“I...” Wendel looked to Ashleigh, and she folded her arms with a slight frown.

“Why do you encourage him?” she pressed.

“What?” Wendel blinked at her.

“He needs help,” she scolded, “Just look at the poor man. He’s miserable.”

“You...” Wendel looked over to Garson, who was rather giddily talking with the baker, “think he looks miserable?”

“I think he doesn’t realize how miserable he is,” she huffed, “he should be outside, basking in the light, going to church and... you know...” she waved her hand a bit, “being a man, not just some boy.”

“I’m going to ask you this again, and I want you to really think about it,” Wendel took a deep breath, gesturing to Garson who was now bouncing slightly, “you think... he... looks miserable? You’re sure?”

“I don’t expect you to understand,” she sighed.

“Then why say anything?” Wendel’s frustration was evident in his words.

“Just forget it,” she waved him off, but a roll of Wendel’s eyes urged her to continue, “I just think the two of you could benefit from some... positivity. Brooding about isn’t going to attract the ladies you know.”

“It sure has your attention,” Wendel grumbled.

“I am trying to help,” Ashleigh huffed, “Couldn’t you just... try being genuinely happy for once?”

“Sure, I can get right on that,” Wendel muttered.

“What was that?” Ashleigh scowled.

“Nothing,” Wendel sighed, “Just-”

“And what’s with that name of yours anyway?” Ashleigh cut him off, “Black Rose Eleven? Really?”

“What’s wrong with Black Rose Eleven?” Wendel huffed.

“Well aside from having a damned number in it,” she rolled her eyes, “It’s so...” she waved her hand as she thought of the right word, “girly.”

“Well...” Wendel’s face fell a bit as he shrunk, “I like it...”

“He likes it, he says,” she grumbled to herself, “What are you going to do next? Put on a dress? You’re already buying him dessert, you gonna be his wife now?”

“I- of course not!” Wendel snapped with a blush.

“Everything alright over there?” Garson called out.

“Yes!” they both shouted in unison, earning the attention of a few of the other patrons while a starry-eyed man pretended not to notice.

“Look, I don’t know what this is all about, but Garson is an old friend of mine, so I’d appreciate it if you left him out of your... pretend,” Ashleigh scolded, “It’s bad enough he won’t go out and get himself a proper job somewhere. He doesn’t need someone promoting his laziness.”

Wendel’s cheeks burned as a scowl took his face, but he dared not say a word - if only because Garson was making his way back to the table. His wide grin put Wendel at ease, but a pit still sat in the depths of his stomach, and a lump was forming in his throat. Ashleigh’s rehearsed smile came to her as easily as a lie to a bard, and Garson waved to them both.

“You’ll never guess what happened,” he began, and Wendel raised an eyebrow.

“What? Did he hire you?” Ashleigh pressed a bit hopefully.

“Hire me?” Garson blinked, “No, I talked to the baker, and he says he’s going to look into getting his corner registered with the guild.”

“I-... that corner?” Ashleigh pressed, gesturing to the dark corner from before.

“Yep!” Garson chimed, “We think it’s gonna revolutionize brooding. Can you imagine? A quiet brooding corner, where you can brood by your lonesome and have some nice chocolate...” he let out a heavenly sigh, “Just wonderful.”

“I... I don’t understand...” Ashleigh looked to him in bewilderment, “Why would you want to brood in a bakery?”

“It smells nice...” Wendel grumbled.

“And!” Garson raised a finger before Ashleigh could respond, “It’s a nice, quiet brooding, free of anxieties,” he gave Wendel an assuring smile, “isn’t that right, Black Rose Eleven?”

“I...” a small smile crept on Wendel’s lips, and he nodded, “Yes. Thank you, Garson- er... Puppet-Master-One-Three-X.”

“You’re still going with that-”

“Oh, it’s alright,” Garson patted Wendel’s shoulder, “You can just call me Garson if you like. It’s actually kind of nice when you say it.”

“I-”

“Really?” Wendel’s eyes widened slightly, “Well, I-”

“I can’t believe this!” Ashleigh snapped, earning the two’s attention, “Really? You’re going to drag this nice bakery into your...” she gestured vaguely, “Weirdness!?”

“I don’t understand the problem...” Garson frowned slightly, and Wendel’s scowl returned, “I think it’s very nice.”

“Nice?” Ashleigh scoffed, “Nice?! I’ll tell you what it is. It’s absolutely asinine! You’re a man! You can’t be sitting around a bakery all day eating honey-buns and sulking in corners! You should be doing something with your life! Get a job! Start a family or something!”

“I don’t really think I’d be interested in all that,” Garson thought for a moment, and Ashleigh scowled, “You know, you seem a bit tense. Have you done any of that positive thinking you’re always going on about? I bet it would help.”

“Positive- Are you kidding me?!” she snapped, knocking over her chair as she shot up, “I can’t- you- Just-... Ugh!” she let out a frustrated growl before turning on her heel, “Forget it! Enjoy your fucking date or whatever this is.”

“I- date?” Garson’s eyes widened with a faint blush, and Wendel went rigid as the door slammed shut. “Did... did I miss something?”

“I-...” Wendel gulped a bit, “nothing important.”

“Ah, well...” Garson rubbed the back of his head, “Err... is the cake good?”

“Err... yeah,” Wendel mumbled, taking another small bite. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” Garson cleared his throat, “So uh... same time tomorrow then?” he pressed a bit hopefully, and Wendel paused.

“You mean for-”

“Broodin’!” Garson chirped, startling Wendel, “Err... bakery... broodin’.”

“Oh... yeah,” Wendel nodded with an awkward smile, “That sounds... nice.”