Poppy (to Mouse): Thank you so much for doing such a wonderful job last night! You were amazing & I think the party was a huge success.
Mouse (to Poppy): Thank you. You throw one hell of a party. If you ever want me to deejay another one, just let me know.
Delia: Soo.. that was a thing. o.o Seems like my neighbors partied too hard last night. My apt building burned down. Anyone want a stray bartender?
Mouse (to Delia): Oh god! That's terrible. Are you okay?
Vincent (to Delia): Oh no! I'm so srry, hon! Let me know if U need anything!
Delia (to Mouse): yeah... I was at the bar when it happened. And I stuck around for a while to see if my cat made it out (he did).
Mouse (to Delia): I've got a guest room you can stay in.
Delia (to Mouse): that'd be appreciated. Just gotta wait for renters insurance to shake out and I don't really want to go stay with family.
Mouse (to Delia): We're headed to the airport now. I'll be home in a few hours & we can get you sorted out at my place.
Delia (to Mouse): alright.. I'm at a motel right now. Gonna try to get some sleep now that I got tesla calmed down.
Mouse (to Delia): Oh, quick question... does Tesla get along with other cats?
Delia (to Mouse): ...yeees? He has before but you can never tell.
Mouse (to Delia): I got a kitten a few weeks ago. I'll just stick Otto in my bedroom & then we can introduce them after Tesla gets settled, I don't want to stress out your cat too much.
Delia (to Mouse): That sounds like a plan... soo...yay! Happy new year?
Mouse (to Delia): awww, sweetie, it'll be okay.
Vincent (to Mouse): I didn't get a chance to ask U last nite. It was a bit of a whirlwind. How did the photoshoot go? Not 2 awkward?
Mouse (to Vincent): It went fine... I totally brought "A-game". I was professional & friendly. I think Maddie was actually a bit taken aback. I'm not sure what Eep made of the whole thing... I don't think he's ever seen me really working before. I mean, it's different at home because everyone knows me.
Vincent (to Mouse): I think U made my g/f fall in love w/ U a little bit last nite. She kept RAVING abt how amazing U were.
Mouse (to Vincent): Well, I have to admit she was absolutely a dream to work with & watching her work the room was pretty amazing. She is really good at her job.
Vincent (to Mouse): I keep telling U, there's much more 2 her than she lets ppl see.
Mouse (to Vincent): Well, if she acted more like how she acted this past week or so... I might end up actually liking her. And, thank you for keeping Eep company... he seemed like he was handling himself okay.
Vincent (to Mouse): Heaven forbid U & Poppy actually start liking ea other. ;-} Ur beau actually surprised me. He was very nearly social. Trendy socialites kept coming up 2 him & wanting 2 talk 2 him b/c he was there w/ the DJ. He was so awkward. It was adorbz.
Mouse (to Vincent): Well, he also looked incredibly handsome. I thought I saw a couple of ladies try to get him onto the dancefloor. I think the open bar helped... are you meeting us at the airport or are you staying an extra day?
Vincent (to Mouse): Yeeeeeees. It did. There were a few that tried 2 get him 2 dance. He wasn't THAT drunk. He's quite chatty when he's drunk, isn't he? I know exactly what he thought of U deejaying. He told me in detail. ;-} I'm staying an extra day. I promised Poppy she wouldn't have 2 lift a finger all day. I'm @ her command.
Mouse (to Vincent): Dear god... I'm not sure I want to know.
Vincent (to Mouse): Oh stop U. U know U were amazing. But I'll let him tell U that himself.
Mouse (to Vincent): He's currently curled up in the limo sleeping on the way to the airport, so the singing of my praise will have to wait until later. :-) So, did you have a good time? What was your favorite part?
Vincent (to Mouse): I had a BLAST! I was quite the bell of the ball, I think. Oh... No need 2 B modest. I WAS the bell of the ball.
Mouse (to Vincent): Really? From my vantage point, I could have sworn it was Poppy but, then I could have been mistaken. :-P
Vincent (to Mouse): Well, I think it depends on what kind of bell one was interested in. ;-}Poppy WAS amazing last nite, wasn't she?
Mouse (to Vincent): Yes, she was. You two make a pretty nice looking pair.
Vincent (to Mouse): Well, we R pretty nice looking. ;-} U & Eep weren't 2 bad looking on the eyes urselves.
Mouse (to Vincent): Wow, coming from you that is quite a compliment... so, are you two okay with each other? I was too busy yesterday to ask. You both mentioned to me something about an awkward conversation...
Vincent (to Mouse): We're alright. I learned a long time ago not 2 take his random fits of rage personally.
Mouse (to Vincent): Are you sure there's nothing more to it, then that? He said that he asked about you & Asher... I mean, if you say that was all it was, I'll believe you...
Vincent (to Mouse): Oh U 2. Pretending ur both so bad w/ ppl & then cutting rite 2 the heart of the matter. We're going 2 have a long discussion when I get back in2 town. I thought it was better that we didn't start 2 much drama.
Mouse (to Vincent): If you don't want to talk about, you don't have too.
Vincent (to Mouse): I'll talk 2 U abt it if U rlly want me 2, but R U sure U want 2 do it now? It's rite after ur big NYC triumph. U shld B celebrating!
Mouse (to Vincent): Actually, I had just wanted to make sure that you were okay. Clearly, you don't really want to talk about it, so we won't. We gotta go get on the plane.... so I'll see you when you get home. Love you!
Vincent (to Mouse): I'm fine, sweetie. No worries. I'll see U later. Love U 2! Just so U remember, you were AMAZING last nite! Don't think I haven't been bragging abt U. ;-}
Four hours later:
Mouse (to Delia): Hey, I'm back at my place...
Delia (to Mouse): I'm at the motel on 3rd. Could you pick me up? We'll get tesla settled then go see if anything can be salvaged.
Mouse (to Delia): Of course! I'm on my way.
Eep: Christ. I ended the year in an awesome way. The new year seems to be determined to kick me in the balls. And it's only 1 day in. Fuck me.
Mouse (to Eep): What happened?
Eep (to Mouse): God. Sorry. Fucking Maddie.
Mouse (to Eep): I think Delia has you beat for the new year starting off like crap... her apartment burned down.
Eep (to Mouse): WHAT!?!
Mouse (to Eep): Yeah, she & her cat are going to crash with me for a bit.
Eep (to Mouse): Jesus! Wow. Now I feel like a dick.
Mouse (to Eep): You didn't know... it's okay.
Eep (to Mouse): Jesus! I'm glad her and her cat are OK, though. (to Delia) Hey, are you OK? Mouse just told me your apartment burned down! Do you need anything?
Delia (to Eep): Good as can be expected. I wasn't there, cat's mostly fine. Gonna go check for stuff that survived later with mouse and maybe leon.
Eep (to Delia): Christ! That's terrible. If you need help, lemme know.
Mouse (to Eep): Now, that you have a little perspective... was dealing with Maddie really all that bad? Besides, I saw the way she acted when we got to the dinner...
Eep (to Mouse): No. No need to rub it in that I'm a jerk. What way?
Mouse (to Eep): I wasn't trying to rub it in. I was just trying to say that if she said anything to get you upset, it was because she was jealous. You looked extremely handsome last night...
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. OH. God. My foot just permanently lives in my mouth today. And, um, thank you. You looked... You looked fucking amazing.
Mouse (to Eep): Thank you... It was a nice to have someone to bring in the new year with... and, I'm glad it was you.
Eep (to Mouse): Wow. Um, I'm glad I was with you too.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh, I think I saw Wanda & Robert over here with boxes when I drove up... so, I guess they've started the move, already.
Eep (to Mouse): Woah. That explains why they're not here. And why the apartment is trashed. They didn't waste any time.
A couple hours later:
Mouse: Wow, the fire really did a number on Delia's place...
Delia (to Mouse): yeah... living room is gone. But looks like bedroom is mostly smoke and water damage. Might be able to salvage some there.
Mouse (to Delia): I'll see what clothes I can throw into some garbage bags & we can do laundry when we get to my place.
Delia (to Mouse): Thanks, that'll help. I was worried about that. not entirely sure I could have borrowed anything of yours, heh since I'm taller.
Eep (to Mouse, Delia, & Leon): Hey, um, do you guys want me to pick up some pizza & meet you at Mouse's place?
Mouse (to Eep): I think that would be a great idea, after dealing with all of this. How are you doing? Did the Wanda & Robert crazy whirlwind, move the entire apartment in one day?
Eep (to Mouse): I'm alright. Just a little overloaded, I think. Wanda apparently becomes like a dictator when she's moving. She's got a "method." God help me if I disturb the "method."
Mouse (to Eep): Well, I guess it's good that we had started moving some of your stuff beforehand. Ummm, weird question... did you by any chance claim the bedroom in the back of the apartment? The one by the laundry room?
Eep (to Mouse): God, YES.
Mouse (to Eep): Ok, good.
Eep (to Mouse): How come?
Mouse (to Eep): It just dawned on me that my bedroom & that one share a wall...
Eep (to Mouse): Oh? Oh. OH!
Mouse (to Eep): Yeah. I'm glad we could avoid a potential embarrassing situation.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh God. Yeah. And, um, if you you ever get lonely, you could just like, you know, knock on the wall.
Mouse (to Eep): or just climb out the window. :-P
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. We'll be like teenagers, sneaking out to see each other.
Mouse (to Eep): Well, after all of the parental concern from Robert & Wanda, I sometimes feel that way. Plus, Vincent doesn't seem to understand the word privacy or discretion.
Eep (to Mouse): NONE of them seem to understand privacy.
Mouse (to Eep): Well, maybe they'll chill out, now that we will be in the same building... then they won't have to wonder too much Or is that going to make it worse?
Eep (to Mouse): God. I have no idea. I wish I knew why they're so... I dunno. INVESTED in my personal life.
Mouse (to Eep): Maybe it's simply because you haven't really had one until now? I mean, if you had been dating & having a social life before now, they'd just be used to it. I don't know, it's just a theory.
Eep (to Mouse): Jesus. I don't know if I should be insulted that they think I'm an idiot or feel flattened they give a shit.
Mouse (to Eep): I don't think they think you're an idiot... they're kind of like your family.
Eep (to Mouse): Family? Huh. I guess they are that.
Mouse (to Eep): I mean, look at them... how long have you known both of them?
Eep (to Mouse): I've known Robert since high school, and Wanda about, uh, 6 years now, I guess.
Mouse (to Eep): Do you really think if they thought you were an idiot, they would have stuck around for that long?
Two hours later:
Mouse (to Eep): Thank you for bringing over the pizza! I'm sorry you couldn't stay longer... Wanda is an evil taskmaster.
Eep (to Mouse): Tell me about it. If I die in the process of this move, know I loved you.
Mouse (to Eep): I love you too. I will leave a carton of cigarettes & a bag of coffee on your grave. :-)
Eep (to Mouse): Wow. That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.
Mouse (to Eep): haha, I'm sure I've said something nicer than that before.
Eep (to Mouse): Well, you probably have. Maybe. ;)
An hour later:
Eep (to Mouse): God, I think the exhaustion has made me delirious. We're done for the night. THANK GOD. Cause lemme tell you, spending all afternoon packing, after a 3 hr flight, while still being slightly hung over, is SO much fun.
Mouse (to Eep): I'm sorry, that sucks. Where are you crashing for the night?
Eep (to Mouse): The floor, probably. I didn't think and I moved my mattress over to the new place and the couch went over this morning.
Mouse (to Eep): that doesn't sound pleasant... Want some company?
Eep (to Mouse): I would actually. I can't promise I'll be very coherent company, though. You don't mind sitting on the floor?
Mouse (to Eep): I'll bring a sleeping bag & a pillow for you. It'll be like camping...
Eep (to Mouse): Wow. That would be awesome. It will be marginally less shitty than real camping.
Mouse (to Eep): I'll be right over.
Eep (to Mouse): See you soon. Thank you, by the way. This weekend was amazing. Exhausting, but amazing. Watching you work was so... I dunno. You were... just... wow. Sorry. I'm rambling. Heh. Tired.
Delia (to Eep & Mouse): Thanks so much to the both of you for the emergency rescue.
Eep (to Delia): God, no problem. Lemme know if you need anything else.
Mouse (to Delia): No worries! Make yourself at home. I'll be over here at Eep's if you need anything.
