(This takes place a couple weeks after)
The dimly lit room in Stolas' mansion echoed with an uneasy silence, in the young heiress' room was Octavia who sat alone on her bed, glancing at the empty elegant comfy armchair where Rutabaga used to sit and either play a video game with her or listens to her problems. The vibrant colors of manor seemed to lose their luster without Rutabaga's cheerful presence. She looked up from the ground as soft knocks came from it, it opened to reveal Stolas, a disgruntled look upon his beak. He had wanted to check on his daughter, she was properly ignoring him for longer than usual. It worried him, and he knew why. He just didn't want to talk about it, but he felt the need too after there was no visible change in her. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Owlette.." He started with her nickname from him as well. Octavia only looked away from him, her feathered hands gripping the edge of her bed tightly. "I miss Rutabaga, dad. Why did she have to leave?" Stolas, sitting in the elegant armchair, looked at his daughter with a mix of guilt and regret. He had not anticipated the impact Rutabaga's departure would have on Octavia. The Owl prince meekly grumbled, Rutabaga was basically her closet confidant as well, easing the tension off the teenager during all this. Of course she was still hurting. He thought of what he should say, and opened his beak. "Octavia, darling, Rutabaga had to go. It's... complicated. " He couldn't really find the words as Octavia crossed her arms, giving him a grimace. "Complicated? Everything is always 'complicated' with you, dad. Rutabaga was the only one who understood me." Stolas leaned forward as he ran his hands through his feathered head. "I know, sweetheart. Rutabaga was special, but circumstances forced her to leave." Octavia raising an eyebrow at his words only scoffed. "Circumstances? You mean mom kicking her out not only because you cheated on her with that Blitzo guy..and her too!?" Stolas winced at the mention of Blitzo's name, his face turning saddened at the mention of Rutabaga..he wanted to tell the true story behind that, but he felt nobody would believe him fully aware of the pain he had caused in his family. "Octavia, I never meant for things to turn out this way. Rutabaga was more than just an employee; she was a friend. I..." He was stopped as Octavia quickly stood from her bed, tears brimming at her eyes as she stomped her foot down. "You let her leave, dad! You didn't even try to stop mom from kicking her out. She was like an older sister to me, and you just stood there. Don't you care about her too? I saw her face at the gate that day...she looked awful." The owl prince only sighed. "I know I've made mistakes, Octavia. Rutabaga leaving was not something I wanted, but I couldn't stop your mother from making that decision." Octavia huffed. "You never stand up for anything, dad. You just let everything fall apart." Stolas flinched back from her words. "I understand your anger, Octavia. I truly do. But Rutabaga leaving doesn't mean I don't care about you. I'm trying to make things right." "Make things right? How? By doing whatever you're doing with HIM and tossing Rutabaga out like an abandoned dog?" Stolas looked away from his daughter.
Octavia quickly threw on a coat with a hood to hide her face, she was going out to find her. The weight of his actions and the consequences they had on those he cared about settled heavily on his shoulders. "She was there for me when you weren't, Dad. She listened to me when I needed someone. And now she's out there on the streets because of you!" He sat back with a heavy sigh. "I... I don't know, Via. I just need time to figure things out." "Yeah well, you sure figured it out by letting the only decent person in this house leave. What's wrong with you, Dad?" Stolas lowered his gaze, guilt washing over him as he realized the pain he had caused. Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Octavia answered, expecting a messenger or a maid. To her surprise, it was Rutabaga, holding a small bag and looking somewhat disheveled. The Owl Princess jumped in surprise, she hasn't seen her in 3 days. "Rutabaga! What are you doing here?" The Pink Husky Hellhound stared over to Stolas who had a slight glimmer of hope in his eyes as he saw her. But she scoffed, giving Octavia her genuine smile. "I'm here to get the last of my things, and I just wanted to check on you as well, Sweetpea. Stella isn't home so I'm in no danger, ha. I just wanted to give you something before I leave for good." She laughed off the melancholy feeling as she handed the Owl Princess a small box, which she happily yet confusingly took, it was etched on her face. She opened it and found a small plush toy that looked like her, down to the last detail. Along with a notecard. "W-What's this?" Rutabaga closed the box gently and patted her paw on the top with a gentle smile. "It's a little something to remember me by." She laughed again only to choke on it as Octavia hugged her tightly, tears streaming down her face. "I'll miss you, Rutabaga." "I'll miss you too, Octavia. Take care of yourself, okay?" As Rutabaga turned to leave she stared over to Stolas, whose face saddened by their interaction changed to one of surprise, only for her to glare at him. "Bye." Leaving the teenager's room for the last time, Octavia turned back to her father, anger still present in her eyes. Before running out the room to catch up with Rutabaga, not ready to say her byes yet.
A good month later the pink husky found a small apartment, having to figure out a new job as what money she had saved up wasn't going to last. Especially with the rent. She spent her days wallowing in self-hatred, depression, anxiety, and fear while barely caring for herself to keep the money steady as she looked for another job. The place echoed with the hollow sound of Octavia's frustration as she paced around Rutabaga's modest living space. She was visiting for the first time today, and though Rutabaga was surprised that the teenage princess found her she was more upset that she was here. But didn't show it, not that she didn't want her there, Ruta thought of her as her own kin, it's just that Stella basically threatened her that if she was around her daughter again she'd kill her. Octavia didn't know that, and it's probably best she didn't. Rutabaga watched her with a mixture of concern and understanding, knowing that Octavia was grappling with emotions that went beyond the immediate situation. "This is ridiculous! Look at this place! How can you live like this, Rutabaga?" The pink hellhound only shrugged, holding a green watering can close to her chest, as she was watering her plants when the young royal busted into her apartment. "It's not much, but it's mine. I'll make do." Exasperated, Octavia paced around her futon, which doubled as a couch. The apartment, though mildly furnished with plants and as much furniture as a college dorm room would allow, was clearly in disarray. There were ramen bowls and cups hidden yet scattered about the area, tv dinners littered the garbage bin, and the plants were either too dry or too watered.
The teenage owl demon glowered at the mess. Her best friend was going through an ordeal of her own and was putting a facade on, she wasn't sure if it was for her or because she thought smiling throughout it all would make the situation better. "And it's all because of my stupid father. He just stood there while you were thrown out like trash." Rutabaga placed down the watering can by the front door and with a sigh her ears flattened against her head. "Octavia, your dad is going through a lot right now. It's not entirely his fault." Octavia's face shifted into clear frustration, waving her hands around angrily. "Don't defend him! He's always ruining everything . Just like you said, 'he's going through a lot.' That's just an excuse!" Rutabaga only looked away from her. "Octavia..It's complicated, and I don't want to come between you two because I said something I shouldn't have.." Octavia abruptly stopped pacing and turned to face Rutabaga, her eyes burning with a mix of anger and hurt. Octavia: "Why are you defending him? You're alone when you shouldn't be. He kicked you out, you're living like this. It's crazy!" The pink husky huffed, getting a bit defensive. "I'm not defending him. I'm just trying to help you understand. And the neighborhood ain't that bad, is rather nice next door." 'Even though he's and 80 year old pervert.' Rutabaga sighed inwardly in disappointment. Octavia rolled her eyes and in a sarcastic voice said. "Understand? Understand what, exactly? That my family is falling apart, and my dad is to blame?" Rutabaga blinked a bit at the statement. "No, understand that people are complicated, and sometimes they make mistakes. Your dad..he's..he's not the best at fixing things but he is trying, Sweetpea." Octavia's eyes began to well up with tears as she looked into the hellhound's green eyes. "Well, maybe I don't want to understand. Maybe I just want things to be how they used to be. Before all this mess with that bloody red imp." As she sniffled Ruta quickly paced over to her, gently shushing her. "I get it, Via. I really do. But life doesn't always go the way we want it to…the best you can do is your best. It'll work out eventually." Octavia's anger finally softened into a deep sadness, and she collapsed onto Rutabaga's futon, burying her face in her hands and giving a muffled reply. "I just miss how things used to be. And seeing you here like this... it hurts." Rutabaga, sensing Octavia's vulnerability, sat down beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I miss it too, Octavia. But we can't change the past. We can only move forward. And hey, at least we still have each other." Octavia looked up at Rutabaga, her eyes teary, and finally allowed herself to embrace the comfort that Rutabaga offered. "Wanna go to Stylish Occult? I hear there's a sale, lemme buy you something, yeah?"