Home Improver Portion

“Speaking of money. Dain, from the Merced Home Improver store, called. He said that your shipment of sandstone is in, and he just needs you to come in and verify it’s what you’ve been looking for.”
“Fine! Fine!” I said, distracted. “I’ll attend to it tomorrow, after I drop Angelique off at the Magistrate’s Office. Right now I’ve got other things on my mind!” I growled, eager to get into more interesting matters.
Frazziss soon began to match my growls, and then my moans.
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The next day I stood outside the Merced Home Improver store, and tried to blink away the sight of that god-awful color scheme.
“Hey Allen! Fancy meeting you here!” I was startled from my reverie by a familiar voice behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I was happy to see that it was Dain, the store’s Contractor Services Super.
“Hey Dain, it’s good to see ya!” I replied honestly. “I take it your friend from Vasalia was able to make good on his promise?
“Ayup! That he was!” he smiled “Just come with me back into the goods yard and we can see what you think of it!” I followed him along as we made our way there.
“Uh, one question Dain!” He turned to look at me questioningly as we wended our way over. “I don’t suppose you’ve got any control over the Store’s color-motif?” I asked hopefully, pointing out one particularly disgusting-looking banner. Dain stopped and looked over to where I was pointing and blanched.
“Sorry Al,” he replied. “The chain’s owner, Druella, picked it out. I’m not suicidal enough to try and convince her to change it.”
“Yeah, Ok. I guess.” I sighed. “But do you have any idea WHY she had to choose such a fucking obnoxious shade?”
“I think you just answered your own question, Al.” Dain laughed. “She’s not only a Succubus, she’s a Lilim after all.”
“Yeah, I guess I did.” I admitted. Then I turned and continued following him, all the while trying desperately to avoid looking at anything purple. We then shortly came to the stacks of sandstone that he promised.
Looking it all over, I was thrilled to discover that it all was the make and quality, that I’d been hoping for. They were all virtually indistinguishable from the Dragon-Realm sandstone that had first inspired me.
“It’s all perfect Dain! I’ll take it all.” I smiled in anticipation.
‘Finally! Something that’s good enough to make Frazziss smile!’ I thought to myself happily. I looked over at Dain who was holding a clipboard with the invoice clipped to it. I eagerly reached out for it.  He then did something I found odd.
He pulled it away from me at the last second. Which surprised me.
“Uh, Dain.” I began, reaching out for the clipboard again. He snatched it away again. I looked at him resentfully.
“Ok Dain, cut the shit.” I growled. He ignored it. Instead he looked up at me and crossed his arms, frowning. After a second I matched him.
“What?!” I demanded. He glared back at me and spoke.
“I bumped into a mutual acquaintance yesterday, Allen.”
“Yeah, so?” I said, crossly.
“It was your Father.” He said quietly. I jerked in surprise when he said that, and didn’t reply. Dain waited a few seconds for me to respond, and when I didn’t he continued.
“He and I shot the shit for a while.” Dain continued, looking at me. I wouldn’t meet his eyes. I knew what was coming. “He seemed to be in pretty good spirits, all things considered.” I licked my lips, and pulled my wings in tight.
“Or, he was until I brought your name up.” Dain said coldly. I turned my head away then. I kept my silence.
“Imagine my surprise, when I found out he didn’t know a thing about you, or where you were.”  I could Sense Dain’s anger rising then. “I can’t remember the last time I’d seen someone so sad over the thought of his son going missing, nearly a year and a half ago. He seems to think that you fell off of the face of the earth!”
‘Something like that.’ I said to myself. I spoke finally.
“Did you tell him?” I asked, quietly.
“No. I did not. It wasn’t my place to.” He replied, glaring at me through his eyebrows. “Don’t you agree?” I kept my trap shut. He stepped forward and stuck his face up into mine.
“Chief-God-Damn-it Allen! You need to tell your Father where and what you are!” Dain shouted in frustration, his hands turning into fists. His outburst garnered several nearby customers and associates’ attention. He ignored them.
“You don’t know what he’s like Dain!” I yelled back. “He HATES Mamono! If he sees me as I am now, he’ll shit an entire brickyard!” I cried with my wings flaring out slightly.
“Maybe so, Allen! But at least HE’LL KNOW YOU’RE ALIVE!!” Dain screamed back up at me, then he closed his eyes and stepped back. He tilted his head and calmed himself.
“I didn’t know about your first wife and,…and…” he began, then stopped, not looking at me. “I’m sorry about your Family Allen.” He finished. I nodded back at him. He kept looking back and away at me several times, but then he got his composure. I did too.
“So, if you want this sandstone, and I think that you do, Allen.” I’ll release it to be shipped to you on one condition.” He said, Danuki like. I frowned at the tone in his voice.
‘I think I can guess.’ I thought silently.
“You go and tell your Father what’s up with you. Right now, today!” he said sternly to me.
“You can’t do that!” I replied, indignant.
“Oh yes I can Allen, and I will!”
“But, but that’s unprofessional!” I shot back.
“Yes it is, Allen. Yes, it is! In fact, it’ll probably cost me my job! But you know what?” he asked, pinning me with one eye on mine.
“It’s worth it. I consider your Father to be a friend. Distant, but a friend nonetheless! He NEEDS to know about his only child!” he stated fiercely. We just stood like that silently staring each other down, for several seconds longer. He gave in first.
“You know where you can find me, once you’ve done your duty Allen.” He said as he turned around and walked away. I followed his progress with my eyes, resenting him every step of the way.
‘Asshole!’ I thought silently to myself.
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It took me awhile, but eventually I got over my silent temper tantrums. Though I did locate Dain’s rig, and I scorched some of the paintjob off of it by spitting out a small fireball. I took to the air, and flapped my way over to the side of town that I’d been avoiding. Avoiding, every time I came down to Merced.