npc blog

“Right, I suppose it must be nice in some ways, for us all to be back.” Mr. Moe brought Grace out of her thoughts. She’d found her way into the kitchen for a glass of water and somehow herself staring off into the sink. What a day. “How long has it been? Almost a decade, right?” 

“It is nice to see you, sir.” She put the full cup down on the counter, having not even taken a sip. “I’m sorry we haven’t been back before now.” A lie. Somehow, pretending and lying came easier when she was under this roof. 

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“Seven years and three months since the last one of you stepped foot out of the house,” he clarifies. Not to be rude or attempt to correct her, but the date weighs heavy on his mind and it doesn’t take much prompting to recall how long it’s been for him. He’d always wanted to have children, always wanted to be a father, and in the strangest way he’d gotten his wish. Eight children, and all of them remarkable. 

“It’s good to have you home, Gracie,” he says. He knows that she probably doesn’t want to be here, not really. But that makes her presence all the more appreciated. “I know you’ve all been so busy with your new lives. I think it’s wonderful. Are you happy? Out there inn the real world?”

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all luisa could offer was an understanding smile and a shake of her head. “don’t apologize.” she still didn’t know what to address him as. in the meantime, dark eyes wandered around the room, admiring the crown moulding and boiserie. “i don’t think it’s that bad, but if you really wanted, it wouldn’t take too much effort to revamp this place. you could refinish the hardwood and fix the wallpaper seams by yourself. doesn’t take more than warm water, glue and a mop.”

     “it’s… a really beautiful place, though.” 

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For a moment, Mr. Moe stands stunned by the comment. At first embarrassed that they’d even noticed the wallpaper seams, and then impressed. “Uh, yes, thank you.” His mind still buffering, he offers up a comment that once again makes his stomach sink with humiliation, “Was home repair part of your training for The Enigmas?” What a stupid thing to say. Oh well, hopefully she’ll give him the grieving get-out-of-jail-free card. 

“I hear you’ve got a big project going on. Some deal with - oh what was it Prime or Hulu or Netflix? One of the big ones though! I remember that much!”

“despite the unfortunate circumstances, i must say that it’s nice to have everyone home.” ​

“I apologize for the state of this place. We haven’t had guests in so long, and I’ve been in such a state I completely forgot how desperately this place needs a good dusting.”