soft suburban witchwood vibes where james' parents gifted him a house after his first military contract ended as a way to try to bribe him to stay home, and he's really unsure about it because this is his passion, but he's taking a small break to settle into his place and consider his options when he notices the for sale sign next door is gone and there are moving trucks in the drive.
initially he thinks it might be a family because there are a lot of large boxes and there's an exciteable golden retriever running around the yard, but there arent children in sight. a couple, maybe- the young woman rushing around is trying to micromanage everything and looks very stressed, but she keeps being caught and reassured by a man that seems to comfort her. a young couple, then, he thinks, watching out his living room window; that's nice, maybe the man is into some of the same things as he is, and they could get drinks sometime. he goes to make coffee and forgets for a few hours about the moving in happening next door.
later, he walks outside to check the mail and the man from before is making his way to his car, waving goodbye to the woman and wishing her luck, to call if she needs help with anything. the movers are gone now, and the dog is pressing itself firmly into the woman's legs, as though to support her. she looks scared and tired. she waves to the man and calls a thank you as he takes off.
she doesnt notice james watching her as she turns to look at the house, her house, for a long moment, her shoulders falling lower. she sighs so loudly he can actually hear it, and then sinks to the ground, becoming so much smaller in her little sundress, as her dog whines and nuzzles into her lap.
she seems sad, and he cant help but go up and introduce himself.
her name is glynda, the man was her friend ozpin, and her dog is button-bright, who "isnt very smart, but he's as good as a good boy can be". she's just finished her masters program at a local university and secured a job teaching science at a nearby high school, to start in the fall.
this is her first house, and it's too big for her. she isnt sad, though, she insists. she just needs a moment to breathe before she can go inside and start living in it.
james leaves her be. eventually, she does go inside, and he doesnt see her leave for a long while. he can hear button-bright barking and playing in the back yard occasionally, and he thinks he might bring her some sort of welcome dish.
he isnt sure, but he keeps thinking about her. a lot. too much. she seemed sad, despite what she said.
he has a weird feeling that she would have the most beautiful smile.
he thinks he wants to make her smile, maybe.
he thinks his mom would hate her, just based on what he knows so far (it isnt much).
he thinks he'll ask her out, if she settles in okay.
he isnt sure, but he thinks....he wants to stay a little longer to find out.
