strengthofmind (strengthofmind) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-06-15 10:01:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !partner thread, melanie stryder, steve rogers (captain america) |
Who: Steve and Melanie
Where: Around the OC
What: Househunting
When: Early June
Warnings/Rating: Low
Status: Complete
Melanie had a list of properties all within walking distance of each other and all within her budget. What she didn’t have was a clue about what she was going to find, most of them didn’t have pictures and she’d heard it could be a chore to find a decent place if you were on your own. But she was determined to find somewhere. She only had a couple of weeks before she had to be out of the dorms and she didn’t want to move back home. She had enough money saved for a modest two bedroom place, so her sister could stay if she needed to, and hopefully she’d find a job that would ensure she could pay the rent each month.
When Steve had offered to help her she’d been really grateful, he was a lovely guy and he’d really helped her when he had shown her around the gym. She stood on the corner of the street at the pre-arranged meeting point and waited for him.
Steve was just naturally predisposed to help people. At least, that’s what he’d been told, and he didn’t mind. He genuinely enjoyed helping when he could. So he didn’t mind one bit offering to help Melanie look at places, and he walked up to her with a big smile and a wave.
“Hey, hope I’m not late or anything,” he said.
Melanie smiled at him, “Not at all” she told him, “It’s good to see you. Thanks ever so much for helping me out. I feel a lot better knowing I’m not going to say yes to something dreadful without somebody there to stop me” she grinned.
“It’s no problem. House hunting is pretty daunting.” He shrugged a bit. “Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to be the voice of reason. So. Where do we start?”
“Well I have a list” she said, “It’s not very long” she rushed to assure him, “And they’re all within walking distance if that’s okay?”
“Yeah, of course it’s okay,” Steve agreed, laughing. “Lead the way and I’ll follow.”
Melanie smiled and led the way, the first one was literally a block away. “So how have you been?” she asked him, “Busy?”
“Yeah, actually.” He gave her a grin. “It’s like overnight my client list just multiplied. But I like being busy, so it’s good. And you? Ready for the summer and everything now?”
“Oh wow, that’s great Steve” she told him brightly, “Obviously you’re getting a good reputation. I’m good, now I’ve finished my exams. I’ve definitely got more direction and a lot of that is thanks to you so thanks”
“Aw, you don’t mean that.” Steve ducked his head to hide his modesty. “But it’s nice of you to say anyway.”
“Oh I do” she said, “Your advice was great and it focused me a lot. Honestly, I appreciate it”
“Well, if you say so.” He shot her a smile, then glanced up at the place they’d come to. “Seems promising enough on the outside.”
Melanie looked up at the building, “It does” she agreed, “Much better than I was expecting already” They entered and she gave her name to the reception who handed her the keys and told her the apartment number.
“That’s good. Good start.” Steve smiled hopefully, following Melanie so he didn’t get in the way.
She nodded as she led the way, "Well here goes" she said as she unlocked the door. It was nice, small and compact but clean and the decoration wasn't as outdated as it could have been. The kitchen wasnt separate from the living room but there was space between them though not enough for a table and chairs.
Steve thought, really, that it was quaint. It was hard for him to ever really come up with a lot of bad to say about most things, though. Though being a guy on the bigger side of things, he felt a bit cramped inside the small space.
“Not sure you’d be able to have a lot of people over,” he quipped.
Melanie nodded, "It does feel enclosed doesn't it?" she said, before moving to the first bedroom. Okay small, one bed would take up all the space. Moving to the next one hmmm one single bed would take up all the space. "I think both of the bedrooms are too small"
“It’s like being back in New York. Everything is small and crowded and costs an arm and a leg.” Steve snorted a little. “For some reason, it’s more charming there than here.”
Melanie nodded, “Well I guess I just have to hope the next ones are better” she said, “I don’t think this is what I’m really looking for but it’s better than I was expecting”
“Hey, gotta start somewhere, right?” Steve gave her an encouraging smile. “The first place is never the best anyway.”
“Definitely and I’ve at least experienced one place so I have a basis of comparison now” she smiled, “Makes me a little more confident”
“That’s good.” He grinned. “I’m pretty sure we’ll find one before the day’s through. To the next?”
“Yep, to the next” she agreed, leading the way after dropping the keys back to the reception and telling them she’d be in touch.
Steve followed along happily. It was a good day to be out and about, and he enjoyed the fact that they were about to walk around instead of drive. “So, what do you know about this next one?”
Melanie looked at her information sheet as they walked. She would always chose to walk wherever possible, it was so much nicer to be outside. “It’s the high end of my budget but it said there was a small garden that the ground floor apartment maintains and that’s the one which has come up for rent” she smiled, “I like being outside so I thought it sounded pretty good”
"Hey, that sounds promising." And he meant it, too, so he gave her an earnest smile.
She nodded, “I’ve been trying not to get my hopes up” she told him as they walked, “I know first places aren’t supposed to be great and a garden as well as a nice apartment is probably a little more than I should wish for” she smiled in return.
“Nah, I think it’s a reasonable wish. Just make sure you don’t get so hung up on one idea that there’s never going to be an apartment to match that.”
“That’s the key isn’t it” she nodded, “If you hold onto that image in your head you’re never going to be happy with the reality. I try to remember that as much as possible”
Steve nodded. “Exactly. But you seem like the sort who wouldn’t get too carried away.”
Melanie smiled, “Thank you. I’m generally level headed it’s true” she told him.
“Yeah, I got that sense.” He looked amused and nodded at an upcoming place with a nice garden. “This it?”
“Oh I think so” she checked her paper, “Yes it is. Oh wow, that garden is lovely. I think my level headedness might be put to the test” she told Steve with a smile as they entered the apartment building.
“Don’t worry, I’m here for moral support.” Steve laughed a bit.
“I’m glad of it” she replied before giving her details to the lady who appeared to have been waiting for people to come and view the apartment. She offered to show them around but Melanie declined and was given the keys instead.
“Well here we go”
"All right. Try not to be too mesmerized," he teased.
Melanie laughed, “You know me too well already” she quipped before opening the door and entering. It was spacious compared to the last place. Clean and nicely decorated. The kitchen wasn’t massive but fine for what she needed and it looked like the side door led to the garden. Living room was nice too. It was all quite lovely. At least to her eyes. She looked at Steve, “It’s either really nice or I’ve just gained rose tinted glasses”
Steve glanced around, walking through the apartment as he took it in. It was pretty nice, actually.
“Honestly? I’m not sure you can do much better than this.”
“You don’t know how much I was hoping you’d say that” she told him with a grin and a little bounce. “I think this is going to be my new home”
"Good choice." Steve laughed. "Glad this ended up being easier than you thought."
“Me too” she agreed, hugging him impulsively, “Thank you so much for coming with me” she told him happily.
Fortunately, Steve was the hugging sort. He hugged back quite happily and gave her a smile. “Congratulations and all. And don’t forget, if you need help moving, I’ll be glad to help.”
“I’ll definitely be taking you up on that” she told him, “I guess I should go tell them I want to make this place mine huh?”
“I guess so. And I’ll leave you to sign your papers and stuff. Looking forward to hearing from you.”
“Thank you so much Steve” Melanie said, “It’s been great not having to do this alone”