( sca ) morning, fabulous
Title: morning, fabulous
Fandom: High School Musical, DCU, & Digimon Adventure/02 crossover
Universe: Sharpay's Crossover Adventure
Relationships: Sharpay Evans & Mimi Tachikawa
Summary: some mornings, Sharpay takes the scenic walk to Palmona Bakery - and although she'll never admit it to herself, she stays to support Mimi.
Notes: This fic is the second half of![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
camalyng's birthday present! We didn't delve much into the friendship between Sharpay and Mimi, leaving them on the peripheral in the interest of worldbuilding elsewhere, but I've been curious about them in recent months as they were pretty dang similar (and would've found common ground eventually). Sharpay's and Mimi's first meeting was pulled from this old roleplay thread.
Some mornings, Sharpay rose at the reasonable hour of 10 AM and took the scenic route to Palmona Bakery.
Mimi's bakery was a scant four or five blocks away from her townhouse, bordered by a yoga studio and community garden, but the sweet scent of muffins and enticing aroma of freshly-roasted coffee lingered several feet away. At this hour, when office workers were buried in cubicles and school children had been ushered into class, the world was still and calm. The air was easier to breathe; the crowds had thinned; and the magic of Brooklyn was alive and flourishing, albeit on a smaller scale.
It was this silent, glorious hour Shar cherished as she wove through what remained of the crowds. While New York was the city that never slept, the borough of Brooklyn was home. Its people followed a steady routine, albeit one constantly in flux with its new residents. In time, as she had, they would learn the patterns.
As she walked through the front door, the bells chimed her arrival and customers’ curious eyes fell upon her.
Palmona always had a couple of stragglers at this hour: soccer moms after yoga classes; the occasional student finishing a paper; or some other local chatting up a storm with said soccer moms. Today was no exception. In fact, its regularity almost comforted Shar as she sauntered up to the counter.
“Morning, fabulous,” she called out towards Mimi as she peered at the pastry case.
“Hey, yourself,” Mimi teased back, leaning on the register. “Your usual or Tommy's?”
“Both. I thought I'd surprise Tom with lunch for a change.” Before Mimi could give some stupid excuse about friendship, or racking up a tab, Sharpay pulled out her credit card and slid it across the counter. “Also, I'm paying.”
Mimi smothered a smile as she turned to brew a fresh cup of coffee. “I'm starting to think Hell will freeze over before I can treat you.”
“Um, of course it will. If you keep giving away everything, you’ll never make a decent profit. I’m just looking out for you.”
A loud, rich laugh escaped Mimi's lips as the aroma of freshly-roasted coffee beans wafted through the air, and Sharpay almost wondered why she had taken this long to befriend her. Then again, she supposed, most people wouldn't have thought to befriend their spouse's ex.
When Mimi had first dropped by with a box of chocolate-chip cannoli, Sharpay hadn't felt like playing hostess to the fabled ex. Tom had been off fighting a mafia boss, and while Mimi may have been used to the constant hum of danger, Sharpay wasn't.
Yet Mimi hadn't let that fear rule her. Mimi didn't even acknowledge the fear beyond a mild grumpy lip. She had chosen to set the kitchen counter with cannoli and tea, just as she had chosen to tell stories about Tom's (and hers, by extension) high school years. She had wrinkled her nose at the alcohol; she had judged Tom's poor life choices and the women that had come in and out of the Brownstone over the years.
More importantly, she had once punched Red Hood in the face upon his return– no small feet, considering the foot and half difference between them. She had jumped on the kitchen counter and raised her fist in a swift uppercut.
Jason hadn't seen it coming. In hindsight, maybe he had, and that punch had served as his reckoning for a lifetime of crime and lies.
At the time, Sharpay had thought it kind of badass. Maybe the ex wouldn’t be such a bad friend, if she could take one look at Jason and Tom and raise a fist in anger.
With one punch, Mimi had brought a mafia lord to his knees, just as she was kneading sourdough to sell at the bakery, and just as she was wandering over to a table to serve Sharpay coffee.
“You know, I don't normally see you so early,” Mimi had to quip, sliding into the seat opposite Sharpay. “Well, relatively early for you, anyway.”
“It's still rehearsal season,” Sharpay pointed out, tapping a couple of fingers against the tabletop. “I get regular hours until the shows start, and that's when our schedules truly turn topsy-turvy.”
Mimi nodded in sudden understanding as she served them both fresh cappuccinos and a couple of blueberry muffins. “That makes sense. Better than waking up at 4AM to bake all of these.”
“Oh, always better. Sleep is the second-best thing in the universe.” Leaning in, Sharpay broke off a piece of the muffin and took that glorious first bite.
As always, the muffin was faintly sweet, with an airy, light texture and a balanced amount of blueberries in every bite. Divine, yet made with human hands.
She sighed, exaggerating her swoon (and waiting for Mimi’s laugh) as she grabbed another bite. "Perfect as always! I don't know how you and Jason do it."
“Jason doesn’t,” Mimi reminded her with another laugh. “Or if he does, he’ll stumble in from his night job, put a batch in the oven, and collapse back into bed. Bloodstains and all.”
Given Jason’s and Tom’s night gigs, Sharpay couldn’t imagine that either had much energy left by the time 4AM rolled around. She also couldn’t imagine how Tom held down a steady 9-5 with his work life, but then again – she had lived with him for years. She had seen his calendar. She still couldn’t wrap her head around that kind of sacrifice.
Part of her imagined that Mimi felt the same. These little moments, she could never tell Maxine– Maxine had been born and raised in this world. Heroes had touched every milestone of that woman's life. Heroes were normal and commonplace.
Mimi had a few secrets up her sleeve, from how often her fingers fiddled with her green necklace, but Mimi wasn't part of this world. Not naturally, and not because she had been born in it.
Which was why Sharpay couldn't help joking, to keep it light, “See? He’s still helping.”
“For a certain definition of it, maybe.”
A comfortable silence fell over them as they continued to eat. The idle chatter of other customers and of the street just beyond Palmona's doors continued around them. Sharpay would have reveled in these snippets, if she weren't more invested in her current company.
Mimi was still smiling back as she sipped her own drink. She let out a soft breath, allowing her shoulders to slump, “Truth is, I still do the bulk of the work. Maria helps out, sometimes, but I’m finally getting successful enough to hire a couple of helping hands. It’s… busy, but rewarding.”
“Good! I'm glad business is booming,” Sharpay grinned, finishing off her muffin, “These are the best in town, and I would know.”
“You also happen to be supremely biased.”
“Yeah, towards you,” Sharpay joked, taking another sip of her coffee. “Which, might I remind you, is fair and legal.”
Mimi could only shake her head with profound affection as she rose to her feet and greeted yet another round of customers – tourists, this time, from the look of their puffy coats. Each received Mimi’s cheerful service, and of course, the coffee and pastries that had become Palmona’s trademark.
As Sharpay observed Mimi in the midst of all this, Sharpay leaned forward in hopes of overhearing their conversations. In hopes of seeing her friend in action, and of course, in hopes of Mimi maybe realizing just how much Shar had come to rely on these scenic mornings.
Between customers, and over the steam of frothy milk, Mimi exchanged a knowing, loving smile with Sharpay. Holding up a bento-style box full of goodies, Mimi mouthed, “For you.”
Sharpay blinked, skimming her receipt: 1 cappuccino. 2 blueberry muffins (for her and Mimi to split). 1 chai latte to-go for Tommy, and… that was about it.
No bento box. No homemade lunch full of promises and friendship, and most pressingly, no lunch box given on the house because that was how a business lost profits and its ability to pay rent, Mimi.
A less gracious person would have reminded her friend of such stupidity as she cleaned her table and rushed back to the counter. A greedy friend would have tried to milk this friendship for all it was worth. A less empathetic person would have called Mimi out in the middle of this forming, grateful crowd.
Sharpay, on the other hand, leaned over the counter to hug Mimi as she accepted the bento.
“I know I didn’t have to–” Mimi began.
“Don’t.” Sharpay shook her head, tightening her grip on the bento and allowing love to enter her voice, “Thank you. You’re just looking out for us.”
Mimi’s expression softened as she returned that hug. “Forever and always.”
Fandom: High School Musical, DCU, & Digimon Adventure/02 crossover
Universe: Sharpay's Crossover Adventure
Relationships: Sharpay Evans & Mimi Tachikawa
Summary: some mornings, Sharpay takes the scenic walk to Palmona Bakery - and although she'll never admit it to herself, she stays to support Mimi.
Notes: This fic is the second half of
camalyng's birthday present! We didn't delve much into the friendship between Sharpay and Mimi, leaving them on the peripheral in the interest of worldbuilding elsewhere, but I've been curious about them in recent months as they were pretty dang similar (and would've found common ground eventually). Sharpay's and Mimi's first meeting was pulled from this old roleplay thread.Some mornings, Sharpay rose at the reasonable hour of 10 AM and took the scenic route to Palmona Bakery.
Mimi's bakery was a scant four or five blocks away from her townhouse, bordered by a yoga studio and community garden, but the sweet scent of muffins and enticing aroma of freshly-roasted coffee lingered several feet away. At this hour, when office workers were buried in cubicles and school children had been ushered into class, the world was still and calm. The air was easier to breathe; the crowds had thinned; and the magic of Brooklyn was alive and flourishing, albeit on a smaller scale.
It was this silent, glorious hour Shar cherished as she wove through what remained of the crowds. While New York was the city that never slept, the borough of Brooklyn was home. Its people followed a steady routine, albeit one constantly in flux with its new residents. In time, as she had, they would learn the patterns.
As she walked through the front door, the bells chimed her arrival and customers’ curious eyes fell upon her.
Palmona always had a couple of stragglers at this hour: soccer moms after yoga classes; the occasional student finishing a paper; or some other local chatting up a storm with said soccer moms. Today was no exception. In fact, its regularity almost comforted Shar as she sauntered up to the counter.
“Morning, fabulous,” she called out towards Mimi as she peered at the pastry case.
“Hey, yourself,” Mimi teased back, leaning on the register. “Your usual or Tommy's?”
“Both. I thought I'd surprise Tom with lunch for a change.” Before Mimi could give some stupid excuse about friendship, or racking up a tab, Sharpay pulled out her credit card and slid it across the counter. “Also, I'm paying.”
Mimi smothered a smile as she turned to brew a fresh cup of coffee. “I'm starting to think Hell will freeze over before I can treat you.”
“Um, of course it will. If you keep giving away everything, you’ll never make a decent profit. I’m just looking out for you.”
A loud, rich laugh escaped Mimi's lips as the aroma of freshly-roasted coffee beans wafted through the air, and Sharpay almost wondered why she had taken this long to befriend her. Then again, she supposed, most people wouldn't have thought to befriend their spouse's ex.
When Mimi had first dropped by with a box of chocolate-chip cannoli, Sharpay hadn't felt like playing hostess to the fabled ex. Tom had been off fighting a mafia boss, and while Mimi may have been used to the constant hum of danger, Sharpay wasn't.
Yet Mimi hadn't let that fear rule her. Mimi didn't even acknowledge the fear beyond a mild grumpy lip. She had chosen to set the kitchen counter with cannoli and tea, just as she had chosen to tell stories about Tom's (and hers, by extension) high school years. She had wrinkled her nose at the alcohol; she had judged Tom's poor life choices and the women that had come in and out of the Brownstone over the years.
More importantly, she had once punched Red Hood in the face upon his return– no small feet, considering the foot and half difference between them. She had jumped on the kitchen counter and raised her fist in a swift uppercut.
Jason hadn't seen it coming. In hindsight, maybe he had, and that punch had served as his reckoning for a lifetime of crime and lies.
At the time, Sharpay had thought it kind of badass. Maybe the ex wouldn’t be such a bad friend, if she could take one look at Jason and Tom and raise a fist in anger.
With one punch, Mimi had brought a mafia lord to his knees, just as she was kneading sourdough to sell at the bakery, and just as she was wandering over to a table to serve Sharpay coffee.
“You know, I don't normally see you so early,” Mimi had to quip, sliding into the seat opposite Sharpay. “Well, relatively early for you, anyway.”
“It's still rehearsal season,” Sharpay pointed out, tapping a couple of fingers against the tabletop. “I get regular hours until the shows start, and that's when our schedules truly turn topsy-turvy.”
Mimi nodded in sudden understanding as she served them both fresh cappuccinos and a couple of blueberry muffins. “That makes sense. Better than waking up at 4AM to bake all of these.”
“Oh, always better. Sleep is the second-best thing in the universe.” Leaning in, Sharpay broke off a piece of the muffin and took that glorious first bite.
As always, the muffin was faintly sweet, with an airy, light texture and a balanced amount of blueberries in every bite. Divine, yet made with human hands.
She sighed, exaggerating her swoon (and waiting for Mimi’s laugh) as she grabbed another bite. "Perfect as always! I don't know how you and Jason do it."
“Jason doesn’t,” Mimi reminded her with another laugh. “Or if he does, he’ll stumble in from his night job, put a batch in the oven, and collapse back into bed. Bloodstains and all.”
Given Jason’s and Tom’s night gigs, Sharpay couldn’t imagine that either had much energy left by the time 4AM rolled around. She also couldn’t imagine how Tom held down a steady 9-5 with his work life, but then again – she had lived with him for years. She had seen his calendar. She still couldn’t wrap her head around that kind of sacrifice.
Part of her imagined that Mimi felt the same. These little moments, she could never tell Maxine– Maxine had been born and raised in this world. Heroes had touched every milestone of that woman's life. Heroes were normal and commonplace.
Mimi had a few secrets up her sleeve, from how often her fingers fiddled with her green necklace, but Mimi wasn't part of this world. Not naturally, and not because she had been born in it.
Which was why Sharpay couldn't help joking, to keep it light, “See? He’s still helping.”
“For a certain definition of it, maybe.”
A comfortable silence fell over them as they continued to eat. The idle chatter of other customers and of the street just beyond Palmona's doors continued around them. Sharpay would have reveled in these snippets, if she weren't more invested in her current company.
Mimi was still smiling back as she sipped her own drink. She let out a soft breath, allowing her shoulders to slump, “Truth is, I still do the bulk of the work. Maria helps out, sometimes, but I’m finally getting successful enough to hire a couple of helping hands. It’s… busy, but rewarding.”
“Good! I'm glad business is booming,” Sharpay grinned, finishing off her muffin, “These are the best in town, and I would know.”
“You also happen to be supremely biased.”
“Yeah, towards you,” Sharpay joked, taking another sip of her coffee. “Which, might I remind you, is fair and legal.”
Mimi could only shake her head with profound affection as she rose to her feet and greeted yet another round of customers – tourists, this time, from the look of their puffy coats. Each received Mimi’s cheerful service, and of course, the coffee and pastries that had become Palmona’s trademark.
As Sharpay observed Mimi in the midst of all this, Sharpay leaned forward in hopes of overhearing their conversations. In hopes of seeing her friend in action, and of course, in hopes of Mimi maybe realizing just how much Shar had come to rely on these scenic mornings.
Between customers, and over the steam of frothy milk, Mimi exchanged a knowing, loving smile with Sharpay. Holding up a bento-style box full of goodies, Mimi mouthed, “For you.”
Sharpay blinked, skimming her receipt: 1 cappuccino. 2 blueberry muffins (for her and Mimi to split). 1 chai latte to-go for Tommy, and… that was about it.
No bento box. No homemade lunch full of promises and friendship, and most pressingly, no lunch box given on the house because that was how a business lost profits and its ability to pay rent, Mimi.
A less gracious person would have reminded her friend of such stupidity as she cleaned her table and rushed back to the counter. A greedy friend would have tried to milk this friendship for all it was worth. A less empathetic person would have called Mimi out in the middle of this forming, grateful crowd.
Sharpay, on the other hand, leaned over the counter to hug Mimi as she accepted the bento.
“I know I didn’t have to–” Mimi began.
“Don’t.” Sharpay shook her head, tightening her grip on the bento and allowing love to enter her voice, “Thank you. You’re just looking out for us.”
Mimi’s expression softened as she returned that hug. “Forever and always.”