#ch: cass hamada

[menodoramoon]

Post-Date Auction

CHARACTERS: Cass Hamada, Menodora Butterfly-Johansen

SUMMARY: Following Moon winning a date with Cass at the auction, Cass lets out some building feelings. Menodora feels rejected. A rift ensues.

SETTING: Nov 16, 2024, Outside Amy's Auction

@auntcass-hamada

Read Below ~

Cass Hamada

Cass had entered the auction mostly on impulse (as so many of her decisions were), but once she did, she'd gotten excited by the idea. Her other dates might not have gone well, but this was a great way to meet someone new! Not just her at work and covered in flour, but looking like a person that someone would actually want to spend time with!

The bidding started, and she was delighted to see some familiar names and some new ones. This was going to go great!

Except...then her friends stepped in. And bid higher. And higher. The new names fell away, and instead it was only Franny, Reza, and Moon going around in circles. She should probably find it sweet. Instead, all she felt was disappointed. 

Didn't any of them believe she could handle even one date?

Biting the inside of her cheek, she was trying to keep it together when she heard the winning bid. 500 pounds. 500 pounds? Seriously? That was...that was ridiculous. That was so much money from someone she saw whenever she could for free. Why would she do that? 

No wonder no one else had stuck around. Who had that kind of money? Could she blame them? 

She needed some air. Or she would say something that she regretted later. Grabbing a glass of the wine that had been provided, she headed outside to try and calm herself down, not realizing that anyone might have seen where she was going.

Menodora Butterfly-Johansen

A date with Cass! This was fantastic! Moon already has some ideas that she'd need to run by her best friend but the idea of it was exciting and Moon was thrilled!

It was strange, almost. Moon didn't fully understand the concept of bidding on dates, but with Cass, it was as if it *sort of* clicked. Who wouldn't want to bid on a date with Cassandra?

In a way, Moon might have selfishly thought it was a grand gesture. Moon valued her friend a lot, and getting to spend time with her was worth so much to her. Definitely more than £500 but she did have to be a bit normal about it.

"Cass!" Moon had called when she saw her friend, only Cass was headed for the exit. Moon frowned to herself, confused. Did... What? Had someone hurt Cass's feelings? Had Moon done something wrong?

She sets her glass down, ignores the few people who try to catch her attention, and walks hastily after her friend, almost breaking into an impulse to run.

"Cassandra?" Moon asks, just past the doors. It's brisk outside, a little chilly. The air is tense and awkward, stiff beyond the normal November weather. "Cass, are you... Alright?"

Cass Hamada

Oh. For once, she didn't want to see Moon. She wanted the air and her wine until she could calm down and pull herself together, go back to being the person everyone expected of her. It was hard when her feelings were all over the place, when they were sparking outside of the comfortable tracks she kept them on to get through the day. 

"It's fine. I just need a moment. I need some air." She tried to sound normal, but she was almost positive she failed. 

She'd never been good at that kind of thing.

Menodora Butterfly-Johansen

Aha. No. Cass had absolutely failed the performance check. Moon opens her mouth to say something and stops. Thinks about it. Doesn't.

"Erm, okay. Well, I can just stay over here if you want to talk to someone. Or..." She stops, leans up against the wall. Silently, though her mind is racing. 

Cass may not have been good at regulating her tone, but Moon has never been good at comforting anyone. It's one of those things she's always recognized as a weakness.

So it's quiet. Near silent. Moon staying... And more importantly... Moon not leaving.

Cass Hamada

See, the problem with staying was that Cass would end up talking. She wouldn't be able to stop herself and she knew it, which was why she'd tried to leave first. 

But this was the problem with trying to put guardrails on her responses to manage her ADHD and the emotions that came with. They could only do so much, and it only took the right combination of events to overload them.

"I just - I don't know what I'm doing wrong." 

Menodora Butterfly-Johansen

Cassandra + 'doing anything wrong' did not make sense to Menodora. Cassandra couldn't do anything wrong in Moon's eyes, which is why Cass's statement catches Moon off guard. She turns, almost sharply, with questioning eyes.

There was hurt in her friend's face and Moon didn't know any way to assuage it, mostly because she didn't know what wasn't right. 

"What do you mean, Cassandra? You're not doing anything wrong. At least, I don't think so." 

Cass Hamada

Cass turned around sharply, glass nearly sloshing with the motion. 

"Well, I must be doing something wrong. I mean, I know the last few dates I've been on haven't been great. But I didn't realize that it was so bad that my friends would literally team up to make sure that I didn't meet anyone new. If I'm that hopeless, I'd rather one of you just say something to me about it!"

Which maybe wasn't fair. She hadn't told anyone she was thinking of doing this until after she'd already signed up. But she didn't feel like being fair right then. 

Menodora Butterfly-Johansen

She hadn't expected this. And she hadn't known about Cass's feelings. Such a thing -- "What are you talking about, Cass?" Moon asks, a slight feeling of dread pooling in her stomach. Was it because Cass was angry with her?

Moon hadn't conspired with Cass's friends. Franny and her weren't close, and she barely knew Reza outside of the name. She thinks. See! That's how close they were.

"I've never thought you were hopeless, Cassandra. I thought--" but she wasn't thinking, was she? Cass wanted a real date, not one with her friends. Franny and Reza bidding just encouraged Moon further, she thought it was alright. Had they all had it wrong?

"That's not it. I swear that's not it. I hope you know that I'd be honest with you if I thought ill of anything you did."

It comes out just slightly haughty and Moon internally winces. Gods, could she please...

"I'm sorry, I thought you'd think it was sweet. I'd never try to sabotage you, at least on purpose." 

Cass Hamada

Cass hears the stiffness, that whiff of authority that Moon carried but almost never used around her. Or maybe that was Menodora coming out. 

She never did just call her Cass. 

"But I'll spend time with you anytime! I mean, I know I get busy, but I am trying, and somehow you've missed a bunch of my texts so I've barely heard from you, but I know how things get sometimes and we could figure that out. I do try." The last sentence came out just a little bit desperately because she was always trying, and never seemed to get it right. 

"But I said in the little thing that I wanted to make a new connection. I wanted to meet someone. Maybe we'd only be friends too, maybe it would be bad, but wasn't the whole point of this to try? But with the three of you bidding, how could anyone afford that? No wonder no one else tried! Who can keep up?" 

She knew Moon's bid hadn't been the highest there, but the money still felt staggering. She'd never been able to be casual about 500 pounds. It was something carefully budgeted for, planned spending, or she'd end up in the kind of debt she couldn't afford. And they'd been playing with money like that like it was nothing. 

Because it was nothing to them. She was the one who didn't fit with that. 

Menodora Butterfly-Johansen

It doesn't go unnoticed, Moon knows. Menodora knows. Her brief lapse of earnest discussion. The way her defenses draw up a more withdrawn version of herself. She tries to shake it. Tries to not make the same mistake she made with Stella. Stella.

One crisis at a time, Menodora...

Moon bites the inside of her cheek. Cass was right. They could hang out anytime. They could talk, they could text. But Moon's been hiding out in her apartment like a coward or taking walks at inopportune times just to avoid other people. She kept her head down, tried not to engage with anyone for the most part. Why? Because she was scared. Because she was ashamed of herself! And now she'd made a faux pas that has Cass annoyed with her. Irritated with her. Mad at her. 

Moon doesn't understand but she wants Cass to know that none of it is her fault. Then again, it seems she already knows. The guilt rises in Moon's throat like flem, like some horrible feeling she needed to get out.

Sure, Cass wanted to make a new connection. Moon should have realized, she should have left it alone. If it was Franny or Reza, it would have been the same, wouldn't it? Franny or Reza would have made a better situation out of this. Moon can't manage it.

She hates herself in this moment. As the words come out.

"I didn't realize this would be so troublesome for you," Menodora says tersely, her voice coming out slightly strained. "I thought it was a nice gesture but clearly not.  I apologize, I don't know how to make it right. If you want to have more blind dates I can do my best to facilitate but what's done is done and I don't have the ability to fix this tonight."

She bites hard on her upper lip, just short of drawing blood. It wasn’t hard though. They were chapped already from the change in weather.

.

"Consider yourself free of the obligation to have a date. We'll schedule something another time when you want to. I'm sorry this turned out this way, Cassandra. I'll do my best to rectify it. But it's not within my power tonight. Anything else? Or shall I leave you alone?"

Cass Hamada

Cass watched as the woman who was her friend transformed into someone stiff and distant and horribly polite. The words were an apology but everything else felt like a wall because none of it was right but she didn't know what right was. Which was the whole point!

She didn't want Moon to find her blind dates because that made her feel too pathetic and desperate. She didn't want to be 'troublesome' but somehow she was always trouble when she let herself go. 

She wanted Moon to talk to her because it felt like something else was wrong, but she didn't know how to ask for that now that she'd ruined that too. 

Her emotions felt stupidly huge with nowhere to go. 

All she could say was, "Being with you isn't an obligation. It isn't supposed to be one." But the rest of her words were too tangled in her chest to figure out, so instead she did what she often did in fights like this. 

She turned and fled, running back inside, wine glass abandoned on a ledge nearby. 

[majkemaniiia]

Cass!

I am DESPERATELY trying to find a song on my wrapped and this is what I could come up with!

CASSANDRA HAMADA is RAINBOW by Kesha

You gotta learn to let go, put the past behind you Trust me, I know, the ghosts will try to find you But just put those colors on, girl Come and paint the world with me tonight

Okay, was this on my Iris Kid playlist? Um-- Irrelevant! It's about overcoming darkness and finding light and love and reasons to enjoy life! I think that's a pretty Cass vibe, as Cass carries light with her, even through her grief!

@auntcass-hamada

[rocksandrobots]

Of Rocks and Robots Ch. 37 - Happy Birthday!

"What if we gave her some jewelry?" Varian asked. "Like a necklace and some matching earrings?"

Hiro shot the idea down. "Naw, she already has a whole jewelry box full of that stuff and she hardly ever wears it."

The two boys were standing in the lunch line at the cafeteria discussing what to get Aunt Cass for her birthday.

"Hmmm...what about a new cookbook, then?"

Once again Hiro turned the idea down. "Can't she just look up recipes on her phone?"

"Well then.. I don't know. Why don't you come up with something?" Varian huffed as he grabbed an apple off the bar.

"Ooookay. What about… something sentimental, like a hand made card?" Hiro suggested.

"That's lame."

"Is not. Listen, she'll cry her eyes out over it. Trust me."

"Oh come on, we're not four year-olds. We got money now, let's actually buy her something nice."

The two teens stopped in front of the salad bar where the head lunch lady was busy cutting up vegetables. They continued their debate while they waited on the container holding the salad to be refilled.

"Like what?" Hiro asked. "She hasn't said what she wanted, and I'm sure if there was anything she did want she could just go out and buy it herself."

Varian crossed his arms and cupped his chin in thought. Then his eyes fell on the elderly lunch lady, who was still busy preparing the salad.

"Hey Miss Itamae, I don't suppose you could give us any womanly insight into what a lady turning 37 might want for her birthday?"

The grumpy cafeteria worker didn't answer. She just glared at them both as she deftly sliced a head of lettuce in two. Then went back to cutting up more vegetables with practiced precision.  

"You're sparkling conversation is delightful as always Miss Itamae." Hiro said deadpan.

"Hey, wait, no, that's it!" Varian nudged him excitedly. "We'll buy Aunt Cass some new kitchen knives!" He then turned back to the lunch lady with a smug smile. "Thank you for the idea, Miss Itamae. You're always so helpful."

The insincerity dripped from his voice like honey and Miss Itamae only pursed her lips in irritation as she began to chop the lettuce even more fiercely.

Hiro rolled his eyes. The, quite literally, unspoken feud between them and the head lunch lady had only ramped up these last two weeks. True, she had been a little too gleeful when she pulled out the pan of leftover Monday's Mystery Meatloaf to give them, after handing the last hot ham sandwich to Karmi right before them, but Varian antagonizing the woman with his phony politeness probably didn't help matters.

"Aunt Cass literally has several sets of chef knives. I think she, like, collects them at this point."

"Well what if we just expanded her collection then? Does she have a machete yet? Or perhaps one of those big butcher axes?"

Hiro narrowed his eyes at the other boy. "Are you serious? What would she want with a machete?"

Varian shrugged.

"Yeah, no." Hiro continued. "I doubt we could even legally buy one."

"Really? Man, you can't do anything in America." Varian sighed.

Hiro gave Varian another irritated look of disbelief, but before he could say anything else a voice shouted out to them.

"Clear the way! Look out!" Fred yelled.

He was barreling right towards them on a pair of roller skates; careening out of control.

He couldn't stop and both boys had to quickly scramble out the way. Miss Itamae was not so fortunate.

Fred hit the salad bar and toppled over the edge, sending the vegetables flying everywhere and knocking over the poor woman.

"Ooops. Hehe… my bad." Fred said sheepishly as the lunch lady stood back up with a salad bowl on top of her head, lettuce stuck in her hair net and a slice of tomato dripping off her nose.

Miss Itamae stared at him with flame in her eyes and seethed with gritted teeth. Fred tried to helpfully brush off the bits of vegetables that sat on her shoulders, but this only made her even more angry.

She hissed at him and Fred scurried back over the railing as quickly as possible before ducking down on the other side of the bar. He cautiously peaked his head up just long enough to watch the cafeteria lady storm off in a huff; presumably to go get a broom.

"Are those Gogo's skates?" Hiro asked once the lunch lady had left.

"Uh, yeah." Fred admitted guiltily.

"Does she know that you have them?" Varian asked.

Fred dodged the question "Ummm… maybe?"

"Do we even want to know what's going on?" Hiro asked in a weary manner.

"Hiro, as your friend," Fred said as he placed a bracing hand upon the other teen's shoulder, "I feel it's my sworn d- woah, duty to protect you. The less the two of you know the better." And with that solemn proclamation the skates gave out from under him and Fred flopped to the ground.

"In other words she doesn't know, and when she finds out she's going to kill you." Varian confirmed.

"'Kill' is such a strong word, ya know." Fred strained as he gripped the bar and hoisted himself back up.

Varian and Hiro exchanged confused glances and just shrugged.

Hiro sighed and decided to set the matter aside. "Well, Varian and I were just discussing what to get Aunt Cass for her birthday. Got any ideas?"

Fred hummed in thought as he gave the matter some consideration. "Well mom always wants to be taken out to some new fancy restaurant on her birthdays."

"Hey now there's an idea," Varian enthused. "We cook dinner for her!"

"Oh no, you are not fixing any more weird Coronian recipes." Hiro replied.

"Hey, my cooking isn't weird. Besides all you know how to make is cereal."

"Yeah, I'm not a chef, neither of us are."

Varian pouted at that but before he could respond Hiro continued on. "Look, why don't we take her out? It's something she doesn't get to do often and we could both split the bill, deal?"

"Well alright," Varian agreed, "at least it'll save us from having to do the dishes."

"Great!" Fred cheered. "I even know of a place you can take her. Mom loves it."

Just then Gogo burst through the cafeteria doors.

"Hey! Give me back my blades!" She yelled.

"Uh oh." Fred said and clumsily skated away as Gogo furiously ran after him.

"Come on, we better make sure she doesn't actually murder him." Hiro sighed as he started to run after them.

Varian followed, but paused long enough to cheekily wave goodbye to Miss Itamae, who had just finished cleaning up Fred's mess and was back to chopping vegetables once more.

"See ya, Miss Itamae."

The woman never answered back. Instead she just scowled at him as she menacingly held up her knife before slamming it back down hard upon a head of lettuce, severing it in two.

Varian gulped as he backed away and hurried out the door after his friends. Maybe they were pushing the little old woman too hard, he thought.

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

"Are you sure it's not under Hamada?" Hiro asked the maître d' who stood at the front of the restaurant's door. "Then try Templeton."

No such luck.

"Hey, tell them to check under Quirinson." Varian nudged him.

Hiro, Varian, and Aunt Cass stood in line at the Aragosta; the fine dining place that Fred had helped them make reservations for. Only the host was having trouble finding said reservations.

"Okay, how about Quirinson?"

The host shook his head.

"Frederickson?" Hiro squeaked hopefully. The matradee frowned.

Hiro sighed in resignation as Aunt Cass gently scooted the boys out of the way of the other guests who were also waiting to get in.

"Hey, it's okay." She encouraged, "So they lost the reservations. It happens. We can go someplace else and still have tons of fun. How about karaoke instead?"

"Let me check back with Fred first, before we decide to leave." Hiro said as he pulled out his phone.

The phone went straight to voicemail and Hiro hung up in irritation. Things weren't going as planned.

Just then Krei, of all people, walked up next to them on the sidewalk. He was also on his cell phone and didn't seem to notice them.

"But mother, I had these reservations for weeks!" He complained. "Yes I know your annual fundraising event for Helpers Helping the Helpless is important…. Yes I understand that the juggling seals canceled last minute... but surely you could just hire a new act? Why, Judy, my secretary, she can juggle fire for ya, I mean how hard can it be if a dumb seal can do it, right?" He frowned as he listened to the other end of the call, and then sighed deeply, "Alright, you win, as always. Love you too, mother." And with that he hung up.

That's when Keri noticed their little group.  

"Oh, uh, hi Cass. Intern. Intern's new cousin-brother-whatever... Fancy meeting you here."

He gave an awkward grin and rocked back and forth on his heels, like a school boy accidentally running into his crush at the mall.  

Aunt Cass gave an equally awkward smile. "Hi, Alistair. Trouble with your date?" She joked.

"Oh well, you know mom. Lovely woman, but can't not take charge when there's a crisis." He nervously chuckled. "So what brings you to Aragosta's?"

"We're taking Aunt Cass out for her birthday." Varian replied.

"Oh, it's your birthday!? And here I didn't bring you a gift. Well, happy birthday, Cass. You look great tonight."

Aunt Cass blushed, "Oh well, thank you, but unfortunately the restaurant's lost our reservations, sooo…"

"So it looks like we'll just have to go elsewhere." Hiro interrupted. He gave Krei a hard glare as he tried to quickly shuffle away his aunt. "Bye, Krei."

"Oh now wait a minute," Keri stopped them, "You lost a reservation, and I got a table waiting for me that I'm not going to use anymore. Why not take my spot on the list?"

"Oh, that's nice of you Alistair, but-"

"No buts, I insist. Call it a birthday present."

Keri gave his most charming smile and Aunt Cass looked at the two boys questioningly. Varian enthusiastically nodded yes, while Hiro silently pleaded 'no' to her.

"Weeelll, if you insist." She agreed.

"Wonderful! I'll go square it with the matradee." And with that he hurried off to speak with the host.

"Aunt Cass, why?" Hiro whined as soon as the businessman was out of ear shot.

"Why not?" Varian spoke up. "He's giving us a free table. Just cause you don't like the gu-"

"Boys, boys," Aunt Cass interceded before an argument broke out. "Look, I know Alistair can be a little… hmm.. difficult to get along with sometimes, but he means well and this is a nice gesture. It'd be rude to turn it down."

With that final word Krei returned.

"You're all set. Table number five, and just tell the waiter to put the meal on my tab."

"We were going to pay." Hiro grumbled.

"Oh that's so cute," Krei laughed, "you boys, wanting to do something nice for your aunt. But seriously though, you'll have to take out a loan just to afford the hors d'oeuvres."

Varian raised a worried eyebrow while Hiro only gave an annoyed huff.

"Look this is my treat. Dinner is on me." Keri continued, "Just give the host up there my last name."

He then gave another awkward smile and waved goodbye before turning to leave.

Aunt Cass frowned and Hiro's stomach dropped as he realized what she was about to do. He tried to say no. He tried to speak reason with his aunt, but before he could stop her she was already calling after Krei.

"Oh, won't you join us?" She asked.

"Naw, I couldn't." He sheepishly kicked the ground.

"Good." Hiro said, but was completely ignored as Keri immediately followed up with a, "But if you insist."

He and Aunt Cass shared a smile as they stared into each other's eyes transfixed and Hiro could only let out groan.

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

The lavish interior of the eatery was adorned with Tuscan columns, high vaulted ceilings, and expensive oil paintings that hung upon the walls depicting the ocean. The restaurant was known for its seafood and so there were also aquariums everywhere you looked, tucked away in the most unlikely of places.

Varian couldn't help but curiously stare at one particular aquarium lodged into the center of one of the columns. It didn't look like the most efficient place to house costly and rare tropical sea life to him, but hey, he wasn't a millionaire restaurateur, so what did he know?

The little party was seated near said column at a table covered in white linen and with gold plated cutlery already laid out upon it. They were then given menus bound in black leather by the waiter who was dressed to the nines in a tuxedo, complete with a bow tie.

Varian self consciously looked down at his own plain button down shirt and grey vest and felt hopelessly underdressed in comparison. This place was far more ostentatious than he had been unexpecting.

Well at least he had put more effort into his outfit than Hiro, who's idea of dressing up was to wear his black cargo shorts instead of his usual tan ones. Not that the other boy cared in the slightest. Hiro wasn't the least bit embarrassed about standing out in high society. He was too busy giving Krei the stink eye as the businessman flirted with Aunt Cass.

Varian rolled his eyes in dismissal of Hiro's petty disapproval of their aunt's choice in men and opened the menu. What he saw made his jaw drop.

"Ninety dollars for lobster!?" He sputtered. "Who pays nearly a hundred bucks for freakin' lobster?" He hissed at Hiro under his breath.

Hiro only shrugged, "Yeah, lobster is expensive. So what?"

"But it's lobster." Varian reiterated.

Hiro only stared at him blankly.

"You live right next to the ocean." Varian explained. "You can literally just walk down to the docks and catch yourself one to eat."

"Yeah, but who wants to do that."

"I would. I would much rather catch it and cook it myself than pay a hundred dollars for a lobster ." The disdain in his voice was evident.

"Yeah, but you're weird." Hiro quipped.

Varian gave him a hard look of annoyance, but Hiro only smugly smiled back; knowing full well that Varian wouldn't jump him in such an esteemed establishment with Aunt Cass right there looking on.

Varian grumbled under his breath and went back to looking at the menu. He was going to find at least one thing on here that didn't seem like a colossal waste of money, he swore it.

Back home, seafood was one of cheapest meats you buy at the market. Freshwater or salt, it didn't matter, anyone could catch a fish. Shellfish in particular were deemed low class.

In fact boiled lobster tail was one of the few proteins he could eat in prison. Every once in a while the chef would feed it to them as a 'treat'. But that was only because no one else in the castle wanted it.

He shook the memory away as he tried to calm himself. Never again was he going back to gruel and stale bread; and if he wanted a lobster for dinner, he was sure as heck going to fix it himself the way he liked it and not have to beg for it from anybody!

Aunt Cass and Keri, however, did not notice Varian and Hiro's discussion involving lobsters. They were completely engrossed with each other, giggling over some in-joke that only they two shared. Hiro had gone back to sulking while eyeing the adults disapprovingly.

The tension was only dispersed when the waiter returned to take their orders. Krei rattled off a ridiculously intricate and flamboyant entrée as a suggestion and Aunt Cass agreed to try it. Hiro ordered the most expensive thing he could find on the menu, just to spite Keri, and Varian chose the steak.

"Well it looks like it'll be a while before dinner arrives, so I'm just going to go powder my nose. Be right back." Aunt Cass excused herself.

As soon as she was out of sight Hiro lunged at Keri.

He grabbed the older man by the shirt collar and held up his fork up menacingly.

"Okay, spill it Keri! What are you up to?" He ordered.

"Nothing." The man insisted. "Can't a guy do something nice for once?"

"Not when the guy is you he can't." Hiro said. "Aunt Cass dumped you, remember? It's over."

"Wait, they used to date?" Varian asked, clueless as to what was happening.

"One date," Keri corrected, "and no I'm not trying to get back together with your aunt. Honest."

Hiro eyed him suspiciously and Keri met his gaze steadily. Finally, Hiro relented and let go of the other guy's shirt.

"Then what do you want?" He asked, confused.

"I want your aunt to have a good birthday. Nothing more. So can we please just have a nice dinner without any more threats, or revenge plots hatched by disgruntled employees, or any other weird superhero-y stuff going on?"

Hiro reluctantly sat back down in silent agreement and that was when Aunt Cass returned. Soon thereafter the food arrived and dinner proceeded smoothly for the rest of the night.

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

"I tell ya work has been a nightmare since production started on this new phone line." Keri complained. "I'm at the office everyday it seems like."

"Oh I hear you," Aunt Cass agreed. "The Luck Cat has been swamped for weeks now. I haven't had a day off in almost a month."

Dinner was over and the little group stood outside waiting on their rides. The two boys looked on as the adults chatted. Aunt Cass and Keri had barely stopped conversing with each other the whole night and even Varian was starting to feel just a little left out.

But he had little right to be. When did Aunt Cass get the chance to just hang out with people her age and have fun? By her own admission she was usually either at work all day or taking care of them.

"Sounds like you could use a break." Keri said. "Oooh, crazy idea, I got a membership to a spa retreat up in Napa. They got hot springs and a killer buffet. I'm too busy to go right now, but I can schedule you a trip. You could bring a friend and have a weekend off. What do you say."

"Weeell I don't know... I mean it's tempting, don't get me wrong, but I got the café to take care of and who'll look after the boys?" Aunt Cass said.

"Well surely they're old enough to be on their own for a few days, and I can be on hand if they need anything."

"We can manage the café if you want to go to Aunt Cass." Varian chimed in, happy to help.

Hiro nudged him the ribs, hard.

Aunt Cass pouted and then forlornly shook her head.

"You sure?" Keri asked. "Cause it's no trouble to me. It's the least I can do after.. well, after what happened last time."

Aunt Cass raised an eyebrow and Keri held his hands up defensively.

"I'm not trying to ask you out again. Honest. I know that ship has sailed, and I also know that it was my fault. I just would like to apologize that's all."

"Oh Alistair, you don't need to buy me expensive things just to say 'I'm sorry'. "Aunt Cass smiled warmly at him before continuing on. "But the answer is still no. I just can't right now, not with everything that's going on."

"Well alright, but if you change your mind just give my secretary, Judy, a call. She'll arrange everything." And with that Keri handed Aunt Cass a business card and got into his limo which had just pulled up.

He waved goodbye to everyone before driving away.

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

"I think you should have taken Keri up on his offer." Varian said as they returned to the Luck Cat.

"Why, just so he can try and weasel his way back into Aunt Cass's life?" Hiro grumbled under his breath.

However, Aunt Cass heard him anyways. "Hey now, I can take care of myself, thank you very much." She admonished him. "But no, I'm not going. There's too much to do around here."

"Oh come on, I can look after the café for a few days." Varian insisted.

"And who's going to look after you?" Aunt Cass asked.

Varian looked hurt by that reply. "We can take care of ourselves."

"Oh like how you took care of my toaster?"

"That was an accident, and I put out the fire."

"Umm hmm, and the alarm clock?"

"I fixed it, and it works even better now."

"..and the dishwasher."

Varian opened his mouth to argue but then shut again quickly as he really had no excuse for that particular mishap. They were still finding pieces of broken china to this day.

Hiro snickered at their argument as he reached down under the counter to grab a donut.

The food he had ordered at the restaurant was some weird seafood monstrosity made of jellyfish, kelp, fish eggs, squid tentacles and other unidentifiable fishy bits and bobs. Rich people were weird, was all he had thought as he picked at his meal all night. He was still half starved.

"Oh laugh it up, mister 'I never wash a dish'." Varian shot back.

"I've cleaned dirty dishes before." Hiro said with his mouth full.

"Boys…" Aunt Cass groaned, ending their argument. "Look, I know things have been stressful these last few weeks, what with finals, and the café being busy… and well, everything else, but we can get through this if we stick together, as a family, and not have anymore petty squabbles."

She wrapped an arm around Varian's shoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze as she smiled.

The 'everything else'  comment didn't go unnoticed by the two teens. Ever since Varian had come to live with them life had been turned upside down inside the Hamada home, in more ways than one, and while everyone was trying their best to adjust, there was still clearly friction over minor things, like chores and little mishaps here and there.

"That's why you should Aunt Cass." Varian insisted. "Finals end next week for us, but the café is still going to be busy no matter what. Why not let me and Hiro run the Luck Cat for a weekend? We can get along for just two days, surely."

"And we can call Chief Cruz if anything goes wrong." Hiro piped in.

Aunt Cass raised an eyebrow "I thought you didn't want me to go?"

"I just don't think you should fool with Keri, but of course, I'm all for you taking a break. Varian's right, you deserve a rest and a few days' of fun."

"Well, I mean, I could ask Tracy what she's up to next weekend, I guess…gee I haven't seen Trace in awhile..." Aunt Cass said as she mulled over their proposal.

"Who's Tracy?" Varian asked.

"She's Aunt Cass's roommate from college." Hiro answered.

"Ah…" Varian nodded in realization, but as soon as he was done Aunt Cass snapped out of her wishful reprieve.

"Oh no, I couldn't. It's too last minute. Besides I can still have fun here with you two." She flashed them a huge grin before walking upstairs.

Hiro ran after her, with Varian following behind. "Well in that case, you can open your presents then." He said.

"More presents?" She asked with a smile as she sat in her favorite comfy chair in the living room.

"Yup!" Hiro said as Varian brought out a gift bag that was hidden in his room, and Baymax, having heard his humans return home, came down the stairs carrying a wrapped box with a bow on top.

"Oh boys, you shouldn't have." She said.

"For you Aunt Cass. Happy Birthday." Baymax said in his usual clipped voice.

"Honey Lemon, Gogo, and Wasabi helped me pick something out for you."

"Oh how nice of them." Aunt Cass exclaimed as she opened up the gift. It was a cute apron with a matching headband and dish towel. In the pocket of the apron was a little booklet of printed recipes that Baymax had downloaded.

"See I told you that a cookbook was a good idea." Varian whispered to Hiro. The other boy shushed him.

"Oh thank you Baymax. I love it." Aunt Cass said as she flipped through the book. As she was reading Mochi, curled up in her lap.

"Do you have a birthday gift for me too, Mochi." She cooed at the cat as she scratched under its chin. The cat of course gave no answer other than a purr.

"I doubt he does, but I think Ruddiger made you something." Varian said in all seriousness.

With that the raccoon popped his head up over the top of the chair, startling Aunt Cass. The forest creature gave her an affectionate nuzzle, causing her to laugh, before jumping down and running off.

Only to immediately return dragging something along the ground with it's mouth.

Once the raccoon had made it back to the chair, it turned around and lifted the thing up with it's paws, as if offering it to her.

It was a plate, and on the plate was an apple inside a cupcake liner with whipped cream swirled on top and a single lighted candle stuck in the center.

"Ooooh how adorable!" She laughed.

"Make a wish!" Varian insisted.

She did and blew out the single candle easily.

"An apple cupcake; oh how did you ever come up with such a clever idea?" She asked of Varian.

"Oh I didn't. It was all Ruddiger. I saw him in the kitchen earlier today putting it together."

This gave Aunt Cass pause. Raccoons were smart, true, but the idea of one actually cooking was ridiculous. But the sheer earnestness of Varian's comment left her confused as to if he was pulling her leg or not.

Ruddiger for his part, looked as proud as he could be, for a raccoon, as he crawled up Varian's back and perched himself on the boy's arm.  

"I guess he figured you'd enjoy the same stuff he likes. Oh and don't worry I rescued the cool whip can from him before he could eat the rest."

Aunt Cass tried very hard to keep the smile on her face as the news of the wild creature rummaging in her food stores, again, was made known. She gave a tense laugh, "Well I hope the kitchen is clean by tomorrow before the rush."

The implication in her voice was not lost on Varian. "Already done."  He chirped and Aunt Cass sighed in relief.

"There's one more present." Hiro said as he took the gift bag from Varian. "It's from the both of us."

A lump formed in Aunt Cass's throat as she pulled out the gift. It was a framed photograph, of all three of them hugging.

"I had Baymax snap the photo earlier so you wouldn't notice and had prints made." Hiro explained.

"And I bought the frame so you could hang it up." Varian added.

She couldn't stop the tears from flowing as she choked back her gratitude. Instead she excitedly jumped up and ran around the room looking for the perfect place to put it. T'was a difficult task as she already had so many photos scattered throughout the home.

Finally she decided to hang it up on the wall next to the staircase, right alongside an earlier family portrait, this one depicting Tadashi as a young kid and Hiro not much older than a baby.

"I love it." She finally said through her tears, as she stepped back to admire it. "It's the best birthday present I've ever gotten."

The two boys walked over to join her and she wrapped them in a hug that mirrored the one in the picture.

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

Hiro carried the tray full of dishes into the cafe's back kitchen. He placed the heavy load onto the counter and let out a sigh. He then took a moment to gather himself before heading back out into the fray.

The Lucky Cat was packed today; more so than usual. He had volunteered to help out now that his final project was done ahead of schedule, only for them to get slammed with a bus load of tourists in the first 10 mins of opening, on top of the  regular customers who usually ate breakfast there.

No good deed goes unpunished; he dryly thought.

Just then Aunt Cass walked into the kitchen as well.

"Phew, it's like a madhouse out there. Have you seen Varian this morning? I know I told him he could have the day off, but I might have to ask him for a rain check on that."

Hiro shook his head. The other boy had left before sunrise, leaving only a text that he was going down to the pier. For what reason though, Hiro could only guess.

He didn't have to wonder for long however, for Varian returned at that moment.

"I didn't!" He sang as he burst through the back door carrying a small wooden crate in one hand.

"Did what?" Hiro asked.

"I caught a lobster." Varian eagerly replied. "See?" And with that he held up the fisherman's trap close to Hiro, who jumped back when a claw emerged from between the gaps in the wooden planks and snapped at him.

Unfortunately there wasn't anywhere to run to and so Hiro wound up crawling onto the counter to escape the creepy creature that Varian teased him with.

Hiro wasn't the only one in the household who didn't care for the lobster either. Ruddiger popped out of the storage cabinet he had been hiding in and crawled up upon Hiro's shoulder and hissed at the invading new animal.

This did not make Hiro any more

comfortable.

Varian though was blissfully grinning ear to ear, too proud of his accomplishment to notice or care about their disapproval.

"I caught him this morning. He's got to be at least 16, no 17, pounds! I've never seen one so big. He barely fits into my homemade fishing crate."

"That's great sweetie," Aunt Cass said with a strained smile, "what are you going to do with him? Have lobster thermidor for supper?"

Varian's smile deflated somewhat as he sheepishly tried to explain to Aunt Cass the circumstances that he found himself in.

"Well that was the plan when I went out fishing this morning, buuut, I kind of, sort of, named him."

And with that admission he hugged the crate as if cuddling a kitten.

This proved to be a bad idea though. As the lobster did not like to be cuddled. It turned its claws to snap at Varian instead who dropped the crate in surprise. The fishing trapped shattered and broke apart upon hitting the ground, freeing the creature inside. Then before anyone could stop it, the overgrown crustacean scurried out the swinging doors and into the café.

"Lorenzo!" Varian called out after it as he ran to catch it once more.

Both Hiro and Aunt Cass stood there dumbstruck as the screams of customers and loud clattering noises, that sounded suspiciously like china breaking, could be heard through the other side of the door.

Hiro snagged a weary sidelong glance at his aunt wondering what she might do. All she did was just stand there, wide eyed, unblinking, with shocked dread upon her face.

The clean up of this mess was going to be a nightmare. She'd probably have to spend hours refunding customers, apologizing profusely to them, and practically begging them not to give her a bad rating online.

Hiro took pity on her, and fished out Keri's business card and her phone out of her purse which was hung up on the coat rack by the back door.

"Here," he said as he handed the phone and card to her, "maybe you should take up that offer." Then he also ran back into the café to help Varian catch the wayward lobster.

On his way out the door he heard Aunt Cass say over the phone, "Hello, is this Judy? Hi I was calling back about the spa…"

[lovetvshowsposts]

A Variro Story CH 1

Description: Varian (Tangled the Series) is a transfer from Germany and new to San Fransokyo and the Institute of Technology and the second 14-year-old to be inducted in the school.  He tries to keep things under control, so people won’t find out his secret.  Hiro can handle being a student and hero but now with these unknown feelings and them being toward the new guy he doesn’t quite know what to do. (I swear the story is better than the description) AU (Hiro X Varian=Variro)

This story is based off of Tumblr user @sinningcookie ship of Hiro and Varian (Variro).  Be sure to check out the art that has been done of these two it’s amazing.  If I was good at drawing, I would have made a Variro comic but here is the story of how the two meet, become boyfriends and each other’s heroes.  Complete AU from both of the series but they are represented in ways throughout this story.  

<> 

Beep beep! Beep beep!

Eyes open slowly at the sound of an annoying noise as it continues to sound.  Until they land upon the source.  The clock says 7:45AM making the eyes shoot right open.  “Ah no, I’m going to be late!!”  shouts Hiro as he jumps out of bed grabbing papers and cloths as he looks for his backpack.  He finds it hanging on his chair and starts to stuff everything into it, which makes the chair roll right onto his foot. “Ow!” He hops backwards to his bed holding his foot.

The beeping from the other side of the room drew his attention.  Baymax opens his eyes to see all of Hiro’s room and the state he was in. He steps out of his charging port and goes to Hiro.  “Hiro on a scale of one to ten how would you rate your pain?”  he proceeds to show the chart on his chest.

“I don’t have time Baymax, I’m late!!  Hiro quickly gets up and starts to get dressed.  “Why didn’t you wake me up, anyway? The emergency alarm had to wake me.”

“The average amount of sleep the human body needs is eight hours.  You went to bed at two AM by my calculations you need another two hours to function properly.”

“I know Baymax, but I have papers, projects and classes that need to be done.” Hiro argues as he finishes tying his shoe, he gets up and sprints for the stairs.  As he was about to leave, Hiro remembers to grab his bag and Baymax in tow.

<> 

The Lucky Cat Café was as busy as usual for a Monday morning.  All the tables were packed as Aunt Cass tries to cut time by loading up a tray full of coffees and pastries.  She walks past the doorway that leads to their upstairs living quarters.

Hiro comes out of nowhere, yelling “Bye Aunt Cass.  Sorry no hugs, I’m late.”  Running right by his aunt who is able to dodge him, but once Baymax bumps into her she begins to fall, just taking the tray with her, until a helpful hand saves the both of them.

“Woah that would have been a disaster.  Are you ok?” a feminine voiced stranger says as she helps pick up the tray and Aunt Cass.

“Yeah I’m fine but when you have a nephew; somethings can go crazy.  Ah thank you…”  Aunt Cass looks to the young lady that was in front of her as she is helped up.  She wore black boots that led to grey skinny jeans.  They were held with a brown belt with the most peculiar belt buckle; a circle with three lines on it.  As she is still being lifted Cass see a maroon shirt that was tucked in and a black leather jacket covering the rest of the stranger.  Cass’s finally helped all the way up get the reveal of the stranger’s face seeing pale skin, dark pink lips, hazel eyes and raven hair that is in a bob-cut of layers with grey highlights.  Which Aunt Cass thought had to be the girl’s choice of dying it because the stranger seems to be the age of 23.  And that much grey hair on her did not seem natural.  

The stranger finally offers her name.  “Cassandra, and I kind of am going to be going through the same thing as I watch my friends’ kid.”  Cassandra fully gives control to the tray back to Aunt Cass, as she walks to drop off coffee and pastries at tables.  

“Ah, are you new here?  I haven’t seen you around.”  Cass asks as Cassandra follows her.

“No, I’ve lived here for a while and have heard about your place.  But I’m just not really a coffee person.”

Cass asks bewildered “Then what brings you in?” as she sets the last pastry down.

“You evidently have a tea other places don’t carry that helps my friend’s kid calm down. With it being his first day at a new school, he’s a bit nerves so…” Cassandra was cut off by a long car honk that came from outside.

“Speak of the devil.  That’s him now, can I get a large?”

“Say no more; I’m on it.”  Aunt Cass proceeds to make the tea as quickly as she could.

<> 

“Alright, Baymax, I’ll be back after classes.  The others might drop by throughout the day.  See ya!! Hiro says as he closes the door to Tadashi’s lab and runs to Professor Granville’s class.  He makes it through the door before he could be marked late.

“You; barley made it, Mr. Hamada.  Note; being punctual will help you be able to keep a job in the future, even if you are working for yourself.”  Professor Granville states as she pulls her lecture up on to the screen.

Hiro lets out a relived breath as he walks to his seat.  He pulls out his notebook and pencil for the lecture.  The class was going normally until almost the end of class.  There was a knock at the classroom door.  Everyone looks to Professor Granville.  She looks to the door window.

“Ah yes, come on in Mr. Müller.”  The whole class had their eyes on the door as it slowly opens.  A young boy walks to Professor Granville.  Hiro too, stares as the guy walks by.  Noting of what he could see, the student wore many layers of baggy clothes all consisting of teal and black.

A teal beanie sat on his shaggy black hair.  His bangs covered a majority of his face.  But one strand stood out because it was blue.  He held a few notebooks in one hand against his chest and a plastic cup in the other.  Hiro took a closer look to see the logo.  It was from the Lucky Cat Café.  Hiro’s scrutinizing gaze was broken when Granville spoke; “Now class, I don’t normally introduce new students, but this is Varian Müller a 14-year-old transfer from Germany.  As you can see, he doesn’t quite know campus so if one of you could show him around?” She looks around the room to see if anyone will volunteer.  Instead of volunteering everyone starts whispering.

Hiro looks around making out some of the whispering conversations that were: “He’s young.” “Is his look a fashion statement?” “Why did he transfer?”  “What’s his major.”  He then looks back to Varian to sees the guy was shrinking in on himself and the cups contents he was holdings was swishing around a bit.  Hiro noted probably from being nervous.

Just as Professor Granville was about to speak a happy go lucky “I’ll do it!” came from Hiro’s right. He looked over to see Karmi the 18-year-old bio-tech prodigy.  She was all to giddy to be the guide this new kid. No doubt to find out what he studies, or he must be new competition for her.  Hiro thought as he watches her head to the front of the room.

“Thank you Karmi. Alright class that is all for today’s lesson don’t forget to do pages nine though thirteen of your textbooks.” Granville states as class is dismissed.

<> 

“Argh; finally; the hard part of my day is over!!”  Hiro reports as he enters the lab hands full of his textbooks and new project parts.  He sets them down on the closest table knocking some other papers and blueprints over to the already messy floor.  He wipes his forehead with his jacket sleeve as he looks around the room seeing Fred laying upside down on a chair reading a comic as Baymaxs watches.  

All of a sudden Fred pops up saying “Hey!  What about this; could a person survive a blast of magma from there hands?” asks Fred excitedly.  

“The probability of magma emanating from a person’s hands is nonexistent they would suffer from third degree burns from the surrounding tissue and…”

Baymax was cut off when Wasabi, Honey Lemon and Gogo all barged into the lab. “Did you hear about the new guy!” Squeals Honey Lemon. “I heard he was too smart for his old school so that why he’s here.”

“Yeah this kid’s got a so many awards he’s probably going to win all the ones here.” Wasabi chimes in.”

“I heard he is an alien from the planet Malgo an here to suck out our brains!”  Fred says enthusiastically as he walks over to Gogo trying to scary her.

“No.” Voices Gogo as she stops him from getting closer by putting her hand on his chest.

“Freddy were you feeling left out because you don’t know what we’re talking about?” implies Honey Lemon.

“Yes; No; Maybe?” Fred shrinks down after each word knowing his guess were way off.  Which made everyone silent until Gogo announces “I just heard he was from Germany.”

“Wait you guys are talking about the transfer uh Varian…uh…Varian Miller.”  

“It’s pronounced Mueller since he’s from Germany Hiro.”  Politely corrects Honey Lemon.

“Whatever he’s Karmi’s new competition so I don’t care what his name is.” Hiro starts to dig through a box of parts to get started on a project.

“Oh, so you didn’t hear?” States Gogo as she crosses her arms.

“Hear what?” Hiro looks to his friends in confusion while he was still digging.  Fred shrugs because he is just as much in the dark as he is.

“Karmi released a whole report about this kid.  Its on the schools blog.”  Wasabi pulls out his phone and shows Hiro.  The screen shows a quick snapshot of the kid trying to block the camera with his fingerless gloved hands.  With the title New Prodigy Hits Campus!  Before he could read anymore Wasabi took it away saying.  “It says the kid went to Berlin’s Institute of Technology our number one competitor.  He’s won all sorts of awards.  Until a mysteries accident caused half the school to be decommissioned.  He’s now here to continue his studies.”

“Did he actually tell Karmi this?”  Hiro asks as he pulls out the tool he was looking for.

“I don’t think so. I saw Karmi in the library on the computer.” Gogo says as she blows a bubble from her gum.  Hiro walks over to some parts that he has on a table and starts his project.

“What I’m shocked is he’s majoring in Chemical Engineering and Robotics.  Two majors is suicide at this school!”

As soon as the word Robotics left Honey Lemons mouth, he froze.  “What is he majoring?”

She repeats herself “Chemical Engineering and Robotics.”

“Ha looks like you finally have some competition man.”  Fred blurts out.  They all start to continue to talk about the new guy which seems to just fade to a hum to Hiro as things were swimming around his mind.  He puts his tools down and walks to the door.  “I’m going to go get some gummy bears I’ll be right back.”  If his face gave away sign of irritation his friends didn’t see it as they said see ya and went back to their conversation.  But Baymax knew and he follows Hiro.

“Hiro my scans indicate that you are slightly irritated.  What is irritating you?”  Baymax asks.

“Nothing buddy just got a lot on my mind.”  He says subdued until he states, “But not as much as that new guy I bet he won’t be able to last a week handling such difficult classes.”  Brightening his spirits as he walks to the vending machine.

Two Weeks Later…

“Man did you hear Varian made a…”

“That kid is smarter than anyone here.”

“Varian just combined a …”

“Varian”

“Varian”

“Varian”

“Aaaaaa” Shouts Hiro as he slams his head on the table. “Make it stop!” he muffles.

“Hey, did you hear…” Fred asks till he is cut off by Hiro.

“YES, I heard he made a unstoppable robot, he is smarter than anyone else here, I even heard that he is the cutest one here.  And I’m here to say; I have had enough.  I’m going to challenge him to show this nerd school who is the true prodigy of SFIT!”  Hiro stomps out of the lab Baymax following behind him.

“I was just going to say they had free tacos at the cafeteria.”  Fred announces to an empty lab as he takes a bite out of one of his tacos.

[randomwoohoo]

Here’s the 3rd Ch of this AU. This chapter came little bit late because of my job. Thank you for checking it out~ Link of Fanfiction.net

Nick  : Previously on Zoomorphia!

Judy  : Zootopia, a modern civilized city populated by all kinds of mammals, is threatened by mysterious mammal-like monsters, Savage; therefore, Savage Control Unit or SCU was formed in order to exterminate those monsters, still... the team alone isn’t enough if you ask me.

Nick  : When wild Savages appeared, we changed into Hybrid to save the day. Last time, we even got a chance to use Police form which has a pistol to shoot down the monsters and a vehicle for chasing.

Judy  : Currently, there are new missing mammal cases and night howler cases. Oh! Besides, it seems we’re lucky that we weren’t punished anymore.

Nick  : If you called a light duty a punishment, I would be glad to receive it.

Judy  : Don’t be down in the dumps, Nick. You look cool when you’re in action.

Nick  : If so, I don’t mind get some action, Carrots.

Judy  : That’s a spirit! Wait, what!?

Nick  : Now the Chapter 3!

.-.. . - .----. ... / -.-. --- -. - .. -. ..- .

“-You’re under arrest for Midnicampum holicithias trafficking.” In the night, Senior officer Judy Hopps locked a gray fox tod’s arm behind his back, pressing him against a wall of alley. “You should dub it ‘Night howler’, Carrots. It’d save us time.” Her partner, Senior officer Nick Wilde, advised. They were capturing an illicit night howler dealer.

    The criminal fox in denim clothes was alarmed by a smaller mammal. He could not escape bunny cop’s grasp no matter how hard he struggled. “How can you betray your own kind? Aren’t you a fox too?” He asked the fox cop. “And a real handsome one” Nick, smirking, self praised. The trafficker’s face flamed with anger as he insulted the red fox. “You filthy son of a-Ouch!!”

“Don’t you dare address my partner like that!” Doe squeezed the speckled coated fox’s wrist. Nick stuck his tongue out at the grey tod.

    The partner thought this week would be simple, just handling illegal night howler trade which occurred sporadically. However, they were wrong...

“Now… not only mammals in nearby towns went missing but also citizens of Zootopia...” Chief Bogo the Cape buffalo informed sternly at the podium. He pointed at a push pin-pocked Zootopia map that was covered in photos of missing mammals. “There’re 8 missing mammal cases so far. This must be some gangs’ doing, yet nothing can be concluded. Today, we have victims’ family or associates here in ZPD. They’re willing to give us info which can be useful for cases. I will arrange interviews. Meanwhile, whoever doesn’t have an urgent matter, look up the overall cases.” He exited the bullpen.

    Every officer seemed serious in equal manner. Some left the room to perform their tasks. Fox and rabbit cops got off a chair, walking up to the map. “This moose… have I met him before?” Judy was staring at a picture of a dark brown slim bull. “Yeah! I definitely have seen him before! At the diner in Savanna Central!” She remembered the moose she saw few days ago when she had a lunch with Clawhauser, Fangmeyer and Nick. “Civilian has gone missing right under our noses… scary...” Tod remarked.

    The other officer came to scrutinize the map. “Can it be…?” The male bengal tiger scowled. His expression concerned doe. “What’s wrong, Jackson?” She inquired. “Na- na- Nothing-” Jackson Rajah, the bengal tiger ZPD officer, stuttered. “By the way, how is Fangmeyer?” He changed the subject, talking about Jasmine Fangmeyer the bengal tigress transferred to special unit, SCU . “Jasmine? Little bit tired from Savage hunt but she’s fine. She’s just visited ZPD recently. Didn’t you meet her?” Bunny’s question caused tiger speechless. He mumbled something and before she could catch anything-

“Hopps, Wilde, follow me. One of the victims’ family is ready for interview.” Bogo opened a door and called for the duo. “Let’s go, Carrots.” Said Nick, buttoning his uniform collar for neatness. “See ya later, Jackson.” Judy bid farewell. “Take care.” Rajah waved his paw goodbye. The partner walked out the room.

-- .. ... ... .. -. --.

“Tadashi Hamada, 21-year old raccoon dog, a student at Zootopia Institute of Technology, has been missing for a week. Last time you saw him, he was working on his project at his campus, correct, Ms. Hamada?” Nick, holding a report, reviewed the case to two tanukis sitting opposite to the duo in an interview room.

“Yes” Cass Hamada, tanuki in mid-thirties, dressing in a short sleeved v-neck and a pair of capris, topped off with a silver-turquoise necklace, confirmed. “Please officers… My nephew is a good kit, an honor student. He would never just disappear.” Her voice quavered a moment.

“Tadashi’s bike was left nearby his lab! He absolutely didn’t run away!” Hiro Hamada, a 14-year old tanuki, wearing casual clothes and blue hoodie, spoke up.

“We believe you, Hiro.” Judy ambled towards civilians. “We will find him. I promise.” She clasped both tanukis’ one paw. Nick, pursing his lips, knew well… Again... She didn’t make a promise just to soothe the family but she genuinely believed they will find Tadashi and bring him home . In the past three years, notwithstanding how remarkable the doe is, the tod had witnessed she got hurt because she believed too much… The moment one’s hope crumbles is undeniably painful…

.--. .-. --- -- .. ... .

    A wolf security guard was stationed at the gate of Cliffside Asylum, being on the lookout. Ever since a group of juveniles annoyed the canine and Savage appeared there, the place had been peaceful and calm.

“Good afternoon~ How’re ya doing?” A jolly male voice broke the silence. The guard’s jaw dropped once seeing who was the voice owner. “O-O-Officer N-Ni-Nick Wilde!?” Wolf stammered from excitement of meeting a semi-celebrity, Nick Wilde, the first and only one ZPD officer.

“Am I bothering you?” Fox approached the other canine. “No! O-Of course not, sir! Wh-What brings you here?” The guard was still nervous. “I just happen to be around here, so I pay a visit.” Nick behaved friendly in order to put the wolf at ease. Nonetheless, his words increased the wolf’s agitation. “You… come to see me?” Stunned, wolf wondered.

“Thanks for cooperation last week~ Y’know, contacting SCU when Savage showed up~” The fox gesticulated, attempting to elucidate his appreciation. “My great pleasure to help, sir.” Wolf smiled slightly. “Sorry that you had to experience a mess.” Tod expressed sympathy. “It’s okay, sir. Actually, nothing has happened much around here, so a little bit excitement is kinda nice.” Guard giggled.

    As wolf’s guard was lowered down, a raccoon ran past the gate. “What?” Wolf took time to register what had just passed the gate. “Oh no! Halt!” Wolf guard snapped out, about to follow the intruder. “I’ll chase him. You stay here.” Fox officer touched wolf’s elbow softly to detain the guard then he dashed off. “You’re sure? I gonna call reinforcement!” Wolf held a phone, pressing the number. Tod about-turned, ran backward and yelled. “No! Stay there! Don’t let anyone else come in! And better not tell anybody cuz if they learn how you let a lad passing through, you’ll be in trouble!” He made the guard realize that the intruder was able to pass through the gate because the wolf solely focused on the fox celebrity, thereby neglecting guard’s duty. Wolf guard nodded, putting down the phone. Nick gave the thumbs up then turned back, speeding up towards a building.

    Inside the Cliffside Asylum building, Jim Tuck the teenage raccoon in black jacket and yellow t-shirt began to explore a ruined story, sneaking around mutely not to draw anything’s attention to himself. However, something patted his shoulder, startling the raccoon. He stepped away hastily.

“Cool down kid~ Don’t start treasure hunting without me.” Nick raised both paws, gesturing he meant no harm. “Geez… Do you really have to tail along?” Jim’s heart still beat fast. He was losing patience with the fox police officer’s waggishness.

“I thought we’ve approved this plan. If you leave here alone, guard will at the very least try to capture you. I guarantee it won’t end pretty~” Nick emphasized on the ‘at the very least’ part. He continued explaining. “But if you walk out with me, pretending you get caught by police...” Tod quieted down, wanting Jim to say how situation would play out. “I will obtain flash drive and simply get away. Okay, fine, argh.” The raccoon grunted. “Exactly~ Let’s roll~” Fox clapped his paws.

    Since the only legit entrance of Cliffside Asylum is through the front gate, Nick had done his homework, studying each guard’s behavior and their shifts; thus, he came up with the plan to enter the building during a shift of one particular guard who is a wolf and a sucker for bigwigs. Fox plotted to distract the guard while Jim trespassing on property and then Nick would go after. When the raccoon achieved the goal, the fox would lead him out and lie to the guard that he arrested the teen and took him to ZPD but actually would drop Jim off somewhere else. This is the plan Nick and Jim agreed upon.

    Whilst Jim flashed the light in left paw and rifled through a crumbled laboratory, desk to desk, Nick investigated deftly in a dim area owing to his night vision. He came across the wreckage of devices scattering all over the floor, broken black metal pieces , maroon handle-like sticks, sliver syringes and purple half spheres. He immediately recognized the parts… MidniDriver… but in various sizes, from large enough for bear to small enough for tiny otter. Furthermore, he discovered a burnt paper sheet, picking it up to read.

MidniDriver project It seemed to be a hard copy about MidniDriver. Nick skimmed through it. The main idea was...

Binary bridge system is developed for connecting two users’ belts. MidniDriver requires apperception, instinct and blood of predators but the main body must be preys. MidniDriver application purely on predators can cause critical side-effects because the core of device is-

This was as far as tod can read. The rest was gone. He interpreted that basically MidniDriver places the predator’s software in the prey’s hardware, yet Nick pondered. But back then... Carrots and I transformed into- His recall was interfered when Jim appealed for assistance.

“Wilde. Little help here.” The raccoon strove to pull out a jammed desk drawer. Fox folded the paper and kept it in his pocket. He neared Jim, assisting him. “On the count of three. One, two, three!” They tugged the drawer open together under Nick’s signal. Fox slipped, bumping his button against the floor full of concrete fragments. “Ow~” He, gazing down, touched his bum gently.

“Found it.” Jim whisper-shouted, lifting a thumb-sized flash drive from the drawer. “So this is what you’ve been searching for.” Nick arose then snatched the flash drive from Jim’s paw. “Hey! Give it back!” Jim reached to retrieve flash drive but Nick dodged before the raccoon could lay a finger on the object. “Gimme dang thing!” Jim repeatedly attempted to regain possession as Nick could dodge every time. Fox’s ears flicked, responding to a noise from the hallway. Jim flashed the light at Nick’s face, intending to catch him off guard. Tod threw the flash drive away, which raccoon did not predict. Jim released the grip, going after the thrown object flying to the hallway.

“Nice throw, Slick~” Rabbit police officer caught the flash drive, shocking the raccoon who froze still. “Nice catch, Carrots~” Fox officer strutted past the raccoon. “How can you get in?” He advanced towards his partner. “Well, I deceived a guard that you contacted me for support, so I can enter here, no sweat.” Judy answered, tossing the flash drive up and seized it when it fell down. “Sly bunny~” He opined. “Clever fox~” She complimented, inserting the object into trousers’ back pocket.

“What’s the meaning of this!? Did you trick me!?” Jim bellowed, ignoring the circumstance he might disturb the threats in this place. He connected the dots, comprehending that Fox offered to assist just for learning what he schemed to steal and confiscating it in the process.

    The duo’s eyes met. Both thereupon laughed. “It’s called a hustle, sweetheart.” They stated simultaneously, smirking at Jim, making him retort. “You dirty-”

    The roar drowned out other noises. Three mammals were able to identify the source of horrendous cry. “Time’s up! We must leave now!” Nick told Jim. Although the pair should skedaddle right away, citizen’s safety is priority. They had to make sure Jim fled securely. Besides, the raccoon was a minor. It would be too cruel to abandon him. “My flash drive!” The teen persisted in reclaiming. “Beat it!” Judy commanded. Tod dragged raccoon, saving him from an ambush. Couples of orbs glowed in the dark...

-.. . -.-. . .--. - .. --- -.

“Are they alright?” The wolf guard worried about two officers who accessed Cliffside Asylum to pursue the criminal. Next, he felt déjà vu, ears perking up to catch the scream from the building, rotating to glance at mammals running. The guard did not even behold what they were escaping from but wolf had scrammed.

    Three of them managed to get out of the asylum. Nevertheless, the trio of little Savages kept chasing them. “That way!” Judy directed Jim to the other way. “Noted” This time, he consented to follow her order readily, veering off, departing the place.

“That was rather easy.” Nick raised eyebrows. He assumed it should be harder to cast the young raccoon out. The duo slackened their pace to a stop, swiveling to face the monsters, a scurry of purple flying squirrels which possessed 2 compound eyes, insect mandibles for mouth and feet resembling beetle claws. “Ready, partner?” Judy brought out MidniDriver, an arm-sized black morpher with silver syringe on the left and maroon motorcycle handle on the right. “Hang on!" Nick endeavored to draw out the device hidden in his pants. “Quick!” She rushed him. “This thing’s so big! How can you carry it with ya like all the time!?” Tod finally drew out the morpher successfully. “I have my own method.” Doe replied sincerely.

    Bunny and fox put on MidniDriver . He pulled the syringe that was retracted mechanically. “ DRAW BLOOD ” Blood flowed into his syringe then it teleported into the syringe of Judy’s device. She pressed the syringe which sprang out on its own, “ INJECT ” injecting fox blood to herself. Nick flopped standing up, lying unconsciously on the ground.

“Transform!” Judy sprinted forth, twisting the handle anticlockwise. “ IGNITE ” Device’s handle whirled back after she let it go. MidniDriver released purple steam, followed by the scorching purple mist explosion. A flamingo red bio-armored blend of rabbit and fox, Hybrid, emerged from a haze.

    The lustrous metallic doe, added fox’s tail and fang pattern on muzzle part of helmet, in Nick’s casual clothes color scheme barreled towards the monsters. They leapt, spread their patagia and soared into the air. Hybrid halted, watching out for Savages’ next move, seeing that they were gliding around the twosome. Nick and Judy perceived well that they can only combat at close range in a current form, Hustler form; hence he proposed. “Shall we shoot ‘em with a bow?”

“Great idea.” Judy was going to grasp the maroon handle. One Savage dove to pounce on Hybrid ’s right shoulder joint. Slipping, the doe swept a squirrel off. It flew away while others swooped on Hybrid from behind, causing the pair to stumble.

“These little fella are fast!” Tod exclaimed. He swing a fist. However, the monsters took flight before the fist hit them. One ascended, nibbling rabbit ear. Hybrid was not hurt. The ears appear soft and flexible, yet hard and strong like steel. Doe shook the small monster off. The rest of scurry crashed into flamingo occiput. Hybrid almost tumbled.

    Albeit squirrel Savage s barely did any damages, their celerity really irritate the duo. Protracting claws, Hybrid gyrated to scratch the monsters. They missed. Judy’s eyes locked at one Savage which glided towards insensible fox officer. “Carrots!” Nick alerted. Judy pushed the syringe. “ ACTIVATE ” Hybrid hared off, overtaking the squirrel. She crouched down over tod’s body to protect him. “Eek! Feral bun bun gonna eat me!!” Nick imitated girl voice poorly. “Hush!” The doe concentrated on the monsters wheeling around above the pair. Both bid their time patiently.

    Savage s charged at Hybrid . At that instant they sensed monsters’ presence close by, Hybrid bounced up, spinning in mid-air, stretching out to clutch two squirrels with both paws and stab another squirrel with sharp left toenails. Two Savages deceased as soon as the claws impaled them, force crushing their bones. Duo landed on feet next to fox body. Left foot scraped against the floor, injuring the last squirrel monster worse. They all vaporized, ceasing to exist.

“Yet another victory~” Nick announced delightedly but Judy asserted differently. “Not yet… The roar we heard previously doesn’t belong to any of these-” The same roar as before interrupted the doe.

    Savage , four-eyed purple kangaroo with an extra pair of folded limbs at flanks, came out of the building. It bounded ahead as Hybrid strode over fox’s body then approached a huge marsupial determinedly. Judy hopped and kicked the monster whilst it stood on tail to shove its opponent away with feet. Both sides moved back, still Savage moved farther than Hybrid did. The pair backflipped before landing safely. Kangaroo overleapt. Hybrid jumped to the monster, aiming to strike it in mid-air.

    However, Savage extended its extra arms, flapping membrane wings. “What!” Fox and bunny cried out. Their punch failed to hit because kangaroo shifted upward. The four-eyed monster drop-kicked Hybrid. The duo descended to the ground.

“Ouchies, I call in sick tomorrow.” Nick whined. “It’s my body that got attacked, plus this doesn’t even hurt. It’ll scarcely affect ya.” Judy countered. They observed kangaroo beating its wings, rising higher and higher, beyond 6 stories.

“You know what they say. The higher they rise~” Tod uttered “The harder they fall.” Doe completed the clause. Hybrid performed a kip-up, stooping down, twisting Midnidriver ’s handle anticlockwise. “ CRITICAL BREAK ” Hybrid skied aloft, reaching Savage instantaneously at 75 feet above ground. “Did you know? Rabbits can jump as high as the moon.” The united twosome quizzed. Hybrid span from left to right, body in a horizontal position. Leg shin smote the monster. Kangaroo plummeted to earth.

    Hybrid plunged to the floor majestically, standing upright, viewing Savage vaporizing. “Mission accomplished!” Nick lifted a closed left paw. “Mission accomplished” Judy tapped the left fist with the right, sort of like Hybrid fist-bumped oneself

-- --- --- -.

    Jim Tuck managed to withdraw from Cliffside Asylum. “I understand! I messed up.” He was later arguing with an eurasian brown bear who had a prosthetic right arm. They were surrounded by intimidating mammals in a gloomy room. “Darn right, Jimmy. The flash drive is now in the police paw. Slim chance we gonna acquire it.” The bear signaled his underling. Full grown opossum seized raccoon’s wrist. “Wait, John!” Jim hollered the bear’s name. “It’s Mr. Silver to you!” Opossum shouted at raccoon.

“Mr. Silver. Yes, you may be right but I have something you might want more.” What Jim said interested John Silver the bear. He waved his paw, telling opossum to unpaw the teen, which opossum did so. Jim rubbed his own wrist, discerning no injury; therefore, he moved on, bringing out something underneath his hoodie jacket. He laid it on nearby table. Other mammals ,including John, goggled at it, a sealed test tube of purple liquid. Jim stole the chemicals secretly from the same drawer before he found the flash drive.

“Deal’s done. Let my brothers go.” Raccoon demanded. Bear gave his underlings a look. They nodded. A few mammals grabbed hold of raccoon. “Hey! Let go of me!” Jim wriggled, yet it was futile. “The thing is… I’m thinking about extending our contract.” John Silver the bear grinned.

- --- / -... . / -.-. --- -. - .. -. ..- . -..

[cloudaintfair]

The Letter Ch.2

Professor Callaghan was sent to the Isle of the Lost for the crimes he committed: attempted murder, arson, manslaughter and the many other things. When Carlos and Jay were going back to the school and create a phony wand, the disgraced Professor gave the de Vil boy an envelope containing a letter and asked him to give it to his daughter.

FFN I AO3 

Chapter 1

With a few words, Carlos was able to persuade the king that he'd go to San Fransokyo alone, but at a compromise: he has to be accompanied by a local of San Fransokyo.

Carlos can't say he blamed the king for the decision. Considering the prejudice they were still getting from the people of Auradon, it was reasonable. That and the common notion that at any time he'll 'go back' to his evil roots, it was the only compromise the King could think that'd make both parties happy.

"Hey Tadashi?" Ben said while on his phone. "Yeah, there's someone who'd like to visit San Fransokyo." He stated his reason. "Yeah, I'd like for you to pick him up by the airport." He nodded. "It's just that he's from the isle." He admitted.

Carlos kinda feared what was the person on the other line was like. Yes he was from the isle, but he was still the very worst at being bad even while still in there. He spent more time cleaning his mother's car than actually plotting schemes to make anyone suffer.

"Really?" Ben's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "I think you're busy with your kids and teaching at SFIT to be able to do that." The King continued. "Tadashi!" He whined. "I guess." He continued. "Actually I was going to ask for Hiro to accompany him." He admitted. "But okay, if you really want to." He smiled. "It was nice talking to you again Tadashi." He nodded. "Bye."

Ben put his phone inside his pocket.

"Who was that?" Carlos asked curiously.

"That was Tadashi, Tadashi Hamada." Ben answered. "He's going to pick you up at San Fransokyo's airport."

"I thought he was dead?" Carlos questioned.

"Presumed dead." Ben corrected. "He was found days after Professor Callaghan was sent to the isle." He explained. "How do you know him anyway?"

"Well." Carlos began as he reached for the envelope inside his bag. "Remember when you were captured by Uma?" He responded. "Well when we were about to 3D print a wand to give to Uma, Professor Callaghan stopped us." He explained. "He wanted me give this letter to his daughter."

"That still doesn't explain how you heard of Tadashi." Ben pointed out.

"Let's just say Professor Callaghan and I were close in the isle." Carlos kept his answer vague. "And he might've told me about his regrets while still in San Fransokyo."

"I see." Ben nodded as he dialed another number. "I'm calling in the embassy and give details for your visit." He stated.

"Tadashi, who was that?" Hiro Hamada, Tadashi's younger brother, asked. "Was that Auradon's king?" He questioned.

"Yeah that was Ben." Tadashi nodded. "He called in a favor." He explained.

The brothers were inside their Aunt's café helping their aunt in cleaning the establishment. Cass's café's customer-ship drastically increased once everyone found out that most kings, queens, princes, princesses, were there. Most people who were there nowadays were hoping to have the one in a million chance at seeing the royals.

Much to Tadashi's relief.

Considering the café's increasing number of clients, Cass needed all the help she can get. She even enlisted her nephews' friends just to cater to the establishment's customers, apart from hiring full time and part time workers.

"Well the king wants me to pick up a kid who wanted to visit San Fransokyo." Tadashi admitted as he sat on a chair and continued their conversation.

"A Villain Kid?" Hiro asked.

"Hiro!" Tadashi called out. "We don't label people based on where they lived." He chided.

"I know, I know." Hiro rolled his eyes. "But everyone has been calling them the 'Villain Kid' moniker, VK for short." He justified himself. "They even refer to themselves as such." He added.

"Even so." Tadashi shook his head. "That deals with a whole other can of worms." He explained. "Technically Ms. Abigail can be considered a VK since her father was Professor Callaghan." He added. "So are Princesses Rapunzel and Cinderella, even if they don't know that." He finished.

It always irked Tadashi on how prejudiced some people were to the kids from the isle. He never really liked what the King of Auradon declared, equating every crime as equal and incarcerating the criminal's family just for being related.

"Well I'm heading upstairs." Tadashi said as he stood. "Need to look presentable for our visitor." He added with a smile.

It was Carlos's first time inside an airplane, and he loved every second of it. He really liked being able to fly without the assistance of something magical like Alladin's carpet or pixie dust.

Carlos was at the airport when a tall man approached him.

"Carlos de Vil right?" The man stated. "I'm Tadashi Hamada." He introduced himself.

"Yeah." Carlos nodded, tense.

Carlos really should've asked either Mal, Jay, Evie or even Ben to accompany him. Sure, he may not be in the Isle of the Lost anymore, but if there's anything he knew for sure, it's that people not from the Isle can be mean, if Family Day back in Auradon was any indication, not to mention Audrey and Chad.

As Carlos tried to collect himself, he noticed that the man, Tadashi as he claimed to be, before him wore: a blazer, a cardigan, a shirt, a pair of jeans and sneakers.

"Don't worry Carlos." Tadashi stated as he offered his hand. "I don't bite." He chuckled.

Carlos could sense that Tadashi was trying relieve him of the tension he was feeling.

"Yeah, if anything he's a mother hen." Another voice stated.

Carlos found the source of the voice, it was another man, a little shorter than Tadashi and wore: a hoodie, shirt, a pair of cargo shorts and sneakers.

"I'm Hiro Hamada." The boy introduced himself. "This nerd's younger brother."

"Hiro! What are you doing here?!" Tadashi questioned. "Weren't you supposed to take care of my shift?" He added. "What about the kids?"

"Tell that to Aunt Cass." Hiro replied. "She doesn't trust anyone from the Isle apparently." He said. "And can you really blame her?" He asked. "Blame us if we feel that way?" He added.

"Hiro." Tadashi sighed. "How many times do I have to tell you guys that everything was an accident?" He explained. "None of it was the Professor's fault." He added. "Besides we're not dealing with him here." He continued.

"By the way, your sons are under Honey's care." Hiro answered his older brother's last question. "

It was then that Carlos recognized the name of the other Hamada, Hiro. It was the same boy who Professor Callaghan claimed to have orphaned for the second time.

"I'm Carlos de Vil." Carlos introduced himself, still tense. "Son of Cruella de Vil." He continued as he shook Tadashi's hand.

"Well then, it's nice to meet you Carlos." Tadashi remarked.

"Yeah, well, forgive us for being uneasy with anyone from the isle." Hiro apologized. "We kinda lost him once and we don't want a repeat of that." He admitted as he offered his hand.

"I-It's okay." Carlos nodded. "I understand." He continued as he shook Hiro's hand.

"Hey there's no need to be nervous around us." Hiro commented. "We won't hurt you." He added. "More likely we can't hurt you, I mean you're from the isle." He grinned.

Tadashi glared at his younger brother and elbowed him.

Really, for all the intelligence his younger brother has, he still can't read the atmosphere. He's so clueless to the situation at hand.

"What?!" Hiro responded. "It's true!"

Tadashi just rolled his eyes at his younger brother and focused his attention to Carlos. At first glance the de Vil was acting like any kid his age, but Tadashi could see some signs of physical abuse from the child, the gloves on his hands were good indicators of hiding some things there. Judging from the way he speaks, there's some hint of emotional abuse going on too.

"So Carlos." Tadashi began. "I heard that you want to go to somewhere specific." He prodded. "Can you tell us where it is?"

"Can you bring me to where Miss Abigail Callaghan lives?" Carlos asked, still as tense as ever. "I have something for her." He added. "From her father. "

Hiro frowned at the mention of Professor Callaghan. His older brother might have forgiven that disgrace of a professor, it doesn't change the fact that the same person left him with emotional scars from the ordeal.

Still it would be totally unfair if he'd judge Carlos for being close to Professor Callaghan, even moreso judging him from his previous place of residence. His comments earlier were meant to take off the boy's restless and guarded attitude, but it only served to push the de Vil's buttons.

"Yeah, we know where she lives." Tadashi nodded. "We can take you there." He smiled.

"If we're travelling there." Hiro trailed off as he unloaded two wheel-less boards. "Might as well do another trial for the 101st prototype." He finished as he handed the green board to his older brother.

"Are we really testing out prototypes while accompanying Carlos?" Tadashi groaned.

"Hey it can't hurt if he's with you." Hiro justified. "Besides, a fresh pair of eyes might help." He explained. "I'm just looking for another angle here." He shrugged.

As the brother's argued, Carlos can't help himself but be curious about the boards that Hiro unloaded. At first glance, they looked like surf boards he had seen on TV while on the isle. Upon closer inspection, there's a small turbine under the board and panels that contained who knows what.

"Are you okay about this Carlos?" Tadashi inquired. "If you aren't, we can just walk." He offered. "And let Hiro test the prototypes on his own."

"It's okay." Carlos nodded, still agitated.

"You know, if you're really not into this, we aren't forcing you." Hiro repeated his brother's words as he knelt in front of the boy. "Like Tadashi said, I could take these things on a test run alone while you'll be accompanied by him to Abigail's place." He reassured.

"No, no." Carlos shook his head. "It's alright, may be a fresh pair of eyes will help." He offered. "If that's alright with you." He finished.

"If you say so." Tadashi obliged.

The three boys went outside of the airport's lobby and unto the streets where Tadashi and Hiro activated their boards.

The boards in question never touched the ground once activated, it's as if the boards were spelled to levitate.

"Is there magic involved in these boards?" Carlos can't help himself but ask.

"No." The brothers answered in unison.

"These bad boys are made with pure Science." Hiro declared.

"Besides, magic was retired." Tadashi shrugged. "It's not outlawed per se, but people like, want a magic-free lifestyle." He explained.

"Not that anything's changed though." Hiro interjected. "We've never needed magic to get by." He added. "Science rules!"

"And he tells me I'm the nerd." Tadashi commented as he chuckled. "While what Hiro said is true, but the fact doesn't change that we were both born when everyone in the world, not just the United States of Auradon, had already agreed to retire magic." He added.

Carlos wanted to prod the brothers more on how these levitating boards were made. As far as he knew, things don't just levitate without the assistance of magic, like Alladin's magic carpet or the pixie dust that assisted people.

Tadashi and Hiro boarded their respective hover boards, the older Hamada even made room for another passenger.

"Just hold unto me okay?" Tadashi offered his hand. "We'll go at a reasonable enough speed." He smiled. "While my brother will go faster than us and all the while perform tricks to test out some kinks." He explained.

Carlos just nodded and got on Tadashi's hover board.

Tadashi and Hiro nodded at each other as the both of them began to move. The younger Hamada sped past them and did tricks as the older man shook his head and moved at a steady pace.

"Carlos, we're speeding up gradually okay?" Tadashi informed.

"Okay." Carlos nodded as his grip on Tadashi's arms tightened.

The whole thing was surreal in Carlos's point of view. He just can't believe that levitation was possible without the use of magic. Sure airplanes and helicopters exist but those vehicles have the necessary propulsion needed to defy the world's gravity.

The Hamada brothers and Carlos traversed through San Fransokyo's high way, on their way towards Abigail Callaghan's place of residence at the moment, Hiro did some tricks, even go as far as to increase his altitude to make things seem death defying and cool.

Hiro was in the middle of another trick when his hover board stopped and he started to descend head first. Before he could go splat on the ground, he immediately flipped right side up and landed on his feet. The board he was riding was also lucky as a foam of hardened pink goo was released and covered the entirety of the board's underside and broke the board's fall.

"This always happens whenever I try to flip the hover board." Hiro groaned as he approached his fallen ride. "I just don't get what the problem is." He added.

As soon as Tadashi saw his younger brother dismount the board while in midair, he was immediately on panic mode.

"I'm going to go fast okay Carlos?" Tadashi warned but didn't wait for his passenger's response and increased the board's speed.

Tadashi and Carlos caught up to Hiro in no time at all. The older Hamada immediately went towards his younger brother, worried of the younger Hamada's safety as Carlos approached the fallen flying vehicle with a curious set of eyes.

"Are you okay Hiro?" Tadashi asked.

"Relax Tadashi." Hiro assured. "I'm fine." He smiled. "I learned how to land on my feet after Mocchi taught me how." He grinned.

Tadashi just glared at his younger brother.

"Oh c'mon Tadashi." Hiro groaned. "Relax will you?" He whined. "Your mother hen is showing." He chuckled as he approached his fallen ride. "I just don't get why we're getting the same results whenever I try flipping the board upside down." He moaned. "It's like the 6th time we changed the engines and the board's panels and it's still the same."

"Can any of you open the board?" Carlos spoke up. "If my hunch is right, there's should be something wrong with the assembly."

"Hey!" Hiro replied indignantly. "I assembled these things."

Tadashi just rolled his eyes and gave Carlos two screwdrivers.

Carlos immediately went to work and opened the board with the tools given to him. As soon as he opened the board, he immediately noticed that there's a smell of burnt chemicals from the solar powered engine.

"Is there supposed to be a coolant for the engine?" Carlos asked.

"Yeah." Tadashi replied. "In order to have the necessary propulsion to lift humans, we went ahead and used engines modeled after helicopters." He explained. "Due to the increased amount of revolutions per minute, and the closed compartments, the engine overheats quickly." He added. "To fix this problem we added a coolant compartment."

"Can you point me where the coolant compartment is?" Carlos asked. "I think I know what the problem is." He added.

Tadashi nodded and pointed at small rectangle inside the board. "That's the coolant compartment." He informed. "As you can see it's connected to the engine."

"And there lies the problem." Carlos pointed out. "Your engines are overheating because your coolant was leaking." He explained as he carefully removed one of the tubes leading towards the engine.

"What do you mean?" Hiro questioned. "I made sure to follow procedures in assembling the hover boards."

"Electrically, yes." Carlos nodded. "But you forgot to add tube sealant." He explained. "It's to prevent any liquid from leaking from the tube and go to its intended destination."

"Da-"

"Hiro." Tadashi glared.

"Oh c'mon Tadashi!" Hiro whined. "I'm 19! I should be able to cuss."

"That's not the point." Tadashi chided. "Besides we have a 12 year old with us."

"15 actually." Carlos corrected.

Tadashi ignored the correction and continued to look at his brother in chiding manner.

"Fine." Hiro relented. "That's still doesn't explain why it'll completely stop once it's upside down." He pointed out.

"Well the lack of sealant isn't exclusive to the tubes." Carlos reasoned.

"I see." Hiro nodded.

"Okay, we might need to collect everything now." Tadashi voiced out. "People are already staring." He added. "Some are even glaring at Carlos." He finished.

Indeed Tadashi, Hiro and Carlos were surrounded by curious onlookers who witnessed Hiro's accident and some of them were now blaming Carlos all because he was from the Isle of the Lost and the son of Cruella de Vil. Apparently everyone knew of the Isle kids that were sent to Auradon via Ben's decree, if the glares and murmurs were to go by.

"Nothing to see here people." Tadashi announced. "It's just another Hamada invention prototype testing." He announced.

Hiro immediately collected his hover board and cleaned the hardened goo that was on the ground. The goo wasn't that hard to clean up, a little fire and it disintegrated. Tadashi on the other hand put his hover board inside another bag and carried it.

"Done." Hiro announced. "Let's go."

"We're here!" Tadashi declared as they stood outside a door. "This is where Abigail lives for the moment." He explained.

The trio of boys stood outside an apartment complex in the middle of San Fransokyo.

"Why is she living here?" Carlos asked. "Didn't she already have a house to herself?"

"When Professor Callaghan resisted to be taken to the isle, he took his own daughter hostage." Hiro answered. "It was then that their house was partially destroyed." He added. "So until repairs are finished, she's living here."

"That can't be right." Tadashi frowned. "Professor Callaghan loved his daughter so much." He explained. "I've said this before and I'll say it again." He continued. "That's just so wrong in so many levels."

"I know." Hiro nodded. "He even went as far as attempting to kill Krei because he thought the businessman killed her." He added. "It confused all of us." He continued. "Authorities chalked it up to mental deterioration and closed the case."

"I feel like there's something missing." Tadashi stated.

"I thought so too." Hiro nodded. "But enough about that." He changed his attention to Carlos. "Aren't you going to knock?" He asked.

Carlos was listening

"R-right." Carlos nodded and went up the steps and knocked on the door.

"Coming" A voice coming from inside the house responded.

Not a moment later, an elderly woman opened the door form the inside.

"Tadashi!" The old woman exclaimed. "I haven't seen in you in forever!" She stated as she hugged the older boy. "I knew those alternative news were wrong when they stated that you were dead." She added as she tightened her hug.

"Good to see you too Mrs. Matsuda." Tadashi wheezed out.

"Umm…" Hiro started. "I'd like for my brother to breathe again Mrs. Matsuda."

"Little Hiro!" Mrs. Matsuda exclaimed. "Look how much you've grown." She added as she removed herself from the older Hamada and latched herself unto the younger one.

Mrs. Matsuda was known not to act and dress her age, so it's no wonder both Hamadas aren't as disturbed as Carlos was. Speaking of Mrs. Matsuda's clothes, she's wearing a spaghetti shirt with only a pink scarf covering her shoulders and back, a tutu skirt over her skin tight pants.

Before the tight hug could last longer, Mrs. Matsuda noticed another boy with the group. She released Hiro from her hug and approached Carlos.

"Oh who's the cutie?" The old woman questioned.

Carlos actually took a step backwards, with a fearful look on his face.

Tadashi and Hiro shared a look before completely interrupting Mrs. Matsuda from advancing again. They definitely noticed the fear in the de Vil's eyes.

"We're actually here for Abigail." Tadashi interrupted and stepped in front of Carlos. "King Ben actually sent him here." He explained. "We're just tasked to escort him." He smiled.

"Still the same good boy as when you were a child." Mrs. Matsuda commented. "Why don't I accompany you three to her room." She said as she motioned for the three boys to enter the house.

"No need to trouble yourself Mrs. Matsuda." A voice inside the house joined in. "I'll take care of them." She added.

"Abby!" Mrs. Matsuda exclaimed.

"Hello Tadashi, Hiro." Abigail greeted as she appeared by the old woman's side. "I'm assuming you're here for Baymax?"

"Actually no." Tadashi smiled. "My friend here wants to give you something." He continued as he nudged Carlos forward.

Tadashi felt his phone vibrate from inside his pocket, he quietly excused himself to the foursome and answered the call.

"I-I'm Carlos de Vil. "Carlos introduced himself as he made a gulping sound. "Y-your father wanted me to give you this." He continued as he handed Abigail the letter Professor Callaghan gave to him.

Carlos promptly turned around and began walking in the direction of the airport.

"Wait." Abigail started as Carlos stopped walking. "Why don't you stay for a while?" She asked as he turned around. "At least until I finish reading the letter." She explained.

"I really just came to San Fransokyo to give you that letter." Carlos explained. "Nothing else."

"I agree with Abby." Tadashi inserted himself into the conversation. "Why don't you stay here for a little while longer?" He suggested. "At least until Abby's finished reading the letter from her father." He offered.

Carlos really didn't want to stay in San Fransokyo for much longer. He really didn't want to be separated with the others any longer. He may have transitioned well to living outside of the isle does not mean his paranoia about being attacked any time of the day was lessened.

"I really can't stay."

Carlos walked down the steps and walked in the direction of the airport, when he pricked his finger on the side-walk garden.

"Ow."

Carlos held his pricked finger to his face and assessed his wound when a whirring sound caught his attention.

Suddenly a red suitcase-like thing made itself out and approached him down the steps before it opened and inflated a large white balloon inside.

"Hello." The white balloon began." I am Baymax. Your personal healthcare companion." The robot introduced himself as he waved at Carlos. "I was alerted to the need of medical attention when you said, ow."

"Hello?" Carlos questioned.

"On a scale of one through ten, how would you rate your pain?" Baymax asked as his chest lit up and showed ten different kinds of expressions of pain.

"A two, maybe three." Carlos answered.

"I will scan you now." Baymax stated.

"Not really needed." Carlos tried to stop the robot from scanning him

Baymax just looked at Carlos from top to bottom.

"You have a lot of laceration scars on your torso." Baymax began to enumerate his observations. "Some are wounds from years before." He continued as a diagram on his chest appeared. "Minor bruising on the shoulder blades and a pricked finger."

Everyone was horrified at the result of Baymax's scan. How have this boy survive those wounds? Somehow the guarded and tense attitude made sense and their hearts go out to the de Vil boy.

"Why don't we continue the treatment inside?" Tadashi called out.

"I agree." The robot monotonously agreed. "Treatment of wounds outside in the open will risk the wounds getting more infected.

"I really should be going." Carlos insisted.

"I strongly disagree in continuing such endeavor." Baymax interjected. "Further ignorance of infected wounds would lead to a diminished lifespan." He explained.

"I suggest you heed Baymax's suggestion." Hiro spoke up. "Trust me, he's going to bug you and follow you wherever, and I mean wherever, you go." He explained. "He has the ability to fly and follow you back to Auradon and bug you."

"Of course you'd know about that." Tadashi snarked. "I mean you're the one who installed rocket boosters on a robotic nurse."

"Fine." Carlos reluctantly relented.

Abigail and Mrs. Matsuda ushered everyone in, with Carlos being the first one to go inside the house, followed by Baymax then Hiro. The last one to enter was Tadashi as he carried Baymax's charging port.

"I'll take care of them Mrs. Matsuda." Abigail smiled at the older woman as she led everyone to her room. "Make yourselves at home." She offered. "I'll go help Mrs. Matsuda with snacks." She explained as she left her room, leaving Carlos with Baymax and the Hamada brothers.

"I highly suggest you remove your clothing." Baymax started then raised his right index finger. "So that we may begin your treatment." He added.

Carlos was even more reluctant to remove his clothes. It's not that he's shy of his body, but rather he really doesn't want to see the lasting reminder of the things his mother did to him.

Tadashi and Hiro remained silent as they watched their robot go on with his program to treat people.

"I am detecting an increase in your cortisol and adrenaline levels." Baymax said. "This indicates that you are stressed and afraid." He continued.

The robotic nurse began to waddle forward and approached the de Vil boy. Baymax then bent his body forward and wrapped his arms around Carlos and hugged him.

"There, there." Baymax offered comforting words then patted Carlos's head. "Everything will be okay."

Carlos was at a loss for words at the turn of events. He was just supposed to give Abigail a letter from her father then get back to Auradon. Now, he was hugged by marshmallow-like but huggable robot and his wounds were being treated by someone who he didn't even know.

By someone who was good for the sake of being good.

"Are you comfortable being treated shirtless with us watching?" Hiro asked.

"We can wait outside until the treatment is done." Tadashi offered.

"No its okay." Carlos said. "There's no point in hiding it, since you already know." He sighed. "Just know that it wasn't Professor Callaghan who caused them."

Carlos didn't know why he had said that. He didn't know why he had felt the need to defend Professor Callaghan and said a disclaimer right from the get go.

Carlos began taking off his top, starting from his leather jacket then his shirt.

The sight that greeted the brothers was nothing sort of cruel. Scars practically decorated the de Vil's back. Scratch marks, burn marks, whip marks; they were all found on the boy's torso. What kind of a prison island does this to kids?

No, what kind of mother Cruella was to ignore all the wounds her son had acquired.

The robot began the necessary medical procedures to help Carlos with his wounds and scars. The boy hissed from the sting of the treatment but nothing too bad.

"You were a good boy." Baymax interrupted. "How about a lollipop." He offered as a lollipop appeared on his hand.

"Great! Thanks!" Carlos thanked the robot.

"I cannot deactivate until you say you are satisfied with your care." Baymax informed.

"Well then." Carlos smiled as he opened his lollipop. "I am satisfied with my care."

The white robotic nurse nodded and blinked before he waddled to his charging station, deflated and deactivated himself.

"So that was Baymax." Carlos commented as he put his shirt back on and slung his jacket over his shoulder. "Professor Callaghan said he's a masterpiece." He continued.

"So you've heard of Baymax?" Tadashi asked. "What else did Professor Callaghan say?"

"Never mind that." Hiro interrupted. "How do you know him?!" He exclaimed.

"Don't mind my brother." Tadashi interrupted. "So tell me, what else has Professor Callaghan told you?" He asked, curious.

"Well." Carlos began." First he regrets everything that happened." He continued. "No one in the isle really knows that you're alive." He admitted. "And that has been eating his conscience away." He added. "Then he'd gush over how much of a better student you were and the limitless potential you'd unleash on the world." He relayed. "He mentioned that you'd probably help a lot of people by the time you graduated at SFIT."

"Well thanks to him." Hiro scowled. "That prediction almost didn't came true." He spat bitterly.

"Hiro." Tadashi chided. "The man was grieving for the apparent loss of his daughter." He explained.

"Yeah, yeah. I know" Hiro relaxed. "And a parent, a good parent, would be livid if the accident that killed their child was prevented if they followed the protocol." He finished his brother's statement.

"I'm glad you understand." Tadashi smiled. "So Carlos, what else did Professor Callaghan say?"

"Nothing much really." Carlos admitted. "After his daughter, your name was what I often hear." He continued. "And by then he's been teaching me everything I know about technology." He finished.

"You couldn't have gotten a better teacher than Professor Callaghan." Tadashi and Hiro nodded.

"Well he first taught me how to read and write." Carlos admitted. "School really isn't mandatory in the isle and my mother couldn't bother herself to teach me." He shrugged.

The Hamada brothers looked at each other at the boy's subtle, yet concerning, reveal.

"I take it that you and my father were close?" Abigail asked as she went inside her room and put down a tray of tea and snacks. "Dig in." She prompted everyone to take her snacks.

Tadashi and Hiro immediately heeded Abigail's prompt while Carlos specifically took chocolates, with some minor reluctance on his part.

"I'd like to think so." Carlos admitted. "He was the only person who was nice to me." He continued. "And doesn't really abide with the isle's rules of being bad is good and being wicked is better." He added. "He does still teach schemes as its part of the curriculum of both Serpent prep and Dragon Hall." He supplied. "Along with Professor Yen Sid, Professor Callaghan is the only other teacher teaching about technology."

"Enough about my father." Abigail started. "Why don't you tell us about yourself Carlos?" She asked.

"I'll start." Tadashi volunteered. "I am Tadashi Hamada, a graduate of San Fransokyo Institute of Technology." He introduced himself. "A father of two very cute boys and am currently working with Krei to mass produce Baymax." He added. "Also a part time teacher at SFIT."

"Hiro Hamada, boy genius." Hiro followed suit. "College boy at age 14, High School graduate at 13." He bragged. "I am graduating this year in Robotics." He continued. "Once I graduate, we're going to build the Hamada Industries."

"And I am Abigail Callaghan, Professor Robert Callaghan's daughter." Abigail started her introduction. "The first person to test the teleportation device without magic being involved." She continued. "Graduated in applied physics and currently working for Krei Industries."

Carlos processed the information that was given to him, so far all of them checked on the things that Professor Callaghan has told him, apart from Tadashi's story, as the disgraced professor was still convinced that he was dead.

"I-I'm Carlos de Vil." Carlos began. "Son of Cruella de Vil." He added as an afterthought. "One of the first four Villain Kids who were given a chance by King Ben of Auradon to live outside the barrier that keeps the villains in the Isle of the Lost." He continued. "Currently affiliated with Auradon Prep's Swords and Shields and Tourney teams." He finished.

"What about technology Carlos?" Abigail asked.

"I guess, technology has been my comfort zone." Carlos admitted. "I always hid behind my experiments whenever my mother would be in one of her episodes."

The Hamada brothers and Abigail looked at each other at the reveal. The implications that the boy's scars came from Cruella was very concerning. They can't help but admire the boy's strength.

"So what have you been working on?" Tadashi asked.

Carlos didn't know how, but he's starting to get comfortable with the people around him. Its certainly faster than how he adjusted at the school. He can kinda see his cousin, Diego, in Hiro and Tadashi, both protective of each other without being overbearing.

"The last thing I worked on was a black box that can locate magic." Carlos shared. "Though my intention was just to get more channels and radio stations aside from what we see on the isle." He added. "Instead it punched a hole on the barrier and can locate magical artifacts that are activated."

The three other people in the room looked at each other. They realized that it was a good thing that Carlos was off the isle, surely somewhere in the future, people will know of Carlos's feats and the world will have anarchy in its hands.

"Say Carlos, how about I give you something special." Tadashi smiled as he approached the young boy and gave him a poster. "That's the annual SFIT tech showcase, make something that would blow me awa-"

"Tadashi!" Hiro called out. "Phrasing!"

"Fine!" Tadashi chuckled. "As I was saying, make something mind numbingly good and an instant access to SFIT is all yours." He added. "Regardless of where you took your basic education from."

"What do you say?" Hiro asked.

Carlos looked at the flyer that was just given to him. He was still an eleventh grader at Auradon Prep, and even then, he was still advanced than his friends, because he was supposed to be a ninth grader. Frankly there were different pros and cons should he accept the offer, one of the cons being separated from Evie and the others.

"Can I think this through?" Carlos asked.

"Sure!" Tadashi smiled. "Take all the time you need."

"Now that's done." Hiro began. "Abby, why don't you read the letter your father sent you?" He prompted.

"Hiro!" Tadashi chided. "That's supposed to be behind closed doors."

"But, she said that until she reads the letter Carlos won't be able to go home." Hiro pointed out.

"I did say that." Abigail nodded. "Give me a sec."

Abigail opened the letter.

Carlos vaguely knew what the letter was about. He knew what the Professor's regrets were and one of them was acting like a lunatic and hurt his daughter. Hiro and Tadashi's points earlier were valid as the good professor truly loved his daughter more than ever. He even admitted that he'd do everything again, including killing Tadashi, if he got his daughter back.

Why couldn't he have a parent like that? Why couldn't Cruella act like Professor Callaghan?

"Dear Abby." Abigail read out loud. "I'll always love you my little sweetheart. I've always regretted taking you hostage and acted like lost my mind." She continued. "It was the only viable option I have considering how the entire de Vil line was incarcerated for being related to Cruella de Vil, from her brother to her niece."

Everyone looked at Carlos for confirmation, to which he nodded.

"Just know that I haven't lost my mind and I'll always love you." Abigail continued reading. "And I'll do everything for you. From you loving father."

Tears were now streaming from Abigail's eyes as the truth had finally come to light. People were always telling her that she was in denial and that her father had lost his mind back when he had made a building explode.

"PS Send Hiro my apologies." Abigail swallowed and continued to read. "I can't promise that I won't do everything again if the end result was getting you back."

"Tha-"

Tadashi hugged his brother and immediately calmed him down. He knew his younger brother would be greatly affected from the last bit.

"Don't worry, its okay." Tadashi whispered. "I'm here, I'm here." He continued as he rubbed his brother's back.

"Tadashi dear." Mrs. Matsuda said as she went inside the room. "Why don't you go back to the café?" She suggested. "I think Hiro and Abby need some time alone." She explained as she engulfed Abigail in her arms and gave the younger female comforting pats.

Tadashi just nodded and followed Mrs. Matsuda's suggestion. He left Baymax in Abigail's room and motioned for Carlos to follow him.

Carlos has just arrived at the entrance of Auradon prep, where he greeted by Ben.

"How was San Fransokyo?" Came Ben's greeting. "I hope you enjoyed your stay."

"Nice to see you too Ben." Carlos chuckled. "But yeah, San Fransokyo is quite nice." He agreed. "Did you know that because of your visit on a certain café people have been going there hoping against all odds to see you?" He shared

"Wait the Lucky Cat Café's customers are there solely because they want to see me?" Ben questioned. "Now I feel bad." He lamented. "Their food was super tasty too."

"Don't feel bad." Carlos comforted. "Once they tasted Aunt Cass's goods, they've been repeat customers." He informed. "She sends her regards."

"You call her Aunt Cass?" Ben questioned. "I hope she hasn't forgotten my offer." He sighed in a hopeful tone. "Anyway, did you do what you intended to do there?"

"Yeah." Carlos nodded. "Speaking of them, they offered me something."

Carlos retrieved a piece of paper from his pocket and showed it to Ben. It was the annual SFIT showcase that Tadashi gave to him.

"Carlos this is amazing!" Ben exclaimed. "Are you going?"

"I don't know." Carlos admitted. "I'm still weighing the pros and cons." He explained.

"When you do, tell me." Ben put his arms over Carlos's shoulders. "I'll support you all the way."

"Thanks man." Carlos said. "That means a lot." He smiled.

"Carlos!" Mal shouted. "Where have you been?!" She questioned. "We've been looking everywhere for you!" She exclaimed.

"Hey Mal!" Ben exclaimed as Jay and Evie came into view.

And so Carlos, along with his fellow kids from the isle talked about how he had ended up in San Fransokyo and tell his friends that levitation is now possible without the use of Magic.

"Bullshit!" Mal exclaimed in disbelief.

About the cool people he met in the city of San Fransokyo and everything.

[menodoramoon]

Year's End, or Moon's Annual Review

Characters Menodora Perhonen (Butterfly-Johansen), River Johansen [NPC] & ----- Mentioned: Stella Butterfly

Summary Late-September, 2024. Moon and River have to discuss Moon’s time in Swynlake, though it is mainly the fallout from the Fall Carnival.

Read Here (Docs).

Related: Letters from Mjaunie:

Menodora’s Letter to Cassandra (Sept 2024)

River’s Letter to Cass (Sept 2024)

River’s Letter to Stella (Sept 2024)

[menodoramoon]

An Undeniable, Not-Quite-Believable Truth about Cass Hamada

She is decidedly unmagickal by all normal means, but Moon would wager that she is the most enchanting person in the room. She carries herself with something more powerful than raw magick: humility. And kindness. And bravery beyond anything that Moon's seen on a battle field.

She has a lovely, resilient heart.

It's what makes Moon sure she's worth more than any spell, crown, or title.

She is a magic of her own.

And she made Moon feel light.

@auntcass-hamada

[menodoramoon]

River at the Lucky Cat || River & Cass

Characters: River Johansen, Cass Hamada ( @auntcass-hamada ) December 23, 2024 — River makes a Visit to the Lucky Cat to meet Cass. TW: none

[ READ HERE ]

--

Plot Tracker: River Visits Swynlake, or "River Visit 2024"

[menodoramoon]

River Visits Swynlake, or "River Visit 2024"

PLOT

River takes Mjaunie's Winter Recess as an opportunity to visit Stella and Menodora in Swynlake. Takes Place Dec 20, 2024-Jan 4, 2025.

CHARACTERS

Stella "Star" Butterfly, @stellabfly / Menodora "Moon" Butterfly-Johansen, @menodoramoon / River Johansen, NPC / Oswald "Oz" Marks, @oswaldxmarks / Cass Hamada, @auntcass-hamada

THREADS

A Voicemail from River Johansen - River leaves Moon a voicemail, regarding his possible plans to visit

River & The Stellabird - River surprises Stella as he arrives in Swynlake for winter recess.

River at Castle Suites - River visits Menodora at Castle Suites and ends up meeting her neighbor, Oswald Marks, in the process.

River at The Lucky Cat - River makes a Visit to the Lucky Cat to meet Cass.

River and Stella Take a Walk - River and Stella take an unfortunate walk.

Moon and Oswald Make Some Choices - Moon and Oswald have a difficult conversation.

River & Moon by the Lake - River and Moon take a date night walk. They come to a serious half-conclusion.

STATUS

In-Progress

[menodoramoon]

Caiette's Swynwrimo 2024: Task #4 —  Instagram Stories

@auntcass-hamada, because.... just because.

Caiette's Swynwrimo 2024 Tracklist.

[menodoramoon]

Gifts for Cassandra & A Brief Note

Dearest Cassandra! How is it that you are a year older? I am so pleased to know you and so honored to call you a friend! I hope your day is filled with as much love as you offer the world. All my Love, Menodora 🩵

@auntcass-hamada

[menodoramoon]

SwynTask | July 2024 | Postcards From You || In sprawling hand, across heather adorned pages... a letter to Cassandra post-marked from Mjaunie, Denmark. The post-card matches the letter print, but all ended up enclosed in an envelope because the writing was just too copious to fit. Sent sometime in late March 2024.

Cassandra,

I hope the heart of spring is treating you well. Are the trees blossoming beautifully, is the sky just as indecisive as it was this past winter? I can only imagine how crisp the air might feel, in the city rather than in fields of rye. It's only for a week and yet I miss the proximity. I'm sure the walk from one end of the estate to the other is about the walk to reach your door.

Is that rude to say? Is that too unaware? Oh, Cass, I'm sorry. The way I put all my thoughts down before I even think. But I can't think.

The air feels different here, like the North Sea and blooming heather. It's the same, but altogether changed, from when I was a child. The sky meets to Moors and I can't help but think of how unfamiliar my entire life has become. I've never moved so far. Did you feel the same when you moved to Swynlake?

You won't tell anyone, will you? Ah, but no one there knows me. Alright, you may tell anyone who has an interest. Only I'm sure no one does so it is perhaps a useless permission.

Oh, Cass, I should bring you some apples. Maybe some Mjaunie flour. There is a bit of home that I wish to share with you that I worry will spoil by the time I return.

(Flight restrictions, as well, with fruit. But I digress.)

The late March air is lovely, but it would be lovelier with you here. Next year, perhaps? There's a crest beyond the veranda where I so wish to take you. It feels like you're standing on the edge of the world, yet all the world is before you. Is it small-minded to think that way? I suppose my life was very small before the world opened up to me.

That small peak... I think it calls to me just as the sun sets, and I hope it would call to you, too.

I miss you dearly and can't eat a single pastry without the thought of you and a desire to write you the recipe on stationery like this. It’s a depiction of the heather fields beyond my home, and I think of them as an escape, a sea of purple.

Last night our dessert was raspberry and lemon tarts. The night before, fluffy puff pastries with a jam center. My mother has a book of recipes somewhere, hidden away. I regret to say no one knows where it's hidden, we've turned the entire estate over twice looking. I believe it was pudding pie that my old tutor sought so fervently?

I would like to think I'm simpler than that. Though, you've seen my extravagance when it comes to hosting, to claim such a thing would be a lie.

Say you'll visit one day? You can bring Hiro. We have scads of beds, it would be no imposition.

Not that you could ever be an imposition to me.

River is so grateful for you, I should say. He's glad you've been such a friend and I could not agree more. But he wants you to have his personal thanks for making sure I was not alone in such a new place.

He says I'm more of a soul rather than Sole.... Which I would think is a fish but he means a lonely being.

Cassandra, have a lovely Spring Holiday. I’ll see you in a week, about.

All my Love,

Moon

[menodoramoon]

2024 Prom | Gothic Romance | Mooncakes

Also, secret lil' Moon self-para below the cut <3

@auntcass-hamada

BEFORE.

Her heart races, her heels ache. Cassandra had been cleverer, wearing flats to walk to the castle. Moon had worn her heels, having been unaware of the distance. And poor logic, admittedly. The commute from one wing of her own estate to another lasted all of five minutes, if that. The walk to the castle felt different. 

It was mostly light out still when they arrived, and Moon couldn’t help feeling two conflicting things, and a third of neutral stance:

First, an excitement about attending her first prom with a best friend like Cassandra. 

Second, A self-conscious unfamiliarity with herself in trousers and a suit jacket, dressed in black damask. (Uncountessly?)

Third, the neutral thing: how beautiful Cass looks in the fading light. As the sun sinks across the sky, leading way to night. As the rays trace coppery strands along Cassandra’s braids.

It’s admiration, if anything, Moon has to assume. Cass was someone who was easy to admire, for all the hard work she put in, for all the heart she gave.

The butterfly dress was beautiful in the store (The two of them had gone together), but Cass brings it to life. She wasn’t magick, but there was something remarkable about the whole ensemble. The butterflies seemed to come to life when she moved, fluttering despite their silken state. She looks so different, yet so unmistakably Cassandra.

Helios’s light has mostly faded by the time they walk through the front doors. And Moon thinks about the opposing light they both seem to thrive in. Cassandra, bright in the daylight, sunny in herself. Moon, bathed in moonlight as it dances across her skin from the open window. Opposing cosmic forces, complementing celestial energy.

How could Cass be her friend? Moon feels undeserving every time Cass smiles at her.

You are radiant in ways you don’t understand. I want you to see yourself the way I do. Someone who loves and cares and grazes softly against others, illuminating them as well. You’re enchanting in your being, in a way that sorcery cannot dare replicate.

Every time Cass says something, it's brighter.

DURING.

The photo lingers in Moon’s mind all night. Off and on, from the moment she tucked it in her purse to the moment she sees it again, looking for her apartment key in her pocket-sized clutch.

AFTER.

Moon walks Cass home. Cass still in her sensible shoes, Moon who swears she’ll have blisters the next day. Still, Moon laughs as the two talk about the evening. Despite the way her toes feel cramped and her arches ache, she feels like she’s also floating. The evening has set her at ease.

On the walk home, Moon prattles on about how excited she is to have Hiro and Tad over. How much she is looking forward to visiting Cass again before rehearsal one day, ordering a brown sugar coffee boba hybrid drink that she’d strung together out of indecision (and then decided she liked.)

She wasn’t usually a sugar-in-coffee drinker. But she’d make an exception.

Part way home she takes off her shoes, not minding the way the road abrases her feet. She’d dealt with worse. Her laughter did not cease.

She’s drunk on excitement, despite the concerns about that quite awry meeting with the server. Despite her nervousness regarding Hiro and making a good first impression. Despite her worry that Elinor may be doing too much.

And Moon is forced to think about how wrong she had been earlier. How the Moonlight suits Cass too. Her braided crown looked more like a silver halo.

Well, it was born of sunlight wasn’t it?

Could they not be so opposite after all?

Cass looks more like a queen now than she had before. There’s a fondness in that thought. Moon was a Countess, a Lady at most formal address. Cass was like something far greater. 

“Get some sleep, Cass,” Moon says, after seeing her safely home. Arguably, it could go the other way around. But Moon had access to a light sword at all times and was not to be messed with. Also, She insisted.

And then she’s by herself, adjusting her eyes to the dark. She barely needs glasses. Maybe in the dark they’d be helpful. But she’s a light sorceress, so how much could the darkness really harm her?

Her hand stings. She keeps walking, dancing lights guiding her way. For the first time in a long time, she drops the guard on her hand. 

She holds the picture, standing at the threshold of her apartment. Picture and purse in one hand, key in the other. It feels almost wrong. But then again, every other time, it’s been an illusion. 

Cass had held her hand when the photo was taken. Moon is holding the picture now.

Cass, you are a light upon this world. And maybe, one day, I’ll be able to hold light like yours.

She knows she has to give the photo back later, for Hiro to duplicate. But for now, she sets it on her kitchen table, leaning up against a tea canister.

It’ll be a perfect reminder in the morning, when her own fairytale spell has broken and everything returns to the way that it was.

[menodoramoon]

Menodora Art for Prom 2024 | Gothic Romance (ft. @auntcass-hamada)

Bonus: Dresses I did not use for Moon:

[majkemaniiia]

Moon/Cass is, objectively, the superior ship. Also, Majke/Mal

This is what I've been saying!!! Cass. Cassandra. Hear me out. In this essay I will---

Jkjk, I respect their gal pal friendship <3 And also Cass's sexuality, ofc. Platonic dates it is, then.

I wish I could even say they could be platonic roommates, but Moon keeps this meticulously organized and Cass does not, so no oh my god they were roommates for them, even. Tragique.

Anyways, if you want an actual essay about Moon's feelings on Cass, hmu, but until then.... c'est la vie.

@auntcass-hamada

Also, yes Majke and Mal. The best but also the worst. ✌

@mal-mchale