Our House

[eba02]

Who: Anyone in Apartment A and any couch surfers, lone wolves, or friends who feel like dropping by
What: A catch-all mingle thread for Apartment Agent!
When: Early February
Where: A nondescript two-bedroom apartment
Warnings: None yet?

Honestly, it's not a big enough apartment for everyone living there. "Furnished" evidently doesn't mean "quality furniture," but there are enough places to sleep to go around; the floors are scuffed; the front door sticks; the walls are (thankfully) thick. It's not the greatest place ever, but at least for now, it's home.

Comments

[determinate]

[Frisk turns towards him with raised eyebrows, nodding. They pretty much always want to see something fun. Especially with things being the way they are here - everyone needs more of that.]

[eba02]

[That's a yes in their tune if he's ever heard one. He clears a little space on the counter and sets the cup on it, upside down. He claps his hands, drums them on the cup, flips it over - a short, rhythmic pattern that he repeats a few times, listening for Frisk's reaction.]

[The song had swept the Agency when it was released, and they'd had a short competition for who could get the pattern down the quickest. Missy had smoked them all handily, but they'd all gotten it down one by one, and for a month plastic cups were for percussion instead of drinks.]

[It's been a while, but he's still got the pattern down. He pauses at the end and pulls another cup out of the cupboard, offering it to Frisk with a smile.]

Wanna try?

[determinate]

[Frisk watches, first with curiosity and then with a wide grin. Neat! They've never seen anyone use cups like that before!

They take the cup eagerly, consider the rhythm for a moment in their head, and then start in on drumming themself. Their memory's good, and they've obviously picked up the movements and order very quickly. They're doing it slower, though, concentrating carefully and looking up at J every now and then.]

[eba02]

[Okay, that is impressive. Looks like Frisk is a quick study, and J is full-on grinning the next time they look at him. He set his cup up again and joins back in on the next loop, starting at Frisk's pace and gradually bringing the both of them up to tempo through the next few loops.]

[determinate]

[Frisk's grin grows in return as well, and they catch up to J's speed with only a few little missteps. A Bisicle's worth, maybe, if this had higher stakes. Once they've got a handle on it, they start dancing in place a little as well. This is fun!]

[eba02]

[J feels the missed beats - he can't not - but they're not enough to throw him off. What's more important is the harmony growing louder with each synchronized flip of the cups, with Frisk's cheery dancing adding a backbeat and strengthening it all the more - the sound of two tunes working in sync.]

[He hadn't realized how much he missed this.]

[But if Frisk is going to dance, then he should probably give them a song, huh. Vocals were never his strong suit, but he's good enough to make it work, keeping up the cup rhythm all the while.]

I got my ticket for the long way 'round
Two bottle'a whiskey for the way
And I sure would like some sweet company
And I'm leavin' tomorrow - whaddaya say?

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my hair
You're gonna miss me everywhere, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk
You're gonna miss me by my talk, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

[determinate]

[Oh! There's a song with it!

Frisk's not quite at home enough in the apartment to add their own vocals, but after they've heard enough to get the tune, they start humming along. It's just like with Shyren! Just a little more bangy - it might intimidate her a little at first.]

[eba02]

[And they sing. This just keeps getting better - he can hear the happiness in Frisk's tune, and he's sure it's reflected in his own. He'd be grinning if he weren't so busy singing.]

I got my ticket for the long way 'round
The one with the prettiest of views
It's got mountains, it's got rivers
It's got sights to give you shivers
But it sure would be prettier with you

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk
You're gonna miss me by my talk, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my hair
You're gonna miss me everywhere, oh
You're sure gonna miss me when I'm gone

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk
You're gonna miss me by my talk, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

[He flips the cup over one final time and puts his hand on top of it. It's a short song, but it's fun, and he needed this more than he realized. He listens to the last notes of that perfect harmony play through the Music, then looks at Frisk and just grins.]

You're a regular musician.

[determinate]

[Frisk grins in excitement, drumming their fingers a little on the top of the cup - in excitement, not starting up a new song. They start a quick sign, but then correct themselves and turn to the phone instead.]

I used to help my friend Shyren. She likes to sing but she gets nervous doing it by herself.

[eba02]

[Looks like that grin isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Seems like every time J turns around, Frisk has found some other way to be fantastic.]

So you cook, you sing, and you help out? You sure you don't wanna crash here for the long run?

[He's only half-joking. Stick around, kid; you're more than welcome.]

[determinate]

[Frisk smiles and shrugs. They start to sign, then realize their mistake and go back to the phone.]

I like to spend time with all my friends. I do it at home too. Sometimes.

[eba02]

[That's it, he needs to learn sign language. Right now, he just nods.]

Sounds like you got a system. [He picks up the sheet with the buttered bread on it.] Scoot over and lemme put these in, okay? [He's not about to open the oven with Frisk close to it.]

[determinate]

[Frisk scoots. They watch J prepare for a few moments, thoughtfully, before responding.]

Mom and Dad don't live in the same house anyway.

[Toriel's a little weird about them calling Asgore that, honestly. They understand. It doesn't stop them. All that stuff with him stopped mattering to them a long time ago.]

[eba02]

[Oh.]

[That, uh. That's a thing.]

[Frisk seems pretty blase about it, though, so J just rolls with it.]

Makes sense that you're used to splittin' time, then.

How're the noodles comin'?

[determinate]

[Frisk leans up on their toes to check the noodles. The temperature is not as hot as it can go, but they think it's better that way. For many reasons.

Taking a spoon, they fish out a noodle and eat it. Then they flash a thumbs-up.

The noodles

are done]

[eba02]

Awesome. You need help pullin' those off, or are you good?

[Frisk seems to be pretty self-sufficient - the last thing J wants to do is get in their way.]

[determinate]

[Frisk returns a thumbs-up. They're good! They hop down from their chair to retrieve a strainer. They seem just slightly too small for the entire process of getting the noodles out and into a bowl, but they manage it well enough even so.

As they're getting the tomato sauce, they dart a quizzical look towards the stove. Bread almost done?]