Work Text:
-ting-a-ling!-
Byron's eyes flicked to the bar entrance as Piper stepped through the door, a basket hanging from her elbow. She greeted Barley, before humming a merry little tune as she made her way over to Byron's table.
"Piper. Unlike you to be tardy." He greeted, doing nothing to hide his amused smile as she set her basket down and sat across from him.
"Oh hush, Byron!" Piper huffed, "I got wrapped up in a little... experiment!"
She sets down her basket, before opening it and lifting a plate of six muffins from it. From the plate wafted the pleasant scent of sugar and citrus and...
"...Is that lavender I smell?" Byron asked curiously. Piper giggled as she set the plate on the table.
"It is! I didn't take you for someone with a sensitive nose."
"I prefer the term discerning."
The muffins were relatively unassuming, golden brown and covered in a glaze that shone with the promise of sticky fingers. They were arranged neatly on the plate.
"Well, go ahead," Piper gestured to the plate expectantly. "And tell me what you think!"
Byron began slipping his rings off.
"Not going to tell me what these are first?" He asked, setting the jewelry on the table with a light -clnk-.
"Darling, that would spoil the surprise!" She grinned.
Byron raised an eyebrow, before picking a muffin from the plate. He allowed himself a moment to inspect it, feeling the warmth through his fingertips, before peeling off the wrapper and taking a bite.
The muffin was soft and crumbly. The glaze, which turned out to be buttery-sweet and quite floral, mingled pleasantly with the bright, citrusy taste of the muffin itself. Byron let out a little hum of contentment. Piper was nothing if not brilliant at her job. As he swallowed his bite, he noticed an earthy richness, running like an undercurrent throughout all the other flavors in his mouth.
"You've outdone yourself, dear," he said, brushing crumbs from the corner of his mouth. "I feel you added something more than just lemon zest in these, though. Tea, perhaps?"
Piper smiled, picking up her own muffin and starting to peel it.
"Close! It's Earl Grey. You really are good at this." She took a bite of her creation, before letting out a hum. "I think I'll let it steep longer next time, though, boost the tea flavor a little."
"If you think it needs it." Byron shrugged, finishing his muffin off. "Where does that lavender taste come from?"
"Oh! I made a glaze out of some lavender honey that Bea gave me!" Piper replied. "She's been experimenting with directing her bees to only make honey from one source. I think she's been quite successful, no?"
Byron made a noise of agreement.
"Indeed."
"But enough about me, how have sales been this week?"
"Oh, they've been fine..."