Well.... Crumbs

Posted on Tue Jun 3rd, 2025 @ 10:33 by Gabriella Baxter & Scott Jones

Chapter: Besieged
Location: New Cresthill
1132 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Pulling up in a small car park at the back of a few shops, Scott, a recently hired teacher at the Avalon, decided to stop in town to pick up a few supplies before he headed up to the castle and hopefully get settled. He was upending his life for a new and exciting adventure, being closer to fellow mutants and being that educator face he always wished he had when his powers emerged. The thought of not having to be as careful with his powers, allowing himself to be more free than he had been in his whole life added a little spring in his step this particular morning. Weaving in and out of a few stores for some basic goods, food, drinking glasses for his room, and a few other little niceties like a fake potted plant he finally decided to stop in at the bakery to pick up a treat for himself and at least a few boxes of doughnuts for the rest of the staff. What good staffroom didn't enjoy someone bringing in tasty treats? At least that is what he was telling himself.

Following the sweet smell of fresh baking, it wasn't long until he was stepping inside, the warmth of the ovens heading the air blasting his face, and he was lost in a sea of delicious-looking sweet treats.

The small bell at the top of the door rang through the small bakery as a new customer entered. Gabriella was just in the process of pulling a tray of muffins from the oven. "Good morning." She called from the back, "I'll be right with you." She walked with the tray to the rack she had for cooling freshly baked goods. As the muffins were stored in the rack she pulled a tray of breads from it, having properly cooled off now. She grabbed a couple of them to transfer them over to the display crates on the far wall behind the counter. She cleaned her hands on the towel hanging from her apron and gave the newcomer a smile, making sure to suppress her highland accent, "have you seen anything you might fancy?"

"One of everything if the funds permitted," Scott smiled, "but maybe just a box of a dozen doughnuts if you have them? New teacher headed up to the school and wanting to make a good impression... and maybe a croissant for myself for breakfast, please. Or muffins actually," he looked a little puzzled for a moment, "or a mixture, whichever you think is best."

Nowadays when a person came in from out of town as a 'new teacher for the school' the first thought always went to Avalon, which was about a 20 minutes drive from New Cresthill. Gabriella did have to take a moment to process it this time though, as it seemed like a very inopportune moment to want to start work today. "Ehm. If you don't mind me asking. Is that New Chresthill High?"

"A few Primary schools in the area," Scott replied, trying to maintain somewhat of a cover. Never really knowing where people stood on the mutant subject, he always kept things away from the topic until he saw some kind of support, then he would open up a little about things, never fully, but willing to be a bit more conversational about things. "I am a bit of a traveling supply teacher at the moment, wanted away from the regular rat race of the schools and cities in and around the central belt. All too assessment heavy and not enough about actually teaching."

Gabriella frowned a bit at that, she knew there were a couple of primary schools, but not having kids she didn't know they needed regular supply teachers. "That's a worthwhile endeavour. I'm sure they're excited to have you." She grabbed a box to start and pick out a selection of doughnuts for him. "Normally when someone from outside of town comes in to teach it's for the Institute down by the Loch. But I guess with everything going on they're not really hiring at the moment."

"You may need to get me up to speed there," Scott asked half clueless... that was the school he was headed to after all but hadn't heard much while he was 'off the grid' so to speak on his travels around the country, "I have enjoyed a good few days away from everything and seems I have a bit to catch up on." He was doing his best to remain calm, but genuine, in his interactions. Part of his mind was whizzing about what to do next, who to try and contact, where he was going to stay, would he have to leave and come back. Those voices needed to be silenced though so he could hear what was going on, his head tilted slightly to the right to listen intently.

"The zealots of the G.O.U. have thrown up an honest to God siege to keep anyone from going in or coming out." Gabriella gave the very abbreviated version, "To top it all off, they just arrested the Head Mistress this afternoon." She had finished gathering the doughnuts, making it a nice baker's dozen, and closed the package around it. Putting the first bag on the counter as she grabbed a new box for the croissant and muffin he had ordered for himself.

"I guess keeping people away?" he prodded a little. "Waiting them out for food and other supplies? I am guessing no one can get near to help without finding some kind of backlash themselves," he couldn't hide the sigh and look of worry on his face despite his best efforts.

Gabriella frowned a bit at that, "The only kind of siege I kin." she responded, wouldn't be much of one if they could still go in or out as they pleased. "Luckily for anyone that would normally go to a place such as that, the blue door inn is a friendly place to lay their heads." It was still unclear exactly who this man was and why he had come here at this exact time. "There's plenty of folk about town sympathetic to their cause."

"Oh, that is good," he made a mental note. I guess it's the teacher in me worrying about students who, no matter what walk of life, things like this are so much out of their control." He made a quick pivot. "Anyway, how much do I owe you for all this?"

Looking over the order and doing some quick maths Gabriella came to £3.40, "Three, even." She put the second box with his own order next to the earlier bag of 12 doughnuts. With a quick payment the transaction concluded and the man disappeared through the door without much additional words.