strangetrip | [GP/EP] Pie for Pi Day

The only ones who might have known yesterday held any significance were Jag and Sunny, and if they did, they also knew her well enough to know she wasn't big on celebrations. Her one tradition, a new deck for her birthday, hadn't been possible this year, since she hadn't found anything like a tarot deck on Asphodel Station. But that was okay.

Pi Day, on the other hand, was worth celebrating. Everybody liked pie. Last week, she'd talked to Pike, who had been curious and excited about a holiday for pie, and seemed eager to help. Yesterday, she'd put a notice on the bulletin board, hand-lettered over a watercolor scene of pies and more pies. She'd also made ice cream in a variety of flavors, since she wasn't Bobby to freeze it on demand, in less time than it took to prepare the custard base. Today, she left the non-pie food preparation to Ignis, the chicken chef, and anyone who wanted to fend for themselves.

Today, along with Pike and anyone else who wanted to and knew what they were doing, Emma baked pies. Fruit pies and cream pies. Quiche and pot pies. Shepherd's pie and meat pies. Hand pies, savory or sweet, baked or fried. As close as she could get to real Brooklyn-style pizza this far from Brooklyn. Some were decorated with the symbol π or the first few digits of the number it represented, as a vent in a top crust, piped in whipped cream, or carefully laid out in caramelized onions depending on the pie. And because she couldn't resist the visual pun any more now than she could the first time she celebrated Pi Day at the castle, a square apple pie (one of Bobby's favorites) and cherry tart (a recipe she'd learned from Sabine, the fruits a deep ruby red against white cream and pale crust that would have appealed to her cousin's aesthetics).

It wasn't the same as Pi Day at the castle, but there was a bustle and energy as people moved between the kitchens, the bakery, and the cafe, sitting to talk over a slice, or helping each other choose what to taste next. As long as Emma stayed busy, she could enjoy the memories without dwelling on the people she missed.

And there was pie. Everybody likes pie.

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"Least I'm still learnin' about all that modern medicine," Jackson pointed out, stroking his fingers through her hair. "That's somethin' I never woulda gotten back home."

Corbie smiled a little. And then her expression folded into a thoughtful frown. "Ever think about how crazy you'd sound back home, talking 'bout the stuff you know now?" It hadn't really crossed her mind until that moment, but so many wizards back home would wonder what the hell she was even talking about

The thought gave Jackson paused, and then he laughed. "Yeah, I'd have to be careful what I say." He'd take the frustration of not being able to share what he had learned, though, if it meant being back with Susan.

"I dunno if I'd be able," Corbie admitted, a sheepish little smile tugging up one corner of her mouth. "Denying anything about magic's like denying a piece of me. It'd demand to get out sooner or later." But then, that was her nature. She couldn't keep very much of herself to herself. Other people's secrets were safe as they could be with another person, but she wanted to learn, to share, to connect. She didn't think she'd be able to keep her mouth shut for most anything.

Jackson shook his head. "Yeah, it'd just be about letting it out in ways that don't make you sound insane, wouldn't it." That was what it would be like for him, anyway. He figured the most frustrating would be when he could solve a case with it, and no one would take his evidence seriously.

At least if he knew he could save a life with it, that saved life would be proof enough.

"Did you manage to learn anything on Asphodel?" Corbie wasn't sure why she was asking. Perhaps she wanted to know if what he'd done had been worth it.

"Not unless you count 'don't fuck with the Ver'," Jackson replied matter of factly. He hadn't even had time to, no.

"I'm sorry," she said. And she meant it, because that was definitely not worth nearly dying for. She kissed his cheek softly and murmured, "I'd ask you not to take a risk like that again, but it wouldn't do me much good, would it?"

Jackson made a skeptical face, and then confirmed, "Probably not." It wasn't as if he'd planned to be executed; and he would probably not plan to get into mortal danger again next time. Or maybe he'd do it consciously, if he had a good enough reason, and good enough odds. Time would tell. Either way, much as he was hoping it would be his last execution, he was also pretty sure it wouldn't be his last time putting himself in danger.

"What about you, darlin'? What'd you get up to on Asphodel, before you had to rush to my rescue?"

Corbie nodded. You fucking idiot.

But she was the one who cared anyway and even as she thought those words they weren't entirely without affection, so who was really the fucking idiot here?

"I was mostly with Illyana finding materials for the library. Didn't exactly feel safe to go exploring on my own." Illyana was terrifying, though, she'd felt plenty safe with her. "Oh, and helping Kitty set up a date for Dorian and Piotr."

"Piotr?" Jackson asked with raised eyebrows. "Isn't he the - metal fellow?" It was difficult to imagine the two of them on a date, and mostly not even on account of their gender. Then again, Jackson had never talked to Piotr, and had very little idea what he was like.

"The giant metal fellow," Corbie agreed. Many people were taller than she was, but she was still amazed that anybody could tower that high over her. "Don't know him well, but they seem to like each other."

Jackson smiled at her addendum; true enough. He wondered what Drake might have made of the man, and his amusement only grew at imagining them interacting. "Well, I'll be sure to ask Dorian about it."

Corbie nodded. She paused a moment before releasing a soft sigh. "I think I'm okay now."

"You wanna grab some pie and join me?" Jackson offered. He still hadn't touched his. An upset Corbie took priority over food, no doubt there.

"Yeah," she said, giving him a little smile as she got back to her feet. "Sounds like a plan."

[GP/EP] Pie for Pi Day

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