3 ♡ video

[dragony]

[ The feed opens up with a young woman in what is presumably her apartment. Muted daylight streams in from an off-screen window, tinged bluish-gray for drizzling rain (also heard, though not seen). If not for this cast of color, the wall behind her would be a recently-painted white; it bears no decoration or ornament aside from this fresh coat. As for the focus of the broadcast: an Asian girl in her late teens sits, straight-backed and tense-shouldered, giving her communicator (though not its camera) a focused stare. The most striking thing about her is her hair, of course: a pale, unnatural-seeming sea foam shade of green, with her long fringe swept to comb over her left eye. Beneath that curtain of hair can be seen the lower edge of a red swatch of fabric. The down-turned corner of her visible eye—iris an off-gold color—would make even a neutral expression seem sad.

This is a new and exciting change of pace — if you know anything about the person currently broadcasting. ]

There we are. [ Murmured words; Ruka finally meets gaze with the camera, but gives no smile in greeting. ] So, I'll do my best to keep this brief: I'm looking for a new roommate.

[ Her voice is middling-low in pitch, steady and bored, and her slight accent sounds more closely related to an English-speaking European inflection than an American one. ]

It's a two-bedroom in Maurtia Falls. Not unspeakably far from this town's Porter. We only signed the lease a couple weeks ago, so it's still very new. Full range of kitchen appliances. All of them still work. One bathroom. Not very lived in, yet, if that matters to you.

[ Ruka reaches forward, taking hold of the communicator. She rotates it in a slow three-sixty pan of the living room while she talks. It's very bare: there's the couch she's sitting on, a window, a bookshelf against one wall; a coffee table with two coasters, no cups; the front door, with a coat rack beside it; a partition, then the dining area, possessing a table with three chairs and space for a missing fourth; a wall, panning to the entrance of a darkened hallway, then to another wall; Ruka again. It's a small apartment, and if it weren't for the fact Ruka were in the broadcast, it wouldn't look lived in at all. ]

It's not very big, but it's a lot quieter than living with four other people. The weather is much better up here. It's terrible, I mean, but even so, it's a lot better than the humidity of Heropa.

I moved in with a friend, but he's been exPorted; we have a couple months' rent already paid for, but, it's not a place I can afford to keep by myself, and I'd rather not break the lease, either. Any interested person may apply; I'm not too picky, really. I'd prefer someone closer to my age, but that's not a deal-breaker. I don't mind if you're not human. If you turn out to be a serial killer, though, I don't want to find body parts in the freezer.

[ That's obviously a joke.

... Right......? ]

If you're interested, let me know. My name's Ruka.

Thanks.

Comments

[video]

[glassinine]

[ A bit quietly: ]

Who was it who left?

[dragony]

Karkat Vantas.

[ With the same level tone as before; whatever feelings she has about him, or his departure, are absent from a voice like that. ]

Gray skin, rounded horns. Shouted a lot.

[glassinine]

I was familiar with him.

[ He takes a breath. ]

I'm sorry, Ruka. I know he was important to you.

[dragony]

It's alright. [ Her shoulders rise for a shrug, but—like most of her physical gestures—it's brought about by practice ] I can't say I wasn't expecting it, eventually.

text.

[glowsferatu]

I Could Take Up His Share
You Know
Just In Case
Or If Theres Any Delay In Acquiring A Tenant

[dragony]

That's very kind of you, Kanaya.

[ What's the catch?? ]

[glowsferatu]

[ the catch is all on kanaya's side, quasi-familial obligations. ]

It Was Something He Committed To
Now That He Isnt Here To See It Through It Wouldnt Be Fair That Youre Left Falling Behind

video;

[godly]

[Light doesn't have much to offer other than his condolences. He hesitates, since it appears to be that's hardly what Ruka is looking for -- but after a moment, he decides to activate the video feed on his end.]

I'm sorry about your friend.

[dragony]

Thank you.

[ He's exactly right on the money—but his offer doesn't dig in as personally. ]

That's... probably not the right thing to say, but I appreciate it.

[godly]

[He just nods, unsure of exactly how much sympathy to offer. He's keen on reading others, and he takes a moment to consider her expression before responding.]

It's a difficult position to be put in, but hopefully you won't have trouble finding another roommate. It doesn't appear to be a hard sell, given the peace and quiet.

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[ktfod]

Hey Ruka. [A greeting, a nod.]

New room mate? So you're in housing unsanctioned by the government then?

[dragony]

[ She nods back in greeting, but jumps right into the conversation. ]

That's right. Well, I suppose it's more correct to say, we're not being paid for by the government to live here, like we were in Heropa. We rented the place legally.

[ktfod]

Hm, guess it makes it a bit harder to keep up then. I almost did that, but then they made it pretty easy to transfer- though, I guess we'll still get room mates sometime soon.

Sorry to hear about your roommate though.

video

[ectomy]

I've never been good at living with someone else.

[ That's certainly helpful... ]

[dragony]

[ Maybe... that's his way of expressing interest?? Better investigate this. ]

Oh? Why is that, do you know?

[ectomy]

I think it has something to do with clashing personalities. Of those sharing the house. One person likes it one way, another one thinks it should be something entirely else. It just makes things... problematic.

[ Honesty is the best policy! ]

audio;

[pyms]

[ He wasn't sure if he should say anything but to hell with it. ]

I'm not roommate material but if there's anything else, kiddo, let me know.

[dragony]

[ "kiddo" >:[ ]

There's nothing I can think of, just yet. But, thank you.

[pyms]

[ anyone shorter than him is a kid, deal with it ]

Any time. You're going to be alright.

Video

[motherflocker]

Maurtia Falls?

What can you tell me about it, other than the terrible weather?

[dragony]

Honestly, I haven't had a chance to see too much of it. The lack of overbearing sun was a pretty big selling point, for me. [ long sleeves 4 lyfe!! ]

There's a much better selection of restaurants, though.

[motherflocker]

Indeed. Does it rain as much as they say it does?

[ He's been watching the city, after all. ] And how is the nightlife? As someone who has perhaps seen some of it.

voice;

[waiting]

[ Hard to know where to start with this one; they haven't spoken in an age, and Bradbury's gotten used to keeping the caring close to home. Well, maybe he could start with the basic: ]

Why move to Maurtia Falls? Not exactly the first place that comes to mind if you want a change of scenery.

[dragony]

They were one of the few places that actually called us back. [ She shrugs. ] And it seemed far enough away from the center of everything, that it might be so...

Well.

You know.

[waiting]

Not many places would let a pair of teenagers rent an apartment. [ He assumes her friend was close to her age, anyway. Which brings him to another point. ]

Maurtia Falls isn't exactly the place I'd think of when I want to get away from it all.