maskormenace | video; around the time of the imports' return

[Around the time the first imPorts started trickling back into the imPort towns after their flight from the Antarctic, the network lights up with a video. There's a murmur of voices in the background, but the obvious focus of the feed is one smiling woman -- Cass. A much more subdued looking man sits drinking coffee what looks like a cafeteria table behind her, and behind both of them is an expansive room that people who actually frequent the place may recognize as the dining hall of the Xavier School for ImPorts.]

Hi guys! [Cass greets, cheerful as ever.] Usually, I'd ramble here and try to preface things, but today I'm just going to get to the point. [~~thank goodness~~]

[Stepping back, Cass turns around her camera and starts to take a video of the cafeteria around her, and what she focuses especially on is a group of tables set up like a buffet line. There's food everywhere -- trays filled with several kinds of salads, trays lined up with a bunch of sandwiches, and beyond them, plate after plate of all kinds of food.]

There's also soup cooking in the back, [she declares while turning the camera back to her, and her brightly cheerful grin softens a bit.] Professor Callaghan and I spoke while you were gone to open up Xavier for all of you -- after an ordeal like what we just had, I can only imagine how tiring it'll be to have to cook or buy and wait for food, but food is essential to healing. The doors are open to anybody who wants to come in, so come help yourself, all right? If anybody who's well enough to and want to help can help, I'm welcoming that, too. We've got a stock of blankets here, too.

The food's already ready! We'll be here all day and into tomorrow, so drop by whenever you want to. No need to sign up or pay. Just remember to share.

And... welcome back, everyone. Get some rest.

[[ooc; for those who want to thread this mingle out, there is a log over here!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm gonna have someone embroider it for me first, and then frame it. Like an old grandma.

[AND THEN HE'S SUDDENLY THERE, what no of course he wasn't already running] AUNT CASS! Wow holy crap, you weren't kidding. Have you don't anything besides cook for the last day and a half?

[She'll never not be startled by his superspeed, but it's something she reacts to with a laugh and an ecstatic cry as she nearly throws herself at him. Come here and get wrapped in a hug, you.]

What, you think I'd joke about food? And no, that's all that I did -- with some help, of course!

[THAT'S IT YOU'RE GETTING HOISTED UP IN THE AIR AND HUGGED!!!!]

Oooh! [And...okay, maybe he stays there a little while longer than necessary. She really does remind him so much of his Aunt Iris, who had always been ready with a hug or a mug of cocoa whenever there was anything wrong. And there is just so much wrong right now.] Invite me over to help next time, would you? I can bake stuff! And taste-test.

Whoa--!

[She's not too tiny of a woman, but she's not large either. She's hoisted up easily and without resistance, and she hangs there as he holds her, smiling and lifting a hand to ruffle his hair affectionately.]

I'll be sure to remember that. Next party, you're my number one volunteer!

[HEH!! He puts her down soon enough anyway, but that's kind of nice. Being big enough to pick up your adult figures rather than it being the other way around.]

Aunt C, you're good though, right? You're totally not like, covering anything up with violent baking urges or anything, are you? [because there is just something about the bh6 kids that attracts drama. well, plus, he kind of...yeah that breakup with gogo was nasty. and she's gogo's sort of adopted aunt, so........]

Who, me? Baking is my stress release. I was worried sick about all of you, I'll have you know!

[Cass isn't holding back. She's being animated and dramatic, but she's not lying, either. She really was worried. She really does bake to release stress, and right now she's wholeheartedly relieved to see her kids coming back. She doesn't want to be insincere with him, though, so she pauses after that response to consider, then nods firmly, a little more quietly.]

Yeah. I'm okay, I promise. I'm just glad you're all back.

Hey, I never went anywhere. [But yeah, literally everybody else had.] That's a good stress relief. Y'know, with the crowd I usually run with the usual stress relief is like...punching. Or flying to space.

Or robbing banks.

I thought you were on the side that stopped bank robbers.

[She laughs, anyway, and pats his shoulder.]

Before I got those two and had to start being responsible, I used to break the speed limit.

Spicy. Tone it down there, Aunt C. [Wally grins and nudges her before he sobers up with a shrug, hands in his pockets.] Sometimes the guys robbing banks can't help themselves. I'm not saying it's cool for them to do it, but just throwing someone like that into jail isn't going to do anybody any good. Understanding the root problem is always better. Hanging out accomplishes that.

[Ah, so there's the context that was missing. Cass nods, then, and reaches up to ruffle his hair again. But she then lets her hand linger, cupping his cheek, thumbing gently at a cluster of freckles right over his cheekbone.]

You're a good man, Wally West. I think you're exactly right.

Ah geez, Aunt C. [Wally clears his throat and goes red, though he doesn't pull away. This kind of unassuming affection is commonplace in his household back home, but it's something he doesn't get as much of here.] It's, y'know. It's just what I've been taught.

And you live by it well. [Oh you're not escape. Come down here, tall guy. You're getting pulled down so she can give him a kiss on the forehead, 100% mother style.]

I'm proud of you. You be proud of you too.

[Wally's mouth goes dry and the goofy smile slips off his face at her serious tone. He goes when she pulls him and he's really trying here, okay, he's really trying here to hold himself together but Cass is like the safe zone in tag, like the warm spot around the fire in a snowstorm and he stays there, bent over her until he rests his forehead on her shoulder.]

I hope this isn't weird, [he mumbles against her shirt,] but you make me not miss my mom as much.

[That puts him right where she needs him to be able to pet his hair, running her fingers through it with practiced ease. She's done this thousands of times for Hiro and Tadashi, after all.]

I don't think it's weird. I'm always here if you need me, okay?

Aunt C, [Wally starts, picking up his chin to rest on her shoulder because FUCK going anywhere when he's getting hair pets,] you're like, basically Tadashi's and Hiro's mom, right? And I know Hiro goes out and does superhero stuff. How come you're so cool with it?

Mm.

[Good. Stay there, child. Cass leans to rest her cheek against his head, too, happy to settle in this hug.]

It's not that I don't worry, or that I'd encourage it. But I know Hiro -- now that he's started this, if he sees trouble, or something to help out, he won't be able to walk away from it. If I tried to stop him, he'll still try to do it without me knowing.

I'd rather he know that I know, so that if things get hard and he needs support, he doesn't have to worry about not being able to tell me.

video; around the time of the imports' return

voice --> action

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