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WHO: Aunt Cass and YOU
WHERE: Heropa #16 + around town
WHEN: 6/04, and the following week
WHAT: Cass is going around greeting roommates and neighbors with baked goods and trying to destress by shopping and finding coffee shops
WARNINGS: none for now!

[1; the first day, at a GROCERY STORE]
[She did get told this was a war, so she's not quite sure whether she's surprised by all the tense paranoia and anger she's been dodging all day, but if this is a constant then it's sure going to be stressful living here. She can already feel it building up, but unfortunately the house she was dumped in isn't attached to a café, and if it's not attached to a café she doesn't have immediate access to sweet, savory, soul-healing cupcakes. Nor did she find enough ingredients in the kitchen to make them herself (besides, she didn't want to use ones that didn't belong to her). And while that's horrible, she was at least given enough to hold up until her first paycheck for that cat website.

The first thing she grabbed at the store was one of the reusable shopping bags they were selling on some racks near the entrance. Then the rest is easy. She doesn't need a list to know what she needs to buy, but she only hesitates a little to grab a box of gummy bears along with them. It's not long before her shopping basket is heavy and digging into her arm, and the shopping bags, once they're all packed and she's rung up, aren't any easier on her either. Gosh, maybe she over did the buying?]

Ugh, no, it'll be fine, [she grumbles, then hops a little to hoist the bag onto her shoulder better. Hopefully she didn't smack you with the corner of a milk carton at the bottom when she did.] It's only a short walk!

[Perhaps you care to help?]

[2; soon after, at HEROPA #16 - the kitchen]
[No matter, she gets that stuff home safely and the kitchen is stocked, various things in there labeled 'HOUSEMATES - FEEL FREE TO USE! :)' in neat handwriting if any of them care to look. And Cass is in there, too, if you can spot her behind the counter that is, crouched by the oven door and peeking in to check on the muffins inside. What, didn't you get drawn in here by the smell of them? They're blueberry.

Maybe you speak up, maybe you don't. If you do, she'll look over her shoulder in surprise. Or maybe you don't, and she only notices you when she takes the muffins out of the oven and turns to place them on the counter. Either way, her expression in the same: it brightens, a smile splitting her face as she steps over across the kitchen toward you.]

Hey! [She chirps the greeting, looking nothing short of absolutely delighted to meet you.] I didn't know you were there. Hi, my name is Cass, do you live here too?

[3; also at HEROPA, houses neighboring #16]
[There are more than enough muffins for everyone. Or enough for her neighbors, at least. For anybody living on the anywhere close to #16, they'll be getting a knock on their door. Should they open it, Cass stands there with a basket of muffins in her hands, smiling bright.]

Greetings! Hi, I'm Cass -- I just got moved into number 16. I thought I'd stop by to say hello, would you like some muffins?

[4; likewise, at HEROPA #16; closed to Tadashi and Hiro]
[But at the end of the day, later in the afternoon as it turns into evening, Cass is back at home again. This time she's on the porch, Mochi curled up on her lap as he pets and scratches his head absently. She busied herself and acquainted with some people, and that's fine. Overall, the day was fine. But now that she's out of things to do, the worries are creeping up.

Florida. Of all the places, Florida. There was a comfort in knowing she didn't get thrown out of the country or anything, but at the same time, this America is different from the one she knows. So maybe she's actually been thrown into another dimension. They sure made it sound that way, and if that were the case then it wouldn't really matter if she were in the US or Canada or even Japan. In any case, she was far away from home, and she has no idea what's going on with Hiro. For all she knew, she was alone here, and that's... scary. In ten years, no matter who she lost she was never alone, and she tugs Mochi closer to her as she wishes she bought a pack of cigarettes or something while she was out. But no, she quit that long ago didn't she? She threw them all out and cleaned up the house thoroughly so Hiro and Tadashi could grow up in a clean home. Maybe she should have brought out a muffin to chew on out here.

She sighs, running a hand through her hair. All this thinking and stressing -- she hasn't done it in a long time, and she really, really wishes she could go back to her café. Maybe she should apply for a job at one. That would be a lot more distracting than sitting at a desk looking at cat pictures all day.]

[5; any other day, at a COFFEE SHOP]
[After the adventurous first day, Cass ventures out again, this time just to find a place to relax and get to know what the city is really like. There's no way all that anger can be a status quo, right? She hopes not. Just what could she have been brought into this place for anyway? She's no soldier. She's no fighter, or a researcher, or even a hero like those people that have been showing up on the news lately. But then again, even those heroes...

She shakes her head and smiles at the barista as they call her name and hand her her drink, not forgetting to thank them and making sure she didn't forget to shove some money in the tip jar before turning to find a seat. It's busy in here, so she can't find an empty table, but she does spot a chair right over there... with YOU!

She meanders over, squeezing between chairs full of studying college students and past a pair of old men playing chess. It takes a minute, but she manages to reach the table with the empty-looking chair and she taps on it to try to get the attention of the person already sitting there.] Hi. Would you mind if I sat here? It's full everywhere else.

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[It's not often that she gets offered coffee. That's usually her role, usually, being the owner of the coffee shop and the one who was usually waiting at home for the older of her children to come home after a long night at the labs. She's so used to be the one offering it's almost strange to be the recipient this time, and she clasps her hands in front of her on the table when Jaime has her sit. She's not sure if this is something she could get used to, but it's delightful in a way. Just like when--]

This morning, [she says with a laugh in answer to Jaime's question instead.] I got here with my cat and you know, you usually don't expect to suddenly be in Florida one morning when you're usually in California. I baked those muffins to occupy myself and now I just have too many for myself.

This morning? [Jaime turns from the coffee machine, surprise blatant on his face. The Scarab may not see anything worth alarm from this woman, but she must be made of incredibly strong stuff. He's pretty sure he spent his entire first day in his room in a state of complete and utter denial.

He whistles, low and impressed as he sets the coffee machine and turns back to face her, leaning against the countertop.]

Man, the most productive thing I did on my first day here was to Google a few things. Are you okay? I mean, do you have any questions? [He shrugs.] Coming here can be kind of a shock.

[If it were anything to joke about, she'd say that she's used to having her life uprooted. But it's not, and she just shakes her head before leaning on one of her elbows, understanding his shock. Honestly, she's pretty impressed with herself too.]

Oh, plenty. So much that I don't know where to begin, you know? [Isn't that how these things usually go? When you're lost, the hardest part is finding yourself on the map; finding the right path from there is the easier part.] Maybe I am in shock if I'm baking all this stuff instead of asking the questions, huh? How about you, Jaime, how long have you been around here?

It's been a little over a year now. [It used to be a shock saying it out loud, but now he's used to it. Somewhere down the line, things have shifted from a desperate itch to go back to a desire; he wants to see his friends and family again, but it's not like he loathes it here. It makes it easier to greet people here, this ability to say you can still be happy here and mean it.]

So if you needed to know a few things, you could do a lot worse than ask me. I'll just be next... door? You said number 16, right?

[For Cass, it's a shock to hear it. Not because she didn't think it was possible, but because -- well, she didn't think it was actually common. A year. Her housemate had said something similar, too. And it worries her.]

Mmhm. Number 16, right next door to you -- with Armin, you probably know him if you've both been here for so long.

[Armin was young, too. And that reminds her of her own kid who as far as she knows might be wondering where she is and she really should get home to him and

a year?]

Yeah. [Something changes a little in his expression. He doesn't look any less friendly, but he certainly looks like he's paying closer attention, like he's assessing Cass for... something.

Armin's been through so much more than he has. He's been a soldier, he's fought against insurmountable odds, lost his family, adapted to an entirely different timeline and culture, but Jaime? Jaime worries. Armin's fragile too, in the strangest ways, and he can't help but want to pay attention to the people who share their space with him.

But this lady seems sweet. He smiles a little and says,] Yeah, I know Armin. He's one of my best friends here. Be nice to him, okay?

[Oh, look at that. She notices that little change, but also recognizes that it isn't unfriendly. Jaime's next words just confirm her thoughts, and Cass' smile warms even more if possible, eyes narrowing as she concludes that Jaime is, in fact, as kind as his first impression had suggested. Kind and caring and perhaps he's a brother, too.]

Of course, Jaime. I wouldn't dream of doing anything other than that.

[She had already heard a little from Armin about himself and his world. No details, of course. But just enough to know how starkly different his world had been from this one, and her heart goes out to him. There's nothing easy about adjusting to such a foreign place no matter how convenient it might be to have electricity and technology. She doesn't need to be told any potentially tragic backstories to want to care about a child, no matter how much taller than her or how mature he may be.]

He's lucky to have you as a friend. I can tell already. I wouldn't wish it on them, but if my boys end up here, I hope they can meet and be friends with you too.

[It doesn't take much to embarrass him.]

Aw, well... thank you. I'm lucky to have him as a friend.

[He just sort of ducks his head a little, glances back at the coffee (one of the perks of the future: the coffee machines are amazingly quick), and busies himself with pouring her a cup.]

You've got kids?

[And then, just as forthright,] Do you take cream or sugar?

[Jaime takes both. Too much of both, really. He's not a big fan of bitter things. If someone were to give him a lovely, sugary latte at this world's equivalent of Starbucks, he'd be happy as a clam.]

[Aw, how cute. She holds back a giggle when he ducks his head. He may be no older than Tadashi and he may be sweet, but he's still someone she just met and she doesn't intend to tease him. He doesn't need an adult he just met poking fun of him like that, and she leans back in her seat now, considering her options.]

I just had waaay too much sugar and butter from those muffins today. I'll pass on the sugar, but I'll have some milk.

[And she's happy to continue the chatter from there. There's a twinkle in her eyes once Jaime asks that question and she nods animately, hair bouncing with her movements.]

I do -- two of them. You look like you might be more or less just between them in age... hmm, high school?

Oh yeah? I'm sorry you've been taken from them, but if it's any help, time stops back home while you're here. No matter what, nobody's gonna be missing you, or any worse off because you're here.

[It had been the first thing he'd worried about, and even if somebody told Cass before, he's more than happy to reiterate the point. Anyone with a home must worry about the people left behind, right? He couldn't stop thinking about his family his first day here, how they must be going absolutely nuts without being able to find him.

He can only imagine that worry expands tenfold if you're worried about people who are dependent on you. He sets her cup and the carton of milk on the table, pours a small cup for himself (plenty of sugar and cream, thank you very much), and tosses a couple of the pastries from the same grocery store he took Ken to on the table, gesturing for her to take one if she wants it.]

I'm seventeen, so yeah, I'm in high school. I'm graduating, like, next week though.

[...probably. The joys of time travel: you can choose whether you want to age yourself up or down! Give him thirty or forty years to start chipping off that extra year.]

Edited (...misread things SHHH IT'S LATE) 2015-06-06 08:41 (UTC)

[Her eyes widen at the revelation and with Jaime's assurance comes a flood of relief. Oh, oh! That's good, right? That's got to be. There's a flicker of disappointment that she wouldn't be missed, but that's gone quickly and replaced with gladness for it. Hiro wouldn't even notice she was gone, and that means he wouldn't end up fretting about her disappearing. He won't be alone at all. She inhales slowly, then sighs it out, putting a hand to her chest as she does and that ever-present smile never fading. Jaime's definitely not imagining the 'thank goodness' she lets out, totally genuine.

But at "I'm graduating next week" the excitement is back all over again and she's actually leaning forward in her seat, eyes bright.] Really, [she starts.] Graduating, how exciting -- that's so great to hear! Are you planning anything after school? [College, work, maybe even enjoying not being a student by kicking back and relaxing a semester or two.]

[Jaime looks a little taken aback at her excitement, though he's not at all displeased by it. He's forgotten that graduation is, technically, something to be excited about; he's lived on his own long enough for it to just be a stepping stone for him to finally get into working full-time. He's happy that he'll be making the extra cash (he'll need it after the trip), and somehow, graduation is a lot less exciting when he's not making his way to college afterwards. Most of the time when he talks about it, they've fallen into practicalities, talking about jobs and colleges, with plenty of adults prodding him into going on and taking more classes.

But it is kind of exciting, isn't it? He's never not been in school before.]

Not a whole lot. All of my friends'll be off school, so we're gonna be going on a trip for a while, so that'll be fun, [he says, and though he's too shy to start gushing about it, there is a little excitement in his voice. He's looking forward to the time off, and to getting to spend a bunch of time with some of his favourite people. It'll be good for everyone, he thinks, even himself.]

After that, I'm just gonna get straight to working.

Oh, then it'll be like a graduation trip for you, wouldn't it?

[That's so fun to Cass, and she hums as she takes one of the pastries Jaime tossed at him, unwrapping the plastic and taking a bite. There's a comment of "Oh, how delicious!" as she takes another bite. So much for 'I had too much sugar' because in the face of good baked snacks, all that goes out the window. She hasn't forgotten their conversation though.]

Well, as your neighbor I'd love to give you something in celebration. You can only graduate high school once -- well, at least, usually, I don't know how it works with this whole world-skipping thing -- anyway, you can never have enough food on a trip, and bread is easier to carry around and to eat on a car. Let me know when you're leaving, and I'll pack you with something for you and your friends.

Aw, I think I'm the only one graduating, so it doesn't really count.

[Maybe he and Ken can share a graduation trip. That strikes him as being a little funny, actually, one of them leaving school, and another just entering a new one. He can hardly believe Cass' reaction though, this sudden outpour of kindness from a complete stranger, so different from what he's used to. He has no lack of kindness in his life, of course. He has older friends who are so close to him that they're practically big siblings to him, but they don't tend to fuss too much and the energy from Cass is... maternal?

It seems weird applying that word to a woman he just met, but there's really no escaping it. He lifts his hands in front of him as he says,] Oh, you don't have to, it's really not a big deal! Besides, [he admits with a crooked little smile,] you'd be baking all day. There's a lot of us. I think.

Oh don't worry about that!

[A third bite of the bread. God this is so good! What's it made of? Can she make it herself? She peers at it for a second or two trying to figure it out, then waves her hand at Jaime again.]

I run a bakery back home, so I'm totally used to baking all the time. A roadtrip group will be a piece of cake. Besides. [You might as well convince yourself she's watched you grow up or something. She'll back off if Jaime said no outright, but for now she's smiling over the bread at him, cocking her head to the side, and her voice quiets down a volume or two.] I'm guessing they're all around your age if you say 'friends,' right? Probably imPorts like you and me, too. Let me at least give you kids something for the road. It'll save you money for some food, at least.

[Jaime takes one of the pieces of bread himself and without really thinking about it, rips off a piece of the sugary top, savoring how the sugar crunches underneath his teeth before tearing off of the bottom bit left behind.

She's just got here, and instead of asking questions, or asking for favours, she's offering to do things to people. He really hopes she's as nice as she seems, because they could really use a little normalcy in the neighborhood, just like Armin could use some in his home.

Maybe normalcy's not the right word, but kindness is. Kindness, they can always get more of.]

Well... thank you! You've only just met me, you know, so that's -- that's really nice of you.

[He's going to have to give her something in return. Maybe a souvenir, or something.] You're right, though, we're all imPorts.

[And in that, implicitly, is the fact that there are far, far more kids out there who have been forced to fend mainly for themselves. It's a good thing they've managed to collect such a solid support system among each other.]

[She smiles at that. Jaime's absolutely polite, and probably a good boy, too, right down to the core. There's not a drop of doubt in her about that and she's sincerely glad that he's getting this trip and has friends who'll go with him. She can't help but compare it to Hiro and his friends, though, and by the time she realizes what she's doing it's too late -- she finds herself squeezing the bread too tightly and sets it down on the table so she doesn't end up ruining it, but now that her hands are empty, she has to clasp them tightly lest they start trembling. She hopes that if her knuckles are white, Jaime's focused enough on his snack and the conversation not to notice, but boys like him and Tadashi tended to be too observant, too.

We're all imPorts. All of Jaime's friends, all children around her boys' age. How could something like this be, really. Nobody should be going through this, ripped from their homes and thrown into a new one with strangers and a tattoo that tracks them and the weight of war on their shoulders, especially not children who haven't even graduated high school yet! Their only worries should be what they'll do after high school, what their hair would look like after the next trim, whether or not their future college dormmate might snore loudly at night. Not this. Nothing like this. She really, really hopes that Hiro isn't here. He just needs to focus on his studies, on healing, and going out with his friends...]

Not real picky about who they brought in, were they? [She can't help exasperation in her tone that shows up then, but she tries to quash her real anger over this. Jaime doesn't need that, and he probably already knows and has felt everything that she's feeling now.]

You might get offended if I say this, but -- you're all so young. [Her brows knit together, her expression still warm but brimming with worry as she observes Jaime. She watches him tear at the bread and crunches away at the sugary top, the gesture similar to how Hiro would always go for his favorite parts first. And the overlap only deepens her feelings.] Children shouldn't have to do this sort of thing. And especially not alone. You know, any of this huge responsibility stuff. Being an imPort. [She pauses, then sighs as she adds,] ... Being a hero and saving the day.

[He looks down at how closely Cass is clenching her hands together, and something changes in his demeanor as he scoots his chair closer to the table and leans forward a little, elbows resting on the table, voice finally more gentle than it is polite.]

A lot of the people my age around here are used to taking care of themselves. For some of them, this place is better. But if your kids get brought here too, it's not the end of the world, I promise.

[For some of them, it's a second chance, an opportunity to have a fresh start in a place that's kinder, gentler than the one they're from. That doesn't seem to be the case for this woman's boys, thank god, but it's still a reality for so many here.]

They give you that big spiel when you come in, but they don't really mean it like that. We're not forced to fight in any wars, or to go and be a hero, or anything. Most of us don't, and the ones who do are mostly the people who did it in their own world too.

[This is the sort of lying he's the most used to, this dancing around the subject of whether or not he does it, implying that he's as ordinary as ordinary comes all the while.]

Things'll be different, but you can still have a normal life, for as long as you're here.

[A reassurance. She blinks when she's given it, and blinks a second time before she gasps softly -- "Oh!" -- and pulls her hands apart immediately, one rising to her mouth to cover her surprise before she's laughing now. There's nothing fake about any of that, though; her emotions are all genuine, if not simply prone to switching around and changing very often.]

Oh dear, well. [A few more giggles, then she clears her throat.] Thank you, Jaime. That is a relief to hear, so I'm glad.

[And a little guilty for making him have to reassure her like that, but she can put that aside for now. That's right. She doesn't have the whole picture yet, and it could be a lot better than what she's imagining. Besides, if Hiro showed up, she could help. She will. There was never any doubt about that.]

Though in that case, I'll just have to keep an eye on the sky even more.

But... really. [Jaime's leaned closer, and she does too, reaching across the table not to take his hand but to pat his forearm gently a couple times.] Superheroing or anything aside, I don't doubt that you and your friends are totally capable. I've raised two, so I know how much you kids can really do -- but it doesn't hurt to have someone, right? And that goes both ways.

[All right, he hadn't expected for his genuine reassurance to make her laugh, and he looks like he's not entirely sure what to make of it. Should he be insulted? He's happy that she doesn't look as worried anymore, because he knows how hard it is for people's first days here, especially people with kids, but... what'd he say that was so funny?

Oh well. Even if she's laughing at him, she's a little happier now, and she's already leaning forward to pat personably at his arm, so he supposes that's sort of a best case scenario.]

Well, good thing is, most people here've got someone. We've got each other, [he says with a shrug, and as cheesy as that is, he means it. He's got so many people in his life, and they've got him too. He's sure Cass will cobble together plenty of people who'll grow to care about her too. It's one of the perks about this place.]

[Laughing is just her go-to, and something she does to remind herself to cheer up. Hopefully Jaime isn't hurt by it, and she does her best to smile at him after. Really, all she feels is grateful that he's trying to help her out so much.]

I'm glad, [she tells him, and she means it sincerely. She's glad that this boy has people to be with him, just like she was glad that Armin had friends to help him out when he first got here. And apparently these two are friends, and that's another thing to be happy about. Friends were wonderful, such wonderful things to have, and she's reminded of her joy when she first heard about Tadashi's friends, and then when she learned that Hiro got to meet them too. They were good kids.]

Hey, can I ask you something, Jaime?

Yeah, sure. What's up?

[This is more normal, at least. He'd been expecting far more questions than he'd initially received - he remembers that first meeting with Clark, before he knew who the man really was, and his thorough investigation of Jaime's notes - so this means that they're back on track.]

That... being a hero thing.

[She says it slowly, choosing her words. This is more of a curiosity for her than an actual worry, and less about this world and more about the worlds everybody else came from. It might not be what Jaime's expecting from her, she thinks, but that's okay with her. There isn't a lot she's worried about; she's here and she'll just do what she's capable of. But in the meanwhile, there's probably stuff she can learn to keep herself informed.]

And people who do it in their home worlds. Is it common? Superheroes?

That depends on who you ask. A lot of the worlds people get taken from have never heard of superheroes, or they're just fictional.

[In some of them, Superman and Batman are fictional, but Jaime decides to hold off trying to explain any interdimensional theories he may have. They're not important anyway.]

But a few of the worlds, in worlds like mine, superheroes are everywhere. Where I'm from, there's gotta be a hundred in America alone. Why, d'you have any where you're from?

Well, you could say.

[There's a smile, a sigh, and a shrug. She's been wondering for a while now how she's really supposed to react to this. On one hand, she wants to be supportive. She has no real desire to stop him. If this was the answer he found, then she wants to support that. But its also dangerous, and it seems like he wants to keep it a secret from her for now and she doesn't want him to feel confronted if she brought it up. No, not yet. One step at a time, right? But maybe here, she could find people to talk about it with, to hear the heroes' side of the story so she can have a better idea and perspective.]

He's probably new to it, but I think he's taken up the mantle -- my younger one, that is.

Edited 2015-06-09 05:33 (UTC)

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HER BOYS how cute oh my goodness

THEY'RE HERS AND SHE LOVES THEM

gonna stalk that reunion thread...!

yeeees. it's happening literally right outside jaime's door lol

jaime's just chilling inside as they reunite giggling at something on netflix "today is so ordinary"

sounds about right tbh

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