[IC] Bunnies & Beasts

[Donut Look Now]

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Willow Estelle Kinsley

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Location: Rowan’s House  - Denver, CO
Currently:

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Willow gasps in surprise as she’s lifted off the ground. “H-hey!” She starts to protest before pausing. His answer surprises her into submission and she crinkles her brow in confusion as he carries her into what she guesses to be his bedroom. A strong scent of lavender hits her nostrils alongside… bread? The smell of it takes her by surprise - it’s similar to how his bakery smelt yesterday. Is this…His scent?

No sooner had the thought occurred when she’s then engulfed by it as the man slips her under the covers on his bed. She’s barely processed what’s happened when she sees him toss his robe. Trepidation causes her to freeze but surprisingly, he just holds her and repeats what he’s already said. It takes a bit before she starts to relax and accept that she’s safe, for now at least. It doesn’t take long after that for her to fall back asleep, exhausting winning over fear.

[Visyn]

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Rowan Kimb

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Location: Rowan's House, Denver CO

Currently:

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Shifting in the room would likely rouse her. Looking around revealed, since in Rowan's bedroom and he was pulling on a shirt now, the last of his clothing he needed. He was mumbling softly to himself, non of it comprehensible. He left the room to come back with.. something, a long shirt? A dress? Probably a dress.

He set it on the edge of the bed and then came around and brushed his fingers against her cheek. "Little one. Wake up.. I have to go to the bakery.."

[Donut Look Now]

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Willow Estelle Kinsley

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Location: Rowan’s House  - Denver, CO
Currently:

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Willow stirs a bit before she tiredly opens one eye before the other. “Mmm?” Blinking, she yawns as she turns towards the voice before recognizing the large man brushing her cheek. Her eyes widen for a brief moment before she’s able to calm herself down. “Oh… Um… Did you want me to go with you…?”

She starts to sit up, rubbing her eyes with her hands to get rid of the sleep dust in them. Looking around briefly, she spots clothing at the edge of the bed. “Is that for me…?” Willow asks even as she crawls towards it to grab it and inspect it closer.

[Visyn]

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Rowan Kimb

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Location: Rowan's House, Denver CO

Currently:

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Definitely a dress. It feels soft in her hands as she held it. Rowan moved to the end of the bed, looking to her. "You can stay here if you like, but I'll be gone all day. So, decide quickly. I have to start prepping." He moved out of the room, barefeet padding as he walked away.

There was rummaging in what she could probably figure was the kitchen. Maybe he was making a lunch for later? That seemed likely since he had been there all day yesterday and ate lunch in between customers.

[Donut Look Now]

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Willow Estelle Kinsley

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Location: Rowan’s House  - Denver, CO
Currently:

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Once satisfied he’s not lingering, Willow pulls the large shirt off before tugging on the dress and quickly following where he had gone. She finds him in the kitchen and nervously fidgets with the dress before she tries to get her long ears to disappear. “I’m not great at hiding them… so I can stay behind…” She says with warm cheeks.

“I can clean here though!” She declares firmly before he has the chance to kick her out. “I-I can repay you by cleaning and-and cooking if you’d like?” Anything to avoid getting sent back to Beowulf. Willow realizes that she’s put a lot of trust in this complete stranger, but if he can keep her safe from the other clans, she doesn’t care.

[Visyn]

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Rowan Kimb

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Location: Rowan's House, Denver CO

Currently:

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Rowan looked over to her from the kitchen counter, putting the top of the lunchbox on the container. "I hide them for a reason, there's no reason to hide them for you." He paused, looking back up to her. "But since you seem to be running away.. that's fine. You can just stay here. I don't need you to clean or cook. I can do it myself."

He picked up the container and moved over to her. He set a hand on her head gently, ruffling between her ears. "If you get bored come to the shop. You can just stay in the back and I'll teach you how to prep dough or something." He started to the front door them. He was already a little late in starting prep, but that was okay.

[Donut Look Now]

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Willow Estelle Kinsley

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Location: Rowan’s House  - Denver, CO
Currently:

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Willow flinches when the man reaches out towards her before she relaxes as she realizes he’s mimicking what he’d done when she was a bunny. In a split second, she changes her mind and quickly follows him to the door. “I’ll stay in the back.” She says before she holds a hand out to him as a form of introduction.

“My name is Willow.” She feels comfortable in sharing her name - Beowulf would be looking for a rabbit named ‘Jewel’ anyway. “What’s yours?”

[Visyn]

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Rowan Kimb

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Location: Petal Bakery, Denver CO

Currently: teaching/Baking

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He looked to her and gave a smile. He didn't take her hand though and gave a nod. "Rowan." He let her step out and locked the door before moving down the path to the bakery. He opened the back door, letting her go in and then immediately grabbed some aprons. He also moved behind her, pulling a hairtie into his teeth as he quickly braided her hair and then tied it on the end.

He moved and secured the apron on her, pulling his own on while he one handed grabbed ingredients. "We're gonna make the bread so it'll rise just in time for opening, to be baked." He waved her closer.

[Donut Look Now]

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Willow Estelle Kinsley

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Location: Petal Bakery - Denver, CO
Currently: Baking

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Rowan. Willow repeats to herself as she awkwardly pulls her hand back. The two make their way down the path back to the bakery while the rabbit looks around nervously as if someone will pop out of the bushes and steal her away.

When she’s safely in the back of his bakery, she lets loose a sigh of relief before she starts to become flustered. “Uh… Thank you.” She manages to mumble as Rowan manages to braid her hair out of the way and ties an apron onto her.

Willow nervously approaches Rowan and tries to keep track of everything he grabs to remember. “How long does it take to rise?” She asks curiously.

[Visyn]

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Rowan Kimb

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Location: Petal Bakery, Denver CO

Currently: teaching/Baking

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"If we make it now, it should rise just in time." He gave a hum and washed his hands quickly, gesturing for her to do the same. Once done, he quick but precise to explain it to her as he put ingredients in a bowl and made some dough. Once they made a couple of bowls of it, he set them on a shelf with a cloth over them. He gave a small sigh, shoulders releasing a small hunch. "Ahh.. just in time. Okay, once those are done rising we'll make another set. For now we'll make the other pastries."

He cleaned the counter, washed his hands again and grabbed more ingredients. He mostly made more dough, but this he would put in the oven nearly immediately after sectioning them out. He did this for the remainder of the morning til open. Get ingredients, wash his hands and show her how to make whatever he needed.

[Donut Look Now]

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Willow Estelle Kinsley

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Location: Petal Bakery - Denver, CO
Currently: Baking

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Quiet for the most part, Willow follows Rowan’s instructions with ease and only asks questions to clarify. “You’re a good teacher.” She observes with a smile as they put the latest batch of pastries into the oven to bake. Using the back of her hand, she wipes off the light sheen of sweat on her brow before going and washing her hands again.

[Visyn]

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Rowan Kimb

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Location: Petal Bakery, Denver CO

Currently: teaching/Baking

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Rowan looked over to her and gave a smile. "Doesn't hurt to be nice when teaching something." He moved over to the back door, propping it open so the heat left the room a little. "Once it cools, close the door. I'll go out into the front and open up. I'll then come and show you what to do when they're done in the oven."

He moved out of the back to the front and opened the shop, and doing the first clean of the day. It only took about twenty minutes and then he was in the back. "Alright. Mittens." He pulled them from above the hook on the brick oven and pulled them on her hands. He grabbed a second pair and opened the drop. He reached in with a large spatula and pulled the tray closer before grabbing it with his mittens.

He then moved and slid the tray on a metal rack near the door. "This is the cooling rack. Once the pan cools down, it'll go out front. That's it. Why don't you start on another batch of dough for the bread and I'll cut it up."

[Donut Look Now]

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Willow Estelle Kinsley

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Location: Petal Bakery - Denver, CO
Currently: Baking

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A blush creeps onto Willow’s cheeks when Rowan smiles and she can’t help but think of how handsome he is. She’s glad when he moves to open the back door and leaves, giving her some time to calm down. While he’s in the front, she starts wiping down surfaces and cleaning some of the dishes before he returns.

Once again, the large man dotes on her by pulling mittens onto her hands and she nearly pouts. “T-thank you.” She mumbles with a crinkled brow while watching Rowan go over the next steps. Does the wolf think she’s helpless or does he typically just… do everything for someone?

“I can do that.” Willow says, pulling her attention away from her inner dialogue and taking her mitts off so she can wash her hands. “Just the same as before, right?” She asks as she start mixing ingredients.

[Visyn]

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Rowan Kimb

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Location: Petal Bakery, Denver CO

Currently: teaching/Baking

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"Same as before." He set a bowl with the cloth down and pulled the risen dough. He set the bowl bad for her to put the dough she finishes in it. He rolls it and kneads it, making it so the bubbles got out before he took a flat wide knife and cut small loaf shapes.

He grabbed an empty pan and put the loaves on it before sliding it into the waiting rack. He did this with all three bowls of dough, and even switched out more of the hot pans; bringing cooled ones to the front. He didn't come back to the back when the jingle of his door happened, signaling a customer.

[Donut Look Now]

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Willow Estelle Kinsley

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Location: Petal Bakery - Denver, CO
Currently: Baking

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Willow sneaks peeks at Rowan as he works the dough, trying to memorize his movements so that she could help next time. As he takes the first tray of pastries to the front, she’s finishing up the next batch of dough. Just as she’s about to cover the bowl for it to rise, she hears the familiar jingle of the door. She freezes for a moment before glancing around for the best place to hide, just in case. Quietly, she slowly pads into a corner away from the front and squeezes into a tiny space. Her hands cover her mouth and noise, afraid that even her breathing can alert them of her presence.

[Visyn]

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Rowan Kimb

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Location: Petal Bakery, Denver CO

Currently: teaching/Baking

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There was soft voices, and even laughter from the customer before the door jingled again. Rowan came into the back again, pausing when he didn't see Willow. He moved to the back door, closing it and then giving a soft sigh. He mumbled something and moved to the oven, pulling out the loves and setting them on a different rack.

He must have thought she left or something. He hadn't seen her in the corner which meant it was a good hiding spot. He also didn't have his ears and tail out again, hiding them away. He was now holding a small knife though, marking into the fresh dough.

[Donut Look Now]

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Willow Estelle Kinsley

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Location: Petal Bakery - Denver, CO
Currently:

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Willow pauses, holding her breath as Rowan comes into the back before she’s sure no one is following him. Feeling silly for getting so spooked, she starts to climb out of her hiding place awkwardly. She makes her way out of the corner, but when she goes to pull her other leg in, her toes catch on an edge and she falls onto the floor with a smack, her cheek taking most of the impact.

[Visyn]

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Rowan Kimb

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Location: Petal Bakery, Denver CO

Currently: teaching/Baking

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Rowan whirled, looking towards the smack. He blinked, setting the knife down and moving over to her. "Little one..?" He helped her sit up, voice filled with concern. "Are you alright? I thought you left for the house.." He eased her into a seat and lifted her chin to look her face over. "Where does it hurt?"

[Donut Look Now]

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Willow Estelle Kinsley

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Location: Petal Bakery - Denver, CO
Currently:

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Willow’s face flushes as it warms with embarrassment while Rowan helps her up. “S-sorry,” She mumbles before her chin is lifted. Her wide eyes find his, noting the concern not only in his tone but his expression. The smack of the floor on her cheek doesn’t sting too much, but it feels familiar to some of the slaps she’d received at the hands of the Beowulf clan. Still, her cheek does redden from the impact.

“I’m sorry,” Willow says softly again as moisture starts to collect in the corners of her eyes. “I just got scared. I’m okay, I promise.” She can’t tell if she’s trying to convince Rowan or herself more.

[Visyn]

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Rowan Kimb

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Location: Petal Bakery, Denver CO

Currently: teaching/Baking

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There was a soft sigh against her face before he stood. He left to the small breakroom and came back to press a wrapped ice pack against her cheek. "Sit there for now. I'll handle the rest. Just rest. Let me know if you're hurt anywhere else." He ruffled her hair gently before washing his hands. He moved back to the bread he had been cutting. Once all the loaves were cut, he took the pan to the front.