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Cheerful, staticky chiptune bounced off of the kitchen walls as Stu stirred a generous splash of vanilla extract into a large bowl of creamy buttermilk batter. The kitchen around him was in a state of controlled chaos, measuring cups, spoons, and other such implements stacked around on the counters with various dustings of white spilling from them.
Technically, he was supposed to be at the stunt arena, running through his newest routine, but why in the world would he have time for that when his girls were having their first full workday! Which means a big breakfast to start such a big day!
(Also, the newest routine consisted of his old routine plus a few extra tricks. He could pull it off in stasis, and frankly, he feels a bit insulted that the higher-ups think he needs the practice.
...Does he need the practice?
Nnnnope, not going there today!)
Waving aside irrelevant thoughts, Stu carefully separated the batter into two bowls, before setting it aside for later. Plain pancakes were a no-go today, special occasions called for sugar. For chocolate chips folded throughout the batter, melting into little gooey pockets of delight for Bonnie to get all over her fingers and mouth. For cinammon, stirred into melted butter and brown sugar, swirled into the batter for Janet to reveal when she dragged a knife through her bite.
Rolling over to the pantry, Stu pulled out what he needed. He currently had Piper's Digital Cookbook pulled up on his interface, the recipes he wanted glowing helpfully in the corner of his field of view. Not that he really needed them, but Starr Park AIs were advanced enough that Stu could call himself a bot of habit.
So the digital cookbook stayed in his periphery, and he set about making his daughters breakfast.
- - -
Janet woke up to the smell of butter and sugar. Sitting up in bed, she inhaled deeply, the warm, sweet smell of what could only be breakfast floating up from downstairs.
The top bunk was already empty, Bonnie presumably already awake. Janet was barely able to pull on some pajama pants, before there was a pittering of tiny feet down the hall, right up to the doorー
ーbam bam bamー
"Janeeeeeet! Papa made special pancakes!" Bonnie yelled through the crack beneath the door. "Come down quick! I don't wanna eat pancakes without you!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Janet laughed, Slipping on a tank top before before joining her family downstairs.
She pulled up a chair next to Bonnie at the table, her little sister smacking the table in excitement.
"Alri-i-ight kids, bon ap-appetit!" Stu chirped, setting down two plates stacked high with fragrant, steaming pancakes, and warm glasses of milk. Bonnie let out a whoop of joy, grabbing a chocolate chip pancake with her tiny hands and tearing into it with ravenous glee.
"I's super good!" She cheered, shoving more into her mouth. Janet laughed, bringing a cinnamon-swirled pancake onto her plate with her utensils. Forking a bite into her mouth, she let out a little sigh of bliss.
The pancakes were warm and pillowy, softer than anything a box-mix pancake could ever dream of being. The fluffiness was streaked through with cinnamon, spiced, sweet, and butter-rich, melting away in her mouth. And on top of everything, there was just a little touch of vanilla. Her first pancake was gone in seconds.
"You jus' keep gettin' better at these, Pops," Janet said, through a mouthful of pancake.
"Ha ha-a, I'm glad! Gotta keep my girls fed-ed-ed!" Stu flashed his own version of a grin. "I mi-ight be your Pops, but you two are my-y-y Popstars!"
"Nawwww, Dad!" Janet grinned as Bonnie giggled. "We love you too!"
No better way to start the day than the taste of pancakes and well wishes.