Waiting patiently there by that glass case, eyes of early morning frost traveling over the remains of what had surely been a full display when those doors opened, likely as the sun itself would rise and perhaps even a little before that first shower of pale golden light washes over the city. She wonders for a moment what might have filled those empty trays, the label tags having been removed since then last of those goods had been purchased and enjoyed by those lucky enough to rise early enough to pick from the anything and everything. Maybe I should get up earlier to see what they have when they first open, she thinks curiously to herself then. After all, she wasn't through sort that liked having to rush around her home getting ready as fast as she could to get ready for her morning classes at the university. Elain was a morning person to begin with, usually up before the sun was, but there had been those occasions where she'd slept through her first few alarms, having stayed up far too late studying. Or sneaking out on those nights when Lazarus decided to take up his usual nocturnal habits of stalking the bars for alcohol and female companionship, Vhal having managed to convince the young woman to either go out to eat at some of the local restaurants downtown if only for dessert, coffee, and some girl time. Or the pair would venture into one of the classier bars, the white-haired woman able to get her hands on a fake identification card for the underage woman. It was hardly like Elain to be that Bold, remembering rather well how nervous she'd been the first time she and Vhal had gone out to one of the bars a few blocks from her street. She shudders slightly strained the memory, remembering how hazy things had gotten but unable to entirely forget that large man that had tried to take advantage of her... Thank goodness Vhal had returned from the restroom in time and put the man in a... less conscious state. Despite having been rattled a little after that, Elain still didn't object when her best friend in the whole world wanted to go.

She would always regret having stayed out so late, but it was hardly a feeling that lasted more than a few moments. After all, some of the best adventures naturally had their aftereffects, and if waking up a little later in the morning was the only repercussion she would have to live with, then it was absolutely worth every moment on thay dances floor with Vhal as the women would laugh the night away only to slip back into the townhouse before her big brother would return home, completely unaware of that new and exciting night life Elain found herself enjoying. She was hardly into parties and boys like most young women her age, but that didn't mean she found no enjoyment in living a little on the more wild and spontaneous side. Despite the rush, some of her favorite mornings where those where she was up early and she was able to take her time getting ready, maybe even making herself breakfast or stopping by Inner Sanctum and grabbing a coffee and walk to the university. When it wasn't raining cats and dogs outside, anyway. But, now that this place was open, she'd have to come back by when those doors first opened so she could get some of the freshest treats that she could. How delicious they likely were right out of the oven! Reaching a decision then and there, the honey-blonde woman pulls out the phone from her pocket and flicks through the applications until she finds her alarm clock so that she can adjust it for an hour earlier. That should be early enough, she thinks to herself satisfactorily before slipping the sleek device back into the pocket of her faded blue jeans and returns to contemplating on just what she should buy and bring home to share with the men that were likely waiting on her to come home so that she could start making dinner. She would have to stash a few of these treats for herself somewhere that Donovan and Lazarus wouldn't go foraging through so that she could try and make them last more than three minutes.

When her gaze finds the handsome man behind the counter, she couldn't help but stare for a moment before realizing that she might have watched him for a little too long, averting her gaze back to the case. His accent, the curled hair, the way that he seemed so warm and friendly to the older woman in line before her... he was so different from the rest of the people that roamed these busy city streets, sticking out against the norm with that warmth and energy she couldn't help feeling about him. Even her peers weren't nearly as friendly here like they'd been at the community college she went to. It was almost fascinating, how the size of a city seemed to play a huge part in the way that individuals acted around others, how the larger the city became it seemed the people got colder and more distant as they trapped themselves in their own little world. This man though, now leaning over the back counter as she spoke with the woman in the back where the kitchen was, she could tell that he wasn't from here, and it left her wanting to know more about him. He made his way over to the case then, Elain the last one having yet to be helped, a friendly smile on his lips that only encouraged her own to grow ever brighter. He greets her in those smooth baritones, his words followed by a light chuckle as he brushes his hand against his chin. She greets him in return and finally reaches a decision on what she wanted. When he observes that there weren't enough snickerdoodles, Elain is hardly crestfallen but before she can change request for the oatmeal cookies instead, the man offers for her to try some of his test cookies, Elain's icy blue eyes glittering brightly."Sure! That's so nice of you", she answers as she watches him disappear into the back. He has such a nice smile , she thinks yo herself then as she waits patiently for him to return with these test cookies he had offered her.

He's only gone for a minute before he returns, warmth earthen eyes meeting glacier blue once again as he offers her one of them. Beaming at him, she gently takes the cookie from him, taking a bite from the still warm treat, icy blue eyes lighting up as she ushers an involuntary "mmmm!" as she chews at the mouthful before swallowing it, looking at the man."I love these! And you made them!? These should definitely be a main item you guys offer", she exclaims softly before finishing the cookie. If she saw them next time she was in here, she'd have to buy the whole tray for herself! Hardly waiting for him to respond to her request, she can't help herself from commenting on his name, entirely oblivious on how strange her compliment might sound or that she might have said too much. She did have a tendency to talk a bit, Gwen had made that remark a time or two. He doesn't seem to mind though - which only emboldened Elain more - as he replies to her mention of his name. She smiles radiantly at Ludo then as he tells her that she could call him by a nickname."Really?! I've always wanted to see Italy! That definitely explains the accent then", she adds warmly, mirth filling her glacier blue gaze as she hears the gentle teasing in his words before he goes on to ask her his own question."Oh, you can just call me Ellie if you'd like! This is my first time here, although if you promise to make those cookies a regular thing, I may end up having to come back every morning", she says playfully to him as a soft giggle bubbles from her lips ever so briefly before her attention is turned towards the woman that Ludovino gestures to in the back, giving Elain her name and that she was the owner before looking back to Ludo as she sets the money on the counter, slipping a ten dollar bill into the tip jar beside the register as she watches him arrange the cookies into the box.

Ludo slides the box over the counter to her once they've all been accounted for and placed in the box, tenor tones asking if it looked okay. Was it supposed to look like anything in particular? Hell, he could have just tossed them in there and she would have thought it to be the perfect arrangement. Smiling warmly, she nods the the man before reaches for the box."It's perfect. Thank you so much Ludo", she answers politely before giving him an almost cheeky look."Oh, I'm sure you'll see me around much more", she replies. She had two reasons to become a regular now; those amazing cookies that he made, and of course to see him and that warm smile of his. It wasn't everyday that she met a friendly face here in this big city - let alone one that just so happened to be attractive. She almost didn't want to tell Lazarus about this place, but she couldn't really think of how else to explain the cookies. Just as she's about to pick the box up and move over to the door, Ludo speaks to her in those accented words and she's almost taken aback by his offer. Would he actually do that for his customers? Now that was amazing customer service! She almost wanted to ask him if he was just flirting or something but decides against it, giving him that bright smile once again."I don't necessarily need help, but if you're heading home the same direction as Hawthorne Village, I certainly wouldn't mind the company", she replies in those sugar-sweet words of her own. Like she would ever miss a chance on getting to know someone new, maybe even make a new friend with any luck. She would just have to not tell Lazarus about the cute and friendly Italian guy that she met at the bakery. She sure would hate for her big brother to chase Ludo off like he tended to do if she took a liking to a guy, and she very much found herself drawn to the warmth that seemed to fill Ludo's smile and accented voice.