A Place To Call Home (10/1/2022)

 Grass and Violet arrive at the end of the block. Most of the buildings in the surrounding area are abandoned, but some angry-looking old people have remained out of pure stubbornness. They glare at Grass and Violet as they pass on their mule. The sign at the intersection reads "New Cleveland" and "Frosted Boulevard".

Violet looks around as she tries to give warm smiles to the people as she makes sure Grass is ok

An old man barks at Violet like a tiny dog. A tiny dog jumps up to the windowsill beside him and gives Violet the middle finger.

Violet is confused at the surrealist situation as she keeps notes

The two both arrive at the small house as Violet dismounts Mudsmack out back.

"Well... This was her place back before things got... Complicated. I think it's... fitting... to let her rest back at home, don't you?"

“I agree… it would be fitting.”

Grass sighs as she gets the shovel from the bags and retrieves the bag with Gen's remains.

“Everything ok? I mean, other than… you know.” 

"Yeah."

Grass sets the bag with the remains aside and starts digging. Her face is null.

Violet tries to find something to help dig with, feeling sad watching Grass have to do this.

The hole is taking shape

“Grass. Anything I can do to help dear? I… I sense sadness from you and… I just wish to help and see you happy again even in these sad times.”

"Thanks... but I'm alright."

Grass starts digging with her wings as well.

Violet feels upset she can’t help, with no wings, no shovel, nothing. As she stands by for anything she can do as she looks around, making sure anybody is not suspicious or spying on the private event

No one can be seen.

The hole is finally dug and Grass stops, staring at the bag with Gen in it.

Violet puts a hand on Grass’s shoulder, giving her a reassuring smile

“Want some help with this?”

"Yeah, if you don't mind"

Violet gives a helping hand with the body, making sure it gets into the hole safely

Grass begins singing something in another language, she finishes before beginning to refill the hole

Violet does not recognize this language

Violet holds back any questions as she says a prayer to Mara to hope that Gen makes it safe to the afterlife

Grass finishes burying the body, and then nods to Violet, returning to Mudsmack after

Violet grows many flowers around the grave as she returns to Grass and Mudsmack

“You doing alright?”

"Yeah, let's check out my old place. It's been ages." Grass' tone is cold.

Violet is worried for Grass but goes along with her

“Alright dear… whatever you say.”

On the other side of the road, Grass and Violet all stop behind another house and dismount Mudsmack. They both enter through the back door, after removing a loose brick and retrieving a key.

The inside of the house smells musty. There are dust and cobwebs everywhere, but things are still in place. Framed pictures of a younger Grass, with what appears to be a Mother and sister hang from some of the walls.

Violet looks around the place, cleaning up some cobwebs as she looks at the photos

“You have a sister? If you don’t me asking.”

"I did... I haven't seen her or my mother since I was 14." 

“If you don’t mind me asking… what happened when you were 14?”

"I fell through the floor."

"Not through the floorboards... Through the... Reality. My sister did too, but only I emerged inside of Lavender Tower." 

“I see… well I hope we can find them someday. What were their names? Your mother and sister?”

"My mother was named Zoey. My sister was Summer." 

“I see. Well, I hope we can find them one day.”

Violet gives her a smile as she looks around the house

Grass heads toward the staircase, without saying anything.

Violet follows, looking around as she heads up the stairs

Upstairs is a small hallway with three doors.

Grass goes to the middle one and enters

Violet follows as well, wanting to explore the others but worry’s for Grass more

The room is small. Inside is a bed, a dresser, a closet to the right, and a small desk. The wall is covered in retro movie posters. A picture of Gen and Grass laughing and holding hands at a park sits on the dresser. It is covered in dust, obstructing a lot of the details.

“Do you… need some time, dear?”

"No... I just want to clean, starting with my old room. We can stay here for as long as we need."

“Alright… well I’m going to look around. Is that alright with you?”

"Yeah. Go ahead."

“Alright. If you need anything just holler”

Violet steps out of the room and moves to the next closest door 

Inside is the master bedroom. It's mostly bare, aside from the bed, dresser, and side tables.

Violet looks in the dresser and if nothing is found she looks in the other upstairs room

All Violet finds are typical drawer things: lotions brushes etc

A checkbook and calendar as well

Violet looks to the calendar to find any dates and the checkbook for anything that peaks her interest

The checkbook is down to the last check. Looks like they were mostly used for bills.

The calendar had a lot of doctor's appointments on it for Grass.

She looks at the checkbook and calendar, trying to figure out what the appointments are for

Violet finds "chemo treatment" on one of the dates.

It seems that Grass had a variety of ailments, as "blood transfusion" and surgeries are also listed

Violet holds them as she looks at them… knowing that Grass possibly had Leukemia

“My gods…”

Violet looks for anything else before moving on to the last upstairs room

She doesn't find much

Violet heads downstairs to see if she can find anything down there

The last room resembled Grass' but a lot less tidy and no pictures. There was a soccer trophy on the dresser

Violet smiles but is saddened by the broken family as she does one last search around the house for anything

There really isn't much to note downstairs. A modest kitchen, a furnished living room, a storage room, and a bathroom.

Violet nods to herself as she starts and moves to the master bedroom and starts to clean it, resting on the bed when the room is clean, looking up to the ceiling and thinking

There is a knocking at the bedroom door a few moments after things are clean. 

“Hm?”

Violet goes to the door before opening it

Grass is standing there.

“Oh! Hey Grass! I just finished cleaning this room and was taking a rest on the bed.”

"Oh, that's great. I cleaned my old room too. We can use it for... whatever."

Grass looks around the room. "It feels weird to be in here... I guess it's mine now though, isn't it?"

“I guess so!”

Violet moves over to the bed as she lay down

“You doing alright? You just seemed off this whole time. I mean it’s fine! Just worried”

"Yeah... yeah, I'm good." 

Grass lays on the bed beside her.

Violet smiles at her as she gives her a kiss

“Well, I’m glad to hear, that you're good.”

"Yeah. How are you?"

“I’m doing alright. Just trying to figure out how to move forward with all that has been going on… but I would like it if it at least begins and hopefully ends with you.”

She gives a smile

Grass smiles back. She locks her fingers with yours.

Violet smiles as she gives her a long kiss, locking her fingers back

Grass cries a bit, griping your hand for dear life as she gives into the kiss.

When you both pull away, she asks you about what happens next.

Before you can answer, the pressure in the room shifts

Two colorful boxes appear beside the bed. One on your side, one on Grass's. Yours is a blue box with a red bow. Grass has a yellow box with an orange bow. Something can be heard moving inside each.

Violet knows exactly what it is as she gives Grass a smile as she opens her box

Inside your box is a yellow parrot with green wings and a red set of crown feathers. It flies up to your shoulder and lands. "Hello, Dear.", it says.

Grass opens her box. There is a bearded dragon inside. "Whazzupp!?" It says with its tongue out.

Grass happily picks it up. "Who are you?" She asks with a giggle

Violet thinks, Bingo, bird

“You can talk? Wait-“

Why do their talking patterns sound familiar

"Of course I can, my Lavender.", says the bird.

"My name is Bingo, Lassie!", says the bearded dragon 

"And Bingo was his name-o.", Grass says, laughing afterward.

“And what might be your name?”

Violet looks at the bird

"Thicc Bish, my Lavender."

“Did Strawberry name you?”

"Sadly... Please, rename me."

“Hmmm how about… Hope?”

"Can we meet in the middle with Harp?"

“Deal”

Harp nods to you. "You got any food?"

Bingo climbs onto Grass' shoulder, clearly mimicking Harp.

Grass replies, "Sadly not, but we can get some food nearby."

Grass looks to Violet, with an inquisitive look on her face, seeing if she is willing to go to the store.

Violet give a smile as she will go to the store tomorrow as she rests her head on a pillow