nonelementary (nonelementary) wrote in doorslogs, @ 2012-05-10 22:19:00 |
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Entry tags: | greg lestrade, john watson |
Who: Clare and Micah
What: Moving Day
Where: The Willows (Clare’s apartment)
When: Within the past week?
Warnings/Rating: Nope
Clare had nearly all of her things packed by the time she contacted Noah through the journal. There were fewer boxes than she’d anticipated, especially when she’d packed a good deal of her clothing into the suitcase that had hidden under her bed since her move to Las Vegas. She’d had to dust it off, a thick layer of grey hiding its normal navy blue fabric, a sneeze-inducing testament to how infrequently she traveled anywhere. As for her furniture, most of it was included with the apartment when she’d moved in, and she supposed it had to remain there now that she was leaving. The bedding, the pillows, those were all hers, so she would at least have a blanket nest, even if she had to wait a bit to afford another mattress.
There was still too much for her to carry, and she knew she would need to hire a mover for the brief period of time it would take to transfer her things to her new apartment. That would have to wait as well though, until someone saw fit to actually inform her where her new apartment was. She expected some sort of reply from Noah, but the minutes and hours passed by with nothing, and she began to wonder if this was some cruel set-up.
When Noah had mentioned finding a third member for their little ‘group’, Micah had to admit that he was a bit cautious. It wasn’t that he disliked strangers, no. He could get along fine with someone he knew nothing about, but he didn’t trust them, and with the sort of things that they were facing here in Vegas, a lot rode on that word, trust. So when a bit more of the story was told, and a familiar name came to light, those worries, that slight wave of anxiety that had filled him at housing with someone he knew nothing about, Micah found himself relaxing.
The new place was a bit on the posh end, but between the three of them, there should be no problems affording it, Micah felt. He had crunched enough numbers to make sure it was doable, because money didn’t grow on trees, and getting a place that they could not afford would just end up in disaster. An extra set of keys was in his pocket for Clare as he knocked on the door to her apartment, and Micah could swear he could still smell smoke and char hanging around the place since the fire. It was no place to live, its safety compromised, and he was glad that Clare would no longer have to live with that either.
The knock startled her after so long in anticipatory silence, and she pushed herself up from her chair perhaps a bit faster than she should have. Her body expressed its complaints to the sudden motion, and she paused for a moment to pull a deep breath, gathering herself before crossing to the door. She realized in that moment that she had no idea what Noah actually looked like, and she prepared to ask for some sort of identification at the very least. But the face that greeted her when she peered through the peephole was at least a bit familiar, and the hint of a relieved smile tugged at her mouth.
Even so, though she drew the chain off the door, she still only opened it a few inches to peer out at Micah. She at least wore fewer layers of clothing than the last time they’d met, though most of her skin remained covered by dress, tights, or sweater. “Hi,” she managed with another smile. “I wasn’t expecting you.” Noah yes, Micah no. And if Noah hadn’t indicated that Micah was their other roommate, she likely would have left it at that, refused to open her door any farther. But after that first moment, she stepped back and drew the door open farther. Even in that single backwards step, it was apparent that she was moving easier. Still careful, but easier. And her expression remained warm and open at least, even if her smile wasn’t the most expressive it had ever been. “Come on in, then.”
At the sight of Clare’s smile, Micah offered her one of his own, a small incline of his head as she opened the door further, and he noted in those few moments that she was moving easier, less pain etching lines upon her face, and for that, he was glad. Healing was a long process, even longer for the person than the body, he knew, and he was glad she was progressing. “Noah got tied up in something, and asked me to come and fetch you.” Pausing just inside the door, he glanced over towards the things she had ready, and then back to her, leaning heavily on his cane. “I hope you aren’t disappointed in me being sent. I just found out today that you are to be our third roommate, actually.”
“Asked.” The single word wasn’t quite a question, but not completely a statement either. But it was accompanied by an actual quirked eyebrow and a tone that indicated that she didn’t quite believe that it was a true question that Noah had delivered. She may have only had the short experience of speaking with him through the journal, but from that she’d decided that he didn’t seem like one to make requests so much as demands. She closed the door behind Micah and followed his gaze to her things. “I would offer you something, but my stuff is all boxed...”
Micah said ‘asked’ because he didn’t believe in being bossed around, even though it had been more of a request than anything else. He always had the ability to say no, even if it might upset someone. “Don’t worry about offering anything. I didn’t come over here to be entertained, after all.” Turning back towards her, Micah attempted his most friendly smile, which wasn’t as warm as some people’s, but it was hardly the anger he had shown in the past. “I’d help you with your boxes but, I think that might be best to leave it to the moving people. I don’t do well carrying things, sadly.”
His smile may not have been the most friendly, but she appreciated it and returned it with one of her own: small, still timid, but warm enough. “I wasn’t planning on moving most of it today anyway. I’m not much for carrying at the moment either.” The words were soft, and only wavered a bit as she tried to make light of her physical situation. “I would’ve called the movers already, but... I don’t actually have any of the apartment information. So I couldn’t give them an address.” She crossed the room to where her (rather giant) suitcase sat waiting, and slid the handle up with a series of clicks. Another one sat off to the side, strapped to a third, each in the sequential size of nesting luggage. For a trip it would have been too much luggage to handle, but for moving it held some of her basic possessions. She cast them a look and then shifted it over to Micah. Her voice dropped into something more uncertain and soft. “Would you be able to get those? They just roll. If not, I can, so don’t worry!”
“Sorry about that. I’ve only gotten things settled in the last couple of days, actually, and had I known that you were joining us, I would have gotten you the information as soon as I had it.” Stepping forward towards the bags she had indicated, Micah gave a nod of assent. “I can manage this much, Clare, so don’t worry yourself too much, please.” He gave the suitcase a small nudge with his foot, though he didn’t move to take it up yet. “The new place is at the Red Rock Villas. It’s a little pricey, but no more so than our old places on our own. Three bedrooms, so we can all have our privacy.”
“It’s not your fault,” she assured him, and she believed that. If anything, she’d been expecting the information to come from Noah, but as long as she received it soon, she could get the rest of her things moved without a problem. The talk of the cost cast a worried look over her face though, and she pressed nervous teeth to her lower lip. “I hope a little less though? Than here?” She let the suitcase stand on its own again, as if her taking it up again would depend on his answer. “That’s why I’m moving. I can’t afford...” She glanced around at her things, all hidden in boxes, and her mind immediately attempted to find another solution if his forthcoming answer would reveal a problem. She knew there were less-expensive places around the city. She could likely find a room somewhere.
Micah caught the look of worry that crossed her face, and almost immediately, he regretted saying a word. “But utilities are included. So it’s cheaper in the long run. Won’t have all of those added expenses on top of rent, unlike this place. So please,” Micah said, his voice softening. “Don’t worry. We’ll make it, because trust me, I’ve very little of my own money, and even I can wing this place.” The corner of his mouth lifted up in a small smile and he reached out, winding his hand around the handle of the suitcase and giving it a tug to encourage it to extend. “It’ll be fine Clare, one way or another. Just have to have a little faith.” Says the man with so much pessimism he almost drowned in it, but those were feelings, emotions, for another place and time. Not here. Clare needed encouragement, and he could see that plainly. Besides, Noah would give him hell if he lost their roommate before she even moved in.
“Faith,” she repeated with a disbelieving angle of her mouth. “Okay. ...it’s not like I have very many other choices at the moment, anyway.” She pushed the arm of one sweater sleeve up and then reached to take the suitcase again. The expression on her face wasn’t unlike one that might be seen on a soldier going into battle, and she visibly steeled herself for the next step. She hated moving, hated the unsteady feeling it gave her until she was well settled again, but she hoped this move would be alright and not a disaster. Something inside her mind, whether it was herself or John, made her stand as tall as possible and attempt to be brave. It felt strange, but after the past weeks, moving wasn’t as frightening as it once might have been. Not in comparison to everything else that had been happening.
Micah didn’t say anything to that for a moment, moving towards the door with her other suitcases in tow, his progress slow but steady. Pausing just inside the door, he glanced back towards her, his smile almost warm, though his eyes were tired. “There are always choices, Clare. But I think this one is going to be the right one. Call it a hunch.” And then he managed getting the door open and disappeared outside, the taxi he had taken to the complex waiting just outside for them both.