#brightwindsbarony

A long exhale.

It is dim, it is quiet. No swarms demanding food. No flaring lights with an order. No dings.

It is cool........

It's just a break before gearing up for the evening service but a wonderful break it is.

He may even get a chance to close his eyes. Sleep just a bit

Couch naps are underrated; marvelous things.

The nap does him wonders! He wakes less than hour later feeling completely recharged.

He gets up to shower and 're-set' for the evening. Have to get out west of Fort Davis; Valentine, maybe north up to Van Horn.

Hour and a half drive, one-way, at least. Have to leave early and drive late but ....

There are people he hasn't seen in a while, news that he needs to hear.

He parks carefully at his destination. Looks like no real crowds, yet

Which suits him, for the moment; he can set up at his leisure.

And that's when he gets his first customer.. who is not what he expected

Cliff pushes away from the back counter and up to the window.

The woman at first seems to be a changeling, until he realizes she has no flesh... it's not a ghost though, being a creature of fae spirit. Nor is it chimera

She is veiled ,shapely enough and her voice is clear "Pardon me, but I bear news. "

Curious, he nods. "Shall I come out?" offering to step out of the noise of the fans.

"Unless you have trouble hearing ME, no worries. Someone is going to try to use you to murder someone today, and blame it on you. The victim has a destiny. Kindly pay attention and don't let them do it"

She says this as if arranging setting at an event. All business

Nonplussed doesn't begin to cover it.

"How?" is what he chooses to ask.

"How you stop the murder is up to you, but I would say do not accept orders blindly. "

"Who are you?"

"Fate's dutiful daughter"

"Will you come and have some iced tea? I would like to know more of this matter."

"No." She says, then tilts her head "Pardon, it s not safe for me. I have no body yet, no shelter. And when mortals come, their banality will force me to possess one for a time. "

"You are Sidhe?" with some evident surprise.

She actually chuckles behind her veil, "No, kithain, I most assuredly am not. "

"But you are of the Dreaming." he hazards.

"Oh yes... my kind and cousins have been a apart of it a long..." She turns her head "Pardon. I must go. Remember what i told you"

"Someone is going to try to use me to murder someone today and blame it on me; pay attention and don't let them do it."

She nods and slips off

Cliff watches her go, as best he can.

Shut down and head home? he frowns Hard to take the loss, though.

And the crowds come in, bit by bit

No point in trying to avoid destiny..... and so thinking, he serves dinner.

And he serves. One woman wants to know if this is glutten free?

"Free, or at least low-glutten. Native foods didn't rely on wheat."

"Oh how marvelous of them to think of that" she smiles as if modern diet fads were where on the tribes minds over a century ago

Cliff prepares her order without further comment.

Others come in a bit more quietly at least until TWo college age students debate on whether eating 'native food' is cultural appropriation "But he's selling it and he looks native so it's his choice " "is it his choice though? Or is it what systematic racism has driven him to?" . It is an older black man to look at both white kids "Just buy it or don't, but I think the man wouuld rather you pay cash than try to 'save him' right now. You feel bad, don'ate some cash to a reservation or some shit. Geezus" And the african American man looks at Cliff "Lay those tamales on me, brother"

Cliff does so, a carry-away box of tamales with green chilli sauce and cotija.

"Thanks man"

the colleege students look sheepish and make their order "Namaste" One tries

"Wrong Indian."

Cliff preps their order as well and hands it off.

They retreat with the food

Cliff keeps an eye out for any attempted murders.

A nice car pulls up, nicer than average, and two college age women come out. Attractive and toned enough to catch the attention of the guys that had the Namaste moment. One of them seems very upset. The other makes a show of comforting her

Cliff wipes down, takes orders, preps food....