[CompletedThread]

[rose_of_baron]

WHO: Rosa Farrell and Nodame.
WHAT: A morning walk and bakery run.
WHERE: Around one of the kingdom's many parks, to the market, and then the Crimson Dragon.
WHEN: Morning of day nth.

Comments

[rose_of_baron]

Given that it was usually quiet in the parks, especially the farther one went away from the main streets, the presence and the voice that accompanied it was easily distinguished among the birds and fountains. It took only a few moments for Rosa to scan the surroundings, looking around the trees and flower beds, or an arc of water, to spot the disheveled girl. Her words were clear, even if certain nuances were somewhat foreign.

"Good morning," Rosa called out gently to announce her presence. She stepped around the centerpiece that had previously formed a pillar between them in order to be seen more clearly. Pressing a hand to the smooth marble stone, her eyes smiled gently, taking in the sight of the young girl. She was obviously tired, hungry, and very new to the strange world.

"Are you looking for someone?" She asked, somewhat obviously. Somewhat reluctantly, she was only able to offer what little she could. "I've been searching, too. But I'm afraid that, until this place decides to bring them here, we'll have to wait."

"How about we go to find a place with an early breakfast?" Rosa suggested. "I couldn't help but to overhear. My name is Rosa."

[purigorotafan1]

Nodame upon hearing the greeting, looked over her shoulder to face Rosa. Standing up Nodame smiled. "Nodame is looking for someone!" She said, looking a little hopeful. "Have you seen Chiaki-senpai? He's cool, has a nice style...and he's Nodame's husband. Kyah! I just said that outloud!" She turned to the side, placing her hands against her cheeks.

Her stomach grumbled, reminding her of it's hungry. Closing her eyes she placed a hand onto her stomach, bummed once more. Yet the instant Rosa mentioned breakfast her eyes lit up as she re-faced Rosa. "Breakfast? Really?" She ran up to hug the other. "You're so kind! Uhyoo~ and pretty too~! Everyone calls me Nodame!"

[rose_of_baron]

Blinking, Rosa tried her best to keep up with the girl's questions, leading into a bout of rambling. Not that she minded. The woman had to bring a curled finger against her lip to muffle her chuckle, only to be cut off with surprise when the other woman suddenly barreled into her. It was one of the most enthusiastic hugs she had ever received since arriving, much less before her time there.

"Miss Nodame? It's nice to meet you," Rosa replied, replacing a handshake with a small hug in return. She made sure that she wasn't blushing from the girl's honest words and compliment before she held her at arm's length from her shoulders, in order to have a better look at her. "You'll be very pretty once we can find a room for you to take a bath. Then you'll be ready to greet your Chiaki-senpai whenever he might arrive."

She truly believed that this man was Nodame's husband. At least the expression to missing him was genuine. In a way she was becoming increasingly empathetic.

"All right then, let's go see if there's any early morning specials," Rosa announced, taking Nodame's hand to lead her out of the park. It wasn't good to dwell on just one thing and forget all the rest. She had been about to, so the interruption was more than welcome. "Almost all the bakeries are already starting our their batched of the day. Let's see what's been done so far."

[purigorotafan1]

Nodame didn't seem to notice Rosa's embarrassment with her affectionate ways. Happily she took Rosa's hand to shake it. She was a little lonely due to the lack of Chiaki, and familiar faces.

"Gyabo~ you think so?" Her eyes lit up at the mention of looking pretty for Chiaki. She was his (self-proclaimed) wife after all! The idea of looking nice for him sounded good to her. Smiling Nodame followed Rosa as she lead her along by hand.

Her mouth began watering, and her stomach eagerly rumbled at the thought of eating pastries. "Bakeries? Nodame likes bakeries!" She enthusiastically agreed. "What kind of baked goods are there?" She questioned, now excited at the thought of experiencing new types of food. Her need to find Chiaki-momentarily forgotten.

[rose_of_baron]

Nodame's language and mannerisms were of an entirely different culture and world, but Rosa was sure to keep an open mind. If anything, the closeness and honesty of all her actions and speech were easy to get along with. She needed to only offer a small nod of affirmation to the girl's sudden interest of tidying up for her husband. She knew so. All women were beautiful in their own right, and she could tell that being in love gave Nodame a comely glow. Rosa had always denied it for herself when others pointed it out, but when she saw it in Nodame, she understood.

"Let's see... Most of the pastries have to do with fruits from their jungles," Rosa mused, thinking on what foods she had seen lately, much less what she had eaten. She had very little of an appetite since she had arrived. Maybe it was the food, or the weather, or the circumstances. All of it together gave her very little desire to eat. And yet here food, and her husband, was all that Nodame seemed to be able to think about.

"What's your favorite? They have so many. You can pick anything you'd like, really. Most of the shopkeepers here know that we're new and are quite generous." Rosa told her when they came into a lane that showed tell tale signs of it being a food market. Windows presented cakes and breads and tarts, while others had sausage links or baked fowl, dripping with caramelized fats. The fruit stands were already being set up, telling her how late it was becoming. She hoped that Cain would only assume that Rosa would be out and back again with breakfast once she showed Nodame to the same Inn.

[purigorotafan1]

"Jungle fruits?" Nodame's eyes sparkled at the thought of eating a type of exotic pastry. "Gyabo!" She squealed in excitement as they entered the food market area. The alluring smell of food was a welcoming sign for Nodame and her nose.

She happily trotted up to the nearest bakery. She pressed both her hands and face against the window as she observed the different types of baked goods that was arranged in a way to attract starving customers, such as herself. "Ooh! Ooohhh! They all look delicious!" Nodame exclaimed as she pulled away from the window. "Nodame just can't decide!"

She glanced over to Rosa, with a wide smile. "What is Rosa going to get?" She asked. Nodame didn't know what food tasted good, but she was willing to try anything. Besides, food was food!

[rose_of_baron]

Rosa would have been quite content to watch and very well carry everything that Nodame might have decided to try or sample. Just having a bit of light hearted company to lift her somewhat somber moods was vastly refreshing. In her trance, Rosa started slightly when the unexpected question came, calling her own mind into action again.

"M-Me?" Rosa began, just realizing that she was not quite sure either. Now that she had been asked, though, she stepped closer to the window to look over the presented goods. "Hm... That one with the star fruit is rather cute," Rosa pointed out from beside Nodame. "The berries piled in tarts seems good as well. Maybe we'll be able to decide better if we can smell them?" She suggested, going to open the bakery door with a clear little ring from its carillon.

"Take whatever you think you can finish," She offered generously as she took a basket laid with a brightly colored handkerchief from beside the door. Inside the shop, lengthwise, was much bigger than what it was able to display from it's front. Rows of colorful cakes, pastries, and golden breads ran down both sides of the aromatic store, in three tiers. "I'll just take a few things back for my friend, myself."

[purigorotafan1]

"Hmm, hmm." Nodame nodded to the items Rosa had pointed out to her. They did look good. "Okay! Let's go inside!" She agreed, following Rosa inside. The aroma of food was very enticing for her. Nodame turned to face Rosa with stars in her eyes, as she clasped her hands together.

"Mukyaaa~!" Nodame brought her hands up to her cheeks as she squealed in delight. "Thank you Rosa!!" She exclaimed, before grabbing a basket of her own. Happily she went over the closest row, taking in a deep breath. "Mmm, smells so good!"

Nodame glancing between the food items happily before taking one of the tongs as she picked up one of the freshly baked bread with it, placing it into the basket. Going down the row, tongs in hands she stopped as her eyes landed upon one of the tarts. "Ukya! That looks good!" She grabbed it, placing it in her basket. Turning to her side, she spotted another pastry that appealed to her. "Gyabo~n! That looks good too! Oh and that one!"

She happily kept going around, putting more and more into her basket. Once Nodame was done she held out her own basket to Rosa, with a smile. "Nodame's done!"

[rose_of_baron]

Rosa had only just managed to locate the star fruit pastry she had spotted in the window. It looked even more appetizing when it wasn't held at arm's length. The bright yellow star was soft and caramelized from baking, set atop a light and just slightly crisp pastry dough. She had set it at the bottom of her basket before she turned to follow Nodame and see what she had selected. Only by then it seemed that the other girl was already finished, and with a great deal more filling her tray in comparison.

"Those look like they'd be very tasty," Rosa thought out loud as she peered over the rim. "I hope you don't mind if I try a few of the same." She smiled, bringing her hand up as if to take something from Nodame's own basket before swiftly moving to find a few similar pieces and a baguette. She couldn't help but to tease her new acquaintance, and perhaps friend in that sort of familiarity.

"That should do well enough for breakfast, don't you think?" She checked as she went towards the counter where the store owner appeared to be wrapping packages for sets of baked goods. From the ice box set beside the table, Rosa pulled a glass bottle of milk, iced tea, and cold coffee up to set at the counter, allowing Nodame to take whichever she wished. As far as payment went, Rosa had apparently growing accustomed to the norm.

"We'll be taking these for now. I'll be sure to return the baskets. Thank you very much." And that was all before the portly woman nodded and waved them off generously.

"Just be sure to tell all that Josephine's bakes up the finest in town!" The woman reiterated her motto. She had seen Rosa before, and now seeing Nodame with her certainly seemed enough repayment for the last trip Rosa had made inside the store.

"I should be going back to the Inn." Rosa told Nodame once they had made their way outside again, tucking their acquired goods within the clean folds of cloth. "We'll get you a room with a nice warm bath, there."

[purigorotafan1]

"Of course! Nodame doesn't mi-Gyabo!" her eyes widen as Rosa took one of her food items from her basket. "Ah, that's Nodame's!" She protested, only to see that Rosa was using it to find similiar items. Letting out a sigh of relief, Nodame followed Rosa up to the counter. "Nodame can't wait to try these!" She smiled while taking her time to choose a drink for herself.

She decided to settle with a bottle of milk as well. "Thank you very much~." Nodame slightly bowed to the woman at the counter before following Rosa again, out of the store. "The inn?" She smiled. "Nodame can go to? Mukyaa~ Rosa you really are nice!" She said happily. Hugging the basket full of her own set of food, Nodame grabbed one of the food item before taking a hug bit.

"It's so good~."

[rose_of_baron]

"Of course you can go. The Inn is for all wayfarers. And especially people who have come like us," Rosa assured her, surprised that she had to ask. Smiling in spite of herself, Rosa took the compliment with a modest bow of her head. Even though Nodame could be rather... excitable, she was just as kind.

Her company couldn't seem to wait until they made it to the Inn to eat, and following her lead, Rosa herself tore a small piece of the blueberry strudel to sample. It tasted far better than anything she had consumed since her arrival.

"It is good," Rosa affirmed, as if she had not expected it to be so. "Maybe you just seem to make everything a bit sweeter?" She couldn't help but to add with a soft chuckle.

Soon enough, their steps would take them up to the entrance of the Crimson Dragon Inn, and once at the front counter, obtaining the key to a room which would allow Nodame to rest was easily begotten.

"I'll be bringing these to my friend, but we'll all staying in the same building. If you need anything, let me know through the journals and I'll be sure to drop by."

[purigorotafan1]

"Hehe~ well you know what they say." Nodame smiled. "Food tastes much better when you eat with another person!" She took another bite out of her pastry, while entering inside the inn. Curiously, Nodame looked around observing the place.

"Gyabo~ it looks so homey!" She turned to face Rosa, nodding. "Okay! Thank you Rosa!" Nodame went up to hug her for the second time. Pulling away she smiled. "If Rosa needs anything from Nodame she can do the same too!"

Fin~

[rose_of_baron]

The second hug wasn't quite as surprising. If anything, it was welcome, and Rosa returned a small one of her own for the exuberant woman.

"I will! Thank you, Nodame," Rosa nodded, that contagious smile pulling at her own expression. She made sure that Nodame was going in the right direction to find her room before turning to find her own destination.

It really was a beautiful dawn and morning.