#cake bake lady sue

[iris-in-the-rain]

Everyone go and read this right now! I love my Yonderland ladies and here's to more fabulous friends having girls nights! 😊

Plus Vextan! 🥰

Fluff Friday - 5 - Yonderland

Title: Friends [AO3]

Characters: Ho-Tan/Vex, Debbie, Edith, Lynn, Sue, Mary, Jenny, Palla the Parvuli

Prompt: Ho-Tan and Debbie having a Girls' Night In - Prompt by the lovely @iris-in-the-rain

A/N: This is a very loose sequel to my story Amends in which Ho-Tan and Debbie spend a day together and Debbie apologises for reversing Ho-Tan's Pipple Fruit wish. You will be able to understand this fic without reading it first but it gets briefly referenced in the beginning.

Prompts are open, so if you want me to write a story for you as well just send me an ask with the fandom, characters and your prompt. I’m writing for Ghosts, Yonderland, Horrible Histories and Bill at the moment.

Six Idiots Whump Wednesday / Fluff Friday masterlist is here.

————

Friends

When Debbie proposed a Girls’ Night In, Ho-Tan hadn’t been quite sure what that meant. She’d had a Girls’ Day with Debbie once and while that had turned out to be an absolutely marvellous experience, she had no idea what a Night In entailed, especially considering it wouldn’t be just her and Debbie this time since Debbie had invited some of the friends she’d made on her adventures as well. Palla the Parvuli would be joining them this evening, as well as Mary and Jenny – a lovely couple who owned a trinket shop Ho-Tan liked to spend more money in than she really should – and Edith, Lynn and Sue who had promised to bake something for the occasion.

Ho-Tan had to admit she was a little nervous. She barely knew these women, and she had no idea what one was supposed to wear for a Girls’ Night In. Would her usual robes suffice? Or was she supposed to wear a pretty dress? Not that she actually owned one. Oh gods, what if there was a dress code, quite literally? The shops were closed by now and she’d never be able to sew a dress on such short notice and–

Someone gently took her hands and gave them a squeeze.

“I can hear you thinking, my dear,” Vex said softly and Ho-Tan felt her racing heart calm down a little. “What’s the matter?”

“I don’t know what to wear,” Ho-Tan whispered and let her head hang.

With a smile, Vex gave her hands another squeeze and let go of them to take a look at her wardrobe. After a moment, he pulled out a hanger. “How about this? It’s nice and cosy and the colour always makes your eyes shine.”

He was holding up the softest pair of beige breeches Ho-Tan owned and the dark blue shirt she secretly loved but rarely wore. “Are you sure? It’s not very … girly.”

Something changed in Vex’s face then. It was subtle and yet Ho-Tan felt a tug at her heart when he hung up the hanger on the door and reached for her hands again. “Women wear trousers all the time.”

He had a point there, Ho-Tan had to admit. Debbie and Mary certainly seemed to prefer trousers to skirts and dresses. Still … “There might be a dress code, though.”

“If I remember correctly Deb-beh said you could wear whatever you felt most comfortable in.” Vex inclined his head. “Would a dress make you feel more comfortable?”

Ho-Tan shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know. I’ve never worn one.”

“Would you like to?” Vex asked softly.

Ho-Tan swallowed and looked down at her shoes. “Maybe? Just once, to try it.”

“Then we’ll get you a dress,” Vex promised without hesitation. “Tomorrow, if you’d like.”

Ho-Tan felt herself melt a little at the love shining from his eyes. She leaned up to press a short, sweet kiss to the corner of his mouth before she reached for the breeches and shirt he had picked out for her, feeling lighter than she had all day.

“Thank you,” she said. And then, a little more quietly, “I mean it, Vex. Thank you.”

Vex smiled and shooed her off to the bathroom.

————

Half an hour later, Ho-Tan nervously fiddled with the hem of her shirtsleeve as she waited for the others to arrive. It was almost time. Only a few more minutes and the clock would strike–

A knock on the door made her heart jumped. Standing up from her sofa, Ho-Tan took a deep breath and smoothed down her shirt before she went to open the door. To her surprise, no one was there. She frowned and was about to chalk it up to nerves when a high-pitched voice said, “Down here.”

“Oh!” Ho-Tan said and looked down at the Parvuli. “I’m sorry! I didn’t see you there. Come on in!”

She opened the door a little wider to let her first guest in.

“Thank you,” Palla said with a smile in her voice just as someone shouted behind them, “Hold the door for us!”

They turned around and saw Jenny and Mary hurrying up the street, hand in hand and with matching smiles on their faces. It didn’t escape Ho-Tan’s notice that they were both wearing trousers, and she felt a little tension drain from her shoulders.

“Hi, Ho-Tan!” Mary said happily and, much to Ho-Tan’s surprise, pulled her into a hug. “You look lovely tonight!”

Ho-Tan ducked her head shyly. “Vex said I should wear it.”

“He has excellent taste,” Jenny said before drawing her into a hug as well. “Are we late?”

“No. It’s just me so far,” Palla piped up from the ground.

“Oh, hi there!” Mary beamed. “Would you like me to pick you up?”

Palla smiled and nodded.

Ho-Tan showed them the way to the common room – decorated with more pillows and blankets than Ho-Tan thought the Elders actually owned and beautifully lit with scented candles that made the room smell like a wildflower field in the height of summer. Then there was another knock that had her hurrying back to the door.

“Oh, what a delicious smell!” she exclaimed before she could stop herself. Edith, Lynn and Sue stood before her, wearing pretty pink dresses that made Ho-Tan’s heart ache just a little and holding three trays of cakes and muffins that not only smelled heavenly but also looked the part as well.

“Let’s hope they taste just as good,” Lynn grinned at her. She leaned a little closer and added in a conspiratorial whisper, “Between you and me, Sue’s creation is a lot more experimental than it looks.”

Sue glared at her. “I may be getting older but my hearing’s just as good as ever, Lynn.”

Lynn rolled her eyes but didn’t stop grinning. Ho-Tan didn’t know them well but it was obvious that this teasing banter was a regular occurrence between them, especially when Edith added, “Ladies, please. We are guests here.” She turned to Ho-Tan with a smile. “Good evening, Elder Ho-Tan. Thank you so much for hosting tonight.”

“Thank you for coming,” Ho-Tan smiled and let them in. “Just head straight down the hallway and take the last door to the left. Jenny, Mary and Palla are already there. I’ll just wait for – Debbie!”

In the middle of the street, Debbie was stepping out of the portal with a big smile on her face and wearing the most comfortable-looking sweater Ho-Tan had ever seen.

“Hi, Ho-Tan!” she said before she waved at Nick and Elf. “Thanks, guys. See you later!”

“Not too late,” Nick grumbled. “I need my beauty sleep, you know?”

“I think all hope’s lost there, mate,” Elf said.

Their bickering faded into the distance as Ho-Tan was pulled into her third hug that evening.

“I’ve brought snacks,” Debbie declared once she’d pulled back and held up two bags that were filled with different types of crisps as far as Ho-Tan could determine.

“And we brought cakes,” Lynn said brightly, gently shaking the box in her hand as proof.

“Well, what are we waiting for, then? Let’s get this party started!” Debbie grinned and swung her free arm around Ho-Tan to pull her down the hallway.

Ho-Tan let everyone’s excited laughter wash over her and ease her nervousness. Perhaps this time, she thought, she wouldn’t be the odd one out. The thought made her smile.

————

“Hey.” Ho-Tan glanced up to find Edith sitting down next to her. “Is everything all right? You seem a little quiet.”

Ho-Tan smiled at her. “Oh yes, everything’s fine. I’m just not used to … all of this.”

Almost in unison, they both looked over at the others who were currently competing for the first place in a game called Twister Debbie had had hidden at the bottom of one of her snack bags. Ho-Tan wasn’t quite sure about the rules – Palla seemed to be rotating a needle on some sort of board and every now and then announced something like, “Right foot on green!” that left the others scrambling to find one of the green circles on the mat with their right foot. It looked like fun, Ho-Tan supposed, but it was also loud and chaotic and right now, she just needed a moment of peace and quiet to process everything that had happened so far – from eating the most delicious cake she’d ever tasted and snacks she’d never even heard of before to laughing at the silliest things and most embarrassing stories.

She’d never felt so comfortable in a group before, if one didn’t count the Elders. There was just something about the way Mary and Jenny smiled at each other before they explained one of their inside jokes, or the way Edith, Lynn and Sue bickered with a fondness that reminded Ho-Tan of Vex and Choop. And little Palla told the most amazing stories – Ho-Tan really needed to ask her if she would allow her to record them, if only so she could use them as bedtime stories for the Youngers in the future.

This must be what it feels like to have friends, she thought to herself. As a child, her life had been so busy between school, housework and taking care of her younger siblings that she simply didn’t have the time for sleepovers and play dates – all things she knew her schoolmates regularly enjoyed in their free time. It made it hard to maintain friendships, and it hadn’t helped that she’d always been a little … different. Until today she’d never truly realised how much she had missed out on back then, and while she knew it was decades too late for little Alfie now, Scribe Elder Ho-Tan was glad beyond words she got to experience it at all.

“I know how you feel,” Edith said, pulling Ho-Tan out of her thoughts. “Before I met Lynn and Sue, I never felt comfortable in large groups, especially when I didn’t know anyone. It was all a bit overwhelming – the noise, the people, all the expectations that come with social gatherings.”

Encouraged by Edith’s understanding smile, Ho-Tan admitted, “I couldn’t stop worrying about what I should wear. Now it seems rather silly.”

Edith shook her head. “No, it’s not. I kept redoing my hair at least four times before Sue dragged me away from the mirror.”

Ho-Tan felt her heart warm. “Really? I think it looks very pretty.”

“So does yours,” Edith smiled.

A little self-consciously, Ho-Tan twirled a strand of hair around her finger. And then, before she could lose her courage and change her mind, she said, “I really like your dress.”

Surprised, Edith looked down at herself. “Oh, this old thing? I’ve had it for ages. It was a birthday present from Lynn and Sue.”

She smiled to herself fondly and with a far away look in her eyes that told Ho-Tan she was lost in the memories of that special day. Ho-Tan knew what that felt like and reached up to touch the butterfly hairclip behind her ear.

“I could make you a dress like this if you’d like,” Edith offered.

For a moment, Ho-Tan could only gape at her like one of those fish from the river Goingdownhill. She must have looked so shocked that Edith thought she’d offended her somehow for she quickly backtracked and said, “I mean, only if you want me to. I’m sure you could make one yourself just fine.”

“No,” Ho-Tan hurried to say. “No, it’s not – it’s not that. I was just surprised. I … I’ve never worn a dress in my life – any sort of dress, and I really wouldn’t want you to go to all that trouble for nothing.”

Edith’s eyes softened. “How do you know it will be for nothing if you haven’t tried it?”

Ho-Tan shrugged and nervously started to fiddle with her shirtsleeve again.

“How about this,” Edith said, gently taking her hand in hers. “You come over for a visit whenever you like and try on some of my dresses. We should be about the same size, I think. That way you can see if you’re comfortable wearing one and which style you like the most.”

She was smiling so openly at her that Ho-Tan found herself nodding along even before Edith had finished. “I’d love that.”

“Wonderful!” Edith exclaimed just as they heard a loud thump from the other side of the room. They both looked over to see Sue lying flat on the mat with Jenny, Debbie, Lynn and Mary all piled on top of her.

“Mary wins!” Palla declared as loudly as she could over Sue’s unhappy grumbling.

Ho-Tan and Edith looked at each and burst into laughter.

————

“You waited up for me,” Ho-Tan said softly after she had bid everyone goodnight and locked the door.

Vex smiled at her and took her hand in his to lead her down the hallway to her bedroom. “Of course. How was your Girls’ Night In, my dear?”

“Simply marvellous,” Ho-Tan beamed. “We ate so many things and played games and talked and, oh Vex, I had so much fun!”

“I can see that,” Vex said. “You’re almost glowing as brightly as the Glow-Worm People from Radiation Springs!”

Ho-Tan huffed out a laugh. “I’m not. That would be weird.”

Vex pretended to ponder that before he made a vague noise that Ho-Tan knew was the equivalent of a shrug and leaned down to peck her cheek. “I’d love you anyway.”

Warmth spread through her whole body. Ho-Tan didn’t think she would ever grow tired of hearing him say those words. “How about you go ahead and get ready for bed? I’ll just quickly tidy things up.”

“Oh no, you won’t,” Vex said and before Ho-Tan had a chance to react, he put one arm around her back, the other behind her knees and literally swept her off her feet.

“What are you doing?” Ho-Tan laughed. “Put me down!”

Vex grinned down at her and shook his head. “No. We can worry about cleaning up tomorrow. Right now, I want to cuddle with you and hear all about your night.”

So Ho-Tan allowed herself to be carried back to her room. She felt young and newly in love again, and the butterflies in her stomach went crazy when they got ready for bed side by side and tried to make each other laugh with toothpaste smiles and foamy faces just like they used to do when they were children.

They were lying side by side in bed, the blankets pulled up to their chins, when she finally told Vex about Edith’s offer to make her a dress.

“That was very kind of her,” Vex said and searched for her hand under the blankets so he could intertwine their fingers.

“It was,” Ho-Tan agreed. “I didn’t ask her but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind you coming with me.”

Vex laughed, a low rumble that reverberated in her ear, and shook his head. “I think you’ll have all the help you need without me there trying to pretend I know anything about dresses. Or fashion in general.” He tightened his hold on her hand, prompting her to look up at him. “That is, unless you want me to come with you. Then I’ll accompany you, of course.”

A few hours ago, Ho-Tan wouldn’t have needed to think about her answer. The mere thought of going into a shop and looking for a dress on her own would have made her feel nauseous – it still did, if she was being honest. But now she wouldn’t have to go to a shop – she’d just be going to Edith, Lynn and Sue’s. She’d be among friends, not strangers, and that made all the difference.

“You know what? I think I’ll be fine on my own,” Ho-Tan said. Then, with a teasing smile, she added, “That way I can surprise you with my dress later on.”

“As long as it makes you happy, I know I will love it,” Vex said softly. “Just like I love you.”

Ho-Tan smiled up at him and leaned a little closer. “I love you too.”

He met her half-way in a kiss.

[bahoreal]

Yonderland 3x07 Boo, the Cake Bake Ladies

[regainingparadise]

Because I'm desperately waiting for the new episode of Great British Bake Off on Netflix, have my Magnus Archives/Bake Off Headcanon:

Martin goes on the Great British Bake-Off

Probably S1 Martin, because I want S1 Sasha & Tim dynamics, but it would also be delightful to have Mr. "I have personal experience with the supernatural" Blackwood be in the tent trying to act like he didn't almost get eaten by a worm lady.

Martin isn't much for cooking (per his abundance of ready meals and canned peaches) but in this headcanon he does love to bake

I want this to be the older version of Bake Off with Mel & Sue, because I think they'd be so good with him. But Noel would absolutely have a field day with the fact that Martin is doing supernatural research.

About his bakes:

There as at least one Showstopper display that is modeled after a statement

In fact, I think he definitely creates a biscuit version of Naomi Herne's statement in two scenes: A vanilla biscuit-Naomi in a gingerbread cemetery complete with fog made of sugar, and Naomi outside Moorland House

This causes a minor crisis for Elias because the Lukas's are Not Pleased and demand to know why Elias didn't put a stop to this. (The reason is, Elias knew that Martin was on the show, but didn't bother to pay attention to what he was doing)

Several of his bakes are flavors that he particularly knows people in his life are fond of--pastry week he dedicates his signature bake to Jon with Jon's favorite curry blend; chocolate week he dedicates to Sasha who is an absolute chocolate fiend; cake week he makes Tim's absolute favorite cake. He even makes his mother's favorite baked goods for patisserie week, the kind she loved but could never afford.

Bread week is his worst week

Chocolate week is his second worst week--his chocolate just will not set properly in his showstopper

The "about Martin" footage

The producers try to film a bit of background with Martin's mum; Martin asks them not to, but they insist that it'll be fine! She won't be mean in front of cameras! She'll be so proud of him! It can't be that bad! Spoiler alert: It is, and Martin slinks off to cry away from the cameras. They don't use that footage

So instead they film him at work. Tim and Sasha bully Jon into being polite, which means that Martin is extra blushing and awkward around him

They ultimately show a clip of Martin carrying a cup of tea and a home-baked biscuit in to Jon's office, and then bantering with Tim and Sasha over slices of cake in the break room

The hosts definitely tease him about where he works

Martin is definitely at least a finalist, so Tim and Sasha drag Jon to the final picnic; Jon is very awkward but genuinely congratulatory (after all, he has been bribed with increasingly elaborate baked goods for the past 10 weeks, who wouldn't warm up to Martin after that).

[resplendentmackerelsky]

I've split up the Cake Bake Ladies for this round for extra drama!

I'm also running a round for the write-ins I previously received over here.

[caps-clever-girl]

MY WIVES 💘💘💘💘💘💘💘

Perfection 🥰

[debbeh]

The gang but it’s the cake ladies + Debbie

Kira- Sue

This is your spirit animal, I don’t make the rules

Sue is high energy, stands her ground, will bake u a cake but also shoot you in the dick if you pick on her friends, ascends gender.

Megan- Lynn

Will defend what she loves (whether it’s cake or Coriolanus Snow), probably has the most commons sense in the group, not scared of clowns/horror movies

Me- Edith

Oblivious of what’s going on, reacts a little too calmly to dire situations, just kinda having a time

SHE IS MY FAVORITE AND SHE IS MINE. END OF DISCUSSION. >:(

Harley- Debbeh

Utilitarian, disappears in the cupboard/airport for like 5 hours (smh), likes drinking tea and cozy blanket :3, has adventures where they should not eat certain fruits (whether it be allergies or prophesied ends to civilations

[restorativemeal]

Menu Seventeen

Menu Seventeen from Rowan Bishop and Sue Carruthers' "The Vegetarian Adventure Cookbook".

Spicy Pumpkin and Lentil Soup: brown lentils, water, cumin, tumeric, coriander, butter, onion, pumpkin, salt, vegetable stock, tomato relish, pepper. 

Celery and Orange Salad: celery, orange, lemon juice, olive oil, balsamic vinegar. 

Corn Bread: plain flour, baking powder, salt, wheatgerm, semolina, egg, milk, butter. 

Spinach Frittata: spinach, onion, butter, dried basil, nutmeg, egg, sour cream, milk, salt, pepper, chilli sauce, tasty cheddar cheese. 

Menu Seventeen, Week Seventeen, I write about it now in a state of purgatory, a liminal space, during a three week break from Bishop and Carruthers and their Vegetarian Adventure Cookbook. The weather was hot, dry even, it was Summer at home. It had been two weeks of warm soup, only this time I didn’t want it. I had passed my sickness on to my flatmate and guest, a singular person. I was thinking a lot about change, as usual. Not violent change, that I’ve learnt are done to you, but the changes you make yourself. The ones that take you out of a city, a country even. This had nothing to do with the fact I was travelling to Japan at the end of Week Seventeen. 

The schedule that week was busy, I couldn’t really afford to dedicate it to the journey, but I did anyway. I left the prior week believing I wanted to move somewhere else during the next year and that I wanted to leave this Vegetarian Adventure Cookbook where it belonged, in New Zealand. Because of this, Week Seventeen and Menu Seventeen needed to be completed that week. I had most of the ingredients at home. I went to the Fruit and Vegetable store on Tuesday after a troubling Monday, it was hot and I wished people would turn off their read receipts. I returned home feeling worse, I had spent $38 on four items in a store I believed was always the cheapest option. I wondered if I had been swindled, this was my comeuppance for swindling the lady at the other fruitstore for the $3.99 watermelon back during my birthday week. It wasn’t even the same store. I said “no” when the girl at the till asked whether I wanted a receipt, was she taunting me? I’ll never have the answer to what happened, and that seems to be the way about a lot of things. I was still positive about the way that change could be something you did to yourself. I would cook the pumpkin and lentils and I would change them into a soup. Whether or not I wanted to eat it. I would leave the country one day and maybe I would never return. 

Soup and salad prep, half a pumpkin that cost $25?

It was another easy menu to make. I had all afternoon. It was hot. I wore a pair of mini shorts and a top that had “alcoholic” written across the chest then proceeded to not drink a thing. I started with the soup, first boiling the lentils, then the pumpkin. The state of the flat oven meant I needed to prepare and bake the Corn Bread and Spinach Frittata at the same time. I had a brand new guest that night, from another city even. I had quite a few guests in total that night. Before anyone arrived I sat on the floor of the kitchen listening to personal-to-me version of “Last Christmas”. There were four days till Christmas and dinner was ready. Later I would fail as a host as I served too early, forgetting the last one was coming. 

Frittata and Corn Bread

As we ate, we discussed how the Corn Bread tasted like banana cake without bananas. Really, it was corn bread without any corn, because I had substituted semolina for the cornmeal that Bishop and Carruthers had listed in the ingredients. The following night I declared at work drinks that this had been the worst year of my life. A week later, I was in Tokyo, homesick for something I couldn’t put my finger on. Maybe the “Vegetarian Adventure Cookbook”. Two weeks after that, I returned home. It was a new year. The “Vegetarian Adventure Cookbook” wasn’t where I left it and I panicked that it would be another thing lost in the year before. Five minutes later I found it, hidden behind the mirror on the mantelpiece in the dining room, the last violent change of the year before.

2023, finale.

[creaturecorpse]

The cake ladies are my favorite yonderland characters

[spotforme]

i finally got my hands on the Yonderland cristmas special and at the start Debbie is ordering a present, then switces up to fake-talking about baking a chake with Sue.

This Sue, and i love that Debbie remembers them. and their good beking. :)

[simonfarnabyslegs]

some behind the scenes cake bake ladies photos i hadn't seen before, from yonderland set designer andrew lavin's website. he's got a lot of neat pictures from a bunch of different episodes, sets, and props. definitely worth checking out if you didn't know about this already!

[caps-clever-girl]

@carpe-mamilia i am HOWLING

Quillenial Cake Bake by the Lake

Yonderland S3xE04, Boo.

[ailendolin]

Thanktival 2022 - Day 5 - Yonderland

Title: Missing Pieces [AO3]

Characters: Cake Lady Edith/Cake Lady Lynn/ Cake Lady Sue

Prompt: Cake Bake by the Lake

Summary: Edith learns about one of Lynn and Sue's Thanktival traditions and finds her place in their relationship.

A/N: Since we celebrate Christmas on the 24th here in Germany - merry Christmas and happy Thanktival to you all!

————

Missing Pieces

The first year Edith celebrated Thanktival with Sue and Lynn, she’d expected the usual: trees with googly eyes, Chompus decorations, sparkly garlands and presents that were thoughtful but would ultimately remain unopened.

What she had not expected was to find Lynn in the kitchen the day before Thanktival eve, baking cookies in numbers that would feed an entire army. Two, perhaps.

“Is there a competition happening I don’t know about?” Edith asked cautiously as she placed her last minute shopping down on the floor since every other surface was currently covered in cookies.

Lynn looked at her over her shoulder and chuckled. “Oh no, no competition, dear. These are for Sue’s kids.”

Edith froze. Sue’s kids? Since when did Sue–?

“Oh,” she said faintly, trying to wrap her mind around this new piece of information. “I – I had no idea. I didn’t get them anything for Thanktival …”

She looked down at the cabbage in her hand, feeling a little lost.

“Oh Edith, no,” Lynn said softly. A moment later, her hand was on Edith’s shoulder, gently turning her around. “I thought Sue had told you – they’re not her actual kids. More like … foster brothers and sisters.”

Foster siblings, Edith thought numbly. She hadn’t even known that Sue had brothers and sisters. How could she not have known?

“Here, sit down, love. You’re looking a little pale around the nose,” Lynn said and pulled out a chair for her. Then she crouched down in front of it and reached for her hands. “I’m really sorry about springing this on you like this. I thought you knew.”

Edith could only numbly shake her head. This kept happening – her feeling adrift because Lynn and Sue had forgotten to share something with her, something that was such an integral part of their lives that it didn’t even cross their minds to mention it. She kept finding out these things by accident, and while a part of her understood that this wasn’t an easy situation for Lynn and Sue either, she sometimes felt like she was standing on the outside looking in on something she should be a part of.

Right now was one of those moments despite Lynn’s attempts to put her mind at ease.

“Hey,” Lynn said softly, accentuating her words by squeezing Edith’s hands. “We did not keep this from you on purpose, Edith. I promise.”

Edith forced a smile onto her face. “I know. It’s all right.”

Lynn heaved a heavy sigh. “No, it’s not. We’ll talk to Sue about it when she comes home, okay?”

“We don’t have to,” Edith hurried to say. When Lynn frowned at her, she added in a whisper, “I don’t want to ruin our first Thanktival together.”

She dropped her eyes to their clasped hands, noticing for the first time that Lynn’s were lightly covered in flour.

“You’re not ruining anything,” Lynn promised softly. “We’re the ones who keep messing up.”

Edith bit her lip. Lynn’s words were meant to be reassuring but they had the opposite effect on her. She had been quietly worrying for a while now that Lynn and Sue might grow tired of having to accommodate her, might end this wonderful, tentative thing between them before it had really had a chance to bloom. Her presence clearly overcomplicated things and Edith wouldn’t blame them for wanting things to go back to normal. She certainly wasn’t worth all the–

Her panicking thoughts screeched to a halt when Lynn’s lips firmly pressed against her own

“We love you,” Lynn said with a confidence Edith couldn’t help but marble at when she pulled back. “And we want you to know everything, Edith. Every little detail there is to know. I promise.”

“Okay,” Edith breathed, still feeling a little dazed. She let Lynn cradle her cheek for a moment, spreading flour over her skin, before she felt brave enough to ask, “Can I … can I help with the cookies?”

“Of course,” Lynn smiled, looking relieved.

They worked quietly side by side for the next hour or so until the front door opened with a creak that heralded Sue’s arrival.

“Something smells delicious,” she called from the hallway.

“She always says that,” Lynn whispered fondly.

Edith barely managed a smile in return as she put down the sprinkles and wiped her shaking hands on her apron. When Sue came into the kitchen, she greeted them both with a kiss like she always did before she snatched a cookie from one of the trays. “Tastes just as delicious as it smells. You’ve outdone yourself again, Lynn.”

Lynn pointedly cleared her throat. “Edith helped.”

Sue glanced from her to Edith and seemed to falter for a moment when Edith didn’t meet her eyes.

“Thank you, Edith,” she said at last, obviously having realised that something was wrong but being not quite sure what exactly.

“Edith was also wondering who all those cookies were for,” Lynn continued despite the awkwardness that suddenly hung heavily in the air.

It took a heartbeat or two for the penny to drop.

“Oh,” Sue said softly. “Oh, Edith, I’m so sorry. I meant to tell you but–“

“You forgot, I know,” Edith finished for her. Not wanting to start a fight, she swallowed around the lump in her throat and added, “It’s okay. Lynn already explained.”

She didn’t see the look Lynn and Sue shared over her head but she sure felt them taking one of her hands each and leading her into the living room. While Lynn went to one of their drawers, Sue sat down on the sofa with her, still holding her hand with the gentlest, most loving of touches that made Edith’s heart beat just a little bit faster.

“My parents died when I was very young,” Sue began quietly as Lynn handed her a photo album. “After their deaths, I was taken to a place for children like me – orphans. It was run by a lovely lady called Nanny La Roo. She took me in without question and cared for me until I was old enough to do so myself. Here, that’s me with her just shortly after I arrived.”

She opened the photo album to the very first page. The picture showed a young child, three years old at most, being gently held by someone that must be Nanny La Roo.

“She did her best to give us all the best childhood we could possibly have under the circumstances,” Sue continued. “Then one day one of us went missing and things … changed. Nanny struggled with that loss – a lot. She became scared of the outside world, of what it could do to us, and began to keep us inside more and more often until eventually, we weren’t allowed outside at all anymore.”

“I’m sorry,” Edith said softly.

Sue gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “It wasn’t as bad as it sounds. She gave us a home and there was love in it, Edith, so much love. I’m grateful for that and for everything else she has done for me. It isn’t easy, you know, the job she has. Not with the amount of orphans there are today thanks to Imperatrix.”

On her left, Lynn reached for Edith’s hand. “The cookies are our way of helping out and giving a little something back. Sue also buys presents for all the kids every year because Nanny can’t really afford that many.”

“We call it Pre-Thanktival,” Sue added with a smile as she leafed through the photo album.

Nanny La Roo had taken care to document all the major milestones of her life: Sue’s first day in school and then, a few pages later, her first day of homeschooling that must mark the time when the child had gone missing. There was the first painting Sue had ever made, her very first cake and finally, her first music lesson.

“I didn’t know you could play the piano,” Edith said, feeling like she’d just uncovered another piece of Sue she hadn’t even known had been missing.

To her surprise, Sue chuckled. “That’s because I can’t. Nanny realised that very quickly.”

Together, they watched Sue grow into a young lady until a shaky handwritten note on the top of a page declared, Sue’s last day. That wasn’t the end, though. With a smile, Sue turned the page over, revealing her first day as a baker’s apprentice. Pictures of all the placed she’d lived in over the next few years followed, the friends she’d made – Lynn. And then suddenly Edith was looking down at her own face in a group picture someone had taken at the baking competition where she’d first met Lynn and Sue. She was standing in the last row, almost hidden in the shadows and barely noticeable in the crowd but she was there.

The final pages of the album that showed the blossoming of their friendship as well as the blooming of Lynn and Sue’s relationship, and when Sue reached the very last page, Edith felt her eyes well up. A shaky picture of the three of them that Lynn had somehow managed to take while kissing Edith’s cheek was glued to it with obvious care. Sue was mirroring Lynn on Edith’s other side and Edith – Edith was smiling so brightly at the camera that she felt her cheeks hurt at the memory even now.

Under the picture, Sue had written a date and a single line in her neat handwriting: The start of the rest of our lives.

“Is that … is that truly how you felt that day?” Edith whispered.

Sue squeezed her hand.

“It’s how I feel every day when I look at you, Edith.” She glanced at Lynn. “When I look at both of you. I might not be the best at showing it but I am so incredibly grateful to have you both in my life.”

Edith swallowed hard and let her eyes trail reverently over the photograph. There was so much happiness in it, so much love, that she felt like her heart might burst.

Sue pressed a kiss into her hair. “Would you join us later? When we go and visit Nanny?”

“Can I?” Edith asked in a trembling voice, still not daring to hope. “You wouldn’t mind?”

“Of course not,” Sue smiled and pulled her close. “You were always meant to come with us.”

On her other side, Edith felt Lynn’s finger brush a stray strand of hair out of her face. “Nanny will be so excited to meet you.”

“She knows about me?” Edith breathed in wonder.

“Oh yes,” Sue laughed. “She realised we needed you long before we did.”

When Edith looked at Lynn for confirmation, Lynn nodded. “Apparently, we didn’t stop talking about you.”

She and Sue shared a fond, knowing look. For perhaps the first time since she became a part of their relationship Edith didn’t mind not being privy to their thoughts. “Well, as long as she and the children won’t mind be tagging along ...”

“They won’t,” Sue whispered. “They’ll love you – just like we do.” “So much,” Lynn added softly and then they were kissing her, just like they were in the photo, and Edith closed her eyes, her heart overflowing with happiness.

[rubyinasnuggie]

Random Headcanons No One Asked For:

-Both Ruby and Weiss are left handed

--Yang was 100% prepared to tease them about it when Blake very pointedly uses her left hand to write something

--Blake is ambidextrous

--which makes Yang the only right-handed one on the team

--until the fall of beacon oops

-Ren is fully color blind

--once baby Nora figured that out, she made it her mission to explain to him what colors are based on other sensations (sue me I love this trope)

--she describes pink as the quiet comfort they share in each other's presence

--Ren finally sees color for the first time when his semblance upgrades, and he can finally see the pink petals with Nora

-Blake likes to climb on things and find random nooks and crannies to read

--it turns into a game of reverse hide-and-seek when someone needs her: depending on how urgent it is the entire squad will drop everything and look for her

-team STRQ won the Vytal tournament their first year, specifically Summer was the champion

--Yang was more upset about the disqualification than she'd ever admit, because she secretly imagined Summer was out there somewhere watching the tournament, proud of her babies

-Tai pulled himself out of his depression by gardening: having a routine helped him, so he encouraged baby Ruby and Yang to get similar gentle hobbies

-Ruby raises chickens at home

--she very lovingly feeds them corn and calls them her ladies

--Yang affectionately calls them creatures and cluckers and other such rude things to get a rise out of Ruby

-Ruby deeply wants a cow

--this is her one and only retirement dream

--although honestly she can never imagine herself living past her 20s

-Yang struggled with picking a hobby, she gets bored easily and hates the expected

--its only post-Beacon that she understands the benefits of a routine

--thats why she ends up with a ton of chores, just some structure to help her through the day

-Ruby will drink any type of milk, but Strawberry milk is her favorite

-Sun is allergic to bananas but he doesn't know

--he thinks bananas are supposed to be spicy

-Weiss loves sour apple

-Pyrrha loves chocolate almonds

-Yang thinks fish are creepy, she just generally doesn't love the ocean

--she thinks Neptune is a little clown though

-Oscar gets dressed by putting on his left sock, left boot, then his right sock and right boot

--RNJR made it their mission to interrupt him during this just to see him walk around with one boot on

-Ruby likes to bake, it's one of the few solid memories she has of her mom

--one night Weiss was feeling homesick and Ruby taught her how to make mug cakes

--"its probably not that good compared to your cake butler, but it's pretty simple, and I like them!"

--Weiss secretly makes them at least once a week, even back home in Atlas

-Weiss has taken flight lessons, at one point Ironwood really pushed for her to become a pilot in the military

-Blake has a field journal of the different types of Grimm she's encountered

--team RWBY & JNPR have spent several nights sitting in a circle talking and adding to the journal

--while traveling across Anima, Ruby sketched and took notes on all the Grimm she saw, just in case she ever found Blake again

-Weiss collects rocks

--no, not crystals. actual rocks

--shes rarely spent time in the real outside, but whenever she has, she picks up little rocks and puts them in her pocket before anyone can see

-Jaune never actually stopped writing left and right on the bottom of his shoes actually

-Weiss had never been allowed to paint her nails as a kid, she'd always get weekly French manicures instead

--by the second semester at Beacon, Ruby, Weiss, Nora, and Ren would have weekly manicure nights where they'd paint each other's nails

--there were several times they'd rope the rest of the teams into it, especially during the Vytal tournament where they'd write team names on their nails

--during the singles round they'd write Yang on one hand and Pyrha on the other

--"we couldn't make it fit without cutting one of the R's!"

-Pyrrha and Weiss became each other's default plus one's for fancy events, to the point people began to speculate that the two were dating

--Jaune was somehow jealous of them both and it was very confusing to him since he had poor self awareness

-Yang cuts Ruby's hair, but after she lost her arm she lost the fine motor skills to do a good job, so Blake started to do it

-Blake is always there to help Yang with her phantom pains and residual limb pain

--she helps massage Yang's arm while leaning close and purring

--Yang cried the first time Blake did this because she's not used to being taken care of

-Nora never gets sick and is the designated nurse when a bug goes around the teams

--the electricity incident was the first time Nora has ever been bed-ridden

-Weiss took ballet as a child

-Jaune is actually pretty good at the guitar

-Pyrrha is not musically inclined at all its a miracle she managed to do the iconic JNPR shine dance

--jk but actually she's a decent dancer when she has the steps choreographed for her but she has no natural rhythm

-in the last few months before Pyrrha's death, she and Jaune would waltz on top of the roof together

--there were several almost kisses

--maybe a few successful kisses who knows

-there are occasions (obv extremely rare) when Ren actually takes the bulk of the energy from Nora

--this leads to thrilling game nights where Ren makes multiple 40pt remnant-equiv-of-scrabble plays while Nora naps

-Oscar is the only person who can beat Ren in scrabble, although it's very closely matched

-Oscar is amazing at chess and will play it against himself like a little square

-Yang and Ruby are experts at the tabletop war game they play in the library

--9 times out of 10, the winner is one of them

-Oscar is the only one who also knew about Compost King, which was very exciting for Jaune

--Compost King is a common game night activity while they were in Haven because its so hard to say no to Oscar

-Yang is a straight-A student and has always been

-Blake never had any formal education and she finds a lot of the classes incredibly dull or ineffective at teaching the material

--she's always the one convincing Yang to skip a class and lie in the sun-warmed grass with her

--she still gets Bs easily

-Oscar is a very fast reader and will devour any book he's given

--his aunt would frequently bring home books from town just to keep him entertained

-Ruby has suffered from migraines and nightmares her entire life, post-Beacon they only got worse

-Weiss shops at local dust stores whenever she can, even though she could get shipments for free

--however she does have Ron Swanson's "I know more than you" energy when she's shopping

-Blake and Ren will sometimes take naps together

--not cuddling, just occupying the same general space

--wake them up at your own risk

-if Ruby isn't engaged with something, she can start to scatter and dissolve into rose petals

--its a very slow process and someone has always snapped her out of it before she's fully vanished, but Yang is worried about what would happen if no one caught her in time

-Ren is afraid of horses

-Blake hates being cold

-Yang naturally radiates heat cause semblance duh

-Weiss glued the tiniest gravity crystals to the underside of Ruby's bed to ensure it never falls

-JNPR likes to push their beds all together so they can sleep in one big pile

-Nora can only sleep if she's holding someone's hand

Hope u guys enjoyed! These are in no particular order, sorry that I kinda jumped around a lot 😅

Feel free to reblog and add your own ideas and headcanons! ❤

[unusual-ly]

Thanktival Day 24

Prompt: Holiday Gone Wrong

I was gonna do this as an extra ficlet for Holiday Baking but I didn’t have time to write two for that, thought it might still work for Holiday Gone Wrong but ran out of time again so here’s a quick little imagine blurb thing before the 24th ends~

Imagine Debbie decides to invite the Cake Bake ladies - specifically Edith, Lynn and Sue but perhaps the others as well - to a Christmas party, or some kind of event like a festive charity bake sale or otherwise something fitting their baking interests. They’re among the more “normal”-looking folks from Yonderland and could certainly blend in better than anyone else who showed up to her house last time. Besides, she doesn’t really have the time to bake anything herself and she knows they’ll enjoy it and she wants to build more friendships in Yonderland

Of course, the three of them inevitably go to war over some ridiculous disagreement; they all end up bringing the same traditional Thanktival treat, knowing the people of Debbie’s world would be unfamiliar with it, and therefore ~*dazzled*~. Not only are they embarrassed by the fact they made the same thing, but they each believe their own is the Best. Chaos ensues. Sue probably somehow managed to sneak her gun in idk. Maybe the others did too

[rocksandrobots]

Of Rocks and Robots Ch. 39 - Finale (Part 1)

(note: This is only the season one finale, not the end of the series)

A fast yellow blur sped along its way; knocking out cars, smashing through brick walls, and plowing down trees as the mysterious speeding streak caused destruction in its wake. Though it was not out of any intentional malice that the human wrecking ball caused such vast property damage, it's just that the superhuman speedster didn't know how to control his powers fully.

The muscle bound hulk finally came to a screeching stop right outside of the maximum security facility, causing a trench to form as he slammed on the breaks of his high powered roller skates.

"Ok Stu, you got this! You're dressed to impress! You smell great! And everyone says you're as smart as a bag of hammers! So what could possibly go wrong?"

The villain finished hyping himself up as he looked towards the jail. He then punched his fists together and took off like a flash, barreling towards the concrete walls at breakneck speeds. He crashed through the barricade and kept on going; smashing through walls as if they were cardboard. He didn't stop until he reached the cell he was looking for.

"Hi Nana!" He loudly proclaimed in a childlike manner as he busted down the wall and saw the elderly lady dressed in an orange jumpsuit laying on the cell bunk.

"Stu!" The woman gave a large smile and came over to give the overgrown galoot a hug. "My what a good grandson you are, bustin' your poor old granny out of jail."

"Awe, I try." Stu said as he blushed and sheepishly grinned. "Anything for you Nana."

He handed his grandmother the knapsack on his back. She eagerly opened it and pulled out a pair of rocket skates same as the ones he was wearing.

"Oh yeah! Supersonic Sue is back in business, baby!" The woman laughed and then sweetly asked of her grandchild as she put on the stakes, "Oh, however did you come up with such a clever escape plan, sugar plum?"

"Well, I wish I could claim all the credit, but I kinda got help from one of your old supervillain buddies. They gave me the new gear." He handed her a note and then quickly added, "But I'm the one who thought to smash the walls with my noggin!" He knocked on the top of his helmet with his knuckles.

Sue gave him an encouraging smile and a pat on the cheek before reading the note. "Dear Sue, hope you're doing well. Do you mind picking up for me a certain prisoner on your way out? He's being kept in the solitary detention block…."

"Welp, looks like we need to make a little detour before finishing our escape, Pookie." She chirped as she finished strapping on her own helmet. "After all, I'd hate to disappoint an old friend."

                                                 -------------------------

"Ok, bathing suit, sandals, change of clothes, uh… Am I forgetting anything?" Aunt Cass asked as she gathered up her suitcases.

"Don't forget your sunblock." Varian helpfully said handing her the bottle of coconut smelling cream.

"Oh thank you. Yes."

"Hey, Tracy just pulled up." Hiro shouted from the other room, and as if to confirm this a car horn sounded from below, blaring out La Cucaracha.

Aunt Cass half heartedly rolled her eyes at her friend's over eagerness and tried to carry everything out of the room and down the stairs in one go. Varian followed behind her picking up whatever she dropped and stuffing it back into pockets of her purse.

"Now you both know what to do while I'm gone." She instructed the boys as she scurried out into the currently empty cafe. "No wild parties, no sneaking out past midnight, no tinkering with the appliances...The café is only open for breakfast tomorrow and Wasabi will be over to help with that, oh and there's dinners already made up in the fridge if you don't want to cook later. And if anything goes wrong…"

"Call Officer Cruz or Professor Granville," Hiro finished for her. "We know Aunt Cass."

"Right, and Krei's promised to bring over pizza later tonight and check up on you two, so no giving him a hard time. He's been very gracious in giving me this trip and for helping out wherever he can. Okay?"

"Don't worry about a thing, Aunt Cass." Varian assured her. "We got everything under control."

Just then the car horn sounded out again reminding Cass to hurry up. She ran to the coat rack where the keys hung up and took one pair for herself and handed another to Varian.

"You're in charge of opening up at six," she told him, "and making sure the doors are all locked before going to bed. Have the café closed by noon. Also don't forget the upstairs dishes, make sure to feed Mochi and Ruddiger, and if you can get around to vacuuming that'll be great."

"Got it." He nodded and then Aunt Cass turned her attention to her other child.

"Hiro, I know you're already helping Varian and Wasabi tomorrow, but I also need you to take out the trash, clean your room, and do the laundry before I get back."

Hiro protested this. "The laundry?" He whined. "Oh please Aunt Cass I'll do anything else. Let me clean out the rain gutters instead."

"Okay, you can clean the gutters, and do the laundry." Aunt Cass said with a tone to her voice that told him this wasn't a matter up for discussion. She slipped on her jacket and put the keys in her pocket before stopping and staring out at the middle distance as she tried to remember what it was she was forgetting.

"You left your phone on the charger upstairs." Hiro answered for her.

"Oh, right." She exclaimed as she ran up to get it.

"I don't get you man," Varian said as she ran off. "You have a machine that literally washes clothes for you. What's so bad about doing laundry?"

"Have you smelled your socks?! A person needs a gas mask just to get near them."

Varian screwed up his face, fully offended. "Please, you're just looking for any excuse to get out of doing house work. You got it easy here, and you don't even know it. Try milking a goat every morning for ten years and then come complaining to me about washing socks."

"Boys, boys," Aunt Cass soothed as she reentered the room and placed an arm around each of her kids' shoulders. "Can you please, more than anything, just get along? For my sake hun? I'll only be gone for three days and I would very much prefer it if I didn't have to come home early because you two decided to start world war three in my house."

Both teens looked away sheepishly at that request, before mumbling their agreement apologetically.

"Thank you." She said before getting misty eyed and wrapping them into a group hug. "Oooh I'm going to miss you both so much."

The car horn sounded a third time interrupting the family moment.

"You better get going before Trace leaves without you." Hiro joked.

"Okay, Okay." She gave them each a kiss on the cheek before grabbing her things and heading out the door.

"I love you! I'll bring you both back souvenirs." She called after them as she loaded up the car.

"We love you too Aunt Cass." Hiro said as he and Varian stood at the door and waved goodbye to her.

She stuck her head out the car window and shouted, "I'll call you when I get there!" As the vehicle sped away.

"Bye, have a safe trip!" Varian shouted back and continued to wave until she and the car were out of sight.

Once their aunt was gone Hiro gave Varian a confused look and asked, "Did you really have to milk a goat?"

Varian rolled his eyes and walked back inside instead of dignifying the question with an answer.

                                                -------------------------

The rest of the day went by uneventfully. Hiro went ahead and finished up his list of chores with Baymax's help, while Varian made sure everything in the cafe was stocked and ready to open for tomorrow. He baked a coffee cake, some blueberry muffins, and a batch of biscotti for the breakfast rush.

"That way I don't have to wake up before sunrise to make donuts." He explained to Hiro as he fixed them a couple of tuna fish sandwiches for lunch.

Aunt Cass called soon after to let them know she had made it safe to the spa. She was full of nervous questions about what they were up to and how things were going at the Luck Cat without her. The boys reassured her everything was fine for what felt like the bajillionth time that day. However she was still reluctant to let them go and it took Tracy threatening her with a dunk in the pool to get her to hang up.

"I swear Cass you're going to lighten up and have fun on this trip even if I have to force you!" The boys heard the nasally woman yell over the phone.

Finally free to their own devices they spent the rest of the day lazing about. With the finals done both teens had to find new things to take up their free time. Hiro tried to reach the leaderboards on his video game, Mind Smith Turbo 3, while Varian read a new book that Karmi had given him; A Crease in Time.

Krei did show up at around nine as promised, pizza boxes in tow.

"Sorry I'm late, the pizzas might be cold, but I just couldn't get the Maharaja off the phone. I'm trying to get new investors and trade deals don't make themselves, am I right?" He chuckled at his own joke even though both boys knew nothing about stocks and trade.

Hiro grabbed the pizza boxes from the tycoon only to turn his nose up at the pineapple and anchovy pizza within. Fortunately for him there was also plain cheese in the second box.

Keri stuck around for dinner and they watched a movie together. As they finished watching an old western that Keri had picked out, one that admittedly turned out to be more engaging than Hiro thought it would be, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it." Hiro said as he walked backwards from the room, his eyes never leaving the tv. It was at the climax and the hero was about to face down his sworn enemy in a shootout. Hiro's steps instinctively timed to the actors own as the sidekick counted down the paces, "10, 9, 8,... "

Hiro tilted his head around the corner of the banister as he made his way down stairs, then he heard the bang of the gun shots. Only no one fell down. The villain hugged his wounded hand as the hero stood there, gun still raised.

"Well what are you waiting for?!" The scoundrel bitterly yelled back, "End it!"

The camera hovered over the stone faced marshal and his still raised gun, only Hiro never got to see the protagonist's final decision as the person at the door took to banging on it instead  finally gaining his attention.

It was Chief Cruz at the door.

"Hi Hiro, is your aunt here?" He asked. He tried to sound nonchalant but Hiro could tell that the man was on edge.

"Sorry no, she's on vacation to that spa remember?"

"Oh right… then who is here watching you two?"

Hiro tried to suppress an eye roll. Officer Cruz was just as bad as Aunt Cass was sometimes with being over protective, arguably even more so. "Krei is "babysitting" tonight."

Cruz raised a skeptic eyebrow but declined to comment on his rival being in his crush's home. "Then can I speak with him then?"

"Sure." Hiro hesitantly said and ran back upstairs to get the businessman, wondering all the while what was going on.

                                                -------------------------

Both Hiro and Varian huddled in the kitchen by the swinging door of the café as they listened in on Cruz and Krei's conversation.

"You wanted to see me?" Krei asked.

"Yes, I came by to inform Cass of the news but this probably concerns you as well." Chief sighed before cutting to the case. "Callaghan escaped prison today."

There was an awkward silence as the news sunk in. Hiro felt his own heart race as his grip on the door tightened.

"How?" Was all Keri asked.

"He had help. Two other villains, a grandmother and kid team up, also busted out at the same time. They're called the Supersonic Skaters; thieving speedsters, the pair of them."

"That doesn't sound like Callaghan." Krei said matter-of-factly. "I've known the man for years. When would he have ever befriended common thieves?"

"Yet you didn't know about his half a decade long revenge plot to murder you." Cruz pointed out.

Krei huffed and Hiro could see the billionaire fold his arms across his chest.

"I have lots of former employees who want to kill me. It's not like most of them actually follow through with." Krei mumbled.

"Speaking of which, do you have any bodyguards you can call?" Cruz asked.

"You know, I've gotten in the habit of tasking Big Hero Six as my usual bodyguards."

"You've been employing vigilantes as your personal security?" The frown was evident in Cruz's voice.

Krei snorted. "That would imply that I pay them. No, they volunteer their services. I told them they could make a killing as a private security taskforce but they wouldn't hear of it."

"Well maybe you ought to call them cause my men will be too busy tracking Callaghan and his accomplices down to provide you with any personal escort." Cruz spat, though Krei seemed unfazed by the police officer's irritation.

"So why did you come here first instead of calling my office?" Krei asked in an unusual display of seriousness.

"Gerson already called your secretary. I guess she just hadn't given you the message yet."

"You know she might have," Krei interrupted off handedly, "I need to get more into the habit of reading Judy's memos."

"Uh-hun, well anyways I thought Cass should know too. Seeing as how Callaghan is.. well is responsible for what happened to her nephew." Hiro heard the police chief heavy a weary sigh before changing the subject. "You know, Cass told me she was going on a trip, I just didn't know she asked you to babysit?"

"Well I volunteered. I just figured I do something nice for a change, as unbelievable that may sound to you."

You could have cut a knife through the unspoken tension in the air as each man eyed the other.

"So, you, what, put everything on hold to play the responsible parent for a day?"

"Well, seeing as how Hiro and Varian are teenagers, Cass and I figured they were old enough to handle themselves for a day while I worked, and then I came over after I was done at the office to check up on them. Why, do you have a problem with that Chief Cruz?"

Peering through the small crack in the door, Hiro watched Cruz close the distance between himself and Krei. He stopped just inches from the other man's face.

"I don't know what she sees in you, or why on earth anyone would entrust you with children, but mark my words if anything happens to those two boys…"

"Nothing is going to happen." Krei said eveningly. "And you may not trust me, but you could try trusting Cass and the boys just a little bit more."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Did you have any plans of telling Hiro what was going on?"

Cruz seemed taken aback by that question.

"No." He admitted reluctantly. "He's just a school boy. He shouldn't have to worry about things like, escape convicts and murderers.."

"And yet he does." Krei interrupted. "This concerns him just as much as it does myself. You can't just hide things from him just because he's young."

Cruz casted Krei a searing glare. "Last time I checked you weren't the boys' father."

"And neither are you." Krei shot back. There was another awkward pause as both men sized each other up, until Krei added, "Ten to one both teens are eavesdropping behind that door."

Keri shrugged and nodded his head towards the kitchen. Cruz casted a bewildered look at Krei before walking towards the swinging doors. Both teens scattered and ran out the back door in a rush.

Chief Cruz walked into the empty kitchen and looked around for the two boys. He then noticed the back door was opened just a crack and went out into the alley to check. He found nothing but a blonde raccoon running out from behind a trash can, followed by Varian's own pet racoon scurrying out and climbing up the fire escape into his owner's bedroom.

"Gee, I could have sworn they'd be out here." Krei cheekily commented as he pulled out a ten dollar bill and vaguely waved it towards Cruz.

Cruz snatched it out of his hand in annoyance. "Just because you're an overgrown kid yourself doesn't mean you know anything about them."

"Ouch." Krei said.

Cruz rolled his eyes. "Look can I just trust you keep an eye on the boys for tonight and then I'll watch them tomorrow. Call Big Hero Six to keep lookout if you have too, but don't let Hiro know about Callaghan."

"Yeeeah, those two things might not be possible toge-"

"I mean it. He's been through enough. Him and Varian both. They don't need this."

Krei sighed. "Alright. You're the boss here. You'll let me know as soon as you found out anything about Callaghan's whereabouts."

"Of course." And with that Cruz left.

                                                -------------------------

Hiro and Varian sat under Varian's bedroom window. They were breathing heavily from their hasty retreat up the fire escape and from the rush of just barely avoiding being discovered by the adults. As they heard the chief of police's car drive away, Varian let out a sigh of relief and then nuzzled the pet raccoon in his arms.

"That was close." He breathed only to stop when Krei opened the door, flooding light into the little bedroom and casting a spotlight on the two teens.

"I knew you two were snooping." Krei said.

                                                -------------------------

There was a big debate over what to do next. Hiro wanted to suit up and go investigate the breakout himself.

Krei wouldn't have it though. "Look I promised both Chief Cruz and your Aunt Cass. I'm trying to be the responsible one here."

"Cruz also told you to call Big Hero Six and that's us."

"Yeah, you seem to be missing five other members there Hiro." Krei pointed out.

"I've already texted Wasabi." Varian interrupted the argument. "He said Fred and Gogo were already on patrol tonight and that they would swing by the jail to investigate."

"There, ya see?" Krei said. "You already got two members out there on the case, and Baymax is here to keep watch for the night. Besides didn't you and Varian promise your aunt to mind the café in the morning?"

Hiro let out a defeated sigh as he slouched back down into the kitchen chair, but he gave no further protest.

Krei rubbed his eyes and gave a yawn. "I'll take the couch tonight. I got to be up by five and at the office by six. Please don't do anything dangerous until after leave. I would prefer it if I didn't have to listen to Cruz lecturing me on proper parenting, thanks."

"Oh don't worry," Varian said, "he'll just find something else to lecture you on."

"Prefect." Krei said as he got up from the table, walked into the living room, and flopped onto the couch for the night.

                                                -------------------------

Hiro thought noon would never come. He had barely slept through the night and working the café this morning had been torture. It hadn't been especially busy today, but time seemed to crawl along at a snail's pace as he waited till time to close up shop. The whole while keeping his eyes glued to the tv that was in the café, just in case the news announcer brought up Callaghan.

He didn't. Though he did mention Supersonic Sue breaking out. The long time super villain was apparently more noteworthy to the masses than his brother's murder going free.

"Aaaand done." Wasabi said as he topped the last cappuccino of the day with whip cream. "There you go sir."

The customer took the coffee and Hiro rushed him to the door with a plastered smile on his face. He waved goodbye to the man before slamming the door close and locking it with a sigh of relief.

"Hey, thanks for helping out today." Varian told Wasabi, as he finished sweeping up.

"No, problem. I like working here now and then. It's peaceful." As if to counteract this statement, Ruddiger snuck up onto the counter beside Wasabi and tried to grab the can of cool whip out of his hand.

"Hey! Oh no you don't!"

Hiro ignored his friends' tug-a-war with the pesky raccoon as he ran upstairs to get Baymax and his armor. Only for Aunt Cass to call while he tried to snap on the chest plate. He fiddled with the phone through his gloves and juggle it while suiting up.

"Hey, how's things going?" He heard his aunt say over the phone.

"Fine." He grunted as he buckled his utility belt. "We just closed up shop for the day."

"So, no problems then?"

"No." Hiro said distractedly as he looked for shurikens he hid under the bed.

Aunt Cass heaved a sigh. "I talked to Chief Cruz this morning, he told me some news that was a little upsetting…. Did he or Krei tell you?"

Hiro paused, he didn't know what answer to give that would be the least disastrous. Aunt Cass plowed on thorough though.

"He said that, Professor Callaghan broke out of jail yesterday."

There was a long and awkward silence between the two.

"Hiro? Are you still there?"

"Yeah.."

"Do you want to… to talk about it?"

Another uncomfortable pause.

Aunt Cass sighed again, "Look, I can come home early. It's not a problem-"

"No! I, mean, no. You shouldn't let some bad news ruin your vacation. It's not like Callaghan is going to come over here or anything, and whether or not the police find him has nothing to do with you being here at the Lucky Cat or not."

"I know, I just, I'm worried about you. You and Varian. If you need me, then I'll hop in the car right now and I'll be there, lickity split."

"We're fine Aunt Cass. I'm fine." Hiro lied. "You don't need to drop everything and rush over. Everything is under control and Varian and I are just going to hang out with Wasabi for the rest of the day."

"Ooh, fun. Whatcha got planned?"

"Uhhh, the park?"

"Okay, well, text me if you need anything. I'll call later to make sure you're still alright, oh and before I forget, Cruz and Megan are coming over tonight for dinner. Just put the frozen casserole in the oven at say, eight?"

"Alright. Bye Aunt Cass."

"Bye, I love you."

"I love you too." Hiro ended the call as he leaned against his desk in silence. He glanced over at Tadashi's side of the room. It was relatively neat compared to his own side which was already a mess of dirty clothes and papers despite having cleaned it just yesterday. All that is, save for the visible dust that was beginning to collect on Tadashi's things; a disturbing reminder of how much time had passed since the other teen had slept there.

Hiro blinked back tears as he pulled himself out of reprieve, put on his helmet, and pressed the on switch on top of Baymax's charging case.

                                                -------------------------

Big Hero Six, plus Varian, sat around the desk at their headquarters as they watched the security footage of the prison-break up on their viewing screen.

Roddy had done a great job on the briefing room and it's connected laboratory, and was finishing up the training room next door. After that, all that would be left would be to add the bedrooms so that the team could crash there of need be.

"Yeah that's Sue alright." Rodney said as he walked in on them carrying his tool box.

"Yeah we kind of figured that." Gogo said deadpan. "Who's the new guy though?" Roddy peered at the screen, "Oh hey, it's that dimwit of a grandson of hers. Boy he sure grew up. I remember when he was yay high."

"I wish there was sound on this." Fred said. "That note she's reading is probably a clue."

Then the scene on screen changed. Callaghan was shown reading in his cell, then the two speedsters burst in, grabbed him, and then skated away before the screen went to black.

"He doesn't look like he was expecting that." Honey Lemon hesitantly said.

"Almost, like he wasn't in on the plan" Wasabi confirmed her suspicions.

"Roddy, you know Supersonic Sue, do you know of any connection she might have to Callaghan?" Hiro asked.

The red-bearded construction worker just shook his head. "I mean, he's not one of the old villains that Boss Awesome used to face. I'll tell ya that much. Buuut I don't make it a habit to know all of my customers' personal lives. I'm just here to build lairs; not gossip."

"Says the one other guy who knew that mom was a former supervillain," Fred said as he eyed Roddy suspiciously. "You know, besides my dad, and Heathcliff apparently..."

"Dude, someday you're going to, like, have to have a big family therapy session or something." Wasabi butted in.

Fred ignored him and marched over to Roddy. "Spill it." He ordered as he poked the larger man in the chest.

"What's to tell? So maybe the word on the super lair forums is that Sue got busted out by an old buddy of hers. One of the old gang, you know. I've know idea how Challagan figures into that though."

"Old buddy?" Hiro asked.

"They go by Kensei. They're a master thief and assassin. Never been caught. Used to be real active back in the old days for a few years but then went quiet for decades. Most thought they was dead or retired until just a few months ago."

"Why? What happened a few months ago?" Gogo asked.

"Back in April, was it, this new crime lord started filling in the power vacuum in the city. I got approached by Yama to build a lair for the new big boss, but I turned it down to do yous guys headquarters. Anyways the business card he gave had Kensei's old logo on it, the samurai's sword."

Hiro's eyes went wide. "We need to know everything about this Kensei guy."

Roddy rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "I don't know much. In fact no one knows much. Like I said the guy never got caught. No one knows who they really are or what they even look like. Unless you were one of the very few supervillains working the circuit back then and happened to team up with them."

"Wait, if this Kensei guy and the new Bosu are one the same person then..." Honey Lemon mused.

"Portals." Varian said, startling everyone. They had forgotten he was even there. "They'd paid off Supersonic Sue to kidnap Callaghan, same as Yama kidnapped me."

                                                -------------------------

"Well ain't this nice and cozy?" Sue said with a smug smile as she sat on top of the desk and peered down at tied up Callaghan. "Lot better than that nasty old jail cell wouldn't you say?"

Callaghan just glared daggers at her. The three convicts were inside a dimly lit, dingy office, in some old abandoned warehouse. As the elderly lady tried to persuade the former school teacher to join them, her beefy grandson kept watch by the door.

"Lets just cut to the chase shall we? You're the top in your field when it comes to portals and a friend of mine is willing to pay you handsomely to build one, on top of helping to smuggle you out of the country. Think of it, a fresh start! Whatta say?"  She slapped a wad of cash onto the table along with a fake passport.

Callaghan starred at the tempting offer on display before shutting eyes tightly and kicking over the desk with a snarl.

Sue jumped back in surprise and Stu covered his mouth with a gasp.

"Hey that's not very nice. No one treats my nana that way."

He stalked towards the other man but Sue stopped him with a hand. "Now, now, snookum, let's give Callaghan a chance to explain himself."  

"If you think I'm going to help the likes of you, then you're crazy." Callaghan spat.

Sue only turned up her nose at the rebuff. "My, my, aren't we all high and mighty all of a sudden, mister "I was in solitary confinement". You think the police are going to care that you suddenly grew a conscience? It ain't even like we're asking you to hurt anybody."

"Those portals are dangerous." Callaghan said through gritted teeth.

"So," Sue shrugged, "that's your benefactor's problem not ours."

"It's a problem for everyone, and I wouldn't debase myself to working for a has-been hack and her dunce of a kid no matter how much you paid me."

"I'm not a dunce." Stu said. "I got in A in penmanship. Tell him nana."

"Of course you're not sweetums." Sue patted her grandson on the head before turning to Callaghan with a scowl on her face. "You know, you gotta pretty smart mouth to go with that big brain of yours. But of the two of us, I'm not the one wanted for manslaughter and attempted murder, so I'd be awfully careful about who I'd go insulting here if n' I was you. I'm liable to turn you back into the police myself.``

Callaghan didn't rise to the bait but met her gaze steadily. After this staring contest Supersonic Sue sighed and turned to walk away.

"Come on Stu, let's let the man wallow in his self pity for a while. We can come back and try this again later. But mark my words Callaghan, we got other ways of making you cooperate. Ways that aren't so nice." And with that the two speedsters left the room leaving Professor Callaghan alone with his guilt and misery.

[anurean99]

First DR.A.G.

This shirt was red as where the pants.

I was perfectly cross-dressed in my sister's clothes.

I was genderbending as a toddler.

I'm from a nuclear society of mutants & non-human persons.

My sister was a liberated lady in secret. She could wear trousers: but not to church or grandma's house. She had to wear handmade dresses whenever we visited. All the pants my sister wore sometimes had to be hidden in my room and kept secret from cousins, little people the size of mice who lived in the heat register with the gerribles that frequently got lose.

These days she wears black leather & runs in every mohawk gang. She has been taken by Wild Injuns. We seem to be at race, corporate, holy, and civil war with one annother. It seems girls are not allowed to touch real money. So she left for a paralell dimension where women can and may touch currency, especially if its their own earned money designed to pad their dowery.

Well, not unless she becomes a Squa. Squa, are not ladies or to be called a lady. However we have always let them be a lady and equal anyway due to Human Rights Activism. Indigenous Persons are tribally human, more so than most Africans & Europeans. Squa can and may touch money if their business is honest and if they stay virtuous. Ladies caint not no touch not no real monies.

We never told the ladies what real money looked like, and decided to lock them up for counterfeitting if they became too shrewish. Why? Cuz gürlies may vote now, but theyre still not allowed to speak out of turn, touch money, or facilitate business unless they are cooking, giving birth, or baking a wedding cake. That wedding cake better be perfect too. Otherwise they get called a hooker & backhanded for not being not no lady. If the "lady" has been touching business or money she better stop being a total hocake and bring home more bacon and money than anyone ever did see.

I was smoking a camel.

I had to walk a whole mile for that camel.

I had to walk a whole mile in my sister's red pants, all the way to grandma's house just to ask my dad to have that camel.

It was up hill and my pants had to be tidy, or else.

I was still in trouble with grandma. She was an ostracized Welsh Witch with a bunch of little people for cousins.

Little people often hate the smell of cigarette smoke, if they arent human at all.

This photograph was taken with an antique wooden camera by little people, so little they where shorter than waist high. Cousins, persons who can & may be lawfully slavedriven and consumed as food for their certain lack of humanity. I barely squeek past the human barrior. They most certainly did & do not.

I was two, maybe three years old.

Why is this picture on the internet?

Who put it there?

We have to sue everyone.

It has been put in the public domain.