Roasting on an Open Flame

In this Our World story, Flame and Violet visit their mother for Christmas Eve.

This is a transcript from Discord.

We find ourselves in GLACIA HQ, where a certain Major is making her way to the office of General Flame. Usually, Violet Meadows is eager to go home at the end of the day. After all needed work is done, of course. However, today is different. Today, Violet has a message for her brother.

Violet:
*Violet knocks on the door.* “Sir?”

But she gets no reply.

Violet:
(Of course… He’s not in his office since the work day is over. But he never goes home as soon as he’s able. So that means…)

Violet makes her way to the HQ’s gym.

Violet:
(No reason to be nervous. He doesn’t like me anymore anyway.)

She had thought she and Flame were on good terms. She spent a month working to impress him, and it seemed successful. But then she had to spill the beans. Now he avoids her whenever possible.

Violet:
(Alright, let’s see if he’s here…)
*Violet enters the gym.*

General Flame has the place to himself. With no one around to stop him, he walks the treadmill while simultaneously curling a 50-pound weight.

Violet:
“...”

If he notices Violet’s presence, he’s completely ignoring her.

Violet:
*Violet approaches Flame.*
“Sir?”

Flame:
*Flame sighs.*
*He rides the treadmill to its end and stands on the floor.*
“What do you want, Major?”

Violet:
(Not my name… just “Major”.)
“Well… I’ve been telling Mom about you…”

Flame:
“Ugh…” *Flame turns and walks away.* “I don’t want to hear it.”

Violet:
*Violet follows.* “I told her good things. That you grew up to be a good man. And she invited you to come over.”

Flame:
*Flame freezes.* “...What?”

Violet:
“Yes.”

Flame:
“I don’t believe you.”

Violet:
“I know better than to deceive you. I’m not stupid.”

Flame:
“She… *wants* to see me?”

Violet:
“Not much advance notice, I know, but we were thinking maybe Christmas Eve?”

Flame:
“I work that day.”

Violet:
“You work every day.”

Flame:
“After work, I catch a flight so I can be in Verdant Valley for Christmas.”

Violet:
“If you leave work on time for once, you’ll have enough time to at least stop by. You work so much it won’t be a problem.”

Flame:
“Let me… think about it…”

Violet:
“Of course. Just let me know as soon as you can.” *Violet smiles.*

Later, the next day, General Flame steps into the Burning Rangers’ training room. The three are locked in combat with several training bots.

Calias:
*Calias bashes a repurposed Gundroid on the head with the back of his foot.* “These guys are too easy!”

Nihil:
“Do not underestimate your opponents, Calias!”

Blue:
*Blue zips in and clotheslines Calias.* [some sort of sweeping move to trip him, I forget :P]

Calias:
“GAK!”

Hannah:
*Hannah is a little busy holding off a Gundroid of her own.*

Calias:
*Calias speaks from the floor, upside-down resting on his neck.* “Oh. Hey Chief.”

Flame:
“Get up!”

Nihil:
*Nihil rushes over and offers his hand to Calias.*

Calias:
*Calias takes the hand and is hoisted up.* “Thanks, Nihil.”

Hannah:
*Hannah finally manages to land a hit on that pesky yellow bot.*

Yellow:
*Yellow deactivates.*

Before long, the three of them have defeated the bots.

Calias:
“Absolutely no problem whatsoever! Let’s start ‘em up again!”

Hannah:
*Hannah is panting.* “I need a minute, guys.”
*Hannah makes eye contact with Flame.*

Nihil:
“That blue bot nearly made mincemeat of Calias. I think we should be done for the day.”

Calias:
“HEY! I had it handled.”

Flame:
*Flame glances toward the corner, then back at Hannah before walking over there.”

Hannah:
*Hannah gets the hint and follows him.*
“What’s up? You alright?”

Flame:
“Ma invited me over for Christmas Eve…”

Hannah:
“Oh, that’s great! You’re going, right?”

Flame:
“I can’t pass up this opportunity.”

Hannah:
“You don’t sound excited.”

Flame:
“It’s been twenty years… The last words I heard from Ma were her saying she didn’t want me!”

Hannah:
“Well, since she was the one who invited you, that means she does want you now. You don’t have to be nervous.”

Flame:
*Flame nods.*

Hannah:
“I got a surprising invitation too, actually. Remember Jack and Angela?”

Flame:
“I was invited, too.”

Hannah:
“Really? Are you coming?”

Flame:
“Of course not. We only met once.”

Hannah:
“Right. I know them about as well, I suppose… but I’m going.”

Flame:
“Beakton isn’t someone I trust… If you’re going, be sure you’re geared up and ready for trouble.”

Hannah:
“Geared up? I can’t go to a wedding dressed like this!”

Flame:
“In that case, I expect to see you training in a dress tomorrow.”

Hannah:
*Hannah bursts out laughing.*

Flame:
“I’m not joking. You need to be able to defend yourself even in impractical clothing.”

Hannah:
*Realization sets in.*
(But… that’s so weird…)
“Cal’s gonna be going too!”

Flame says no words, but his expression makes it clear that his decision is final.

Hannah:
*Hannah cringes.*

Flame:
*Flame points to the training ring.* “Now get back in there!”

Hannah:
*Hannah sighs, then jumps back into action.*

Flame supervises their training for a little while before leaving. On the way to his own office, he stops by Violet’s.

Violet:
“Yes, sir?”

Flame:
“I’ll go.”

Violet:
*Violet smiles.* “I’ll tell Mom!”

Flame:
“I’ll only be able to stay a few minutes. I still have to catch a flight so I can be home for Christmas.”

Violet:
“Of course. A few minutes is better than nothing!”

Flame:
*Flame turns to leave.*

Violet:
“One thing, Sonny–”

Flame:
“Do not call me that!”

Violet:
“Two things. First, when we’re gathered as a family, I will call you that. Second, don’t wear your uniform to Mom’s house.”

Flame:
“You take orders from me, Major, not the other way around.”

Violet:
“*Please* don’t wear your uniform to Mom’s house? It’s just a casual, family gathering…”

Flame’s face holds that same expression from earlier. He’s already decided.

Violet:
*Violet sighs…*

Flame:
*Flame leaves.*

Soon, Flame will reunite with his mother! What awaits at her house? Will Violet be able to convince him to wear something more casual? Find out next time on Our World!

```

### Part 2

```
It’s the evening of Christmas Eve, and two sheep in a car are on their way to the Meadows residence.

Violet:
“It’s the most wonderful time of the yeeeaaar!”

Flame:
“...”

Violet:
“With the kids jingle belling and everyone telling you be of good cheeeeer!”

Flame:
*Flame has been of bad cheer for pretty much this entire ride.*

Citizen:
*Citizen pulls his car out right in front of them.*

Violet:
*Violet slams the brakes.*

Flame:
*Flame reaches over and slams the horn.* “YOU IDIOT!!”

Violet:
“...”

Citizen:
*Citizen has no idea there’s an orange sheep yelling at him.*
“It’s the hap-happiest season of all!”

Violet:
(Remind me to never let you drive…)
“With those holiday greetings and such happy meetings when friends come to caaaall!”

A few more minutes pass as the musical Christmas cheer continues to drive Flame mad.

Flame:
“*If* we ever do this again, I’m bringing my CDs.”

Violet:
*Violet turns the radio off.*
“Orrrr we could have no music so that neither of us has to suffer.”

Flame:
“That works.”

Violet:
(Now it’s too quiet… The perfect opportunity for a chat with my brother!)
“So, Sonny… Do you have any Christmas traditions?”

Flame:
“Ma took them all with her.”

Violet:
“Oh… Don’t you have *something* you do on Christmas? Going to your hometown is itself a tradition. What do you do while you’re there?”

Flame:
“Like any other day, Pa and I start working.”

Violet:
“What kind of work does your dad do?”

Flame:
“Fixing stuff up. When people have problems, we come and fix them.”

Violet:
“So you spend your Christmas helping everyone else’s Christmases go smoothly… That’s really sweet, actually.”

Flame:
“...”

Violet:
“...”

Most of the ride is spent in awkward silence. Awkward for Violet, that is. Flame is quite content with it. Eventually they arrive at their destination.

Violet:
“Could you at least leave the hat in here?”

Flame:
“Fine…”
*Flame removes his hat, but retains the rest of his uniform.*

The two approach the door. Flame stands to the side as Violet knocks on the door.

```

```
Rose:
*Rose opens the door and smiles.* “There you are!”
*Rose hugs Violet.* “So good to see you.”

```

```
Violet:
*Violet returns the hug.* “Good to be home.”

Rose:
*Rose steps back and looks up at Flame.* “Oh, Sonny…”
*Rose hugs Flame.*

Flame:
“?!”

Rose:
“Look at you. You’ve gotten so big! And so handsome all dressed up.”

Violet:
“I tried to get him to dress more comfortably…”

Flame:
“This *is* more comfortable.”

Rose:
*Rose laughs.* “Well, come on in, you two, make yourselves at home.”

Rose’s children follow her inside and they all sit down.

Rose:
“Sean’s still working, but he’ll be home in an hour or so.”

Flame:
“I can’t stay that long, I have a plane to catch.”

Rose:
“Right, Violet was telling me that. No worries! I’m just so glad you came.”

Flame:
“Why?”

Rose:
“Hm?”

Flame:
“Why did you want to see me?”

Rose:
“Because you’re my son.”

Flame:
“Since when has that meant anything to you?!”

Rose:
“It always has…”

Flame:
“How can you say that?! In twenty years you never came to see me once! I heard you when you told Pa you wanted to abandon me *and* take Tulip with you!”

Rose:
“Sonny, I’ve always cared about you–”

Flame:
“Then why did you leave me?!”

Rose:
“I was stressed… I was scared.”

Flame:
“Of what?”

Rose:
*Rose silently stares at Flame.*

Flame:
“Of me?”

Rose:
“Your father kept himself so busy that I had to try handling you by myself. I just couldn’t take another day of putting up with you and Gordon. I couldn’t bear the thought of… one day watching you do something horrific and being powerless to stop you.”

Flame:
*Flame has sunken into his seat.*
“I’ve changed, Ma. I really have…”

Rose:
“I know. I wasn’t right to leave you. Now I can see that you weren’t too far gone after all. I should have just taken you and Tulip with me… Leaving you two was the biggest mistake of my life, and I’m so sorry…”

Flame:
*Flame says nothing, processing this.*

Rose:
“From now on, I want to be here for you. I’ll get you my number, call whenever you want to.”

Violet:
“Oh, Sonny! I call Mom every week. You should join me!”

Flame:
*Flame is visibly uncomfortable with this idea.*

Rose:
“I’d love that.”

Flame:
“...”
“I should head out.”

Rose:
“Not without your present!”

Flame:
“My present?”

Rose:
*Rose hurries into the kitchen.*
*She comes into view walking backwards, concealing whatever she’s holding.*
“Isn’t much, but I wanted to give you something I know you like… I hope you haven’t outgrown it?”
*Rose turns around to set the present on the table.*

It’s a half-gallon jar filled with lemonade. Flame’s face lights up.

Rose:
“Made it just yesterday.”

Flame:
*Flame immediately opens the jar and takes a big swallow.*
“In twenty years, I’ve never found its equal.”

Rose:
*Rose smiles.* “Merry Christmas, Sonny.”

Flame:
“Merry Christmas, Ma.”

And so goes the tale of a very special Christmas for General Flame. Well… Christmas Eve, that is. He already explained how his Christmas goes.
I’d wish you a Merry Christmas too, viewer, but in our universe, ’tis *not* the season… Happy Independence Day!

```

## Characters

*In order of appearance:*

* Violet Meadows
* Sonny Flame
* Calias the Phoenix
* Nihil the Phoenix
* Hannah Dash
* Rose Meadows

## Participants

* HannahDash
* Captainclay55