Let's back up a bit– January 21st. 3025, two newlyweds pull into the driveway of their new suburban home.
Chink–
As the passenger's car door swings open, the cold winter air nips at the miniature man's bronze skin, but the bundled warmth twisting in his stomach drowns out any possible chill his body may feel– enter Harvey McBryde.
He was a petite rabbit beast-kin, his Long ears started to droop as he stared at the house, while his short hair curled around his face in a stylish bowl; his luscious locks appearing white as fresh snow. Below, He donned slim black slacks, the kind you'd normally save for a wedding or interview. While a vermillion peacoat swallowed his diminutive frame.
Slowly- almost hesitant, The man steps out of the Brand-new SUV. and just… takes it all in..
It was a gorgeous brick house, The fired stone radiated with such a unique luster, you couldn't help but gasp at its spender; but on a closer look.. the red stone showed clear-cut signs of wear and tear, clearly worn from age. But then again, the red bricks shone with such a healthy color you could easily mistake it for brand new, paired with white accents trimming the windows and roofs, topped with speckled roof panels, all painted a Cool navy blue.
Before him, stands the next gate, uncharted territory, The biggest milestone in his entire life–
Cohabitation
Parallel to him, stepping out of the driver's seat the lucky lady sharing the experience with him, staring at the house; starstruck– Enter Bernedetta McBryde..
The Woman stood breathless, The Months of planning, laughing, dreaming– finally real!! The new life she chose with her own two hands is finally in her grasp, and a Monsoon of emotions pour over her all at once.
She Stood more than tall– She was towering, Standing a monstrous 7 feet, Her rich hazelnut hair flowed calmly down her head, straight and controlled like a steady waterfall, Paired with her stature was a Generous, full figure: her plush curves made her resemble a Soft teddy bear.
She donned a dark green Turtle neck, stretched taut over her panting chest, Her right hand laid atop her bust, bunching the fabric, attempting to somehow hold her beating heart still, for it likely it would bound from her chest any second!
"HI- Hai- Bh- D- Ha-" The woman tripped atop her own words. 10 different sentences spilling out at once.
But she settled on one definitive declaration, "HOOME!!" She Leaps out the car door, not even looking to close it, and rushes up the stone porch two steps at a time, as her hand glides along the pearl white wooden handrail.
As Harvey watches her shoot off, he says nothing, seemingly stunned silent, but slowly his drooping ears manage to lift a little.
"Careful.. If you're gonna break something.. Wait till we pay off the mortgage.." Harvey loops around the Car, his hand slowly tracing the smooth Charcoal shell, and firmly shuts The Driver's door.
Before he can even touch the first step, The Oak door flies open and luckily rams into the doorstop on the opposing wall! The Bear Soars in, and skids to a halt, taking in her new home! "Oooooooh~!" Bernie Hummed, Starstruck.
"Oi OI OI! Careful!" Harvey flew up the steps, his blood pressure ascending twice as fast as he did!
Mumbling under his breath, he pulled the single key out the door, checked for any damage and finally carefully shut it, then joined his wife.
"I swear, you'd think a 6 hour drive would tucker- OOF!" Suddenly the Bunny is lifted off the ground, and forced into a fierce hug, knocking the wind out of him!
"Hey! Harvey!! Harvey!!! Looooooook!!! Mmmm~" she gently nuzzles him, her nose tucked into the crook of his neck, lifting his chin to stare into the empty room.
"Do you see what I see~?" She said, her voice soaked in anticipation.
Within the room– was nothing. No chairs, tables, knick-knacks, or even stands, just a bare empty room.. Besides a plain ceiling fan… and every other room likely was the same..
Of course Harvey knew her better than anyone, so he knew what she was getting at…
"Mmm… You see.. Possibility.." He said, slowly sinking into her.
She cheesed, laughter seemed to bubble out her throat as she spun around the empty room, The bashful bunny spins in her grasp, going on a ride on Bernie's twenty-four hour merry go round.
But somehow, Harvey manages to worm his way out her death grip, and lands gently on his feet.
"Let's start picking out the rooms-" Harvey attempts to say, but is interrupted by a loud voice.
"Wheeee~!!!" She dashed off, speeding into what she deemed the most important room in the house!
Exiting out the living room, to the right, through a wide archway was the magical workshop of any nurturing soul– The Kitchen!
An expansive room was laid out before them, while the room was almost bare besides a line of counter tops spread across the wall, parted by the back door leading to the porch, it still had the bare minimum: a Stove-Oven nestled 90 degrees from the sink against the wall, with a matching microwave hanging over it.
Harvey breathes a sigh of relief, "Sigh… at least we have all the essentials for the kitchen.. besides a fridge… we probably just need to get some silverware.. and we'll be solid..
But unfortunately… Bernie felt the exact opposite!
"Gasp!! What do you mean Essentials!!" She tore though the cabinets desperately looking for anything that may have been hidden away.
"Where's the measuring cups! Strainer! Pots! pans! Oven Mitts! Oh God! The Horror! Not even a blender! No this won't do at all!!" She screamed as if discovering a fresh crime scene!
She rips her car keys from her pocket, and grabs Harvey by the wrist, and storms out the kitchen-
"This is a Category 5 catastrophe!! We need to hit the Local Mall STAT! Quick Harvey! Search up the nearest one and plug it into the GPS!"
She was determined, Nothing could stop this bullet train, at least nothing human anyway.. Not without a good trick..
Harvey sighed, Her herculean might could not be contested, in a bout of brute strength, he simply was no match, but experience taught him how to stop a raging bear in its tracks.
TUG–
"EEEEEEEEEEEK!!" Bernie skids to a halt as she feels a sharp tug on her cute, cotton-ball tail.
Harvey holds it possessively, grounding her in reality. "Hold your horses.. Chef Boyardee… We still have to wait for the U-Haul to drop by, they should be here in thirty minutes… there's no time to worry about all that.. Lets just order, or eat out-"
A loud, earth-shattering "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTT!!" rattles the house, as a shocked bear roars!
She huffs, Reaches back and lightly Slaps Harvey's hand, and spins, bending down to his level.
"What do You mean?! EAT OUT!" She wails, but Harvey isn't shaken, and speaks calm and clearly, "I'm saying there's no time to both go to the store.. get ingredients.. get a fridge!! and!! unpack out stuff, AND!!! unload the U-Haul.. We'll order pizza or go to a fast-food place or.."
She stomps her foot, The entire house seems to shake! Her voice suddenly took on a Dangerous, Growling tone.. "Fast fo- Harvey! This is the first ever- ONLY first night we'll have as a newly wed couple together! In our perfect new house! I toiled over it in my head the whole trip! What to make! How much!! How fast it can be done!!! I want this to be special! So I'm gonna put my all into My Coq au Vin! She leaned back as if suddenly lost in a trance, her hands cupping her face, as if clutching a treasured memory. "Chicken meticulously braised in red wine.. So tender it practically slips off the bone as you touch it… and sings as soon as it hits the pan.. Then you add the Bacon lardon! After settling, it's glazed with more wine.. and finally the pearl onions and mushrooms are thrown in!! Simmering in the sauce.. I Had a Dream about This Harvey!! A Fricking dream about enjoying the perfect meal as we sat together in our dinning room.. Not staring at each other at the Mickey D's Dining Table!!" She spoke from the heart! Tears misting her eyes..
Harvey grips his chin tightly.. and thinks.. Then slowly smiles, understanding donning. "Oh! Don't worry about that.. I know exactly what you mean.. We'd eat in the car! Those tables are filthy…
She then grabs his ears, tugs, and puffs her cheeks. "HARVEY!! LISTEN TO ME!!" She shrieked straight into his ears!!
Sirens went off in his mind, as his body was literally being torn in half! "OWOWOWOWOWOW-!! HEY HEY!! I'M LISTENING, BUT IT'S JUST NOT REALISTIC!! It's 5:30 PM! We can't run to the store! Grab a fridge, run to another store! Grab ingredients! Come back! Then cook! We'd be dining at 11:00! And plus we need to be here for the U-Haul guys!!" he wails, flailing around in her iron grip.
She lets go- or doesn't. slowly She stops tugging, and ever-so gently rubs his ears… and slowly falls to her knees.. and leans into a hug..
Her voice dies down into a soft whisper.. "...You're right.. You're always right Harvey.. Everything you say always makes sense.. It's just.. I.. Just.." She sniffles.. She plays with the fur on his long ears.. As she rests her head on his..
"It's just.. I.." The words struggle to get out, as if stuck,
Tears begin to spill from her eyes, slowly, mimicking the slow leak or an Old, worn dam. Her hands sink into Harvey's coat, probing at the soft, luxurious fabric..
"I.. I'm Just.." Her voice hitches each time she opens her mouth, seemingly too choked up to even speak, but she forced them out anyway..
"I've.. been so useless in this whole thing.. Everything here that's happening… is because of you… and I–" Then silence, her words are muffled as something warm presses on them, another pair of lips..
The kiss is soft and tender… She's shocked, but naturally, her body leans into his touch. Her hands slide up to seize his hair, not to hold him in, but to anchor herself..
The Moment could have lasted for a second, or for hours.. In the end it did not matter because once he pulled away, she felt the same disappointed ache regardless..
She looked hazey.. Her head filled with mist, while a deep rumbling bubbling in her stomach, but Harvey.. Simply looked at her and waved a reprimanded finger
"Now.. Now.. I don't wanna hear a drop of that bullshit!" He grabbed her chin, and tilted her head down, to meet his gaze, her eyes still mindlessly staring into space, "None of this would be happening if not for you.. I'd probably still be in my mother's garage, eating cold leftover mac and cheese.. This House only has meaning.. Because you're in it.."
Not wanting to linger on the moment, Harvey slowly pulls back and retreats from Bernie, sounding far too sappy for his liking.. While Bernie still continues to.. Stare off into space, with Rosey cheeks..
Harvey checks his watch as he says "Now come on, get up.. If you're gonna sit.. Let's sit in the car.. The U-haul should be here any minute now-"
Without a Word Bernie springs to her feet, and grabs Harvey By the Waist!
"AH! Hey! What are you-" But in seconds, the entire scene changes!
"Ohhhh! That's sooo sweet Harvey!! Quick! Come here! I need to give me man some Love'in~"
She grinned ear-to-ear, spinning around the empty room, as a melodic song spilled from her lips..
so… once again, Harvey goes on an all Expense-paid trip on the B.B.W Bernie express,
"Ring around the Rosey~
Pockets full of Poseys~
Ashes~ Ashes~"
Harvey's swung around like a sack of potatoes, he wants to complain, but unfortunately it's far too pleasant for him too, so he just quietly pretends to be annoyed, now's not time to relax after all.
…It's like she's a sickness… and Bernie's endless optimism can't help but infect him, (plus the feeling of her curves flush against him may help…) he can't help but smirk, as she goofily prances around the room…
"We all. FALL. DOOOWN~"
As she clutches onto Harvey, her body swings back, and bats against the smooth, spotless Oak floor-
CRACK-
A sharp snap rips through the room as she hits the floor, both of their ears perk up in panic; the sweet dreamy moment crashing down into an abrupt end…
At first there was nothing but silence, neither of them could process what happened, but then slowly, realization donned, along with a seething rage…
Harvey slowly sat up, and bit his lip, as his eyes bored into Bernie's, as malice stewed in his throat..
Bernie's eyes shot up, she felt like a caged mouse trapped in a zoo exhibit with a ferocious tiger! And the worst part was; it was entirely justified!
"Ah.. Hahaha.. I Think I know where we're putting the couch~" She said in the same cheery tone, but each vowel shook in terror.
Harvey Shoots to his feet and expunges all the malice stewing in him, all at once!
"You Big Bumbling Dumbass!! We've had this house for two seconds, AND YOU'VE ALREADY THROWN IT'S VALUE INTO THE GUTTER!" He wailed from the bowels of hell itself!
Bernie squealed and shrinks further onto the floor as a useless attempt to flee his rage, "Y-You can't talk to me like that! I-I didn't mean too!! And it's not even that bad!!!" She whined.
He bends over her, his face inches from hers, and demands "Really? Then show me.."
Bernie looks up at him, stunned, and without hesitation, shakes her head rapidly like a wet dog.
Harvey attempts to kick her over, but the bear was probably 40x heavier than him, there was no hope of her budging.
"I. said. MOVE!!" His voice boomed.
But she just shook her head like a snot nosed brat.
….
Harvey breathed in… and out… in… and out... And tried his best to calmly say..
"Bernadette.." he whispered, a looming threat still hiding in his voice.
But Bernie wouldn't be fooled, "mmm… it's never good when you use my full name like that.." She said, as her eyes slowly grow teary..
He breathes in again… but.. It doesn't work.. He snaps.. And finally uses the big guns.
He slowly reaches down, sticks his hands under her neck.. And..
"Coochie.. Coochie coo.." Tickles her.
"AHHHHHHHH!!" Her Voice shoots to a glass shattering squeal; Her entire body jerks, as she leaps from the floor! And sprints straight through the archway, into the kitchen..
After watching The Culprit get away, Harvey bends down, and accesses the damage.
Firmly where her butt was, a large, heart shaped hole made itself known, from the pit you could see a few support beams, and then probably the top of the basement ceiling.
"...Damn..?" The hole was probably twice the side of his entire torso.. Instead of anger and disappointment a sense of.. pride ripped through him instead?
… And just like that, all his past anger evaporated.. Replaced instead with uninvited lust... and now Harvey is only disappointed in himself..
"God.. what's wrong with me.." He stares into the Abyss, slightly proud only Bernie could make a hole like this..
He looks up, and sees the culprit peeking out of the kitchen, shivering..
He just shakes his head… far too weary to bother with… any of this..
"Ugh.. Listen Ber-" But just as then, the ringing of a hypnotic chime, bounds off the walls, reverberating though the entire house.. It was the door!
Bernie, not wasting her chance to worm her way out of this mess, bounds from the kitchen, and straight to the door!
"Ohisthatthedoori'llgetit!" she in a sputtered in a single breath, as she Twisted open the door.
Standing, In the door way was two strapping young men- One was a Ox Beast-kin, He possessed a Wide-Muscular Build, obvious even in his Thick, Black Parka, Long gnarly horns, Medium length black hair that hanged wildly past his neck, And Worn Jeans, riddled with holes, and beside him was a slight taller man, with a leaner, more compact build, He was Moose Beast-kin, His large majestic horns proudly on display, and his lean frame was protected by an old dirty Insulated vest, Long orange hair spilling off his head, flowing down his back like a river, and a large Full beard masked the bottom his his face..
The Ox-beast-kin introduced himself first.. "Woooo.. Chilly out there, ay Ms? Sorry for the delay, the roads we're a bit icy.. But we got everything here safe and sound.."
The men are tall, but they still need to look up to meet Bernie's gaze.
With a desperate, forced smile, she greets them and spouts, "Oh! Well isn't that great! Let me help you unload!!"
The Ox's eyebrows shoot up with surprise, and returns the kind jester with a sharp shake of the head, "Oh! No no no.. its far too cold for that ma'am we'll just–
Suddenly he's grabbed by his arm and is pulled out of the house! Bernie manages to swing him around like a ragdoll, unintentionally.
"I WASN'T ASKING SIR!!!" She says, terrified: fleeing the house with the grace of a death-row convict.
…
Ignoring them, The Moose Beast-kin enters the house, "Hey there Sir- OH! DANM!" He reels back as he sees the massive hole, sitting in the middle of the room. "... Aw shit man.. They had a hole in your brand new house? If you call the real estate guys.. I'm sure they can cut you a deal for that" He said, in a sort of slurred, speech
He bends over, and examines the hole, genuine concern permeating his drunk voice..
…
…
In response.. Harvey just.. collapses.. On the spot.
!!! The moose jumps a bit, shocked by the sound of Harvey's body falling limp on the floor!! "S-Sir? Sir? Are you good dude? Do you like, need me to call someone!!!"
But despite his desperate yelling, Harvey doesn't move.. Harvey doesn't think.. He simply… Turns off.. Chanting a silent mantra as he drifts off to loo~ loo~ land..
"Home.. Sweet.. Home..