September 12, 2022

Violet flies down, a bit roughly, landing at the entrance of Claire’s Cottage, keeping her bandage on her left eye just in case as she knocks on the door. Claire opens the door, stumbling slightly. She looks slightly different than when Maiden last saw her. She's holding a blade and a mason jar.

"Okay, so before we do this I'd just like to advise you that once it connects Buttons to the machine, she may take control of your body."

“Alright… just have a flower in handy to change me back just in case… I’m ready”

Claire takes Violet's arm, holding her blade to it. "Ready?"

Violet hold her breath a bit, preparing herself “Yep!” Claire drives the blade into Violet's forearm, a floral scent filling the air as the purple blood begins to spill. Claire picks up the jar and puts it to the wound so that the jar may fill. Violet lets out a bit of a yelp, trying to be strong and stand while the blood pours out. Once the jar is full, Claire pulls it away.

"Need anything to help heal the wound? Or does Naomi already have all that back at home?"

Violet stumbles a bit from the extraction, “I think probably back at home but a bandage would be nice or something so I’m not just bleeding all over the place until I get back.” Claire steps inside for a moment before shortly returning with some bandages for Violet, handing them to her. Violet gladly takes them as she starts wrapping them around the wound.

"So, you might feel Buttons try to take control in around half an hour. If it becomes an issue, I'll make sure she sees a flower, although otherwise I won't be interfering."

“Thanks… so do you want to like watch over me until then or can I head back?”

"You can head back if you'd like, it's entirely up to you," Claire says with a smile.

“I…” Violet remembers something. That was another time, another world, and yet... Violet misses it, at least… she misses Claire. “I would like to stay for a bit longer if you don’t mind”

"Alright," Claire says, opening the door, "Come in" Violet gives a smile as she walks inside, looking around the familiar place. Claire starts to head to the basement after shutting the door, a whirring sound can be heard from downstairs. Violet makes her way down, looking around the familiar wires and computer. There's a lot more computers than last time, and Roxy is passed out on the floor. There's also a twinsized mattress. On one of the computers, there's two jars, one full of Roxy's blood and another full of Claire's.

Claire hooks up the jar of Violet's blood to the same computer, and it starts flowing through some of the clear wires. Some of the monitors light up. Violet feels a slight itch in her head. Harmonia's face down on the floor. Violet scratches the back of her head as she looks to the computer, curious.

Harmonia stirs and looks at Violet. "sup"

“Oh! Hey Harmonia! I thought you were asleep to be honest”

She chuckles a bit. "Fair. I was doing the thing where youre not really asleep but not awake either? Its kind of hellish."

“Fair. So Um how have you been?”

Harmonia shrugs. "Mostly fine besides an assassination attempt"

“Hm? What happened?”

"Ah, Abaddon put a hit on me basically? But my soul fuckin wrecked Azriels ass. It wouldve been funny if i wasnt in excruciating pain"

“Oh! Well I’m glad you're good now. I think…” Violet looks around at the wires and her blood moving to the computer as she looks to the computer

She nods. "As good as I can be i guess"

Claire's typing stuff into one of the computers, watching Violet

“Well that’s good.” Violet looks over to Claire to see what she's typing

Looks like Buttons' R053 ID- Violet starts to slowly get a headache! Violet holds her head a bit trying to keep herself here and steady

“Hm- everything going alright Claire?”

"Yes, everything's fine," Claire smiles. "You may feel Buttons try to take over shortly."

“Alright” Violet sits down somewhere and try’s to focus herself so she can try to suppress her. Lol nah no she can't, Buttons shortly begins to fully take control as Claire continues typing.

Violet puts her head down as Buttons looks up and around “WOOOAAHHH!!! Coooll placeee!” Buttons gives a spin around.

"This is why I wanted her gone before Buttons could take hold of her consciousness..." Claire mutters, "Hi, Buttons."

“HELLO! Do I know you? What this!” She looks to the screens and wires in awe, luckily distracted… for now. A lot of the screens just show the Wired symbol.

"I'm Claire, one of your Porcelain Azaleas. Do you know what that means?"

“NOPE!“

Sigh. "Mm. You seem to be severely under-educated, Buttons." Claire stands, looking to Buttons. "I, as a Porcelain Azalea, hold authority over you. You will listen to me and do as I say, and know that disobedience can lead to consequences."

“OOOO like Doll Makers! Alright! I understand!”

"I suppose. Would you like to come on a walk with me, Buttons?"

“Sure!” She gives a happy giggle as she looks around and waits for Claire to lead. Claire begins to walk upstairs and outside. Button’s follows, happy she made a new leader figure for her to follow. They walk out into the forest, Claire leads Buttons down a path. Button happily trots along. At some point, they come across a small clearing. Claire leans down and picks a small flower from the ground, holding it up to Buttons' face.

"Boo."

“AH-” Button flinches as Violet returns “H- oh. Thanks Claire”

"Hi. That's all I needed, you should be connected now. Thanks!" Claire smiles.

“No problem. I guess I'll head out. See ya later!” Violet flies up and heads back to the Tower.

----

Grass is looking through her drawers for something. She finds an old image of her with Gen. Gen has a drink in one hand, and her other arm is over Grass' shoulder. They look happy.

"You're going to get us killed aren't you?", she whispers. Violet returns as she opens the door to Grass’s apartment. Grass quickly shoves the picture back into the drawer. "Hey, you were gone for a while... everything okay?"

Violet looks the same except a bandage on her arm, “Hm? Yea I’m fine, sorry to worry you!”

"I have a bag packed Incase... Incase things get sticky... You ready?"

“Yep! Always ready!” Violet gives a smile. Grass nods grabbing the backpack. She stands, trying hard to keep from trembling. She heads to the front door and stops. Violet holds her hand and gives her a smile of confidence and reassurance “Hey… it’s gonna be ok.”

"I hope... We are confronting Heather... she has a lot of pull."

“Well we have each other. And last I checked 2 is better than 1.” Violet gives a giggle

Grass looks down at her feet. "But it's not 2 vs 1... It's us vs the other Lavenders."

“Well hopefully it does not come to a fight then… and no matter what happens, we have each other. Forever and Together”

Grass nods and the both of them leave the apartment and board the elevator. They press the purple button and up it goes. It opens to a completely spotless white hallway. Everything is matte. From the floors to the walls and ceilings. Nothing is reflective in the slightest. Violet looks around as she walks, taking in the new scenery. The doors are marked by name, instead of number. They are currently in the Z section.

“You know the way Grass? She would be in H right? Or am I mistaken?”

"Yeah... 'H'... But Heather does not live alone. She has at least four roommates at any given time."

“Alright… let’s go.” Violet holds Grass’s hand as she makes her way the H’s. They arrive at Heather's door without being interrupted by anyone. The hallway is silent. They stand outside of the door. Nothing can be heard still. Grass looks to Violet. Violet looks to Grass and gives her a smile as she knocks on the door

Two large Purple Powderpuffs answer. "Who are you?", asks the first.

“My name is Violet and I wish to speak with Heather, we wish to speak important matters”

"Heather is not here.", says the other.

“Well we are willing to wait” As Violet says this, she takes off her bandage over her eye, “If that is fine with you?” She looks for any color, all of them are red. She sees several within the room too. Violet looks to the two and blinks. They noticably flinch. “Now… may I come inside?”

"Yes. Come in.", they say in unison. Violet holds Grass’s hand and walks inside. The apartment is clean but packed with boxes. 4 Powderpuffs are sitting on the boxes, watching Violet carefully. Grass looks them over carefully. She doesn't recognize any of them. Their auras shift to green. Violet steps in

“I wish to speak with Heather. And if what the lovely welcome committee said was true and she is not here, I am willing to wait”

"Why don't you meet her in production? She will be there for another 5 hours at least. You are a Lavender. You have access."

“Why thank you… your service has been a big help.” She blinks at the group as she leaves the room

Grass nods to Violet. She knows the way. One of the Powderpuffs from the door leads them out of the apartment. He seems confused. Grass and Violet head down the hall and take a right. They stop at large, silver doors. The hall is still silent. Grass opens the door slowly. A rush of sound and the smell of metal and melted rubber overwhelm your senses and her's.

The room is colossal, with high ceilings. Tables fill the area, and they are surrounded by what appear to be various body parts on shelves. People are working on what appear to be people, on these tables. They are using a combination of welding torches, technologically enhanced building tools and surgical equipment.

Heather is barking orders at a group of workers. Grass recognizes both her and Gen. Gen seems angry at Heather. Violet walks up to them, but keeps a distance to hear what they are seeing.

Heather: "She's been here three days! I don't mind if she's helping, but all she's done is eat unfinished models for three days now."

Wine: "But she's a..."

Heather: "I know she's a Licorice, but this is MY production room! Mother trusted me with it!"

Gen: "I would watch that tone, if I were you, boss... Lavenders aren't irreplaceable."

Heather: "What did you say?"

Violet keeps watching as she looks for a color or a sign that she is the ringleader to the rogues. Heather is green and purple. The others are various purples and blues. There are three reds near the back. Violet approaches Heather.

“Good evening Heather, I wish to talk to you about important matters on a package”

Gen answers before she can, "Olive, what are you doing here?"

Heather tells everyone to disband. They all do but Gen and herself. "Today is really not the day. Can you all come back tomorrow?" Gen tries to pull Grass away from Violet. Violet holds Grass close, giving them the eye as she turns back to Heather

“It’s important and won’t take long. I need to know where a certain package, delivered by Plumb, who it was handled”

Gen lets go. "That package was from my department. What are you hinting at?"

“Nothing. I just need to know who handled that package” Violet looks at Gen’s color. It's green with red undertones. Then it's suddenly purple. Like she saw Violet looking.

“If you just tell us we will be out of your hair”

Gen: "Why do you even hand out with this pretentious Lavender? I don't get what you see in her."

Heather: "Hey, leave all of that out of my workshop... get back to work, and Ill deal with them."

Gen huffs but walks away

Heather: "Do you need me to pull up the logs? Was there a shipping error?"

“Yes please that would greatly appreciated… you can say that.”

A panel appears on Heather's arm. It displays all deliveries and handlers that signed off on them. She pulls up the correct order, "Looks like... Emerald from Gen's team handled that one before Plumb took it out. What was the error?"

“Let’s just leave it at a threat was delivered with said package and I would to speak with this Emerald ASAP”

"Yes?" Comes a voice from behind Violet. It's deep, but feminine. Violet turns around. There's two people standing there. Emerald. A short, but bulk lady with bulging muscles, black hair and tan skin. She is wearing overalls and a black T-shirt. The other is decked out in a red dress, red hair style up in a beehive form. She is wearing red, glittery heels that match her glittery red sunglasses. She smiles at Violet wickedly.

“You must be Emerald… and you are?”

Heather: "Lady Licorice!"

Strawberry: "Damn straight."

“Wait- Strawberry? Is that you?”

Strawberry: "What's up, butterfuck?"

Heather seems nervous. She takes a step back.

“Of course, well Emerald my name is Violet, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Emerald: "Why are you here? This isn't your designation."

Strawberry: "Yeah, what the hell?"

Violet looks at both of their colors. Crimson red for both.

“I… I’m looking for the people responsible for the rogue powderpuffs…”

Strawberry: "Is that so?"

“Would you two know anything about that?”

Strawberry: "Of course. Just come with us. We will help you."

Strawberry takes a step forward

“Alright.” Violet looks to Grass and nods as she readys to follow Strawberry. Both of Strawberry's arms detach. They quickly wrap around Violet and Grass, the backs of them open up like snakes unhinging their jaws. Grass is swallowed up in an instant. The arm begins to scuttle away with long metallic legs.

“WHA-“ Violet is swallowed up. The arm chasing after Grass. Violet hears muffled laughing and profanities outside of the arm. It's dark but air-conditioned in there. Still, very tight and uncomfortable. Feels like latex, and leather in some areas. Smells like popcorn.