the bartender there? Leo?” His smile brightened, crooked and just a little shy. “God, Andy, he’s so, he’s just so hot. There’s really no other way to say it.” He huffed out another breath of laughter, covering his face for a moment with one hand. “And, uh… I’ve never done anything like this before, but I went back to his cabin.”

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The blush that followed bloomed across his cheeks, hot and fast. He didn’t bother elaborating. It didn’t feel necessary.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ His hand instinctively moved to his chest, like he could hold the feeling in place. “I don’t really know what kind of friendship we have. But he’s kind. And funny. And he listens. He makes me feel happy. I like talking to him.” His voice grew softer, more thoughtful, like he was admitting it to himself for the first time.‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ After a beat, he leaned back, the mood lightening again as a playful grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “But anyway, your turn.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Tell me about your cute guy. I want details.”

Andy could certainly understand needing to follow a recipe to the letter. That's how he began as a kid, but eventually it became so secondary to his nature that he could measure just by eyeballing things. "That's good, too. Measuring things exactly is how you get consistency. I sometimes measure stuff out at work, if only because they need to keep track of how much ingredients we go through. But I guess I don't at home. It's like that for a lot of things in life. You follow the book when you're expected to, and when you can take your shoes off at home, you just do whatever you want and still get good results," he mused with a little shrug. He liked to live by that, at least.

Andy pulled a plate of chocolate chunk cookies and brought one up to nibble as he listened to Felix, rapt by the story and the details being regaled on him by his friend. His eyes were wide with excitement for Felix, and he couldn't help the goofy little smile. "I haven't met him yet, I don't think, but holy shit, Felix! Good for you, man. I really hope that works out for you. It's good to see you this happy," he said, nudging the cookie plate over. This was the sort of thing he lived for, relishing the way his friend found something that brought light and tenderness into their own life. The hand on the chest said it all, and Andy didn't need to know the nitty gritty of what happened to know that Felix had found something wonderful and exciting.

And then the question was turned on him, and Andy's ears immediately turned red.

"I um... Well, nothing quite so exciting, but...! Ever since I've been working at the grocery store now, I've been working with this guy named Amin. He's so tall, with the prettiest eyes you've ever seen. It almost breaks your heart to look at them," he said, smiling and looking down at the cookie that his fingers began to pick apart with slight nervousness. "He's really nice, too. We um... We exchanged numbers, and I think we're gonna hang out soon. But it's like... I walk in to work, and every time I see him, my heart beats crazy, and I try hard not to find any excuse to go to the butcher counter. But we've had lunch together a couple of times at the break room and it's... Really nice. It's hard to explain, but there's a feeling, like you just click with someone so well. It doesn't happen a lot for me. This time, he just also happens to be really hot. I just hope I don't beef it. No pun intended." He smiled a little shyly.

#felix & andy

#andy aesthetic #musings #this is perfect!!

Hometown Grocers: Your One-Stop Shop

An aesthetic moodboard for Amin Arafa’s place of work with Andy Dubois ( @andydubois ), Corey Agnew ( @innocentcurse ), & Hubert Tripps ( @angstfactory )

Amin was well aware of the impending holiday. From the announcements made over the loudspeaker in the grocery store about the Mother's Day sales every half hour to the commercials that aired in between his shows at home he'd had plenty of commercial reminders for the day. Like most holidays now he was numb to the day's existence. Amin hadn't celebrated the holiday in years now and it no longer was a day of heartbreak for him. Amin grieved every day of his life and he was sure that would never stop but he'd learned to cope with it a lot better the longer he's had to sit with it. Mother's Day was like any other Sunday in the year for Amin. He'd be standing behind the butcher counter all day and had no other plans beyond that.

He could understand why it was busy in Andy's department this time of year. People didn't exactly flock to the butcher counter for Mother's Day it was more so a Father's Day occurrence that people were trying to buy steaks. "Yeah, I'm sure you're really busy over there. I walked by the cakes were looking very nice. Do you do the decorating as well?" Amin asked. He wasn't sure what all the job entailed working in the bakery. It just felt like Andy held more duties than Amin did since he spent most of his day just portioning things and weighing them out. "Were you working in a restaurant before you started here?" Amin asked. He was sure Andy had told him this already but it'd slipped his mind.

Amin looked down at his food as Andy brought attention to it. "I did, yeah, it's nothing special," he explained and it really wasn't. Amin was a proficient cook but he didn't exactly take pleasure in the act and most of his meals consisted of a basic protein, starch and assortment of vegetables arranged in enough ways that he didn't get too bored with his food. "I like their sandwiches in the deli though. I really like their turkey subs," Amin said. It wasn't like he got them very often though. He wasn't one to forget his lunch or splurge on a meal.

Andy beamed when Amin said he'd noticed the cakes looking very nice at the bakery. "Yeah! I baked and decorated them. I tried not to make too many of them look exactly the same so people had a variety to pick from. The floral ones are selling like hotcakes, so I'll probably need to hustle and make a few more," he said, trying not to humble brag about it. But Amin had noticed his hard work, and that made him feel quietly proud of himself, if he was being honest.

"I did! I worked at the diner for a time and tried to see if they would let me just bake, you know? Pies, breads, cakes and all that. But they really needed me kind of all over, so I wound up doing breakfast shifts a lot. It was nice and all, but not what I wanted to be doing. Then I tried working at the coffee shop, but... same thing. I couldn't just stick to one thing, they needed more from me. So... here I am," he said, gesturing vaguely at the store around them. He was glad to be there. Andy wasn't sure if he would've had the opportunity to really get to know Amin otherwise.

Amin's lunch looked special enough. It was certainly more remarkable than his sandwich. But Andy didn't make a fuss over it, simply nodding as he listened. "I take it you like to cook then? I bet you know what the best cuts of meat are for all kinds of dishes," he mused. "Maybe we could trade sometime, if you were up for it. I'd bake you something in exchange for you preparing an entree or something," he shrugged. "Or maybe I'll just invite you over, if you don't have cat allergies..." he trailed off, pausing to bite into his sandwich.

Everyone had their coping mechanisms, and both writing and baking seemed like healthy ways to do that (unless the baking led to frequent binging, but that didn't seem to be the case here). "How long have you been doing this anyway?" Copper asked, watching as Andy worked. He knew nothing about baking, so what Andy said didn't totally click, so Copper replied, "I'll have to take your word for it. If you do something like that though, is it at all salvageable, or do you basically have to start over?" At first, Copper thought there was one notable difference between baking and writing as a coping mechanism: at least with baking, you had something to show for it. But then he realized that wasn't really true because he assumed that just finishing a baking project didn't mean the first result was actually edible. What Andy was making now though definitely looked delicious.

Claire really was a queen, and Copper was smitten from the very start. "Does she have a little bit of a cattitude?" Copper asked as he pet the cat, looking back at Andy. "I heard calicos sometimes do. Of course, I guess every cat can. I think that's why I like them, or one of the reasons: you have to earn their love and affection. They don't just give it out freely like dogs." Pausing, Copper realized how that sounded, but he stood by it. "I'm not really a dog person," he admitted. "I'd love for you to meet Viktor though. He loves everyone he meets, well...usually. If he doesn't like you, then I legitimately question your character." It sounded like a joke, but Copper meant this 100%. After giving Claire one last pet, Copper walked back toward the kitchen. "Do you ever sell any of this stuff you make here back at the grocery store?" he asked Andy.

Andy smiled when Copper asked how long he'd been baking. "Probably since I was in middle school. I found a cookbook for kids at the public library. It was... I think Betty Crocker's Cookbook for Boys and Girls. And I flipped through it and just knew I wanted to make all these tasty treats. They were simple things, like pigs in a blanket, simple jams and things. But I think that was enough to spark the joy of preparing food. And I especially took to baking. Taking a few dry ingredients and turning them into fluffy cakes, or soft flaky breads and things," he said with clear passion and warmth in his voice. "So. To answer your question: since I was a kid," he nodded. "But if I mix up sugar and salt in a recipe that calls for large amounts, I risk ruining the dough. The order in which you mix everything in and how much matters. So... I'd have to toss it if I screwed up."

Claire definitely had a cattitude, but since she was being given plenty of attention, she seemed to be alright with Copper... for now. Andy couldn't help the little grin on his lips as he watched the two of them interact. "You really do have to earn it with her. Not always, though. Some people she seems to either hate forever, or love at first sight. If she lets you earn it though, it's a good sign." He smiled when Copper suggested that he meet his dog Viktor, and Andy nodded. "I'd love to. I love dogs."

When Copper asked if Andy sold any of his creations at the grocery store, he shook his head. "No, nothing I make here gets brought back to work. I'll maybe perfect a recipe and make batches there to sell, but what I make here is mine. I've thought about maybe selling some sweets here and there to raise money, but... I'd really have to think about it. That would require advertising myself outside of work and all that," he said, wrinkling his nose. It just felt like a lot more work than he wanted to put into it at the moment.

dearmargots

the apology made her expression soften.

she didn’t move from behind the counter right away, just watched as he took a few steps back. tired people could spot each other, even in the dark, and margot didn’t want to be the kind of person that would deny a cup of coffee to someone who clearly needed some.

“it’s fine,” her voice was quiet, “i haven’t finished locking up yet. if all you need is a drink, i’ve got time.”

margot glanced toward the machine behind her, then back at him. her smile was small, the kind you could barely notice, “what can i get you?”

Andy breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't immediately kick him out. He made sure to close the door behind him as he committed to walking in and smiled a little.

"Thank you, you're amazing," he huffed, approaching the counter and giving the menu a quick glance. "I'll just have a mochaccino with with whipped cream and some chocolate drizzle on it. Something sugary to give me a little sugar rush." He was definitely going to leave her a big tip for taking his order this late.

"I owe you one for this. I work over at the Hometown Grocers bakery, so if you ever need anything you guys don't already have here, I'm your guy!"

#margot & andy

Copper didn't know Andy super well yet, but he'd seen him several times at Hometown Grocers. After all, it was a place Copper frequented because not only did he do his grocery shopping there (where else would he in Cardinal Hill anyway?), he was also there often to see Corey. Add the fact that Copper had a sweet tooth, and, well...he and Andy had definitely gotten to know each other a bit. But this was their first time hanging out outside of the store.

"I think everyone has their coping mechanisms," Copper replied, leaning against the counter in Andy's kitchen. "I write when I'm stressed, even if it turns out to be shit. It's just nice to get my thoughts out, like a way of unburdening myself." Though lately Copper hadn't been able to do even that. Laughing a little, he replied, "No need to thank me. You well know by now my affinity for baked goods." Upon seeing the cat though, Copper immediately focused on her. "Oh my God, she's incredible!" he exclaimed, heading toward the cat and petting her. "So soft too. Calicos are such queens." He smiled at the cat, and then Copper looked back at Andy. "I'm a cat guy," he told the other. "I've got one myself, a black cat named Viktor."

Andy was a friendly fellow. He made friends quite easily, and had an aura of warmth and hospitality about him. He was always only too happy to give Copper recommendations for what to try next, or even pointed out his newest pastry creations in the short time he'd been worked there. It was all auspicious, and Copper always gave him good vibes.

"I guess you're right," he replied. "It's really not much different from baking! Sometimes you get it right, sometimes you make a critical error, like mixing up your salt and sugar, or using too hot water and accidentally kill the yeast..." he said with a little amusement. "But hey, the more you practice, the better you get, right?" Andy had certainly gotten enough practice that he was baking impulsively now. He was just glad Copper was there to take some of these chocolate croissants off his hands. Along with the turtle brownies... aaaand the homemade pecan sandies.

Andy smiled when Copper moved to pet Claire. The cat seemed none too excited to be approached at first, but then relented to being pet, and eventually gave low, quiet purrs of approval. "Ooh, it looks like she likes you. Not everyone can say that," he mused. "I've gotta meet Viktor sometime. I love cats too. They're low maintenance, and just... great company to have around, really. Don't get me wrong, I like dogs too, but they require more effort, and I've already got a lot going on in my life." Not that he was overly busy, but it was nice that the calico didn't require constant attention.

Amin's life was routine. It was easy to keep to a schedule when you don't have any social obligations. For the past four years Amin worked Thursday through Sunday every week with little to no exception. He couldn't even recall the last time he'd done anything of note with somebody else outside of work in well over two years and he was content with that. Well, as content as he was with anything in his life at least this was what he chose.

He was sitting down with his leftovers from last night's dinner: sauteed vegetables, steak, and rice-- simple. Amin certainly didn't mind being alone on his lunch but looked up when he saw someone else enter the room. He caught Andy's eye and offered the man a smile which he clearly took as an invitation. Amin didn't mind. He liked Andy and he liked making small talk with him at work though he only ever really saw him during his breaks whenever theirs happened to line up. Besides work was the only time he did socialize and he much preferred the conversations he shared with coworkers over that he had with customers behind the butcher counter. "Seat's not taken, no," Amin confirmed as he welcomed him to his table. It was better Andy sat with him than someone else he might not like as much taking up a seat though that wasn't usually a problem. Most people kept their distance.

"How's the bakery department today?" Amin asked as he turned his attention back to his food. He'd just nuked it in the microwave and was waiting for it to cool before taking a bite.

Andy relaxed a little when he heard Amin welcome him to take the empty spot across from him. He didn't know why he'd been so nervous about, but Andy had a tendency to overthink things. He was naturally a nervous person in social situations sometimes, but Amin put him at ease. He quickly sat down and smiled, popping the tab on his soda and getting right to work opening up his sandwich.

"Oh it's been insane! It's Mother's Day weekend, so everyone's coming in looking for cakes, petit fours, specialized cookies and things. I've mostly just been glad to really get back into the swing of baking at a bakery. I admire restaurant workers, but it's a whole other beast. I wasn't really cut out for it, I don't think," he said, feeling like he was rambling. Andy didn't find Mother's Day to be particularly festive for him, given his history and how far from his mind he tried to keep that and Father's Day. He wanted to focus on the baking part of it, and hoped Amin didn't find him to be too obnoxious about it. He remembered from previous conversation that Amin had worked there a few years now.

"Man, that smells so good! I forgot to pack a lunch today and realized by the time I'd taken the bus here, so I just... went to the deli and got a sandwich there. Did you make that yourself?" he asked, curious about Amin and whether or not he liked to cook.

siobhxoconn-deactivated20250805

The cat watched them both. Mal had given up on staring back; it was a contest she simply couldn't win. Already she had sneezed several times from the flour, and she could sense another one coming on. Didn't want to make the lights flicker, add to the whole melodrama. "You bake enough for a fucking army. It drives me nuts. You're lucky it's good." She didn't move from the couch, fingertips steepled across her forehead before she started rubbing the migraine out. "Look if you wanted to go for a jog ... I'd wait for you." And she dipped that in saccharine sweetness, with a smile that said I'm not fucking going.

"You don't need to explain shit to me. Just let me eat half the lemon bars." Mal had persisted and nagged him and would continue to do so if he showed signs of not following through. At least this felt normal. At least she could be normal, and not have to think about the repercussions of that.

Claire's tail swayed slowly as she watched Mal with great curiosity, as if trying to follow whatever Mal would do next. But quickly enough, something else caught her attention and she hopped down from her tower, disappearing with the little jingle of her collar somewhere down the hall.

Andy laughed when Mal accused him of baking enough to feed an army, and honestly? She was right. It was definitely too much and he'd need to figure out what to do with it all. "I'm definitely not going jogging, but I think I can safely say I'm done baking for the night. I'm all out of sugar. So. There we have it," he chuckled. He sighed and walked around the couch to sit beside her. "But I swear, you can have all the lemon bars. I'll wrap 'em up for you to take home before you go," he said. "Do you want anything at all for your head? I feel kinda bad just yapping away."

#mal & andy

hearthandhallows

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ A grin floated to Felix’s face as they watched the other, their features relaxing into something lighter, more amused. The air between them felt just a touch softer, a flicker of something comforting in all the noise. “You know,” they said, voice curling into something wry, “that’s the most relatable thing I’ve heard all day.” A short laugh followed, one that came easy but landed a little off-center, like a song just slightly out of tune.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Their eyes flicked toward Claire at the mention of her name, a fond smirk tugging at the corner of their lips. “I think you’re giving her some much needed entertainment, really.” Felix chuckled again, a sound that was genuine but faint, like it had to travel a long way up through something heavier before it could make it out.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Cats, baking, small talk - it felt like a breath of clean air. After the attack, after all the fear and the anger and the quiet ache that still lived somewhere in their ribs… it was just nice. So nice to pretend, even just for a little while, that life could still hold these cozy, harmless little moments.‎‎

‎ ‎ ‎ “I mean, I don’t know if the two of us can get through it,” they said, gesturing loosely at the counter, “But, well, there’s always leftovers. And as long as there’s no hidden meat somewhere in there, I have a very cute boy staying with me that I think would love a baked treat.” They propped their chin on their fists, elbows resting on the table, a fond expression crossing their face as they thought about Leo. It was... really, really nice to be sat there, with a friend, talking about some cute boy, as if they didn't just have the worst week of their life. Truly.

"I think maybe it has something to do with the motions of it. Doing something mindless, but productive. I mean, not mindless for a lot of people, but for me it is, right? I mean, I don't need to use exact measurements, and things still come out pretty damn tasty," Andy mused. Just Like Heaven played quietly from the AM/FM radio tucked in a corner of the kitchen counter. Some on-air dedication from one person to another out there in Cardinal Hill went largely unnoticed by the baker who began to rummage through his cabinets for empty Tupperware containers. Claire's tail swayed slowly, mewing at Felix like she'd understood what he said.

Andy knew Felix was really going through it this month, and he knew there really wasn't much he could do, but he was glad that his friend had come over and at least entertained his need to share his baked goods.

"Yes! Good! There's definitely no hidden meat anywhere. The closest thing, I guess would be eggs, but... I don't really count that," he smiled. "Wait, a very cute boy?! Please! You can't just leave it there, I know that look!" He teased. "Tell me about him, and I'll tell you about... the very cute guy I'm too scared to call," he said with a little laugh.

#felix & andy

Closed Starter: @wcirdo Location: Hometown Grocers Break Room

Andy was still getting used to working in a department of a bigger store as a whole, but he certainly was enjoying it so far. He'd met interesting people, and reconnected with others he'd known for years. Amin was a newer acquaintance, and Andy genuinely liked his company, even if the two couldn't be any more different. Andy had a tendency to be a little more chatty than the other, but it had never really felt awkward.

It was lunch time though, and seeing the other already sitting at the employee break room, Andy decided to try eating lunch with him and get to know him a little better, if Amin allowed it. He approached the table tentatively, holding his wrapped up turkey bacon swiss sub and a bottle of Big Red cream soda.

"Hey, Amin! This seat taken?" he asked with a little smile in an attempt to be funny. It was clear no one else was in the break room. "I figured it'd be nice to have lunch with someone instead of..." he swallowed. He wasn't really sure why he felt a little nervous. Hell, they'd already exchanged phone numbers before! But in truth, he was a fairly timid person who was trying hard not to be. "You know. Alone. But I can totally just sit over there if you want some alone time! Nothing wrong with that, of course."