ArchivedLogs:Runaway Ghost

Runaway Ghost
Dramatis Personae Hanna, Jayna, Sophie
In Absentia	2013-11-06 Sophie seeks shelter from the zombie hordes. (Part of Infected TP.)
Location <NYC> Happy Cakes Bakery - TriBeCa
Happy Cakes Bakery is a cheery little spot of vintage charm amidst the hustle and bustle of the Manhattan neighborhood, a refurbished pair of row homes that hardly resemble their previous selves - the front walls are almost entirely gleaming glass, with the logo of the bakery painted onto the top, and rainbows of cupcakes dancing along the edges. Eclectically styled, it seems homey and welcoming - if the cross stitched sign by the door wasn't obvious enough - "All are Welcome!" it reads, with the "All" underlined in a sparkling bubble gum pink and yellow dotted line, with the logo of the bakery, a cheery smiling pink and white cupcake, beneath the lettering. Once inside, the walls of the combination bakery and coffee shop are covered in crisp clean white ceramic tile, with the occasional randomly placed tile with an color engraving of a tropical flower, or tile made of reclaimed China. Ambient music reminiscent of the Big Band era plays through the shop, loud enough to be heard, but not loud enough to make conversation difficult. Tables and chairs in a variety of sizes, colors, and styles fill one side of the room, none of them quite matching each other, but all of them seeming to work together. The other side of the shop is a long series of gleaming glass and chrome bakery displays, filled with colorful sweets and treats of every description. To one end of the counter is a gleaming chrome espresso machine with far more tubes and bobbles than is really necessary, but producing excellent espresso beverages. At the other end is the old style cash register, a chrome and cherry wood relic from a bygone age that dings cheerily with each sale. The wall behind the counter is covered in photos of a tropical island, as well as a pair of shops that look like a smaller version of this one, several including a pair of dark haired women. Early in the morning, whenever it is that Hanna comes to the bakery to set up shop, she'll find probably more debris than usual piled up in front of Happy Cakes. Some cardboard boxes have been arranged near the door, along with some newspapers, everything arranged to look pretty much like a naturally-occurring pile of trash. The only thing strange about it, really, is that there is the very faint sound of snoring coming from underneath it. It's quiet, but if one gets close enough, pretty obvious. Under the pile, of course, is the slumped-over form of Sophie; in an olive green hoodie with the hood pulled up, her red hair spills out of the hood in a few places, and she's sleeping with her arms wrapped around a black backpack printed with hearts in every color of the rainbow, clinging to it for dear life even in sleep. The situation in the city has become quite dire, especially in and around the apartment building in which Hanna and Jayna live. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, the two women are approaching the bakery with caution at a swift pace in the pre-dawn light that begins to color the shining buildings a warm peach color. Hanna has one arm looped around Jayna, keeping the other woman held close, while both glance around the area with nervous looks. Both are bundled up against the early fall chill, with Hanna in a bright pink wool peacoat and jeans, and Jayna in a knee length black coat, belted at her thin waist to keep it closed. Neither looks particularly thrilled about being out on the streets, or about the chill weather. Hanna pauses, stepping in front of Jayna defensively, at the sight of the pile of rubbish in front of the bakery, as though it might be a trap. Because obviously, flu zombies can think well enough to create trash traps to lure baristas and bakers into a false sense of security. "Hello?" Hanna asks quietly, staying back from the door, but glancing nervously inside, then back around at the surrounding, thankfully empty street. "Is there someone there, or am I going to feel like a moron for talking to a pile of trash in front of my bakery?" It doesn't take long for Sophie to respond to that question; either she's a really light sleeper, or wasn't actually asleep to begin with. Probably the former, judging by her reaction, which, initially, is to let out a little yelp of surprise, jerking sharply enough to bring her hidey-fort crashing down around her. But then she's quick to shout, "It's okay, I'm not sick!", because /that's/ reassuring, as she gathers up her backpack and pushes herself to her feet, a little shakily. She doesn't move to approach either of the women, in the interest of looking as unthreatening as possible, but instead continues to explain, running her words together as she speaks, "It just-- I'm not sick, but everyone at-- at my house is and-- I wasn't sure where to go, but we came here before one time, you probably don't remember me, but I've never been to the city before other than that and... and I wasn't sure where to go." Biting her lip, she rubs the back of her neck with one hand, the other arm gripping her backpack more tightly. "Is it.. okay if I maybe hang out here for a little while?" A skeptical look passes over Hanna's features as the girl emerges from the pile of trash and papers, dark eyes regarding Sophie with curiosity. There's a resigned sigh from the willowy barista, who nods quietly to Hanna, before gesturing towards the door - Jayna looks exhausted, and is actually leaning against Hanna slightly. "It's ok, sweetie. Neither of us are sick, either. Promise," Hanna scoots around Sophie, with Jayna still following close behind, "We're not really planning on opening today, but we aren't gonna turn you away if you need help." The normally bubbly baker seems subdued, quiet, as she opens the door into the bakery, gesturing for Sophie and Jayna to head in first. The door is locked behind them, and the sign is not switched to 'Open'. Once inside, Hanna starts going through the minimal motions of opening up shop, turning on some lights, hanging up her coat, and double checking occasional things. Busy work. Jayna similarly busies herself with the coffee station. "I'm sorry if I don't remember you. Been a lot of people through here lately. It's a big city. But you're as safe here as anywhere," Hanna explains, offering a slight smile, "I'm Hanna, and that's Jayna. You are?" Sophie does look the women over a /little/ cautiously, but... well, she wouldn't be here if she wasn't planning on actually /being/ here. And so, with only the most minor hesitation, she follows them into the shop. Once inside, she sets her backpack down on a nearby table, slumping into a chair and, with not as much subtlety as she thinks she's doing it, sniffing a sleeve of her hoodie. Just to make sure. Fortunately, given that she's only been out for one night, it isn't too bad. "It's okay. We were here... a long time ago, so, um. I guess it'd be silly for me to think you'd remember," she answers, with a sheepish little smile of her own. "I'm Sophie. I'm sorry for showing up like this, it's just, like I said... I don't really know anywhere else, and... when we came here before you guys were really nice. And I kind of panicked. My friend was saying I should hide in the woods, but... it's really cold out there and lonely. I didn't really... the news said it was bad here too but I guess I was hoping they were overreacting." "Hmm, not overreacting, no. It's... well, it isn't good out there right now," Hanna says quietly, starting to unstack a few of the chairs and tables to make more room in the bakery. "But, well, this is supposed to be an open, welcoming bakery. And at least somewhat of a safe haven, in theory." She heads behind the counter, starting to pull a few trays of pastries out from the back to load into the sadly empty shelves, heaving a bit of a sigh. "Please don't apologize. It's ok. We're here to hide out from the mess that is our apartment building right now. Figure if we're going to be stuck somewhere, may as well be stuck somewhere with baked goods," Hanna offers with a bright smile, starting to pile up a plate with various pastries and sweets from the cases. "Nice to meet you, Sophie. Sorry it's under such unusual circumstances." Jayna is moving around a bit slower, hanging her coat up in the back and sliding behind the counter. She is wearing a long gray sweater and a black skirt, the dull colors seeming to pick up the ashen tone to her skin. Her head is entirely bald - the long fronds of willow branches that had graced her hair in the spring gone, leaving a bark-like texture to the exposed skin. "Do you want some coffee, Sophie?" Jayna asks, offering an easy smile, "We've also got some other things still, but haven't done a supply run this week, so it's mostly just juices and milk, other than coffee." A hand runs over her bald pate, offering in an attempt to be reassuring, "Promise - I'm not that kind of sick. Winter and my mutations don't exactly agree." "If you have hot chocolate, that would be really nice," Sophie answers, finally managing a smile, though it's definitely a tired one. "But coffee's fine if you don't." She starts to pull down the hood of her hoodie, but ultimately decides to pull the whole sweater off over her head, exposing a Dark Side of the Moon t-shirt underneath. "And I remember, um, the tree... thing," she finally decides on that last word, her smile turning a little more sheepish. "I guess it would be pretty bad when it's cold." She stands up, then, and folds the hoodie over itself, setting it down next to her backpack, and takes a moment to walk around, stretching her legs a little after having been curled up for so long. "If you want, um.. I could help out. If it's okay. I can help clean up or something, I don't want to just... ask for help and just not do anything," she mumbles that last bit, eyes downcast. "And it'd probably help if I tried to keep my mind off stuff." "It's alright. If you want to help, you can help getting the chairs down off the tables. It just... looks sort of sad with all of them up and everything. Even if we aren't likely to open today, it's... a comfort thing," Hanna explains with a thin smile, worry evident in her dull brown eyes. "If you'd rather not, no worries - I can get you something to go with the hot chocolate, if you'd like," she says, continuing to work about behind the counter, "And, as long as things go ok, you're welcome to help me in the kitchen. I'm planning to make some loaves of bread and scones." There's a faint grimace, pausing in her busy work, "Things that can be easily carried in case..." She shakes her head, and falls quiet, "Sorry. This isn't what I was expecting when I came to New York. Not at all." Jayna offers a smile, and starts warming up the espresso machine, faint hisses and bubbling from the copper and chrome monstrosity. "Oh, I can do hot chocolate, no problem. Milk, milk substitute, or something else? And, dark, white, or milk chocolate," Jayna brightens at the prospect of getting to help someone, to make coffee again. "And yeah, the tree thing. Haven't been able to get as much sun as I'd like, makes me tire out a lot faster," she chuckles lightly, the sound somewhat like the wind rustling through bare branches, then taking on a solemn note, "Do your parents know you're safe? Is there... anyone we should call to let them know you're ok?" Sophie is quick to start pulling the chairs down, and does give a little nod. "Yeah, I guess it is kind of weird looking like it's closed..." She's less quick to actually do the work, though that's more due to caution and a depressed mood than laziness. "I don't think I really want food right now, but thank you anyway." She manages another brief smile there, then answers Jayna, "Dark chocolate would be really nice, thank you. And, um, my parents... my parents are sick. I have a cell phone, so they can call me if... /when/ they get better. I texted my, um, uncle-- so he knows I'm okay. So... so everything's okay. You don't need to call anyone." She's being pretty obviously shifty - lying doesn't come naturally to her - but hasn't contradicted herself yet, at least. Hanna offers a skeptical look when Sophie repeats again that her family is sick, perhaps picking up on the shiftiness of the response. "Uh huh. Sweetie, I'm not going to throw you out, or call the cops. God knows I'm not calling them. But I just want to be sure that your family isn't worrying about you being out on your own, sick or not," she explains, gently, selecting a pastry for herself and nibbling at it idly. "But I won't push further," Hanna says with a light smile, and a shrug, "You're here. You're safe, for as long as this place is here and whole, you're welcome to crash if you need it." Even in the midst of all the chaos of the city, Happy Cakes seems like a warm, comforting place, a gradual feeling that seems to soak in the longer that one is here. Jayna takes a few minutes to finish the requested hot chocolate, dark, with steamed milk, instead of water and instant powder. "Here you go," the barista says, bringing the steaming beverage over in its neat little floral China cup and saucer, "Dark hot chocolate. Give it a moment to cool, alright?" She passes Hanna a slightly perturbed look, when the older woman calls into question Sophie's story, "/Hanna/." She turns back to Sophie with a smile, setting the cup down in front of her at one of the tables. Sophie's reply to Hanna is, primarily, a rather guilty expression, her eyes turned downcast. She overturns another chair, sitting down at the table by the hot chocolate with a murmured, 'Thank you,' to Jayna, but then just sits there quietly for a moment. Both thinking and letting the drink cool before she touches it. Finally, after a long moment, she adds, only a bit less quietly, "It's just... hard to explain. But as far as people knowing I'm okay... everything's fine." She rubs the back of her neck, and manages an awkward grin. "I mean, I'm probably gonna be in a lot of trouble anyway, but between that and getting sick I'm kind of willing to risk it, y'know?"