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Grace Blog Entry |
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May 30, 2025, 12:00:10 AM 5/30/25: r/SketchDaily theme, "Free Draw Friday." This week's character from my anthro WWII storyline is the newly named Grace, previously known as Unnamed Fiancée. She's the...well, previously unnamed fiancée of Indigo Rat, who never appears in the main story as she's living in the US the entire time, but she and Indigo have started to develop a bit of a history, so there'll be more about her later in my art Tumblr and Toyhou.se. TUMBLR EDIT: Unnamed Fiancée's, AKA Grace's, story is Indigo's story. And there are bits here that may sound familiar (see Sapphire's entry). Keep in mind this is still heavily under development and may change later. Indigo is one of a few of the Trench Rats who was not born in the US; he's Australian. (In my weird headspace-only animated version of the story where lots of details are inexplicably changed, he's Irish and is nicknamed "Galoot," but that's neither here nor there.) Over the years I struggled with, WHY is there an Australian in an American battalion...? In the original version of events, Indigo was still an Australian citizen, presumably originally with the Australian military, aiding the Americans and had been recruited into the Rats, similar to my original idea for the British Lyndsey Skye; yet this strains credulity, both "IRL" (do they allow foreign soldiers to join the American military, as actual members, without exiting the foreign military first??), and in universe (the Rats are famously jealous of their membership, and you have to jump through hoops to be granted full privileges). So, while Indigo is still Australian, he has to become an American citizen at some point first. Somewhere, I can't recall where, it may have been completely random, the detail appeared that Indigo has a fiancée he left behind in the US; I toyed with the idea that they planned to marry to secure his citizenship, but I was really iffy on this idea or its feasibility. (I honestly know nothing about citizenship procedures, especially of this time period, probably the 1920s-30s. I fudge most of this stuff in the slight chance you couldn't tell--one reason I consider this an alternate reality. As it turns out, I do not believe Green Cards existed yet, and I don't know that marriage was a solution.) As I prepared to draw Unnamed Fiancée, her and Indigo's story started unfolding and I realized she needed at least a first name. The marriage-for-citizenship story started falling away. As I said, this is all still VERY under development and may (probably will) still change, but here goes. Indigo--whatever his real name is at the time--is a dirt-poor Australian seeking a better life, and at the time that of course means the United States. Land of endless opportunity! Of course the streets are not paved in gold, he's not stupid. But he's hopeful. He works to secure passage on a ship and leaves Down Under behind. It's quite a lengthy, circuitous route, involving various ships and ports. Indigo can't afford regular passage and so he works his way through, performing manual labor and menial chores alike, there's nothing too dirty, he'll willingly do it. He isn't a skilled worker but he learns quickly, and he's physically strong. (I think actually he's the biggest/tallest of the Trench Rats, later on.) He can easily alternate between mopping decks and cleaning toilets to carrying heavy loads, forcing rusted-stuck valves to turn again, fixing plumbing, you name it, he'll do it. Ship crews are often sorry to see him go. But he has higher aspirations. He's gotten the idea in his head that he wants to go into medicine. He has no clue if he has what it takes to become a doctor, but he'll do what he can to get as close as he can. Thing is...it costs an arm and a leg to get into medicine. He doesn't have that sort of money. So, that means work, work, work. Indigo finally sets foot in the United States. Gazes at the statue the French gifted the Americans. The towering buildings, the labyrinthine streets, the opportunities. He learns the Constitution forwards and backwards, memorizes all the info needed to pass the citizenship tests. And, well... Gaining citizenship, no matter how prepared you are, is something that takes time. And, unfortunately, often money. He really did intend to go through things the proper way but there's work calling, jobs to do, and lots of shadier employers--many of them foreigners themselves--who are willing to bend rules, especially for a hard worker. With no intent for deceit, Indigo slips through the cracks and settles into American society...not as a naturalized citizen, but as an alien, an illegal immigrant. At some point he meets Grace. I don't know all the details yet, but I know he remarks on her name. The two are enamored of each other almost instantly. They have hopes of getting married, but, money, money, money. Grace insists she's fine with a small ceremony, a justice of the peace, even. Indigo insists she deserves better than that and they should hold off until they can afford it. He also still has his hopes of getting into medical school; it seems like an unreachable dream, but he's stubborn. He learns that he can train rather quickly to be a medic if he enlists--and maybe the military will pay for medical school. Grace hates the idea: "What if they make you go overseas--? What if they make you fight in a war?" He brushes off these concerns--who would they be going to war with??--they already had the War To End All Wars, there's practically zero chance of him ever seeing any combat. The payoff is too much to resist. Though Grace then brings up the elephant in the room: He needs to be a legal resident of the US to enlist. How, exactly, is he going to work his way around that...? Indigo pauses to mull over his limited options. He's managed to skate by before now, yet this is a bit more complicated. He decides to turn to a former employer, and fellow immigrant, to help him out. "Helping out," it turns out, involves forging some papers and making a few discreet calls to minor officials. Grace is aghast--what if someone finds out? He'll end up in prison, surely, or deported, and then what? Indigo insists it's just a little fuzzing over of unimportant details, all he has to do is keep his head down, work hard, make himself indispensable, things will surely fall into place as they always have. It'll be fine! She'll see! Indigo goes to a recruitment office, signs papers, provides documents, gets a physical, meets requirements--just as he'd said--everything starts falling in place. He's accepted into basic training. Of course he does exceptionally. He signs up for the courses needed to become a medic. Studies textbooks into the late hours of the night. Does hands-on training. Keeps working when he's not training. Money, money, money makes the world go round, and the way to money is hard work. Work sets you free, right...? This state of affairs goes on for such a time that Grace's worries start to fade. She and Indigo pool the money from their respective jobs, saving every scrap they can, as he completes his medic training and looks forward to the military covering his tuition. Then he gets a call to speak with a military official. There seems to be an issue with his paperwork. Indigo shows up as requested, but his insides are in knots. Grace's warning seems to be coming true, and he's in a near panic from dread; everything he worked so hard for, ready to go "poof" because of the smallest oversight. The official shuffles papers and mentions there's a "hiccup" regarding his citizenship status. Indigo feigns innocence, acts perplexed, says he has no idea of anything wrong. "I'm sure it's nothing," the official says, "though we need to be sure. Don't want a clerical error to come back and bite you later, huh?" He picks up the phone and starts making calls and asking questions. It's all routine--this guy sincerely seems to believe it's just a mixup--yet the more he digs around the more uncertain he looks. "Taking a bit longer to sort out than I thought," he says, and again, "I'm sure it's nothing," only now he seems not so sure. He hangs up and excuses himself to another room, where Indigo hears him talking on another phone. When he returns, he looks wary. Taps Indigo's papers back in order. "I'm not sure how to put this," he starts, "but we can't seem to find any record of you passing your..." And then his phone rings. He looks a tad peeved, yet "Hold on a moment, please," and he answers it, "Hello...?" A pause. "Yes, right office...yes, I have him right here, you wanted to talk to him...?" Indigo swallows--what could this be?--but whoever it is apparently doesn't wish to talk to him after all. The official just sits and listens, frowns--"I don't have the authority to..."--trails off, furrows his brow--"Could I ask who made this request?--well, how am I supposed to ensure this goes through the proper channels--?" Another very long pause as he listens. After a few moments of silence he murmurs, "Yes, sir," and hangs up the phone. "I've been asked to direct you to a different office," he says, and tells him directions to an office down the hall. When Indigo asks what this is about, what about the problem with his paperwork, the official brusquely says it's no longer his issue to deal with--go down the hall, etc. etc., to the office directed, and good day. Indigo stands, salutes, and obeys, confused and anxious beyond belief by now. He doesn't even reach the office before another military official accosts him and directs him to the room. Indigo feels certain he's about to be taken into custody, yet all that happens is a repeat of what just occurred, only this time, the official seems quite aware of his awkward situation. And his very careful phrasing is nonetheless vaguely menacing. Indigo maintains his feigned ignorance, though he's sure his act is see-through. The interview takes an unexpected turn when the official starts hinting that Indigo's problem can go away--and will never come up again--if he'll do something for them. Indigo of course is incredibly suspicious...yet it sounds too good to pass up. He uneasily asks what he would need to do. The official explains in as little detail as possible that they're seeking recruits for a special squad to be sent overseas (Indigo can hear Grace's warning voice echoing in his head), and the squad could use someone with medic training, just in case--Indigo just completed his training, and "You seem to be in a bit of a tough spot," the official says--so he's just the sort they're looking for. It's pretty obvious what he means--someone who can be easily extorted. Indigo asks what the mission entails?--just reconnaissance, he's assured, he would simply be there in case of emergency--and where would he be going?--he blinks and furrows his brow when the official replies, "Germany." "Germany...?" Indigo is perplexed; "But we aren't at war with Germany," he says; sure, the political situation over there is tense, yet why would reconnaissance be needed...? The official says he can't give any further information, for obvious reasons; he can either accept the offer, or decline it--"If so, I can't guarantee your paperwork issue won't pop up again at some future point," he adds. He says the offer is open until Indigo heads out the door. That's really not much of a choice, yet Indigo is pretty much sold as it is; the thought of possible jail and deportation, all his hard work to become a citizen, being separated from Grace, is just too much. The official refuses to give any more details, only reiterates that if he accepts, his problem will disappear for good. Indigo accepts, is given a time and date and location to show up at, and is excused. Grace is of course beside herself when he (rather meekly) fills her in on this development. She TOLD him, she TOLD him this would happen. Like him, she demands to know what business they have going to Germany?--what's going on in Germany that requires their attention? She's decidedly unhappy that he can't answer, or give any details, really. Something shady is going on, can't he see it?--how can he commit himself to something when they won't even tell him what it's for? "How can I not?" Indigo insists; he doesn't like telling her about the barely disguised threat the official dangled over his head (Grace is one of the very few people who intimidate him), yet it's the only legitimate argument he has--he can't bear the thought of them being separated permanently. "So your answer is to ship out overseas?--for God knows what reason?" Grace exclaims; "It's only temporary!" he insists, "Just some silly little reconnaissance mission...those never last long...and like you said, what point do we have in Germany? I'll be gone a few months at most, I bet, then be right back home. I'll finish with my service, get my school covered, and our problems go away. We can finally do everything we planned to do." "Like what?" Grace retorts, "We're just trying to make ends meet, what plans exactly do we have...?" And she trails off as he fumbles to pull something out of his pocket and show it to her. Grace blinks at the small box, takes in a breath when he opens it to show her a plain gold band. "It's all I can afford for now," he says, as if in apology, "but I promise, when I get back, when this is all behind us, I'll get you everything you deserve and more. A proper wedding, a proper house, a proper family. We planned this, right...? Or am I a complete idiot?" Grace's eyes grow wet. She holds out her hand. Indigo's eyes light up and he places the ring on her finger; at an earnest look, she nods, and they kiss. "Just promise you'll come back to me...?" she implores, and "I promise," he says. Montage: Indigo arrives for his appointed meeting, briefly addresses a major, DeVries, who asks him a few questions to make sure he's ready and willing to ship out, instructs him what to do to prepare to depart, and gives the time and date he's expected to do so. It's astonishingly short notice. He goes through the whirlwind of necessary activity. Packs his duffel. Wishes a tearful Grace goodbye (for now). Shows up at the appointed place. Is waved to get into a big military truck. Once within, he sees a small group of other men in uniform peering back at him. "Alpha Squad...?" he asks, receives shrugs--they seem just as mystified and uncertain as he is--and takes a seat with them. A ride to the nearest port. A merchant ship--no military ship, that would be a sign of hostility and would give them away. They realize just how covert this entire thing is, and are even more ill at ease, yet they trundle aboard with their duffels, no going back now. The ship sets sail. They'll disembark in Rotterdam and meet a contact who'll set them on the next leg of the trip, step by step, until they end up on German soil. They finally have the time and sense of mind to get to know each other. Most of them have few or no familial ties, or, like Indigo, have some "problem" or other that they've been assured will go away with this service. Indigo has a sinking feeling--and judging by the others' expressions, they're realizing it too--that the thing they all have in common is they're expendable, and if anything happens, they won't be missed much. They don't have their codenames yet--the Trench Rats don't yet exist--and for the most part I don't know their real names--but they introduce themselves: Battleship Gray: The planned radio operator, he has a heavy New York accent, constantly smokes, and snaps at Copper more than once, "English! Speak English like an American, dammit!" He seems to be bigoted against...everybody, really. Blue: He doesn't reveal much about himself, just that he has no family and is good at heavy manual labor, similar to Indigo. He seems ill at ease with the thought of wielding a gun. Copper: A Creole with a Louisiana drawl, he's both practical and down to earth, yet also oddly superstitious, believing in "hoodoo" and always wearing a dime around his neck "for luck"; when BG yells at him to speak English, he just speaks Creole French even more. Doomsday: An albino, he doesn't tell much about himself, though mostly because (as he claims) he hasn't much to say. He's been assigned to assist BG, though he admits he doesn't know much about electronics. Silver: A proposed scout, his manners and speech make it clear to the rest of them--from middle or working-class backgrounds--that he's considerably better off than they are, though he keeps mum on details; he seems rather haughty, so the others don't chat much with him. Teal: He's polite enough when spoken to, yet makes no effort to socialize or share anything about himself, being just as closed off as Silver, so the others let him be. Turquoise: Another proposed scout, he's of Irish descent and left behind his mother; he's courteous when addressed, yet keeps a bit of distance, and occasionally seems to get lost in thought, staring off into space. Weirdly, he almost seems to know of certain things before they happen. Copper whispers to Indigo that he thinks he might have "the sight," whatever that means. Indigo: And of course there's Indigo, the proposed medic of the squad. While chatting, he mentions his hopes of attending medical school; the others' reactions vary from vague support to indifference, except for Silver, who barely suppresses a snort; "You got a problem, mate...?" Indigo inquires, his tone of voice making even Teal lift his head, yet Silver wisely refrains from voicing his thoughts, just wishes him good luck. Indigo still isn't pleased with his tone (his intelligence is often underestimated due to him looking like big dumb muscle, and it irks him), and says he's open to speaking privately if they'd like; he's taller and bigger than Silver, so figures he could take him. He's a bit nonplussed when Silver meets his challenging look and says simply, "We're on the same side, so your neck should be safe," and leaves it at that. The others all stare in morbid curiosity before pretending to lose interest. Indigo can't help but feel a tad grateful...frankly, Silver spooks him a little bit. Alpha Squad makes it to Germany, begins reconnaissance, notices that the Germans seem to be rebuilding their military. (Doomsday: "Doesn't this violate the Treaty of Versailles?" BG: "Like the Germans give a s**t about the Treaty of Versailles! F**kin' Krauts, should've wiped 'em out when we had the chance!" Teal: "They're human beings." BG: "Well, maybe they should stop starting wars!") They also notice the construction of some sort of site with walls, barbed wire, and watchtowers not far from a railroad spur, but don't get to see much else before coming under fire. They manage to take shelter in an old trench not too far from the edge of a forest, yet every time they try to run for cover, they're attacked again. Blue is an excellent marksman and he and Copper do a decent job holding the Germans at bay, while BG attempts sending a distress call to the nearest British outpost. They send out numerous calls over the next days but receive no response and are unsure if they even get through. The Germans even manage to get close enough at one point to engage in a brief hand-to-hand scuffle and though several of them are killed, Doomsday is wounded and captured despite the others' best efforts to prevent it. Alpha Squad is left painfully demoralized, huddling in the mud with a dying radio, dwindling ammo and rations, and growing doubts regarding why they're even there. Unknown to Alpha Squad, at least one distress message is received before their radio dies--by "Turtledove," a German civilian who operates a spy radio for the Abwehr. He debates with himself only briefly before forwarding the SOS to the British. The British contact the US forces for confirmation, and the green light is given for an experimental battalion to ship out. They begin hastily constructing a headquarters in the woods and send out their corporal to locate Alpha Squad--just in the nick of time, as they have no food and barely any ammunition left. Corporal Drake is nearly shot when he tumbles into the muddy trench; the squad has no reason to expect an American, yet here one is. Indigo names himself leader of the squad as nobody else offers, and the Trench Rats provide cover as they flee the ditch for the woods. Alpha Squad is incorporated into the battalion; and given his training, Indigo is assigned a post assisting the battalion's surgeon, Burgundy, in the medical ward. (He also assumes responsibility for the battalion's transport animals.) He and Silver are rather disgruntled at first to be denied positions as corporal, though his medical post greatly helps allay Indigo's disappointment, and he's given command of Delta Company, while Silver gets Echo Company and Copper gets Charlie Company. It isn't quite the path Indigo had hoped his life would take, yet it's definitely better than the way it had started to go. He's able, once Doomsday is rescued (Teal, unfortunately, is captured in the process, and the Germans spread the rumor that he's cooperating with them) and HQ is completed, to establish mail contact with Grace. Grace is relieved and overjoyed to learn that he's alive and well, and although he's always busy, he keeps in touch. As well, although he's frequently the target of women's attention, Indigo remains faithful to Grace all throughout the war that follows. He excels as an intern to Burgundy and has good reason to hope his studies will go well once the war is over and he returns home. (He also learns why he and the rest of Alpha Squad were sent out in the first place--again, see Sapphire's entry above--and it's a pretty jarring revelation, to learn that his initial hope of proving useful was in fact used to try to start a war.) His plans derail not long before the war's end when Indigo is seriously wounded shielding another Rat (Mahogany?) from a blast; he pushes himself up and asks, "You all right?" and when reassured that yes, he is, he lets out a breath and says, "Ah, good," and then promptly slumps over. A piece of shrapnel lacerates his liver and he bleeds out before anyone can help. Amaranth Rat, a junior medic whose skills Indigo had touted, ends up assuming his spot as Burgundy's intern, though it's big shoes to fill, and Indigo's loss is greatly felt by his fellow Rats; he was intimidating and could be downright hateful regarding the enemy, yet to his allies, he was the most steadfast friend one could find, and always stood up for those who couldn't stand up for themselves. To add insult to injury, somehow, in the chaos surrounding the war's end, his body goes missing, so he can't even be returned to the US for a proper burial. Grace breaks down weeping and heartbroken at the devastating news. The days, weeks, months go by. Grace tries to grow accustomed to a lonely life without her fiancé; she's not interested in finding anyone else. Indigo was the other half of her soul, and she feels half dead without him. As some of the Rats return home--a few seek her out, or write letters, expressing their sympathy--she goes through the motions of her life, wondering why her, why him. All he'd ever wanted to do was help others...it doesn't feel fair. One day, a knock comes at her door. Grace cracks it open and peers out, puzzled at the sight of the plump, red-haired woman standing without, her hands clasped tight at her breast. She tentatively asks, with a slight Irish accent, if she's Grace. Grace frowns a little, says yes, do they know each other...? The woman says no; she introduces herself as Aisling Seery, and says her son is in the Trench Rats--he was one of the members of the original Alpha Squad. Grace sucks in a breath--"Does he know my fiancé--?" she blurts out. Mrs. Seery has to admit that, while her son did know Indigo, they weren't particularly close...yet she's not here about that. She has a message of her own. "May...may I come in a moment?" she asks, "I promise I won't take much of your time." Grace lets her in, though she's perplexed. Mrs. Seery declines her offer of tea or coffee. "I shan't stay long," she insists. After receiving reassurance that Indigo was Grace's fiancé, she seems to grow reluctant and lose a bit of her nerve. Grace implores her, if she has any info about Indigo, can she please share it. Mrs. Seery says, "Well...that's just the thing. I have something to share, I'm just not sure what it is." She urges Grace to not give up all hope for Indigo, that she has a feeling the story isn't over yet. "But...they told me he's d...he's dead," Grace says; "Are you telling me they're wrong--?" No, that's not what Mrs. Seery means, just...she's sure it isn't over yet, there's still some reason to hope they'll see each other again. "I can't say how, I honestly don't know," she admits, "but it's a...a feeling I have. You have to believe me and not give up on him yet." "Why should I believe you?" Grace asks, not out of malice, but confusion--"I don't believe you're lying to me, but why do you think we'll see each other again?--if he's gone? I don't understand." Mrs. Seery is reluctant to answer, but finally, rather haltingly explains that she sometimes has visions and "hunches," which she believes are sent by God and Mary and the saints; and for some reason, she's just had a hunch about Indigo. "I know I must sound mad," she says, "but they've never steered me wrong, and my son has them too. I don't mind if you think I'm crazy, just..." "No," Grace interrupts, and when Mrs. Seery falls silent, adds, "I don't think you're crazy." She doesn't know that she believes her hunch, but Mrs. Seery is obviously sincere, and of sound mind. She doesn't want to get her hopes up, but asks if she has any details she can share...? How does she know her hunch has to do with Indigo? Mrs. Seery admits it's not really something she can pinpoint; "I just got this strong feeling I should contact you--all I know about you is your name is Grace, and you were Indigo's fiancée, that's what my son told me, Indigo talked about you all the time"--and the feeling has her convinced that there's something left for Indigo to tell her. She can't say that he's still alive--sometimes the deceased talk from beyond the grave. All she knows is Grace can't close the book on him just yet. When Grace's eyes fill with tears, Mrs. Seery blurts out, "Snow!...snow, and cold, and the sky. He's in the sky." She blushes. "I see this, I feel it, though it makes no sense, I know. Just...please, don't close your heart to him yet? I know this isn't the end, my heart tells me." The two women wish each other farewell and Mrs. Seery departs. Her story sounds outlandish--and even if it's true, the detail about Indigo being in the sky isn't especially encouraging. Still...it's a tiny shred of hope to cling to. Grace keeps her eyes and ears open. I won't go into excessive detail here as the Ultima Thule part of the story is still vague and heavily under development. Yet the Trench Rats and their allies, upon receiving word of Nazi holdouts in the Alpine Fortress, discover two unexpected parties in their company: Silver, and Indigo. Silver is merely playing the part, feigning loyalty to the Fourth Reich as he seeks to sabotage it from within, while Indigo is operating under the influence of the Ultima Thule serum, and isn't in his right mind. Once the Rats discover the antiserum, they deploy it and Indigo effectively snaps out of his trance; he has no memory of anything following his wounding near the war's end. His brain was uninjured, and this was what the Nazis needed. He's terribly confused to find himself in such a bizarre situation, yet joins his former comrades in fighting against Major Jäger's forces. The Rats barely manage to escape the Fortress as explosives go off and it collapses into ruin; they make the long journey from the Eastern Alps back to their new headquarters (the former Project Doomsday HQ), and both Silver and Indigo (separately, of course) head back to an uncertain life in the US. Indigo takes a great deal of time to recover from his shock and bewilderment over the strange limbo he recently left behind. He's literally come back from the dead...how does one process something like that? Part of him even wonders if he has the right to exist while others never got the second chance he did, or if he's now some sort of abomination (he's never been particularly religious, but this sort of experience could make anyone a believer). He's especially leery of confronting Grace again...he knows she's been told of his death, and doesn't relish the thought of suddenly reappearing in her life. What if she's moved on? He wouldn't blame her, but still, it's an uncomfortable prospect. He knows he can't just leave the situation unresolved; he owes her that much, at least. So he makes sure his uniform is straightened out, steels himself, and approaches her door. Grace hears the tentative knock--a particular pattern, one, two three, four--and freezes. Only one person ever used that knock, when returning from work or training, a little note to let her know he was home. She'd almost convinced herself she'd never hear it again. Her heart hammers in her chest as she cracks the door open and peers out--then has to look up, as her fiancé was--is--so much taller than she is. Indigo looks much the same as he did when he left (his odd Trench Rat uniform has been replaced with a regular one), except his eyes are strange--wary and uneasy, like they've never looked before, and their previously gray color now has an odd bluish sheen to it. He blinks as if unsure that she'd open the door, and they stare at each other in silence for a moment. After the silence has drawn out uncomfortably long, Grace steps forward over the threshold and puts her arms around Indigo (her head reaches only his chest), embracing him tight. He hesitates only briefly before hugging her back. "You came back," Grace murmurs. Indigo murmurs in return, "I promised I would." She looks back up at him, smiling now with tears streaming. Her brow furrows and she reaches toward his face. "What happened to your eyes...?" He catches hold of her hand and offers a watery smile of his own. "Long story," he replies. [Grace 2025 [Friday, May 30, 2025, 12:00:10 AM]] |