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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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Honey, too.

[It's been a month since she's seen Fred or Wasabi and that ache is just another to add onto the rest. She has the strength to hold on with her legs so she doesn't fall, biting her lip against the groan of pain.]

I'm surprised. I didn't think any of you would be here.

[Not the whole team, then, but considering she thought she was alone for the first half a day, this is more than she would ever have expected. Oh man. But then, what's Gogo doing all beat up alone? This is her armor, right? On one hand she's glad that must mean Hiro wasn't around the violence but at the same time...

It doesn't take long, at least, for her to get them home. She's careful not to jostle her as she reaches into her pocket to pull out the keys, unlocking the door and closing it with her foot once they're inside. The couch is there in the front room, and instead of risking the danger of climbing the stairs she walks over to it and slowly lowers Gogo to it]

You lie down. I'm going to get you a blanket and pillow from upstairs, okay?

They were all here when I got here.

[And presumably they were all safe at home. Away from the madness of today. Not all of them were, but she didn't know that. She'd told Honey she was coming to Heropa, but didn't say why.

Sitting down on something soft was a godsend, really, and she lets out a sigh of relief.]

Yeah, thank you.

[While Cass is upstairs, Gogo starts working on removing the armor. The suit underneath will be an experience to change out of, but at least she could get rid of the heavier pieces and stack them neatly on the floor.]

[And upstairs, Cass is pulling out clothes and blankets and a pillow off her bed. They're unused and clean, anyway, since she only got here this morning, so she has no qualms about doing that. She returns to the couch with an armload that she places on the coffee table so she can free her hands to help with the suit. Hopefully, none of her roommates are home or coming out of their rooms anytime soon.]

Are you usually in Heropa? Or are you in De Chima like they are?

De Chima. Honey and I live just a few doors down from the boys.

[Injury kills shame at times like this. What does she care if someone else sees her in her underwear?

Seeing the bruising, on the other hand, just makes her close her eyes. It looks a lot worse than even she originally thought it would; heavy bruises just beginning to blacken across her diaphragm. With the hard armor protecting half of her body, her midsection had clearly been the most targeted area.]

[She sucks in her breath quietly at seeing the bruises, reminded all too much of years past when Hiro came home with similar marks. She's quick but careful about looking the rest of her over, wrapping the blanket around her gently as she says a quiet, "hold on," and shuffles to the kitchen. It's only a few minutes before she returns with a tray -- towels and and a bowl of ice as well as some plastic bags and a box of first aid, plus a second bowl with warm water so she can wipe off any sweat clean any cuts first. She's prepared, out of habit.]

Your stomach area is vulnerable because it doesn't have bones to help protect the organs, [she comments, calmly, as she sets that all down on the table too and tries to take a look at Gogo's back for any more bruises.] So when you wear armor, you want to have something to protect you there, too.

The fabric is designed to support and protect. Wearing armor there would slow me down. Need to be able to move.

[Her back is very similar, thicker where there had been only bodysuit, but even some up to her shoulders where the armor had impacted against her skin. Even her arms were discoloured where she'd tried to block.

It could have been a lot worse.]

[She supposes that with the sort of stuff Big Hero 6 get into, that is a good enough amount of protection. She doesn't argue, instead soaking a washcloth in the warm water and wringing it out.]

I'm going to wash you up really quickly, okay?

[She hopes you don't mind. But Gogo looks hardly well enough to reach her own back, where she's going to start from.]

Alright.

[She closes her eyes and grits her teeth, grateful that at least she wasn't bleeding. Say what she will about it. Silver linings and all.]

How are you liking the place so far?

[The cool water felt unfairly good against her skin.]

[Cass is glad for it too, though she's totally prepared. Alcohol wipes and bandaids and gauze and wrappings and tubes of Neosporin. She could start her own tiny hospital here. Right now, she carefully cleans up any sweat and grime that's on her.]

Can't really tell, it's just my first day... well, it's not too bad so far, I guess. How long have you been here?

[Comes from being an aunt to a kid like Hiro?]

A month. [She jerks involuntarily as Cass wipes over a particular nasty spot under her ribcage.]

[Most definitely. He blew up enough stuff on his own, too, but there was a lot of trouble, too.]

She sucks her lower lip between her teeth when Gogo winces, putting her other hand gently on a shoulder.] Easy now. It's okay, it doesn't look too bad -- ribs are good at healing on their own.

[Once the girl is cleaned, she digs into the box and comes up with some bruise cream.]

I'll rub this on so these will fade faster. You don't have any allergies?

Just a couple minor ones. Nothing more than irritation.

[She's quiet for a moment, almost looking like she's ready to doze off.]

Thanks, Aunt Cass. I don't think I could have made it home.

[Good enough. She's gentle about how she applies the cream, having gotten practice doing so for scared nine-year-olds more than adults. When it's applied thoroughly, she wraps it up loosely with gauze so it wouldn't rub off, and she hands Gogo one of the shirts she brought.]

Of course, Gogo. I'm just glad I found you -- you can stay for as long as you need, okay? I can make you some soup.

[Gogo slowly pulls the shirt on. She wanted to be angry, but she was just too tired.

Vaguely she was aware of unread messages on her comm, and a couple missed calls, but she didn't want to deal with it right now.]

I'd like that, thank you. I don't...I don't think I ate since I woke up.

Well we can't have that now, can we? You hang around, honey, I've got some stuff you can have with it too so it'll fill you up. How's your jaw? You didn't hurt that or anything did you?

[Not even her face had been safe. She had no idea what that guy had been thinking, but now her jaw ached. It was going to be bruised pretty nicely by the time morning came around.]

It could use some ice, I'm not gonna lie.

[It's like magic how Cass produces a bag of it, but she's just quick about filling it and covering it in a towel, holding it up so Gogo can press it to her face herself.

And that's it, isn't it? That's as long as she can wait. Gogo's a family friend, which means it's as good as family itself to Cass, and it's with a quiet breath that she reaches over to gently, pull Gogo close, arms around her and a hand to her hair.]

I'm so glad I found you.

[Gogo blinks for a moment, then gingerly wraps her arms around Cass in return and leans into the hug. She didn't know how much she needed this until it was happening. Her uneasiness and residual fear and anger at herself fades into the background as she relaxes.

It almost felt like a late night at the lab, winding down with her friends.]

I'm glad you're here. We needed you.

[Gogo was the one with the quick hugs. Not as embarrassedly quick at Hiro's had been, but just fleeting, a small smile and a bye that they shared mostly because all of Hiro's other friends did that. And that was their communication so that was fine, but that was their communication so it also highlights the difference today, the way she leans into her arms.

We needed you. That's right. These kids are superheroing around, but they're still kids. And in San Fransokyo, they still had somewhere they could tumble back to that was some resemblance of home, a place of comfort. This is totally foreign land. She cradles the girl in her arms, stroking her hair and gently nudging her to rest her head on a shoulder.]

Yeah, I'm glad I'm here too. Someone's got to chaperone this field trip, right?

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