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a text from Calamity to Finley :: I'm getting snacks for tonite u want anything
Finley :: Oh! Um. You don't need to get me any snacks, but thank you! :slight_smile:
- more for me then :P
Calamity shows up at wherever Finley's place is, hood on their head and hands shoved into their pockets, their ratty backpack hanging off one shoulder.
- Im here
they text zhem, and bounce on the balls of their feet, looking around at what they can see from in front of the building.
Finley's place is actually in a fairly decent neighborhood. Not anything amazing, but--solidly working class. Close enough to Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania to get back and forth easily enough. It's a quiet neighborhood, and the address leads Calamity to a two story house that has recently been renovated and converted into a few different apartments.
When Calamity sends the text Finley arrives at the front door, unlocking it to let them into the front hallway. They're without their coat, but dressed otherwise as is expected--an over sized sweater and baggy cargo pants. Even inside, they have a mask on that covers their face--tonight it has cartoon cacti on it. They offer Calamity a soft but clearly nervous look. "Hi."
"Hi." Calamity slips inside with a slightly nervous glance behind them. "You gotta nice place." This is said when they're still in the hallway, eyeing the doors to other apartments.
"Th-thanks. Um... this way..." They move to a door that has a small set of stairs just past it--leading down into the basement. They lock up behind them before following Calamity down.
The basement has been finished, so it's actually fairly nice. There's wood floors and the walls are a pleasant beigey but bland color. It's not really... decorated, cause Finley sure as heck doesn't have an eye of design. More thrown together mismatched furniture angled more towards comfort than anything. A soft couch, a decent TV and entertainment system, and a small kitchen. There's a door that leads to another room--probably bedroom, but it's currently closed. There's a lot of cute stuff placed here and there--some anime character figurines and toys on a shelf, several stuffed animals lining the back of the couch, and some cute animal decor on the walls. No natural light--the two tiny windows at the top of one wall have been covered, but there's enough lamps that the space is well lit.
Calamity pauses, and a flicker to terror crosses their face when they realize that Finley lives in the basement of this place.
"Ah..." It's a soft noise, but they swallow and take a deep breath before starting down the stairs. They find the windows immediately, and their face falls still more when they see that they're covered.
"You did say you liked basements, didn't you..." Calamity shifts from foot to foot, trying and failing not to look extremely uncomfortable with the situation.
Finley looks towards Calamity, confused for a second--until it dawns on them. Their eyes widen, looking horrified. "O-oh--Oh no, I'm... I'm so s-sorry... You don't have to s-stay..."
"No - I mean I wanna hang out, 'n watch a movie or whatever. I'll deal, we can just...keep the lights on? If that's okay?" Another look toward the door up the stairs, and then to the windows. "And maybe uncover a window?"
Zher hands wring together nervously, shoulders drooping with guilt. "Y-yeah... Um... Okay... I'm really sorry. I didn't think..." Finley gives them a stricken look, then hurries to drag a chair over to the wall with the windows. Zhe climb up onto it, reaching up to push the curtains aside, then takes the time to peel some sort of covering they have that blocks out the glass off. Then does the same to the other. It doesn't let in a lot of light, but a little from nearby street lamps.
"Thanks. Sorry." Calamity dips their head, but once the windows are clear they're able to stop shifting, and actually look around a little. "It's...cute, here." They offer zhem a smile, and pull their bag off their shoulder. "I know you said you didn't want anything but I got kettle corn, and a big bag of m&ms. So you can totally have some if you change your mind."
Finley climbs down and puts the chair back, giving Calamity an anxious, worried look. "O-okay. Thanks... Um. Is... there anything else I can do...? To make you more comfortable?" Zhe looks down at zher feet. "I want you to... have a good time..."
Alas, there's not really anything zhe can do about the unnerving feeling about being cooped up with zhem, but that's a Nossie's life.
"The - being able to see outside helps. You...don't like it?" They tilt their head, and pull open the bag of kettle corn to monch on.
"Um." Zher eyes flicker nervously towards the windows. "I work... nights. So I s-sleep during the day. Um. Keeping the... sun out... helps me sleep," zhe mumbles, rubbing at zher arm.
"Oh right - yeah. One'a the guys I'm staying with's like that, too, he always gives us shit if we're too loud during the day." Calamity nods and digs in their bag again, pulling out an energy drink. "So what're we watching?"
Slowly, Finley seems to figure out that Calamity isn't just going to run away, zher shoulders relaxing a little. Zhe steps over to the TV, picking up a couple remotes. "Wh-what sort of scary movies do you like? I have... a lot."
"Hmmm..." They sip their drink as they think. "I kinda love the dumb cheesy ones? Just, totally unrealistic. And like...monsters. Scary monster movies too."
Finley considers for a moment, then lifts off on zher fingers. "I have... Tremors... Leprechaun? Um... O-or there's a lot of really... bad... SciFi channel monster movies on Netflix..."
"I'm good with any of those. What sorta scary shit do you like best?" Calamity perches on the edge of the couch and munches their popcorn.
"I like um, paranormal stuff. Ghosts and demons. But m-monster movies are good too! Um... I think I saw Tremors on Netflix the other night... It's really corny..." Zhe moves to sit down beside Calamity (Though not too close!!) turning on the TV and scrolling till they find it. Based on what Netflix is suggesting, they watch a loooot of anime and documentaries.
"Ooh paranormal stuff's good too." Calamity nods with a smile. "Have you read any of the manga you bought?" They gesture to the tv, indicating that the anime is what reminded them.
Finley bobs zher head in reply. "Mm, yeah. They were good!" One of the stuffed animals is pulled down from the back of the couch--a large fennec fox with giant ears. Zher legs cross as the movie starts up, holding the stuffie in zher lap, arms wrapped loosely around it. "Did you enjoy the comics you got...?"
"Yeah. I wanna get 'em all in trades, but I dunno if it's worth saving for." They watch Fin snuggle the stuffed animal, and their nose wrinkles when they smile. "The ears are so big. It's adorable."
"Which ones are you saving for...?" Finley asks, trying to be subtle about making a mental note to perhaps buy them in the future. Not completely successful. Zhe look down at the stuffed animal, hugging it closer a second, then holds it out to boop Calamity on the cheek with it's nose. "It's my favorite. I've had it since college."
"The second trade paperback of Crowded comes out in May. And like...I've read 'em all so it doesn't really make sense to buy another copy."
Calamity squeaks in surprise when they get booped, and grin. "It's super cute - and it looks super soft."
Finley bobs zher head, filing away the information... Then zher eyes crease softly, as if smiling behind the mask, and hold the stuffed animal out for them to hold, if they want. "It is."
They grab it and give it a squeeze, gasping in delight at its fuzziness. "Amazing. I'd never hear the end of it, 'f I showed up at the house with a stuffed animal like that."
"Do... you live with a lot of people...?"
"A couple, yeah." They shrug. "I run errands for 'em and shit, and they let me crash with them." Another handful of popcorn - possibly as an excuse to stop answering questions about their home life.
Finley starts to say something, but the words fall away before they're really started. Zher dark eyes linger on Calamity for a moment before turning back to the TV. Zher legs draw up to zher chest, arms draping around them loosely.
When the ridiculous worm monster first makes an appearance on screen, zhe lets out a soft snicker-giggle.
Calamity's very busy eating kettle corn and drinking their energy drink, and doesn't make eye contact with Finley.
As the movie goes on, they slowly get more comfy on the couch, settling back into it and tucking their legs under them. And then sitting sideways. And then putting one foot on the ground. They're not the type to sit still, it seems.
"Don't laugh, Fin, it's scary." They are very clearly joking, and let out a giggle too.
"It's... ridiculous... There's no way it could... burrow through solid ground like that! Doesn't... even have burrowing claws..."
Finley hasn't moved much. The occasional fidgeting, but the Haunt is too nervous to move around too much. Zhe do often glance sideways towards Calamity, though. Zhe tries to be subtle about it, quickly looking away anytime Calamity looks zher way, but if they are perceptive enough, there's a fair amount of awkward staring.
Which, you know. Isn't creepy. At all.
It's about halfway through the movie, when Calamity catches them looking one too many times.
"What?" They let out a nervous laugh.
Finley bristles as zhe're caught, eyes snapping and fixing on the TV, shoulders slumping and tensing. "N-nothing, sorry..."
"Like...do I have something in my teeth or something?" They're smiling, but clearly a little confused.
Zher head dips, shaggy bangs falling over zher face. "No. Just..." Zhe fidgets, hugging zher legs tighter. "I'm just... g-glad you're here..."
"...Oh." Calamity shrugs. "'S cool to be here, I don't...get to do this kinda shit very often."
"Me either. Um. I've never had someone over before," zhe murmurs softly, clearly nervous. "Sorry for being weird..."
"Wait really? Why?" Calamity looks around their place again.
Zher shoulders lift. "Don't really... have very many friends. None that... would want to come over."
"Oh." Calamity takes a second to think about that. "What about Artie...?"
"O-oh, um..." Zher voice wavers, sounding more flustered. "I... um. He's my friend, yeah. I guess... I'd let him come over... if he wanted to? He's never asked."
"...I mean...I didn't ask to come over. I don't think - ?" They look a little horrified, clearly wondering if they had been that rude.
"Huh?" Zhe looks over, blinking. "Mm... ...I don't remember? I don't mind!" Zhe sits up, hands lifting. "I'm glad you're here."
"I bet he'd come over, if you asked him. 'Cause he wanted us to go to his place for dinner, and stuff?"
Finley considers that for a moment. "I've been to his house. It's really nice. I guess... yeah, he probably would. B-but--I'm still glad you're here. Um. Are you comfortable? I can get a pillow? Oh--are you cold? It's cold--I'll get..." Zhe stands suddenly, moving towards the door. "Just one second!"
"I'm - I'm fine?" They reach out to pause the movie. "My hoodie's pretty warm." Even if they're snuggled into the corner of the couch now, scrunched a little into their oversized sweatshirt.
"I-it's okay! I want you to be comfortable!" They disappear into the bedroom for a moment, then reappear carrying a blanket to throw over Calamity. "There." Zhe settles down onto the couch again, legs crossing underneath zhemself.
Calamity lets out a little 'eep!' at having a blanket flopped on them, but tuck some of it around their legs. "Thanks. D'you want...?" The gesture to the half of the blanket that they left free.
Finley glances over, then down at the blanket, back up to them. Then scoots a little closer, pulling up one side of the blanket to tuck over zher legs. Zher eyes crease softly, as if smiling. "Thanks."
Calamity smiles, and unpauses the movie again. They give Fin a few glances during the rest of it, and they're never completely at ease, but they seem to be enjoying themselves, at least.
Fin tries not to stare. Zhe really does, but there's the occasional glance over towards Calamity, and likely at least once where they awkwardly catch each other looking. Fin pulls the stuffed animal back into zher lap to hold through the rest of the movie, trying to focus on it. There's an occasional giggle at the more ridiculous parts, though the giggles turn to groans when they talk about science and clearly get things horrendously wrong. "That's not how soundwaves work," zhe mutters at one point.
At the end zhe looks back towards Calamity. "Do you wanna watch another...?"
"There's like...a whole bunch of these right? I don't think I've ever watched them all. An' I..." They pull a flip phone out of their pocket, check it, and put it back. "I don't have anywhere to be, 'sides here."
Finley brightens, nodding quickly. "Mm! They made like... um... four of them or something? I think they're all on Netflix." Zhe reaches for the remote to bring up the second one. "Pretty sure they're even worse..."
Fin settles back in, this time pulling the blanket over zhemself a little more and relaxing a bit--slumping down into the couch a little.
"C-can... um... I ask... a weird question..."
"Oh sweet." They shift to get a little more comfy under the blanket, and pull a stuffed animal out from behind their back and setting it in their lap instead.
"...Suuure?" They don't sound too sure, and glance at Fin with a small frown.
"You don't... gotta answer. Um. Just... have you... been to a doctor, since... you got your powers?" Fin asks softly, looking at them intently.
"...Uhh." Calamity's frown deepens. "I...I mean I haven't really had to, I heal super fast now. Why?"
"I... was just... curious." Zhe looks down, shifting a bit. "I wondered... if any of your blood tests would come back... with unusual results..."
"I...I dunno. I mean I...I guess I have had blood tests, since. And no one's said anything?"
Finley squeezes the stuffed fennec against zher chest. "...I know it's... it sounds weird... b-but... I like, um. Studying my own blood? And I just--I was just curious." Zher fingers tug nervously at one of the fuzzy ears. "If... you ever... were curious too... I could take a look..."
"...Huh. 'S yours weird 'cause of supernatural shit?" Calamity squints, intrigued.
Finley hesitates a moment, then gives a small nod.
"...That's kinda cool. 'S not like...I dunno, I feel like someone would'a noticed by now, if my blood was weird?" They shrug.
"W-well... Um... Most hospitals don't do very thorough blood tests.." They continue fiddling with the ear. "If... you ever... wanted to make sure..." Because just asking your friend if they can borrow some of their blood is too weird, right???
"...D'you wanna look at my blood, or something?" Calamity raises their eyebrows and grabs their energy drink.
Finley's shoulders hunch, squeezing around the stuffed animal. "...Y-yes..? Sorrythat'sreallyweirdIjustwasucurious," zhe slurs out in one breath.
"It...it's a little weird, yeah." They laugh nervously. "You wouldn't like...do anything weird or creepy with it, right? And it'd be like...at your work, or whatever?"
"Y-y-yeah--um--yeah. I wouldn't do anything weird! Just... runs some... tests an' stuff..." Zher head hangs. "It's okay, if you don't want to. Really."
"I mean I don't...care, really 's long as you're not gonna do any weird shit. What sorta tests would you run?" Their curiosity seems to be stronger than their fear or weirded-out-ness, at the moment.
"U-um... Like... um. Take the CBC--blood count, to see if you have... normal red and white blood cell levels, um--and test how long it takes f-for your blood to clot and... a comprehensive metabolic panel. Um. A few other things like that--and look for any mutations..."
Calamity nods. "Sounds...I mean I don't know shit about blood but I guess that's cool? So like...sure, if you wanna?" They shrug and grab a handful of popcorn.
"G-great!" Finley brightens, eyes widening excitedly. "I-it'll be fascinating... Um, we can go by the hospital to take the blood soon?" Zhe shifts and snuggles further down into the couch, looking to the bag of popcorn, but not reaching for any.
"Like soon, in-the-next-few-days soon, or like...tonight?" There's a beat, and they see zhem looking at the popcorn. "D'you want some?"
"Oh--um--it doesn't gotta be tonight. Wh-whenever you're comfortable doing it. Sorry, just--I'm just excited." Zher legs tuck up, looking at them, then back at the popcorn. "It smells good. But... I don't... really like eating in front of people." Zhe gestures to the mask.
"Oh that's...that makes sense." Calamity nods and pulls the popcorn bag back. "We could - go tonight, I guess? I don't not wanna, I'm just not used to like...doing that shit at night."
"The hospital is pretty quiet, at night... but I can get us in. No one will mess with us. Um--let's finish this movie, first?"
"Sure, yeah. Yeah, hospitals can be..." they grimace. "Broke my arm in three places, when I was a kid, had to go the emergency room and shit. I remember the smell, you know?"
"Oh..." Zhe looks over, frowning. "We don't... gotta do it at the hospital, if you prefer? I can get the equipment to draw the blood and do it somewhere else...?"
"Oh no it's fine - I feel like it's more weird if we don't do it there." They shrug. "Hospitals're pretty low on my list of shit I don't really like. Just like...super mild dislike."
"I-is... there anything I can do... to make it up to you? I--I could treat you afterwards? We could, um, get ice cream or something... You'll probably need to eat anyway, to help with the bloodloss..."
The mention of ice cream gets a wide grin. "I'd totally take ice cream. I don't know a lotta places around here, what's your favorite?"
"O-oh! There's a ben and jerrys close to the hospital? It's open pretty late, people go there a lot during breaks..."
"Oooohhh...man I got a pint of that a couple months ago, it was some caramel chocolate thing, it was amazing..."
Finley's eyes crease fondly at them, pleased. "I-I'll get you as much as you want."
"Sweet. They do like, cones and shit, right?"
Zher head bobs. "Mmm! And milkshakes and sundaes, I think."
"Mmmm." They grin, wide. "Okay now I extra wanna go tonight. Just to get ice cream." They bounce a little, and switch the leg that they have tucked under themself before settling in to watch the end of the movie.
Finley giggles, then settles in to finish the movie. Though now they're clearly distracted, squirming and fidgeting often--now restless rather than nervous.
The movie barely is finished starting the credits before zhe grabs the remote to turn the TV off and stands, bouncing on zher feet a bit.
Calamity's just as fidgety, but that's not new. They make it about halfway through their bag of kettle corn, and fold up the top to shove it into their backpack when the movie's over. "Okay let's go." They sling their bag over their back and drain the last of their energy drink.
Finley only stops long enough to tug on zher coat and grab zher keys and wallet, then heads up the stairs. The doors get locked behind them. "The hospital is close enough to walk to, if that's okay?"
Calamity takes a breath when they exit the basement, clearly relaxing now that they're on the ground level. "'S fine, I walk everywhere. Took the bus here, but...I walk most places. It's nice that you can like, walk to work, yeah?"
Finley watches Calamity as they notably relax, zher eyes softening sadly. Zher hand rests lightly against their arm, a touch meant to be comforting. Then zhe starts walking down the sidewalk, heading towards the hospital. Indeed, the walk isn't far--maybe 15, 20 minutes tops. "I like it, yeah... Makes it easy to get back and forth."
The touch makes them twitch in surprise, but they turn to smile at zhem. "You're like...safe at night and shit, yeah? I know you can do the invisible thing, but..." They eye the neighborhood as they walk.
Zhe giggles, stuffing zher hands into zher pockets. "I'm fine... It's not a bad neighborhood. And... yeah... i can make myself, um... go unnoticed, when I need to."
"That's good. If um..." They eye zhem. "'F you ever need any sorta escort, I uh...could prob'ly help you. 'Cause no offense, but...you kinda look like an easy target."
Finley blinks, looking over at them as they walk. "I do...?"
"...Yeah, like...you're the kinda person who looks like they're prolly not gonna fight back, if you're mugged. Or whatever." Calamity shifts, a little uncomfortable now that they've actually admitted it.
"Oh." Zhe considers that for a moment, looking down at zhemself. "Mm... that's okay. I don't really... want to look scary. I don't mind taking the risk."
"I mean it's not about like...looking scary, but...if you can go invisible whenever I guess it doesn't really matter." They shrug. "An' like...I just make it look like I don't have any shit worth stealing, so. There's other ways you can do that shit."
"...Do I look rich?" Zhe blinks.
"No, but...you live around here, and you prob'ly got a pretty regular route to work and back, right? Which says some shit about you. You know?"
"....Oh." Finley's brows crease, clearly not having thought about it like that. Zhe considers it for a moment before leaning over to bump Calamity's shoulder, smiling at them. "I'll... let you know. If I need you to be my... bodyguard." There's a hint of... playfulness? to zher voice.
"Oh, I meant. That like...I know people." Their voice is quiet, like they're afraid of disappointing zhem. "Not that - I mean I dunno 'f I'd be a good bodyguard, I'm better at running away from shit than throwing punches."
"...Oh. Um..." Zhe doesn't look disappointed, just embarrassed for having misunderstood. Zher hands bury deeper into the coat pockets, shoulders hunching. "R-right, um, sorry. But... really... I'll be fine..."
"I hope so." They bump Finley's shoulder back. "But if you needed a bodyguard I could...make it work. If you needed."
Zher cheeks flush brightly, head shaking. "I--I was just... joking... You got better things to do than hang out with me all the time..." They come up onto the hospital grounds, and Finley leads the way to a side entrance, heading inside.
"I'd totally ditch whatever I had going on if you needed a buddy or something. For real." They fall quiet as they reach the hospital, and Calamity looks up at the shadowy building. "I bet the view from the roof is amazing..."
Finley doesn't immediately reply, their eyes focused intently on the floor in front of zhem as they walk. "...It's... it's really nice. Um. M-maybe you could... come visit me at work, sometime... And... I can show you... And we can get ice cream again on my b-break..."
Calamity beams, though if Fin's focused on the floor zhe's not likely to see it. "Sure, yeah. I...know a little about like...some practical chemistry stuff, but could be cool to see what you do."
"...You don't think it'd be boring?" Fin glances over zher shoulder towards them.
"I dunno anything about it, so I dunno if it would be boring." They're still smiling.
Their steps through the hallways are pretty silent, and they glance around, taking in the atmosphere of a hospital at night.
The hospital is kinda... eerie, at night. Theres some people wandering around, and some seem to recognize Finley--enough that no one really gives a second glance.
Eventually Finley leads them into a room and gestures for Calamity to sit, while Fin goes to collect the things necessary to draw blood. Zhe washes their hands, then puts on gloves, making sure everything is nice and sterile.
Probably best to skim over details in case anyone is squicky on medical stuff, though? Finley is very gentle and clearly knows what they're doing. How much blood is Calamity comfortable donating?
Yeah, details aren't necessary, Calamity'll donate enough to run a few tests, but not a whole hell of a lot. Finley's confidence and gentleness help ease whatever nervousness they might have about the whole situation.
Plus, you know. The promise of ice cream. Calamity is a person of simple wants.
(Cool, I'll assume no more than 1 lethal/1 blood worth, then.)
Afterwards Finley places a bandaid on Calamity's arm that is probably meant more for kids--since it has cartoon teddy bears on it. Zhe spends a few moments scribbling onto the labels of the blood samples, then tucks them away for safe keeping in the lab.
Zhe steps over towards Calamity, offering zher hand. "How are you feeling? Wasn't too bad, was it? Try to stand slowly..."
"'S fine." Calamity wrinkles their nose and smiles at the bandaid. "Honestly it's prolly worse to do this shit during the day, when there's all sorts of people around."
"Mm... Probably. Less chaotic now. Can take your time." Finley's eyes are creased, smiling. "Thank you... for trusting me enough to... do this..."
"'S no big deal, right?" Calamity shrugs. "Just blood, or whatever."
Finley hesitates, then nods. "Mm... but... now, it's time for ice cream." Zher head bobs excitedly.
"Yes. What's your favorite kind?" Calamity bounces on their toes and grabs their bag on the way out.
Finley watches them closely to make sure they're not too light-headed or wobbly, but then follows along behind them. "Umm... I usually just get a milkshake. B-but I really like chocolate chip cookie dough."
Zhe leads the way out of the hospital, then down the street towards the Ben and Jerrys--which thankfully isn't a long walk! Zhe hurries forward to pull open the doors for Calamity, holding them. Because zhe is maybe a bit fretful about the bloodloss.
"Cookie dough's good. I wonder if they have like...birthday cake ice cream. Or ooh, sundaes..." They trail off, looking a little dreamy. They seem to be doing okay, though they are walking a little slower than they had been.
"You can get whatever you want!" Finley assures. "It's on me, so... go all out, if you want to." Zhe bumps them lightly again, then moves up to the counter. Finley just orders a small chocolate milkshake with extra whipped cream.
Calamity orders a birthday cake sundae, whatever that is, and taps their fingers on the counter while they wait for it. "Thanks." They grin at zhem. "This was...a really fun night."
"R-really?" Finley stares at them, practically starry-eyed. "So... you'd do it again, sometime? Even with my place being in a basement...?"
"I dunno about the like, blood stuff unless you really needed it for something, but all the other shit totally. Even with your place being in a basemeny." They nod, and dig into their sundae.
"O-oh--I didn't mean--of course," zhe stutters out. "I'd... really like that! You're welcome to come over whenever you want... Um. Do you prefer that sort of snacks? I can get some, to keep at the apartment..."
"You don't have to do that, I can bring my own stuff. But we should totally do this again."
"I want to," Finley says softly. "I want... my friends to feel at home when they visit... I really don't mind."
Finley doesn't remove zher mask, but does lift up the bottom edge juuuust a bit--enough to slip the straw underenath to sip some of the milkshake.
"I mean I was pretty comfy there, already. Really." They speak between bites of their sundae. "'S cool that you have your own place."
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