Xenotober 2024 24 Cake (Lin, Tatsu, Elma, Doug)

a/n: A continuation of day 21, Candygore, now in cake form. Ooops all dialogue.

"I've created a monster," said Lin, flopping onto the couch. From the kitchen came the sound of cheerful Nopon singing.

Elma and Douglas had heard this complaint several times tonight, whenever Lin could escape the haze of baking and frosting. Elma lifted her eyes from their paperwork without comment, while Doug tutt-tutted without sparing her a glance.

"No, I mean it. This is the fourth cake I've had to bake in as many days. One more and I'll need to call in the Reclaimers to deal with the leftovers."

"I'm pretty sure Commander Vandham will help you out," said Doug, sorting a stack of completed forms. He passed a tablet screen with map locations to Elma.

"He helped me the last two times," Lin informed him. "He was slowing down by the end. No one is invincible."

"Then call the Interceptors."

"I'd rather call locusts. They have better manners."

Elma had rapidly annotated the list and passed the tablet back to Doug. She turned serious eyes to Lin. "I would expect you to be happy to share your culinary interest in a constructive way," she said pointedly.

Lin had the grace to blush. "It was for art! The sculpture of Tatsu was legitimate art. I was making a transformative piece!"

"And then you filled your sculpture of your loyal friend with candy and encouraged the viewers to break it into pieces."

Doug coughed quickly, then matched Elma's serious tone. "It was memorable," said Doug, stretching his arms. He was willing to take a break from cross-referencing squad tasks. "Making realistic bones and organs out of sugar and jelly was a mark of talent."

"Thank you! And I didn't force anyone to help me make a dozen initial models!" huffed Lin.

Elma and Doug kept silent. Lin sunk lower. "Okay, I know this is probably my just desserts. Literally. But I am ready for Tatsu to knock it off."

"He wants to contribute a special treat to the Littlepon Haunted House next week. He only has a few more days to get it right," said Elma gently.

Lin sat silently, considering her sins and the hope for release. Then she sat up, her chin raised high. "He's not going to stop until he thinks the cake, including the gory but delicious internal organs, is perfect. Which means I have to help him make it better than perfect."

"That's our kiddo," said Doug. "But do me a favor: no explosions."

"Ohmagah, that's brilliant!" She bounced off the couch, making a beeline into the kitchen. "Hey Tatsu! Have we considered triggering a small burst of carbon dioxide to push out the licorice rope intestines when the cake is sliced?"

a/n: Youngest wanted someone jumping out of a cake, so there may be more story.

Next up: desperate/Gatcha Life. What's the X equivalent of black liver beans?