The Heirloom Glow

Calm Autumnal winds bristled and whistled through the open windows and into the cozy firefly grove cabin, picking up the curtains as it went. Today was autumn cleaning day, and so the windows were sprung wide open, and the house's two residents, Cheri and Ochre were diligently working on cleaning and de-cluttering their precious abode.

It had been about four to five years now since the two had met on that fateful night, and they had grown to be close lovers. They had a beautiful pact together, Ochre, the Gleamstic, would go out and try to forage and procure the best mushrooms, herbs, vegetables and berries she could, and Cheri, the lovabun, would turn those fated finds into a beautiful meal for the two of them to enjoy. Their bond was supplemented with a fruitful garden and greenhouse that provided them with what they could not find elsewhere. Together they were a team, living in domestic bliss, away from the world, but joined in their company.

Although Cheri had arrived into Candoris with nothing more than the ratted remains of rags on her back, she had slowly worked up a collection of various objects and trinkets. This collection paled to the sheer amount of ungodly tat that Ochre had managed to rack up, however. While their cottage had spare rooms, Cheri considered them more like endless portals of closets, filled with various machines, clothes, and hobbies that had seemingly caught dust in the years following their brief use. It was equal parts fascinating and also a little infuriating, that such ample space went to waste with things that they could effectively pawn off for a good price, and use the space for spare bedrooms, growing environments, or hobbies that they actively do participate in.

"Ochre, Darling, come here a sec!" Cheri called out, perhaps something _could_ be done about this whole ordeal.

"Just a second!" Ochre responded, yelling from some far-flung point of the house and seemingly jogging up the stairs with a rhythmical hearty set of thumps.

Cheri prepared herself for the coming conversation, Ochre was always good with her words and could easily weasel her way out of any situation she didn't want to be in, so Cheri always had to prepare herself for a lengthy debate about anything that was slightly based in pressuring the other. Once the Gleam reached the top of the stairs and poked her head around the hallway, Cheri began to state her case.

"Don't you think we should do something about this mess?" Cheri began, arms gesturing generally to the cluttered spare room around her, piquing the other's interest. "I mean, there's alot of stuff here, machines and-" Cheri held up a half-attempted quilt that hung limp and sadly from her pinched fingers, "I don't think all of it's necessary for how we live and I think that, perhaps we have too much of... everything." Cheri looked up at Ochre with a pleading, bargaining gaze, silently begging the Gleam to see her side of the story.

"I see what you mean..." Ochre said, in a quizzical mutter, relieving Cheri somewhat, "It has gotten quite bad, and I'll be honest I haven't paid as much attention to it as I really should've," Ochre laughed nervously, entering the room slowly and rifling through some old fabrics and boxes. "Alot of this is just stuff I've thrifted or been gifted to be honest with you and, if you want we can make a pile and take it to the city, and see what we can get for it. There's alot of pawn shops, thrift stores, and buy-and-sell stores around in the main city and they're quite good for getting rid of stuff like this." Ochre explained, opening a couple boxes, rifling through, then closing and putting aside. Cheri breathed out a sigh of relief. Things felt like they were finally progressing. "So, I say we start a pile here," She said, designating a bit of floor with an old t-shirt. "And whatever's in this general area we take and sell."

Ochre nodded in agreement. As the girls began to work ardently at whittling down the warehouse-like room into something more suited of a spare bedroom, the sun would slowly hit the middle of the sky, signalling to them that it had reached about mid-day. "Right." Ochre said, shirking the dust from her lap, "I suppose we get a bit of a snack now before we continue, no?" She suggested, looking over to the other. Cheri seemed to be marveling at some old jewelry of Ochre's, her face was twisted into a mix of wonder, amazement, and confusion. Ochre prodded her, "What you got there?"

Leaning closer to see if she could identify the object, it suddenly clicked into her head and her hands cupped over Cheri's to steady the box, "You should, probably put that back my dear." She said in a serious yet still quite soft and caring manner. Cheri gently placed the circlet back into the box and shut the lid, before handing it to Ochre. "What is it?" Cheri asked in an almost-whisper, as if raising her voice might somehow break or corrupt the jewellery inside.

"It's my birth circlet." Ochre explained, and upon seeing the confusion flicker onto the Lovabun's face, she explained further. "I'm not sure if it's a thing in your culture but, when Gleams are born - or well, more likely when new parents are awaiting the birth of a new child, they will make a piece of jewellery for the child. The child is then expected to grow into it, and well, my family always gives circlets, but that's just an us-thing not a wider cultural thing. I think." Cheri looked upon the circlet and Ochre looked into her eyes. They sparkled so beautifully, especially in moments like this, where the two of them were alone together. Sharing their experiences and sentimentality together.

"Right." Ochre put the box to the side, away from the 'pawn'-pile and slapped her hands onto her lap, signalling the change in direction from a Sweet Moment and back to Reality. "I suppose we should get some food, no?" She said said, offering the Lovabun a hand up which she graciously took. "Right, yes." Cheri responded, "I've had some sandwiches I want you to try..." She began as the two walked downstairs to settle their stomachs.

And for now the box remained where it was. A teachable moment, and a precious memory. A heirloom of honour amongst dust-riddled trinkets of temporary affliction, but the moment would linger in both girls heads, for days, months, and even years yonder.