(no subject)

[lilmsmiraclegro.livejournal.com]

The more time Claire spends with Toph in their own personal camp just outside the farm, the more she wanders into the farm itself from time to time. She diesn't even minid if she meets a Gabriel any more: they don't look exactly like Sylar, after all, and Toph says they're sincere.

It's not that she doesn't like Toph: she does, a lot, but she brings out the big sister in Claire and sometimes it's nice to be with people closer to your own age.

Anyway, Sokka's not back yet, and she's worried. Worried Claires mean the kitchen is taken over with cupcakes. All with blue and white frosting.

Comments

[alwaysroomforhope]

"That," Steph says, upon wandering into the kitchen and finding CUPCAKES, "is incredible. Wow! Can I try one?"

[lilmsmiraclegro.livejournal.com]

The smell of baking cakes is a little ruined by the hint of burning flesh as Claire decides she can't be bothered to find a pair of oven gloves, but she smiles and nods to a set of iced cakes on the kitchen table.

"Those should be cool enough to eat."

[alwaysroomforhope]

Ew.

But not ew enough to make the cupcakes not look delicious.

Steph beams. "I love the colours."

[lilmsmiraclegro.livejournal.com]

"It's supposed to be water-ish," Claire explains. "I figure if I make enough Sokka'll smell them and come back quicker.

"And maybe he'll start wearing clothes other than the ones he arrived in."

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph giggles, licking blue frosting off her fingers and smiling up at Claire. (She's totally not bothered by Sokkas displaying a liking for girls who don't fight or run around like idiots and do heal themselves and stuff, nope. ... well, not enough not to like Claire, anyway.)

"They'll probably both stink after days in the car."

[lilmsmiraclegro.livejournal.com]

Claire winces in distaste.

"Oh man, I bet they do. What is it with boys and washing?"

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Mine washes reasonably frequently," Steph says loyally, and then grins. "If only 'cos neither Mel nor I would let him get away with not."

[lilmsmiraclegro.livejournal.com]

"Mine does whenever I mention it," Claire admits.

"Toph doesn't help, though. She's worse than he is."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Really?" Steph thinks of the little blind girl. "I guess she likes dirt ... and I'm definitely not bringing it up to her face. I totally don't want to become a smear just yet."

[downsidedarling.livejournal.com]

"Oooh, cupcakes."

Perky Anna is perky! Also, visiting.

"What's the occasion?"

Introductions are totally for the weak, yo. And much less important than delicious baked goods.

[lilmsmiraclegro.livejournal.com]

"Me being bored?"

Claire grins and jerks her head towards the first batch. "Those are cool enough to eat, I think."

[downsidedarling.livejournal.com]

"Awesome."

And hey, if they aren't, not like Dreamer'd care.

"Get bored more often. And try to time it so I'm visiting the farm when you do."

Oh, assumptions. Well, to be fair, who would make cupcakes and not live here?

...

Besides, very possibly, Anna herself.

PS: Om nom nom.

[lilmsmiraclegro.livejournal.com]

"I'll try," Claire says, patiently.

"But I don't know how long I'm staying. Just until my boyfriend gets back."

[downsidedarling.livejournal.com]

"Ah, gotcha. Well, thanks for these, anyway."

Bright smile.

"I'm Anna," she adds, wiping icing from the corner of her mouth and then licking it off her finger. "And I promise I'm not usually this obnoxious about food."

[lilmsmiraclegro.livejournal.com]

"I'm Claire," Claire says cheerfully, grabbing a really hot cupcake for herself as the next batch bakes.

"And I promise I'm not the kind of girl who usually sits home and bakes while her man's out of town."

It had to be clarified.

[downsidedarling.livejournal.com]

"Sitting home and baking is totally a great use of your time. It results in cupcakes! Who doesn't like cupcakes?"

Beam.

[lilmsmiraclegro.livejournal.com]

"No one I wanna know," Claire agrees. She sits on a kitchen stool and bites in, mindless of the heat. "It pretty much the only useful skill I have around here. Until they get high school football started again."

[wearsredhelmet.livejournal.com]

Bridgette is stealthy like a ninja - canon says so. She managed to sneak through her house when Mommy and Daddy were inside and hide a dog in her closet. She has mad skills!

There is one less cupcake from one of Claire's trays. Bridge quickly sneaks into the living room to enjoy her dessert.

It's possible Claire might catch her as she's leaving. It's possible Claire might catch her when she comes back for seconds.

[lilmsmiraclegro.livejournal.com]

It's possible that when she returns for seconds, there's a girl standing with her arms crossed and a look that screaming disapproving older sister a mile off.

Yeah, Bridgette. Explain yourself.

[wearsredhelmet.livejournal.com]

There is much innocent beaming to be done.

"Hello! Are you baking cupcakes?"

Bridgette wouldn't know, because she just walked in!

[lilmsmiraclegro.livejournal.com]

"Well, I was," Claire says. "Until someone started stealing them."

She doesn't think she wants to anymore.

Or she's faking it for the lulz. One of those.

[wearsredhelmet.livejournal.com]

"That's horrible," Bridgette says sympathetically - though she's really horrified at the lack of cupcake production than the theft.

[lilmsmiraclegro.livejournal.com]

Claire glares at her for one more second then relents.

"I made them for everyone," she says, jerking her head towards a pan. "You're welcome to them."

[wearsredhelmet.livejournal.com]

Perhaps some guilt bubbles up within the girl, for she hesitates a second.

Then says, "Well, maybe one for my sister. She hasn't had cupcakes in forever. My name's Bridgette."

[lilmsmiraclegro.livejournal.com]

"Hi, Bridgette," Claire says, and now she smiles. "I'm Claire."