💉･:*+.𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀.:+🐛

2. Homewarming the heart ♨︎♡

Q: How did Marri meet the Pillar family?
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(mootie wanted this so here i am 💪 enjoy!)

It was the kind of cold that made your breath visible in puffs and reddened the tips of your nose and cheeks
a perfect winter's day that felt like it had sprung from a holiday book. Marri Sweet the nurse now living among the little puppet town, stood in her small kitchen, the warm smell of cinnamon and chocolate wrapping around her like a cozy blanket. It was nearing Homewarming, and after a few too many sleepless nights of wondering what she could gift to the one person who made her heart race like no other
"would he like some leaves? no he eats those everyday!"
"maybe some decore for his shop? he does have about anything so maybe that wasn't necessary"
she finally decided. Cookies. Homemade, fresh from the oven, filled with love and perhaps, just a tiny, sugary hint of her feelings for that salesman Howdy Pillar, who she adored. Of course, she would never admit the real intention behind the gift. Oh, no. Instead, she'd go with the classic "I had extras, and I thought you might like some," like it was the most casual thing in the world.
As she stood in front of her oven, carefully laying out the warm batch on a plate, she smiled to herself. The cookies were shaped like little stars and snowflakes, perfect for the season with a hint of leafy greens since he liked those. A sprinkling of powdered sugar dusted them like fresh snow. It was simple, yet thoughtful.
With the plate wrapped in a neat ribbon and her heart fluttering with both nervousness and excitement, she pulled on her coat, hat and mittens and headed toward Howdy's Place.
The world outside was a picturesque snow globe of twinkling lights, snowy roofs,  Everything felt good, perfect even.
Until she opened the door to Howdy's shop."Howdy?" she called softly, her voice full of quiet hope as she stepped inside. The familiar warmth of the shop's interior was comforting in a way, as was the cozy atmosphere Howdy had created with all sorts of knick-knacks and goods lining the shelves, everything you need and everything you don't as he would say.
But something was different today. The usually calm space was filled with... voices. Lots of them.
Marri's eyes widened as she took in the scene before her: not just Howdy, but what looked like almost copies of him...His family!?. Caterpillars, butterflies, snails, the whole bustling, chaotic ensemble of Howdy's relatives! And at the center of it all he  himself, looking as though he wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole.Before Marri could even think about turning on her heel and quietly sneaking back out the door, she was spotted.
"Oh-ho-ho!" came a boisterous laugh from a large caterpillar who had to be Howdy's mother, Hiya. "Look who it is! Marri, right?" The older woman's many arms clapped together with excitement. "Come in, come in, sweetheart! Howdy's told us all about you!"Marri blinked rapidly, shocked, surprised?? her heart jumping into her throat as the family's attention zeroed in on her. "Oh, uh... I just—I just brought some cookies," she stammered, holding out the plate as if it were a peace offering.
"Cookies! For who?...OH!! for him I see I see!" a butterfly, who appeared to be Howdy's sister Seeya, asked with a mischievous grin, almos liking she looking through what the small nurse wanted to prove with these.
"Well, isn't that just the sweetest thing?"
"Extra cookies!" Marri yelped quickly, feeling her cheeks grow a darker hue. "I had extra, and I thought... I thought maybe you'd like some."Before she knew it, the plate was whisked away by a young bee/caterpillar nephews, who was already nibbling on one of the snowflake-shaped treats, having their mother have to break them into pieces to limit their sugar high.
The rest of Howdy's family circled around her like she was the most exciting thing to happen that day. "I knew it!" one of the butterflies exclaimed, tapping on Howdy in a teasing way. "This is the girl you've been talking about!..hmph she is awfully short, her hair is also a bit nappy, mangled teeth...but I suppose being foreign AND a nurse is enough" His aunt Toodaloo taking drag from her cigarette, quite a glamorous butterfly
"Bien sûr, elle est là pour lui!" came a raspy voice from behind the crowd. A grandpa snail, wearing a beret, emerged from the back, tapping his cane on the floor. "Howdy, mon garçon, tu attends que les étoiles s'alignent ? Invitez déjà cette charmante jeune femme à dîner !Howdy's face contorted in confusions. "I—uh—uncle Adieu, please—""what's with all the shyness, you green bean!" seeming to be his grandma insisted, her wings falling rapidly with a buzz . "We all see it, don't we? This girl brings you cookies, eh? What more do you need, an invitation in the stars?"
Marri wanted to melt into the floor, feeling even overwhelmed by all this sudden blabbering she really should've called first, but at the same time, a small part of her found the situation amusing in its absurdity. Howdy's family was chaotic, loud, and overbearing, but they were also sweet and full of life...Just like him.
"Oh, the sweet irony of life!" the shopkeeper's brother declared, staring dramatically at the plate of cookies Marri Sweet had just handed him. "A humble offering of sugar and flour, yet so much more—a symbol, a gesture, a bridge between two souls, bestowing to you tokens of her love and warmth!" His brother she could only assume that was, Howdy, rolled his eyes, stifling a groan. "They're just cookies," he muttered out groan, rubbing his temple. "now pick yourself up I just wiped those floors!"
Finally, Howdy managed to push through the circle of his relatives, his large eyes wide with apology. "I am so SO sorry," giving her an awkward smile to Marri, who was still holding the now-empty plate."Im sure you... well, this..." He gestured around at the bustling family, still chattering excitedly about the holidays and the now yummy cookies.Marri felt her heart pounding in her chest. "It's okay," she said, her voice quaking from all the sudden overstimulation but sincere. "They seem like a... loving family."
As the lively chaos of Howdy's family swirled around them, Marri felt her pulse quicken, but this time it wasn't just from nervousness. Her heart warmed at their kindness, even if she hadn't anticipated being swept into such an overwhelming scene.
"So, tell us, Marri," Hiya began with a smile, "what's it like working as a nurse? You must have some interesting stories!"Marri opened her mouth to answer, but just then, the little beeper tucked in her coat pocket buzzed. Her heart sank. It was her emergency call from the hospital. She checked it quickly something urgent had come up.
"Ah, I... je suis vraiment désolé!," she started, she stood tall (at least to her abilities) with an apologetic smile, "but I have to go. There's an emergency at the hospital, and- well, duty calls!" She gathered her things as fast as she could, feeling the tug of responsibility stronger than ever."Oh no, right now?" Seeya  asked with genuine surprise."Yes, i-it can't wait," Marri yelped, casting a quick glance at Howdy, who looked a little crestfallen. His family watched her with understanding, but there was still a certain disappointment in the air.Howdy looking over at how she scurried for her things, his many legs moving with a slight hesitation. "I'll walk you to the door."
As they reached the front door, marri still hearing the laughter of his family from the other side,
"I'm very sorry I couldn't stay longer," Marri said, a hint of sadness in her voice now
"hey now, Don't be," Howdy replied, his usual cheerful tone softer, almost tender. "I get it. Your work's important. We'll just... save a spot for you next time."Marri felt a pang of regret. This wasn't how she had imagined tonight going. There were so many things she wanted to say, things she almost said in the flurry of the cookie exchange and his family's excited prodding. But now, standing in front of him, the words stuck somewhere between her heart and her throat.
"I—" she began, but her voice faltered.Howdy tilted his head, a curious, smile on his face as if waiting for her to say whatever it was she had on her mind. But before she could muster the courage, the beeper buzzed again. A reminder of reality."I'll... see you later, Howdy," she finally said, her lips curling into a small, bittersweet smile.
She turned to leave, but not before Howdy reached out, gently resting one of his many hands on her arm."Thanks for the cookies, Marr's !" he said, his smile warm, though his eyes held a touch of something unspoken. "Really, they all seem to really like them, shame I couldn't get a piece"Marri's nodded "Anytime," she whispered, before pulling her coat tighter around herself and stepping out into the cold.
The door closed softly behind her, and as she walked away, the soft glow of the shop's windows slowly faded into the distance. The streets were quieter now, the snow crunching under her feet as she hurried toward the hospital, her thoughts still swirling with the evening's events.Maybe it didn't go as planned but as she walked, there was a sense of hope, the he had noticed her, He'd seeming to have cared that she came all this way. And perhaps... there would be another time, another moment when things would fall into place.But for now, the warmth of the cookies she'd made for him was enough to carry her through the cold night. Almost...
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GAH DONE!!
THIS ONE IF FOR YOU POPPY !! LUV YA POOK