LaLa BreadKnife is the chef of the Black Booth.

That means she feeds criminals, contractors, desperate customers, frightened witnesses, night workers, dockhands, debt collectors, and anyone else Ostra Blackbriar allows through the door.

She serves bread warm enough to make bad people feel human again.

She serves stew thick enough to quiet a room.

She serves pastries half of Pinchpenny would commit minor crimes to taste.

And behind the ovens, under the pantry stairs, past the door everyone pretends is only storage, LaLa runs her other kitchen.

The one with bandages.

Cages.

Herbal salves.

Claw marks.

And dangerous little animal babies nobody else would dare protect.

LaLa is sweet.

LaLa is kind.

LaLa will feed you first.

But hurt one of her creatures, and the bread knife stops being for bread.