Heart of Hearth

Aiden Brenner || 40 years old || Breath of Fire Dragonblood

[witch-boy-walker]

"Bad? No. Nothing bad. I mean- what could one ask someone bad to do here in a place like this right? It's idyllic." Walker said with a little scoff and a laugh as he mixed the ingredients, a little sprinkle of his own magic to make it actually work, and he was pouring a golden liquid into a few vials for the other to take with him. "Lots of things. Echinacea, gold powder, lion fur, just to name a few. Don't worry it is all blended up with magic so it won't taste like any of that. And it should do the trick."

In reality it was a delicious tasting placebo that would give the other the mental fortitude he needed to do what he wanted all on his own. "Alright Muscles, this is how it works. You take a sip of this before you go to bed at night. You should feel a tingle and a bit of a warming sensation. That's how you know it works. Once you finish these vials you shouldn't need anymore but if you feel like you do some back and see me. So can I ask...why? You seem perfectly fine the way you are."

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

Taking the other man's words at face value, Aiden breathed out a soft sigh of relief. In this town, with all the things that had been happening, it didn't hurt to be a bit cautious. But then again, the baker shouldn't have reservations about other residents in the town. That wasn't his job or field of expertise anyways. His expression indicated his hesitation at drinking the potion though, clear that he wasn't a fan of sipping down fur or gold. "O-Oh... I see... that's... a lot of fancy sounding stuff in there," he said quietly, eyeing the golden liquid curiously. "Thank you, Mr. Walker. I really appreciate you making an exception for me. Just let me know when you need me to help you with that favor."

The dragonblood nodded along carefully with the instructions, making sure that he didn't miss anything so that it would work. "Are there any uh, symptoms or side effects I should worry about?" he asked cautiously, wondering what sort of side effects he would even expect to have from magical potions like this. He glanced up from the golden liquid, only feeling his cheeks flushing out of embarrassment. "U-Um, well, I... I'm not sure I'm like the other alphas in town. They all seem very... c-confident and demanding. And so I-I'm worried my boyfriend will leave me for someone else if I can't... protect him from others," he said quietly.

[dom-thebartender]

Dom laughed lightly at Aiden’s shy reaction. “Yes, but I figured you don’t drink much. Most people who barely drink can taste the alcohol even if I only put in a drop,” he said with a teasing tone, leaning in a little closer in a flirtatious manner. “But don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone you’re a lightweight. That’ll be our little secret,” he purred with a playful wink before pulling back, a smirk dancing on his lips. “We’ll just pretend it’s the baker in you!”

As he continued to clean his mixing glasses, Dom chuckled. “Hmm, well, I have a lot of experience with booze, so I guess that makes me a good bartender. Even if I can’t drink it anymore, I remember what pairs best,” he shrugged casually. “But I’m sure some guys just come here to flirt with the bartender, no matter who’s behind the bar. I know I did that sometimes, and hey, that’s how I snagged a few free drinks!” He flashed a cheeky wink, clearly enjoying the playful banter and the connection they were building.

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

Aiden blushed a bit more at the other's teasing, only nodding his head shyly. "R-Right, we'll just say it's the baker in me..." he chuckled, grateful that the other man didn't make fun of him for being sensitive to the alcohol. Given that he was unfamiliar with going to bars and drinking, the dragonblood was grateful that Dom was such a friendly and welcoming bartender. It was why he had chosen to come in at this time of day, where there wouldn't have been many patrons around anyways.

He continued sipping away at his drink as he listened to the other man, smiling in amusement at the werefox's own story. "Well, now that you're on the other side of the bar, do you give people free drinks when they flirt with you then?" Aiden chuckled, wondering what it was like to feel confident enough to flirt with a stranger. In fairness, he had never really done it himself, although he was familiar with being flirted with whenever patrons came to his bakery. He had always hoped people would be more interested in the baked goods he was selling though.

[dom-thebartender]

Dom couldn’t help but chuckle shyly at Aiden’s question. “Well… let’s just say I got a little too attached to drinking,” he admitted, a hint of vulnerability in his voice. “And honestly, even if I had just one drink, I’d probably get attached all over again.” He sighed dramatically, then shifted his focus back to Aiden as he took a sip of his drink.

Dom perked up at Aiden’s reaction, letting out a delighted laugh. “It’s not really that strong! I made it more fruity for you,” he teased, leaning in slightly. “You must have some seriously good taste buds if you can taste the alcohol more than the fruitiness!”

He beamed at the compliment, his confidence returning as he leaned over the bar. “I really appreciate that. I’m glad my drinks are hitting the mark. I was starting to think people only came to me for my pretty face,” he said with a playful wink, his eyes sparkling with mischief

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

"Oh, I see. Well, it's good that you don't drink anymore then," Aiden said, doing his best to offer up some support. It wasn't like Dom needed it, but it was always nice to hear that someone was taking control over their life and doing things that were best for them. He hoped he could learn to do that for himself one day. The dragonblood blushed a bit, ducking his head down shyly after stealing another sip from his drink. "O-Oh, i-is it?" he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry, I don't... really drink too much. But I really do like it," he said with a smile.

"I'll pretend it's because of my skills as a baker then," Aiden said with a chuckle. He figured it was because of his unfamiliarity with alcohol that made him taste it through the fruitiness of the drink. The baker blinked a bit in surprise at the playful wink, only blushing a bit more at the teasing remark. "O-Oh, well... I mean, I think people would come here for you too. I think you're a great bartender. You know how to make people feel more comfortable. I'd come back if you were my bartender again."

[dom-thebartender]

Dom chuckled with a hint of amusement. “I might just take you up on that; I have a soft spot for a good croissant,” he said with a warm smile, giving Aiden a quick look over, briefly checking the man out.

“Great! I’ll get that for you right away,” Dom replied, setting to work with a touch of flair. He mixed the drink with a bit of showmanship, trying to add a personal touch. When Aiden asked about his favorite drink, Dom nearly fumbled a bottle, the question catching him a little off guard though he would have to learn to get used to it being a recovering alcoholic working in a bar after all. Everyone said work in what you know and Dom definitely knew a lot about booze.

“Well, it might surprise you, but I don’t really drink anymore,” Dom said with a gentle smile. “But when I did, I was definitely a slut for a good piña colada.” He finished by pouring the drink into a tall martini glass, placing a coaster down, and sliding it over to Aiden. “Let me know what you think.”

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

Watching as the other man worked on his drink, Aiden's eyes followed the bartender's movements with fascination in his eyes. He tilted his head at the response about not drinking anymore, furrowing his brows a bit at the response. The dragonblood wondered if he should ask more about it, but hesitated if it was breaching something that was too personal. His curiosity overtook him though, and he couldn't help but ask. "What, uh... made you not want to drink anymore, if you don't mind me asking?"

He took the offered drink, taking a sip from it. His eyes widened at the taste, Aiden's expression showing just how much he enjoyed the drink. "Oh wow, that's really good..." he said with a hum. "I can definitely taste the alcohol though. Is it a particularly strong drink?" he asked curiously. While Aiden wasn't exactly planning on getting drunk or shit-faced, he wouldn't mind the slight buzz. "You're really good at this; if all your drinks taste this good, I see why people go to bars to drink now."

[witch-boy-walker]

"Right sure. But this is a town rife with magic and secrets here isn't it? Are you sure there is nothing of value to trade with me? How about this Aiden. I'll do you a favor and you do me a favor huh? Not now but when I call it you have to come through for me alright?" Walker asked his smile devious his hand out stretched in a hand shake. Make a deal with a devil. Or at the very least a kind of crappy guy, you normally at least get what you want. It was no worse than buying drugs. "Sit. Don't be embarrassed we all want something we don't have right?"

Walker patted the larger man on the shoulder before he turned to his bottles and began looking through them. carefully measuring out what was going into his bowl for mixing. In reality he was going to give the big man nothing but a placebo. Something that would physically make him feel a bit lighter but nothing else. You know to get that 'magic' feeling. He thought that Aiden just needed the idea of confidence. Not actual magical intervention. Or maybe therapy that might help.

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

Biting on his bottom lip as he thought over the offer, Aiden nodded carefully after a moment. "Y-Yeah, I can... I can do that. A favor for a favor. It won't be any sort of... bad stuff though, right?" he said carefully, looking up at the other man with wide, pleading eyes. He wasn't too familiar with Walker, and while he wanted to trust him, Aiden didn't know what sort of favor the man would ask from him in the future.

As he shook his hand and took a seat across the table, the dragonblood watched with curious eyes and an amazed expression as he watched the witch work. It looked like a very particular and exact recipe with ingredients Aiden didn't even know how to pronounce. "...What's going into it?" he asked with fascination as he watched the other man work. "Is it like a prescription? Would I need to take it consistently?"

[dom-thebartender]

Dom chuckled as he watched the man sniff himself, clearly unsure about his own condition. “Oh, don’t worry,” he said with a playful smirk. “I’ve got a nose for these things, I cam a werefox after all and you don’t exactly have that 'just rolled out of a dumpster' vibe. You’re good.”

He tilted his head, considering his drink suggestion. “So, how about a classic cosmopolitan?” Dom said, with a touch of flair. “It’s got that timeless charm, and I like to add a splash of grenadine to sweeten the deal. It’s like a cocktail hug for your taste buds. Interested, handsome?”

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

Chuckling a bit, Aiden ducked his head down sheepishly. Even if he wasn't particularly smelly, the baker did feel a bit bad that his line of work made others acutely aware of his job, especially in a town with werefolk. "I see... Well, now you know, if you ever want any sweets or baked goods in town, you can always come to see me. I'll help you pick out something nice that fits your taste," the dragonblood said cheerfully.

The blonde tilted his head at the suggestion, nodding carefully at it. "I've never had one before, but it sounds yummy. I like hugs, so a cocktail hug can't be bad, right?" Aiden leaned a bit forward on the bar, watching as Dom showed off his skills. "What sort of drink is your favorite?"

[dom-thebartender]

Dom glanced at the man as he took a seat at the bar, the subtle scent of baked goods still clinging to him. With a casual shrug, he asked, "So, first time here, huh? You’ve got that fresh-baked smell about you—maybe you work in a bakery or something. Anyway, what are you in the mood for tonight? Do you want something on the sweeter side, or are you leaning towards something with a bit more bite? Or if you’re looking to go all out and get a little tipsy, I can mix you something strong. Just let me know what you’re after."

As he waited for a response, Dom reached for a glass from the shelf and began polishing it with a clean cloth. His movements were methodical and practiced, the glass catching the light as he turned it in his hands. The rhythmic swish of the cloth against the glass filled the brief silence, a signal that he was ready to prepare whatever drink the man decided on.

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

As he adjusted his weight to the seat on the bar, Aiden glanced up at the bartender with an embarrased expression. "Is it that obvious? Ah, I'm sorry. I just came here after work," he chuckled, only turning his head to take a whiff of his body. He wasn't sure if he smelled like a bakery, but then again, the dragonblood was practically used to smelling like baked goods at this point.

"Perhaps... something sweeter? I don't think I want anything to get too tipsy. I just wanted something simple and refreshing before I went home for the day. I heard people come to bars to relax and destress after a long day, but I never know what's good to order." Aiden paused, tapping his chin in thought as he tried to think about some of the things Skylar would order whenever they went out. "Since the sun's still out, is there something more... fruit-flavored and sweet that you like to drink? I always find that refreshing in the heat."

[witch-boy-walker]

"You want...you want me to make you more confident?" Walker asked with a tilt of his head, a smirk playing across his face, he could practically bust out into a chorus of 'Poor Unfortunate Souls' with the way the other was asking him for something like that. Walker wasn't known to be most kind hearted of witches but he felt back for the other. All that height and all those muscles and he still wasn't able to be confident? Now that was a shame.

"Let's talk particulars I suppose. My name is Walker, and the price of something like that, well. I would need something in return the supplies to make a potion like that would be valuable." What did Walker want as payment? What was the other willing to offer him? How much was self esteem worth to him. "I have no need for money but I always looking in the way for potion ingredients do you have anything rare or perhaps magical in nature to trade?"

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

Aiden hovered there awkwardly by the counter, unsure if his request was clear or if there was some more context he needed to provide. He nodded shyly at the question, trying to find some way to make himself seem more certain in his request. The baker often wondered if, as an alpha, he was supposed to be more... brash and outspoken and demanding with what he wanted. He didn't know what it really meant to be a "good alpha" and his only perception of it was what he had seen around town.

"I-It's nice to meet you, Walker. I'm Aiden," the dragonblood shyly. He tapped his chin in thought, brows furrowing a bit at the request. "Something... magical? I... I'm not sure. I just run the bakery down the road. I don't really use anything magical there. But if there's something you would want as an ingredient, I could try to go out and find it for you?" His words wavered, the baker's expression clouding over a bit as he realized he didn't have anything of worth to provide the witch he was asking help from. It perhaps made him seem even more pathetic and foolish in the other's eyes. "Or, um, you could... you could just ignore that request. It... it seems a bit..." Shameful. Embarrassing. Pitiful. "I don't want to waste your time..."

[witch-boy-walker]

"Call it a special interest." Walker showed off the small curio of enchanted objects he had made, none of them were particularly impressive. A ring that always found it's way back to the owner's finger, a self cleaning flesh light, some other more...sinister things tucked in the back.

Though the options of potions he had on display were much more robust. "This one is the reverse of a suppressant it makes you super horny and cum a ton. This one makes people have diarrhea. This one is a horrible poison that will wrack the person who drinks it with nightmares for a fortnight. This is cures male pattern baldness. This one makes it feel like spiders are crawling under your skin." Walker particularly liked the more devious poisons he made, all of them colorless and odorless. But human standards most of them fatal.

"So what can I do your for? All of it's for sale. I mean barter. I don't need money."

@newhavenstarters

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

He really should have asked his boyfriend about it, given that Skylar was a witch. But Aiden felt a bit shy going him and asking him for things like this. In some ways, the dragonblood felt more comfortable approaching a storefront and a stranger. If he had some problems, the alpha didn't want to broadcast it for someone who knew him well. His eyes wandered over the various objects, tilting his head a bit curiously at the reverse suppressant among the offered list. Aiden wondered if his boyfriend would enjoy something like that, but perhaps that was for another time.

"I was, um, actually looking to see if you had something that would... boost confidence? Or help increase my self-esteem?" he asked carefully, shuffling his feet. Aiden wasn't sure if there was a potion or an item for something like that, but at times, the baker felt like he was an alpha out of place in this town. If he was perhaps a bit more confident, it would make people respect him more. Or at least value his opinions on things. "I have... trouble sticking up for myself."

[dom-thebartender]

Dominik let out a soft sigh as he wiped down the bar, his curls falling into his face while he scrubbed at a particularly stubborn spill. He quickly straightened up when he heard the bell above the door chime, signaling a new arrival. "Welcome!" he called out, brushing his curls aside as he turned to face the customer. With a charming smile and a hand resting on his exposed hip, he added, "What can I get for you today, handsome?" Dominik wore a baggy crop top repurposed from an old Metallica t-shirt and tight low-rise jeans that accentuated the band of his briefs. Though his attire might not have been the most conventional for bar work, it made him feel confident and comfortable, and that was what mattered most to him.

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

It wasn't often that Aiden went out at night for drinks. But the baker had closed up his shop early today just for a simple night out for himself. With everything that had been going on, he had been looking forward to having some time for himself. Aiden rarely found himself having the free time to go out and explore the town. He had heard about the place from some of his friends, but given that it was still before the evening rush of people, Aiden figured he'd grab a quick drink before he went home for the night.

Of course, being a bit of a first-timer, the large man was as unsure and awkward as ever. He shuffled over to the bar when he saw someone there calling out to him. "Oh, uh, well, it's my first time here," he said carefully. The blonde rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, only sliding into one of the bar stool seats across from Dominik. "What would you recommend I try? If there's like... a specialty cocktail or something."

[snowdenjackson]

"it's almost funny. for awhile i-- i tired of life in the elhead forest. i was getting anxious, i wanted to see more of the world-- mine and this one-- but my people didn't have that same sense of curiosity. they were content to keep the lives the made for themselves without ever questioning anything." the fact he was here made it pretty clear that, in the end, alton decided that wasn't the way for him; that wasn't how he wanted to lead his life. though, in his grieving, he did often wonder if he would be better off if he had just stayed; if he had just been like the rest of them and ignored his aching curiosity. it would have hurt less.

"in retrospect, it was nice. if i remember correctly the humans have a saying that i think works perfectly here-- you don't know how much you'll miss something until it's gone." he continued on, that smile still managing to hang onto his features. "not that my home is gone but leaving it certainly allowed me to appreciate it again; appreciate it more."

"i'm sure, in time, you will have plenty of friends like that." the elf answered with a soft laugh. "though, when you do, i hope you aren't as dense as i was. i realized far too late for it to matter what he thought of me, and what i thought of him-- though the horse really should have been a hint." usually when he spoke of his past, especially christopher, alton was quick to recede back into himself and lock everyone out. he couldn't remember the last time he spoke about the man and laughed.

"well, like i said, horses are very intelligent. we have a mutual respect for each other, seeing as they can sense my intentions, so they listen but the important thing to remember is that i-- is that we-- need to listen as well; and the more time you spend around them, the more you'll be able to understand what they want as well. you need to give yourself more creidt, though," he added on as he nodded at the horse still eating from aiden's hand. "he's already more than comfortable with you; you're clearly a natural."

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

Listening to the other man carefully, Aiden followed along with a curious expression. "I, um, don't know much about Elhead Forest, but is it somewhere that you could go back to visit?" the baker asked innocently. He had never heard of a place before, but if the other man was homesick or missed his home, then perhaps a trip to visit wouldn't be so bad. "Or if it helps, you could always tell me more about it. I'd love to hear more about your home."

The dragonblood smiled widely at the other man, nodding in agreement. "Well, for starters, we can be friends, if you'd like? And then that will be one more friend for both of us." Aiden tilted his head as he listened to the elf speak about his other friend. While he hadn't been in the same situation, the baker could tell just how much that man meant to the elf. "I'm glad there was someone like that for you in your life though. Otherwise, things will just be too lonely to bear," he murmured gently.

Aiden smiled a bit widely as the other man gave him more compliments. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, before reaching out to gently stroke and pet the horse's side as the animal ate from his hand. "Thanks for letting me be so up close with them. I... I've never gotten to do something like this before," he murmured softly in awe. "What will you do now with them, after eating?"

[skylarxgraham]

It  was  a  topic  Skylar  has  avoided  discussing  with  anyone  for  almost  his  entire  life.  Every  single  partner  he’s  ever  been  with  was  spared  of  the  conversation  regarding  children  and  family.  His  reasoning?  Skylar  never  wanted  to  fulfill  his  duty  as  an  omega.  He  knew  what  his  role  would  be  in  creating  life  and  the  thought  terrified  him.  Not  to  mention,  he  didn’t  completely  want  to  spend  the  better  part  of  nine  months  carrying  a  baby  in  his  belly  and  endure  the  pain  of  labor  for  several  hours.  Why  should  he  take  on  such  an  endeavor  simply  because  of  the  status  unfairly  assigned  to  him  at  birth?

 Yet  somehow,  those  same  concerns  and  inhibitions  didn’t  apply  to  Aiden.  With  the  dragonblood,  he  felt  comfortable,  safe,  and  cared  for.  Skylar  would  gladly  pop  out  however  many  babies  his  body  was  capable  of  producing.  Must  be  why  he  didn’t  hesitate  to  tease  and  poke  fun  at  the  idea  of  a  family.  Deep  inside  his  heart,  Skylar  knew  he  found  the  perfect  partner  to  spend  a  lifetime  with.  The  fact  that  Aiden  didn’t  pressure  him  to  take  on  the  role  of  a  dame  only  strengthened  this  claim.  “Thank  you  for  understanding.”  He  reveled  in  the  kisses  and  gave  his  boyfriend  a  warm  smile.  “I  think  we’ll  make  great  parents.  Especially  once  we  find  more  stable  footing.”  Skylar  turned  his  gaze  back  to  the  road  and  continued  driving.  “Imagine  a  lovely  little  house  with  kids  running  around…”  the  smaller  blonde  trailed,  admittedly  delighted  by  the  lovely  thought.

 The  witch  let  out  a  bashful  laugh  when  he  heard  Aiden  speak  up  again.  “That  goes  without  saying,  love.”  He  bit  his  bottom  lip  to  showcase  an  unparalleled  desire  to  plow  Aiden’s  ass  repeatedly  without  stopping.  “Unfortunately,  doing  so  won’t  lead  to  either  of  us  bearing  children.  Doesn’t  stop  me  from  trying,  though.”   Skylar  shot  a  wink  at  the  baker  and  turned  one  final  corner  to  pull  over  to  his  parking  spot  at  the  apartment  complex  he  was  staying  in.  “I  should  warn  you;  I  don’t  live  anywhere  fancy.  But  hopefully,  you’ll  enjoy  your  stay  enough  to  eventually  want  to  keep  coming  over.”  He  led  the  way  up  the  stairs  and  unlocked  his  front  door  for  Aiden  to  enter.  “Make  yourself  at  home.  I’ll  get  us  drinks  and  plates.”  The  omega  made  the  short  journey  towards  his  kitchen  and  procured  the  aforementioned  items  as  well  as  some  cutlery.

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

Watching as they pulled up to Skylar's apartment complex, the dragonblood shuffled out of the car caefully with the pizzas in his hands. He followed along after his lover, entering into the apartment once the door was unlocked. "Well, you always come over to mine. I figure if my apartment is good enough for you, then yours is good enough for me," he hummed happily. The large baker shuffled his way into the living room, setting the boxes on the living room coffee table.

It had been the first time he had been over like this, so Aiden was mindful about where he stepped and where everything was. In some ways, he was glad that the plan was to come over. The scent of his boyfriend filled the space, which made the alpha particularly happy. And he was also eager to see more about how Skylar lived; what sort of things he liked, and what he did in his spare time when he was alone.

The large man sat down on the couch, his gaze rotating around the space. "You sure you don't need me to help with anything?" he called out. He didn't want to get in the way of anything but Aiden also felt a bit like a bad boyfriend if he didn't help out at least a little bit. He was also missing the close proximity of Skylar already. The car ride had certainly riled up some feelings inside of him and he missed holding his boyfriend in his arms properly. Even if he wasn't sure about starting a family yet, he knew wanted Skylar and that was enough for Aiden.

[spirit-of-cinders-deactivated20]

Anders sucked his fingers clean one by one, licking under his fingernails and everything to ever every last scrap of chocolate just in case he could never have it ever again. "Oh if someone hurt your shop I would punch them into meat. Like the squishy meat you put in pies. I think I had a pie made of people meat before but the butcher never admitted it. But he had a son and then he did not. He was like 'He has fallen to the plague.' Yeah sure. Nobody in the village even had the plague that year." Anders snorted shaking his head as licked his plate clean as well.

"Mmm hey free advice in exchange for more chocolate anything. If you punch someone right here." he showed Aiden on his throat where to punch. "It will break their windpipe and they will suffocate in minutes. Killing them without much of a fuss. You have big fists so it would be super easy for you."

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

Aiden stood there in rather slight disblief at the story Anders told him. Of course, he perhaps shouldn't have been so surprised, given what he was just learning about the other man and his rather direct approach to resolving his problems. But the rather ghastly tale of human meat pies made the baker side of him feel rather anxious about it. "I-I see... Well, um, there shouldn't be any need for that. I don't think I'll ever make any sort of people pies, and if anyone bothers my shop, I'm sure the police will take care of it here. But I appreciate your willingness to help if anyone bothers me."

The baker tried to follow along as best he could, although truth be told, he found himself more suited as a pacifist. Or he at least figured he was someone who would avoid conflict situations altogether, if he could. "Oh, well, I guess that's good for some... self-defense. What happens if they block the punch though? I'm not exactly the fastest at... throwing hands. You sure I can't just keep you around? I'd give you all the chocolate you'd want." Aiden paused, furrowing his brows at his request. "Then agian, I really don't think a lot of people have bones to pick with their local bakery. Or at least, I hope not."

[spirit-of-cinders-deactivated20]

Anders looked up wide eyed when the other man said something about there being more. His cheeks bulged with cake, his face smeared with chocolate and he would have inhaled it even faster had it been possible. The allure of cake was something he would never forget he was sure of that. "More of...this?" he asked holding up his fingers showing off the globs of sticky frosting he had yet to lick off, like a child at their first birthday party. He could not help himself. He had never had something so splendid or rich before in his life. Before now the fare in his home had been meat, roasted, sometimes with salt if they were lucky. Root vegetables boiled if he had to share them with humans who's jaws were not strong enough to eat them outright like he was.

This. This was the mana of the heavens he was sure of it. When he heard others talk of gods this must be what they ate. Pillows of cake and the thick chocolate of frosting. He licked his fingers, sucking each one clean, his tongue getting every bit it could from under his nails and around his mouth. Taking the napkin as a last resort and even that he eyed trying to gauge how much Aiden would judge him for eating that as well. "You are some saint who gives this away? Why do you offer such things for nothing in return? I would raze a thousand villages for more of this. I would offer you all the livestock I could find." Sugar now coarsed through is veins and he was sure he could raze a thousand villages if he tried.

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

It probably wasn't polite to laugh, but Aiden couldn't help it at the sight of Anders devouring his cake like a child. The baker had just never seen anyone so happy to eat his food in such a long time, so it was refreshing for him to see someone so cheerful when having sweets. "Well, if you want more chocolate, we could find some more chocolate snacks for you to have. But if you want to try any other baked goods, I'm happy to let you pick some out yourself. Part of the joy of going to a bakery is looking at all the treats in the display case and picking it out for yourself," Aiden hummed happily, eager to show off his skills to the other man.

He had taken great pride in his crafft as a baker, and while he wasn't as courageous or resourceful as the other people in town, Aiden prided himself in knowing how to feed his fellow neighbors and making sure people stayed in good health. "Well, it helps that the town looks out for each other. You're still figuirng things out here, so it's only right as your fellow town neighbor to show you around and make sure you're acclimated to the space." Aiden chuckled as he thought about it a bit more. "Besides, now that you know how tasty it is here, if anyone tried to give this shop trouble, I'm sure you'd swoop them and stop that from happening."

[skylarxgraham]

Having  a  boyfriend  who  was  resistant  to  fire  certainly  had  plenty  of  advantages.  For  one,  he  needn’t  worry  about  burning  the  leather  on  his  car  seats  with  Aiden  around  whenever  they  ordered  takeout.  No  wonder  the  dragonblood  chose  a  career  as  a  baker.  He’s  seen  Aiden  holding  piping  hot  trays  fresh  from  the  oven  with  his  bare  hands  multiple  times  before.  Part  of  him  wished  he  possessed  such  incredible  durability  to  the  elements.  Alas,  he  was  born  to  wield  magic  and  be  vulnerable  to  just  about  every  type  of  damage  in  existence.  “If  you  get  uncomfortable  with  those  on  your  lap,  I  can  pull  over  real  quick.  I  think  there's  a  towel  in  my  trunk,"  he  offered  and  kept  his  eyes  on  the  road.  Another  gentle  squeeze  to  Aiden's  hand  to  show  he  cared  deeply  for  him.

The  next  words  out  of  Aiden's  mouth  caused  the  blonde  to  slam  the  breaks  hard  on  a  red  light.  Luckily,  the  two  of  them  and  the  food  remained  unscathed.  "U-um..."  he  spoke,  unsure  of  what  to  say  at  the  moment.  What  he  thought  was  a  casual  conversation  turned  serious  with  Aiden's  question.  "Soon?  Probably  no,"  Skylar  replied  and  began  to  drive  again.  "I  suppose  once  we're  both  settled  and  I'm  at  a  steadier  point  with  my  magic,  I'll  consider  a  child."  His  cheeks  heated  up  at  the  thought.  A  rosy  hue  now  tinting  his  fair  complexion.  "W-we've  never  discussed  having  a  family  before.  Thought  I'd  bring  it  up  and  get  your  opinion  on  the  matter,"  the  borrower  witch  explained.  "What  do  you  think?"  he  asked,  turning  his  head  briefly  to  the  baker  and  looking  into  Aiden's  eyes.

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

Shaking his head at the offer, Aiden was perfectly content holding onto the pizza boxes in his lap. It helped in cases like this, when Skylar suddenly slammed on the brakes at a red light. The baker held onto the boxes carefully, only blinking in surprise and glancing over to see if his boyfriend wass alright. His eyes remained fixated on the witch as he listened to his response.

Aiden tapped his chin thoughtfully before leaning over and pressing a soft kiss on the other's lips. "...I think I'd be happy to do whatever you'd like and are comfortable with," he said firmly. "If you'd want to start a family, then we can always talk about it when we're both ready. I think waiting for when we're both settled is good, especially if we have to take care of a young one." Aiden paused, staying close to the witch so he could pepper light kisses on his cheek and breathe in the scent of the omega. "But most importantly, I'd be happy no matter what as long as it's with you."

The large man sat back in his chair once the light turned green, making himself comfortable in his spot. "Until then, you can keep trying to stuff me up with your seed. I'd be happy knowing it would be your child inside of me," he said with a small smile. Thank goodness for pizza boxes on his lap, although he was sure his scent and pheromones were filling up the car. "Let's not worry about that future yet if we're not ready for it."

[spirit-of-cinders-deactivated20]

Anders' nose was in overdrive as he sniffed at the air, everything was so delicious smelling his mouth began to water. He had never been assaulted by such decadent smells before in his life. He was certain even with a thousand life times he would never be able to pick out all the smells individuals, all of them blended together and created such magical harmony to his nose. His eyes lit up seeing the case. "This is a great kindness you are doing for me."

As the food was sat down in front of him it was as much a feast for his eyes as it was for his nose. A brow raised when Aidan told him all of the things that were in this 'quiche' he sniffed and and without ceremony or much manners shoved a large chunk of it into his mouth. Lighting up and swallowing the rest of it readily with how delicious it was.

The cake was most curious, he poked it with a finger to judge the texture, some of the brown sticking to his finger and he licked it. He had never tasted something so sweet before in his life, it took him a moment to decide if he liked it or not. Chocolate was also not something he was accustomed to, food that color was usually burned which he never minded himself, but it wasn't bitter. It was rich, sweet, and luxurious. Again he stuffed it into his face, frosting smearing over his cheeks, as the bulged with sweet chocolate cake. "This is wonderous. Thank you." he muffled out as he stared at Aidan in awe, this cake was more wonderful than any ability to fight.

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

Returning to the table with a cup of herbal tea, he placed it down in front of the other dragonblood and took a seat across from him. It wasn't rush hour for his bakery, so Aiden still had some time to keep the other man company before he went back to making some more pastries. "I'm glad you're enjoying the food," he said with a chuckle, watching Anders devour the food he had set before him in an instant. Part of him wondered when the last time the other man had something to eat, although Aiden was no stranger to having a ravenous and all-devouring appetite himself. "I'll let you pick something else to eat if you're still hungry, but you should probably swallow your food first," he teased.

It was strange, but seeing Anders enjoy his food so heartily felt like a compliment of high praise. After all, if this was the first time someone was eating food like this, and they enjoyed it like so, then it must have been satisfying in some way. Aiden handed over a couple napkins for the dragonblood to use to wipe away at his face. "What did you think? Did it suit your tastes?" He was always eager to hear his customers' feedback, even more so if it meant they would continue to frequent his store for his baked goods.

[skylarxgraham]

If  Skylar  didn’t  exercise  the  same  self-control,  he’d  definitely  be  a  few  pounds  heavier  given  how  amazing  of  a  chef  his  lover  is.  Aiden  baked  such  amazing  treats.  Thinking  about  them  already  made  Skylar’s  mouth  water  a  little.  He  almost  regretted  not  spending  a  few  extra  minutes  in  the  bakery  to  dine  on  some  of  the  leftovers.  However,  he  also  didn’t  want  to  further  delay  their  plans  for  the  evening.  Besides,  Skylar  had  the  chef  on  the  passenger  seat  of  his  car  and  Aiden  was  a  far  more  delectable  treat  than  any  pastry  in  existence.  “Do  your  best  not  to  force  feed  me  salads,  please?  I  know  my  diet  can  use  some  improvement,  but  I  can’t  promise  I’ll  be  very  happy  about  that.”

Seeing  the  flustered  expression  on  Aiden’s  face  was  extremely  adorable.  Skylar  was  unable  to  suppress  a  little  snicker  from  escaping  his  lips.  “Yes,  I’m  starving.”  He  gave  the  dragonblood’s  muscular  thigh  another  firm  squeeze.  “Did  you  know  I  only  had  a  coffee  and  bagel  all  day?  Such  a  tragedy,”  the  borrower  witch  remarked  and  casually  continued  driving.  “I  definitely  need  something  to  fill  my  empty  belly.  Your  babies,  perhaps?”  Skylar  jested  with  a  cheeky  grin.  He  always  enjoyed  teasing  his  lover.  It  strengthened  and  improved  their  relationship  remarkably.  A  few  seconds  later,  he  laughed  and  pressed  a  kiss  to  the  baker’s  cheek.  “I’d  be  a  terrible  boyfriend  if  I  talked  about  pizza  so  much  and  didn’t  get  one  for  us.”  Skylar  pulled  into  the  pizza  shop  and  found  the  nearest  parking  spot.

 “I’ll  be  right  back  with  a  meat  lovers.  Did  you  want  anything  else?  Breadsticks,  cookies?”  The  omega  offered  and  made  sure  to  take  his  boyfriend’s  order  before  entering  the  shop.  He  returned  after  a  moment  with  two  piping  hot  boxes  and  anything  else  Aiden  may  have  wanted.  “Alright,  let’s  get  home  and  dig  in!”  The  smell  of  melted  cheese  and  toppings  was  glorious.  Skylar  couldn’t  wait  to  feast  and  spend  time  with  the  dragonblood.  “Also,  just  so  we’re  clear.  I’m  not  opposed  to  the  idea  of  your  babies  in  my  belly.  And  before  you  ask,  no  —  I  don't  think  I'm  in  heat.”  Words  Skylar  didn’t  think  he’d  ever  utter.  However,  he  felt  comfortable  enough  with  Aiden  to  say  them.

[fire-and-brimsdoughn]

Aiden nodded in response to that promise, given that he wasn't someone particularly fond of eating salads either. But he felt responsible in making sure that Skylar ate well all the same. It was just hard to disagree with whatever the witch wanted; one could say it was the dragonblood's weak spot. As they arrived at the store, he shook his head in response for anything else. There was always something that he could whip up at home anyways if they were hungry for anything else.

He waited patiently in the car, half wondering if he should have gone out to grab the food with Skylar. At times, it felt like he was busy chasing after the other man with how quick and speedy the witch could be. The baker certainly didn't mind, but it made him wonder at times if he was the right alpha to take care of the other man. Would things be better with someone that could operate at the same level as Skylar? Would it become annoying if he processed things too slowly?

His thoughts were interrupted at the return of his lover, only holding out his hands and taking the two hot pizza boxes and holding it on his lap. The added benefit of being both a dragonblood and a baker meant that he was less phased by the heat from the fresh pizzas. He didn't expect the conversation to shift back towards the topic of babies. If Aiden wasn't blushing before, he was certainly a dark shade of red at the thought of Skylar carrying their offspring. The dragonblood cleared his throat shyly, suddenly grateful that the pizza boxes were on his lap. "I... I see. Is it, um, something you'd want soon? Having babies, I mean." The baker realized that it hadn't actually been a topic of conversation, but it was perhaps important to know sooner rather than later.