Joe and Beth emerged from the bakery, each clutching a basket filled with golden slices of avocado toast.

'Joe, I can't leave the bakery in the morning, this is peak trading hours.' Beth hissed at him.

Joe nodded. 'Trust me on this, I know marketing. I have the greatest weapon there is.'

With a nod of approval, Joe marched purposefully towards the entrance of the bakery, the basket of avocado toast cradled in his arm. He carefully set it down next to the door and with a flourish, he nailed a small, hastily scribbled sign to the doorpost. The sign read in bold, block letters, "FREE SAMPLES". The aroma of the fresh avocado toast wafted from the basket, a tantalizing scent designed to draw in passersby. The sign, coupled with the irresistible smell, was Joe's masterstroke to lure in customers, a clever move that would undoubtedly reel in the folk of the town and give the bakery the boost it needed.

'Come on, we've got to ciruclate to percolate.' Joe said.

'Where are we going?' Beth said. 'I can't afford to lose a morning's trade Joe.'

Joe put a hand on her shoulder. 'I know, I wouldn't do this if I didn't think it wouldn't help. I want you to succeed Beth, you're a good egg.'

Beth blushed under Joe's earnest gaze and quickly looked down, her attention drawn to the well-worn wooden dirt path beneath her feet. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she had to remind herself to breathe. She had always been shy, but something about Joe's candid compliment made her feel especially self-conscious. It was moments like these that fueled the small town gossip. Still, she couldn't deny the warmth that spread through her at his words. She felt a swell of gratitude for his support, and for the first time in a while, a flicker of hope for the future of her bakery.

The scent of fresh bread and ripe avocado wafted through the cool morning air, drawing the attention of every passer-by as they wandered. Joe took them towards the bustling harbour, where hardened dockworkers and seasoned sailors were already busy with their morning chores. They navigated the narrow lanes and the crowded marketplace, their bodies brushing against rough-hewn wooden stands selling everything from dried fish to colourful textiles.

As they turned a corner, they came face-to-face with the blue-haired Charlotte. She was an enigma in the otherwise quaint town, with her vibrant hair that matched the blue hues of the ocean and her eccentric fashion sense. Noticing the duo, she paused and raised an eyebrow at the basket in Joe's arm.

'Toast?' she quipped, her eyes gleaming with interest. She reached out and took a golden slice from the basket. The tangy scent of ripe avocado and the warm aroma of freshly baked bread filled her senses, prompting a delighted grin to spread across her face.

Taking a bite, the flavours erupted in her mouth - the creaminess of the avocado perfectly complementing the crisp crunchiness of the toast. A soft moan of delight escaped her lips as she savoured the taste. 'This is delicious!' she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight. 'You've got a knack for this, Beth. I'll have to get some more.'

Beth blushed slightly at the compliment, while Joe couldn't help but chuckle at Charlotte's enthusiasm. The encounter with Charlotte was yet another testament to the fact that their venture was off to a promising start.

Upon reaching the docks, they found the dockworkers and sailors waist-deep in their toil - unloading crates, coiling ropes, and scrubbing decks. Despite the strenuous labour, there was a rhythm to their movements, a melody in their coordinated efforts.

A hush fell over the dockworkers as Joe signalled for their attention. In his deep, sonorous voice, he announced, 'Lads, we bring you a breakfast delicacy from the heart of our town.' He held up a slice of avocado toast, the morning sun glinting off the ripe blue layer of this world's avocado.

There was a moment of silence, before a few snickers broke out among the sailors. The dockworkers exchanged sceptical glances, and one of them called out, 'Fruit on toast for breakfast? What kind of fancy nonsense is that?'

At that moment, a haughty voice called out above the murmur of the crowd. 'Oh, honestly. Toast?' The dismissive tone belonged to none other than Britt, the waspish rich bakery owner. She sauntered over, a tray of her finest and most expensive pastries balanced expertly on one hand. 'Real men eat pastries for breakfast, not some...vegetable on bread.' She sneered, her nose crinkled in disdain as she gestured at the avocado toast.

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'You know the drill boys 5 coins a pastry.' Britt said with a smirk.

Upon hearing Britt's snide comments, Charlotte, who was still lost in the sublime taste of Beth's avocado toast, snapped her head around. Her bright blue eyes ignited with a fiery glare, her usually cheerful demeanour replaced with an icy countenance. She stared at Britt, her eyes as cold and challenging as the deep sea after a storm. Her hand clenched around her half-eaten piece of avocado toast, the other hand on her hip in a defiant stance. The marketplace seemed to hold its collective breath, all eyes shifting to the face-off between the vivacious blue-haired enigma and the haughty bakery owner.

Britt's words drew a chorus of laughter from the crowd. Despite the biting mockery, Joe remained unfazed, a determined glint in his eyes. Beth, on the other hand, clenched her fists, a wave of indignation washing over her. This was their chance to prove themselves, and they weren't about to back down.

Beth stepped forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief. 'We wager our avocado toast against your hardest biscuit that after one bite, you'll be wishing for our toast every morning.'

A collective gasp swept through the crowd, her challenge hanging in the air. Amidst the suspense, a cheery voice piped in from the crowd, causing heads to turn. Emerging from the group, Charlotte sidled up to Joe, peering over his shoulder with a grin. 'You know, Beth,' she began, her eyes glinting with mischief, 'this fellow here managed to till an entire chicsum plot in one morning after eating your avocado toast.' She swiped another slice from Joe's basket, winking at Beth as she took a bite. 'The stuff's practically magic.' She declared, her voice loud enough for the crowd to hear. Beth met her gaze, a slow smile spreading across her face.

'It also keeps him coming back to see Beth.' Charlotte winked.

Beth flushed and laughter rippled through the crowd. Joe gave a tiny smile, there it was, marketing at its finest. Influencer campaign, tick.

Beth shrugged off her blush, straightening her posture as she turned to address the crowd. 'And might I add, unlike some people,' she shot a pointed look at Britt, 'our food is fairly priced for hard-working folks.' Her voice echoed through the bustling marketplace, carrying an undercurrent of defiance. 'We believe in offering good food that not only tastes great but also provides the energy necessary for a hard day's work. And we don't believe in exploiting people's pockets for it.' She stood tall, her words resonating with the dockworkers and sailors, who burst into approving cheers and applause. Britt’s smirk faltered, replaced by a scowl as Beth’s words rang out.

Just as the cheers began to die down, two familiar figures nosed their way through the crowd. Rocko Rockson and Terry Terryson, the town's well-known fishermen with decades of experience and wisdom under their belts, made their appearance. Their eyes crinkled with curiosity as they came forward, drawn by the aroma of the avocado toast and the clamour of the crowd.

'Well, well! What’s caused this ruckus?' Rocko bellowed, his voice carrying over the din. Terry scratched his head, squinting at the object of discourse in Joe's hand. 'Is that the food everyone’s been yakking about?' he asked, a twinkle of interest flickering in his eyes.

Joe spotted the two men and navigated his way towards them, a slice of toast extended in hand. 'Rocko, Terry, care to have a try?' he offered, his voice filled with gratitude. The two fishermen exchanged glances before shrugging in sync. 'Well, why not? Let's see what the fuss is all about. More money for drinking if its free.' Terry responded, reaching out for the offered toast.

Rocko took a bite, the crunch of the toast followed by a moment of silence. And then, a wide grin spread across his face. 'By the stars, Joe! This is something else,' he declared, his eyes filled with genuine amazement. Terry, his mouth full of toast, could only nod in agreement.

Joe laughed, his heart swelling with pride at the validation. 'I have you both to thank for this,' he said, clapping each of them on the shoulder. 'Your fertilizer tips worked a treat mates, Larry's Loam and Harold's Harvest Helper. The avocados have never been better.' The crowd around them broke into more applause and laughter, the energy infectious and the dawn of a new breakfast trend in the making.

Muscled arms reached out for the offered delicacy, and gruff voices echoed their thanks. Curiosity piqued, the hardened men bit into the toast. Their eyes widened in surprise; their tired faces softened as they savoured the unfamiliar yet tantalizing taste. The dock came alive with appreciative murmurs and hearty laughter, as the taste of the avocado toast slowly won over the toughest of the town's men.

Meanwhile, Britt watched in disbelief and horror as her beautifully crafted and usually in-demand pastries went unsold. People were bypassing her stand for the new kid in town, Joe and his avocado toast. The once busy chatter around her stall had been replaced by the increasing demand for this new, mysterious breakfast trend. Her world seemed to crumble as she stared at her untouched pastries - the fruits of her early morning labour.

As her despair deepened, she heard it - that annoyingly cheery voice. She didn't have to look up to know it was Charlotte, her tone was all too recognizable.

'Gosh, Britt!' Charlotte began, her voice oozing with faux sympathy. She sauntered over to Britt's stall, a victorious smirk playing on her lips. 'Seems like the people are willing to toast to a change, aren't they?'

Her words stung, but what hurt more was the truth in them. Britt could only watch in mortification as Charlotte tossed her blue hair over her shoulder and strode away, leaving her with the bitter taste of defeat.