I will not bow, I will not break | June Catchall

[lasergrenades]

Characters: Pepper Potts, Devin Parker and you!
Date: Throughout June
Location: Keeliai
Situation: Pepper is busy with police work, Devin is being Devin.
Warnings/Rating: Mentions of blood because vampire. Others will be added as needed.


A. [Pepper] KPD | Throughout June | Open

Pepper is busy. Very, very busy. After the attacks, she seems to spend more time away from home than ever. She can't just go full tilt the whole time on her own, though. There's a department to run and people are turning to them for assistance, so when she's not helping with recovery she's organizing shifts and crews and coordinating logistics with some of the gangs that have called a truce and offered their help, as well as other groups across the city.

She doesn't sleep as much as she probably should, and it may occasionally be possible to spot her snoozing at her desk.

B. [Pepper] Jade Dojo | Early June | Bakura

Despite positively throwing herself into work, Pepper still made a point to visit the dojo when she could manage it. The last week in May and the first week of June don't give her much time to practice, but she would drop by to see Bakura and maybe help with weapons maintenance if she was there around sunset. There had been enough scolding attempts that Pepper had in fact gotten a few hours of sleep every night, but at some point even that wasn't enough. She reached the dojo a bit after dark, intent on curling up next to her favorite thief and unwinding over dinner, but only made it as far as the couch before she fell asleep almost immediately.

C. [Devin] Water Sector | June 1 | Heather

While Devin was not exactly thrilled by the arrangement that he'd made with Heather, but having multiple donors in a city where Foreigners have a tendency to vanish at the drop of a hat is the smart choice. There are a great many things and a great many people more important than his ego. The Healers Guild seemed the safest place for the experiment, and after an initial taste test doesn't send him careening into a frenzy, he's satisfied that her blood will do.

As requested, Devin goes to meet with her not long after. Unlike their previous meeting he's not quite so composed; there's something wild at the edges of him, and a sharpness in his gaze when he spots her and crosses to where she's sitting.

D. [Devin] Metal Sector | Mid June | Open

Keeliai isn't huge, but it's large enough that it's going to take some time for Devin to learn every street and alleyway. The act of memorization gives him something to do when he'd not at the police headquarters and keeps him busy enough that he doesn't stay at the Hotel much. Eventually, he'll move out, but he needs enough money for things like furniture. The Metal Sector has his interest currently, and the vampire winds up and down each street, occasionally stopping to take notes in a small journal. He looks pensive most of the time, and can usually be convinced to chat.

E. [Pepper] Turtle's Head | Mid June | Valdis/Gene

So, the past month or so has kind of sucked, and Pepper rarely found herself needing peace and quiet but... well, she needed some now. Jade Dojo and Bakura usually fit the bill there, but the serenity that the turtle's head offered was tempting enough that she took a hike out there a few times. Pepper brought her deck with her, as had become her custom, and was working with Vee to summon her in a smaller size. It wasn't too difficult, but getting into a habit of it seemed like a smart idea. The ka also consented to sit with Pepper after a certain point, sans much of her armor, and discuss deck orientation and strategies, remarking that the calm of the turtle was evident to her as well. It was a little easier to breathe here.

F. [Devin] Sky Sector | Early June | Valdis

In anticipation of her home becoming a potential cultist target, Devin had warded Valdis' house so that only she could come and go. Recent events - namely Valdis getting mildly possessed - suggested that having access to her home in the event of a similar emergency might be wise. The sword, Revelations, could have been useful to assist her and instead he ended up warding her into a room at the Healers Guild (although that might have been necessary anyway). All told, it's made him realize that he might want to alter the wards at her house somewhat; Devin has zero interest in handling Revelations ever again, but he can't deny that if he needs to use it, he ought to be able to reach it.

The vampire arrived at Valdis' house a little before sunset and knocked sharply on her door to announce his presence.

G. [Pepper] Earth Sector | Early June | Raine

Pepper has been working really hard since the attacks, and has had to be reminded to slow down (which she doesn't always listen to), and she knows that Raine and the other healers undoubtedly have been going near non-stop as well. Raine in particular has a way of spreading herself thin at times like these. So, if Pepper is going to get nudged by those around her to take a break, she's going to pass the nagging on. It's not as though she hasn't already made a habit of appearing at Raine's apartment or work with treats in hand, and today is much the same. The difference this time is that some of her tiredness is showing, even though she's smiling broadly when she knocks on Raine's door.

OOC note: let me know if you want a specific starter or add your own!

Comments

B for bedtime

[denyamenti]

The longer summer days meant that the dojo was open later until dusk. With Penny's disappearance, he'd gone back to keeping his own books, and discovered midway through that the current ledger had been filled to the last pages, and stepped out to buy some more.

Coming back, the ghosts' murmurs let Bakura know that his apartment was not empty, and he finds Pepper asleep on his couch. He knows she's been working long hours, between the dojo and the KPD. There's a wry, but oddly benign smile as he lets her rest for the moment, beginning to attend making dinner in the next room.

Less interested in food preparation and far more keen for some closeness, Diabound curls up next to Pepper happily.

Accurate

[lasergrenades]

Pepper remained solidly out when Bakura arrived and began cooking. At some point, perhaps noticing the slight weight of the creature next to her, she shifted so her arm draped gently over Diabound's coils.

It's the aroma of food that likely pulls her back towards consciousness, but the feel of scales and feathers is what actually gets her to open an eye. "I thought cats were supposed to curl up on your feet," Pepper yawns, stroking her thumb along Diabound's side.

[denyamenti]

Two pots simmered on the stove, the first one a mix of local equivalents of cabbage and rice, and the second one a rich spiced stew to ladle over it.

Diabound is more than pleased to enjoy the petting. Better-superior, is the mental flex of sentiment, smug and content. Feel-again-good?

[lasergrenades]

The smugness elicits a quiet, sleepy laugh from Pepper. Definitely better-superior to a cat, it's true. "Yeah, mostly. I guess I was more tired than I thought," she told the ka.

It's only around then that she connects the dots of Diabound and the delicious smell wafting around the apartment to the fact that Bakura is home. Pepper pushes herself up into a sitting position, careful to avoid squishing Diabound's wings, and offers the creature an arm to climb up for the brief transit to the kitchen.

[denyamenti]

Sleek but muscled coils secure themselves around Pepper's arm for the short ride, and Bakura turns at their entrance, looking oddly low-key in a kedanese style sleeveless shirt and bare feet while near the stove, keeping an eye on the cooking pots.

"The bed's more comfortable than the couch, for future reference. Did you sleep well?"

[lasergrenades]

"I wasn't planning on falling asleep there in the first place. I'll remember that for later," Pepper says fondly, rubbing gently along Diabound's chin and neck. "But yeah, I did, thanks."

She joins Bakura near the stove and avoids bumping or unbalancing anything when she leans in to give him a kiss. "Hi, by the way. Have I mentioned lately how much I like your cooking? Because this smells awesome."

[denyamenti]

"Wearing yourself out helping everyone else again?" he asked lightly, even though he knew the answer to that.

Humming pleased under his breath in response to the kiss, he lifted the lid from the stew pot to show her the contents. "It's not hard," he commented. True, he'd gotten a nice repertoire upgrade courtesy of Ryou's knowledge, but it had since spun off into something more his own style.

[lasergrenades]

"Hey, it's my job," Pepper retorted playfully. She did push herself, but someone had to do the work.

She inhaled some of the steam when he opened the pot. "It doesn't matter if it's hard. It's delicious and you probably missed this memo because I don't think you read the same magazines I do, but men who know how to cook are kind of extra attractive."

[denyamenti]

"That is the most absurd standard to judge by," he retorted, amused nonetheless. "Anyone who can't cook at least reasonably for themselves is either spoiled or an idiot, whether they're a man or woman. What do people think happens if you don't live with your mother or a wife, that you just stop needing to eat?"

[lasergrenades]

Pepper giggled. "It is pretty silly. Probably some leftover from when women did all the cooking in the house during the 50s."

She went to retrieve shallow bowls for them to eat out of. "I like it when you cook. And I like cooking with you, when I'm awake for it. It's fun, and there's no chance of burning down the kitchen like when Tony's cooking."

It made the dojo, which was already a second home, all the more comfortable. That fondness was more than evident in her expression.

[denyamenti]

"I try to stick with only blowing up the dojo, rather than burning it down," Bakura replied in good humour.

He didn't entirely understand Pepper's appreciation of doing things with him that were so mundane, but at the same time, he didn't dislike it-- the delight over that sort of thing was just strange to him.

Then again, he'd started cooking enough for two for most meals. His ghosts swirled laughingly at the edges of his senses.

"If you keep smiling like that, I'll think you're planning something."

[lasergrenades]

Domesticity. It was totally self-indulgent and she loved it.

"I'm always planning something," Pepper replied cheerfully, poking it his ribs gently. "Don't worry, you'll like it. It may involve baking. I'll have to go shopping at some point, depending on the results of a raid on the pantry to see what ingredients you already have."

[denyamenti]

Bakura twitched, sidling away from the tickle and flashing her a disgruntled look that held no genuine ire. She'd been terribly amused to find out he was ticklish there.

He waved a dismissive hand at the cupboards. "I don't know how much is in there suitable for baking."

[lasergrenades]

She only used her powers for good, Bakura. Be thankful, or it might have come up in a spar.

"Nothing wrong with starting from scratch, I guess." Between Marie and some experimentation on their own, they'd collected a few decent recipes at the house now that they'd worked out proper substitution of ingredients. "There will be cookies," Pepper decided. "Fresh baked is always the best. The trick is waiting just long enough that you don't burn your fingers but not so long that they get cold. If you don't just eat all the dough first, anyway."

[denyamenti]

Never trust people who claim they're 100% good, Pepper. It always works out poorly in the end. But he certainly wasn't about to refuse cookies. Ryou wasn't the sole source of that sweet tooth.

"Freshly baked cookies. Are you getting ready to bribe me for something, biahbenat?"

[lasergrenades]

Fair point.

She gives him an amused look before she poked her head into the pantry. "Can't I make my boyfriend cookies without having an ulterior motive? Maybe I just want to feed you and make you smile." So suspicious, Bakura.

[denyamenti]

The non-verbal answer comes from Diabound instead, which can be accurately summed up as yes please in feelings rather than words.

The pantry had some basic staples, but it's clear that he hasn't invested much in the way of baking supplies. Which makes sense, considering one of his near-daily early morning routines is hitting up a bakery for a loaf or similar.

[lasergrenades]

Pepper giggled at Diabound's response and after a moment leaned back away from her searching.

"Alright. Baking will be another day. Or days. No point in only baking once," she declared, returning to the counter. "Tonight is dinner and decompressing."