InsaneJournal

Tweak says, ""Duh, like a fake ID.""

From the sound of her order Florrie really did eat healthy most of the time. The sandwich was healthy enough, and she had an apple instead of chips or crisps for a side. And turned down a sweet. No sugar in her tea, either. Maggie MacDougal would definitely have approved of the meal.

Florrie tapped her wand on the top of the apple and it fell, cored, with the remainder cut into eight perfect slices. "So it looks like Cat is going to have us. I think we can do it, as long as we're reasonable about house rules. What do you think?"

"Keen to give it a shot," Joy declared, with the enthusiasm of a junior reserve given an unexpected play direction. Her plateful was not so healthy, but she was still not over the wonder of tattie scones. At least the omelet was largely beneficial, especially for a pro sportswoman, if a little indicative of Joy's tendency to breakfast-at-every-meal. And it might just be that she'd changed her mind on the full fry-up breakfast when Florrie ordered first and reminded Joy of just who she was eating alongside. She'd had her share of pointed remarks from team medics, and she wanted to make a decent impression.

Just not decent enough to turn down the tattie scones.

Around a mouthful of potato-y goodness, Joy added, "To be honest, it'll be nice to have company again. I go a bit loopy solo."

There was nary a word about Joy's choices. They were healthier than some people's, and Florrie wasn't responsible for Joy's food choices to Merc, anyroad. (Though if Maggie asked, she could at least say Joy had made passable decisions about what to eat and what to pass on.)

"I've been living alone for a long time and honestly it'll do me good to have people about more often," Florrie confessed. "It was one thing when I was still doing emergency ambulator work and bringing people back to Mungo's, getting called out of my bed at all hours. But now that I have a more regular schedule, it's honestly a bit lonely."

"Oof, sounds rough!" Joy offered with the sympathy of one who found staying up easy but getting up hard. "But housemates are great for that. Social space when you want company, your own private space when you don't." She waved her fork. "Closed doors always respected, no questions asked, no reasons needed." It had been one of the foundational rules of Joy's first shared flat, and she'd carried it with her to every sharehouse since. It was a solid necessity, in her opinion. "But," she added, after a moment's thought, "always feel free to hammer on the bathroom door if I'm taking an age, because I admit I can get a bit distracted singing in the shower."

"Sounds reasonable," Florrie agreed, "and same for me, though I'm not likely to sing much in the shower, even if I sound better there. Though I reserve the right to ask what you're singing.

"What are the rules you're used to for having overnight guests?" Which was the politest way that Florrie could put it, but it was something important to settle early. "Because we're both grown women and both of us might have them."

Joy's smile had an edge of relief. "Great to hear it, because I was willing to go all away games, but sometimes you just want the homeground advantage, you know?" After a moment extra thought, she added, "No nudity in shared spaces? If it becomes a regular sleepover, he chips in for breakfast and water costs? Or she. Or they." A shrug; Joy doesn't mind. "Oh! At least knowing names if not actual introductions the night before is good because we once had a burglar who escaped because Tasha thought he was one of mine."

"I don't have any immediate plans, but I'll let you know if I do, sure. And teach you Mungo's-grade soundproofing. We occasionally had screamers." Florrie made a face. "And if you give me enough notice I can probably take myself elsewhere for a night. My brother's lot would love to have me for a sleepover."

She thought about the regular guest item for a moment with a bite of her sandwich. "And I reckon those are good rules for regular guests. I'm happy to share what I put in the fridge with housemates but if you take the last of something, leave a note so I know. I eat healthy so that's not usually a problem." Which she said with a self-deprecating smile and a pointed look at her apple. "One exception: if my sister-in-law makes cheese bread and I bring some home, it's mine. It's delicious and unhealthy and my abiding weakness."

Cheese bread sounded really good, but whatever Joy's pretty transparent face said about her thoughts on the matter, what she said was, "Absolutely, that is totally fair. But, um." Now that Florrie mentioned it… "Maybe not too many of the tim tams? Only I have to go all the way to London to get more from the shop and they cost an arm and a leg here. But everything else, go crazy. Even my booze. I don't put a pencil line on the bottles or anything." Unlike some former housemates she'd had.

Now that they were in the swing of ideas-about-house-rules, more were occurring to Joy. "And feel free to watch the telly any time you like--once I get one, obviously--but I need it every evening at seven for an hour." She paused in destroying her omelet to stress her point. "Need it."

Florrie nodded. "I know what telly is but I've never seen any, so that shouldn't be too hard. And I don't know what tim tams are either but I'll try not to have too many. If they're sweets, it won't be a problem. Are you used to a table or a cycle for chores? Where you do the same ones all the time or where we all do turns at everything? Just because I worked in a hospital doesn't mean I expect hospital cleanliness or anything. I just want to be able to bring guests into the living room, kitchen, and bathrooms."

Joy mentally marked down Tim Tam education as a future household activity, but didn't press the issue now. "I agree, clean is important. We used to do a table, but also Tasha used to stress-clean when she and her girlfriend were fighting which was, like, every fortnight, so we mostly never worried about the big stuff. There's nothing I particularly hate doing, so I don't mind a cycle. Unless there's something you'd rather not do." Wow, this living with someone who was basically a strange was going to take some getting used to. Florrie definitely seemed really nice, if maybe a touch grown-up. But maybe it was time to have a little more grown-up in Joy's life.

"I've been doing it all, so either is fine with me. As long as we're both happy with the results and the amount of work it'll be fine." Florrie waved off that concern. "We'll sort it out on move-in. Last for now, but not least, what do you do for fun, and do you want your housemates to come with, as long as it's not team business, or would you rather not?" Because Florrie was beginning to realise she did need more of a social life and being house mum to a bunch of younger women would probably be a good start if they were social enough to include her.

Things had been fairly serious up until now, but at the mere mention of fun, a grin bloomed on Joy's face. "The more the merrier, always!" she declared, edging forward in her seat as she warmed to the topic. "I admit to being a bit of a club girl on the weekends, and I know that isn't for everyone, so damn loud, but as a regular thing, a pub is much more my speed. First thing we've gotta do in the new place is find the best local. I'm thinking a place with decent grub, bar staff who don't talk shit about girly drinks, and at least the occasional trivia night, y'know? Then we can say one night a week, like Tuesday or whatever, is pub night and we can just hang out." She finished with a little flourish of her hand--ta da!--and then hesitated a moment before adding. "Or once a fortnight or, I mean, we don't have to, if you don't want to."

Once a week seemed like a lot given her increasingly tight schedule, but--Florrie was moving into the Cattery in part to make friends and to get out more, and pub night would do that. Even if she was going on dates. Maybe some of them could include time at the pub. "I'd like that," Florrie said, "even if I can't make it every time. And I'd like to have a local. Mungo's has one, so why shouldn't we?"

"A local is essential," Joy agreed. "I once accidentally moved into a dry zone." She threw up her hands, one still holding half a tattie scone. "Oh my god! But I couldn't afford to break the lease. Longest six months of my life. Crashed with my brother so often." She lifted the scone to her mouth again, then paused to grin. "I think this is going to be fun, Florrie."

Florrie grinned right back at her. "Joy, I think it's going to be a hoot."