Cracked Foundations

Entry 4

"Hey! Just in time!" Jack chuckles as he brings in a relatively large box into the living room. Anna slowly walks over and examines the box with curiosity as Jack takes out a small knife and cuts the box open, revealing multiple jars of kaolin clay. "We were about to run out of glaze when this stuff came in, man are we lucky!

"Lucky indeed!" Anna giggles as she takes out a jar and opens it. It takes some force but she manages to pop it open without cracking her skin and she gives it a taste. She gives the thumbs up and with that, Jack stores the rest where the both of them can easily access it. Today is a weekday and the two had just gotten out of bed to do their morning routines when that box came in, so with that settled Jack and Anna ate their breakfast before he changed into something more fit for the outdoors. "Are you going to work?"

"Yeah." Jack replies. "Don't worry, I'll be back in the afternoon." And with that Jack takes his leave. Anna then heads upstairs into her bedroom, finding her cosmetic items and improving herself as she has always done.

"Hmm... I could do a little better without this..." Anna mumbles to herself as she picks off a piece of her skin. She winces in pain, but the deed is done as she continues her normal makeup routine. With that done Anna then takes a look at the part of her skin she just broke off and then rummages about the house for white paint to try and cover that up. Unfortunately she doesn't find any, and her stomach is beginning to rumble. "Now I'm getting hungry... Let's see what I can cook." And with that, Anna grabs some noodles that Jack didn't use, some of the leftover veggies and fires up the stove just like Jack did before. For a 12 year old, she is exceptionally adept at cooking as she whips up some stir fry for herself and treats herself to a very satisfying lunch, after adding some kaolin for her supplement. A few hours after that Jack then returns home, happy to see Anna, and then he notices the part that she picked off, having been left uncovered.

"...Anna?" Jack asks. "Are you okay?"

"Huh?" Anna asks right back.

"...Your skin... You didn't break a piece off did you?" Jack asks worriedly. The lack of response from Anna doesn't stop Jack from hugging Anna. She returns the hug and Jack slowly and gently rubs her back.

"I'm sorry for worrying you..." Anna replies softly. "I do this sometimes..."

"Please Anna, don't do it again..." Jack says. "You got out of the SCP containment center just a few days ago... I don't want to lose you... I care about you."

"I'm sorry..." Anna replies as the two part. Jack grabs a band-aid and sticks it on the area that Anna picked off as the two crash on the couch and Jack fires up a gaming console. The title of a game, "Poyo Poyo!", along with a cute pink ball with an equally cute face, arms and red shoes flicker across the screen. "What's this game?"

"It's called Poyo Poyo. It's a matching game, with some twists." Jack says as he hands Anna a controller and Jack takes the other. He starts up the two player mode and both of them pick the "easiest" option. From there two bean-like objects of different colors descend onto their playing fields. "Use the stick to move your beans around, press that button to switch them, fairly simple."

"Alright." Anna replies as she gets used to the controls. She manages to match four beans, causing a clear colored bean thing to drop on Jack's side.

"You can't get rid of those clear ones alone. You have to make a match next to them to make them go away." Jack explains. "If you make combos you'll drop more of them."

"Okay." Anna replies as she sets up for a combo and Jack does the same.

"Man she picks up fast." Jack whispers to himself as Anna sets off her chain. She racks up a triple combo and three rows of clear beans tumble into his playing field. After a few seconds of panic Jack manages to clear away some of the clear beans but Anna is already setting up for another combo! Jack quickly tries to set up one of his own but it's too late as Anna sets off the chain, racks up a QUINTUPLE combo, and in one fell swoop Jack's side overflows with 5 rows of clear beans. Anna wins and Jack claps. "Nice job, you've beat me. Nobody else could beat me- you're the first one to do that! And to that I say congratulations." He says as he shakes Anna's hand.

"I didn't think I was that good!" Anna chuckles. "Wanna play again?"

"Sure. I'm ready for round two." Jack chuckles right back as they start a new round. A few rounds later Jack has not beat Anna once and she relishes in her victories as Jack slumps in defeat. "Wow, you're good! That's no beginner's luck!"

"Give up?" Anna playfully taunts.

"Alright, you're better than me, no need to rub it in my face." Jack chuckles as Anna pokes his side. Jack scrunches up and tries to move away as Anna realizes Jack's number one weakness and manages to catch him. Her fingers practically dance on Jack's sides, and he is laughing so hard that tears are coming out. "OH GOD S-STOP PLEASE! AHAHAHAHAHA!!!" After Anna is finally tired out, she gets up and Jack recomposes himself as he gets up. "You're a cute kid you know that?"

"Thanks!" Anna replies as Jack looks at the clock and realizes it's time for dinner. Anna shows Jack the stir fry that she made for lunch earlier and they both whip some up following her instructions. Jack's eyes light up and the two happily munch away and before they know it night falls and they do their nightly routines before heading to bed.

"Maybe things can become normal now..." Jack says as he heads to bed and catches some Z's for the night.