lucentpoison

[sweet-pea-sims]

a peaceful sunset bike ride around senbanmachi calms the soul

[changingplumbob]

Nishidake Household: Chapter 4, Part 4

Charlie's beloved dog Allie my have passed away but she's got lots of family to build her back up. Guardianship had to take a back seat for grief as this chapter concludes.

In this part Keira and Marta come to visit, Clover ages up, and the spice festival actually happens!

Kaori is busy cooking dinner and talking to Marta while geek Keira takes the opportunity to do a little gaming.

Keira: KAORI

Kaori: Did no one ever tell you not to yell at someone working with a knife

Keira: Ship, sorry

Kaori: What is it

Keira: I text her we're staying and she replied with a smiley

When Charlie gets home she manages a small smile for the visitors.

Kaori: I made some pho Char

Charlie: I like pho. Last time we had it... Allie was here

Keira: Did she ever sneak some

Charlie: She tried once and almost burnt her nose

Kaori: She was sneezing for days but the vet said she was fine

Keira: I was thinking tomorrow you two could show us the bamboo forest

Charlie: I have work tomorrow

Kaori: But Keira doesn't get much time off university at the moment

Charlie: I suppose

Marta: My shift finishes at 2. Perhaps we could do it then

Charlie: It is pretty peaceful there

Charlie may not feel up to woohoo but she can always hold her own in a pillow fight! She's victorious but before Kaori can sleep she spots something outside. Clover is rolling in another puddle! Kaori tells Charlie she'll handle it, and goes to give Clover a telling off. Clover is unconcerned.

After some relentless hunting of her own tail, Clover heads to bed. She wakes up nice and early. Jumps out of bed and ta da! She's aged up into an adult. She can now go on walks and start to learn some tricks.

Marta: See you later carino

Keira: Have a good shift

Charlie: How come she gets to go to work

Keira: Because... I don't know. Joey would have an answer but I'm too tired to think of one

Clover: *barks*

Charlie: And don't you look spectacular today

Keira: She's mixed breed right

Charlie: Yep, unique

Charlie: Morning K, did you sleep okay

Kaori: I think so but I'm still pretty down

Charlie: Yeah, me to

Kaori: How about a run with Clover? She looks keen

Charlie: Do you want to go for walkies

Clover: *barks*

Kaori: Sounds like yes to me

Charlie: What'll you do

Kaori: Journal I think, unwind

While Charlie and Clover make tracks in the fresh snow, Kaori embraces her literary hobby and journals. It's good to work through her feelings. When Charlie is back tending the garden someone rings the doorbell.

Charlie: Mum?

Kayleigh: Your dad and I thought we could tag along for this hike

When Marta arrives back the group head down the mountain a bit to Senbanmachi. It's here that they'll be able to start the hike around the old bamboo forest. A light snow covers the area, making the surroundings seem even more magical.

Kaori: Stick together. Main things to remember, phones on silent-

Charlie: And no photos! I've learned that one

Marta: It's not haunted is it

Harvey: You okay Marta

Marta: I had an awful nightmare with a ghost

Keira: You're awake now, promise

Kayleigh: Let's get going

Kaori: Forward team

The group move forward, up the stairs and into the forest. Initially they chatter a little, and Marta freaks out, but as they reach the heart the peace surrounds them. The six fall silent and admire the beauty around them. When Kaori speaks she recounts what her grandparents told her of the forest.

Snow continues to fall softly and a light frost still covers the ground that the sun hasn't touched yet. The tranquility is just what Charlie needs to calm the tides of grief inside her. For just a few hours, she can forget the pain, and simply be.

At home Charlie and Kaori excuse themselves for an hour while Keira sets about making tea. After properly letting go Charlie sits down to do some journalling of her own. Kaori however heads upstairs to work on some travel footage the agency has requested.

Charlie also cooks. She has the cuisine hobby but hasn't felt inspired lately. Some of her plants are also ready to evolve. I haven't seen the crouching evolving animation in ages and I missed it! Clover keeps an eye on Kaori to make sure she finishes her product, but also has time for Charlie hugs.

The next day Charlie still has some work tasks to do so Kaori takes Clover for her morning walk. It's pretty dark and cloudy, Kaori slips over a few times. When Charlie is caught up she takes some time to get  the bonsai tree in shape, I have been completely neglecting it, whoops.

Clover gets back filthy so Charlie takes her for a bath. Surprisingly Clover is pretty chill about having baths now, guess she listened to Allie. She's giving Clover a rub down when

*doorbell*

Reece: I'm so sorry about Allie Charlie

Charlie: Yeah, me to

Reece: How are you doing

Charlie: I'm coping

Charlie: Since you're here though, I've been meaning to give you something

Reece: Why

Charlie: Because you're living in some shack with a dude I've never meant

Reece: Berries

Charlie: You can plant them. But sell the dragonfruit rather than eat it, it's good money and festivals are glitchy right now

Reece: Thanks Char

Charlie: When can I meet him

Reece: He's not really a people person

Charlie: Yet clearly he can cope with you

Reece: Excuse me, cope?

Charlie: You know what I mean. If you can interrupt, you do interrupt. You talk so much

Reece: I can't help that my brain goes fast

Charlie: Whatever. Photos for mum?

I've been shuffling around photos and Charlie and Kaori need more for their electronic albums. They grab some with Keira and Marta then it's time for this stay over to conclude.

Charlie: Thanks for coming

Marta: It was good getting to know you better

Keira: Bye sis, look after yourself okay

Charlie: Have you applied for university

Reece: Not yet, I got time, it's not even my birthday yet

Charlie: If you want to renovate your shack you'll need a paying job

Reece: Hey now, don't hate the shack life until you've tried the shack life. I'd be more concerned about all these split levels, I could break my ankle

With all guests gone Charlie and Kaori had the house to themselves again. They played on the console for a bit, joined by Clover.

Clover: *barks excitedly*

Charlie: Down in front

Kaori: She just likes the TV

Charlie: She does seem pretty happy

Clover: *stares in adoration*

Kaori: Silly dog

Final day of the rotation passes fast. Kaori takes Clover on a run while Charlie tends the garden. Later they both head to the gym (yes where the unexpected death occurs) in Willow Creek to practice their rock climbing. Charlie finally reaches level 4! We're officially 2/3 of the way to attempting the mountain climb.

Having reached level 8 charisma Charlie is promoted after her shift to Starter player. To celebrate the ladies head to their favourite festival, which I'm beyond glad is showing up.

Kaori: We've been training, we got this

Charlie: Let's smash it

Kaori: Do those plants look weird to you

Charlie: Yes

While not eating regularly the two don't seem to be breathing fire which is promising. Time ticks on. The plates drop to half full. Charlie clutches her stomach. In the end, both women beat the challenge! Winners shirt selfie anyone? I don't think it'll be warm enough for the mountain unfortunately

Back home Charlie showers Clover with affection, then heads to sleep with her wife. This Nishidake chapter has drawn to a close. Not tons of guardian development but I'm trying to keep my restricted target for once. Plus they're still workshopping ideas of how they can help the mountain.

Previous Part ... Next Part (York)

[sweet-pea-sims]

yue treated her parents to her favourite restaurant in senbanmachi! nothing like hot pot on a cool spring evening ♡

later, haruka asked yue if she had made any friends since moving (not including animals lol) and when yue told her about asuka and saiko she was overjoyed!