Two weeks passed slowly as Cubert waited for the builders to finish the Bakery. In the meantime he had kept his ear to the floor and his presence at a minimum as he observed the daily flow of the Buun. Every day and every evening they would come to the Inn to drink and dance and listen to music. He noticed that there were several bands in town, with some independent musicians coming to play as well. They were mixed in skill and quality but always welcomed, with one of the more popular being a local group of several youths that had been improving rapidly.
Cubert considered finding an instrument of his own as it was clearly a very common hobby to get into. But he had a whole business to set up first and a lot of expensive bills to pay. Hobbies could wait.
Eventually the fateful day finally arrived for him to move to the Bakery.
As he came down to the kitchen to prepare his morning Bread however, he found Mrs Mildew, the owner of the Inn, waiting for him. She had never confronted him about using the kitchen before but on this day she wanted him to bake her three Rolls with Sea Salt and a touch of Herbs.
Cubert accepted her request and got to work on his first order.
Mrs Mildew was a large Buun, one of the giant Northern breeds although her warm and golden fur colour was far more Southern. Despite her size she was a gentle and exceptionally friendly woman that only wanted the best for those who visited. She watched Cubert as he worked but did not say anything until he had put the Rolls in the oven.
She then told Cubert that when he first came to the Inn she didn’t like him all that much. And that was quite the rare thing indeed. But she had been watching him during the past few weeks. Seeing him dedicate himself so completely to studying, practising and Baking every day had quickly turned her opinions around. She had no doubt that the Bakery would become something special with him behind the counter. And she hoped he would remember the little kitchen that started it all once he became something giant.
>Mrs Mildew has known us the longest out of all Sweetvale residents.
>Her approval of a change in personality is beneficial to the future.
>Sincere gratitude and honesty is needed.
>Generating topics.
“Appreication. It means a lot to me to hear that. I know I was abrasive when I first came here. It’s still difficult for me to know what I should say and when but I’m glad to hear the effort has not been wasted.” Cubert replied to her.
She wrapped him up in a hug that was as cozy as a kitchen on a summer morning.
He had never known such a wonderfully comforting feeling before.
Once the Rolls were done he gave them to her and her two husbands. After wishing them a pleasant morning and inviting them to the Bakery anytime for more Rolls, he set out with the few things he owned packed into a little wooden cart. Most of the space was taken up by his giant jar of Sourdough Starter, with the rest being a single pillow from the Inn, some blankets, a stone from the first Dig Site he had run and several books on Baking.
He hopped along the simple dirt paths and past the many fenced off fields of produce and crops. The Bakery sat near the Market with the backside of it facing the Beach. From the surface the Market was a huge hole that was fenced off for safety, looking over the short fence and peering down he could see beautiful cobblestones and vibrant strands of cloth.
The Bakery meanwhile was marked by both a Windmill to help power the machinery inside, and long chimneys for the smoke to exit from. Cubert took a ramp down from the surface to the underground Market and after unlocking the front door, he pushed the cart inside.
Polished red bricks lined every wall, while the floor was a mixture of modest wood and tiles. The kitchen of the Bakery had all the latest machines, technology, and ovens that the Buun could make. He had also made sure to have installed a metal shutter and glass display case so that people could see what he had on offer from the Market. Further in the back was the living space, with a decent living room, personal kitchen, bathroom and bedroom at the furthest point.
Despite how empty the bedroom was, the window that was built onto the side of the Cliff facing the Beach let in a perfect amount of sunlight. He had a large bed too, a desk, a wardrobe and for now, that was all needed.
In the living room he didn’t have much else. A bookcase that was far too large for the few books of Baking he had brought. A sofa and coffee table that felt almost too new for how old the Bakery’s foundations were. And a fireplace which had no wood to burn.
The bathroom was hardly any better with only the basics, although he had made sure to order a bath large enough for at least three Buun to bathe themselves within. He checked on the Water Storage for the building too that was past a door at the back of the bathroom. The water that flowed through it was piped from the ocean and would be used to power all Stone technology.
Returning to the kitchen…
Cubert put his precious jar of Starter into a spot he had made in advance.
He then placed his encased stone on the bedroom’s desk, and put away his few books too.
Lastly he checked on all the ingredients he had ordered in advance.
It was time for him to make a name for himself as a Baker.
Cubert turned on both of the ovens and observed curiously how the Sunstone plates inside began to glow with heat. He then rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt and slipped an apron over his long ears before getting straight to work. His opening day would be marked by several iconic recipes that were all inspired by those he had met along the way.
Two types of Tarts, one with a Custard made of Quail Eggs, and the other with Wild Berries.
A perfect local treat with the Berries being a common snack of Rangers.
Fresh and fluffy Rolls that had a pinch of Herbs and a touch of Pepper for warmth.
A simple pleasure that reminds you of home and warms the Soul.
Sourdough Muffins, brushed with wild Honey and topped with shredded Carrots.
A favourite within the Capital City and those of more refined tastes.
Carrot Cake, the ever popular staple food that all Buun enjoy.
And finally, Sheep-Sausage Rolls. Wonderful on colder days but always delightful.
A favourite of his old friend Ferris who could never get enough protein in his diet. It was one of the few remaining clear memories he had of him. Once they were ready Cubert tried one. The flaky pastry and soft tube of seasoned meat was wonderful in both taste and mouthfeel. Easy to eat, filling, and simple to prepare.
Despite being Rabbit-like, the Buun really were different from the historical records of what they had evolved from. Not just in the thumbs they had on the front paws but also because they had smaller buck teeth and canines at the side of the mouth. They showed no cultural difficulties with eating meat either as Hunters and Ranchers were common in all regions. Cubert could not help but muse on these facts as he prepared more Sausages.
Once the first batches were ready he spread everything inside of the display case that sat under the counter. With the Sausage Rolls being to the side where a Heatstone kept them warm. Now ready he pulled up the metal shutter to reveal both the display and his storefront to the rest of the Market. Surprising to even Cubert, he had one customer already waiting. A young girl, perhaps on her way to school.
Rosemary had brown fur with white paws and a spot on her right eye. She wore a small white dress, a simple but cute fashion statement common to those of her age. After sniffing the air several times a line of drool fell from her mouth.
>Child detected.
>High chance of customer.
>Suggested flavour profile: Salty or Sweet.
“Can I have a Muffin please?” She said politely as she reached up to place a single Carot on his countertop. These were the basic currency of the Buun, octagonal coins with a hole in the middle.
From the second case next to him he took one such Muffin and reached down to hand it to her.
She sniffed it again several times before taking a tiny adorable nibble.
The look in her eyes was as if she had just then discovered the aspect of taste.
Cubert watched as she sat there and nibbled her way down to the point of licking the Muffin’s paper clean. He found the sight to be cute. In his previous life Cubert had witnessed many ‘cute’ things but he had never paid attention to any of them. It was a strange feeling to know something so intimately and yet still experience it for the first time.
“Can I have a box of them?” She then asked with crumbs all over her face.
“You may. Are they for your family?” Cubert asked as got to packing.
The little girl nodded as she got more money.
“I was going to look for seashells when I smelled the Muffins. They’re really good.”
She replied to him sweetly.
“I’ve always wanted to try a proper one!”
“Enjoy. Thank you.” Cubert said as he handed her the box.
She held the strings of it in her teeth carefully before slowly hopping back home.
Cubert looked over the first coin she had given.
He kept it separate from the others and placed it next to the Register.
“The first coin of a business is often prized.” Cubert spoke to himself.
The business was expectedly slow but not as small as Cubert had calculated. Once the morning got late and the afternoon approached more and more Buun showed up to Market, some to trade, others to talk, and others still just to waste away the time. All of them could smell the beautiful things coming from Bakery and all of them wanted to try something.
As each came to him with Carots and desires in hand he tended to them politely. Although he was also cataloguing them. Age, height, weight. Fur and eye colour. Clothing styles. Any relationship connections to others. It became clear that Sweetvale was a healthy Town with a population in the low hundreds. Most of this population was made up of various families with the biggest spanning more than a dozen members. They mistook his simple questions and small talk as being friendly and openly gave him as much information as he wanted.
Later into the morning the rest of the Market finally opened. At the furthest point from the Bakery were two of the simpler stalls. One of them sold various cuts of Chicken as well as some products made from them while the other was a mixture of wild Berries and Mushrooms. To the north and south of the market were the larger stalls, the north one sold Red Wine and Red Grapes as well as dyes and paintings. While the south sold White Wine and Green Grapes as well as compost and trinkets. Just between the White Wine stall and Foraging was the local Smith. The open storefront was inviting and easy to access for any and all metal related needs.
The Smith herself was quite good looking too. Strong, healthy, in her late 20s with a black apron that covered some very small pieces of clothing. It was hard to tell if the burnt fur colours were natural or dust from coal and ore. Cubert recalled that the Buun had a relaxed nature with nudity, being acceptable in certain situations and locations but seen as rude to never put clothing on at all.
Of the two stalls nearest to him, the closer one on his left was an older gentleman with a patchwork of greys making up his body. At first glance he was selling the Fish he caught from the Ocean and local rivers although he was so lazy about it that Cubert wondered if this was closer to a paid hobby than a job. He had spent most of his time sitting on a stack of crates and drinking.
On the right however was something much more appealing. A Herb stall, one who was manned by a black furred girl a few years younger than Cubert, around 19 at his estimates of her body structure. She wore shorts like most of the males did and a long sleeved top that covered most of her front paws. She also wore an old sunhat as well that pushed her ears down to the sides of her face. Since she was selling Herbs it made sense that she would spend some time in the gardens and yet she showed up to Market earlier than most and had been absorbed into her books the whole time. Not reading though, no, she had been both writing and drawing alike in two different sketchbooks the entire time.
Cubert watched as she would scratch up her nose and nibble on her pencil in thought.
He then clenched his teeth together as she let out a cute yawn.
>Heart rate is elevated.
>Unknown physiological reaction noted.
Cubert shook his head and focused on the world around him once more. He continued to tend to his business and was visited by several he had met before opening. Quill and Shelly both arrived together and as predicted showed great joy in the Tarts he offered. Cubert watched as they spent time talking to each other and he noticed that whenever they appeared, it was always together.
As the evening approached and Cubert prepared to close up for the day, Doctor Shore then appeared. She bid him a good day and commented on how healthy he was looking. He replied in turn, stating that she too looked healthy and that he had rested well in waiting for the Bakery to be built. Surprising him, she bought the last several Sausage Rolls before bidding him a good day once more.
Once he had closed the shutter and let the ovens die down he found himself sitting in his home alone once more. He lit the fireplace. Got himself a drink of water and a leftover Muffin before laying down on the sofa and letting the warmth of the fire wash over his body.
>Profit margins are acceptable.
>Integration is successful.
>Suspicion is minimal.
>Locals are…
The face of the girl at the Herb stall flashed into his mind.
>...Interesting.
>Cataloging and information gathering is advised.
>Large amounts of wealth needs to be recouped.
Cubert looked to the shiny red bricks making up the far wall.
The soft light of the fire danced on them pleasantly.
>A Home has been acquired.
>A Job has been acquired.
>Several members of the community approve of me.
“Tired. But not fatigued. Content. Happiness?” Cubert asked himself just before falling asleep.
He did not dream and he awoke at exactly the right time in the morning.
Cubert jolted up from the sofa, his eyes scanning the dark room for meaning.
>Loss of consciousness detected.
>Analyzing health…
>No anomalies found.
>Recounting memories…
Cubert relaxed once he realized what had happened.
“I didn’t know I could sleep.” He muttered to himself
He ate. Took a bath. Fired up the ovens. Checked stocks, and began Baking again.
He was visited by a few familiar faces. And met a few new ones.
In the afternoon he watched the girl at the Herb stall as she doodled and studied.
And in the evening he would settle down by the fire.
This repeated for several more days.
And then, as Cubert was getting comfortable and watching the girl at the Herb stall…
“Her name’s Ivy.” The old man to his left spoke up.
“Pardon, Sir?” Cubert replied.
“Names Gill, not Sir.” Gill replied with a smack of his lips.
“Apologies, Gill.” Cubert replied more politely.
Gill’s eyes flicked to the girl for a second before returning to Cubert.
“A young man like yourself should get out more. You’ve been behind that counter all week.”
Gill told him as a matter of fact.
“I am a Baker.” Cubert replied.
“And I’m a Fisherman, but I don’t live in the river now do I?” Gill replied.
>Moderate levels of sarcasm detected.
>Age would indicate wisdom and local knowledge.
>High chance of guidance.
“The business is new. It requires attention.”
He looked over to Ivy for a moment as well.
“It’s good seeing the youth put in so much hard work.” Gill nodded proudly.
“But that’s not why you won’t go over and talk to her.” He then added sharply.
“I don’t have a reason to talk to her.” Cubert replied.
“Do you need one?” Gill replied as he scratched his ragged ear.
“I don’t have a topic to discuss.” Cubert replied.
Gill let out a sigh. Within it was equal parts annoyance and patience.
“Her name’s Ivy, she wrote some popular kids books when she was still in School but has been working on some fancy book ever since leaving. ” Gill replied. He then took a long swig of whatever fragrant alcohol he was drinking. “If you wanna know more than go talk.”
Gill then leaned in just an inch.
“She’s single, and just as clueless as you are.” He said quieter than his usual ramblings.
“Thank you.” Cubert replied.
>Job has been secure. Wealth will grow naturally.
>Role in community is new but stable.
>Courtship is natural, the population must be maintained.
>Calculating…
>Age range and body type of Target: Ivy is acceptable.
>Compatibility of jobs is within acceptable ranges.
>Physical appearance is… Cute.
>More information will be required.
He hung up his apron and placed a sign indicating he would be back shortly on the counter top. After grabbing one of the freshest Muffins, he left through the circular main door of the Bakery. Ivy was too absorbed in her work to notice him making a line for her.
>Generating conversational topics.
>Creating a list of shared interests.
>Error. Information on interests is unknown.
>Error. Experience with female Buun is not found.
>Memories indicate female Buun are ‘fickle’ and ‘difficult.’
>Calculating…
>Target has noticed our approach.
>Calculating…
>Error. Not enough time.
>Heart rate has escalated.
“Hello?” Ivy said…
As she noticed Cubert had been standing near the stall, and staring, for the past minute.
“Hi-ello.” Cubert replied with a twitch.
“Pfft.” Ivy wheezed with a blush.
“Did you want some Herbs?” She asked.
“No. Yes. I was curious about what you were drawing?”
Cubert said slightly less awkwardly.
“Oh just some silly ideas.”
>Lack of confidence, reinforcement is needed.
>Add humour.
“Silly ideas are good. They are not bound by pretense and can be entertaining even when bad. When they turn out to be excellent however then they are even better than something that was trying to be good to begin with. A pleasant surprise is better than simple pleasantness.” Cubert explained before playing the Muffin he was carrying on her stall. “I also brought a Muffin.”
“Yes you did.” Ivy said, not wanting to admit she’s been smelling such sweet things for days.
Ivy began to explain that she’s been trying to write a Sci-Fi book, about a city that floats on the Ocean but to even imagine technology that didn’t rely on Stones was proving difficult. For the past few months she’s been working on sketches and concept work for how the city would be able to power and heat itself but progress had been slow.
>Stress due to lack of information detected.
>Affection can form due to relief of stress.
>Calculating best course of action…
>Inquire further and provide a partial solution.
“May I?” Cubert asked.
She handed him her pencil.
Slowly he sketched out a plan he had, based on actual technology the Ancients used but modified to be simpler and less obvious of its practical applications. The result was several giant cables that were anchored to the sea floor, connected to a central ring above the thermal vents. This ring had several flexible tubes that carried the intense heat and water up to thermal generators that were at the very bottom of the city.
While he worked on the drawing, Ivy tried the Muffin he brought.
The almost-moan that came from her closed lips made throw a paw over her mouth.
“It’s pretty good.” She murmured.
She checked what he was drawing and her eyes lit up.
To the drawings she added several more rings that went down the length of the tall thermal vent, seemingly just for aesthetic reasons. As well as some glowing lights along the outside of the city’s bottom area. And a few fish to be cute.
“This is incredible. Where did you come up with this?”
>The truth would lead to confusion and failure to assimilate.
>Lying can lead to instability in a relationship.
>Generating solution.
“I have travelled far across the country and learned many things. One such insight was that Volcanoes also exist under the Ocean. I imagine that many small ones could also exist.”
All of these statements were technically true.
“And since they constantly put out hot water you just suck it up for heating.” Ivy nodded.
In the other notebook she quickly wrote down various ideas and specifics.
“Ah sorry, I’m Ivy. I run my family’s Herb stall.”
She spoke up before pressing her head to his for a moment.
“Cubert Milkway.” He replied.
“T-the Royal Archaeologist of the Capital City?” She stammered.
“As of a week ago. The Baker of Sweetvale.” He replied.
“Hehe. You’re kind of silly.” She said, more relaxed.
“And it’s been a pleasant surprise to meet such an insightful mind.”
Cubert told her, causing Ivy to lose track of her words.
“I need to return to work.”
“N-nice meeting you!” She called out as he left.
Only for her to realize, just now, that the Bakery is right next to her.
And once he had put the apron on, they were still practically face to face.
He gave her a small wave and she blushed so hard that he could see it through her black fur. She turned her gaze away from him and from a small bowl on the side began to stuff her face with Sultanas.
>Snack preference identified.
>Reviewing data of encounter.
>Body temperature and heart rate indicates attraction.
>Posture and eye movements indicate ease of presence.
>Chance of successful courtship: 82%
From the side he plucked out a recipe book and began to flick through the pages.
>Generating possible recipes for romantic gifts.
>Simple, frequent and practical gifts are most effective.
>Further encounters to gain more information is recommended.
With the plan formed he did just that.
Over the next several days he set into a routine of working tirelessly at the Bakery during the day, with daily visits to Ivy’s stall to discuss her Sci-Fi ideas and provide suggestions or insights. During the night he would study and read as much as he could about Baking and the Buun.
He learned that Sweetvale had two famous Vineyards. The north one was dedicated to Red Wine, Red Grapes and Raisins, as well as natural dyes and several paintings the family produces on the side. While the south one was dedicated to White Wine, Green Grapes, Sultanas and excellent compost. The two Vineyards have always had a friendly rivalry between them, with most of the town split on if they prefer one type of Grape or Wine over the other. For Ivy, she preferred White Wines and Sultanas, but enjoyed Red Grapes for chewing on the seeds.
The Bakery also steadily picked up more and more business as he expanded the daily options and started taking orders in advance for those who desired something specific. It was useful for expanding both his catalogue of information on the locals and his skills as a Baker. The money was also very much needed. Despite the short amount of time he had been open, Cubert felt like he had already started to cement his place in the community.
One day he overheard two young girls talking at the edge of the Market.
They spoke about a recent discovery on Love Languages. Simply put they were ways to show your love and affection towards someone you care about. Some are Vocal and like to praise and shower their partner in sweet words. Others are Physical and like to show love through actions like nuzzles, cuddles and holding paws. He had found himself falling into these categories as he had been Gifting Ivy free baked goods almost every day when they talked. Spending time with each other is also a form of Love Language, which the pair could count themselves as doing. Lastly was Services. To aid someone such as doing chores for them or being useful in a practical sense.
It was clear that while Ivy had formed a friendship with him she had not yet started to properly show any preference towards one of these Languages. Which in turn showed that she was not actively seeing him as a possible Mate yet.
>Ivy prefers male leaning fashion, common designation. Tomboy.
>Favorite flavours are sweet and sour. Sultanas are a preferred snack.
>Jam filled rolls, Honey and Nut Cake and Sultana Muffins are favourites.
>She has an interest in advanced technology and fiction.
>Enjoys quiet areas and peaceful places. Minor introverted personality traits.
With enough information now gathered Cubert felt ready to advance.
He put together his plan during a rainy night that had his fur tingling with static.
“Showing dedication to a partner through thoughtful consideration of her interests and personal tastes while also ‘going the extra mile’ to do something of greater difficulty is the standard for romantic conquest.”
>My skills are suited to Baking.
>My Language for Love is Gifting.
>Solution acquired.
“Raisin Bread.”
