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Because I know there are people reading this who lack *any* context for this story, I went back through my journal and found the original post I'd made detailing the character and story background for Pieces. I edited it a little bit, and it can now be found here, sporting the shiny new pieces icon. If I do get a writing journal, I'll probably just move this all over there.
Pieces 1-7
This installment is actually quite mundane, but it makes a good base for later things. I hope people can enjoy it anyway ;)
Pieces Eight
The building looks reassuringly unassuming. It is an older home, with steps leading up to the main second floor entrance, and a side door to the lower level. It is a pale shade of blue, and in need of a new coat of pain. A fat grey and orange cat tabby is napping in a window box full of geraniums, and lifts its head as I pass it on my way up the stairs. I triple check the address, 1786A 78-Avenue south east, and then knock.
Alita Haines lives here alone, she told me, and has since she inherited her mother's house five years ago. She rents out the bottom floor on a monthly basis, usually to graduate students. Her last tenant dropped out of their program last month, and moved to California. Because this area of the city is not zoned for rentals, the arrangements she makes are all unofficial. She has been seeking a new tenant for some weeks now. She was the fourth person I contacted from a list I have been collecting since I thought about coming to Portland. I don't know how long I will be here, but I can easily afford a month's rent. Haines is the first on my list who was still looking for a new tenant. I am here to examine the premise. If they are suitable, I can pay cash and move in immediately.
Haines calls out that she is coming a moment before she arrives at the door. She is a short, thin woman, with wisps of graying brown hair escaping a tight bun, and alert brown eyes. She is wearing a tight blue tank-top and black tights, revealing a well sculpted physique, and she is sweating slightly. She looks me over quickly, smiling but cautious.
"You must be Daniel?" She offers a hand, which I shake. It is always disconcerting to hear a stranger address me by my first name, let alone for them to smile so easily.
"That's me." I can fake a smile easily. I've had practice going through the motions. It's meaning these things that remains awkward. "Alita?"
"Last I checked! Well." She self-consciously runs a hand over her hair, smoothing back the wisps. "I was just in the middle of doing my Yoga, I guess I lost track of the time. Let me just go grab a sweater, and I'll show you what the downstairs is like."
"That's fine. I'd like to take a look around the yard anyway."
She seems a bit surprised. "Oh, alright. I've got a little herb garden out back, and the pine tree… There's not a whole lot there, but feel free to look. I'll meet you by the side door."
"Thank you." I nod, and she turns back inside. Standing on the stairs, the neighborhood seems very normal. I can see some children's toys scattered on neatly trimmed lawns, rows of older houses with garage additions big enough to house two cars. Most of the houses, like Haines's are in need of some repairs. I can just make out the sounds of traffic from the highway that passes through two blocks away, and the silhouette of the small shopping plaza that lies beyond.
I follow a worn path from the front walk around the side of the house, passing by the entrance to the apartment for now. The back yard is as she described: a lone pine tree stands along the property line, shading both this yard and the eastern neighbor's. The ground is carpeted with needles and short patchy grass, and there is a small herb garden growing along the northern boundary of the lot. The yard is fenced in on two sides by the neighbors, and a startled german shepherd barks warningly from the yard to the south at me as I come into view. Several other yards also have tall trees shading them. It is an unremarkable older neighborhood, and well suited to my current needs. I return to the side door, and meet Haines as she approaches with the key. She has thrown on a deep red sweater and a pair of well worn tennis shoes.
"Well?"
"It's nice. Is the dog friendly?"
"Charlie will shut up once he gets used to you being around. If you take the place, anyway." She unlocks the door, and holds it open for me.
The apartment is furnished. That was one of my requirements. I don't want to continue to stay at a hotel, or any other place where Xi might be too easily able to track me, but neither do I want to be tied down by unnecessary material possessions. The door opens into a living room, with a long grey sofa and a television in an otherwise empty entertainment cabinet, and a desk in the corner. There is an overhead light fixture as well as two freestanding lamps, but the room is sufficiently lit by the light coming in through the windows behind the sofa. They have mini-blinds, and blue flowered curtains, both of which are drawn open. Just beyond this is the kitchen, the room separate by a kitchen island and a switch from worn green carpeting to cream linoleum. The kitchen is small, but this doesn't bother me as I doubt I will use it much – I haven't prepared my own food since I was living with Anna. The appliances, range and refrigerator, are clean.
"The bathroom is actually through the bedroom. I know that is a little inconvenient, but that's how the pipes were set up." She shrugs apologetically, and I follow her for the rest of the tour. The entrance to the bedroom is in the living room, just to the left of the entertainment centre. There is a double bed, a tall dresser, and a freestanding wardrobe – no closet. Still, there should be more than enough room from my limited wardrobe. I walk past her into the bathroom. There is only a shower stall and no bathtub, of course, but it is fairly large, and clean. There is a mirrored medicine cabinet above the sink, and a shelving unit set into the wall above the toilet. The water runs clear in the taps, and the toilet flushes. It will serve.
"Is there a phone line down here?"
"Yes, but Lynn took the phone when she left… I've got a spare upstairs, but it's just a basic model." She shrugs. "I have the line down here in my name – I've just found it is easier to deal with that way, but if you want to make long distance calls, you'll have to get a calling card, or if you think you'll be here long, you could get it switched into your name."
She doesn't mean that. She's worried about getting caught renting out of zone, and she's trying to cover herself. I can see how she might have difficulty finding tenants, but it suits my needs perfectly. I nod. "It all seems fine. I can have the place today?"
"Well, I don't see why not, if you have the rent." She's smiling, and I can see relief as well as excitement in her eyes.
"I do… Is it going to be alright for me to park where I am now regularly?" This place has a small garage, but it is presumably occupied with Haines's vehicle. I parked on the street out front.
"Most days you can probably park in the driveway, if you prefer. I mostly bike, and I can let you know ahead of time if I'll need out."
"Alright, then." I reach for my wallet. I've already counted out the month's rent we'd agreed upon, and I pass her the bills.
"Cash?"
"I …don't trust banks." I have a large enough cash reserve that I'm not worried, for the moment, about running out. She seems to accept this, although she does hold one of the notes, a fifty, up to the light. I wonder if she knows what she is looking for. Lacking anywhere to put the money, she tucks it into the sleeve of her sweater.
"Well, I guess this is yours," she passes me the key to door and deadbolt, "and you can move your things in whenever you like. I'll bring you down the other phone later, and a sheet with some contact info."
"Thank you." She slips back out the way she came in, and I take the chance to look through the drawers. I should pick up some food, and sheets, at least, for the bed. I will need to call Anna, as well, to let her know where I am, and how she can contact me now. I wonder how long I will be here.
Pieces 1-7
This installment is actually quite mundane, but it makes a good base for later things. I hope people can enjoy it anyway ;)
Pieces Eight
The building looks reassuringly unassuming. It is an older home, with steps leading up to the main second floor entrance, and a side door to the lower level. It is a pale shade of blue, and in need of a new coat of pain. A fat grey and orange cat tabby is napping in a window box full of geraniums, and lifts its head as I pass it on my way up the stairs. I triple check the address, 1786A 78-Avenue south east, and then knock.
Alita Haines lives here alone, she told me, and has since she inherited her mother's house five years ago. She rents out the bottom floor on a monthly basis, usually to graduate students. Her last tenant dropped out of their program last month, and moved to California. Because this area of the city is not zoned for rentals, the arrangements she makes are all unofficial. She has been seeking a new tenant for some weeks now. She was the fourth person I contacted from a list I have been collecting since I thought about coming to Portland. I don't know how long I will be here, but I can easily afford a month's rent. Haines is the first on my list who was still looking for a new tenant. I am here to examine the premise. If they are suitable, I can pay cash and move in immediately.
Haines calls out that she is coming a moment before she arrives at the door. She is a short, thin woman, with wisps of graying brown hair escaping a tight bun, and alert brown eyes. She is wearing a tight blue tank-top and black tights, revealing a well sculpted physique, and she is sweating slightly. She looks me over quickly, smiling but cautious.
"You must be Daniel?" She offers a hand, which I shake. It is always disconcerting to hear a stranger address me by my first name, let alone for them to smile so easily.
"That's me." I can fake a smile easily. I've had practice going through the motions. It's meaning these things that remains awkward. "Alita?"
"Last I checked! Well." She self-consciously runs a hand over her hair, smoothing back the wisps. "I was just in the middle of doing my Yoga, I guess I lost track of the time. Let me just go grab a sweater, and I'll show you what the downstairs is like."
"That's fine. I'd like to take a look around the yard anyway."
She seems a bit surprised. "Oh, alright. I've got a little herb garden out back, and the pine tree… There's not a whole lot there, but feel free to look. I'll meet you by the side door."
"Thank you." I nod, and she turns back inside. Standing on the stairs, the neighborhood seems very normal. I can see some children's toys scattered on neatly trimmed lawns, rows of older houses with garage additions big enough to house two cars. Most of the houses, like Haines's are in need of some repairs. I can just make out the sounds of traffic from the highway that passes through two blocks away, and the silhouette of the small shopping plaza that lies beyond.
I follow a worn path from the front walk around the side of the house, passing by the entrance to the apartment for now. The back yard is as she described: a lone pine tree stands along the property line, shading both this yard and the eastern neighbor's. The ground is carpeted with needles and short patchy grass, and there is a small herb garden growing along the northern boundary of the lot. The yard is fenced in on two sides by the neighbors, and a startled german shepherd barks warningly from the yard to the south at me as I come into view. Several other yards also have tall trees shading them. It is an unremarkable older neighborhood, and well suited to my current needs. I return to the side door, and meet Haines as she approaches with the key. She has thrown on a deep red sweater and a pair of well worn tennis shoes.
"Well?"
"It's nice. Is the dog friendly?"
"Charlie will shut up once he gets used to you being around. If you take the place, anyway." She unlocks the door, and holds it open for me.
The apartment is furnished. That was one of my requirements. I don't want to continue to stay at a hotel, or any other place where Xi might be too easily able to track me, but neither do I want to be tied down by unnecessary material possessions. The door opens into a living room, with a long grey sofa and a television in an otherwise empty entertainment cabinet, and a desk in the corner. There is an overhead light fixture as well as two freestanding lamps, but the room is sufficiently lit by the light coming in through the windows behind the sofa. They have mini-blinds, and blue flowered curtains, both of which are drawn open. Just beyond this is the kitchen, the room separate by a kitchen island and a switch from worn green carpeting to cream linoleum. The kitchen is small, but this doesn't bother me as I doubt I will use it much – I haven't prepared my own food since I was living with Anna. The appliances, range and refrigerator, are clean.
"The bathroom is actually through the bedroom. I know that is a little inconvenient, but that's how the pipes were set up." She shrugs apologetically, and I follow her for the rest of the tour. The entrance to the bedroom is in the living room, just to the left of the entertainment centre. There is a double bed, a tall dresser, and a freestanding wardrobe – no closet. Still, there should be more than enough room from my limited wardrobe. I walk past her into the bathroom. There is only a shower stall and no bathtub, of course, but it is fairly large, and clean. There is a mirrored medicine cabinet above the sink, and a shelving unit set into the wall above the toilet. The water runs clear in the taps, and the toilet flushes. It will serve.
"Is there a phone line down here?"
"Yes, but Lynn took the phone when she left… I've got a spare upstairs, but it's just a basic model." She shrugs. "I have the line down here in my name – I've just found it is easier to deal with that way, but if you want to make long distance calls, you'll have to get a calling card, or if you think you'll be here long, you could get it switched into your name."
She doesn't mean that. She's worried about getting caught renting out of zone, and she's trying to cover herself. I can see how she might have difficulty finding tenants, but it suits my needs perfectly. I nod. "It all seems fine. I can have the place today?"
"Well, I don't see why not, if you have the rent." She's smiling, and I can see relief as well as excitement in her eyes.
"I do… Is it going to be alright for me to park where I am now regularly?" This place has a small garage, but it is presumably occupied with Haines's vehicle. I parked on the street out front.
"Most days you can probably park in the driveway, if you prefer. I mostly bike, and I can let you know ahead of time if I'll need out."
"Alright, then." I reach for my wallet. I've already counted out the month's rent we'd agreed upon, and I pass her the bills.
"Cash?"
"I …don't trust banks." I have a large enough cash reserve that I'm not worried, for the moment, about running out. She seems to accept this, although she does hold one of the notes, a fifty, up to the light. I wonder if she knows what she is looking for. Lacking anywhere to put the money, she tucks it into the sleeve of her sweater.
"Well, I guess this is yours," she passes me the key to door and deadbolt, "and you can move your things in whenever you like. I'll bring you down the other phone later, and a sheet with some contact info."
"Thank you." She slips back out the way she came in, and I take the chance to look through the drawers. I should pick up some food, and sheets, at least, for the bed. I will need to call Anna, as well, to let her know where I am, and how she can contact me now. I wonder how long I will be here.
accomplished
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