Chapter Text
Fuck— why was it so cold and wet outside?? Volo was nearly knocked over by a gust of wind hitting him just as he pushed through the last set of doors out of the building.
Still, ve pushed through it, sprinting across the paved lot, to a nearby tree to rest and hide. Only for a moment though, as he turned vis head at a sudden rustling— only to see an older woman behind the tree next to him. Her hat tipped down and her hair long.
“I packed you an umbrella for a reason, dear. Don’t forget to use it.” Her tone was soft and gentle.
“I—“ Volo was still panting— raindrops clouding his vision as they clung to his glasses. He had to catch his breath. “Thank you, grandmother. I almost forgot.”
With that, she gave vem a little smile, and walked out from under her tree. “I’ll see you at the house, dear.”
He gave her a nod, then focused on the ground in front of him… he could feel a migraine coming on. By the time ve glanced over again, she was gone. Typical.
With a shiver and a sigh, Volo pulled the umbrella from his bag and unfurled it, a splash of gold and blue added to his overall dull color palette.
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His footsteps pounded on the sidewalk as he tried to best to- not run, but speedwalk to his destination. Home was merely a few minutes away. Passing homes as the sidewalk disappeared, leaving him walking along the side of the road... then turned onto a rather rural looking road.
Few homes belong along this route, and with a small turn right, he follows the path home.
With the ring of the bell, he opens the door, and slams it shut.
"What have I told you about the slamming the door?" Volo nearly jumped at her voice, somehow home before him, as always. Then, he sighed.
"I know, I know, 'It'll damage the hinges'..." He mutters, "Sorry, Grandmother. I won't do it again."
"You say that, dear, but..." She pulls out a seat and sits herself down at the dining room table, just left of the stairs. He sets his bag on the table.
"I really mean it this time, Grandmother. I promise." Ve matches his gaze to her for a moment, as difficult eye contact is for him usually.
After he breaks his eyes away from hers, they land on the small music box, a decoration which always sat on the fireplace's shelf. Volo always found it a little odd, having a fireplace in the dining room. But he wasn't focused on that at the moment. Had grandmother already twisted the dial on the music box? It cranked out the lovely little sound it always did, the strange creature in the middle mimicking a walking motion as it played.
A gloved hand-- her hand, reached up and gently plucked the instrument from the shelf, causing Volo to look back at her again. The two exchanged a look, before she spoke once again.
"Yes, dear. This is a 'pokemon'." Sometimes he wondered how she always knew what he was about to ask... "As you may know from your research, many of them were wonderful, powerful creatures. Say, even this one- 'Furret', could cut down a small tree it its own claws, if taught to do so."
"Why do we have this? Where did it come from?" He asked, frantic to learn more.
"...Now is not the time, my child. That is for you to find out yourself." Placing the knickknack gently back on the fireplace banister. Looking back at him, giving him a soft smile. "Now, I should be heading to bed... A woman like me needs her beauty rest, after all!" She let out a little giggle, before making her way upstairs.
Volo grew frustrated. It was clear that she didn't take him seriously- at least to vem. The rational part of his mind telling him to rest as well was quickly shoved back, as the urge to prove himself shone through to the front. Grabbing his bag, he made his way out into the pouring rain once again.