“Weird?”
“Disgusting, even. I mean, it’s not only me that thinks that, right? It can’t be. The crunchy shell and runny egg yolk leaking out of the chocolate? That doesn’t sound appetizing in the least. It sounds downright fucking disgusting and makes me want to gag just imagining it.”
“Oh,” she says, her eyes round. “Well, um, they aren’t, uh, runny…”
“The eggs are cooked first? Ugh, that’s worse, somehow.” His skin takes on a slight green hue as he holds a fist up to his mouth, and I have to agree. Hard-boiled eggs dipped in sugar sounds revolting.
The blond shakes her head, staring at Xalreth. Her expression is so bewildered that I discretely check to make sure his glamour hasn’t failed. But the handsome lines of his human face are intact, even if he looks queasy.
“That isn’t… no,” she finally says, crossing her arms. “They’re justshapedlike eggs. Pure chocolate, or filled with something… caramel, for example, or peanut butter.”
“Fascinating,” I say, glancing over the displays. “I assume the same is true for the bunnies?”
This time, she doesn’t even blink as she stares at me. “You’re… I’m sorry, are you asking whether they putactualrabbits inside chocolate bunnies?”
My brow lifts defensively at her tone. “I'm not implying they aren’t cooked first.”
“Is this a joke? Am I being punked? Are you guys from one of those prank pages? Ugh, I amsonot dressed to go viral.” Her head whips around as though she’s searching for something or someone. Xalreth and I meet eyes, and he gives a tiny shrug.
She hinted at being viral, so perhaps she’s sick. I take a casual step away from her while she’s distracted. Archangels might be immune to human illnesses, but it doesn’t mean I want to be face to face with one. “I assure you, we are merely curious. This is not… apunk.”
She stutters for a few more seconds before she gathers her wits, taking a sharp breath and forcing a smile back onto her face. “If a chocolate is shaped like an object, that object isn't included as an ingredient. It's simply for appearances. A Christmas tree chocolate, for example, would not be made withpine.”
“But a candy cane shaped one includes peppermint,” Xalreth argues, and I cross my arm and nod in his defense.
“This is a good point.” He flashes me a brief smile that I return.
She looks flustered as she scoffs, and both of us focus on her once more. “Well, okay, yes, that is true…”
“Or oranges,” I add, picking up a golden-wrapped chocolate shaped like an orange cut into slices.
“Fine, that is also correct, but—”
“Thought so,” Xalreth mutters with a satisfied smirk, then leans forward until he’s uncomfortably close to her, lowering his voice. “And when does the Bunny come for his deliveries?”
Her eyes dart between us as she takes a small step back. “Excuse me?”
“Come on,” he prods, flashing her a giant, conspiratorial smile. “You can tell us. When does the Easter Bunny pick up his chocolate? Or do you deliver it?”
Her mouth opens and closes a few times as she glances over her shoulder, towards the door. “Um, well, the parents—”
“Ah ha!” I shout, and she jumps clear off the ground as she clutches her heart. “The parents are pretending to be the bunny!” Understanding washes over me as the pieces fall into place, answers clicking together in my mind. I nod, tapping my chin with my pointer finger. “Of course they do… I should’ve expected as much after their Santa impersonations. You’re telling me the adults do not believe in the existence of this Easter Bunny?”
“… No.” She stretches the word out as she takes another step backward, and I can sense the unease drifting from her as I turn towards Xalreth. “We do not need to be concerned with luring the parents with this chocolate, just the children.”
“I’m sorry,what?!” she sputters, but I ignore her.
“What ages are children most likely to believe in the Easter Bunny?” I ask, and her eyes go wide, darting between me and Xalreth with a look of dawning fear.
“Pr-probably under ten? I-I don’t really know.”
I nod thoughtfully as I glance around the shop and wave my hand towards the vibrant display of colorful baskets. “Bright colors make sense for their simple minds. Tell me, what are the best sort of chocolates to tempt young children?”
“I’m… I’m sorry?”
“Not in a creepy way,” Xalreth interjects, shaking his hands in front of him as though the giant things could reassure this nervous human.
“No, we are not creeps.” I offer her a reassuring smile, channeling my magic into it and hoping it will calm her. “We are only trying to find the best way to convince the kids he is the Easter Bunny.” I gesture at Xalreth, who agrees with an overenthusiastic nod.
