video;

[pellameno]

[ The video opens on the outside of a house -- then moves inside, giving a virtual tour. There's nothing special about it compared to the other available houses. There is, however, a voiceover. ]

I was wondering with the new arrivals, well... I have this whole house. There are three bedrooms free here, and the beds are big enough for couples. I'm quiet, and clean, and I can cook passably well, if that's any incentive to claim a spot here over the apartments.

[ After touring the beds, baths, and balcony, the camera turns to focus on Pell, dark hair falling into his face. He doesn't look entirely comfortable being on camera, but offers a smile and warm eyes. ]

I can't be the only one who doesn't want to live alone. Right?

Comments

[attagirl]

Not far from me.

[ he scratches his cheek. ]

I can come check it out in a couple minutes?

[pellameno]

Of course. I'll be here.

[attagirl]

[ true to his word, in about fifteen minutes he'll be rapping his knuckles against the door to that address. ]

[pellameno]

[ Pell comes to the door quickly -- he's small and delicate looking, and has long hair braided over his shoulder and a smile on his face. ]

Axton -- come in. Are you hungry?

[attagirl]

Huh?

[ he seems slightly taken off guard by the question as he steps inside, before warming immediately. ]

Uh, yeah. Like, always.

[pellameno]

Kitchen's this way, we can start the tour there.

[ He leads Axton that way, and as they enter the room there's the smell of food coming from a pot on the stove. Vegetable stew, which he ladles into a bowl for his guest. ]

I've got a garden down by the river. Just harvested this morning.

[attagirl]

[ he pauses in the doorway to the kitchen, groaning slightly at the smell of actual hot food. ]

So, can I move in like - yesterday?

[pellameno]

In theory.

[ He sets Axton's bowl down at the kitchen table and offers him a spoon. ]

Tell me something about yourself first?

[attagirl]

Uh. There's not really a lot to know.

[ he slides into a seat at the kitchen table, taking the spoon gratefully. ]

I used to be a sergeant? Then I bailed out on the military, kind of started doing my own thing after that.

[ he'll leave out the part where he didn't exactly leave by choice. ]

[pellameno]

[ He takes a seat as well, listening curiously. ]

How do you spend your time here? You might do well in the guard.

[attagirl]

Uh.

[ he does a whole lot of nothing, mostly. mouth full of food, he'll mumble: ]

Y'know... sleep.... work out...

[pellameno]

You don't get bored of just that? I guess they throw enough at us to keep us busy...

[attagirl]

[ he shrugs a little, as if embarrassed. ]

It gets pretty boring.

[pellameno]

I work in the clinic some days. Keeping busy keeps me from feeling too lonely.

But you might help with that? If you really want to move in.

[attagirl]

Hey, I make pretty decent company.

[ he will grin in what he hopes is a super roguish way pell's way, before he dives back into the food. ]

And this is awesome. Why wouldn't I want to move in?

[pellameno]

[ There's a long moment where he seems to be sizing Axton up, eyes serious before he smiles again. ]

...okay.

I'll show you the spare bedrooms, you can pick which one you want.

[attagirl]

[ and axton brightens pretty much immediately, trying to finish off his bowl as quickly as he can. ]

Killer. I can totally keep the place safe and stuff. Uh. If that's ever a problem.

[pellameno]

Knowing this place, it could be a concern at some point. I'm obviously not much of a fighter.

Not helpless, either, but... [ He gestures to himself. Not exactly a contender here. ] With the kind of monsters they throw at us I'm usually lucky to hold them off or get away.

[attagirl]

[ he grins a little, standing up from the table and... well, he's probably trying not to look totally full of himself, but he definitely looks totally full of himself. ]

I got you covered then, don't worry about it.

[pellameno]

[ Yes, yes, big strong man, protect home, grr. Pell seems to find it charming. ]

Then let's start the tour.

[ He stands as well and leads Axton out of the kitchen and through a common area towards the bedrooms. ]

There's two free ones down here and one more upstairs, with a balcony between those. The downstairs ones are bigger, though. [ It's a room. There are windows! Everything is the same curved sort of architecture, and as Pell claims, there's plenty of space in this room besides the bed. ]

[attagirl]

Whoah, a balcony? That's sweet. I want that one.

[ it's, uh. he's not a difficult man to please, okay. ]

[pellameno]

That's the room across from mine. This way.

[ Up the curved stairs! The room is smaller and has an angled ceiling, allowing for the general curvature of the house. It's more cozy than spacious but there should still be plenty of room unless Axton plans to move in more furniture. ]

[attagirl]

[ he doesn't really have much furniture of his own to speak of, so the room seems to suit him just fine. he props one hand on his hip, considering it, before he looks back to pell. ]

This is awesome. You're awesome. Did you know that?

[pellameno]

[ He laughs at that, blushing a little. ]

Well you're awesome for answering. I could really use the company.

[ And cuddles but company's a big one. He'll try not to be creepy and sit outside Axton's door listening to him breathe like he sometimes kinda used to do with Peter. ]

Do you need help moving in?

[attagirl]

I mean... if you've got the room, I know of someone else I could probably invite to stay here, too. He'd also be pretty good at keeping the place safe.

[ he leans against the wall as he considers pell, doing his best to be as casually charming as possible. ]

Nah, I don't have much to bring.