Chapter 1
MarkWarrior
Well-known member
It’s a Peaceful Life
“Hey boss,” I walked into the back of the small bakery, grabbing an apron from the nearby rack, slipping it over my head, and tying it around my waist. “We got any big orders today?” I pulled my time card out of the rack over the small table and slipped it into the punch machine before putting it back where it belonged.
“Doesn’t look like it,” Luke replied “Got those wedding cakes to finish up, but that’s about it.”
“You alright?” I asked the man as he leaned over the counter, a handful of expense reports laid out in front of him.
“Yeah,” he rubbed at his temples. “Decided to get together with some of my old war buddies last night.”
“Ahh,” It clicked. “When was the last time you had a hangover?”
“‘Bout fifteen years ago,” he winced as I began turning on the main lights for the storefront.
“Well, I can take care of everything here if you want to head home, boss. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve run everything.”
“I’ll just get some water and file some paperwork in the office,” He shook his head, straightening up and collecting the papers. “Knock and let me know if you need anything.”
“Alright,” I agreed, heading for the fridge and collecting pastries to set in the display case.
The old Veteran just grumbled and vanished into his office while I continued the usual jobs that needed to be done before opening the bakery for the day.
I started a pot of coffee and set it up at the beginning of the display case, before moving back through and pulling out the donuts we’d prepped and put onto the racks the night before.
I’d already lit the fryer, and after it reached temp, I began to fry the donuts before coating them in glaze and setting them out beside the coffee. A few bearclaws later, I had the morning ready and flipped the sign to open.
As was normal, when the door opened a handful of regulars entered, the bell ringing as they greeted me and moved to the coffee machine.
“Mark, you’re a godsend,” Alex poured a cup and collected his usual order for the office’s morning breakfast run. “I don’t know what blend of coffee you’re using, but I’ll figure it out one day.”
“And start making it at home?” I scoffed. “We both know that you can’t go back to that instant crap.”
“You’re right,” he handed over a ten pound note as I rang him up. “I guess I’ll just have to keep coming back here. Oh, keep the change.”
He grabbed his small paper bag and left as the next few regulars entered.
Some of them sat down in the few chairs and tables we had, others simply collected their orders and left. But all of them had a story, and despite the world being one filled with dangers and the unknown, it was peaceful.
At around lunch, I flipped the sign to “Closed for Lunch” before checking on Luke in the office.
He was asleep and his snores filled the small office, so I closed the door and nodded. I’d let him sleep off the rest of his hangover in peace.
Taking off my apron, I opened up the fridge and collected my lunch. Leftovers from the day before weren’t glamorous, but they were free and still tasted almost as good the next day.
I sat at the counter and flipped through the cake orders as I worked through my food. We had two wedding cakes to finish and I still had to make the icing and work on decorating what was left.
“I don’t know why they picked bugmechs,” I sighed as I flipped through the discussions I’d had with them. “But I guess I can somewhat see the appeal.”
One couple wanted a Stinger and Wasp in the black and white of the bride and groom, another went with an Phoenix Hawk and a Warhammer.
“Alright,” I put away my lunch containers and grabbed my apron again. “We’ll start with the fondant and get the molds ready.”
Most fondants were edible but tasted gross, they were mainly for decorative purposes and left to the side on most cakes. However, Luke and I had made a marshmallow-based version that kept its shape and tasted great. Sure, it required us to make it in house, but it was also easier to work with and saved us money overall.
Punching back in from my lunch, I flipped the sign back to “open” and began mixing together the fondant.
The rest of the day passed by quietly as I worked on the cakes, a few customers here and there, but most of our business was in the morning during rush hour traffic or the occasional foot traffic from young kids heading to and from one of their internships.
–
–
I was putting the finishing touches on the Warhammer as the bell on the door range. This cake was for a couple that was in the AFFS, and the Warhammer was her family ‘Mech.
“That looks really good,” someone commented as I applied a last bit of color to finish out the parade paint that had been requested.
“Thanks,” I set down the frosting bag I’d been using. “Now, what can I get you?”
I turned around and smiled at the pretty brunette woman that had entered the bakery.
“What do you recommend?” She asked. “I don’t usually get to spend a lot of time downtown so I figured I’d see what holes in the wall I could find.”
“Well, welcome to Pixie Pastries and cakes!” I spread my arms out. “Now, given it’s..” I trailed off to glance at my watch only to remember that I’d taken it off when I started mixing and baking. “Whatever time of day it is. I’d probably not recommend anything too heavy given you probably still have dinner waiting. So, I’ve got an assortment of cookies here, and then we’ve also got small cheesecake bites if you’re looking for something a bit more flavorful.”
“I think a cookie would be good,” she pointed at one of the simple chocolate chip cookies that were in the display case.
“I’ll get that rang up for you,” I grabbed a fresh pair of gloves and set the cookie into a sheet of paper. “And if you want coffee to go with, there should be some still left in the pot there.”
I moved to the register and rang up her purchase while she poured the last of the coffee.
“That’ll be seventy-five pence,” I told her.
“I should have that,” she reached into her purse and pulled out a small wallet, the bills practically spilling out of it.
“You know what,” I chuckled, realizing that this was probably the daughter of a wealthy businessman or something similar. “I’ve got it covered. Just enjoy the cookie.”
“Are you sure?” she raised an eyebrow, confused.
“Yeah,” I waved her off. “We might not be the most popular bakery around, but we do well enough. One cookie on the house isn’t a big deal.”
While she sat and enjoyed both the cookie and the coffee, I found my watch and finally figured out what time it was.
“Ma’am,” I called out as I set the watch back onto its rightful place on my wrist. “I’m going to start closing up shop here, but you can stay as long as it takes you to finish.”
“Oh,” She looked up, her hand covering a mouthful of cookie. “Sorry, I didn’t realize it was closing time.”
“You’re fine,” I laughed. “I lost track of time while I was decorating and forgot to put the closed sign up. Just take your time.”
I picked up the cake I’d been working on and moved it into the cake freezer, I didn’t want all of my hard work to fall apart overnight.
Then I started packing up the display cases while the woman finished up her coffee, a handful of cookie crumbs lingering in her scarf.
“Thank you for the cookie,” her eyes lingered on a white chocolate and caramel chip cookie that I was about to put away.
“Here,” I handed it to her. “Have one for the road. But unfortunately, I’ve got to lock the front door and start counting down the till.”
“Ahh,” She accepted the cookie and walked to the front door. “Thank you.”
And with those last words, the door shut behind her and I was left to finish closing up.
I flipped the door sign to closed and poured the rest of the coffee into a thermos, pulling the grounds and throwing them away before counting down the till and filling out the bookkeeping for the day.
“Hey Luke!” I woke him up from his long slumber. “I’m punching out for the day. Everything’s closed up.”
“Huh?” He blinked at me blearily until I repeated myself and set the thermos of coffee and a donut in front of him. “Oh,” he glanced at the clock. “I really slept the day away, didn’t I?” he laughed at himself.
“It’s fine,” I replied. “Just take it easy, old-timer.”
“I’ll do my best,” he stretched and took a sip of the coffee, some of the light returning to his eyes.
“The two wedding orders are almost finished. I’ve just got a few finishing touches on the details and then we’re golden. I also did the till for the day.”
I turned to walk out before remembering something important.
“Oh, and I’ve got Wednesday off, remember?”
“I remember,” Luke replied. “It’s that time of year again, huh?”
“The years have flown by, yeah,” I sighed. “See ya tomorrow, boss.”
“G’night, Mark,” he waved. “Go enjoy your night.”
Leaving, I punched my time card again before opening the back door and climbing onto my motorcycle.
New Avalon was always a gorgeous city, but at night, the city shined like nothing else in the night sky. The glow of dropships taking off and landing from the spaceports was always a sight to behold. It made the city seem as if it were statuesque from a distance, the towering man-made monoliths rose into the sky and the shimmering lights flickered off of the battlemech-grade glass of the skyscrapers.
But I didn’t live in the city, not fully anyway. I had managed to pick up this property in a foreclosure sale a year or so back, and this rundown farmhouse and property was my home.
But, even rundown as it was, I had made progress in restoring it over the last year. The once overgrown fields were now plowed and orderly, the few chicken coops and goat pens I had were positioned properly, and I had replaced the roof and fixed any structural damage to the house about six months ago.
“I should probably finish the guest bathroom today,” I hopped off of the bike and grinned as the twin Australian Shepherds that managed my flock ran up and began begging for head scratches and pets.
“Good girls,” I scratched them behind the ears. “Were the goats a handful today too?” I asked, getting what felt like an eye roll from Thyme, and a barking scoff from Sage.
“Oh, so you handled it,” I walked onto the porch. “Good to hear.”
“So,” I unlocked my door and entered the living room. “What are we working on, today?”
I took stock of the supplies I’d picked up a few days ago and nodded as I shifted some of my tools. “If we work through the night, I could finish up the bathrooms and repipe the mud room,” I glanced at my inventory list and added the materials I’d need for the next step to the “Needs purchasing” section. “Then we can set up to paint the guest room tomorrow. What do you think?” I asked the dogs.
“Right,” I nodded when Thyme barked. “We should take our time. I still have to go to work tomorrow after all.”
With that, I got to work. I had a lot to do if I wanted to restore this place to its former glory.
“Hey boss,” I walked into the back of the small bakery, grabbing an apron from the nearby rack, slipping it over my head, and tying it around my waist. “We got any big orders today?” I pulled my time card out of the rack over the small table and slipped it into the punch machine before putting it back where it belonged.
“Doesn’t look like it,” Luke replied “Got those wedding cakes to finish up, but that’s about it.”
“You alright?” I asked the man as he leaned over the counter, a handful of expense reports laid out in front of him.
“Yeah,” he rubbed at his temples. “Decided to get together with some of my old war buddies last night.”
“Ahh,” It clicked. “When was the last time you had a hangover?”
“‘Bout fifteen years ago,” he winced as I began turning on the main lights for the storefront.
“Well, I can take care of everything here if you want to head home, boss. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve run everything.”
“I’ll just get some water and file some paperwork in the office,” He shook his head, straightening up and collecting the papers. “Knock and let me know if you need anything.”
“Alright,” I agreed, heading for the fridge and collecting pastries to set in the display case.
The old Veteran just grumbled and vanished into his office while I continued the usual jobs that needed to be done before opening the bakery for the day.
I started a pot of coffee and set it up at the beginning of the display case, before moving back through and pulling out the donuts we’d prepped and put onto the racks the night before.
I’d already lit the fryer, and after it reached temp, I began to fry the donuts before coating them in glaze and setting them out beside the coffee. A few bearclaws later, I had the morning ready and flipped the sign to open.
As was normal, when the door opened a handful of regulars entered, the bell ringing as they greeted me and moved to the coffee machine.
“Mark, you’re a godsend,” Alex poured a cup and collected his usual order for the office’s morning breakfast run. “I don’t know what blend of coffee you’re using, but I’ll figure it out one day.”
“And start making it at home?” I scoffed. “We both know that you can’t go back to that instant crap.”
“You’re right,” he handed over a ten pound note as I rang him up. “I guess I’ll just have to keep coming back here. Oh, keep the change.”
He grabbed his small paper bag and left as the next few regulars entered.
Some of them sat down in the few chairs and tables we had, others simply collected their orders and left. But all of them had a story, and despite the world being one filled with dangers and the unknown, it was peaceful.
At around lunch, I flipped the sign to “Closed for Lunch” before checking on Luke in the office.
He was asleep and his snores filled the small office, so I closed the door and nodded. I’d let him sleep off the rest of his hangover in peace.
Taking off my apron, I opened up the fridge and collected my lunch. Leftovers from the day before weren’t glamorous, but they were free and still tasted almost as good the next day.
I sat at the counter and flipped through the cake orders as I worked through my food. We had two wedding cakes to finish and I still had to make the icing and work on decorating what was left.
“I don’t know why they picked bugmechs,” I sighed as I flipped through the discussions I’d had with them. “But I guess I can somewhat see the appeal.”
One couple wanted a Stinger and Wasp in the black and white of the bride and groom, another went with an Phoenix Hawk and a Warhammer.
“Alright,” I put away my lunch containers and grabbed my apron again. “We’ll start with the fondant and get the molds ready.”
Most fondants were edible but tasted gross, they were mainly for decorative purposes and left to the side on most cakes. However, Luke and I had made a marshmallow-based version that kept its shape and tasted great. Sure, it required us to make it in house, but it was also easier to work with and saved us money overall.
Punching back in from my lunch, I flipped the sign back to “open” and began mixing together the fondant.
The rest of the day passed by quietly as I worked on the cakes, a few customers here and there, but most of our business was in the morning during rush hour traffic or the occasional foot traffic from young kids heading to and from one of their internships.
–
–
I was putting the finishing touches on the Warhammer as the bell on the door range. This cake was for a couple that was in the AFFS, and the Warhammer was her family ‘Mech.
“That looks really good,” someone commented as I applied a last bit of color to finish out the parade paint that had been requested.
“Thanks,” I set down the frosting bag I’d been using. “Now, what can I get you?”
I turned around and smiled at the pretty brunette woman that had entered the bakery.
“What do you recommend?” She asked. “I don’t usually get to spend a lot of time downtown so I figured I’d see what holes in the wall I could find.”
“Well, welcome to Pixie Pastries and cakes!” I spread my arms out. “Now, given it’s..” I trailed off to glance at my watch only to remember that I’d taken it off when I started mixing and baking. “Whatever time of day it is. I’d probably not recommend anything too heavy given you probably still have dinner waiting. So, I’ve got an assortment of cookies here, and then we’ve also got small cheesecake bites if you’re looking for something a bit more flavorful.”
“I think a cookie would be good,” she pointed at one of the simple chocolate chip cookies that were in the display case.
“I’ll get that rang up for you,” I grabbed a fresh pair of gloves and set the cookie into a sheet of paper. “And if you want coffee to go with, there should be some still left in the pot there.”
I moved to the register and rang up her purchase while she poured the last of the coffee.
“That’ll be seventy-five pence,” I told her.
“I should have that,” she reached into her purse and pulled out a small wallet, the bills practically spilling out of it.
“You know what,” I chuckled, realizing that this was probably the daughter of a wealthy businessman or something similar. “I’ve got it covered. Just enjoy the cookie.”
“Are you sure?” she raised an eyebrow, confused.
“Yeah,” I waved her off. “We might not be the most popular bakery around, but we do well enough. One cookie on the house isn’t a big deal.”
While she sat and enjoyed both the cookie and the coffee, I found my watch and finally figured out what time it was.
“Ma’am,” I called out as I set the watch back onto its rightful place on my wrist. “I’m going to start closing up shop here, but you can stay as long as it takes you to finish.”
“Oh,” She looked up, her hand covering a mouthful of cookie. “Sorry, I didn’t realize it was closing time.”
“You’re fine,” I laughed. “I lost track of time while I was decorating and forgot to put the closed sign up. Just take your time.”
I picked up the cake I’d been working on and moved it into the cake freezer, I didn’t want all of my hard work to fall apart overnight.
Then I started packing up the display cases while the woman finished up her coffee, a handful of cookie crumbs lingering in her scarf.
“Thank you for the cookie,” her eyes lingered on a white chocolate and caramel chip cookie that I was about to put away.
“Here,” I handed it to her. “Have one for the road. But unfortunately, I’ve got to lock the front door and start counting down the till.”
“Ahh,” She accepted the cookie and walked to the front door. “Thank you.”
And with those last words, the door shut behind her and I was left to finish closing up.
I flipped the door sign to closed and poured the rest of the coffee into a thermos, pulling the grounds and throwing them away before counting down the till and filling out the bookkeeping for the day.
“Hey Luke!” I woke him up from his long slumber. “I’m punching out for the day. Everything’s closed up.”
“Huh?” He blinked at me blearily until I repeated myself and set the thermos of coffee and a donut in front of him. “Oh,” he glanced at the clock. “I really slept the day away, didn’t I?” he laughed at himself.
“It’s fine,” I replied. “Just take it easy, old-timer.”
“I’ll do my best,” he stretched and took a sip of the coffee, some of the light returning to his eyes.
“The two wedding orders are almost finished. I’ve just got a few finishing touches on the details and then we’re golden. I also did the till for the day.”
I turned to walk out before remembering something important.
“Oh, and I’ve got Wednesday off, remember?”
“I remember,” Luke replied. “It’s that time of year again, huh?”
“The years have flown by, yeah,” I sighed. “See ya tomorrow, boss.”
“G’night, Mark,” he waved. “Go enjoy your night.”
Leaving, I punched my time card again before opening the back door and climbing onto my motorcycle.
New Avalon was always a gorgeous city, but at night, the city shined like nothing else in the night sky. The glow of dropships taking off and landing from the spaceports was always a sight to behold. It made the city seem as if it were statuesque from a distance, the towering man-made monoliths rose into the sky and the shimmering lights flickered off of the battlemech-grade glass of the skyscrapers.
But I didn’t live in the city, not fully anyway. I had managed to pick up this property in a foreclosure sale a year or so back, and this rundown farmhouse and property was my home.
But, even rundown as it was, I had made progress in restoring it over the last year. The once overgrown fields were now plowed and orderly, the few chicken coops and goat pens I had were positioned properly, and I had replaced the roof and fixed any structural damage to the house about six months ago.
“I should probably finish the guest bathroom today,” I hopped off of the bike and grinned as the twin Australian Shepherds that managed my flock ran up and began begging for head scratches and pets.
“Good girls,” I scratched them behind the ears. “Were the goats a handful today too?” I asked, getting what felt like an eye roll from Thyme, and a barking scoff from Sage.
“Oh, so you handled it,” I walked onto the porch. “Good to hear.”
“So,” I unlocked my door and entered the living room. “What are we working on, today?”
I took stock of the supplies I’d picked up a few days ago and nodded as I shifted some of my tools. “If we work through the night, I could finish up the bathrooms and repipe the mud room,” I glanced at my inventory list and added the materials I’d need for the next step to the “Needs purchasing” section. “Then we can set up to paint the guest room tomorrow. What do you think?” I asked the dogs.
“Right,” I nodded when Thyme barked. “We should take our time. I still have to go to work tomorrow after all.”
With that, I got to work. I had a lot to do if I wanted to restore this place to its former glory.
