Through her own hazy eyes, Dawn notices several things that seem to be plaguing Antonio: from the fidgeting, to his stuttering, to even Patratās especially-alert protectiveness, she realizes he isnāt faring well against his anxieties. Her heart tugs a bit, knowing that very same feeling, the very same battleācrowds often rendered her the same, utterly speechless and visibly whiplashed. Even after all of the progression sheās made while in the public eyeā¦ those leaps and bounds made still donāt negate the anxiety when it hits.
However, sheās come to expect as much from her family as to not let it move past her defenses. Antonio, no doubt blindsided, wasnāt fully prepared. For that, her heart sinks further. But, as opposed to putting him on the spot, refraining from any imposing questions (āwhatās the matter?āĀ āhow are you feeling?ā), she knows itād be a better option to respond to his curiosity. Keeping a familiar flow always helped to cure her own bouts of uneasiness, after all.Ā
āFamily, family friends, neighbors,ā she chirps, walking around as if to make sure nothing is out of place. She rearranges a few of the plushies on her desk, straightening the picture frames; several show her, along with her two childhood friends, throughout their adventures in Sinnoh, many years prior. She smiles, nostalgically, before continuing.
āMy mom actually lives here alone. My brothers both live elsewhereāHideaki lives somewhere in Alola with his girlfriend, and Hitoshi, the one we passed by earlier, is a big-time business man in Castelia.ā She sighs, the one family photograph she has, near the back of her display, a thin coat of dust covering the glass.Ā āIām never in Sinnoh, honestly. Iād already seen pretty much all there is to see here, yāknowā¦?ā
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Antonio listens attentively, head tilted to the left and watches the way Dawn flit about her room, rearranging plushies and straightening out crooked picture frames. All the while she explains the arrangement, and he wonders how that sort of family life is like. Everyone in the Farina family lives together, though the bakery is a common tie for all of them. Until they decide to move out in order to build their own families, the moderately sized house tucked within Jubilifeās quieter neighborhood is what they call home.
āI s-see,ā he manages, trying not to wring his hands nervously.Ā āThat sounds... r-rough.ā Before he could continue with his meager input, a soft knock catches his attention. When Dawn goes to answer it, he takes this brief moment of respite to clench his fists and breath in through his teeth, exhaling shakily. He does this a few more times until she returns with some of the cookies and a couple of glasses of Moomoo milk. That draws out a tiny smile; milk is absolutely the best accompaniment for most of their cookies.
She continues to surprise him, first with the aromatic candles that fills the room with a calming scent, and then the present hand on top of his. Itās not oppressive nor invasive. Itās like sheās telling him that within this bedroom, heās safe. Thereās nothing to worry about. Theyāre far away from the social packed rooms and in their own private space with cookies and milk to enjoy. Antonio stared at her for a moment, as if searching for something.
He didnāt know what it was, but he found it anyway. Antonio slowly exhales and with it, most of the tension seems to have seep out of his system. He offers her a small yet genuine smile, easing back on the sofa once she squeeze his hand then pulls away. He genuinely feels more relaxed now, the small bit of human contact enough to ground him. Itās surprising that someone he just met today could have that effect but itās not something that heāll complain about.
Antonio didnāt really have an opinion on what they should do. Heās just happy to spend some time together, though he didnāt want to come off as disinterested to his new friend. He picks up his bracelet, considering the options. While he does play the occasional video game, itās mostly those one player adventure games where he can explore the fantasy world at his leisure. He knows those are usually single player, though. Nothing that two players can play.
Full Meltan Alchemist sounds nice but he hasnāt watched a single episode of it yet. Isabella had been insisting he gives it a try, and now heās kind of regretting in not taking up her offers of watching it with her. He tries not to fidget, mind swirling for something that they both can enjoy. Antonio hopes he doesnāt sound rude or anything when he finally says,Ā āUm, m-maybe we can see what s-sort of movies are o-on? I-If thatās alright with you...ā
Antonioās gaze flicker to the small pile of magazines, and luckily he spots one of the booklets that showcases what sort of stuff they can watch and their time slots on different channels. He grabs it and quickly flips it to todayās date, scanning the various shows until he stops on something that heās watched before and quite enjoyed.Ā
āAh, w-what do you think a-about My Neighbor S-Snorlax? Itās going to b-be on in about ten m-minutes. Iāve watched it before a-and itās a fun m-movie to watch!ā
So the boy does work for the place after allā¦ The inside of the cafe does smell delightful, Maxie has to admit, but under more ordinary circumstances, he would rather brush it off to be on his way after finding that anyone bore witness to his almost spill. But the welcoming warmth and sweet aroma enraptures him still, offering a bit of easy satisfaction against the bitter cold. With his hotel still many city blocks away, Maxie supposes that he should take him up on his offer to come inside to warm up and dine, if only for a short while. With a slight nod against his scarf, he allows himself inside.
The shop clerk scurries in after him, hurriedly situating himself behind the counter, still so eager to help that Maxie begins to wonder if perhaps he had been a little harsh before, but then again, the dead of winter had the tendency to do that to people, and Maxie was no exception.Ā
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Itās rather silly but Antonio feels like every step he makes will determine whether this encounter ends up being pleasantly tolerable or downright awful. The stranger did accept his offer, so heās doing something right? He keeps his mouth shut as he peruses their selection of baked goods, tugging at the hem of his apron. Hopefully, the pastries look delectable enough to the man.
Finally an order is given, a rather plain one. Though, he suppose it sort of fits his rather surly nature? Antonio nurses his bottom lip, cheeks warm from that mental slight towards a paying customer. If his Mama heard him say that about a customer, well, sheād be quite disappointed and then heād die from shame cause the last thing he wants is his Mamaās disapproval!Ā
āA-Alright, Iāll get to your o-order,ā he manages to say without sounding too squeaky.Ā āUm, p-please have a seat. Thereās a b-book section by the corner if you w-want to pass the time...ā It had been something that his parentsā thought up to keep the customers who dine indoors occupied. Thereās a variety of literature to choose from, ranging from a couple of mystery novels donated by some old customers to the odd book about Unovaās history.
Antonio gets to work in preparing his order. Heās not very good at making some of the more complex drinks, but he can make some black coffee just fine. They use quality beans for their blend because Papa said that a good pastry must be paired with a good drink! It has to be like a marriage where both components work in perfect harmony to create a magical experience. Antonio just nods along, trusting of his Papaās wisdom.
In the mean time, he carefully grabs one of the croissants, places it on a plate and pop it in the microwave for a quick reheat. Once both coffee and croissant are ready, he carefully brings it over to the man. At least some color has returned to his cheeks. He hopes this will further warm him up some.Ā āH-Here you go. If you need a-anything else, um, just call m-me.ā With a jerky nod, he returns back to the counter.
Itās a bit oppressive with only him and the stranger currently in the bakery, or at least in plain view of one another. If he had the courage to, he might try to strike up a conversation but his heart isnāt ready for such a feat yet. Instead of needlessly fretting,Ā Antonio tries to keep himself occupied by wiping the display cases again.Ā
Throughout the years, Antonio had experienced the disaster of too much flour or too little baking powder, of dough that didnāt proof when they set it to rise, or rose too high and fell when they baked it, of soggy crusts and burnt cookies and muffins that his Mama makes it look so easy to make. Itās always rather stressful, sometimes even wringing his too emotional heart till he squeezes out frustrated tears but his Papa told him that mistakes are never failures if he learnt from them.
So every time he falls, Antonio allows himself to cry before he wipes his eye and stands back up. Baking is one of the few things that he feels genuine joy over the accomplishments, where he feels like thereās something that even a nervous wreck like him can do with almost technical perfection. His limited vision isnāt a handicap; in fact, he uses it as a motivator to work even harder. This is what he must do if he wants to claim worth over something in his life.
Mama and Papa taught him the basics, and once he mastered them, he finds freedom in variation; exchanging Pecha berries for Mago berries, the bright zing of lime instead of lemon, subtle changes that made each recipe new every time. Antonio enjoys his experimentation, though he also knows the importance of sticking with the classics.Ā
Sweet Dreams Bakery is built on the relationships of their customers, some dating back to when his Papa and Mama first open doors some twenty years ago. The customers of then return with their own children or grandchildren, so having a spot of familiarity even as their selection changes with the passing times shows just how much his family cares for them.
Antonio first started out at the counter while he learns the tools of the trade on the side. When his Papa deems him worthy, heās allowed to do the more technical side of baking. Measuring the ingredients, checking the timer on the ovens, all that fun stuff that eventually teaches him how to make these different baked items on his own.
Itās only when he reached twenty that Antonio is allowed to work on custom orders. The ones for large events like weddings are left to his parents, but heās given the liberty to spearhead orders for smaller celebrations like birthdays or anniversaries. Antonio honestly would have done any job given, though he takes a certain amount of pride when heās working on these orders.
The decorations needed to be more precise or out of the norm of what they usually do. When it calls for piping, this is where his talent truly shines. He finds the act strangely calming where his hands, usually shaking from one thing or another, remains perfectly steady as the pattern slowly comes to life.Ā
This is what he feels when heās piping the side of a custom cake that heās in charge of. Itās for some kind of celebration for a writing groupās anniversary. All he knows that this is something that he needs to do well on. A lot is riding on his shoulders, and yet he feels strangely at ease. Antonio simply does what heās good at until he finally steps back to take it all in.
A three layer cake of chocolate with vanilla icing and scallop borders made from buttercream. On each layer, the words are piped on till it forms Happy 7th Anniversary WE! The designs isnāt all that fancy but Antonio still find himself proud over this creation.Ā
Satisfied with the look, he puts on the finishing touches. The deadline is near and he needs to ensure that this is nothing less than perfect!
Waving softly as her newest acquaintance slides back to the kitchen, Dawn gulps down what she anticipates to be a rejection of her spontaneous offer. Sheās always kept a bit of a spontaneous streak; one thatās occasionally led to trouble, but also some pretty interesting discoveries and encounters. It may be overwhelming, the thought of jetting off with some stranger. But Toni doesnāt strike her as strange, nor does he give her any unpleasant vibes.Ā
The young woman has always prided herself on being a good judge of character, after all. Her ability to open up so quickly is yet another sign that sheās in good company, and so any uncertainties about her offer are quickly diminished.
Risu, seemingly having heard the entire conversation, pitterpats back over to his trainer. Leaping into her lap, the tiny rodentās nose picks up the fragrances that continuously waft towards the front of the bakery.Ā āIt wonāt be much longerĀ ātil weāre on the road home,ā Dawn sighs, patting the Pachirisuās tiny head gingerly.Ā āIt probably was silly of me to invite somebody over whoās in the middle of their shift, huh, āRisu?ā
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Antonio exits the bakery with the boxes in hand, making minute adjustments to his grip every minute or so. Twinleaf isnāt too far from the city, so he assumes that theyāll make the journey on foot. A bit of exercise isnāt a problem, but the city streets and the bustling crowd certainly makes it challenging for him. He swallows down a lump, mentally prepping himself to be boxed in while heās carrying boxes but it seems that Dawn has other plans.
āOh wow!ā He gasps when the magnificent Togekiss emerges with a greeting chirp towards them. Antonio has never seen them up close, so the size kind of throws him off. Thereās no time to be standing here gaping in awe, though. Antonio flushes at the extended hand, hoping to Arceus that his palm isnāt sweaty as he accepts it. With Dawnās help, heās mounted on the Togekiss, his cargo tuck close to his body. Itās been so long since he last flew on a Pokemon, and while heās nervous, he also feels like he can trust this duo for a safe ride.
Soon, theyāre off into the skies. The little squeaks he makes is muffled by the wind until Togekiss stabilizes and theyāre flying at a relatively smooth speed. Antonio tries not to move too much, even if his lone eye flickers about, awed by the expanse of Sinnoh all around them. The flight remains quiet sans Togekissā occasional trills. Heās too nervous to talk mid flight, because what if a Bug-type accidentally flew into his mouth? A stretch of the imagination with their height, but his mind is just like that.
Twinleaf emerges past the grasslands and trees, a sleepy little town thatās home to one of Sinnohās finest. This time, his jaw did drop once he saw a manor amidst the smaller houses, apparently their destination for theyāre lowering towards the front porch. A number of people peeks out to watch, suddenly giving him a bad feeling about this. Once they touched down, Dawn helps him off of Togekiss just in time for him to be in their firing range.
Antonio, unused to these brazen folk, sort of freezes in place. Thereās this distinct feeling of gazing into a Seviperās maw as it strikes its helpless prey. How could they make these kinds of assumptions so lightly? And that laughter... theyāre definitely laughing at him, right? Just because heās here and in the company of Dawn-- or Hikari, as they call her. His pulse races, the sound of his heartbeat loud in his ears.Ā
Paddy, whoās always perceptive with his moods, turned his red eyes onto the group. If not for Dawnās swift interception, Antonio might have become an enemy of the Berlitz family. He returns back to reality from the touch, and through his elevated heart rate, Dawn tugs him towards the house. What did she say? Theyāre going towards her room? Totally lost, he could only meekly follow.
If Antonio thought the people outside were overwhelming, they had nothing with the crowd inside. The inside is posh and decorated and he doesnāt even notice any of these details. All he could see and hear are these strangers whose attention is on him, making these comments in various shades of emotions. Itās all so dizzying, and itās only Dawnās warm grip and Paddyās comforting presence that helps him get through it.
Heās been fading in and out, simply trying to remember a regular breathing pattern. When the surroundings became quiet with no more nosy people around, thatās when he starts grasping for his cool again. With each deep breath, his vision sharpens till he could finally see where they are. Itās a nice room thatās both modern and modest. Antonio feels like heās just entered into paradise from how quiet it is.
On shaky legs, he goes to sit on the closest chair. Paddy quickly curls around his feet after receiving an assuring head pat. Antonio canāt say that heās completely recovered, but he no longer feels overwhelmed. He draws his left sleeve to reveal a beaded bracelet. Antonio picks one of the green beads and rolls it between his fingertips. Itās something that he does when his nerves are off the charts, and soon heās more grounded.
āU-Um, itās fine. Theyāre probably just.... curious.ā If only he wasnāt the center of that curiosity.Ā āIām s-sure theyāre good people. Are all of t-them your family?ā It takes a moment for him to realize that, duh, of course itās her family! Didnāt they briefly share a moment over loud extended families? He nurses his bottom lip, cheeks a rosy hue while he rolls the bead some more.
His eyes flickered around, properly taking in the room. Itās yet to register that heās inĀ a girlās room, someone he just met no less!Ā āYour room i-is nice. Feels... comfy.ā Totally different than the rest of the house.Ā āThis house is r-really big on its o-own. A lot of p-people stay here?ā
Ā Ā tucked in a window seat of the sweet dreams bakery, sabrina engrosses herself in rereading the evaluations of her gym trainers, tuning out the bustle of customers clamoring for their morning coffee and baked goods. sheās a bit dissatisfied with the evals; at this point, sheād have hoped her trainers would be delivering improved performances. maybe i havenātĀ been as attentive as i should be, she ruminates between sips of her chai latte ā perhaps she should revise her training regimen?
she glances up as the bell at the door tinkles, alerting the arrival of a new customer, who proceeds to make a beeline for the display case of pastries.Ā āwelcome!ā the girl on shift calls, her hands full with what appears to be aĀ tall cake. sabrina does a double take at the bright colors and flowery accents, then at the petite girl carefully attempting to maneuver it, arms visibly straining with effort.Ā
scratch that, a very tall cake.
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Today has been a rather productive day. They had an order for a tall cake for a function of sorts, where the customer requested for bright colors and flowery accents. This is where Antonio got to do one of his favorite parts of cake decorating; the delicate piping that lined each layer, showcasing one of the few talents that he has. Making the fondant flowers had also been an enjoyable time, and soon he follows after Britney to the front of the shop, cake proudly in display.
Antonio holds the door open, and he takes this opportunity to make a quick sweep of the interior. There seems to be a couple of customers occupying the table, enjoying a treat or one of the drinks that they serve. He spots a young lady by the window seat, an elderly gentleman whose nibbling on a cupcake as he read the morning newspaper -- this is the kind of atmosphere that he enjoys.
The tinkling bell shifts his attention to the front, giving a soft greeting that got completely drowned out by Britneyās enthusiastic one. His coworker looked a little wobbly with the tall cake but had everything under control, until he spots the swishing tail of a Glameow heading towards her a second too late. His singular eye widens, heart thundering as he choked out aĀ āwatch out!ā
Antonio expected a disaster when the cake tipped towards the lady by the window but then something truly extraordinary happened. As if in slow motion, he saw her raised her hands, palms outward towards the cake like that could stop it and she actually did. The cake suspended from what looks like a red glow before it settled in her hands.Ā
Heās pretty sure his jaw hung open. Like, had that been real? Did she truly held the cake up by some kind of invisible force? Britney certainly didnāt notice, and the customer too busied himself from apologizing and scolding his Glameow. Heās probably the only witness and oh, she spots him staring. Heat rushes to his cheeks unbidden, green eye flickering away. His traitorous mind started to whirl with all sorts of possibilities.
Oh Arceus was he not supposed to see that? Is he going to be taken out to ensure that he wonāt squeal to anyone!? Maybe heād seen one too many Italian movies, but if sheās associated to the mob, then Antonioās really in hot water. Does the mob have individuals with supernatural powers like that? Regardless, he keeps his head down, heart beating wildly against his ribcage. Should he make amends first? Appease her with some cookies? They do have some really good cookies...
The anxious part in him really truly wants to avoid the confrontation, but the rest that wants to keep on baking with his family urges him to make the move. While Britney deals with the customer, he discreetly takes out a couple of cookies from the counter, places it on a plate before stiffly making his way over to the lady. Antonio kept his eye planted on the ground so he canāt really see her expression when he places down the cookies.
āU-Um... these are for you...ā An audible swallow as he tries not to fidget, squeezing his eyes shut. āI...I p-promise I wonāt t-tell anyone what I saw s-so pleasedonāthurtme...ā
There are just some days where everything just feels too overwhelming. Itās rather cumbersome, for it could have been a perfectly sunny day with everything going right and Antonio would still feel the need to slip away and hide until the pin and needles that digs underneath his skin abated. Today is one of those days, and after leaving a message to Rocco of his absence, he heads to one of his secret spots in the city.
Jubilife can be too big and loud, but it is his hometown so heād done plenty of exploring over the years. Antonio keeps to the roundabout paths, Paddy hot on his heels as they made their way to the local park. Thereās a secluded little area located around the eastern side just beyond a couple of trees and bushes. Most people probably find it a hassle to slip through the foliage, but Antonio takes burrs stuck to his pant legs any day if it gives him privacy.
In a little field, away from it all, Antonio finally feels like heās able to draw in a proper breath. Shaky fingers sinks into Viviās fur ā who had came out on his own when he felt the state of his emotions ā who accepts the treatment with low, rumbling purrs. On his shoulder, Fiore is emitting a gentle, calming smell via her Aromatherapy The combination of touch and scent. eventually calms him even further, before he sort of slumps, sighing.
He hates these instances. Antonio could have had a good day if his mind hadnāt decided to turn on him like that. Itās a tiring annoyance that he wished would not happen, or at least on good days. If it had been an awful day, then he can reluctantly accept these feelings, though preferably he didnāt want to feel like this at all. Another deep sigh.
Paddy, whoād been sitting quietly by his side, suddenly gets to his feet. The Watchogās wide eyes zeroes in on a section of the entrance that they went through earlier. Thereās light rustling, causing Antonio to tense up. Who could it be? He had hoped to get some undisturbed quiet time, but if itās someone who wanted to use this spot thenā¦ he doesnāt know what to think, just yet.
She feels a lot lighter, her offer accepted, and so she listens attentively before speaking up. Dawn notes the subtle changesāand more noticeable onesāaround the shoppe; āSweet Dreamsā has most certainly evolved, much like many of her companions over the years. Much like the city of Jubilife, following Galacticās demise. Much like, truly, everywhere sheās traveled thus far.
The world continues to move so quickly, and yet, sheās still chasing after nostalgia. She guesses there are certain things that never really change.
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Antonio admits to a little bubble of warmth at her laughter -- itās a little loud, a little hearty and feels like this is how it should be. Dawn looks more animated now, so he takes it as a good sign and settles down, tuning in to her tales. Heās familiar with Nimbasa City, having been the spot for a few family vacations back then. While their visits had decreased since his accident, he still enjoys the atmosphere of the smaller towns.Ā
A smile tugs at his lips the longer he listens, secretly finding it cute that her excitement seeps through her voice and body gesture. Now Lacunosa is a place heād never been to before, though from the giant chasm and stories of an alien residing in its depths, it sounds like a rather unique place to be! Dawnās giggle is contagious as he too let loose a small one, and he thinks itās been a long while since he smiled so much!
But all good things must come to an end. By the time Dawn finishes and checks the time, Toni too recalls that she had an order place. Casting a glance at the clock, it must be done. Dawn can pick up her order and... leave. Thereās something in his chest that twists a little at the thought. Is it disappointment? Sadness? Heād only just met her a couple of hours ago, but it feels like theyād been talking for much longer. Toni didnāt want it to end just yet.
āA-Ah, I should go check whether the b-batch is done,ā he speaks up, hastily rising to his feet with a small smile that feels a little forced. Before he could scurry off though, Dawn calls out and... lays down a surprising offer. Antonio canāt keep the surprise from his features, since it feels a little sudden? The way she goes about it, he could almost mistake it for begging,
Still, the shock pales in comparison from the admittance that she had fun and didnāt want it to end just yet. Antonio never saw himself as a good conversation partner, so to hear that someone wants to continue their interaction with him is quite astounding. Whatās even more astonishing is the fact that his heart readily agrees to it, something thatās never happened before.Ā
Antonio remains frozen on the spot while his mind rebooted itself. He blinks, looks down as if in deep thought before looking back up again.Ā
āI-I... I think they can let me. Take the r-rest of the day off, I mean,ā he replies, silently reeling that heās actually accepting this invitation. While itās a little scary, Antonio would be lying if he claimed that thereās not a spark of excitement within him. Going off for a delivery and then spending the rest of the day off afterwards with... a friend? An acquaintance? At least, someone that he thinks he can trust.
āU-Um, let me go check first.ā Antonio gives her a more genuine smile this time before he finally takes his leave. Slipping into the back kitchen, there he finds Sean, Jessie and Papa working on different batches of pastries. It seems that luck is on his side when he spots Isabella slipping in from the back door. With her here, thereād be someone to man the counter in his absence.
Antonio takes in a deep breath to help settle his beating heart, then approaches his Papa. He keeps his back straight and maintained eye contact as he shares with them the customerās request, hesitatingly adding on of his own request to take the rest of the day off after he made the delivery. Toni remains rooted while his family scrutinizes him, missing the way they look at each other after he explained a little about this customer; someone whoās quite pleasant to talk with and who heād like to get to know better -- for future business with the bakery, of course!
Sean stifles a laugh at his fumbling explanation, Jessie and Isabella smiled at him while his Papa rubbed the back of his neck with a little grin of his own. Antonio tries to keep his excitement in control when heās given permission, though he had to return back home before 9 PM. With that, he quickly changes out of his uniform, slipping into his usual outfit -- a brown jacket over a white shirt, trousers and his eye patch -- and a satchel that had the bakeryās logo on it before he headed back out, of course with Dawnās orange and chocolate chip cookies in tow. All in all, that should have taken roughly fifteen minutes.
āBe careful now Toni, alright?ā Isabella, who had taken his spot at the counter, waved at him, wearing a wide smile.Ā āAnd look after my big brother, okay?ā Antonio flushes at the attention, though he still nods at his little sister. He took a moment to release Paddy from his Pokeball, given that theyāre heading out. His Patrat eyes the new human and Pachirisu for a moment, then settle by his side. If heās alright with them, then Paddy is fine with it too.
Antonio gives a nervous grin at her, adjusting his hold on the boxes.Ā āU-Um, lead the way!ā
If it werenāt for the unbearably chill, Maxie might allow himself a bit of amusement at the boyās timidity. He wasnāt at all concerned as many might be with the age that he puts forward, but canāt help but wonder if he is perhaps, speaking now with a child.
Sure, accidents are prone to happeningā to some, more so than othersā but as far as Maxie could tell, he had made a swift recovery, which is quite plain to see. Though, he canāt say it wouldnāt be appreciated if had fallen, making an even bigger mess of the situation.
But stillā¦
Was he alright?
āā¦Hm,ā He burrows even deeper into his scarf, turning away, āAs you can see, Iām still standing.ā
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Even when he was the one who took a slip, the stranger had more presence than Antonioās mousy one. He nearly shrunk in on himself when the other got to his feet, dusting himself off whilst casting him an unamused look. Well, that was true. The stranger looked alright, and maybe he was just being a nuisance for checking up on someone who clearly thought it was unnecessary...
Antonio remained quiet, his anxious gaze burning a hole in the back of the otherās head as he slowly walked away. He should be glad that they were fine, yeah? Even still ,the tumble seemed painful and even if he was only on the ground for a brief moment, surely the chill of winter had seeped in. If he had the backbone, the baker might have called out but instead, he flinched when the stranger turned back around.
Was this place his? Well, technically that was the case but those sharp eyes pinned him in place, freezing his lips from giving a proper answer. Antonio could feel the clawing anxiety, and it was a small blessing that he could disguise the slight knocking of his knees from the cold. At the second snap, Antonio instinctively straightened, trying his hardest to properly look at this potential customer.
āY-Yes! Weāre d-definitely open for b-business!ā Antonio squeaked out, quickly sliding out of the way to grant him access to the warm interior. The sweet scent of baked goods, the slight hum of the heater and the homely decor made it far more comfortable than the freezing temperatures outside. Antonio shuffled to the back of the counter, swallowed through the lump in his throat and past his rapidly beating heart before he flashed the stranger his best smile. Hopefully, it didnāt look like a grimace.
āU-Uh, we have a v-variety of goods to chose f-from. We also h-have a selection of h-hot drinks to accompany it with... W-Would you like to order any?ā
āTell me about it,ā she giggles, feeling a kindred spirit as Toni relates his own family frustrations, vague enough to maintain a semblance of privacy. She feels the two have far more in common than she does with, say, someone a similar path as hers. It makes her decision in visiting Sweet Dreams on this day all the more delectable, finding their exchange as delightful as the anticipation of her order to come.Ā
She can tell his guard is relaxing a bit, which makes her feel as if herĀ āicyā persona has melted enough through conversation ā a very satisfying feeling, she might add. Surprisingly, or perhaps not so much so, even when sheās feeling relatable and relaxed, people still find themselves at an impasse when it comes to the girlās barriers. Perhaps itās Toniās company, or the lingering aroma of her cookies wafting from the back, or even both, that have her at such ease.
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Dawnās vague comment piques his interest but he keeps mum. Antonio himself rarely traveled abroad; after the accident, the concept of stepping foot on foreign land all by his lonesome self terrifies him. Only during family gatherings that he leaves Sinnoh, and even then he sticks with his family like superglue. The desire to venture was there, but his fear ultimately keeps him grounded, forced into social interaction that leaves him drained afterwards.
He wonders what sort of places Dawn has been to. Surely a lot of places Antonio only ever saw on TV!
āO-Oh?ā The offer throws him for a loop, simply because he didnāt expect it. Risu circles his feet excitedly, no doubt eager for him to accept, as does his Trainer. Antonio never saw himself as an ideal conversation partner, though it feels... nice that Dawn thought him interesting enough to continue talking. Usually he would have decline, anxiety clawing at his chest at the idea of chatting with a stranger.
But Dawn is different. Antonio flashes her a small smile, cheeks a rosy red.Ā āU-Um, if you would have me! I would... l-like to talk with you more, too.ā Antonio shuffles to the empty seat, being careful in sitting as if his family didnāt own the place. Realizing heās still clutching the tray, he quickly sets it on the other table for now before turning to face Dawn.
āW-Well... I think that thereās not much change to J-Jubilife?ā He begins, hands resting atop his knees.Ā āThereās new shops, more people moving in... regular c-city life.ā Itās also been pretty peaceful ever since Galactic got taken down years ago, though that doesnāt sound like a topic he should dredge.Ā āLike I mentioned before... the b-bakery closed down for three months for renovation. We a-added new cases, expand the baking station... it had been a lot of work!ā
He nervously plays with a few strands of hair.Ā āBut... it was worth it, seeing how w-well accepted it is by the customers, like y-you.ā A small, wobbly smile but genuine nonetheless. Antonio remains silent for a few seconds, seemingly mulling over something.Ā āU-Um, if you donāt mind me asking... what places have you b-been to? I donāt... travel a lot, so I donāt really know whatās the world is like out of Sinnoh... O-Only if you want to of course!ā
Stirring the remnants of sweetener into her tea, Dawn takes a quick sip to refresh her senses, savoring the flavor eagerly. It flushes her with an instant dose of nostalgia.Ā āOhhhh, yeah,ā she laughs a bit, picturing tiny-her, running away from her parents in the crowd and triggering a chase that would always end at the bakeryās window, her eyes fuller than the moon.Ā āSince I was real little. Iām from Twinleaf, so itās not that far away.ā
Risu, by this point, has literally demolished his pastry, stuffing his face with the remaining crumbs and looking at both humans with attention. Tiny emissions of excited sparks zap from his rounded cheeks, and Dawn can feel the jitters vibrating through her partner as she goes to pat his head. Youāre such a mess, she muses, scratching beneath his chin.
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By then, Risu has finished his treat, looking as pleased as a content feline. Little sparks sparked from his cheeks, making Antonio giggle once more. Heās struck with an impulsive desire to poke at them, but pushes it down. Heās not that reckless, thank you very much! Dawn may not appreciate him touching her Pokemon just like that, and the last thing he wants is to make her dislike him!
Instead, he keeps his grip affixed on the platter, listening quietly to her explanation. This means that sheās been here way before the renovation, which causes something warm to bubble up within him. The labor of love his parents had put in was appreciated even way back then. Antonio hopes heāll be able to continue this legacy years down the line. With customers like Dawn, he like to think itās a believable wish to hold.
āI-I see...ā Antonio can understand how sheās feeling. His dadās side of the family is pretty big, so during the holidays or family gatherings, heād be surrounded by his aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews-- just a whole lot of people being social in one place. Antonio often wished he could melt himself into the wall or have the ground swallow him up, as interacting with them, especially his nosier relatives can be quite exhausting.
His heart lurches a little at her bigger smile, finding it rather sweet compared to the polite ones sheās given him before. Antonio fights to keep the blush from hitting his cheeks, adjusting his grip once more.Ā āUm, I know what you m-mean! I love my family and relatives b-but when all of them are together?ā He huffs out a breathy little chuckle.Ā āIt can get a b-bit much.ā
Oh right! Speaking of the cookies, Antonio checks the clock. Going by the time he gave her before, there should be another twenty minutes, maybe thirty if theyāre leaving the cookie to cool longer before boxing them up.Ā āW-Well, youāre always welcome here!ā His smile this time is the biggest heās shown her thus far. Still a little shaky but filled with heart.Ā āIf you w-want a place to escape to or just... h-hang out in.ā
Truthfully? Antonio would love to learn more about Dawn. He knows of her from the news and tabloids, but thatās it. Interacting with her so far shows that how sheās presented on the media is different than who she really is.Ā
As heād been on that end multiple times before, Antonio knows that something is off with Dawn.Ā
It had been a pleasant surprise to see her swing by the bakery during his shift, but that quickly changes into quiet worry upon noticing her despondent mood. Sure, she engages in light conversation with him as she places her order, though it lacks the animated aspect behind it.Ā
Antonio likes Dawn, being one of their regulars that he genuinely enjoys spending some time with. He wants to ask her whatās wrong, but bit his tongue at the last minute. Would Dawn even appreciate it? There was still so much he didnāt know about her that he was worried about crossing boundaries.Ā
Still, he hated seeing her like this, too. During his internal struggle, she had made herself comfortable at that corner spot, a book already in her hands. Even then, he felt like she wasnāt really paying attention to the poetry. Antonio nursed his bottom lip, gaze flickering from her to the display cases. Was there really nothing that he could doā¦?
When his eyes landed on one of the cakes with icing decorations, the proverbial light bulb lit up. Antonio might not have the courage to ask in words, but he had confidence in his skill with a piping bag. With a plan in mind, he quickly grabbed one of their jam filled cakes with the plain topping and sets to work.
Soon, he was trying not to shake as he brought a tray of cake and tea to the table. Dawn seemed surprised, so he quickly explained.
āU-Um, since youāre a regular customerāā And a friend, if she saw him as one, too.Ā āāplease have this c-complimentary cake on the h-house!ā Complimentary cake? What on earth was that? Warmth flooded his cheeks, so he quickly yet carefully placed the cake and tea on the table, gripping the tray close to his chest. Antonio gave a jerky nod.Ā
āP-Please enjoy!ā With that, he quickly shuffled back to the counter, not once looking back for fear of losing his nerve. On the cake, Dawn will find a small message in elegantly piped frosting.
Thereās better days ahead, so stay strong!
He resolutely kept his eyes downwards until curiosity won over his anxiety. Antonio surreptitiously cast a glance at the table.
Seeing the soft smile on Dawnās lips, he felt like he made the right decision.Ā
š± - Plant seedlings with my muse š¤š¼ - Show my muse how to throw a proper punch both for toni w/ gen! :)
š± - Plant seedlings with my muse
It had been a suggestion by his Mama. Since they had plans on introducing some more savory breads, they would need some herbs and spices to experiment with. While they can just buy it at the grocery store, she believes that being fully involved in the process, which included growing the ingredients itself, would make them more appreciative.Ā
Antonio is all for it, which is why she handed the task of planting the seedlings in a little section of the yard that his Mama set aside for this project. Since Gen had conveniently been in the city, he asked if theyād like to help him out. Which is how Antonio had the aura guardian and Shion in his backyard, knelt on the ground with the equipment needed to plant these seedlings.
āU-Um, I think Mama wanted it to be in a r-rowā¦ā Antonio turned his attention to his friend, who had discarded their nice jacket as to avoid getting it dirtied. Shion meanwhile is gingerly holding onto a trowel with his paws, giving it a little sniff.Ā
āAlright. Soā¦ā Gen held up one of the packet of seeds.Ā āMaybe we can plant the seedlings in one row, and the seeds in the other?ā
Antonio nods, smiling. He swipes back his bangs, then puts on the gloves.Ā āA-Alright, letās get to work.ā
Itās not how he expected to spend a Saturday evening, but the sense of accomplishment from doing a good job, as well as the pleasant company of a friend makes it more than worth it.Ā
Getting treated with a cold drink and some of Mamaās sandwiches afterwards is merely the icing on the cake.Ā
š¤š¼ - Show my muse how to throw a proper punch
It had merely been out of curiosity. Antonio had lived in Jubilife for most of his life, rarely venturing far from the city. He was never an outdoors-y kind of guy, nor the type that participated in any physical activity. He didnāt have much by way of stamina or strength, but he had decent speed and arm strength from his years spent in the kitchen. Whisking, kneading, rolling ā they really test you.
So hearing of Genās tales and learning more on what heās capable of doing with aura, he wonders how capable he is in a fight. Like, sure he has aura to help him, but without it, he must still be pretty strong, yeah?
An innocent question on his physical strength led to a conversation of hand to hand combat, which then ended in a demonstration. Antonio watched intently as Gen took a stance, looking relaxed until he suddenly threw what looked to be a mean straight punch to an invisible opponent.
āW-Wow!ā He claps in amazement.Ā āThatās really good!ā
Gen looks mildly sheepish.Ā āReally? I like to believe that itās just a regular punch.ā
āI m-meanā¦ā Antonio laughs an awkward little laugh.Ā āI donāt know h-how to punch properly, so it looked really good to meā¦ā
āAh, I see.ā A momentās pause, before Gen looks at him thoughtfully.Ā āWould you like to learn, then?ā
Thus, thatās how he finds himself on his feet, trying to hold the form that Gen showed him. It feels awkward to him, not used at all in keeping his limbs close like this out of a conscious decision. Still, he tries his best, rearing his left hand back before he throws a punch that tips him slightly forward.Ā
āThatās good! Not bad for a first time!ā Gen compliments with a smile.Ā āYou just need to spread your legs a little more to have a more stable stance. Would you like to give it another try?ā
Well, since heād been given pointers, Antonio does so. The punch this time still feels awkward, but he doesnāt pitch forward from the momentum anymore. He has a tiny smile, which widened even further at Genās approving nod.
Now, he wants to avoid having to punch people in his lifetime, but if thereās ever a need to, at least he can take comfort in the fact that he has the know how, thanks to his friend.Ā Ā Ā Ā
š° when the muse is stressed, how do they act out?
When Emmet is stressed out, he has a habit of hunching himself into his coat and tipping his hat down to shadow his stormy eyes. Sometimes heād bite onto his gloved thumb if heās stressed from a battle related event. If itās due to work, he definitely gets a little quieter, even a little snappish to others. Emotionally stressed often results in him quietly weeping in frustrated tears, locking himself away somewhere as to not worry anyone.
( I can't do symbols rn but what is your muse's guilty pleasure? )
Emmet certainly enjoys indulging in some good olā Italian food. Thereās a good Italian place in Nimbasa City that he likes to go for a late night dinner. He can down a whole pizza by himself, or a plate of spaghetti and meatballs with tiramisu for dessert. These meals can be rather filling and heavy, especially at the hour he eats it at, so itās an occasional indulgent meal that he treats himself from time to time.
Well, he definitely enjoys a lazy day in. Decked in his cow printed pajamas, heād make himself comfortable on the couch, surrounded by a number of pillows and a blanket to burrito himself into. Thereād be a nature documentary playing on TV, and heād treat himself to some nice chocolates to slowly munch on throughout.
But if weāre talking guilty pleasure in terms of food, he does love a good hearty mac and cheese. Or a slice of tres leches cake
