closed;

[lasthugs]

WHO: Cass and Bull
WHERE: Lucky Cat Cafe
WHEN: early June
WHAT: Bull talks to Cass about business ideas
WARNINGS: n/a

Things... have not been easy, lately. It's a weekday afternoon at the Lucky Cat Café after the sizable lunch crowd had receded, leaving the store more manageable and giving Cass a short time to sit down and catch her breath. She's still going to be on the move, but today there's a special guest that doesn't come in very often, and it's with a smile that she makes her way over to the Iron Bull, setting down a plate of sandwiches he may or may not have ordered.

"Hey, Big Guy."

There's a wariness to her that she doesn't show most people, but Bull -- Bull, she doesn't mind, because she knows Kaneda and Maya and knows that this big guy is a parent in his own way, too. He would probably understand that she will pull through, and won't be troubled by seeing her look less than blindingly cheerful.

"How have things been for you lately? How're the cats? and your fish?"

Comments

[rideme]

Well, no. He doesn't come in often. But not because of any sort of dislike. More because... well. Bull has made an impression on a lot of restaurant owners. And now tends to feel a bit obligated to drop by them all. Keeps him busy.

But today, after hearing all about it from the kids, he can't not drop by. Plus the cat theme... he has no idea when he decided he liked the little shits so much, but they grew on you.

He grins at her, a real, open sort of grin. Oh, he can see there's something different here. Something tugging at her. Cas is making conversation, though, so no sense in digging right away. "Cats haven't eaten the fish, and the fish aren't dragons yet," he drawls, plunking himself down.

"You?"

[lasthugs]

You're not a cat person until you get them, Cass would say. She'd also say the same about kids. She smiles wider at the dragons comment -- her smile is only tired, not ingenuine -- and chuckles.

"Hey, maybe they just need a higher waterfall. And me? Well, I've been busy."

Even without the rush, the café still has more than a handful of customers, but aside from Cass there is only employee today -- a new one, too -- that she sent on break already.

"There's always more stomachs to feed, you know?"

[rideme]

"We'll try piling up some more rocks, up the bets a bit." He grins at her, crookedly. "Keeps the idiot brigade busy."

And despite the term 'idiot brigade' there's a lot of fondness in the words. Those kids mean a lot, even if he will deny it if asked directly. He leans back a bit in his chair, regarding her quietly.

Then pushes out the chair opposite himself with his foot.

"Yeah. But maybe I want to know better."

An invitation to talk. If she wants to.

[lasthugs]

"Oh, I'd bet."

Well, if he's inviting, she'll take it. One last look around the store before she settles, then she plops down with a content sigh as the weight is taken off her feet. Oh, that feels great.

"I'm really glad you're there. I do my best to support those kids -- the ones who come to me, anyway -- but it's good to have someone sturdy like you at home."

[rideme]

"Sturdy having more meanings than one, I'm going to guess."

But he says it without irritation, or judgment. There's even a quirk of a smirk on his face. Those broad shoulders twitch in a shrug.

"Not the first time I've pulled kids' asses out of the fire, probably won't be the last, either," he tells her, like this is an old story he tells every day. "They're probably happier to see you, anyway. Prettier face than mine."

Eyebrow waggle.

Then it's gone and he's serious again. "Something happen? I mean, I like chatting with you and all, but... sudden outpourings of gratitude tend to mean shit's gone sideways."

[lasthugs]

"We're adults. Isn't there always a double meaning to the stuff we say?"

It's how you keep those kids on their toes, after all. A secret code. She smiles wider at the comment about her face and the waggled eyebrows, even putting a hand to her cheek in a sincere but also exaggerated expression of flattered gratitude. But moments later, Bull cuts right to the chase. Cass doesn't lose her smile -- when does she ever? -- but it sobers up.

"My kids -- Hiro and Tadashi -- were here for a few months before I got here. So I was thinking about it. They had a lot of people supporting them, but I just hope I was still able to be 'home' for them, the way you are to those kids." She shrugs. "They went home. To our world... well, one of them did, at least."

[rideme]

"Depends. If we're saying it's raining out, usually that just means it's raining."

He's mostly kidding. Because that's just how he is. Along with an equally sincere and equally exaggerated wink. Something to slightly ease the mood before the conversation shifts. He can see it in her expression, the way it dims around the edges.

One of them did.

But neither of them are here. The pieces connect and his only internal thought for a moment is shit.

"I don't see how you couldn't have been," he says. There's nothing even remotely teasing in his tone. It's low, every word slow and careful. Completely different from the way he'd spoken moments ago. "From the way Kaneda talks, I doubt you have to worry about not being their home."

[lasthugs]

"Yeah. Yeah... I'm confident, you know?" She folds her arms over the table, leaning forward, head tilted down as she both focuses on the conversation and reflects on memories past. "I loved them, ever since before they were my kids, and I would do anything for them. But I always want to keep asking, 'what more can I do? what can I do better?' Thinking about that kept me busier than they think this café does."

And the café means everything to her, and meant everything to the family. It was like being able to bring a piece of home, and a symbol of this being their new home.

"We used to live right above the café back in our world. This one is separated from our house now, but it's still home, and I like having this. It was home for those boys, and it can be for the others. A safe, warm place for imPorts, especially all the young ones. There can never be enough of that."

[rideme]

One big hand crosses the table, to set itself on her folded arms.

"Going to burn yourself out, thinking that way so much," he drawls. Though it's quiet. Private as a conversation in a public cafe can really be. "Sometimes... there isn't more. Sometimes you did all you could."

And you still end up asking yourself that question. You still end up wondering what else you could have done. How you could have changed something. Done better. Anything.

It doesn't help, though. He'd know.

"You're right about that, though. Needing more space for the dumbass kids that turn up. Not their fault they get caught up in all this crap, after all. Might as well give 'em somewhere to bounce when they need it."

[lasthugs]

Cass doesn't even blink at how big his hand is, or how suddenly it appears. He's safe; she trusts him with that. And she shakes her head.

"I know. Don't worry, I learned not to lay too much on myself a long time ago. I do my best, and I keep pushing my best, but I like myself too." Tadashi didn't get to live long enough to learn how to balance that. "I'm old enough to know how, so I'm also old enough to help these kids when they don't know how to figure it out.

"... You ever thought about that? One day, this place is going to be too small for all of them."

[rideme]

Bull would be the first person to correct her, if she told him. He's not safe. But he's a mercenary these days, not a wandering psychotic -- not safe, but not out of control, either. If that made sense.

So maybe it's better if he keeps that bit quiet.

"Good," he says, and leans back in his chair, arms folded across his chest. "Last thing we need is someone else falling flat on their face. Kaneda'd try to kick my ass if he saw me hauling you around."

Nice an image as that might be. She was cute.

"Hm? Me?" He can't help but laugh. "If I did, it'd be a sparring ring. I'm not exactly built for much else."

[lasthugs]

"If he didn't try to help first, because he's basically a shellfish." Tough on the outside... squishy on the inside... you know. Cass makes terrible jokes.

"Have you ever thought about food, though? Come on, the Iron Bull running a food place -- even a food truck -- could have so many good puns."

[rideme]

"A... shelfish..." What. Sorry, Cass. That doesn't quite compute with the big guy. Normally, he'd be all over jokes, though.

That gets a chuckle out of him.

"You're assuming a lot. Like that I can do more than shove some meat over a fire and make it edible."

[lasthugs]

"Oh." She shakes her head when she realizes her analogy was a bit off. But whatever! He laughed so she doesn't sweat it, instead of tapping a finger against her temple.

"Okay, but have you also considered that you can do that, play around with spices, and also put some buns and vegetables with it, and maybe some cheese. Make burgers?"

She winks. "I can bake."

[rideme]

He actually appears to be giving that some thought. He strokes at his chin, stubble and all. He really has no idea how to... cook stuff like that. But maybe the kids at home would get a kick out of it.

"Those are good shit..."

Oh no, Cass, you're making him plan to experiment on his house.

[lasthugs]

"Aren't they?"

She's pushing. Oh, she's pushing. She's selling the idea to him and if he's going to consider it? Oh, she'll make him consider it thoroughly.

"And there's a bunch of ways to do it. You can add different spices to the patty, mix in vegetables, make them thicker or thinner just the way you think is best. It's fun, once you start cooking."

[rideme]

She really is pushing. But in this instance, with this person, he's willing to let her. Besides... he's thinking. He's never had a chance to experiment with this kind of thing. It sounds interesting.

His mouth creases into a grin.

"Maybe I'd be more interested if a pretty woman would be willing to show me how..."

[lasthugs]

"What! I wonder who you could be talking about."

She grins back at him, her smile toothy. She knows who he's talking about, and she's more than thrilled to have his interest.

"I'm here all day, every day."

[rideme]

"I think she knows."

That grin doesn't get as wicked as usual. He doesn't read her as that type. Something like that doesn't seem like her thing. So instead, it's just open and amused.

And he pats her arm. "I'll keep that in mind. My word on it."

[lasthugs]

"Thanks, Bull." She can tell that he's matching her. She's seen the grins he can wear, but he's truly kind, she can't be convinced otherwise. So she grins back at him.

"You have my number."

[rideme]

"Sure do. You'll hear from me soon. Got it?"

He's pushing himself to his feet. Mostly because she probably has a lot to do that isn't throwing ideas at him all day. But, before he does leave, he slides some cash onto the table. More than enough to cover the food.

And tosses him a surprisingly chaste smooch on her cheek.

"Thanks, Cass. You're good people.