(OOC: Will be alternating accounts for icons sake!)
It was raining. Not too unusual for a Chicago fall. Snow wouldn't be far behind. Lucky thing, really, that an apartment in such a nice location had an opening at such a low price. The seller had been desperate, as their previous roomie had gone through a Finding Themselves Journey and moved out at the drop of a hat. In a way, Henry had been glad to be rid of them. It meant he could stretch all eight of his legs in peace and quiet for a time.
Sadly, selling your shitty hipster photos on the internet only fed you for so long. So he had put out the ad. And he was lucky to find somebody who sounded so normal so quickly. Several polite, though short emails had been exchanged, a deposit had been paid, and now moving day had arrived.
It was a little half past two when Henry moved from his bedroom into the living room to wait for the knock that would surely come. He hated those stuffy old shoes and that frumpy coat but it hid the lumps on his back where his other arms connected much more easily than anything else. Winter would be a good excuse to bundle up. Really this couldn't have happened at a better time.
It was about time Envy had some luck. Trying to find a place to live was just one dead end or disaster after another. And he's pretty sure that last place he looked at...
Okay, when the only decorations in a place are five hundred porcelain dolls, Envy's pretty sure that it means whoever's living there is just putting out adds for new murder victims instead of roommates.
But this one? He's pretty sure it'll be fine. The emails had sounded okay. This will work out great.
Dressed head to to for either reaching Everest's peak or deep sea exploration. He wore a long coat with gloves, dark glasses, a knitted cap, and a scarf pulled up to his mouth. He stood there silently and motionless--a strange kind of motionless. The kind of motionless that would make one think he might have been a hat stand covered in clothes and propped up as a joke.
Then the wintery heap remembered that people were supposed to say something when they answer the door.
It's kind of cold out? Envy's bundled up in a coat and scarf himself, but everything this guy's wearing is a bit much. Maybe the heat is broken.
He really needs this apartment to work out okay. He can manage a little bit of denial. So long as there aren't any creepy dolls or actual bloody handprints on the walls, he can deal.
Luckily for Envy, Henry's apartment looks pretty normal. No handprints or babies on the walls, though some of the furniture is a little dusty. He only really sat in one spot to watch TV and there was an entire sofa in the living room. It came with the apartment. Probably.
He stood still a little longer before remembering that humans shook hands and stuff when they met. He extended a gloved hand.
"Right. Glad you could find the place okay. It's sort of a hole." He stepped back and allowed Envy entry. He lived here too now. "Your room's this way--bathroom's on the other side of the kitchen."
Envy holds out his own hand to shake Henry's gloved one, and steps right on in.
The normal looking apartment is another plus, and Envy's already decided to write off any more weirdness as nothing. Henry's just a socially awkward guy who gets cold really easily. And also didn't immediately start questioning his name, which as far as Envy's concerned is GREAT. He doesn't mind the questions, but it's nice not to get pelted with them as the first thing out of someone's mouth. He waves one hand, gesturing idly.
"Eh, it's not too bad a hole. You should see the parlor I work at."
Which, while it isn't going to give people tetanus, is pretty far from the fanciest tattoo place in town.
As Henry walks Envy around the house, he gestures to the few rooms and mumbles out their names. He skips over his room. Blatantly. Because why would Envy ever want to go in there?
"Need any help bringing it up? The elevator is sort of...questionable."
And small. Henry didn't like being packed in there with people. THERE WAS ALWAYS THE RISK that somebody else would want to ride it with him and then weird spider thoughts happened and stairs were healthier anyway.
Envy guesses as much, and doesn't think much of it. Why would Henry show him the inside of his room?
He makes a 'yeesh' face at the mention of the elevator being iffy. He's not so sure about getting stuck in there with a lot of junk and another person. That's not a whole lot of room to be in for any length of time.
"Yeah, there's nothing really heavy. I vote stairs. Thanks, man."
He grins, feeling increasingly confident about all this. This really is all going to work out great.
"It stinks in there too." Henry managed to shoe-horn in a little humor before the task of moving began. Moving sucked, no matter if you were a man or a monster. Henry seemed more than happy to carry heavy stacks and boxes of things.
The wind was biting and it was spitting rain by the time they got everything in. No mishaps happened on the stairs save one of Envy's books toppling out of the bottom of one of the boxes. Henry caught it with surprising speed and made a joke about being a ninja.
But now the move was over and he was hovering in front of his door. This had been the most social interaction Henry had experienced in...a really long time and now he was tired. But wasn't he supposed to do something else to welcome his roomie? What had he done with the last one? Uh. Uh. Oh wait, this wasn't originally his apartment. He was the one who moved in and then shuffled away into his corner and hardly saw his roomie until they finally got weirded the fuck out and just left.
Uh.
"Oh. The heater's broken. Sorry. I wasn't able to fix it while paying the rent by myself."
With help, moving all the boxes through the rain and up the stairs wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. And if Henry had caught that book a little too fast, well...some people just have good reflexes. Maybe he'd taken a karate class or something. Envy's perfectly happy to just laugh along with the ninja joke. Even his new roomie's giant coat has a neat explanation.
Unlike Henry, though, Envy's used to plenty of social interaction. And now that the awkwardness of a first meeting and hoping not to have to go out looking for a place to live again is out of the way...
"Well with me here, there ought to be the money, right? Ha, thanks for all the help. I'd give you a free tattoo down at my place, 'f you were interested."
DOES HENRY HAVE ANY TATTOOS? ENVY HAS NO IDEA, HE CAN'T ACTUALLY SEE ANY OF HIM.
Envy had just wanted some leftover pizza. That was all he'd wanted.
But what he gets when he opens the fridge is a dark, room temperature cavern of terrible smells. He slams the door shut again, but that smell is lingering. His nose wrinkles in disgust, and he backs up before shouting out, loud enough for Henry to hopefully hear him through his door.
"What?" The creature! It stirs! Henry poked his head out of the dark cave of his room, sunglasses already in place. Slowly he emerged and skittered into the kitchen where Envy stood. The smell hit his nose instantly and he pulled his scarf up over his nose.
"Damn...well. It had a good run."
The fridge may have well been older than both of them.
Envy's decided not to ask about the sunglasses or the scarf that he always has on, even though the heater's fixed. Maybe he's just got some kind of light sensitivity or something. And gets cold really easily. Yes.
But there's a bigger issue at hand than Henry's weird clothing choices.
"We're going to have to throw all this out and go get more."
As the words left Envy's mouth, Henry started to retreat. No. Nope. He didn't want to deal with this. Maybe if he went back into his room and then came back out, things would be different.
Oooh no, Henry's not getting away. The car is practically BURIED in snow right now and there's no way Envy's carrying all the groceries back by himself.
"You're coming too, there's going to be a lot of bags."
Seeing the raised hand, Henry's wee invisible hackles went up. NO. NO TOUCHY.
"Fine...but the repairman won't be here until some time tomorrow afternoon." Honestly with all the cold and slush, sitting things on the fire escape would probably be just fine. He disappeared into his lair only to return a few moments later bundled up even further.
AND SO IT CAME TO PASS that the recluse (u see wat i did there) found himself on the sidewalk. In the snow. Where there were people. This was awful.
Henry hunched his shoulders as they walked and made sure to flip up his collar so that he looked like some shadowy guy from a Dick Tracy comic that was worth investigating.
There are many ways to try and challenge your personal best at video games. You could enter a challenge for high score, challenge your friends, take advantage of many of the 'ghost' modes racing games and the like offered. But then there was the Henry way.
The Henry Way consisted of Henry sitting in full view in front of the television set and playing Mariokart against himself--a controller in each pair of hands.
It had been a nice day with little snow fall and the heater was working perfectly. For the first time in a long time, the spider man thought things just might be okay.
They're only okay until Envy comes in the door, hurried and much more noisily than usual. Henry might have even heard him sprinting down the hall outside. He shuts the door hard and locks it, leaning heavily back on it as though there might be something on the other side following him. He looks kind of like he's seen a ghost.
LAST LAP. RAINBOW ROAD. HENRY WAS GOING TO BE THE CHAMPIO-HO SHIT!
When Envy more or less exploded through the door, Henry startled and dropped his controllers, ending up more tangled than any spider ought to be. All eight eyes lock into his poor terrified roomie and for a split second he thought he'd done something.
But then he ran what the artist had said back through his head. Three eyebrows lifted.
All eight of Henry's eyes darted this way and that as he tried to think. He didn't have a ton of magical knowledge. His mandibles twitched uncertainly.
"Mmmmmaybe? He--he could have said a spell under his breath. Or like a ventriloquist. Do you feel okay? But maybe he didn't."
Finally free of the game controllers, Henry stood and edged over to the door to listen to the hallway as if somehow he could tell if they were in trouble or not.
Henry couldn't help but feel bad for the poor human. Things like this tended to happen all at once, didn't they? Discover magic is real, your roommate is a giant spider, a wizard that specifically hates you moves into your building.
He left Envy by the door and quickly whipped up some tea in the kitchen.
"Here. I promise it doesn't have flies in it."
See? See, a joke, Envy! It's gonna be okay.
Henry was having a hard time holding the cup still as he held it out for him.
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theattic2015-03-23 08:41 pm
NICE TO MEET YOU 8888)
It was raining. Not too unusual for a Chicago fall. Snow wouldn't be far behind. Lucky thing, really, that an apartment in such a nice location had an opening at such a low price. The seller had been desperate, as their previous roomie had gone through a Finding Themselves Journey and moved out at the drop of a hat. In a way, Henry had been glad to be rid of them. It meant he could stretch all eight of his legs in peace and quiet for a time.
Sadly, selling your shitty hipster photos on the internet only fed you for so long. So he had put out the ad. And he was lucky to find somebody who sounded so normal so quickly. Several polite, though short emails had been exchanged, a deposit had been paid, and now moving day had arrived.
It was a little half past two when Henry moved from his bedroom into the living room to wait for the knock that would surely come. He hated those stuffy old shoes and that frumpy coat but it hid the lumps on his back where his other arms connected much more easily than anything else. Winter would be a good excuse to bundle up. Really this couldn't have happened at a better time.
no subject
Okay, when the only decorations in a place are five hundred porcelain dolls, Envy's pretty sure that it means whoever's living there is just putting out adds for new murder victims instead of roommates.
But this one? He's pretty sure it'll be fine. The emails had sounded okay. This will work out great.
So there's that knock on the door!
no subject
Envy's new roommate.
Dressed head to to for either reaching Everest's peak or deep sea exploration. He wore a long coat with gloves, dark glasses, a knitted cap, and a scarf pulled up to his mouth. He stood there silently and motionless--a strange kind of motionless. The kind of motionless that would make one think he might have been a hat stand covered in clothes and propped up as a joke.
Then the wintery heap remembered that people were supposed to say something when they answer the door.
"Hey...."
no subject
It's kind of cold out? Envy's bundled up in a coat and scarf himself, but everything this guy's wearing is a bit much. Maybe the heat is broken.
He really needs this apartment to work out okay. He can manage a little bit of denial. So long as there aren't any creepy dolls or actual bloody handprints on the walls, he can deal.
"Uh. Hey. Henry, right? I'm Envy."
no subject
He stood still a little longer before remembering that humans shook hands and stuff when they met. He extended a gloved hand.
"Right. Glad you could find the place okay. It's sort of a hole." He stepped back and allowed Envy entry. He lived here too now. "Your room's this way--bathroom's on the other side of the kitchen."
no subject
The normal looking apartment is another plus, and Envy's already decided to write off any more weirdness as nothing. Henry's just a socially awkward guy who gets cold really easily. And also didn't immediately start questioning his name, which as far as Envy's concerned is GREAT. He doesn't mind the questions, but it's nice not to get pelted with them as the first thing out of someone's mouth. He waves one hand, gesturing idly.
"Eh, it's not too bad a hole. You should see the parlor I work at."
Which, while it isn't going to give people tetanus, is pretty far from the fanciest tattoo place in town.
"All of my stuff's just in my car."
He doesn't have a whole lot of it.
no subject
"Need any help bringing it up? The elevator is sort of...questionable."
And small. Henry didn't like being packed in there with people. THERE WAS ALWAYS THE RISK that somebody else would want to ride it with him and then weird spider thoughts happened and stairs were healthier anyway.
no subject
He makes a 'yeesh' face at the mention of the elevator being iffy. He's not so sure about getting stuck in there with a lot of junk and another person. That's not a whole lot of room to be in for any length of time.
"Yeah, there's nothing really heavy. I vote stairs. Thanks, man."
He grins, feeling increasingly confident about all this. This really is all going to work out great.
no subject
The wind was biting and it was spitting rain by the time they got everything in. No mishaps happened on the stairs save one of Envy's books toppling out of the bottom of one of the boxes. Henry caught it with surprising speed and made a joke about being a ninja.
But now the move was over and he was hovering in front of his door. This had been the most social interaction Henry had experienced in...a really long time and now he was tired. But wasn't he supposed to do something else to welcome his roomie? What had he done with the last one? Uh. Uh. Oh wait, this wasn't originally his apartment. He was the one who moved in and then shuffled away into his corner and hardly saw his roomie until they finally got weirded the fuck out and just left.
Uh.
"Oh. The heater's broken. Sorry. I wasn't able to fix it while paying the rent by myself."
no subject
Unlike Henry, though, Envy's used to plenty of social interaction. And now that the awkwardness of a first meeting and hoping not to have to go out looking for a place to live again is out of the way...
"Well with me here, there ought to be the money, right? Ha, thanks for all the help. I'd give you a free tattoo down at my place, 'f you were interested."
DOES HENRY HAVE ANY TATTOOS? ENVY HAS NO IDEA, HE CAN'T ACTUALLY SEE ANY OF HIM.
no subject
"No! I mean...no thank you." He didn't notice that he was clutching his coat. "But...I'm glad we won't be freezing this winter."
Shuffle shuffle. His hand was on the doorknob to his room.
"Welcome to the neighborhood."
He disappeared inside.
THESE SNOWPEAS ARE NOT OKAY ANYMORE 8(
But what he gets when he opens the fridge is a dark, room temperature cavern of terrible smells. He slams the door shut again, but that smell is lingering. His nose wrinkles in disgust, and he backs up before shouting out, loud enough for Henry to hopefully hear him through his door.
"Henry! The fridge is busted!"
no subject
"What?" The creature! It stirs! Henry poked his head out of the dark cave of his room, sunglasses already in place. Slowly he emerged and skittered into the kitchen where Envy stood. The smell hit his nose instantly and he pulled his scarf up over his nose.
"Damn...well. It had a good run."
The fridge may have well been older than both of them.
no subject
Envy's decided not to ask about the sunglasses or the scarf that he always has on, even though the heater's fixed. Maybe he's just got some kind of light sensitivity or something. And gets cold really easily. Yes.
But there's a bigger issue at hand than Henry's weird clothing choices.
"We're going to have to throw all this out and go get more."
no subject
no subject
"You're coming too, there's going to be a lot of bags."
HE IS NOT GOING TO TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER ON THIS.
no subject
"We can wait until tomorrow. We have...crackers."
Yes.
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He walks closer, looking like he might reach out and take Henry's arm.
"Crackers aren't actually dinner, come on before it gets dark out or starts snowing again. The grocery store isn't that far."
no subject
"Fine...but the repairman won't be here until some time tomorrow afternoon." Honestly with all the cold and slush, sitting things on the fire escape would probably be just fine. He disappeared into his lair only to return a few moments later bundled up even further.
AND SO IT CAME TO PASS that the recluse (u see wat i did there) found himself on the sidewalk. In the snow. Where there were people. This was awful.
no subject
C'MON HENRY, IT'S GOOD TO LEAVE THE APARTMENT SOMETIMES.
"So, uh...what'd you have in the fridge? Just your smoothies?"
Whatever...those were made of...
no subject
"Mhm. Wine. Some cheese. Jam."
PARANOIA WILL DESTROY YA
The Henry Way consisted of Henry sitting in full view in front of the television set and playing Mariokart against himself--a controller in each pair of hands.
It had been a nice day with little snow fall and the heater was working perfectly. For the first time in a long time, the spider man thought things just might be okay.
no subject
"He lives here now."
THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO, ENVY.
no subject
When Envy more or less exploded through the door, Henry startled and dropped his controllers, ending up more tangled than any spider ought to be. All eight eyes lock into his poor terrified roomie and for a split second he thought he'd done something.
But then he ran what the artist had said back through his head. Three eyebrows lifted.
"...Who?"
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THIS IS SERIOUS. SO VERY SERIOUS.
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"Did he see you?"
This was bad. This was very very bad.
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"Yes! He looked right at me! Shit, you don't think he could do anything just by glaring, do you?"
He's still not sure what all this magic stuff can do. Help.
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"Mmmmmaybe? He--he could have said a spell under his breath. Or like a ventriloquist. Do you feel okay? But maybe he didn't."
Finally free of the game controllers, Henry stood and edged over to the door to listen to the hallway as if somehow he could tell if they were in trouble or not.
"You didn't say anything to him, did you?"
no subject
"Hell no, I ran up here! I didn't want to give him a chance to do anything to me."
But what if that hadn't been enough?
"There's no such thing as a spell that you can start with eye contact and then finish later, right?"
Right???
no subject
"Envy, I'm a spider, not a sourcerer. I don't know. I'll...look in the internet, I guess."
Maybe even. THE DEEP WEB.
"Just try to relax."
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He's rambling a bit, but he takes a deep breath, trying to stop freaking out.
"Maybe don't shut your door all the way, though. Just in case."
no subject
He left Envy by the door and quickly whipped up some tea in the kitchen.
"Here. I promise it doesn't have flies in it."
See? See, a joke, Envy! It's gonna be okay.
Henry was having a hard time holding the cup still as he held it out for him.