rogueinladysclothing | Calling in reinforcements [Tagging Adia]

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Calling in reinforcements [Tagging Adia]

"That's it!" she screams at the stove and the charred remains of what the rogue was assured was an all-included meal that 'just needed a little heating' before being served. This is the second meal she's burned in the past hour and enough is enough. "I'm done with this!"

It took far longer than Amelia wanted to get to this point, but now that it's here... Well, it's time to call in someone she can trust to help her. She can't call Harley anymore and Steve is plenty busy with his own home and work, which leaves only the woman who's supported her far more times than she thinks she ever had the right to ask of her.

As she tosses the dirty, but otherwise still good, pan into the garbage along with the burned food, she dictates a message to Adia on her phone.

Hi Adia. Do you have a little free time today? I dreams no don't you dare start smoldering on me ah have need of some help. Please.

She sends the message without double checking it, as she instead focuses on cooling her hands so she doesn't burn anything else. When she can again handle her phone, she digs into the settings to send Adia the coordinates into the small living room of her new apartment. That done, she sends one more follow up message.

Please hurry. It's been a long day and I'm losing control of myself.

Maybe not the best thing to say, but she wants to be honest. It's been a very rough transition to her new way of living and she doesn't know how to fix everything that's gone wrong. She will, however, take the time to ground herself out of the way of the coordinates she sent so that her magic isn't so volatile when Adia arrives.

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Oh, Amelia... you really are starting from scratch, aren't you? Adia fidgets with the hem of her sweater, rubbing the soft knit between her fingers as she thinks of the simplest way to explain what's necessary to clean an apartment.

"A broom is great for hardwood floors, but it'd be a lot more efficient to get a vacuum. Do you, um, know what a vacuum is? It's a machine that sucks up dirt into a bag that you can empty into the trash. You can use it on rugs and furniture, too." She leans forward to take a peek down the hallway, unsure of the situation in the bathroom. "The same cleanser you get for the kitchen will work in the bathroom, too, but they make special cleansers for the toilet. And, um, any mirrors or windows need their own cleanser or they'll streak. A duster is probably a good idea, too, for any surfaces that are too awkward for for a vacuum or broom."

This is a lot more stuff than Amelia was ready for, but she dutifully takes notes as Adia lists off all of the things they'll need to pick up when they go out for supplies. "I've never heard of a vacuum or a duster," she says as she writes out the last of the items. "They seem like useful tools, though, from how you've described them. Will you show me how to use them, too?" She looks hopeful as she asks because, well, she has no idea how they work.

As she waits for an answer, her gaze shifts back to the notebook in her hands so she can write down a few more essentials she needs to buy. "Do you mind if I pick up some new pans while we're out? I need to replace the pans I threw away just now." Not that she thinks she'll do any better the next time she tries to cook, but she has to at least try again if she hopes to have a hot meal in her apartment. Her lips draw into a thin line as she jots down a few more items. "I can always get those later if you would rather not go with me. I don't want to keep you from your own duties back home for too long."

"Of course," Adia replies without hesitation. "They're both really easy to use. The trick will be picking the right kind of vacuum because there are many different kinds. They even make little robot ones that do the job automatically." She had even considered one for her cabin, but... well, she already technically has a robot who does most of the vacuuming.

As for new pans, she gives Amelia another nod, and then a soft smile at the concern that the other friend is taking up too much of her time. "I already finished my gardening, and Caspar is taking care of the cabin. It's fine. I can always come back here if you need help later, too." She glances back at the stove. "What were you trying to make that burned?"

"So it's similar to coffee makers? Where there are many different types depending on what you want to do with it?" She gives Adia a curious look as she sets aside her notebook and pen. Maybe that's not the best comparison to make, but at least she's trying?

Thinking about the meal she burned makes Amelia sigh as she grabs a brush she left lying out on the coffee table. "It was some supposedly 'easy to make' pre-made meal that I was supposed to heat in a skillet and then eat. But I couldn't get the stove to heat up enough and then it was too hot before I could prevent it from burning." Another sigh as she struggles to get a few knots out of her hair. Dreams this is difficult after ignoring it for the past few days. Apparently hiding under the hood of her light cloak was a bad idea while she's been running errands.

"I haven't been able to cook a single thing without ruining it. Even the toaster they gave me simply burns the toast every time I try to use it." She gestures to the appliance, set on the highest setting currently, with one hand before returning to the task of fixing her hair. "Aside from all of the fruits and dried meats I've been buying, I'm not sure I've had anything else since I came here."

"Yes, that's right." It's a good enough comparison, so far as Adia is concerned. She doesn't want her friend to feel overwhelmed when they go shopping for supplies. It's easy enough for someone used to modern appliances to get bogged down by all the options.

When Amelia starts brushing her hair, Adia returns to the couch and sits back down. There's no rush to go shopping, although she is a little worried about how much trouble the stove has been causing the rogue. It's a modern range, not nearly as finicky as an older model. She looks over at the toaster when Amelia gestures to it and frowns softly. "I'll help you with that, too, if you like. There are other things you can make that don't require the stove."

Although it would be an easy option, she is not going to suggest a microwave. Way too many things that could go wrong with such an unfamiliar device.

Amelia smiles at her friend, though she winces as she catches yet another knot in her hair with the brush. "That would be wonderful. I'm trying not to buy every single meal for myself and it's... not working very well." She's trying, though, and that's the important part, right?

As soon as she's gotten the worst of the knots out of her hair, Amelia draws her hair back into a simple braid and then collects her notebook after setting the brush aside. "Ready to head out? I have an idea of where we might need to go, but I'll let you lead." A beat, and the corner of her lip tugs up into a smirk. "I'll buy us mochas in return for your help today - and something else later after I've fully settled in here. I owe you at least that much, if not more."

"Is that what you were doing when you were living at the inn?" Adia asks before giving Amelia an encouraging smile. "Cooking isn't as easy as it looks. Some people never really get the hang of it -- oh, not that you shouldn't try, of course! It's just something to keep in mind."

The question of whether Adia is ready to go is met with a slight hesitance, her hands twisting in the hem of her sweater before she consciously lets go. "Yes, I'm ready. But, um, you should lead. I haven't been to the Shopping District in a while, some of the stores may have shifted around."

She should be safe. She'll be with Amelia, and as far as she knows, the AV field is intact. A quick trip for some cleaning supplies will be fine.

No reason to be scared at all. So with a concerted effort to ignore the way her pulse suddenly races at the idea of leaving Amelia's apartment, she stands up and grabs her messenger bag. "I'm the one who should be getting you a housewarming present," she says with an awkward laugh. "But, um, I won't say no to a mocha. Thanks."

She nods in answer to the question about her eating habits. "I would have one full meal a day from the inn - maybe two, if necessary - and supplement with foods I could buy and keep with me all the time." A beat, and she frowns softly. "I didn't realize how much I'd come to rely on it until I was staring at my own kitchen and not understanding how to use anything in it." Growing up, she'd never thought to ask her mother how or why she cooked things a certain way. She squandered that chance, but she's not going to do so with Adia. There will be many notes taken while they cook later today.

Adia's discomfort and hesitation don't go unnoticed. Amelia pauses in her preparation to go out and offers a hand to her friend. "Are you all right?" she asks, her face full of concern. She has no idea what could be making her friend so worried all of a sudden. They've been talking about going to buy supplies for some time - why is it now that Adia's exhibiting all the familiar signs of fear? "We don't have to go, if something's wrong. Some of the stores in the Shopping District deliver and we can certainly get started that way if it makes you more comfortable."

For all of her desire to get out and away from the mess that is currently her apartment, Adia's comfort comes first. There's a balance necessary for weighing one's needs against those of people close to you, but Amelia's going to continue heavily favoring others as she figures it out. Especially in the case of someone who's always been as kind to her as Adia.

Ah, so that is why Amelia ends up going to bed hungry more often than not. "I'll help you figure it out," she says reassuringly. "I had to more or less re-teach myself how to cook once we settled on Atlantis, I can do the same for you."

She takes Amelia's hand gratefully, although when Amelia suggests that they stay inside, she shakes her head and does not sit back down. "No, I... I'm okay to go shopping." She breathes slowly, but is unable to hide the look of embarrassment on her face. It doesn't help that Amelia knows about her stalker. In fact, it some ways it makes it worse. What kind of hypocrite would she be, encouraging Amelia to step outside her comfort zone when she won't do the same?

"If... If I'm with you, then I'm safe." That much she believes to be true. She gives Amelia a tentative smile. "It's just... you know, after everything, being in the Nexus makes me nervous. But if I don't face my fears, I'll never get better. So..." She glances towards the door and squares her shoulders. "Let's go."

As grateful as Amelia is to get help from her friend in getting the very basics of living alone down, she can't linger on the thoughts for long. Everything that's happened. Is this what the Nexus does to good people like Adia? Forces them into situations that are difficult to handle and cause them to face the worst of their fears? She frowns and holds Adia's hand a little tighter, wishing she could relate to the issues her friend has been dealing with lately regarding her stalker. But people who bother her, or those she cares about, are quickly taken care of using any means necessary if she's allowed to intervene. It wasn't her place to do so on Adia's behalf - or on Harley's, she now realizes - so she must be here for her friend now in a way she's completely unfamiliar with.

It's going to be a difficult ride for both of them, but Amelia wants to make this work. Dreams, she's tired of failing when it matters most and she won't let herself do so now if there's any possible way of avoiding it.

"I'll be with you the whole time," the rogue promises, not letting go of her friend's hand as she uses her free one to grab the last of the pouches she needs and tacks them onto her belt. Everything else she might need can be purchased while they're out today. Once she's certain she has everything, Amelia leads them out the door, locking it with a small wave of her hand as they make their way down the hall.

"So," she begins as they start toward the Shopping District, "where would you suggest we start on our supply run? I have a feeling we should wait on buying the vacuum if it's a large machine, but I have no idea about the rest of them." All of this will come after mochas, of course, but she'll bring that up after they get closer to the little coffee shop where Farel works.

It is a small relief that Amelia doesn't comment further on her situation, other than to reassure her that she won't be alone. Adia has been blessed in so many ways, but the Nexus can be cruel at the most unexpected of times. That's a lesson that Amelia has likely learned as well, although Adia would be quick to forgive her for not relating to the rest. Amelia has the skill and the temerity to take on anyone who would dare to attack her. Adia has only her empathy, and lately it seems even that has failed her.

But at least now she can borrow a bit of that self-assuredness and follow her friend out the door, still holding her hand. Her heart beats hard in her chest, but she quells it with another quiet breath. It's her and Amelia, out for a walk in the Shopping District. Totally safe. They aren't even male this time! The memory of that awkward but ultimately educational shopping experience makes her smile a little to herself and shake off more of her anxiety.

"A vacuum is large enough that we probably should wait. Cleaning supplies we can pick up just about anywhere. Is there a hardware store near where you get groceries? Hardware stores usually have those sorts of supplies." She vaguely remembers passing by one once that was run by a family of large beavers. They seemed nice.

If anyone dare tries anything while they're out, Amelia will shut it down. She's completely justified in that as far as she's concerned. She's hoping it won't come to that, of course, but it's a thought she always keeps in the back of her mind, and a reason for the hidden daggers always on her person.

"I haven't looked for one, but I'm certain there can't be one too far away. The Nexus is very good at having what you're looking for just around a corner." Like their first stop. Amelia leads them inside wordlessly inside the very same coffee shop she took Caspar when the first met, offering a smile to Farel as he looks up from cleaning the espresso machine. He nods to the two women and sets aside the cloth in his hands to give them their full attention.

"Have a different date this time," he observes in Adia's direction as the women approach the bar.

Amelia can't help but laugh softly at the blue-haired man, knowing this is as close to affection as he gets. "Adia's allowed to come here with whomever she chooses," the rogue teases. "But I'm glad to know Caspar has brought her to meet you without waiting for me."

Farel makes a small 'hmmph' noise at Amelia's comment and then starts preparing to make their drinks. "Usual?" he asks, pausing to look up at the women. "Both with whipped cream?"

"Yes please. Chocolate whipped cream sounds wonderful today." And also filling in a way she hasn't felt in a few days' time.

It's a blissfully uneventful trip, as short as it is, and when they enter the warm little coffee shop, the remaining tension within the scientist's frame finally relaxes completely. She only has good memories of this place from the time she visited with Caspar, especially because it was a place in the Nexus that he could introduce to her, and not the other way around.

Already accustomed to Farel's terse manner, she smiles shyly at his comment, although it helps that Amelia takes up the mantle of playful banter. "The usual, with whipped cream," she confirms. It tickles her a little to think that she has a "usual" here. "Thank you."

And then, as an aside to Amelia, she adds quietly, "I wanted to know where the chocolate whipped cream was coming from, so I insisted."

Wordlessly, Farel takes the orders in stride and starts crafting their mochas with unmatched skill and speed. It helps that the pair in front of the counter now have regular orders without variation.

"I'm glad he brought you," Amelia says with a smile. "It's only fair he got to treat you in person when I wouldn't let him buy the first one for you." Not that she would have let it be any other way, but it seems worth mentioning. Besides, it's incredibly endearing to hear that Caspar is taking Adia out to places like this for something as small, but enjoyable, as a well-made cup of coffee.

Before she can say anything else, Farel clears his throat to get the two women's attention. Amelia offers him payment for the drinks before reaching for one of them. A small sip, and she exhales a content sigh. "Thank you. It's wonderful, as always."

Once both women have their drinks and he's been assured that no adjustments are needed, the barista turns his attention back to cleaning the machine and Amelia takes the opportunity to lead Adia to one of the small standing tables. They can enjoy their first few sips of their mochas before they officially begin their shopping. "What else has Caspar showed you here in the Nexus?" she asks, genuinely curious. "Or are you still showing him everything?"

"Is that what that was about?" Adia asks with a surprised laugh. "I mean, I knew he was getting me mochas from the same place you were, but he didn't say anything about that first mocha other than the fact that you took him here." Not his typical style, letting someone else treat his girl. Amelia must have made a good case for herself.

Reaching for her own drink, she follows Amelia's lead and takes a sip that's mostly whipped cream, but it's delicious as always. "Thank you," she echoes, giving Farel another smile before he returns to his previous task. It reminds her that Caspar also knows how to work an espresso machine. Kind of makes her wish she could see him in action one of these days, although the thought of him as a barista is a little too unbelievable. He'd make Farel seem downright sunny in comparison.

She joins Amelia at the standing table and takes another sip of her mocha before setting the cup down and absently adjusting the strap of her messenger bag. "Boutiques, mostly," she admits with a look of amusement. "We've been to a couple shows in the Theater District, too. There was a musical about cats...." Her nose wrinkles. "It was... interesting..." That's her polite way of saying that grown men and women dressed as cats is not really her thing. "But it's mostly me still showing him around. Sometimes he'll be really enthusiastic about taking me somewhere nice and then it'll turn out I've already been there..."

Like a certain infamous chocolate shop. Adia blushes a little as she remembers. "I just remind him that it becomes special to me because it's my first time being there with him. It's easier now that he's been exploring the Nexus more."

Amelia can't help the small, surprised laugh that falls from her lips. "I thought he had told you." Sorry Caspar, she didn't mean to out you! "But yes, I insisted on buying the first one when he suggested you'd like the coffee here. He also thought it might go over better if it didn't seem like he was trying so hard when you asked for a coffee that day."

Her smile becomes warmer at the edges as she listens to Adia. It hurts a bit to hear about others enjoying those things that she apparently fails at when it comes to relationships, but she does her best not to let it show. She truly is happy for Adia and Caspar, and that they're able to make things work between them despite all of their hardships and the terrible things that they've been through over the years. Both of them deserve this chance at happiness and to enjoy their love while in the prime of their lives.

She just wishes she could quiet her mind and keep her heart from falling into her stomach when the yearning for that same thing comes over her.

"The Nexus is a big place," she adds, looking down at her mocha as she turns the cup in her hands. "With a little effort, I'm sure the two of you could find new places together, too. Though perhaps without plays about cats next time?" There's a teasing edge to her smile as she meets Adia's gaze again, though it's a little forced. "The both of you could ask for recommendations from friends, too. I'm certain someone will be able to direct you to something new and fun that you can experience together for the first time."

"He said very little about your conversation, but believe me, that's a compliment." She takes another sip of the rich drink before adding in quiet amusement, "I know exactly how hard he tries, every time, but it's part of his charm."

The last thing she wants to do is remind Amelia of her own relationship problems, but it is impossible not to talk about Caspar without a great deal of affection. Her love for him is an unshakeable bedrock, the foundation that keeps her current fears and doubts from toppling her over. And despite his own worries, he has remained a paragon of support. Together, they are weathering this storm.

"It is a big place," she agrees, although that brings her little comfort in the context of where 'Josh' might be lurking. The teasing remark about choice of plays makes her laugh a little. "Yeah, fair enough. I think Caspar has sworn off all musicals for a little while." She tilts her head thoughtfully at the suggestion, then leans in and admits in a hushed voice, "I'd like to go dancing with him. But... well, neither of us really know how. I mean, aside from contra dancing, but he's not going to want to touch a bunch of strangers. It'd need to be somewhere more private than that."

She thinks back to Amelia's impromptu dancing lesson at the Halloween party, but she'd rather not bring up that night for a variety of reasons. And, now that she takes a moment to look at Amelia, she has the feeling that prattling on about wishful romantic activities with her boyfriend is not a great subject choice. "But, anyway, there's plenty of time to look into that. Did you want to try looking for a hardware store now? Maybe one is literally around the corner."

Edited 2018-05-23 14:38 (UTC)

"I can suggest a few places for dancing, if you'd like. Places that aren't as crowded or that require you to come with a partner. Maybe those would be more to your liking?" There's no telling if they'd enjoy it, but it seems worth offering. Amelia can always give them the information and let her friends decide for themselves what to do with it. They're certainly not required to do anything that doesn't appeal to them, especially in a place as wide and as varied as the Nexus.

The rogue is grateful that Adia moves away from going on happily about her relationship with Caspar. She would never say anything about it and ruin her friend's mood, but not hearing about it certainly helps. Her smile becomes more relaxed as she nods. "With any luck, it will be," she agrees. "Let's head out, if you're ready."

Grabbing her cup in one hand, Amelia offers her hand to Adia and nods to the door. It feels good to walk hand-in-hand with someone like this again, though Amelia has to remind herself several times as they make their way around several corners and down a few streets that it's not Harley next to her. Dreams, why must this be so difficult for her heart to take? If this was for her benefit as much as Harley's, why must it continue to ache like this?

"Ahh, there we go," she says suddenly, drawing attention to a quaint little hardware store as they turn a last corner. There's a few strange contraptions standing in the windows and wrought into the... gate that stands in place of a door, but Amelia leads them in without hesitation. A store with steampunk humidifiers stacked next to parts for consoles in a space faring vessel are hardly extraordinary after so many years in this place. "You said we should look for cleaning supplies here - was there anything else that might be good to pick up before we move on?"

Adia smiles warmly at the offer. "You know all the great places, Amelia. You can send me the coordinates via text, when you have the time." And if Amelia doesn't feel like doing it until much, much later, that's fine with her. Maintaining a clean home is her first priority... and really, it should be Adia's, too. Dancing in the Nexus can wait.

The rogue's hand is gratefully accepted as Adia follows her out, sparing the blue-haired barista a smile goodbye. She'd wave, but she's not about to spill her mocha, and anyway, he's got an espresso machine to clean. It's nice to hold hands with Amelia, too, as it reminds her that she isn't alone and vulnerable. But it does strike her as a little out of character. She sneaks a peek at the taller woman and tries not to frown in concern. How long had Amelia been denying herself the comfort of a friend?

Fortunately, the inside of the hardware store is a good distraction. Adia stares in wonder at the variety of items for sale. No matter how many stores she enters in the Shopping District, the shine of discovery never quite wears off. "Ah... hmm? I don't know. I bet they have vacuum cleaners here, although I'm not sure I'd recognize them... let's stick with the cleaning supplies for now."

It is a little out of character for Amelia, but she can't help it. Adia brings out the desire in her and it feels so natural whenever they're together. If she happens to be holding a little tighter to Adia's hand as they walk through the aisles, though, it can hardly be taken as one thing over another. As much as a comfort as it is to Amelia, the rogue knows it's the same for her friend. They're together and nothing will happen to Adia; Amelia will make certain of that.

"If we happen to spot one you think looks good, we can always pay for it now and pick it up on the way back to my apartment," the rogue offers with a small smile. Hauling around a large machine like Adia described seems like it would be difficult, but nothing says a pragmatic woman can't make the good purchase when she sees it and then come back for the results later. It would certainly be a productive use of their time if they happened on one that would be a good fit for Amelia's apartment.

There's some aimless wandering as they try to get their bearings - why does this store have three aisles full of various sizes and styles of gears? - but eventually they come across a small section of cleaning supplies in the back corner of the store. Many of the bottles on the shelves contain exotic chemicals that Amelia's not certain she could pronounce, but the basic cleaning chemicals common to any version of Earth are scattered among them and the sponges, rubber gloves, and buckets that make up the rest of the supplies. The rogue looks a little confused by all of the strange names on the bottles, but the smell has her wrinkling her nose. "It smells awful back here. Is it these supplies that smell like this? Or only one of them?" Hopefully the ones they want don't smell quite so bad.

"Okay. I'm just wondering about the kind of vacuums that they have here..." The three aisles full of gears has caught her attention, too, and she can't help but imagine some steam-powered mechanical monstrosity lurking in another aisle instead of the sleek, electric-powered vacuums that she's used to.

The hand-holding unfortunately comes to an end when they reach the cleaning supplies and Adia needs to let go so she can gesture to the products. The sharp chemical smell is not particularly off-putting to her, but it clashes with the warm flavor of the mocha when she takes a sip, and she grimaces accordingly. "Um, well... the more powerful a cleanser, the more it will smell, unfortunately. The stuff you spray on counters, that's usually fairly mild, and floor polish smells fine once it's diluted. The stuff for toilets and and shower scum, that's naturally a bit stronger because of the ammonia..."

Her gaze drifts to a large bottle of bleach on display and suddenly she looks very serious. "Amelia," she says, turning her head to look meaningfully into the rogue's eyes. "This is really important, what I'm about to tell you. Never mix a cleanser containing bleach with a cleanser containing ammonia. It creates a toxic gas and even in a place with ventilation, it's super dangerous."

It had never been an issue for Adia, even before she learned about the deadly combination from a chemistry class, but considering her audience, she's not taking any chances.

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Calling in reinforcements [Tagging Adia]

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Not gonna lie, that inside joke made me laugh really hard XD

Excellent. :3

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