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 Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 5:03 pm
The last two days had been rough days for Joshua Harvey.
No, really.
He felt like s**t - both physically and emotively - after having to run away from his mother. He'd emptied his bank account, just in case they thought to freeze or close it now that he was pretty much a runaway.
But now Joshua was a 16 years old with pretty much the clothes on his back, the money in his wallet, an invitation to a fancy school, and no roof on his head.
Yelp.
He powered up to contact Leto quickly - she didn't have space anymore, with both Navi and Thule, but Veer could probably take him, she'd said.
...Wait.
VEER ?
Oh boy. Really, he hadn't quite expected that, through... Ultimately, it was a boon.
And of course, in the time he got to the redhead's apartment building, it had started to rain. And this was the story of how a drenched 16 years old teenager was now knocking on Veer's door, hoping that he could, at least, take him in for a week or two.
He didn't fancy sleeping on a park bench.
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Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 8:20 pm
Veer wasn't exactly a common name; it stuck out in the memory, most likely, as slightly weird. Just like its owner. Joshua'd have to ring the buzzer up to the proper apartment and wait five minutes huddled against the wall in the rain before Veer came down to let him in, keychain rattling in his hand and hair flopping forward into his eyes.
It was immediately apparent that yes, this was the same guy, even if the clothes were different. In space, he'd been wearing pieced-together outfits made of whatever the senshi brought up. Somewhat ill-fitting jeans, too-big shirts, bland sneakers -- there was none of that here. The wildly bright plaid of his pants clashed a bit with the logo on his t-shirt, his boots heavy and clunky with flames licking up the toes.
He was frowning as he cracked the door to let Joshua in where it was dry, but the expression rapidly shifted to something puzzled, and then clicked into recognition. Of all the people who he'd met in space...
"No s**t, man. Seriously?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 10:46 am
Joshua waited... And waited... And by the time Veer finally made his way down to open the door for him, the black-haired teen had almost fused with the wall in a vain attempt to shield himself from the rain, and had pulled out his cheap cellphone to give Quinn another call.
Thankfully, the door opened before he could hit call, and Joshua looked up.
Yup.
Veer. Not that he expected there were a million Veers in Destiny City to begin with - and he seemed just as surprised to see him than he'd been, earlier.
The different clothes didn't seem to throw him off too much. Joshua was also dressed pretty differently - still jeans, but a checkered buttonup shirt and black army boots.
It was kind of a mismatch of random styles that all but screamed Joshua to anyone who knew him well, really, but that was neither here or there.
"Yeah, that was pretty much what I said too." In retrospect... Really, who else did he know with hair like that ?
And exactly how many black haired boys with a scar like his did Veer know ?
Damn, that magic had to be strong juju. "Did Quinn tell you what's up ?" Well, the door hadn't closed right on his face. Had to be a good sign, right ?
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 6:52 am
"That you're a hobo? Yeah, she said something like that." He held the door open for Josh to slip in past him, to get a little dryer, perhaps -- but Veer also leaned back out of the way as he passed, to keep himself dry. Charity and good will only went so far, really.
"It'll be tight, since I've got Wossname now staying with me, too..." The door closed rather firmly, decisively, behind Joshua, and Veer looked him over. The kid looked rather s**t. And rather young, actually, which gave Veer a slightly-inflated sense of ego. As if that was anything new.
He started for the stairs without offering to take any bags. He was doing enough already. "But whatever, man. At least you'll be dry."
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 2:26 pm
Joshua frowned slightly at the hobo comment, but really - that was pretty much the reality of the situation. He certainly couldn't blame Veer for calling it what it was.
"Yeah, I just need some time to figure things out." Some place to rent, a job, that new school he'd gotten an invitation for... "I shouldn't be hogging your couch too long, if things go well."
He just needed to stop for a moment. Breathe. Process all the s**t that had happened. "Thanks, seriously."
It wasn't like he needed any help to carry the one bag he'd made his getaway with, strapped on his shoulder. Really, he was soaking wet, not dying.
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Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:30 am
"Uh. Well, actually, about the couch..." He hesitated on the top stair, fingers strumming against the railing, and shot a look back down at Joshua. The kid looked so pathetic, right now. He needed a drink, maybe, as much as anything else. Or a shower, if he wanted to be lame. Maybe a bowl of soup; Veer thought he might have some Campbell's tomato somewhere in a closet.
"Well, I mean, you'll have to share, or bundle up on the floor, I guess." He kicked back into motion, fishing around in his pockets for keys.
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:16 pm
A shower was actually quite high on Joshua's list of priorities, as lame as Veer would think him to be for it. Or at least a change of clothing.
Veer was pretty spot on - Joshua looked much like a lost puppy who'd just been told he couldn't go back home ever again.
"Ah.. Yeah, I can just sleep on the floor." Famous last words ? Perhaps.
Through really, if he was offered a drink, well, he certainly wouldn't refuse.
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Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:14 pm
Joshua was definitely going to regret that statement the second they stepped through Veer's door, keys rattling in his hands. It looked very much like a banchelor's pad. It looked worse than, in fact; garbage cans overflowing and old boxes in piles, clothing draped over chairs, papers everywhere. And this was after he'd cleaned up some for Pascal, after he'd started sorting things out to make some room.
His own bedroom was worse but -- Joshua wouldn't get to look in there.
"Uh. Yeah, I guess so. Um. Couch..." He pointed at it, currently unfolded. Pascal's place to sleep, for the time being. "Well, I guess we could fold it up, if you want. Kitchen's over there, bathroom, there's some towels somewhere, I guess..."
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Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 9:18 pm
Yep. Joshua regretted that statement immediately, the very second he stepped inside the apartment proper. The general clutter didn't bother him, but overflowing trash cans ? Seriously ?
Ugh, maybe after he cleaned it, the floor would be okay...
Man.
"Yeah, im... gonna go take a shower, if you don't mind." Hopefully the bathroom was better, but really... Still better than a park bench.
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:54 pm
No. The bathroom wouldn't be much better. There were pharmaceuticals everywhere, advil and allergy pills and bactine and neosporin and everything anyone could ever need. Most of it expired. None of it put away in the shelves, it just sat out on the sink and threatened to tip into the toilet. Joshua was lucky if the towels were clean -- but Veer gestured for him to have at, hands shoved into his pockets and eyes surveying the place.
"There's food and stuff in the kitchen, too. Leftover pizza and a lot of Mountain Dew, so." He shrugged, waiting somewhat uncomfortably.
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 9:18 pm
"Thanks." He said, and meant it. Even if he certainly would not lack in motivation to look for his own place... Well, it wasn't like Veer had to take him in at all. He could have just as well slammed the door in his face and told him that he'd already had someone, to go elsewhere. Joshua was grateful, really.
...Even as he'd accidentally knocked a bottle of advil in the toilet, had to fish it out (thankfully, though, the toilet had been flushed - lucky shot ? Perhaps.) and he had to fish deep for one clean towel.
He was pretty sure he would have to clean the towels with his laundry. Sigh.
He eventually did emerge from the shower, looking much more like an human being and with clothes that weren't dripping all over, and he looked around for a mop to clean his water puddles, subconsciously.
...He hoped there was one. Pizza and mountain dew, well, Josh couldn't be too surprised. Mountain Dew was the Drinks Of The Nerds.
Which means that yes, he drank a lot of it.
"So, uh, you want me to help with rent while im here ? Hopefully it won't take me too long to find a job..." He offered, clearly nervous. He'd never had to work here. He has zero references. This could be tricky.
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:29 am
Hah. A mop. In Joshua's dreams; had Veer ever mopped his floor? Had he ever bothered? Some digging, perhaps, would find an unopened Swiffer in the back of a closet filled with more junk than anyone could ever possibly need. But it'd take some digging, and it definitely wasn't going to happen now.
By the time he came out, Veer had settled back down at his own desk with one foot against the desk, leaning forward over it to read something on his screen. His room was dark, except for the glow of the computer, and that was probably for the best -- murky shapes on the floor and desk were likely things Joshua didn't want to see.
His eyes twitched up at the question, unfocused for a moment, trying to haus his concentration from one thing to another.
"Sure, whatever." And failing. Obviously, he hadn't quite processed the question.
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Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:38 am
...Yeah, this was going to be interesting, to say the least. Still, Joshua knew all the signs of 'I haven't listened to a damn word you said', so he'd just ask again when Veer was less focused on... whatever this was.
...Looked like WoW, vaguely. Damn. That sure brought back memories.
Eventually he just gave up and went back to grap a towel. This would have to do.
Then, he settled near the couch and rummaged through his bag for a shitty little pay-as-you-go phone, still in plastic wrapping and all. Better get started, then.
He'd go see if the pizza was still edible later.
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