Of Powder and Pillows

Familiar and repetitive smacks filled the air. A dedicated sound that spoke to intensity for some, but for Shibani it was simply a comforting reminder of the best napping spot in all of Burrowgatory. Sunken into his pile of pillows, he savored the plush feeling beneath him. Soft with plenty of squish, enough space to roll into a cool patch or develop a comfortable warmth depending on his mood. A pillow pile was undoubtedly one of his favorite places to be.

He could have a pillow pile just about anywhere, though.This spot was special. The best spot of them all.

Dan’s Dango was often filled with the subtly sweet scent of the expert confections, pleasant but not overwhelming. Peaceful, charming, and a quick and easy reminder of where he was waking up. Equally grounding for the confused fugue that sometimes accompanied waking up as it was soothing, a comfortable and passive aroma to lull him to sleep.

Being in the back of the shop made it easy to go undisturbed. Since it was Dan’s, Shibani didn’t have any sort of work concerns to fret over or worry about feeling unproductive - not that he ever really did, but it was nice to get to be around others without worrying about being disturbed. Dan gave him that opportunity. Not to mention, it had the space to house all of Shibani’s pillows without getting in the way.

True, Shibani wasn’t very big so maybe he didn’t need as many pillows as a taller doll, but his pile was impressive all the same. Not every spot was so prepared to house that much comfort. It was a feat that, to Shibani, was worth boasting about. A critical merit. Space could go a long way in a space’s atmosphere. Dan’s Dango was certainly atmospheric.

Part of the shop’s atmosphere, for Shibani, was the gentle lighting. The back of the shop wasn’t dark, of course, but it wasn’t as exposed to the fluctuating lights outside. The consistency was appreciated. The lights weren’t harsh, either. More than a business, Dan’s shop was his passion - it showed in the little ways. Bright, consistent lights with a natural glow made the mochi seem more appetizing for customers, and helped Shibani feel relaxed.

He didn’t even need to worry about losing a sense of time. Aside from not having responsibilities, Shibani had simply been around long enough to be able to vaguely pin what time of day it was by listening to what Dan was up to. His dedication led to a bit of scheduling consistency, and so Shibani always had a sense of what break Dan was on or the shop’s approaching closing time.

Listening to Dan was peaceful. The murmur Shibani could hear from within his pillow perch when a customer arrived always carried Dan’s voice in its undertones. The sound of mochi being pounded was consistent, repetitive, dedicated - soothing. A rhythm to unite the variety of customer wandering, chatter, the buzz of electronics, and whatever noise was happening outside the shop. A lullaby just for Shibani.

It didn’t hurt that, at this point, he could basically smell Dan in everything in the shop. Maybe it was only in his own mind but it didn’t stop Shibani from feeling all the safer there. Comforted.

In this instant, all of these things Shibani loved about the shop were on full display. The smacking, pounding sound of Dan working through the newest batch of mochi - an action that seemed to only spread the delicate scent. Soft and sweet, a natural-smelling contrast to the low buzz of the fridge and appliances. A soft and constant murmur that so starkly contrasted Dan’s dutiful pounding, together melding with the chatting of a couple of dolls who seemed to be first time customers.

Opening one eye, Shibani was quickly satisfied to know they didn’t seem to need any help at the moment.

With the ease of a bun who had no obligation, Shibani sighed with contentment. Yes, it was plain to see that Shibani had the best napping spot in all of Burrowgatory.