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Jan. 25th, 2023 08:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
insteadofwordsIt's been a few days and Keys feel like he's at least sort of starting to settle in. His apartment is still pretty sparse, but he's bought a few things to make it feel cosier, more like his. He still misses his place in Seattle, misses how like him it had felt, but it's not like he can blame the apartment in Dimera for still feeling like it's someone else's, not when he's been in it for less than a week.
His wardrobe is also still feeling pretty basic. He'd bought a week's worth of plain t-shirts in black, white, navy, as well as a couple of pairs of jeans, a few sweaters, a hoodie, socks, boxers. His wardrobe in Seattle hadn't been anything to write home about, honestly, but there are a few things he'll miss. He found a decent pair of combat boots in an army surplus store, which helps with the weather.
He's met a few people so far but really the only person he can think of as a new friend is Rapunzel. She's been checking in regularly and he's thoroughly grateful every time his phone lights up with a text. They text a lot, not about anything in particular, and it's been pretty much the only thing that's stopped Keys from spiralling into just feeling desperately, completely alone.
When Rapunzel invited him over for dinner, Keys had a brief panic about what he should bring with him. His parents raised him to be polite, and he knows that it's good manners to not show up empty handed. So, when he shows up at her door, he's wearing the coat she helped him to buy, a hat pulled on over his hair, and he's got pie and he's got wine.
He's doing his best, anyway.
His wardrobe is also still feeling pretty basic. He'd bought a week's worth of plain t-shirts in black, white, navy, as well as a couple of pairs of jeans, a few sweaters, a hoodie, socks, boxers. His wardrobe in Seattle hadn't been anything to write home about, honestly, but there are a few things he'll miss. He found a decent pair of combat boots in an army surplus store, which helps with the weather.
He's met a few people so far but really the only person he can think of as a new friend is Rapunzel. She's been checking in regularly and he's thoroughly grateful every time his phone lights up with a text. They text a lot, not about anything in particular, and it's been pretty much the only thing that's stopped Keys from spiralling into just feeling desperately, completely alone.
When Rapunzel invited him over for dinner, Keys had a brief panic about what he should bring with him. His parents raised him to be polite, and he knows that it's good manners to not show up empty handed. So, when he shows up at her door, he's wearing the coat she helped him to buy, a hat pulled on over his hair, and he's got pie and he's got wine.
He's doing his best, anyway.
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Date: 2023-02-01 06:34 pm (UTC)"Ugh, money." Rapunzel wrinkles her nose a bit, because money is so complicated, and the cause of so many problems. "But yes, be creative! Have fun!"
She thinks for a second and then uses her grip on Keys' knee to push herself up, getting off of the sofa and hopping over her hair to go to the closet. She pulls out a box and bites her lip as she comes back over, then sets the box in Keys' lap.
"This is a video game system. It was Peter's," Rapunzel tells him with a small smile. Peter had no real emotional attachment to the thing, and it just sat collecting dust until she put it in the closet. She has his favorite clothes, his guitar, the things that meant the most to him. Those things, she'll always hold onto. But this? She can let go of this. "It should go to someone who will get some use out of it."
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Date: 2023-02-01 06:55 pm (UTC)"That's why I'm thinking about going back to school, honestly. Just...do something I love and not worry to much about what it's worth for a while."
When she pushs up to her feet, he instinctively puts out his free hand to steady her if she needs it. When she comes back with the box, he leans so that he can set his half full wine glass on the floor next to the couch so that he can take a look at what's in the box. It's not a make he recognises, but it's got enough in common with the various systems he's got set up at home that he recognises it.
"You don't have to do this," he says, a broad grin spreading across his face. "This is awesome."
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Date: 2023-02-01 07:11 pm (UTC)The look on Keys' face is enough for Rapunzel to know that she's doing the right thing. She doesn't think that Peter would mind, and it makes her happy to be able to share his memory with other people. She smiles warmly as he goes through the box and nods to herself as she sits back down on the sofa.
"I know I don't, but it's okay. He wasn't super attached to it and I think he'd like knowing it was getting used, you know? I still play his guitar all the time," she admits, smiling wistfully and swallowing hard. Grief swells up but she manages to hold it back, because she doesn't want to be sad whenever she thinks of Peter. He wouldn't want that. "That, I'm never giving up. So, you take this, and I hope it helps water that seed a little."
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Date: 2023-02-01 07:33 pm (UTC)He spends another minute looking through the box and then he leans so that he can set it aside, pick up his wine again, get comfortable. He gives her plenty of room to settle back against him, if she wants to.
"That's really kind of you," he says. "Gaming has always been a pretty good way for me to switch off. I collect vintage systems back home." He blushes at that admission, because it kind of makes him sound like a massive nerd. Somehow, he doesn't think Rapunzel will mind.
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Date: 2023-02-01 08:09 pm (UTC)"Well, I'm glad that I could help you start a new collection," she tells him, looking over at him with a soft smile. Talking about Peter leaves her feeling a little raw, so she finishes off her glass of wine and sits back against the sofa, slumping over until her head is on Keys' shoulder.
"There's a game in there where you live on an island with little animal friends, and you can farm and plant flowers and stuff," she tells him, laughing a little. "It's the only one I ever played, because it was so cute."
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Date: 2023-02-01 08:13 pm (UTC)"We definitely have something like that back home," he says. It's never really been his bag, but he knows what she means. She settles her head against him and, without thinking, he shifts so that he can drape his arm around her shoulder. "Maybe I'll teach you how to blow things up?"
There are a few games in the box, so that'll be a start.
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Date: 2023-02-02 07:05 am (UTC)"Cute little animals are better than bombs," she insists as she rests her head back against his shoulder.
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Date: 2023-02-02 01:54 pm (UTC)"It's kind of therapeutic, actually," he says, smiling as she settles in against him. He probably ought to be doing more to hold himself separate, especially since he needs her friendship more than he needs anything else, but just touching another person like this feels good and, selfishly, he wants to enjoy it. "Though some of those games are so stupid they just make me want to cry, so."
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Date: 2023-02-02 08:28 pm (UTC)"I guess I can see that," Rapunzel says in a quiet voice, reaching up to rest one hand on Keys' forearm. "I'm just not really a fan of violence. I've seen enough of it."
Not at home really, but here in Darrow, she's seen a lot. Too many people she loves have been hurt for her to enjoy it, but that's not how it works for everyone, she knows. She lets out a tired giggle and tips her head back to look up at Keys. "My best friend is always trying to fight everyone. I guess some people find him scary. I don't, though."
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Date: 2023-02-02 08:30 pm (UTC)"I've never physically fought anyone in my life," admits Keys, tilting his head so that he can look down at her. The feeling of her fingers curled around his forehead settles something warm in the pit of his stomach. "Unless you count my sisters? Your best friends sounds interesting. Should I be worried?"
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Date: 2023-02-02 08:38 pm (UTC)Rapunzel sincerely hopes that never changes. She's an optimistic person, but also a bit of a realist. There are dark and dangerous things lurking in Darrow and she really should tell Keys, warn him, but she doesn't want him to worry.
"Why would you need to be worried?" She asks curiously, though considering Sweeney's temperament, she supposes that it's a valid concern. "Just don't try to fight him and you'll be fine probably. He's wonderful! Just big and loud and says fuck a lot."
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Date: 2023-02-02 08:40 pm (UTC)"You'll have to introduce us," he says, skirting the issue of why he might need to worry. Honestly, it's not even a formed thought, just that it feels nice sitting with her like this -- that she's pretty, that she smells good. "Just so I know who to look out for."
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Date: 2023-02-02 08:53 pm (UTC)"Oh, he's seven feet tall with red hair," Rapunzel says happily. "Kind of hard to miss."
She feels a little like she could fall asleep here, just like this. Keys' arm around her makes her realize how much she's missed companionship like this. Sweeney will give her hugs, but he isn't much of a cuddler. "We can put on a movie, but I'm very comfy. Please don't be offended if I fall asleep."
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Date: 2023-02-02 09:07 pm (UTC)"Yeah, sounds like it," he says. The guy sounds like something churned out by a character engine. "Don't get up if you're comfortable," he says, his arm still tucked around her. "I've got my phone if you fall asleep. You're fine."