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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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Thankfully there are a lot of really experienced imPorts who know how to handle and organize situations like that, so not everyone's required to step in and help if they don't feel confident enough to.

[He opts not to talk about everything else that's happened in Heropa since he got here. But he will have the courtesy of holding the door open for them, steps inside when they're in first. But lord, muffins from their aunt.... A godsend right now, all things considered. He can cook just fine, but he can't bake for anything, let alone try to remember her recipes. He can smell them from the door and it's almost like walking home again.]

What kind did you make?

[A plague is one thing. A dragon is another. Cass' eyebrows arch up when she hears those, but she doesn't feel any other reaction coming up. After a day like this, anything sounds possible. The fact that she doesn't have Hiro's favorite chocolate-chip muffins is actually a bigger deal right now. It's less surreal.]

Whups, no. They're blueberries today. [Sorry, Hiro buddy. But that's okay, isn't it? She can bake for them again. Already, she's going through in her head all of their favorites, wondering if these strange east-coast towns might have all of the ingredients she'll need, and if anything could substitute if not. God, what about coffee? She could get another press, but there's no getting the same taste if the same beans don't exist here. They'll just have to experiment.

And it looks like she'll have to invest in a first aid kid again. The moment they're inside, she takes the lead, walking them toward the kitchen where she instructs them to wash their hands first and foremost. She lingers and watches, not letting herself wonder how this could be. The three of them, again, how it was supposed to be.]

I'll get some chocolate chips to make some for you next time.

[ It's not the Lucky Cat Café, but it does look like Cass' kitchen already, doesn't it? And being told to wash their hands before eating - that's probably the only time Hiro's actually smiled at that request. Hiro will gladly wash his hands a million times if it means their aunt is here with them. ]

Jeez, Aunt Cass. It's fine. I like blueberry too.

[ Once he's picked all the blueberries out. ]

[Oh my god Hiro you liar. Tadashi shoves at him a little and - normally in anyone else's home, he'd be wary about boundaries and politeness but since it's Aunt Cass, he forgets this isn't their home and plops himself right at the table to wait for the sink to be free.]

So you've been here for a day, already settled into the house, and made a ton of muffins.

[.... Yeah that's Aunt Cass.]

Did you look at the paperwork they gave you?

[aka what powers did they give their aunt because it has to be good.]

You know me, I don't like sitting still! ['Wash your hands' she tells the boys, but she's running her hands under some hot water first, soaping up and rinsing it and hopping out of Hiro's way to dry with a towel as she makes her way across the kitchen. This way, she can prepare their treats while they wash up. The kitchen was stocked with enough dinnerware for five already but she's added some extra, too, in case of guests, and she pats herself on the back for that as she pulls out two matching cups and plates for them, bright like her in their cheerful yellow color.]

And I sure did. Didn't go in much detail though. Wanna see?

[She still has it, tucked away in her shopping bag that's sitting on a corner of the counter waiting to be brought upstairs. Her files don't have a lot of explanation on her powers, so she doesn't really have an idea what she's supposed to be able to do.]

[ Hiro ducks away from his brother's shove, grinning a little. Don't shove him when he's trying to be nice, jeez. He dutifully scrubs his hands for a moment, then grabs for a towel. Why does his brother want to know about -- ooh. Since their aunt is here, she has to have superpowers too. That idea is just hilarious. He grins more as he comes to claim his own spot at the table, kicking at Tadashi's foot. Your turn, nerd. ]

Oh man. I wonder if they gave you something hilarious. Where'd you put it?

[ He needs to see that right now. ]

[There's a muttered "ow" from the kick but he gets up to wash his hands all the same. He definitely wants to know what she got; if it's useful that's great! If it's something potentially dangerous... Another limiter for them to make then.]

Yeah, we definitely wanna see it.

Here. [She's already moving over to her bag and pulling out the papers by the time Hiro asks, handing it to him then moving to set the table for the two of them. She doesn't miss a beat as she open the fridge and pulls out some drinks -- without thinking, she'd ended up buying both of their favorite kinds of juice or soda or whatever cold drink either of them like, so she sets those on the counter next to the cups for them to fill as they please.]

You let me know if you've got guesses. I didn't want to try and end up turning the kitchen into rice cake.

[She says, because under her list of powers there's one that's literally called 'Mochi-bending' with the instructions, 'Activated by hitting a hard solid surface with the palm of one's hand' and what's that supposed to be, mochi-tsuki? She thought it might mean the cat, too, but she isn't sure she could handle multiple cats, either.

And the other one just says 'hug.']

[ Something ridiculously fruity and sweet for Hiro, some kind of off-brand fruit soda. But he's more interested in the file right at this moment. He takes it from her and frowns over the description. As hilarious as the mental image of his aunt wielding a giant mallet everywhere is ... ]

Wow. This is really vague.

[He leans over to look while he dries off his hands with the towel, tries to decipher it. Way too vague. Only one thing to do.]

Well. Let's find a surface we won't miss and see what happens.

Cutting board it is.

[That's cheap and easy to replace, unlike furniture. And with Hiro and Tadashi here she's a little bit more confident. Maybe if it's a light tap, it won't be too catastrophic? How dangerous could mochi be?

She brings one out, in any case, and sets it on a counter away from everything else.]

Ready?

-- wait, hang on. I have to record this.

[ He snatches his comm out of his backpack and gets it in position. This oughta be good. ]

Dude - come on.

[He gives his brother a look; what good would it do to potentially embarrass their aunt the first night she's here testing her powers? He shakes his head, then rests a hand on Cass' shoulder.]

It'll be fine. Go ahead.

Oh, it can't be that bad. I mean, I'm sure they would've put a warning if it would--

[Hopefully. She shakes her head and pats Tadashi's hand over her shoulder and gives Hiro and his camera an attempt at a confident grin before she raises her hand slowly. She practices a couple times, hesitates, then oh, to heck with it! She brings her hand down, letting her palm slap against the cutting board.

... Nothing happens. It doesn't turn into anything. It doesn't explode. Nothing.

???]

... Maybe I didn't do it right?

[Because that's weird. She leans close to peer at the board before patting it a few more times. Once, twice, thrice -- a fourth. It seems like nothing might happen, still.

Except a moment later, all at once, a bunch of fist-sized cat o-tedamas come raining down on Tadashi's head. There's five -- one for each time Cass tapped the board -- and they all look like Mochi.

[ This is why Hiro wanted the video. He had a feeling this was gonna be hilarious, and he was 100% right. The comm gets a full view of the entire thing. ]

Oh my god. They all look exactly like him.

[When seemingly nothing happens, Tadashi shrugs. Maybe it's not what they think? Who knows! But then the five little bumps hit his head and he stands stock-still as they fall. And then looks down to pick one up. ]

Huh... [Holding one out to his aunt] That's not so bad.

[She could be terrified about what could have happened if those weren't tiny beanbags. But she takes the one Tadashi's holding out to her and peers at it. And you had better believe that she smiles wide enough to lighten up the whole house by two or three shades.]

They're little Mochis!

Well, I don't think you're going to superhero around with that...

[ But they're so cute. He picks one up too. ]

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