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[sunbaked_baker]

There are familiar smells coming from the kitchen, this evening

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[wheatencrown]

Demeter has been enjoying the summer and so not coming into the Bar too much, but today it decided to rain as she was weeding.

So she's drying her hair when she spots Rae and her baskets then in another moment her glow,

"You look like you've been busy."

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine looks up at Demeter comes into the kitchen, and offers a slight smile. "A bit, yeah."

"There's one with your name on it, though I'm afraid it's not quite done."

[wheatencrown]

"I'm glad to wait. Can I help?"

The smile is smaller than Demeter's used to from Sunshine so she comes closer to her, near enough for a hug.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Um..." Sunshine says, turning to look and see what is currently left undone. The glimmers of sunlight set into her skin are also in her hair. "Could you sprinkle that bowl of cinnamon and sugar over that dough over there, and roll it up?"

There is a blob of dough approximately the size of Manhattan, rolled out into an approximately flat square.

[wheatencrown]

"Of course. What's the occasion for all these gifts?"

She slips an arm around Sunshine and hugs her before moving off to sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar.

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine stiffens slightly at the unexpected hug, startled, but moves to return it.

"They're for... the friends I've made in Milliways. Plus my favorite customers. I haven't gotten to see many of them, lately."

And she likely won't get much of a chance to see them, to solidify them in her memory, to find closure, to say goodbye.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter wasn't sure if the hug would be welcome, but Sunshine just seemed like she needed it,

"I know they'll all be appreciated. I haven't been around that much myself. The weather's been so beautiful, going inside anywhere seems a shame."

[sunbaked_baker]

"I... left here, after, well, there was a complication. I didn't expect to be back so soon again."

Didn't expect to be here again, ever.

There are bruises still on her neck and across her upper arms. Likely on her chest too, from the shape of them, but her shirt hides those.

"It's November back home, but it's very lovely, here. I spent all day outside."

[wheatencrown]

"I can listen if you'd like or just be here?"

The bruises are worrying as is how tense Sunshine seems.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Rather not talk about it," she says, going back to preparing rosemary-garlic rolls to cover the fact that she isn't meeting Demeter's eyes. "Suffice to say, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and got caught up in a confrontation between security and the vampire who had been drinking from patrons."

[wheatencrown]

"Can I at least ask if you were badly hurt?"

When its clear that Sunshine isn't going to meet her gaze, Demeter focuses on spreading the mixture.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Bruises and scrapes only," she says.

And a wounded sense of pride and an additional sense of betrayal.

"Nothing new."

Her collection of vampire-inflicted bruises, scrapes and scars only ever gets bigger.

[wheatencrown]

"I'm glad it wasn't worse. How would you like this rolled?"

Perhaps if she just keeps helping, Sunshine will tell her more.

[sunbaked_baker]

"As am I," she murmurs, shaping the rolls and putting them on the baking tray. "Bottom to top's usually easiest. It just needs to be even."

[wheatencrown]

"I think I can manage that. How is business at home?"

There's something calming about baking, the repetition and the wonderful smells.

[sunbaked_baker]

...

Sunshine hesitates, before forcing herself to continue.

"What business?"