Tiny but Firery

Don't control my character, I have to triggers, I reserve the right to say no and so do you, no sexual themes for muns and muses under 18, and mun and muse are over 21.

“Alright. So this will be temporary until your ‘renovations’ are done? Not that I mind of course, but I thought I’d ask. However long or short, doesn’t bother me.” He murmured with a shrug as that same tendril moved behind the counter. With remarkable muscle memory, he grabbed a cup and brewed himself his own cup of tea, bringing it to himself. “I might have to bake the treats I have here. I don’t have much of a recipe book, since I’m usually running a one man show, but I’ll write something up tonight for you.”

Devi leaned slightly in her chair to watch the tendril do its work without him even looking at what he was doing. It was impressive to say the least.

“Well, it would be at least for a few months.” She stated as she watched with an intrigued smile.

As his physical body seemed to be ‘napping’, face relaxed and restful as the plants in the area slowly seemed to lean towards him, on that ‘spiritual plane’ the two women were conversing, the young man with a hidden core of something other seemed to blink and ‘wake up’, looking between the two with a blend of surprise and recognition.

Even in the pale, misty impressions of ghostly spirits such as they, some things remain plainly obvious - their hair was brunette and grey, but had much of the same body and ‘feel’ as a certain Ginger, and other traces in their faces conveyed that feel of lineage between the three of them.

Even as he felt a surprising amount of comfort in their presence, a subtle feeling of danger spiked, though the phrase ‘In-Laws’ would make sense here the Shaman had never had to deal with anything of the sort - in this life or the last one - and so had no clue the terrors he might unwittingly unleash upon himself.

Instead, the astral projection quietly cleared his throat, and nervously waved at the two.

“See? I told you he would be able to see us.” The taller of the two spirits, their body slowly rolling and waving like mist kept and moving in and out of detail spoke to the shorter, grey haired figure.

“For as big as he is, he sure is silent.” The shorter figure said, their face fading in and out of detail like the body of the other. 

Both presented female, the taller one younger looking that the other with long brunette hair tied in a lose twisted bun with the loose strands flowing around her face. The elder of the two had shorter, greying hair with the last remnants for brunette almost faded completely. Large wire framed glasses adored her face whenever the details presented themselves. She was older, with wrinkles and sags of her skin on her cheeks and below her eyes.

“Ma, leave the poor boy alone. He probably wasn’t expecting both of us here!” The younger scolded before offering a small smile to the giant.

He removed his apron and hung it up, a tendril sprouting from his back. Slipping from beneath clothing, it farted over to the door, turning off an open sign just above it as well as turning off any unnecessary lights. “Alrighty. You says you wanted this as a part time job.” He said as he found a seat, crossing his legs. “I’m assuming you have another job as well?” Starting simple.

With a sip of her tea, she waited for him to join her and have his own seat before she answered the question offered.

Hudson was a creature that has enough. A roof over his head, a profitable business, and hundreds of years of experience. He had enough, so the details were not to problematic for him. After all, he had all the money he needed. Once again, he offered the hot mug of tea to her. “Have a seat. Feel free to hang out for a bit. After all, you just got a job, I’d like to know who I hired. And I’m sure you’d like to know who hired you.” While he wouldn’t press the matter, he would definitely like to know a bit more about her. He would consider himself a good judge of character, so he wasnt too worried about it, but he had to ask.

Feeling her face flush slightly in embarrassment, she took the cup of tea from him and thanked him again more quietly.

“Oh, yes! I wouldn’t mind answering a few questions!” With the tea in hand, Devi took a seat not too far from where Hudson stood and gestured for him to sit beside her.

Paradoxically, the more the welcoming feeling washed over him as he approached his would-be-lover’s best friend’s porch, the more that uneasy, awkward feeling in his gut would linger; not in the manner of some stranger rifling through an old book and finding the previous owner’s lost love letters in between the pages, but rather in the manner of a young boy being watched by his crush’s parents as he tries to sneak a letter into their bedroom window while they silently cheer him on.

Not an unwelcoming feeling in the slightest, but still not the easiest sensation to swallow for most, and the shaman was far more anxious and awkward than most when it came to matters such as this.

A sigh, a rubbing of his face, and a careful creak-filled resting of his rear upon the lovingly tended-to wood of the steps, and Hriob would close his eyes… and focus fully on that other sense of his, peering between the lines of the physical and spiritual to ‘see’ the source of the feeling guiding him here.

As his focus lingered in that space, the faint whispers would become louder, closer even, as if people were talking. Two women, one older than the other, but both of their voices having a rather familiar undertone to them.

“Hey, hey, you don’t need to sell me what you’re offering.” He said, gently shaking her hand before pulling away. “I’m used to working alone, here, but I won’t say no to help. Especially if you need the extra cash. World’s rough these days after all.” He chuckled, turning to grab a cup. He worked quickly on muscle memory, brewing a simple cup of black tea before moving back to her. He offered it. “Come in tomorrow afternoon and we can get you trained up on everything here.” Though he would have to make certain changes on the back end for a new worker, not that he hasn’t had other employees in the past. “This job isn’t the most challenging, but I’ll let you name your wage after you get acquainted with everything.”

Well that was much easier than she thought it would be. When he told her to come in the next afternoon she seemed to snap back to reality.

The room was warm, with the scents of tea, coffee, and sweets in the air. Along with some other sweet, relaxing scent though it was rather buried beneath everything. Just a warm little cafe. “That I do. Owner and sole employee.” He said motioning for to come closer before extending a hand to her. “Hudson. Pleasure to meet you Devi. So, how can I help you today? Need a drink or a treat?” He asked as he leaned against the countertop, tendrils receding back beneath his shirt, disappearing into his back.

While yes, he was closing, he had no issues in continuing to serve if people walked in around the end of the day. He didn’t mind, as it kept him busy.

It smelled so good in here, she could just sit in the corner and breathe it in all day if she could.

“Oh, well no actually. I uh,” She cleared her throat and extended her hand to shake his.

Incoming Eliatrope missile~! Nothing says 'I missed you so much' like a hug from her son Yugo.

Damn right from her son. You can't tell anyone otherwise.

By this point in the day, getting into the late afternoon and evening, business had come to a crawl. Typically he would close later, however being a lone worker and having to tend to an entire store’s operation, he couldn’t exactly stay open as long as he wanted. Too much to do, not enough hours in the day. However, that wouldn’t stop him from serving as needed. Tendrils wound through the room, setting chairs on tables, wiping down surfaces, dusting, cleaning, the works. And they all sound back to him, a man with hair a shade of green as deep and dark as some seas.

He let out a soft hum as he heard the door chime. “Well, I’m the only one to talk to!” He chimed, giving a bright smile as he turned to face her. “Come in, come in.” He insisted, one of those appendages darting over to open and hold the door for her. “How can I help you?” His voice was soft and friendly, putting on an inviting tone of course.

A long green tendril holding the door open for her was... not something she expected to see. But it didn’t bother her by any means. Simply surprised her and she expressed that with a single wide-eyed blink before she walked inside without worry.

This town was rather open to nonhumans after all. It wasn’t that big of a surprise for him to be here.

“Hi there, uhm- I’m Devi, and I was wondering-” She was still trying to find the respectful way to just walk in and ask for a job before she trailed off looking at the décor. It was a lovely little café.

Devi, have a large redhead; Because nothing says 'I've missed you' like a massive surprise bear hug from behind!

"Huh- UWAH!" There was no way a bearhug from the giant man wouldn't crush her unless he was also picking her up. Which for him, well that was child's play.

"H- Hriob!" She laughed.

Spring was finally here and here to stay. Which meant the cabin needed its yearling fixing after winter. Being so far from town had its perks, but it also meant the winter winds could land full force on her small wooden cabin paradise.

Her current job paid well, but the extent of this years damage would surely be more than what she made currently. She would need a second job, at least for a bit.

There was a café not too far into town she knew of. Perhaps she could get a part time job there? Couldn’t hurt to at least go and see. So later that evening, Devi made her way into town and towards the small cafe. It close to closing for them, very close. Hope they didn’t mind.

Opening the door, the small ginger peaked in.

Who does she miss the most?