Tiffany Maxwell doesn't give a fuck what you think (dirtyandsloppy) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-10-14 12:18:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, pansy malfoy, tiffany maxwell |
Who: Tiffany and Pansy
When: First Week in October
Where: Out and About, two apartments Pansy is considering
What: Apartment Hunting
Rating/Warning: Low/None
Status: Complete
Pansy drove to the first apartment complex. She and Tiffany climbed out of the car and started up the short, cement sidewalk toward the building. Pansy was both excited and terrified. “This is the first apartment I’ve tried finding on my own. With my own money.” She said, turning to give Tiffany a small smile. “...you know?”
Tiffany was really happy this was happening. A lot of girls talked about getting out of bad relationships, but Pansy had actually done something about it, and pretty quickly, too. Having to pep-talk her through a long, drawn-out affair would have sucked--and even though Tiffany knew she was selfish for thinking that, she also knew herself well enough to know her patience was limited, even with people she considered friends. And Pansy was pretty much a friend, now. “This is exciting. I’ve actually never apartment hunted at all.”
“Yeah?” Pansy said, turning to her friend with a little grin. “I’ve done it. Twice, actually. But this time is different. I’m on my own.” Six months ago if someone had told her she’d be here doing this right now, she would have balked. So much had changed over the last six weeks, let alone six months.
Pansy held open the door for Tiffany to walk through, then followed her in. The apartment manager was there. After a brief conversation, he led Tiffany and Pansy through the complex and to the apartment. It was on the ground floor, near the parking lot. There was a jangle of keys, and the door was unlocked. Pansy led the way into the empty apartment and looked around.
“Wow, it’s bigger than I expected,” Pansy said, nodding. “For a one bedroom, I mean.” Not that she’d ever lived in one before.
For someone with such an uncomfortable relationship with her family, it was a little weird that Tiffany still technically lived at home. But she had turned the garage into an apartment right after high school, before she could afford anything, and she’d put so much work into it that leaving never seemed to make sense. And now that she was jobless, moving wasn’t an option.
So this place did seem nice and big, but she didn’t have a whole lot of experience. “Yeah…” she agreed, looking around.
That may have been something that Pansy and Tiffany could bond over. Pansy had a really strange relationship with her family--uncomfortable at best. Sure, she had Draco. He was her brother by life choices if not by blood. But her “parents”? That was a completely different story. And she still hadn’t been to meet her birth mother.
She wandered through the tiny kitchen and to the hallway that led to the bathroom and bedroom. She poked her head in and looked up. “Lofted ceilings.” Just an observation. They were kinda nice, extra light was pouring in from windows up there.
“I feel like I’m on House Hunters,” Tiffany said with a laugh. There were always things people obsessed over on their shows: granite countertops, hardwood floors, paint color. Too many deal breakers and uppity entitled yuppies. But still, she watched.
Pansy laughed. "Well, I don't think I'm as bad as some of the yuppies on that show, but yes." She grinned, wandering back into the living room and looking out of the sliding glass door onto the balcony. "I like it." She said after a moment's consideration.
Tiffany stepped out onto the balcony, which was awesome. “Shit, I’m putting one of these on my place as soon as I can afford it.” Her bank account was still suffering from installing her dance floor.
"I can see myself spending a lot of time out here." Pansy said. The view was nice. There was a Park behind the complex, the parking lots butted up against one another. "I think I'll take it."
"Wow, that was easy," said Tiffany, as she walked back inside. "You don't need to see two more places, with double sinks and wainscoting?" But she understood the need for speed.
“Nah, this place is as good as any.” Pansy said, shrugging one shoulder. “John says this neighborhood is full of cops, so it’s really safe. Rent is good, too.” Not that she was struggling for money, or anything. “So, I think I’ll just go with it. That way I’ll have a place to live sooner rather than later. I hate crashing on couches or staying with my brother and his husband.”
“John?” Tiffany asked. She didn’t know who John was. “Don’t say this place is as good as any. You’re going to live here, remember. It’s not a temporary hotel, you know. It’s a pretty major life decision.”
“My boss.” Pansy said, nodding once. “John Jones. He was the one who brought me into my current job at Red Planet Inc.” Then she took another look around the place. “Okay, so… this place is better than others. Not as great as the best, but right now I don’t need or want to continue searching to find the best. I want off of sofas. I want into my own bed. Oh, I really need to buy a bed.”
Tiffany nodded, although she also folded her arms and sighed. It wasn’t that there was anything wrong with the apartment at all. She just didn’t want Pansy to jump into anything. But maybe that was unavoidable. “I get it. Off the sofas. I mean, this place is good. It’s really good.”
Pansy felt like she was free falling out of a moving train. She was going to have to land eventually. She hoped that the sooner she landed, the easier the tumble would be when her feet hit the ground. “I’ll submit my application. Worst case, if I find something else I really like, I can always turn this one down.” She said. “It’s just a credit check fee, right?”
Tiffany shrugged. “I have no idea,” she said, crossing the empty living space. Pansy looked like she needed a hug. “Come here.”
Pansy stepped over toward her friend, one eyebrow raised. But when she realized this was for a hug, she accepted it thankfully.
“It’s all gonna be okay. Really. It’s all going to get so much better, now.” Tiffany could be nearly maternal when she wanted to be. Or at least sisterly. It definitely came naturally, since there was no way she’d learned it.
Pansy gave a gentle sigh, feeling quite a bit of stress and fear melting away as she cuddled in against Tiffany for a moment. Tiff was becoming like the big sister she’d always wanted. Funny, that. She gave a little nod before pulling back. “Thanks.”
Tiffany patted her on the back. This was all a good thing, a good step forward. “C’mon. Let’s sign whatever and celebrate with a drink.”