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Tweak says, "Are you done being puce?"

ciɳɗy (ciɳɗɛʀɛʆʆɑ) ѵɑkɑʀiɑɳ (

silvershoes) wrote in

valarlogs,
@ 2016-12-27 09:44:00

Who: Cindy & Bubbles
What: Bonding over vegetarian lentil soup, aww
When: A little bit after the wish plot started
Where: A winter farmer's market
Rating/Warnings: Nothing, unless cuteness is offensive
Status: Complete

One of the best parts of a winter farmer’s market was, without a doubt, the soup.

It was where Cindy made a beeline, after grabbing a basket she would eventually fill with delicious fruits and vegetables, seasonal ones - things like tangerines, dates, brussels sprouts (something her husband hated but Cindy would steam those suckers and eat ‘em) and persimmons. But soup first - she could smell the delectable aroma, it beckoned her, steam curling her closer with the scent and promises of earthy spices and more of those winter vegetables she wanted.

Her lunch selection was ladled out of a cast-iron pot, placed into a to-go cup with a lid, though Cindy couldn’t wait to dig into it. Maybe get some fresh bread first. Under all the tents it was pleasant even if the air felt cold, of course, given the dusting of snow that had begun at the beginning of the month - that frigid chill that brought a crispness to the leaves, bejewelled with frost in the mornings. They crunched underfoot as she stepped closer to the loaves of bread, balancing her basket and soup, pausing to pull her woolen hat over her ears.

Loaves of fresh French bread in baskets - where to begin, with such deliciousness? Garrus could now eat human food, at least for a little while longer maybe, so she planned to stock up and give him options besides cheeseburgers and burritos.

Bubbles had only just discovered the fact that winter farmer’s markets even existed. Maybe it shouldn’t have been such a surprise to her, but it was. So she’d decided to take a day to get some veggies. She had a feeling with Stefan all human he might need to eat some veggies, but who could say? If not, she would totally eat the veggies on her own. Still, it couldn’t hurt to try and make stuff that he’d enjoy. As long as it didn’t involve broccoli (aka her arch nemesis).

She walked around in her new boots, which she felt were both functional and adorable. She hadn’t managed to convince herself to stop wearing dresses in varying shades of blue, but today’s choice was a light ice blue color that hit at the knee with white stockings. Her jacket was a darker blue, but then so many of her clothes were blue, so it wasn’t all that surprising. Unless you didn’t know Bubbles or her obsession with the color blue. It seemed to be about the same with the dreams. Only she was five in them. She had a cream colored hat and matching gloves as she walked around the tents.

There was a small basket which held a few things already inside of it and Bubbles had already taken about five unnecessary selfies and sent them to Stefan. She stopped outside of the tent with the bread before walking up next to someone who seemed to be perusing. When she saw the cup of soup, she looked around before asking, “They have soup here?”

Cindy glanced up from where she was examining a loaf of jalapeno cheddar bread and it looked to be intense in flavor - which meant that she probably had to have it, but anyway. “Oh, yeah. They do,” she grinned, the basket over the crook of her arm and using both hands to scoop up soup and stick the spoonfuls into her mouth - lunch on the go, it was pretty convenient. She was almost done, and may move on to the bakery portion next. A cinnamon roll seemed like it’d hit the spot.

“It’s really good too. This one’s the vegetarian lentil, but they have other kinds - chicken noodle and I think one with bacon?” She crinkled that pert nose of hers. Obviously the bacon didn’t appeal, but she wouldn’t begrudge anyone else their tasty pig products. “I’m a vegetarian myself, so obviously I went for the non-meaty option.”

Bubbles perked up a little. “Oh! Well, I’ll have to check the soups out, then. I don’t really eat meat either. At first it was just because it made me sad, but now…” She quickly stopped herself and shook her head. She couldn’t just blurt out that she talked to animals. It was difficult keeping things to herself...especially when she was so used to it not being a big deal. Almost all of her friends already knew. “Well, it still makes me sad, but I guess there are other reasons, too.”

She was just happy to know that there were others. At least others around her. With a vampire boyfriend and almost everyone very much meat-eaters, she usually felt like the lone vegetarian. It made holidays difficult. “I’m Bubbles, by the way. It’s nice to know there are other vegetarians around when you’re surrounded by a lot of non-vegetarians.”

“Cinderella - but call me Cindy,” the other blonde responded, with a crooked grin. She usually didn’t introduce herself that way, but Bubbles seemed familiar. Might even be a presence on Valarnet, in fact - Cindy read everyone’s posts, but she didn’t always comment and she didn’t make many of her own. It was in her nature to observe though, thanks to her job training - she was good at simply watching. “And I completely get it, being a vegetarian for whatever reason. I just never liked the taste of meat.” Not to mention it was unhealthily pumped full of hormones these days. She didn’t think she could go full out vegan, since she did enjoy her organic dairy products, but it was always a possibility.

Purchasing a long loaf of crusty French, along with that jalapeno cheddar, she arranged both in her basket and decided to head back to the soup, motioning that way so she and her newfound vegetarian friend could still chat. “My husband is definitely a carnivore though,” she laughed, shaking her head. “He loves meat but his diet’s altered a lot recently, so we’re a varying household when it comes to food.” Varying, yes, though Garrus still wouldn’t touch the alien version of tofu.

Bubbles felt her eyes widen just a touch. Cinderella? “Cindy! It’s nice to meet you.” She couldn’t say the same about Valarnet. She didn’t read all of the posts or pay an incredible amount of attention to everyone who was on there, so it was easy to miss who was in the know and who wasn’t. Maybe Cindy was. Maybe her parents just really liked Disney movies. All the same, she was really excited! “It’s not really that great. I don’t miss it.” Which was true. She didn’t.

“My boyfriend is, too.” If you counted drinking animal blood as carnivorous. She frowned for a moment at the thought, but Blossom had been right. It could have been humans. He could be killing humans, but he wasn’t. “And my sisters.” But it wasn’t too bad. They never made her feel bad about being a vegetarian. She followed along with Cindy toward the soup. “Did he find an allergy or something?” It could be anything with the OC. That much she knew considering the vampires. Still, it was best not to jump immediately into OC weirdness.

“So you’re the only vegetarian in the family?” Cindy asked, and she could full on sympathize there. “Same. My family’s in the south, Georgia to be exact - “ Listen close enough and you’d catch that twang, the sweet tea and swaying magnolia trees accent she’d covered up throughout the years, worked hard to tone down. She didn’t need to worry about it much now, and slipped into it sometimes. “So they’re all about barbecue and ham and all that - I’ve only been back a couple times but they at least try to accommodate my diet even if they don’t really understand tofu.”

Neither did her husband, but anyway. Approaching the soup stand, she forked over some more cash for another hot, steamy cup of the vegetarian lentil. “Smells good, doesn’t it? My treat,” she smiled, and passed the cup to Bubbles. “But no, no allergies for my husband. Well, the ironic thing is that he had a ton of food allergies before his...change. But he recently went through kind of a metamorphosis.”

She wasn’t ashamed that he was an alien (proud of it, in fact) but didn’t want to go blabbing that fact to just anyone. “You’re...used to the goings-on around Orange County, aren’t you?”

“Yep!” Her sister even punched meat in the dreams. It was a weird thing to think about, but it happened. “Oh! Georgia! Is it nice there?” Bubbles hadn’t traveled all that much, but she thought it might be nice to see other places. She liked to learn about other people also. It was her favorite. “My sisters and our dad are pretty good about it. No one makes me feel bad about it.” She loved them for it. “But all of that doesn’t sound appetizing at all.”

There was a small surprised noise as she was offered the soup and she took it, forcing herself not to bounce up and down as the surprise shifted into excitement. They were only just friends and she already got a present. A very hot present that could burn her if she bounced around or burn her new friend if she tried to hug her with it in her hands. “Thank you!” That was a little weird about her husband, though. Maybe it was something different. Something like Stefan.

And then she asked about the OC and Bubbles peered at her curiously. “I...well, I think so. If you mean that weird things happen all the time that don’t really have an explanation.”

When it came to Georgia, Cindy didn’t used to think it was nice. She’d left home at a young age, wanting to tear off the shackles of southern royalty, and it wasn’t until recently (like just before she and Garrus got married) that she felt any desire to go back at all. But she’d try to be objective.

“Yeah, it’s pretty nice,” she nodded. “My childhood home is on what used to be an indigo plantation - so picture something from Gone with the Wind, and that’s what it looks like. The columned porch and the tall French windows.” Despite everything, she had to admit that the scenery was gorgeous - and her stepmother sure did love to flaunt her wealth; she’d been rich, an heiress, even before marrying Cindy’s successful pediatric surgeon of a father. “I brought Garrus back before we got engaged. Before...he turned full-blown alien.”

There, she said it. If Bubbles didn’t think she was crazy for saying it, then it’d be obvious that she was part of this wonderful, magical hellhole. “Have you seen the baked good selection yet? We can head that way if you want,” Cindy offered then. Nothing like cookies and brownies to go with conversation about the impossible.

“Oh. That sounds really pretty. I’ve never seen any buildings like that in person. I’ve seen pictures and movies, though!” It sounded like something right out of a movie, but she guessed that people actually lived in houses like that. She was happy enough with the simple house that she shared with her family, but she thought it might be nice to visit places with houses like that.

Alien? Alien. Bubbles stared for a moment. But if there were vampires, why not aliens? “Well, that’s different, but not too different.” She smiled a little. “And baked goods sound wonderful. My boyfriend might like some of that now that he has to eat human food again.” She adjusted her hat and walked with Cindy over there. “He’s a vampire. But the kind that feeds on animals instead of humans.” If they could talk about it, then she didn’t think it was a problem to mention it. Stefan probably wouldn’t be upset if she mentioned it. “I sort of avoid that part of things since I can talk to animals. It would be a little too upsetting for me.”

It all made sense now - well, as much sense as anything could make around here. “Your boyfriend, he’s temporarily got a human digestive system?” Cindy smiled a little, because it sounded like they were in the same boat. “He definitely deserves a cupcake or two. Something delicious.”

On the display, there was a whole variety to choose from when it came to cupcakes - the standard flavors like vanilla and chocolate, but as a bonus there were other flavors like caramel apple, cotton candy, cookies and cream, key lime pie. There were also bags of cookies twisty-tied, chocolate chip and what looked like macadamia nut, oatmeal raisin, a whole selection of them. “That must be...really difficult though,” she added quietly, lifting an eyebrow. “I mean, for someone with such distinctive tastes.”

Everyday seemed like it’d be a struggle for a vampire - to not give into those more bloodthirsty sides. It seemed like it’d take a lot of discipline to resist. “But when you say you can talk to animals, you mean...literally?” And luckily it was kind of busy around the cupcakes. Their conversation wouldn’t be easily overheard.

“Yep.” She smiled a little, remembering the hint of panic at first that disappeared when she saw him with a tub of ice cream in his hands and the smile on his face. He was happy. She hoped it would last. For his sake if nothing else. But she’d love him no matter what happened now. She just knew that he seemed happier than he’d been in a while. “I’ll have to get some, then. He’s already eaten almost his weight in pie and ice cream.”

She looked at the various cupcakes, deciding to get a few of them. She could try new flavors and the usual flavors. Anything to see what might be good and what he might like. She was probably also going to get a few other things for herself. She just wanted sweets and she was already here, so there wasn’t a reason not to have them. She could share with her sisters if she started to feel too bad about it. “Yeah. I take this herb to keep him from...wanting to...you know.” It was strange to talk about it to someone who wasn’t part of it. But she trusted Stefan. “He’s really good at keeping it together, though.”

Looking up from the bags of cookies, Bubbles smiled and gave a quick nod. “Literally. I don’t do it in public. There are some things I don’t need to get stared at over.”

Cindy chose cookies and cream, and also caramel apple - because it seemed seasonal, and perfect. The cupcakes went into a little cardboard box, taped closed. “Garrus was happy too,” and she understood not wanting to rain on their parade, even if the concerns about them eating themselves sick was there. “He really missed cheeseburgers, and cheese fries - basically lots of cheese. And desserts. We have specific food meant just for him - like, you know, the alien versions of alcohol and even chocolate, but I don’t think it tastes quite the same.” Especially after his whole life of being human, and eating human food.

“Kind of amazing, huh? I mean the certain abilities people get and things. What we become. Sometimes I need a break from the OC but I can’t really imagine living anywhere else.”

Bubbles would be there if Stefan started to feel sick because of all the food he was eating. She didn’t mind. As long as he didn’t throw up on her. She might be a little grossed out then. “I think Stefan just missed human food in general. He can still eat it as a vampire, but he said the taste is different.” She didn’t know what it was like because she wasn’t a vampire. It was something she was happy for. She didn’t want to have to be worried about possibly hurting another person...or killing animals. She couldn’t handle that. “So that sounds similar, too. Is it food from his dreams or did you have to get it here?”

There was a nod. “I don’t even have all of my abilities yet. Just super strength and talking to animals. I’m mostly concerned about the laser beam eyes.” She didn’t want to accidentally explode something. She just wanted to be able to melt the snow if it got worse. Or control it even. “It’s definitely a lot to take in sometimes. It’s why I go to the beach a lot. Even when it’s freezing and snowing everywhere. I don’t know what I’d do otherwise.”

“We actually - well, we went to space to get it,” Cindy replied, and basically to anyone else it would have sounded batshit crazy, but to those who were seasoned veterans of this kind of stuff (like to people who could talk to animals or shoot lasers from their eyes, for example) it was pretty par the course. “To a place called the Citadel. It’s kind of like a neighborhood in another galaxy - but we have I guess a space condo there? A getaway. There’s also food and things like that to stock up on, and he’s got scientists here working on duplicating efforts.”

That way they wouldn’t run out anytime soon. It would be pretty horrible if Garrus began to starve, a Turian living in a very human world.

Now that she had her sweets, and most of her veggies and fruits, she was set to make another loop around the farmer’s market to see if anything else was missed. “But you can control your laser beam eyes, right? I mean, if it’s some Cyclops situation where you’d need special glasses I don’t blame you for being nervous,” she wrinkled her nose.

The surprise on Bubbles’ face was obvious, but there was a hint of excitement. People traveled to SPACE! She wished she could travel to space, but she was pretty sure that she didn’t have the ability to travel into space. “Do you go there a lot?” She wondered how often people went into space. How many people knew there were SPACE CONDOS? She wanted to tell Stefan about that immediately but she’d have to settle for later when she had any hands free and she didn’t have soup to eat. “That sounds amaaaazing! I’ve never been to space before! Not even in the dreams!”

She frowned a little at the question. “I guess so. In the dreams anyway. I don’t really know much about it here.” She’d never had to figure that out. She’d have to do it eventually, but she had a feeling that if she could control it in the dreams, she would eventually get control of it outside of them. “But hopefully it won’t take a lot of practice to get used to.”

“You’ll master it,” Cindy said confidently, and she believed it - she’d seen plenty of people take the powers they were saddled with, and make them all their own. “At the very least, there are places you can go without hurting anyone while you do get the practice in. I know someone who went out to Death Valley and just like, blew up rocks for a bit, to get a handle on things.”

Shuffling her basket with all its goodies stuffed inside (she felt a little like Red Riding Hood) further up in the crook of her arm, she reached for her phone and swiped the screen to unlock it. “We don’t go to space a lot, but my husband has taken friends up for some orbit time, so, I can see if he’ll plan another outing if you’re interested in seeing things. Here, give me your number and I’ll text you mine.”

Cindy’s confidence in her made Bubbles smile and she decided that even if things weren’t perfect, they might be feasible. She would at least have somewhere to make sure that no one else got hurt. She hoped. It had to be possible. Buttercup and Blossom wouldn’t let anything bad happen and as a superhero, Bubbles really couldn’t either. “That’s good. It’s nice to have places to practice until you know you can do something without making a mess. Like having to learn to control how hard I opened doors.” She still remembered accidentally breaking a lot of things while trying to master having super strength. It was mostly that she hadn’t had to think about it before, so it took a while to make herself think of it after.

“Oh! That would be AWESOME!” She smiled brightly before giving Cindy her number and waiting for the text with Cindy’s number to come through. Once it had, she smiled brightly. “I’m glad I ran into you here today. I’m glad I don’t have to try to figure out what to say to keep from accidentally saying something. The OC makes it difficult to talk to normal people sometimes.”

“Sometimes it does,” Cindy laughed; she knew what the girl meant. Not everyone was unfortunate enough to experience a trip into another life by way of their dreams - mostly, it was a very small pocket of people in the large county, but whatever forces were at play seemed to ensure that you’d run into fellow dreamers more often than not. And in the most random locations too.

Such as? The farmer’s market. But she was glad for it, personally. It was good to have friends who understood - and she’d been feeling a little lonely lately, after Leliana’s departure on a long honeymoon in Paris even if she wished her mama bird all the happiness in the world.

“But hey, I’m glad I ran into you too. I hope your boyfriend likes the treats you pick up for him today.” As for her, she had to check off more vegetables on her list - and maybe Garrus would make a face, but whatever, nutrients. Ultimately, he’d thank her later.

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