maskormenacelogs | (no subject)

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Depends on my mood! Today I think I'll go with just coffee -- I want to know what the beans here taste like!

Coming up.

[He pours out a cup for each of them, leaving Cass's coffee black while using the creamers and sugar for his own, and then hands his new neighbor hers before sitting down next to her.]

So, what's your world like? Are you from an Earth too?

Yeah I am. Similar country, too, but a quick search told me my city doesn't exist on the maps here, so I can't say it's the same version. A few more decades in the future, and a metropolitan city that's bigger than what I've seen here.

Huh...it's the same for me, actually. Well, about the missing city, anyway. I think technically we're in the past, but our tech isn't too different from here. 'Cept for the hover stuff, anyway.

Oh, really? I guess hover stuff is still science fiction in most futures -- nothing more trustworthy than a set of wheels on solid ground, you know? My nephew made hover boots as a joke for our cat once, but even we don't use it on a mass-produced scale.

That's amazing, though! Your nephew sounds like a really smart kid.

[ARE WE TALKING ABOUT OUR KIDS NOW, THIS IS KOTETSU'S FAVORITE SUBJECT.]

"Smart" isn't a good enough word for either of them -- I mean, science is a major thing in our city anyway, but he's great. A little reckless with it, but that's a teenager for you. You sound pretty interested -- is it the science or the kids?

[He laughs softly.]

Not the science part, for sure. That stuff's all way over my head.

[At least, that's how he thinks of himself. He probably could be good at academics if he'd just put his mind to it, but he's never had much reason to be interested--all he's ever wanted to do with his life was be a hero, after all.]

I've got a little girl back home, so I like hearing about people's kids.

Oooh, a daughter! [Cass's expression brightens, hands coming together in front of her in a show of her excitement. Daughters aren't all that rare to her or anything -- San Fransokyo had plenty of them, and she happened to be one herself, after all -- but she recognizes the look of a loving parent when she sees one. The one on Kotetsu's face is absolutely sweet, and what can she do but smile at it?]

How old is she?

Ten.

[His smile turns a little wistful.]

Woulda been eleven by now, if she were here--or if time wasn't frozen back home.

[not that he...would want either of those things. but it's hard not to take note of the passage of time in relation to what you left behind, sometimes.]

[She takes pause at that. But when she moves again, it's to smile -- not the cheerful, bright one she had until now but a smaller one, though still just as warm.]

It means you haven't missed her birthday yet, though.

[That makes his smile brighten back up considerably, even if a touch of wistfulness lingers.]

Heh--that's a really good point. I hadn't thought of it that way.

It's a matter of perspective -- seeing things from a new angle.

It does feel very lonely without them, though, doesn't it?

[Normally, he'd try to brush it off, no it's okay, I'm fine, I'd rather they not be here. But...Cass is another parent, it sounds like. She understands. So for once, he lets the wall drop.]

...Yeah. It really does. You kinda...get to realizing, how much you took the little things for granted, y'know? I'm pretty sure I'd give my left arm just to make a phone call home.

Hey, now.

[Cass reaches over and, despite this being their first meeting, she places her hand over his and curls her hand over his.]

She wouldn't be happy if you came back armless, be careful what you wish for. But I understand. Just one thing, right? even if it's just one word, it'll be nice to hear their voice again.

But if I went home, I'd get it back, right?

[Man but this is such a morbid hypothetical. He shakes his head, squeezing her hand back in thanks.]

Sorry, that's probably not the kinda thing you wanna hear about so soon after showing up here.

I'm okay.

[She laughs, but pats at his hand.]

But you never know! Just in case, try to keep your dominant hand.

[He makes an exaggeratedly thinky face.]

Hmmmm, it might be tough, but I guess I can manage it. Especially if there are more muffins in the future.

[g a s p]

The existence of your hand depends on me now?

It's less depending and more like a strong incentive. I mean, there's other good reasons to have hands, but you really can't argue with muffins.