locked to the woofs

[tearable]

WHO: The Woofs (+ NPC Mrs. Berrymore aka rip my Santa Clarita Diet easter egg)
WHERE: Viea Village
WHEN: tbd
WHAT: house hunting
WARNINGS: drama



[ Somehow through all the problems in the past few months, they were approved for their loan. A nice chump of change to cash towards a home, they only had to find the right house and put in an offer.

This was their 12th house of the month, though. Elizabeth's using all of her PTO and Bigby's taking long lunches to meet with them. Sometimes Jade's tagged along, other times not. This is the first house all week that included Jade to tour with them. The tension was super high for reasons and it's not until they're all sitting in the car, driving silently to the last house with the realtor that they're on their Best Behavior.

There's chit chat with Mrs. Berrymore, the realtor from Recollé Property Investments, but not much else. Elizabeth's in the backseat with Jade, scribbling notes down for the past few houses in a column for what she didn't like. There's a new page for this upcoming house in Viea Village, 150 Fables Way outlined clearly at the top. Elizabeth didn't like the exterior from the photos she saw online, but Mrs. Berrymore insists it was perfect (like the 11 others) for their family.

Once they park in front of the small front yard and begin their little tour, Mrs. Berrymore allows the Wolfs to explore on their own for the first part of the tour. As Elizabeth stands at in the entrance way of the interior entranceway, she looks to Bigby and Jade. ]

Any place you want to start first? I chose last time.

Comments

[puffing]

[ it's pretty easy to want to give up on house hunting after all of the bullshit they've all been put through on an individual and group basis. Tablegate alone is enough of a reason to consider holding off another year and to just renew their apartment's lease, but they've all mutually agreed that they outgrew their current home. Jade may be getting older and she may not even be living with them for much longer, but for economical reasons alone, it made the most sense.

besides, buying a home may convince his daughter to stick around for hopefully as long as humanly possible. Bigby can only hope.

but that's not including the fact that they decide they should continue their hunt after everything that's gone on between both father and mother in the past few days. saying tension was high is about as evident as the permanent scowl on Bigby's face since the beginning of the week. they've gotten through the worst, most heated parts and can go through more than ten seconds without a smartassed remark or last word. that doesn't mean things are perfect. far from it.

other than probably intimidating poor Mrs. Berrymore without even trying, Bigby keeps to himself as he drives the trio of Wolfs to a particular house with a very interesting name for a street. it eats at him as to why it was such a big deal, but he doesn't care to pay it too much mind. for now. with all of them getting out of the car, he merely sighs and takes a long look at the outside of the house, inspecting its walls before eventually settling on the mailbox. instead of answering directly― ]

Don't know how I feel about the mailbox. Seems kind of basic to me.

[rhapsodeity]

[ jade's not a complete idiot - while a certain of stupidity and willingness to get into trouble exists in the family, she can read people well. there's tension in the air and that's part of why she decides to come along this time. while a stranger might be able to keep things between them calm enough, jade imagines that having your family around can be a nice thing.

pulling herself out of the car, she pulls her hair into a ponytail, tying a blue ribbon at her nape. this is house twelve (1+2 = 3, which seems like a puzzle piece for some reason, but jade shrugs it off) and she's been saying this about every house but maybe twelfth time really is the charm.

bigby comments on the mailbox, and jade figures that isn't a bad place to start. they haven't really had a mailbox... ever? ]

Yeah! It's a little simple. [ but she cocks her head and folds her arms, walking around it in a scrutinizing circle. ] But that's good. It's just a blank sheet, right? [ they can bedazzle it!!!!! put their hand prints on it in paint! paint it solid green and then stripe blue through it. or replace it entirely, who cares? the government? jade will fight the government. ]

I wanna see the backyard-- [ and she's off, bolting for the fence. normal people would open the door. jade hoists herself up, grabbing the top, and then hooks the toe of her sneaker on the latch. when she's got most of her upper half up, she swings a leg over and then drops down with an "oof!" those poor jeans.

that said, the backyard has consistently been a concern for jade: she has full intentions of getting a garden box going. as such, it's probably no concern she immediately goes for it like a dog trying to catch a tennis ball in its mouth. ]

[tearable]

[ Luckily for them, with an influx of Elizabeth's freelance painting... she was able to pay off some cards and now their credit is pretty damn reasonable. She can feel a bubbling excitement in her stomach despite the tension and how fickle they've become. Elizabeth liked the fourth house but Bigby hate the living room, Jade wasn't pleased with the carpeting in the 7th house while Bigby loved the fireplace — they all had things to say and this is why they were tired and nearly ready to just write this one off as the winner.

The mailbox comment earns a scoff and Elizabeth carefully steps up the soft brick sidewalk to the mailbox before motioning back to the home. ]

Sounds like an art project to me. Or demolition to you. [ She corrects. It was minimal. Jade was off before Elizabeth could listen to the realtor discuss the history of the house — how it was built after they expanded the suburbs of Recollé out further. ] J-Jade, be careful! You skinned your knee like —

[ Of course, the devoted realtor follows the young girl to try and talk about the treehouse that still rested in the back oak tree from the previous family — Elizabeth lagged behind just a moment to motion to Bigby. ]

Did you hear that? Treehouse. [ As if said in the smuggest way possible. ] Only about 10 years too late for Jade to really enjoy.

[puffing]

Should be brick. Too expensive for us to setup ourselves. We'll be stuck with this one for a while.

[ he had made mention of the mailbox to be a sarcastic, passive aggressive ass more than anything, but leave it to Jade to take it seriously and make his comment seem legit all the same. Bigby doesn't bother clarifying, instead idly wiggling the flag back and forth while watching their daughter scurry off to the backyard like she was on a mission. ]

She'll be alright, don't worry. Probably has a higher pain threshold than the both of us combined from the number of accidents she's had. [ maybe not the best thing to consider when allowing her freedom, but alas. Jade is going to do what she wants anyway. at the mentioning of a treehouse, Bigby huffs in amusement as he begins to make his way over there, following his wife at her side. ] Eh. Wouldn't put it past her to still take advantage of it. Still small enough to get in, whether or not she wants to admit that.

[ they should be focusing on the interior more than anything; especially when considering the outdoors section is the easiest to modify, but. Bigby isn't in the mood to fight them on this, and he never wins when it's 2-on-1 anyway. ]

[rhapsodeity]

[ bigby's right, of course. jade's fine, and she proves it by keeping up a chipper conversation with mrs. berrymore. bless the poor woman's heart, she pretends she knows what jade means when she announces she wants to try horticulture out. ]

Small enough to be carted around like a baby and proud of it! I could hide in the gutters for a weekend, I bet. [ it's almost threatening, her shout back, but really. we all know jade would get in there to study whatever grows in the gutters.

it's so weird to think about the gutters. what a domestic problem. ]

A treehouse... that's pretty great, I bet could get Anya and Yuri over with it!!! [ and of course, jade approaches the tree, beginning her ascent. ] By the waaaaaaay. [ jade casts a look over her shoulder as she continues climbing, looking for her parents. ] I call dibs on the attic.

[tearable]

[ They can still paint brick!! Elizabeth lets him have his battle, even if she has a clue it's just to be a jerk. Elizabeth hurried along, ignoring the dates of the house's creation and the previous owners being a lovely old couple — she wanted to make sure Jade was alright. ]

Last thing I need is to stop this tour because Jade opens up a scab on her knee or something. [ PROTECTIVE MAMA BUT ALSO A TIRED ONE. Inside the backyard they go. It overlooks a small field where there's a few small barnyard animals roaming. There's a couple cows chewing the grass, a horse in a shelter and a pig in a mud pit. ] Oh — I didn't... I didn't realize we were really in the countryside.

[ "This land was developmental and farmlands, but it's becoming more residential", says their realtor. Jade's excitement causes her to perk a brow, pulling away from the horses to the treehouse again. ]

Wait, why the attic? You haven't even seen it yet!

[ The garden was much more worthy of seeing, she'd say. The shrubbery provided nice privacy between the older fence that was broken in some places. The yard was lush and green and despite dying near the house itself, it's perfect for flowerbeds.

She looks up to the attic. ]

This was the 3 bedroom, wasn't it, Bigby?

[ Although, maybe he told Jade the third bedroom was an attic add on..... ]

[puffing]

[ jerk or not, his words are still truthful. no one wants to paint friggin' brick. sure as shit not an overworked detective who doesn't have enough sunlight in a day to slave over it. without even looking inside the house, he knows that there's bound to be something he will want renovated or upgraded. no home they've looked at has everything the way he or the rest of his family may want, and it's something that stresses him out. learning to accept they will never find the """perfect""" home is a work in progress. just like trying to avoid hitting people in the head with glass. ]

Please don't hide in the gutters, Jade. Jump over all the fences you want. Just... no gutters. That's dirty.

[ protective papa is more-so a germophobe than protective. as they all make it to the backyard, Bigby makes an amused face when he sees farm animals not more than a mile away. that's a Thing. ]

Our backyard isn't going to smell like manure, is it? [ to the real estate agent. the wind isn't strong right now, but if it picks up... Mrs. Berrymore simply smiles and dismisses him like a true real estate agent, leading him to huff and puff underneath his breath. ] Jade wants to feel on top of the world is all. It's a short person thing.

[ teehee. but he stops and looks back at the home behind them when she brings up the 3 bedrooms. now that she mentions it, the house seems to be more tall than wide. ]

Uh. It's supposed to be. Miss Berrymore―?

[rhapsodeity]

[ to be fair, there are probably some new diseases growing in those gutters, between animal shit in the air and general ickiness. jade just shrugs and clamors into the tree house. bigby was right - she has no problem getting inside, and while it's certainly not an ideal size for a seventeen year old girl, jade probably still gets mistaken for thirteen, so it's fine. ]

As much as I would like to say you are wrong, Dad, that is actually something I would like! The highest room in the house. Plus, it has a really nice and big window.

[ that's coming from inside the tree house, which jade is tearing through in a curious haze. she's poking at the wood, inspecting the age wear, looking into weak spots and already thinking about what a great building project this could be.

but then bigby mentions the animals and liz is on about the countryside, so jade pokes her head back out. ]

Are we keeping the animals??

[ are they? are they? are they? woof? friends? woof?? ]

[tearable]

[ Miss Berrymore goes on to explain that the 2 bedrooms are situated on the first floor but to improve property value, a third smaller bedroom was created in the attic. It's insulated and currently has a half-height closet and view overlooking the front and back yard with two circular windows!

Liz listens intently, but when the attic is brought up, she furrows a brow. ]

That's — is that even worth it for the market price? [ Of course, she needs to see it first but she shoots Bigby a questionable glance... ] It's practically tacked on then —

[ But, Jade wants to talk about the attic. ]

You've done your research then, Jade! A little warning... [ She narrows her eyes to the countryside and there's a grunt on her end. ]

Oh no, no no. That's not even our property if we choose this house! [ Berrymore zips in about that property being up for sale as well. Shaking her head, she looks to Bigby again. ] No, the pigpen is too far away. You'd smell the orange trees in season before anything like that. The field is too large.

[ #country. ]

[puffing]

There's nothing to be ashamed about, Jade. You're the perfect height to me.

[ if only because that means Bigby can still scoop her up and swing her around the backyard that they are in or fling her into a body of water. not that he couldn't do that at any height or weight, really, but the fact remains that she was a tiny little thing and he was happy to keep her that way. forever. and ever. and ever...

anyway. ]

It's fine. As long as the attic is ventilated well and it gets air conditioning like the rest of the house, she can probably manage just fine up there.

[ and if it isn't, they will have one sweaty daughter in the coming weeks during spring and even worse during the summer. Bigby glances at Mrs. Berrymore as if to ensure she would quench his concerns, and regardless of her answer, he is going to just move on to the fact that Jade is wanting to kidnap farm animals. maybe they should reconsider this. he hardly wants a dog, let alone a horse and pigs and even that one goat he spots in the distance. ]

Well. Speaking of the orange trees, you could maybe peel and feed them to the animals if they like it. But that's it. I swear, if one of them somehow "accidentally" ends up in the yard...

[rhapsodeity]

You are saying that because you like pretending I am still seven, Dad. [ there's a wave of her hand as she sits at the opening of the treehouse, dangling her legs over it. she's smiling, so of course it's not actually a probably. a family that takes the piss out of each other stays together, maybe? jade's used to the teasing and it's only when she really, truly disagrees that she can't take, rebellious nature rearing it's head. thankfully, that's mostly for camping trips.

...thankfully?

jade looks out toward the farm animals, and shields her eyes with the same hand. ]

I think the piggie is pretty cute! Not to mention, I hear they are actually pretty clean animals. Don't you think he has an adorable little snout?? Hehehe! [ as jade leans out a bit to get a better view of the animal, her long dark hair slips past her shoulder, and she's the perfect picture image of an obnoxious teenage girl. you could put her on the cover of a nicholas sparks novel. damn. ] And the yard is still outsiiiiiiiide.... Right?

WAIT THIS WAS MY TAG THIS ENTIRE TIME. IM SO SORRY.

[tearable]

The fence looks high enough to avoid any animal neighbors, so — that's a relief. Privacy, and all.

[ She stammers as their realtor continues to rant and wave about the animals being friendly neighbors. It's not making her any more keen on the idea. She had a really big liking to a house a few miles away but Bigby hated how small the garage was and the front yard was dead. So, she's trying not to be too critical. On purpose, that is. She pictured Jade in a room down the hall from them, one that was lined with star wallpaper and with one quick yell, Jade could refill Mommy's wine glass but — no, the attic was interesting to say the least. ]

L-Let's worry less about our possible neighbors and more about this inside. It's getting hot. [ Ugh??? She points towards the attic, then to Jade. ] We'll talk after we see the condition of the attic in person.

[ And then she's leaning over to Bigby. ]

I want to make sure it's not tacked on just for a quick couple thousand bucks in value. Make sure the walls are sturdy and floors are good.

[ IN THEY GO through the door leading from the back yard — she motions for Jade to follow, most noticeably interested in the first floor for how spacious it can be for guests. ]