#farmer Leche

[sofiaruelle]

Trying to escape bedrotting with some salad milk.

[paulpingminho]

[the-eldritch-it-gay]

End of the year asks 18 and 22

18. A memorable meal this year?

Oooooo, I think one was that I made Mole Verde from scratch with ingredients I had gotten from the farmer's market in the city. It tasted so fresh and to get some of the ingredients I got to drag my family to my favourite Mercado (where I also got some tres leches cake for desert)!

22. Favorite place you visited this year?

I haven't done much traveling so I think this will be related to the previous, in that it was probably going to the farmers market. I really love farmers markets, I don't get the chance to go often so it was a real treat to go. There's always so much amazing produce and baked goods and drinks and food stalls. It was especially nice because I had gotten paid in cash from a wedding I helped do flowers for, so I had cash on hand to buy apples and fresh made tortillas and tomatillos and peppers and fresh lemonade and some kettlecorn for my sister and honey from a local beekeeper and fresh made bread and steamed buns and--

[wonderfulworldofmaeth]

Getting Acquainted With: Anshelinah Circe

Full name: Anshelinah Maia Aurelie Circe

Age: 25

Birthday: February 29th

Sexual orientation: Asexual, Biromantic (Feminine Leaning)

Familiar: Honey the Lop-Eared Rabbit

Personality:

Birth chart (big three): Pisces Sun, Cancer Moon, Aquarius Rising

MBTI: ISFP-A

Patron Arcana: The World

Upright: Completion, Fulfillment, Sense of Belonging, Wholeness

Reversed: Lack of Closure, Emptiness, Incompletion

Minor Arcana: Five of Cups

Upright: Loss, Grief, Self-Pity

Reversed: Finding Peace, Acceptance, Moving On

Likes: brushing horses, the sound of roosters crowing in the morning, the color palette of the desert, the way mud feels between her toes, abstract artwork, finger painting, keeping succulents and cactus plants in her room and studio, letting river water wash over her skin, the slickness of wet clay, dew on the grass, sunsets that paint the sky seven different colors, sitting shoulder to shoulder at the bar with her friends, the way "Berlusconi" rolls off the tongue, vanilla ice cream, the sensation of picking off a scab, buttermilk baths, group hugs from her family and friends, wearing a lot of bracelets, when kids at the Art Academy ask her questions, dancing Cumbia with Isabella and Sisi, linen sheets, deep talks in the art studio with Ophie, building birdhouses with her father, plum jam, when Cole traces her bare back in the morning, lukewarm showers, people thinking she's tough, helping her family with things around the house, when paint and clay get on her clothes, curling up in her parents' arms at the end of the day, the taste of honey, sitting by the Vivarium fountain, farmer's markets, the soft feeling of her rabbit's fur, stargazing in the desert, hiking, cathartic time alone, the ocean

Dislikes: small spaces, salt in her rice, bug bites, constricting or large amounts of clothing, getting sick, people who feel entitled to her time, hospitals and mortuaries, moving someone's things out of a home or house, pumpernickel bread, people who disregard or disrespect nature, empty rooms, greasy hair, leaving the stems of a bouquet uncut, unflavored beer, persistent men, talking casually about lost loved ones, strangers who touch her, feeling sleepy when she's trying to stay awake, when her dad goes on long trips without her, clients who complain that she overcharges for her work, feeling like she doesn't have enough time, limes, arguing with people she loves, overwhelming environments, having to choose her battles, when her friends don't reach out for a while, the taste of clear liquors, when her clothes stick to her body in the summer, radishes, a stuffy studio, trashing an art piece and having to start again

Abilities: Anshelinah loves art and she's taught herself a lot of what she knows. She leans towards creating pottery and crafty sculptures, however, she also likes to paint and make collages using flowers and newspaper. With her Somraldic heritage, she's been taught how to ride horses and tend to a garden. She speaks a creole or hybrid language of Somraldic and Maethisse with her family, and she speaks Maethisse with her friends. She can also read Somraldic Rune and write with various calligraphy pens. Anshelinah loves to cook different foods, especially ones that hail from Murik Valley, and often prefers to make these recipes over Maethisse food.

Favourite food: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Bacon and Sour Cream (With a cup of Chicken Noodle Soup on the side)

Favourite drink: Iced Cafe con Leche with Cinnamon

Favourite flower: Gerbera Daisy, Magnolia

Magic: Anshelinah has a blessing that applies to all of the firstborn daughters of her father's Somraldic family. The blessing grants uncanny luck, seeming to always watch over her and guide her decisions, never allowing terrible trouble to befall her, and is called Aurelie's blessing.

Appearance:

Height: 5'10 or 178 cm.

Weight: 161 lbs or 73 kg

Hair: Anshelina has dusty brown hair that falls in curls and coils. Her hair is often not uniform on its own and requires a lot of effort on the side of styling. She loves her hair texture, a general mix of her father's coarse locs and her mother's fine waves. She often keeps her hair short, a bit above shoulder length, and likes to keep it back in a half bun or ponytail, which is her signature style when working on her artwork. In the summer, her hair lightens easily, adopting light brown streaks. She sometimes will braid her hair into two braids on either side of her head with a middle part and fluffy curls in the front as bangs.

Eyes: Anshelinah has her father's eyes. They're down-turned, and appear droopy and sultry. Despite her hair being lightly colored, her long lashes are a deeper brown than the rest of her hair. Her lashes are interesting, as she has a few white lashes on her left eye. Her eyes are so deep brown, they're nearly black, as is the dominant trait of the people of Murik Valley. She uses kohl eyeliner as one of the only parts of her daily beauty routine, making Anshelinah's eyes a seductive centerpiece to her face.

General description: Anshelinah could be compared to a doe. Her skin tone is a beautiful dark honey, lighter in the winter, while deeper in the summer. Her shoulders and hips are about even in their narrow width, her waist is a complimentary measurement. Her whole body can be considered lithe. Just because she is slim doesn't mean she is delicate. Anshelinah has strong arms with light muscle definition in her biceps and triceps from carrying supplies and her everyday activities. Her legs are toned as she does a lot of walking, running, and swimming. Anshelinah has a soft stomach, with most of the weight gathering in the lower abdomen. The shadows of her ribs can be seen in her torso. Her breasts are a modest size, and her chest is adorned with various spots and small moles. Anshelinah's nose is quite straight like her mother's and her lips are full like her father's. Her top lip is equally full and prominent compared to her bottom one, and she has a soft, barely there, cupid's bow. Her brows are fluffy and full, normally combed upward. They're set in a serious line when Anshelinah's face is at rest.

As a person, there are many different facets to Anshelinah's personality. To strangers, she's quiet and demure, even a little standoffish and aloof. She's not eager to take part in frivolous conversations with people she doesn't know or particularly like. That being said, however, she is always courteous until given a reason not to be. To her family, she is loving, compassionate, and energetic. She can let loose around her family without the worry of being judged or criticized. To her friends, she can be confident, adventurous, and fun. She loves to participate in group activities with the people close to her, whether that be a grand escapade or a quiet evening by a bonfire. She's helpful, kind, and patient, once you're acquainted with her, making her a great mentor and teacher. Despite what strangers think.

Fashion Sense: Anshelinah has a practical style. She often wears a pair of baggy pants that hang off her waist and a smaller shirt on top for shape. She likes to wear things that bare her midriff and arms like tank tops, crop tops, baby tees, and tube tops. She likes denim overalls and coveralls that have the jacket hanging by her hips. They're functional for painting, working in the garden, and tending to animals, so Anshelinah likes the versatility of these clothes. She mostly prefers a clog or sandal, with simple leather bands and brass buckles. In the winter, she likes to wear loose-fitting denim or trousers with a high waist, with a slim-fitting long sleeve on top. She likes sweaters, but she avoids layering as it's uncomfortable for her.

Anshelinah has a collection of western wear, as is typical dress in Murik Valley. She likes to incorporate these pieces into her style for comfort as well as the cultural significance it has to her. She has a few pairs of boots of various heights in neutral colors. Her closet also dons denim shorts, bootcut jeans, flannels, and linen western dresses. She wears these clothes often in the summers and when she returns to her father's country to visit her family.

Although Anshelinah's style is practical, that won't hold her back from wearing things she thinks are beautiful. She does like to get dressed up in something slim fitting when she goes out on a date or with her friends. She likes short dresses with long sleeves, or long dresses that hug close to the form. She's not extremely picky or uniform with these outfits. If she happens to be in the mood for it, she will wear it.

A brief look into her life:

Occupation: Anshelinah works as an artist. She gets commissions from residents of Maeth and eventually even beyond the country. Before her talent is recognized and her hard work pays off, she worked at one of Maeth's restaurants as a waitress. During her years at Maeth's Art Academy, she mentors students there and offers classes and lessons in her free time. Once she graduates, she becomes a student teacher at the Art Academy.

Love Interest:

Cole Berlusconi

Family and friends:

Thaddeus (Tadeo) Circe, father

Claudia Vasquez Circe, mother

Nazir Circe, older brother

Hera Circe, grandmother

Estefana Cortes, intimate friend and girlfriend (deceased)

Ophie Zieragh, intimate friend and junior

Isabella Zieragh, close friend

Salice Halloway, close friend

Matias, close friend

Emilio Taylor; Marcos; Thomas Zieragh, friends

Miscellaneous facts.

Anshelinah's Maethisse is very stylized, as she's used to speaking in the creole language created by her bicultural family. She was often scrutinized by her teachers for her improper way of speaking.

Anshelinah is very self-assured. She's been loved by her family and has had a confident way of thinking for as long as she can remember.

Anshelinah isn't afraid to make mistakes.

Anshelinah has a septum piercing and a soft blush birthmark on her stomach, resembling a port wine stain.

Anshelinah is very particular with dating. Because of that, a lot of the men her age deem her intimidating, rude, or even demanding.

Anshelinah goes to Murik Valley almost every summer with her family, as her father thinks it's very important to keep her connected to her heritage and family.

Anshelinah has had to work very hard to become an artist, as she was never naturally gifted.

Most of the pieces Anshelinah creates have practical uses, like bowls, cups, and dishes.

Anshelinah legally added her late girlfriend's name to hers so she could "live along with me until the end". Her full legal name is Anshelinah Maia Aurelie Estefana Circe.

Anshelinah spends long periods of time doing absolutely nothing, which was worrying to her family and friends. She will lie in bed or pick a place outside to sit or lay still. Estefana described it as "communing with the museful spirits".

Anshelinah has only one tattoo: A Somraldic Rune on her thigh. Nobody in Maeth knows what it means.

[bobmccullochny]

History

August 31, 1786 - Shays' Rebellion began in Massachusetts as ex-Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays led an armed mob. The rebellion prevented the Northampton Court from holding a session in which debtors, mostly poor ex-soldier farmers, were to be tried and likely put in prison. Following this, in September, Shays' troops prevented Supreme Court sessions at Springfield, Massachusetts. Early in 1787, they attacked the Federal arsenal at Springfield, but were soon routed and fled. Shays was sentenced to death but was pardoned in 1788.

August 31, 1980 - Solidarity, the Polish trade union, was formed at Gdansk, Poland. Led by Lech Walesa, Solidarity opposed Communist rule and was outlawed in 1981. Seven years later, the re-legalization of Solidarity occurred and the government agreed to hold partially free parliamentary elections. Solidarity candidates scored stunning victories in the elections that followed, gaining power in Poland and paving the way for the downfall of Communism there.

August 31, 1997 - Britain's Princess Diana died at age 36 from massive internal injuries suffered in a high-speed car crash, reportedly after being pursued by photographers. The crash occurred shortly after midnight in Paris inside a tunnel along the Seine River at the Pont de l'Alma bridge, less than a half mile north of the Eiffel Tower. Also killed in the crash were Diana's companion, Dodi Fayed, 42, and chauffeur Henri Paul. A fourth person in the car, bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, was seriously injured.

[rubyteeth]

Twitter has rendered itself unusable.

Outside, the rain has just ended and I can hear birdsong. I am eating rose tres leches; I picked up garlic confit focaccia, local stone fruit and lavender from the farmers market and I’m going to spend the long weekend making pavlova and lavender lemonade; I am going to take myself to the park to read Just Kids under a tree; I am going visit the thrift store to see if I can find a nice desk for my new studio; I am going to watch both the Jean Cocteau and Juraj Herz adaptations of Beauty and the Beast later tonight. I might even call a friend.

I don’t think I care what happens to twitter after all. I am here on the internet to engage with art, check up with friends, periodically chronicle the odd glimpse of my real life, and that is it.

Burn the whole thing down. Touch grass forever. You’re free!

[pplrwrd]

PASTILLAS DE LECHE

The other day, I found myself craving for something sweet. Being lazy didn't really help considering most desserts required a lot of work to make. That's when I realized that there was one fool-proof dessert that i knew how to make. A relatively easy but delicious dessert called pastillas. Of course being a dessert, this caters to the people who have a sweet tooth.

Besides this delicacy being able to appease the cravings of your sweet tooth, plus its relatively cheap ingredients, it is quite easy to turn it into a business opportunity.

It is known to have originated in San Miguel, Bulacan. Originally made by farmers who had tended to cows. It was once called "pastillas de leche" which in English is translated to "milk pills" or "milk tablets". Despite its noticeably Spanish name, the dessert is said to still have originated within the Philippines. Within the province of San Miguel, a pastillas festival is held every single year where they wrap these candies in colorful and decorative wrapping paper called "pabalat" which is Tagalog for "wrapper".

Traditionally made with carabao milk, it is safe to say that creating authentic pastillas de leche candies would be hard and fairly more time consuming. However, Filipinos have a recipe that does not require using carabao milk that is hard to find in most stores. The recipe requires only 3 ingredients which are milk powder, condensed milk and white sugar.

The recipe used with make about twenty 2-inch tablets. It calls for the following:

1 cup of powdered milk

⅓ cup of condensed milk

⅕ cup of white sugar

The first step to making this delicacy is to add 1 cup of milk powder into a large bowl to prevent spilling.

Next is to pour your ⅓ cup of condensed milk gradually while mixing it together with your milk powder.

Mix it for a while preferably with a fork, whisk or any utensil that doesn't restrict too much movement until the mixture begins to resemble a shaggy dough.

When it resembles a dough like texture, kneed it with your hands until it becomes smooth. Next, shape your candies, you can do it traditionally like tablets or you can make them into small spheres.

Lastly, prepare your sugar in a deep container as to prevent spilling and roll your freshly made pastillas into your white sugar.

That's it! You just made pastillas!

[formeryelpers]

Picaresca Barra De Café, 1300 S Soto St, Ste 9, Los Angeles (Boyle Heights), CA 90023

Picaresca opened in 2020 in a mini mall in Boyle Heights. They roast their own coffee beans using a variety of methods and they aim for a medium roast. Their space is small – just room for their equipment and a 2 or 3 customers.

For drinks, they have drip coffee, cold brew, espresso drinks, café con leche, flavored lattes, specialty drinks (with Mexican inspired flavors), tonics, and teas. They’re known for their café de olla latte. For food, they have a few pastries from the panaderia, cookies, burritos, a breakfast sandwich, and wraps. They do not offer pour over coffee.

Flat white ($4): No foam art, flavorful but a bit bitter

Breakfast sandwich ($6): Made to order, the sandwich includes turkey, cheese, egg, mulato jam on a soft bun (it looks like a white hamburger bun). Mulato jam is made with dried chilies but not spicy. It’s sweet and fruity. The sweetness of the jam was a nice counterpoint to the salt of the turkey slice.

The mini mall is older and not well-maintained but the shop is clean and cheerful with plants, books, and art work. The mini mall is stuffy and smells like laundry and incense. There are two small tables and a counter outside of the shop. Coffee beans and branded merchandise are for sale. I noticed their customers are very talkative…they never stop talking. Must be their regulars?

You can also find them at the Silver Lake Farmers Market. Online ordering and bean subscriptions are available. Park in the strip mall next door.

4 out of 5 stars.

By Lolia S.

[sofiaruelle]

Just wanted to draw something cozy

[sundewnights]

hehehe aggie doodles from yesterday :^) kiki belongs to @harvestdew, leche to @sofiaruelle, and reina to @cindersapwolf! they drew soleil and i had to doodle reina as well next to them dsjfh

it was super fun!!

[sofiaruelle]

A lil self care doodle cause i keep changing Leche’s hair everytime I havent drawn her in so long.

[sofiaruelle]

I got a million things to do but hmu.

28 Stardew Valley Inspired OC Questions

What if your OC played Stardew or was a Stardew Valley-style NPC? 

What are their loved gifts? 

What are their hated gifts? 

Would they be any good at fishing? 

What professions would they choose at levels five and ten for each skill

What artisan good would they have the recipe for? 

What cooking item would they have the recipe for? 

What crafting recipe would they have? 

What weirdly specific place around town do they like to hang out at (looking at you, half of Stardew Valley)? 

Are they have a secret relationship that’s not actually that big a deal, but hiding it and if so why (cough cough Mayor Lewis and Marnie)?

What kind of secret cutscene room would be in their house (hi Haley, Caroline)? 

What hours would they have for their home or business? 

What kind of items would you be able to sell back to them (screams in having to visit the adventure’s guild to sell that extra sword)? 

Where are they stuck in the maze at Spirit’s Eve? 

Which NPC would they end up marrying? 

Where, if anywhere, would they get a job in town? 

How long would it take them to get to floor 100 in skull caverns? 

How long would it take them to unlock the island? 

Would they collect slimes? 

Do they use the name-number-trick for animals to get rare items? 

Are they a completionist or do they go through life more casually? 

Would they ever play a group farm or only solo? 

What kind of animals would they have the most of? 

What would their favorite crop be? 

Would they buy the community improvement items from Robin? 

Are they a community center or Jojamart kind of person? 

What would their favorite movie and snack at the movies be? 

What’s their tragic 8-heart or 10-heart backstory event? 

Would they be any good at Jumino Kart or Journey of the Prarie King?

[missnymbus]

Nothing gets the creative juices flowing like drawing other people's gorgeous beautiful characters I tell u wot (don't look at my atrocious shading 🤪😍❤️)

😈Hale: @stardewcowboy

💙Leche: @sofiaruelle

💪Sarah: @snailmilkbiscuit

🍑Peaches: @azuneekun

🔥Kris: @maple-berries

☕Coin: @coindraws

🐝Preston: @reinersdiscordkitten

[cindersapwolf]

had more leah lovers brainrot, so i drew @sofiaruelle's leche and reina on a little halo halo date! (if they both sit at a table, we can forget how short reina is in comparison HAHA)

[bruno-madrigal-writings]

The Seer and the Baker - Pt. 2

Summary: Alma asks Bruno to visit the bakery.

Pt. 1 Pt. 2 Pt. 3 Pt. 4 Pt. 5 Pt. 6 Pt. 7 Pt. 8 Pt. 9  Pt. 10 Pt. 11 Pt. 12 Pt. 13 Pt. 14 Pt. 15 Pt. 16 Pt. 17 Epilogue

Read it on AO3!

Word Count: 2.5k

-

It was a few days later when Bruno dared to face the town again. Not nearly as many people were asking for visions, thankfully, but that still left a few he had to see.

He trudged into the kitchen, searching about for some breakfast before heading out.

“Brunito, there you are!”

Alma was at the table with his sisters and now they were all looking at him. Of course. Alma motioned for him to come over and sit with them. Once he was sitting Alma continued with what she had been saying while Julieta slid him an arepa. He gave her an appreciative smile.

“Now, what are we all planning on doing today, hm?”

“I’ve made plenty of food I’ll be taking into the center of town today. I plan on being there all morning, so I may miss lunch.” Alma nodded at Julieta then looked to a very nervous looking Pepa.

“And what about you, niña?”

She took a deep breath, a look of determination setting on her face.

“I’m going to do it! Today, I’m going to talk to Félix! I’m supposed to meet him this afternoon.”

“Genial!” Julieta cheered, giving her sister a tight hug.

“Guess I can’t pick on you about that anymore, huh?” Bruno said with a chuckle. Pepa rolled her eyes.

“I’m sure you’ll find something else.”

“I’m sure it will go well.” Alma said, her eyes turning back to her son. Bruno stuffed the last of his arepa in his mouth, hoping that if he was chewing on something she wouldn’t bother him. It was a vain hope, though. “And you, Bruno?”

He chewed slowly before swallowing, buying himself a bit of time.

“I have to go into town and give some visions.” He said, deflating in his chair. Alma nodded.

“Bien, then you can stop by the bakery when you’re done with that. You can get some pan de yuca to go with dinner, give Julieta at least a slight break.”

Bruno gave her a look, eying her with suspicion.

“You’ve never sent me to the bakery before … “ That’s when he noticed the slight smirk and twinkle in her eye and groaned.

“Mierda, not you too, Mama!”

His sisters giggled, but Alma shushed them.

“Relax, niño, I’m not asking you to marry the woman. Just talk to her. You could use a friend and she is kind.”

“I’m a full grown man, Mama! I can make my own friends.”

“Then where are they?” Pepa muttered under a breath, earning herself an elbow to the side from her sister and a pointed look.

“Pan de yuca, brunito.”

He sighed, long and loud and as dramatic as he could make it.

“Fine! I’ll get the bread.” He huffed, pushing himself away from the table and off his chair.

“Oh, can you get some tres leches cake for dessert?”

“Good idea, Pepa. Hopefully Señorita Laila will have some.” Alma said, getting up to give Bruno the money he would need. Then she whispered in his ear. “Please, mijo, just talk to her.”

She looked at him with such a soft, loving smile, he would be a monster to not smile back so he did, giving a nod.

“Alright, Mama, alright.”

She gave his hands a squeeze.

-

The morning had been especially bad today.

First, he had to tell that poor couple that they would never have children of their own. That was devastating to them and he had no idea how to handle the situation, so he just mumbled an apology and left. Then he got yelled at when he told the farmer that it would be a rough season, as if he was the one who controlled the weather! And the next family got mad when he warned them about their son's broken arm, then the next got mad when he said their daughter wouldn’t marry the man she wanted.

He was almost delighted to be going to the bakery that afternoon if for no other reason then it meant he could just go home and take a nap in the solace of his room.

He entered the store to the same warm smell of cooking bread and pastries. Every eye in the place was on him almost immediately, a mother pulling her child behind her skirts protectively. He yanked on his hood nervously, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He just had to get the food and leave, just get the food and leave. The other customers were quick to get there things and leave until the shop was empty.

Just him and …

“Can I get anything for you, Bruno?”

He needed to take another steadying breath before he could look up to her and face the warm smile he found there.

“Ah, yeah, um, Mama asked me to get some pan de yuca for dinner. And Pepa wanted tres leches, if you have any.” He pushed his hood off now that the place wasn’t crowded.

Laila hummed thoughtfully, leaning back against the counter.

“Well, I’ve got plenty of pan de yuca, but if you want the cake you’re going to have to wait an hour or so for me to make it fresh. How patient are you?”

“Ah, well…” She was already rolling her sleeves up and headed for the kitchen door. “Wait, you don’t have to! I don’t need the cake, you don’t have to go to all that trouble for me.” He spoke rapidly, rushing over to the counter to stop her. She gave him a look, one that stopped him in his tracks. He felt stuck, trapped by the intensity in her eyes.

“Bruno.” He took a step back, gulping, as she stared deep into his eyes. “Cálmate, it’s no trouble. It is literally my job. So, are you going to stick around until it’s done or come back in an hour or so to pick it up?”

“Um…”

He wasn’t actually sure. On the one hand, he didn’t want to have to be in town for longer than he had to. On the other, he really didn’t want to face his mother empty handed, even if he was going to go back for it. She had told him to get the pan right after his work. He had to decide which would be worse, facing the town or facing his mother.

… Well, that wasn’t really much of a debate. He would face the town at their angriest before he would see Alma upset. It wouldn’t be too bad as long as he stayed in the bakery, right? There wasn’t even anyone here right now! He could do this.

He rapt his knuckles against the wood of the counter, mumbling under his breath. “Knock knock knock knock knock, knock on wood.” It was just one of the several things he picked up to encourage good luck in the vain attempt to fight against his supposed bad luck. If he was going to keep himself stuck in this bakery for another hour he didn’t want anything bad to happen.

“Alright, I suppose I can wait here. Don’t want to get Mama mad at me, eh?” He tried to joke, forcing a lopsided grin onto his face.

To his surprise, Laila grinned back, a knowing glint in her eyes.

“Definitely not. Come on then, you can come into the kitchen with me.”

“Wha - really? Are you sure?”

She shrugged and turned back to the kitchen door.

“Of course, I could use the company.”

She disappeared into the kitchen and for a moment Bruno didn’t move. The whole situation made him uncomfortable, uncertain. But he couldn’t just stay here, either. Surely that would make her mad and he really didn’t want her to hate him like everyone else. Or, probably more accurate, he just didn’t want her to act like she hated him. She probably did hate him just like all the others but was just being polite. He was more than happy to pretend, at least for today, that it wasn’t the case.

The kitchen was very warm, the ovens working constantly lined against one wall. Laila was at the counter that ran along the opposite wall, pulling out supplies from the various cupboards.

For a moment, neither said anything. He hovered awkwardly around the doorway, just watching as she worked. It was almost hypnotic. Every movement was so fluid and confident. She hardly even looked as she grabbed what she needed and combined everything in the bowl, her skirts swishing with every slight movement. Her face looked so peaceful as she worked, nothing there but concentration, not a concern to be had. It felt like only an instant before the cake was poured out and put into one of the ovens to cook.

His anxiety came back the moment her eyes fell back on him and he started picking at the edge of his ruana.

“Don’t hover, that’s impolite. You can sit over here if you want.” She motioned to a small table at the far end of the kitchen.

“Ah, right.”

He shuffled over to the table, feeling her eyes on him the whole time. She waited until he was sitting before speaking.

“So, the infamous, reclusive Bruno Madrigal. Tell me something about yourself, something I wouldn’t already know.”

“Oh, well, that’s … I’m not sure what - what to say.” He rapped his knuckles against the table six times exactly. “There’s not really a lot to me.” He gave a strained chuckle. She rolled her eyes.

“No creo eso. I know perfectly well you don’t spend all your time telling visions and walking around looking like a kicked puppy. There has to be something else you do with your time.”

He winced slightly, a frown etching itself on his face.

“... a kicked puppy? Really?”

She nodded, giving a sympathetic grimace.

“Afraid so, amigo. Every time you leave one of those idiotas houses. Es ridiculo. They’re the ones who asked you to be there, the least they can do is be polite about it! Just some common decency, you know? It doesn’t matter how much you hate someone or think they’re bad luck or whatever, they're still a person! And you should treat them as such. Take me for example. I hate my neighbor, Diego, with quite literally every fiber of my being! Qué cabrón! That puta was just talking to me the other day but I didn’t insult him to his face or yell at him, as much as I would like to do nothing else! Because guess what? I’m a polite person! And I try to be a nice person! Why can’t anyone else seem to put in just that most basic courtesy to others? Especially someone who spends so much of his time trying to help them, por el amor dios!”

Bruno stared at Laila with wide eyes as she went off on a rant, struck by the sudden intensity of her anger. He had trouble accepting that she was actually angry on … his behalf? It certainly wasn’t something he expected. Sure, Pepa had gotten angry a few times when she heard some of the things people did or said to him, but that was rare considering she had to keep herself calm so often.

Eventually, Laila did reach the end of her rant, taking a deep breath to calm herself down, then another one. Then she snapped her fingers three times fast, mumbling under her breath. “Tranquila, tranquila, tranquila.”

“Sorry about that. I tend to go off like that sometimes. It’s something I’m working on.”

“It’s fine,” he said with a shrug, giving a reassuring smile. He watched her as she poked about the ovens, checking on whatever was baking inside. “It sounds like you needed that.”

She stopped at one of the ovens, pulling out a large tray of sweet rolls and setting it on the counter to cool for a short bit.

“Yeah, it does feel nice to rant about things sometimes.” She admitted. “So, that’s something you didn’t know about me. Now you have to tell me about you.”

“Ah right, I suppose that’s fair.” He drummed his fingers against the table while he thought, staring intently at the grain of the wood. “I suppose I like animals.” He finally said.

He jumped when she suddenly sat down across from him with a huff, his heart stuttering at the smile she gave him.

“That’s sweet! What’s your favorite animal?”

Don’t say rats, don’t say rats, don’t say rats. That’ll freak her out and drive her away.

“Uh … I suppose I like rodents a lot, I think they’re cute and pretty smart -”

“Like rats?” He winced, making her chuckle. “It’s okay, you can say you like rats, I’m not about to judge you! I promise!”

“They’re not dirty.” He swore. “They’re constantly cleaning themselves. And they can be trained so well, they’re so smart! I’ve taught mine to do all sorts of tricks! And some of them really like to cuddle and are really sweet and -”

“You have pet rats?”

He had messed up, he was sure of it. No one liked rats. Why did he even bring them up? He could have just said no, he could have said rabbits or something.

But … she didn’t look creeped out or upset. She was just watching him, curious.

“... yeah, a few. Does that … not bother you?”

She gave a shrug and made a noncommittal sound.

“Not particularly. I can’t say I love them, I have had a problem with them getting into my flour. But if they aren’t getting into my food then I don’t mind them too much.”

“Yeah, that makes sense.” He said with a nod, a lopsided grin taking place of his frown.

“Alright, you turn again. Tell me something else about you.”

To Bruno’s surprise, the hour seemed to go by in a flash. It was too soon when the cake was done and he had to pay and leave. Laila smiled at him, bright and beautiful, as she handed over the cake and pan.

“I’m glad you came by, Bruno. I really liked talking to you.”

He gave her another one of his lopsided grins and took the baked goods.

“I liked talking to you, too. It was nice.”

“Then we should get together again sometime, go for a walk or something so we can talk more.”

“Yeah? I mean, yeah! That would be nice. I’d like that.”

“Next time, then.” She said with a wink. Bruno chose to ignore the heat he felt rising in his cheeks. “Better get home, then. I don’t want Señora Madrigal mad at me because I kept you so long.”

He chuckled and shook his head.

“She’d be mad at me for not getting the pan back, not you. I think we can say you’re safe from her rage.”

“For now.” She added with a snicker, making him laugh, loud and proper.

They waved at each other as he left, the door shutting behind him.

The walk home was a pleasant one. Bruno was happy, a fuzzy warmth in his chest.

He was sure his family would be happy to hear the two got along. He groaned. Their teasing was going to be relentless. Still, he found he didn’t mind too much.

He even forgot to put his hood up.

[kvothes]

went to the farmer’s market to scope out this baker lady my housemate matched with on tinder and she made me tres leches with blood oranges and violets on it… telling my housemate they need to get married asap