16911/Pancakes. A Young Avengers Tradition.

Pancakes. A Young Avengers Tradition.
Date of Scene:	13 January 2024
Location:	The Munch Box
Synopsis:	What starts out as America and Mark grabbing pancakes becomes a group of Young Avengers meeting for pancakes and to discuss the direction they want to go in next. But pancakes. Because they are tradition.
Cast of Characters:	America Chavez, Mark Grayson, Emiko Queen, Bunny Macleod, Billy Kaplan

---

America Chavez has posed:
Early in the morning, though not too early she's not a monster, America Chavez shows up at Mark Grayson's apartment. After knocking, and waiting with her hands stuffed in the pockets of her favorite beat up jean jacket for him to open the door, she just greets him with an impassive expression and a jerk of her thumb over her shoulder.

"Buenos dias. You, me, pancakes. Let's go."

Which is to say that's not really very explanatory, but given she seems a bit bleary eyed it's possible she might be needing coffee too. Whatever the reason she waits till outside to step off into the air with a little jump and a simple, "Try to keep up, muchacho."

And ... that's about all she says until they get to The Munch Box where it smells of buttery, syrupy goodness with a side of salty sizzling bacon.

Mark Grayson has posed:
If she showed up at the apartment, it totally answered the question she asked of Bunny at the event about the dating situation. The apartment has plenty of pictures of him and Bunny together - and a few new pictures with the trio all joined up.

But with the other two out, there was a moment where he had to make America wait while he put away Beeper and left a note for the pair before he pulled on a light jacket. He doesn't really need it, but he has to keep up appearances. "See what I can do!" he offers with a smirk.

Following after America through the skies to the Munch Box, he draws in a deep breath with a sigh of pleasure. "Oh yeah. I can smell the coffee and pancakes from here." he manages as he heads over to a booth to drop into it. Once he's settled in, he folds his hands over each other in front of him as he looks over the menu.

"So, what's up?" He assumes she knows who he is and all. "Been busy?"

America Chavez has posed:
America Chavez sinks into the seat opposite him with a rather tired expression that she tries to scrub off of her face with a quick swipe of her hand. "Yeah you could say that. Just got back from Earth-773. Kind of ... fucked. Any way. I realize we hadn't really had a chance to meet yet so resolving that the traditional way. With greasy breakfast foods."

She finally manages a smile as the waitress comes over, "Coffee, gracias. A carafe if you have it. And pancakes, and lots of bacon and sausage." Her hand lifts to gesture toward Mark to add his own in, though from the way she was ordering there was likely going to be a good chunk to share.

"Heard you had some bad times lately. Sorry I wasn't around to help."

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Earth-773?" Mark repeats, a little cluelessly. It takes him a moment to run his mind through the roster before he remembers. "Right... dimension punching, was it?" he asks, just to verify what he had known about America, echoing the need for coffee, and pancakes. Along with an omelette. Need to keep up the protien and carbs.

"It's all good." he offers to America. "Noone knew my dad was going to turn out to be an intergalactic asshole or I'd baked a cake and invited everyone to the party." A smirk touches his lips at that. "And he's gone. For who knows how long, but he's out of my range at the moment. And there's more than enough issues here to worry about him."

Mark and America have just sat down at a booth to order meals, having a bit of small talk before getting into heavier discussions.

Emiko Queen has posed:
Crime rarely sleeps, which tends to mean the same for vigilantes. Which is a flashy way of saying that Red Arrow has been up most of the night doing that while her brother has been dealing with the public business side of his matters to get the new year rolling smoothly.

There would be need for a rest, but that could come later, right now she was more hungry than she was tired. So after a quick drop into one of Gotham's many secluded alleyways and a few minutes to change into her civvies and back her gear back in a bag, Emiko Queen wandered into the Munch Box. Mostly for breakfast, but seeing familiar faces was nice too and she waves in Mark's direction.

America Chavez has posed:
America Chavez lifts a hand to give a little flippant wave at the question of the universe name. "Yeah. I get around. Sometimes get bored and wander. There's a few I steadily come back to, like here, but 773 is one I hadn't gone to yet."

As soon as the coffee is there she's taking it black for a quick chug. The first cup is down, and the second then gets a more leisurely addition of cream and sugar. Caffienate first and then enjoy wa her method apparently.

"Must have been tough dealing with him. Parents are always hard. At least I don't have to worry about my Moms."

"So, you doing the secret identity thing or just going with the open bash and smash? Most try identities. Doesn't much matter for me, I don't exist anywhere I don't want to."

The coffee mug is raised up to sip at with an offhand remark of, "You got a girl waving at you. Halfway cute but not one of your amores."

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Dad kinda blew the cover off..." Mark starts to say, then explains. "Most the folks on the street don't know, and I'm good with that. But the Titans and Young Avengers know." And then when America calls Emiko out, he turns and ohs. "That's one of ours." he explains as he waves Emiko over to join them. He doesn't do the introduction, allowing Emiko the chance to decide how to introduce herself.

"Yeah. Parents are a pain sometimes. My mom's still around. I'm more worried about her than myself, but she keeps telling me she's fine when I know she's not, but what can you do?" he asks, lifting his coffee (no additions, straight black) as he considers Emiko. "Should we add a third? Looks like you had a long night." comes the inquiry as he prepares to move, depending on which side she chooses to sit on.

Emiko Queen has posed:
That is what Emiko was waiting for, an indication if she should join them or not. So when Mark waves her over she walks up, and catching part of the conversation groans softly as she scoots her small body into a seat. "Don't get me started on parential issues. Though your family matters are definitely more... out there."

Her attention turns to Mark's other companion for a moment. Something maybe vagely familar but she can't quite place it so in the end she gives a polite nod. "Emiko Queen. A pleasure, and will be more so once I've got some caffiene and food in front of me." The girl must have some connection if Mark is speaking about things like his father figure issues with her, but Emiko is more the observe than prod time so she'll watch and see how things unfold.

America Chavez has posed:
"We've got extra seats," Is the only immediate response that America has to 'should we add another?' Then again by the amount of food she'd offered, either she had a huge appetite or she was rather used to the crowd slowly growing at the table as time passed. Sipping at her coffee she allows the now-sweetened brew to linger a moment. Then she swallows, opening her eyes again to regard Emiko.

"America Chavez. Young Avenger. Interdimensional Kicker of Asses."

"I've been away for awhile so I'm catching up a bit. With pancakes, as the gods require." Clearly that's a joke of course, and she cracks half of a lopsided smile to indicate it.

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Yep. Pancakes are required if you're joining us." Mark replies with a chuckle. "If Bunny was here, it would involve whipped cream, chocolate, sprinkles and who knows what else." he admits with an amused little smile as he draws from his coffee and leans back.

"Since we're all here and share teams, can I get an opinion on something?" he asks the pair. "We all know about the Titans. Big, intergalactic threat hits, we're there. Response team. Not really proactive. And the pizza parties and pranks and time travel and all that."

"...I don't think we should be following that. There's so much reaction... but noone being proactive. I guess the whole reason why I'm gathering folks to press an attack on the Lizard League's base is because I was left plenty of villains when my father bailed. And if I can nip something in the bud before it does something stupid like attacking the Statue of Liberty - again - I'd rather be that type of team." A sip of coffee. "If that makes sense?"

Emiko Queen has posed:
"Aah." Emiko responds to America's introduction, but is briefly interrupted by Patricia (never Patty) walking up to provide the newest arrival with a mug of coffee and take an order. Which is of course pancakes as indicated is necessary by Mark, and Emiko adds an order of scrambled eggs as well. "Not eaten since dinner yesterday and been up much the night." She's young enough that's surely no surprise to the general public, be it parties or studies, while the other two on the table can probably get the idea what that really means.

Once the order is made the waitress returns to the kitchen to place it, and the conversation can shift back to more intricate subjects. Between the name, the affiliation, and 'been away for awhile' Emiko puts the three and the vague tingle she had together. "Seen the rosters, don't think I've seen you personally due to that last one." She reachs over to her bag, unzips it a bit, and slips out an arrow just enough to show the red fletching before tucking it back in before anyone beyond the table can see. Easiest way to indicate 'Red Arrow' without saying it out loud. Because it's both cautious and it amuses her being mischevious about it.

Then the bag is slide back down next to her feet. "Mmhmm. No arguing there's a point a more active approach is better than a defensive one."

America Chavez has posed:
"I'm always up for punching threats so long as we know they're threats. I don't do the 'I portend the future shall be thus, and so we must do blah blah blah,'" America states with a little roll of her eyes as if this were something she'd encountered before.

"Old enemies? For sure. Unless they're showing signs of trying to get their shit together, then I say we punch 'em where it hurts so they can't get out of hand again. The future stuff though," she returns to that particular thought with a grimace of obvious distaste that she doesn't bother to try to hide behind her coffee mug.

"POSSIBLE futures are a thing and I've seen more often than not that trying to beat a POSSIBLE future to the punch is a sure-fire way of fucking things up royally."

Mark Grayson has posed:
"I'm not even..." Mark sips his coffee and sets it aside. "I'm not talking about a possible future where there's some member that finds out that they're the daughter of two other members and that whole spaghetti tangle of divergent timelines... and Earth number whatever where we all turn out to be space facists or whatever."

Someone may be a bit bitter about finding out his father is a space facist.

"But just, more. We know this has been an issue in the past, it needs to be taken care of. Not the whole, lets go find someone to bully into a fight." A sigh. "I'm sure we all have enemies and issues that we all know about that present such threats. We don't need to go picking a fight, or whatever."

"Just be nice to take care of something bad before it has a chance to do it. Good intelligence, more than Miority Report."

Emiko Queen has posed:
Emiko Queen takes a long satisfying drink of her coffee while listening. She's dating a time travelling speedster who often has to be careful what he says about the future so she gets the gist of what America is saying in that regard. Also, bless you caffiene. That will keep her going a bit longer.

"You're both right," she eventually says as she sets the cup down. "It is good to take an active approach, but also be pragmatic about it. Take it against threats we can be sure are or are planning to become a threat. None of what... she said, the whole Minority Report thing. I understood but no need to repeat the entire matter." Emiko then points a finger at America. "I like your style though. Willing to put your foot down and your fists up into action."

America Chavez has posed:
"That's my point. Yes, but if we start veering that direction, I will personally plant my foot in each and every butt I have to till you see reason again." Ah, threats, America's method of showing love. "Otherwise I'm in."

The gesture with the coffee cup swings back toward Emiko to add, "Sorry. Saw the arrow. You're not Hawkeye Three I hope." A little joke really, that might fall short if you weren't around the Young Avengers much. At least the pancakes start coming as her eyes track the waitress carrying a large amount.

"Aww yes," she lets out in a small sigh of satisfaction.

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Hey, you're one of the two in command, America." Mark points out with a laugh. "And I'm fairly sure I'd feel it if you put a boot in my ass, Viltrumite abilities or not." he comments, quieting down as the plates are delivered, because you know, Patricia the waitress is not part of the group.

But once the food is delivered, he chuckles. "I'm still not really sure what we are." he admits to the pair. "I mean, we have something we call a base, but Bunny even didn't realize she could live there back in the early days. I think we need to work on defining what we are and what we're going to do. Right now? I'm just spitballing ideas. But it's not my group. It's yours and Kate's. What would you like to see done, America?"

Emiko Queen has posed:
Emiko Queen laughs softly, she's entirely in on that joke. "No, but the rivaltry is good help in assuring we both keep our skills sharp," she replies once Patricia has delivered food and is on her way again. "Occasionally someone will try to get us competing, but there is a shared respect for the art. Honestly, it's nice having someone outside the family that can give me reason to keep improving."

Emiko unfolds a napkin and lays it across her lap as a precaution. Pancakes means syrup and that can get messy. "You're not wrong, Mark. We don't need to do everything like certain other groups just because we share part of a name. The support is nice to have but we should establish 'our own thing'. What kind of problems do we want to focus on handling?"

America Chavez has posed:
"Ugh, command." America's nose crinkles a bit at the very thought. A light puff of breath blows an errant curl out of her face. "When things originally started it wasn't about leadership or bases or directions. We were just a bunch of kids who could do stuff, wanted to do stuff, and the adults weren't gonna let us. I guess we're 'Avenger Adjacent' now." The coffee mug is set down just to be replaced by grabbing the maple syrup to start drowning her pancakes AND bacon. Nothing wrong with salty sweet.

"Okay. Right." A forkful of pancakes are stuffed into her mouth to chew while she was very clearly thinking hard. "Training to start. Not just how to fight, but how to use powers and abilities. Match those who aren't familiar with them yet with those who are. Also include basics like how to punch someone properly, because there's always going to be times powers won't be an option."

"Since there's no immediate world-shattering-threat that I'm aware of, filling in the power void left by your dad leaving his bunch of jerks without opposition is a good goal to work toward. You're right, it's gonna be a problem if they're left unchecked. Good enough for me for now."

Looking over to Emiko a nod is given. "If you're good enough to go toe-to-toe with Kate, then you've got skills yourself. She's used me for target practice before, if you need someone quick and strong to go against."

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Right. It's great to have the affiliation, Emiko..." Mark says, glancing aside to her as he cuts up his omelette first to eat. "But as someone pointed out to me, we're all using our own personal devices to contact each other. I'm not asking that we become like... all wearing the same uniforms and all." A shrug of his shoulders, it's a little too close to home for him at the moment.

"We can still do stuff and all that. Just - something where we know we can reach out to each other for assistance. There's more than a few of us that are cross-referenced with the Titans. But there's also more than a few of us that are disillusioned with the same and the ideas behind them. It's just a first step. But just..." he shrugs.

"I'd like to build upon the support system we already have. Just to know if - say, Emiko's in an issue, she doesn't have to put out a call to the Titans, when we can handle it just fine on our own."

"I really want to break us away from the Titans shadow. If that makes sense." And there's a nod in agreement with America's assessment of Kate and he laughs. "I'm the wish.com version of Superman. Nowhere near as strong. Or as fast. No extra powers. I just hit hard and fly. And those are a dime a dozen. But I have a rogues gallery that rivals some others."

Emiko Queen has posed:
Emiko Queen smirks a bit at America. "I will keep that in mind, there's always room to work on techniques for dealing with powered threats when you have none." Other than being that damn good but that's not really a super power, just talent and training.

In a similar regard Emiko just uses syrup on her scrambled eggs as well as the pancakes. This way she can break off a chunk of pancake, scoop up some eggs on her fork, then spear the piece on the end to hold it all on to get to her mouth without complicating flavors. Conversation slows down a little when you have to alternate between talking and chewing, but it still follows. "I think I get what you're saying. We need to be a little more organized as a whole. Not just 'oh hey I have this issue can you help' or 'please the other groups are busy'." Bacon is smeared around in syrup because yes the sweet and salty combination is part of the deal. "More training is good. Also good to train useful skills besides fighting... and training together to learn strengths and shortcomings so we can support each other properly."

America Chavez has posed:
"I am not changing into matching onesies with anyone. Unless we're dating then maybe I can be convinced." America picks up some bacon between thumb and forefinger where it hadn't been drizzled with cross-contamination goodness. Makes it easier to nosh on.

"We absolutely should have a means of communication. If that's not set up already that's a huge oversight. Even back then we had at least one person handling all our stuff to be in unison. It helps a ton." Here she goes silent to munch on the bacon apparently considering. "I could swipe us some tech." So legitimate.

"We can do the things we need to get up there. As far as Bunny and the living arrangements, we should *always* have room for people to crash if they need. That is something that always comes up as necessary."

Mark Grayson has posed:
"I contacted Vivian... did you know she didn't even realize she was part of the group?" Mark asks. "I'm not blaming anyone, she may have just missed the memo." A bite from his omelette as he continues. "She's helping us with the Lizard League thing. Going to take down their defenses. And perhaps help with the communications. She has ties to Janet van Dyne, so." He shrugs his shoulders.

"Of course, we could always get America to punch us into a universe where we can just take what we need and bring it back here." A smirk. He is probably aware of how her powers work, but really, the great Young Avengers caper would be epic.

"And yeah. We probably need to look around the base, figure out what we're going to do with it and who we're going to hold ties with when we decide what we're doing. Because I imagine we're going to get some pushback."

Emiko Queen has posed:
Pancakes and eggs are eaten. Coffee is drank. Bacon is dipped in syrup and munched on. It's a good breakfast. "I can also help get tech or equipment through Queen Consolidated, and keep it from being connected back to us... but actually setting up that kind of network is outside my field of skills," Emiko admits. "However, if we have any members that wish to learn more subtle ways of operating, that I can definitely assist in." She nods to America. "I know stealth is not everyone's forte and we can't all be trained assassins, but there will be times it is useful." She pauses for another drink of coffee. "Proper scouting and survellience will help make sure we are informed in determining when and were we need to act."

America Chavez has posed:
America Chavez gives a small 'mmn' of apparent agreement as she's busy double-dipping her crispy bacon into the maple syrup spilling off her stack of half-eaten pancakes. Got to do that while it was still warm or else it was just kind of gross. "I was just thinking I'd hop a few universes over and snag something we could use. You're right though about setting it up. I could get the best tech in the world, but if it's not set up properly it's just a waste of time. DO we have anyone tech-y on the roster?" She should probably know that. Then again she'd just returned from a bit of a trip.

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Vivian. She's it for tech." Mark admits as he finishes his omellette and eyes the pancakes. Does he have enough room for those. "We could ask someone from another group to help us, but that kinda defeats the point of us becoming self-sufficent, which is the big thing here."

"No matter what direction we pick -- I don't want to be in anyone's shadow. Not the Titans, not the Justice League. Maybe not even the Avengers. We'll still have support with those we have trust with, like Bucky. But I think we're all old enough now that we don't need chaperones. Many of us, if not all of us have done enough to be on equal footing."

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "Matching onesies is better for dating than it is for team-ups." Comes a voice behind the tall order of pancakes, whipped cream, sprinkles, syrups, and yes, two scoops of vanilla ice cream.

    "And at that, mostly for Holiday Cards -- it's just not practical if you don't have identical powersets or abilities." Bunny speaks up, and she hops to her knees.

    "Unfortunately since we're all still 'the kids', having an Avenger with us at least as oversight gives us legitimacy." she states, and gives a small snort of amusement. "Even if it's Ant Man. Scott's Okay though."

Billy Kaplan has posed:
    Somewhere mid-pancakes, you know, when everyone is a bit sticky and starting to feel the carbs hitting -- AKA a very inconvenient time to pull out one's phone -- is precisely when everyone's phones get a notification. And that kind of begs the question, did America's phone get suddenly inundated with new messages when she came back to this universe? If so, that must have been spammy as hell.

    Anyway, it's a semi-selfie of Billy, which basically means he has his nose way too close to the camera lens so it's only like 2/3rds of his head. For comedic effect, primarily, as it puts in full view the way his hair is sticking up on its ends like a porcupine. The background is kind of fuzzy, but it looks like he might be out doing an early morning patrol.

    The accompanying texts are thus: 'lol guess who zapped themselves' then 'it's me' and then 'i'm the problem, it's me'

Emiko Queen has posed:
Emiko Queen holds up her free hand. "I'm all for Viv handling that, and doing as much for ourselves as possible. I'm just saying we have plenty of sources for getting the stuff we need. Just as we don't want to be someone's shadow, it'd be a waste to turn away from resources we do have access to. That includes equipment," she nods when Mark mentions Bucky, "And experience. Setting our own path does not negate us from learning from those who have walked such paths before."

Then phones beep. Or vibrate in her case, she still has it on silent mode. But a quick snatch from a pocket to look at it, and she chuckles a bit. "I just came off of patrol, good to know someone is up and out there."

The phone is put away, and she's back at finishing up her own breakfast. But still gets in a nod of greeting to Bunny when she also joins them. Heh. Now that's a pancake stack with all the fixings.

America Chavez has posed:
America Chavez glances over to Bunny and The Pancakes as they join in. There's no complaint simply a bit of a grin at the sheer ridiculousness of the pancakes. Then again who was she to judge? "Okay. Leave the tech to Vivian, and we can maybe use some of the gear you can get us, Emiko. That sounds like the start of a plan to me."

o/~ I got this feeling that you know / Where I'm losing all control / Cuz there's magic in my bones o/~

That would apparently be America's phone as she pulls it out to thumb open the screen and stare at the texts with a little half-laugh at the image. Her head shakes a single time, and she pushes away from the booth. Fishing out her wallet she dumps a good chunk of bills on the table for her portion. Maybe some extra. "All right I'm out of here for now. I need to go check on some things since I've been away for awhile. Catch up later with you all."

Without a further word she strides out of the shop and just leaps into the air flying away without concern for who may see her.

Where ever Billy is at he would find himself under friendly fire a few minutes later by getting a Bounce dryer sheet noogie from America.

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Hey babe." Mark aims towards the stack of pancakes and ice cream and there's a grin. "Okay, so we have a basis on what we want to do and how to get there. Pretty productive for a pancake breakfast." There's a nod towards the rest of the group.

"Let's see what we can get to happening." There's a small smirk. "I suppose I'm covering the meal today, since I used you all for a sounding board. But I appreciate it. Thanks."

And then his phone's going off along with the others as Queen's 'It's a Kind of Magic' announces it's from Billy and he looks to the phone and shakes his head. "Someone got this? I don't think this is a Young Avengers level of emergency?"

And when America just races off to take care of it, he can only laugh. "Well. Good talk. I'm assuming you're heading home for sleep, Emiko? I'm going to go do some patrolling."

Emiko Queen has posed:
Emiko Queen looks up as America leaves. "Have a feeling she's on it," she chuckles. Followed by a nod to Mark as she swabs the last piece of pancake through syrup. "That's next on my to-do list yeah. I've learned to operate on short bursts of sleep, but that doesn't negate the necessity of it. Especially during these colder months. Body burns more to keep warm and active. But I'll rest better knowing you guys are out there to keep an eye on things."

She finds a few bills and tosses them on the pile. "At least covering my part of the tip." She grabs her bag from under the table and gets up. "Take care Mark, I'll check in later."