Lillifuture -- Celestic Town

-The crashing sound of something falling over.-

-Footsteps stumbling toward the door.-

-The smell of alcohol. Vodka, specifically.-

-All these greeted a certain malnourished teenage girl as she knocked on the door. The door opens, and a bony thirty-something woman glares momentarily at her visitor.-

Sarah: I told ya, I don't want yer damn...

-She blinks blearily, and her expression softens.-

Sarah: ...Lilli... is that...?

-Lillianna gives her mother a concerned look-

Lillianna: ...Mother... what's happened to you? You've been drinking... you never drank...

-Sarah sighs, leaning her forehead against the door frame for support, staring outside with tired, sad amethyst eyes.-

Sarah: Damn right, I've been drinkin'... what the hell could it hurt, I already lost everythin'...

-Lillianna stays silent as her mother slumps against the door frame, closing her eyes and generally looking as if she hasn't gotten sleep in several days.-

Sarah: So... I guess the bastard finally let up, huh...

-Lillianna looks down at the ground.-

Lillianna: ...Not exactly... I left him. While he was off on... Avenger business. I'm leaving for good.

-It takes a moment for it to click, but when it does, Sarah's eyes widen.-

Sarah: Lilli... oh, Lilli, sweetie, no, you can't, no, he'll be so angry--

Lillianna: Mother, you know that he makes hell for every Arceusdamn person he meets. I've had to suffer through seventeen years of it. He's angry no matter what I do, so what should I care what he thinks? I won't be around to see what he thinks anyway.

Sarah: ...Seventeen... you're seventeen already... the years pass so fast...

-Sarah stumbles forward to pull Lillianna into a hug. Lillianna does her best to ignore the stench of old alcohol on her clothes and hugs back.-

Sarah: I'm so, so sorry I missed your birthday... it was... oh, when was it...

Lillianna: Last week, mother... It was last week. Monday.

Sarah: Oh...

-Sarah holds her daughter close for a moment. After several seconds of tender silence, she suddenly starts bawling into Lillianna's shoulder. Lillianna blinks and gently pats her mother, somewhat unsure of how to react.-

Lillianna: ...Mother... you can come with me, if you want. You'll be free, safe, anything...

Sarah: I-I'll just... I'll just hold y-you b-b-back...

-She holds Lillianna at arms length-

Sarah: J-just... look at me... I'm an old, weak, miseral... mis... miserable wreck... I'm an Arceusdamn alcoholic pile of wasted flesh! What the hell would you get out of draggin' me around!?

-Sarah glares at Lillianna again, before sighing and letting go of her, collapsing against the door frame again.-

Sarah: ...Could you... stay a little bit...? It's been too damn long since I've seen my li'l Lilli... Way too damn long...

-Lillianna manages half a smile-

Lillianna: I would love to. I missed you, Mother...

-Sarah smiles what could be the first smile she's had in years as she steps carefully backward, letting Lillianna inside-