Settle in

As the day rolls on Ethan starts about the house.

Mostly, it just needs cleaning, but a few other odds and ends require some resolution. Unpacking, for one, which takes longer than projected. Despite how little he brought, Ethan burns several hours just working through his stuff, finding a place for more or less everything.

Despite his apprehensions, he needed to properly claim the master bedroom. It was his house now. And despite having no plans, he felt he was going to stick around.

A depression knot ached in his throat. Small-town living was not his original plan, or even his backup plan, but... Shaking his head Ethan needed a distraction. Dusting, he decided. And so he dusted surface after surface, trying to channel his grandmother's cleaning energy and turn her house into at least a modest version of its former, clean glory.

A few sneezes later, and the plan died. Just like all the other plans he made.

Ethan rubbed his brow, conjuring up a new distraction.

He needed to go to the center of town at some point. There was shopping to do at a minimum, as Grandma didn't exactly leave a stocked fridge.

Or, rather than worry about that now, he could commit to getting some cleaning done other than dusting.

Both options were viable, but...

If Ethan was being honest, going into town was the way to go. True, cleaning was important, but he couldn't deny he had to pick up a few things.