1453B Annunciation St - WrightEytinge Residence

[Elda Forever]

Lilith's apartment was once simplistic to the utter extremes, and since her move in has the look of someone haphazardly tossing about personal objects in a random fashion. In all honestly, this has all been deliberate, in order to give the place a more homely feel in as short an amount of time as possible. There are paintings on the walls of unknown artists depicting mostly nature scenes in queer lightning. An unseemly and overstuffed couch mimicking the color of an egg placed in the middle of the living room held a gravity pull to it for all the resident's jackets, hats, and bags. Shelves lined the walls with books bought mostly for their looks, and in between were glass things Lilith had never been able to own when she was little. Snow globes were a common occurrence, as well as angels and fairies. The kitchen keeps to the simple, low-budget look, parts of it a faded yellow hue and parts of it steel or painted black. The strangest thing in the culinary section of the house was the bright red toaster that sat on the counter at all times, begging for a good cleaning but charming with all its nicks and stains.

Lilith's room is shut off most of the time, but her antique dresser holds about a dozen family photos in mismatched frames, all of them smiling faces. Above the creaky queen sized bed is a strange sepia-tone photo of a ballerina dancing, her own reflection in the mirrors and the million smiles fading off into the unending scope of the photo. If she stared at the photo long enough Lilith found she could see the photographer, peering over the enormous black device. Something about being able to see this unidentifiable figure in the middle of capturing such a moment made her like this picture above all the others.

There is a second-hand television and a DVD player in front of the ugly couch, with a speaker system of a little too much extravagance for the otherwise shabby décor of the apartment – she had taken an hour or two to fix up the surround sound in all the corners, shoving aside dust and nick nacks in order to achieve a more superior sound quality. She usually has soft rock or classical playing in the background.

[Elda Forever]

OOC: Lilith's outfit. BIC

Lilith Eytinge

Cassandra Wright. It was one of those really long, upper-class people names that came with a history. Lilith straightened up the living room for the fifteenth time, deciding that the place would always look pretty lived in. It felt empty, too, without the music playing across the house. Her new job was a relief, compared to her old attempts at bringing in money, but Lilith could immediately feel the tightening on her wallet, leaving her with no choice but to invite in a roommate to the new place. Not that she thought she would mind too much, having another voice around the house. She just hoped that this whole escapade wouldn't result in the two of them trying to strangle each other.

When the doorbell rang, Lilith dropped the throw pillow in her hand as if it was on fire and went to open the door, a smile breaking out across her face as she stepped back to let the redhead in. "Hi, I'm Lilith. It's Cassie, right?" She giggled a bit at the unintended pun. "I mean, Cassie, yes? Though that's kind of funny. Right, Wright..." Lilith rolled her eyes. "Sorry. I'm usually not that cheesy. I'm just super tired from work. I get the morning shift, and of course we're short on people, so I get extra kids tossed my way." She paused, adding, "Sometimes that's literal. Well, anyways, come on in!"

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: Cassie's outfit BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Cassie ran a hand through her hair absentmindedly, her other hand clutching the roommate ad as if it were a lifeline. Every few seconds her eyes would scan the doors of the apartments, searching for the right one. Her heart raced as she walked, more nervous than she could remember being in a while. She didn't know why, exactly--she didn't hate meeting new people, after all, and wasn't that all she was doing? Meeting her potential new roommate?

No. It's more than that. In her heart, Cassie regarded this as an audition, something that still struck fear into her heart and dug up her stupid stage fright. As much as Cassie liked being onstage, she doubted she would continue after the run of Kiss Me, Kate was finally finished--she couldn't handle the audition process. And to her, this was an audition of it's own--a trial period, getting to know each other as they sized each other up for potentially living together. It was an audition, and that terrified her.

Cassie stopped, smoothing down her dress and looking down at the ad again. Lilith Eytinge. Such a strange, exotic name, like a character in a movie or a book filled with dark corridors hiding secret romances, vampires, and long flowing skirts. Would this Lilith's personality match her name? Their phone conversation when Cassie had answered the ad had been brief, not long enough for Cassie to figure anything out about this strange girl who suddenly had need of a roommate. And what if she totally hates me? I'd much rather live by Erin and Yukito than with someone who doesn't like me, I don't care how much closer it is to home! I hate this, I...

She started walking again, shaking her head to try and alleviate some of her nervousness. Chances were that Lilith would be wonderful, she knew. Or at least pleasant. Cassie was just making a big deal out of nothing, right? She was being ridiculous, as she always was these days. I blame Erin for leaving. I'm convinced she somehow took my sanity to Japan with her.

Cassie slowed once again to read the numbers on the closed apartment doors. 1450...1451...there it was, up ahead. She took a deep breath before ringing the little doorbell, hearing the muffled chimes of it through the door.

A girl who looked only slightly older than Cassie answered the door, dressed far more casually than Cassie herself in jeans and a jacket. Cassie immediately blushed, embarrassed at being so overdressed, but something about the girl's friendly blue eyes and soft smile helped a bit. "Hi, I'm Lilith." Cassie only smiled as she stepped over the threshold of the door. "It's Cassie, right?"

Cassie nodded, watching as Lilith chuckled at her use of the word 'right.' It's not like I haven't heard it a million times before... "I mean, Cassie, yes? Though that's kind of funny. Right, Wright...Sorry. I'm usually not that cheesy. I'm just super tired from work. I get the morning shift, and of course we're short on people, so I get extra kids tossed my way. Sometimes that's literal. "

Cassie smiled. "It's okay. It's nice to meet you, Lilith. Where do you work?" she asked, curious as to what Lilith meant when she said kids were getting tossed at her.

"Well, anyways, come on in!"

Cassie stepped further into the apartment, glancing around with a curious but slightly wary look on her face. It was small yet seemed cozy enough, a little cluttered but not in an overwhelming way. She noted the paintings hanging on the walls, reminding her of the Monets that filled the walls of her dad's house, and the almost calming atmosphere the entire place had. It wasn't austere and intimidating, like her mother's house, nor was it trying to hard to be friendly and inviting. It was a nice mix. She turned back to Lilith. "I like your apartment," she said quietly, gesturing around. "It's very nice."

[Elda Forever]

Lilith Eytinge

The moment Lilith opened the door, she was fairly certain that Cassie would live up to her rich-girl name. She was dressed to go to a party, and of course held herself like a nervous girl looking for her first apartment. Lilith smiled warmly at her, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Hi, I'm Lilith." Cassie only smiled as she stepped over the threshold of the door. "It's Cassie, right?" She proceeded to rub in the fact that she made really bad, overdone jokes. She could only hope this wasn't a killing point in their little interview. "Sorry. I'm usually not that cheesy. I'm just super tired from work. I get the morning shift, and of course we're short on people, so I get extra kids tossed my way. Sometimes that's literal. "

Cassie smiled. "It's okay. It's nice to meet you, Lilith. Where do you work?" she asked, obviously curious.

"I work at the Head Start daycare center," She smiled, "Lots of kids, all of them three to six years old. And I love them, even they prefer more caveman forms of communicating their needs and wants than what I would prefer. Ooh...which reminds me... if you ever need any aspirin, I'm loaded." A pause, and then she added with a gesture to the apartment, "Well, anyways, come on in!"

Cassie stepped further into the apartment, looking around with wary eyes. "I like your apartment," she said quietly, gesturing around, still obviously in a nervous, polite mode. "It's very nice."

"Thank you," Lilith nodded, stepping toward the kitchen, "I was mistaken in thinking my job would cover expenses, so that's why I put out the ad. The numbers just weren't adding up. Anyways, I don't know if you have any furniture you'd want moved in or whatever, but you could just let me know, and I'll happily dump out some of my stuff." She jerked a thumb toward the egg-colored couch, then moved into the kitchen. "It's got a dishwasher, though you do have to rinse everything off if we have something with cheese or the like that sticks to the plates. Otherwise, it's run better than a lot of dishwashers I've used. The stove works great, and I've been meaning to buy a microwave to replace my old one that broke, but that's been pushed off the budget for the moment, so it's been yogurt for me for awhile now. Haha.." As she spoke, Lilith opened up cupboards and dishwashers and drawers, "It's all just your basic kitchen stuff, really."

She moved on easily to the second bedroom, which had just been emptied out. The carpet was still pretty new, with only a couple of faded stains in the closet, which had its rolling doors slid aside for viewing. There were two small windows letting in a decent amount of light. "This room was previously occupied by boxes and the worse part of the furniture which you see here, but they are yesterday's news now, so it's all empty and ready for a move-in. The walls were just repainted before I got in here, hence the paint-smell. I hope you don't mind that..."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

A thousand different panicked scenarios ran through Cassie's head as she waited for the stranger on the other side of the door, this Lilith, to open it and let her inside. They could hate each other on sight, the apartment could be an absolute hovel, Lilith could be some kind of criminal or crazy person or something. Or else the fault could lie with Cassie, and Lilith would kick her out for doing something stupid like leaving food out of the pantry or not knowing how to do laundry, or Cassie would forget to mention her food allergies and end up in the hospital. Lilith could be horrible. Lilith could be nice to the point of frustration. Cassie could act the same way without knowing it, and drive Lilith crazy. There were potentially hundreds of things that could go wrong with this meeting, with these new living arrangements, and to Cassie it was almost enough to make her want to run back home. But where is home, anyway? I've been living out of a suitcase for the last month, camping out on Erin and Yukito's floor. I haven't even started repacking yet because I don't want to go back to dad's, or mom's, or anything. Because I'm hoping this will work out so I don't have to go back. But I'm not sure! Where do I belong, really?

The reward for this, though, the freedom to not have to return to either house unless she wanted to, was the ultimate prize, however. It was the only thing that motivated Cassie to stay as she waited to be let inside.

Lilith answered the door finally, letting Cassie inside with a smile and an introduction, which Cassie shyly acknowledged with a smile. "It's Cassie, right?" Lilith began, before launching into an apology for the inevitable pun. Been there, done that. It's really not a big deal. Although it's nice to see that she's a little bit nervous too. "Sorry. I'm usually not that cheesy. I'm just super tired from work. I get the morning shift, and of course we're short on people, so I get extra kids tossed my way. Sometimes that's literal."

"It's okay," Cassie replied. "It's nice to meet you, Lilith. Where do you work?"

"I work at the Head Start daycare center," Lilith answered, causing a slightly wider, less shy smile to grace Cassie's features. "Lots of kids, all of them three to six years old. And I love them, even they prefer more caveman forms of communicating their needs and wants than what I would prefer. Ooh...which reminds me... if you ever need any aspirin, I'm loaded."

Cassie laughed. "That sounds kind of fun, actually," she said. "A little crazy, but fun. I'm just a boring college student, I don't do anything exciting like that." Following that remark, her prospective roommate invited Cassie further inside the apartment, and Cassie cast an appraising glance over the living room. "I like your apartment," she said politely. "It's very nice."

"Thank you," Lilith replied, moving to lead Cassie on a makeshift tour of the place. Cassie followed, gently placing her purse on the floor next to the door so she wouldn't have to deal with it. She wanted to just drop it on the couch--it looked like it needed some livening up, anyway--but she figured that would have been rude. See, maybe the rich girl upbringing can come in handy after all. I'm permanently terrified of making some social faux pas, so I'm constantly on alert so I don't. "I was mistaken in thinking my job would cover expenses, so that's why I put out the ad. The numbers just weren't adding up. Anyways, I don't know if you have any furniture you'd want moved in or whatever, but you could just let me know, and I'll happily dump out some of my stuff."

Cassie gave a little shrug. "Um, to be honest, I'm not really sure. I'm moving out of my parents' place for the first time, so I don't have a whole lot of furniture that's actually mine, you know? But maybe I could get some...I don't know..." she trailed off as Lilith led her into the quaint kitchen. "It's got a dishwasher, though you do have to rinse everything off if we have something with cheese or the like that sticks to the plates. Otherwise, it's run better than a lot of dishwashers I've used. The stove works great, and I've been meaning to buy a microwave to replace my old one that broke, but that's been pushed off the budget for the moment, so it's been yogurt for me for awhile now. Haha..It's all just your basic kitchen stuff, really."

"Oh, I can get a microwave if you want," Cassie offered. "If you're gonna be living with me, you're gonna need one." She gave her a sheepish grin. "I'm not the best cook. I can't do much except, like, fettucine alfredo, and stuff that comes out of a box. So a microwave might be useful."

They left the kitchen and went into an empty room, which Cassie assumed would be her own bedroom once she moved in. She looked around. The room itself was decent-sized, about the same size as the room she shared with Shelby at their dad's house. The closet was minuscule, however, and she did a quick mental inventory of what would fit and what wouldn't when she was finally settled in here. Since they'd begun living at Cassie's dad's on the weekends, the Wright sisters had become quite adept at living out of backpacks and duffel bags, but this was different. "This room was previously occupied by boxes and the worse part of the furniture which you see here, but they are yesterday's news now, so it's all empty and ready for a move-in. The walls were just repainted before I got in here, hence the paint-smell. I hope you don't mind that..."

She laughed. "Oh, definitely not. I'm kind of an artist, you see, so I don't mind the smell of paint at all." She looked at Lilith. "I really like this, and I'm pretty anxious to move out, if you know what I mean. So, do you want to figure out a day where I can move in, or should we get to know each other a bit first?" She blushed a little, lowering her voice. "Um...yeah, sorry. I'm not usually that blunt..."

[Elda Forever]

Lilith Eytinge

"I was mistaken in thinking my job would cover expenses, so that's why I put out the ad. The numbers just weren't adding up. Anyways, I don't know if you have any furniture you'd want moved in or whatever, but you could just let me know, and I'll happily dump out some of my stuff."

Cassie gave a little shrug. "Um, to be honest, I'm not really sure. I'm moving out of my parents' place for the first time, so I don't have a whole lot of furniture that's actually mine, you know? But maybe I could get some...I don't know..."

"Don't worry, I know how it is," she assured her. And in a way, she did. But she was sure the situation had been different for her than it had to be for Cassie. Lilith led the way to the kitchen, "It's got a dishwasher, though you do have to rinse everything off if we have something with cheese or the like that sticks to the plates. Otherwise, it's run better than a lot of dishwashers I've used. The stove works great, and I've been meaning to buy a microwave to replace my old one that broke, but that's been pushed off the budget for the moment, so it's been yogurt for me for awhile now. Haha..It's all just your basic kitchen stuff, really."

"Oh, I can get a microwave if you want," Cassie offered. "If you're gonna be living with me, you're gonna need one." She gave her a sheepish grin. "I'm not the best cook. I can't do much except, like, fettucine alfredo, and stuff that comes out of a box. So a microwave might be useful."

"I can only do a handful of things myself," Lilith said, returning an understanding grin. They exited the kitchen and Lilith showed Cassie the room that would be set aside for her. "This room was previously occupied by boxes and the worse part of the furniture which you see here, but they are yesterday's news now, so it's all empty and ready for a move-in. The walls were just repainted before I got in here, hence the paint-smell. I hope you don't mind that..."

She laughed. "Oh, definitely not. I'm kind of an artist, you see, so I don't mind the smell of paint at all."

Lilith's eyebrows raised, and a smile lighted on her lips, "Really? That's pretty cool. What kind of stuff do you make?"

"I really like this, and I'm pretty anxious to move out, if you know what I mean. So, do you want to figure out a day where I can move in, or should we get to know each other a bit first?" She blushed a little, lowering her voice. "Um...yeah, sorry. I'm not usually that blunt..."

Meanwhile, Lilith was grinning at her, "No, no, it's fine. I just didn't expect it to go this fast, you know? As far as I'm concerned, you can move in right away. We'll work out something for this month's payment, probably a partial split, or something like that? I have last month's bills around here, if you want to take a look at it...we're lucky enough that it comes in one big bulk of a payment, but they're pretty nice about due dates and all..." She shrugged, "I figure we can generally agree that, if it comes to wanting to kill each other, we can just call it off, right?"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

I'm moving out of my parents' place for the first time, so I don't have a whole lot of furniture that's actually mine, you know?" Cassie admitted, feeling childish and incredibly inexperienced in life beside Lilith. She can't be that much older than me, a year or so at least, but she just seems so much more...I don't even know. Like she knows more and I'm this sheltered little kid who's been tucked behind Mommy's skirts and given Mommy and Daddy's money all her life...and that's exactly what I am. Great. "But maybe I could get some...I don't know..."

"Don't worry, I know how it is," Lilith said. Somehow, Cassie found this incredibly reassuring, and she smiled at Lilith as she showed her the kitchen, remarking on the appliances and letting Cassie know that at the moment, the apartment was without a microwave. "Haha..It's all just your basic kitchen stuff, really," she finished. At that, Cassie immediately offered to provide a microwave, offering up her lackluster cooking skills as an excuse. I don't care what Erin said about my cooking, I still think I suck. And I don't want the two of us starving to death because neither of us can make a freaking meal... "I can't do much except, like, fettucine alfredo, and stuff that comes out of a box. So a microwave might be useful."

"I can only do a handful of things myself," Lilith admitted, and Cassie laughed. "That makes me feel a little better, then!"

Cassie followed Lilith into the spare bedroom, what would eventually become Cassie's if everything worked out well. "This room was previously occupied by boxes and the worse part of the furniture which you see here, but they are yesterday's news now, so it's all empty and ready for a move-in. The walls were just repainted before I got in here, hence the paint-smell. I hope you don't mind that..." At that, Cassie laughed out loud. "Oh, definitely not," she assured her. "I'm kind of an artist, you see, so I don't mind the smell of paint at all."

"Really? That's pretty cool. What kind of stuff do you make?"

Cassie offered up a shy smile. "A little of everything, pretty much...sketches and paintings and sometimes I try sculpture, but I'm not the best at that. And every so often I'll try fashion design, but I always have a hard time translating what I see in my head and what I draw on the page onto the fabric, you know? I used to do mostly landscapes and portraits and stuff, but now I'm experimenting with more abstract stuff...I still like drawing people though." She gave a shrug. "It all depends on the muse." On impulse, she changed the subject, hoping that Lilith had warmed up to her enough right now. "I really like this, and I'm pretty anxious to move out, if you know what I mean. So, do you want to figure out a day where I can move in, or should we get to know each other a bit first?" Cassie stopped, flustered, and immediately felt warmth rise in her face from embarrassment. "Um...yeah, sorry. I'm not usually that blunt..."

To her immense relief, though, Lilith only grinned broadly at her. "No, no, it's fine. I just didn't expect it to go this fast, you know?" Cassie's only response was a nervous little giggle as she shook her head. "As far as I'm concerned, you can move in right away. We'll work out something for this month's payment, probably a partial split, or something like that? I have last month's bills around here, if you want to take a look at it...we're lucky enough that it comes in one big bulk of a payment, but they're pretty nice about due dates and all..." She shrugged, "I figure we can generally agree that, if it comes to wanting to kill each other, we can just call it off, right?"

"Um..." Cassie said, looking down. Would now be an opportune time to mention she had no idea how to handle finances? "Splitting it sounds good to me, unless you can think of something else...I don't know how long it'll take me to pack, would me moving in next weekend work for you? I can get my sister to help me, and maybe some friends, and you can help too if you want, so you can get to know everybody..." she trailed off. "So, um, what do you like to do? Random question, I know, but I think we ought to get to know each other a little bit, you know? Since I feel like I just rambled on about myself incessantly..."

[Elda Forever]

Lilith Eytinge

At just the mention of the smell of paint bothering her, Cassie laughed. "Oh, definitely not," she assured her. "I'm kind of an artist, you see, so I don't mind the smell of paint at all."

"Really?” Lilith's eyebrows raised, genuinely interested. So she'd chanced across another artist. Funny how that kind of thing happened of its own accord. “That's pretty cool. What kind of stuff do you make?"

Cassie offered up a shy smile. "A little of everything, pretty much...sketches and paintings and sometimes I try sculpture, but I'm not the best at that. And every so often I'll try fashion design, but I always have a hard time translating what I see in my head and what I draw on the page onto the fabric, you know? I used to do mostly landscapes and portraits and stuff, but now I'm experimenting with more abstract stuff...I still like drawing people though." She gave a shrug. "It all depends on the muse."

“Awesome...” Lilith breathed in response, wondering how one girl could be so well-rounded and think it such a common thing to be talented in half a dozen different respects.

"I really like this, and I'm pretty anxious to move out, if you know what I mean. So, do you want to figure out a day where I can move in, or should we get to know each other a bit first?” Lilith looked at her in surprise, and Cassie added on, ”Um...yeah, sorry. I'm not usually that blunt..."

More like impulsive, I think. You are moving in with a practical stranger. Lilith just smiled. She believed everyone had good vibes and bad "No, no, it's fine. I just didn't expect it to go this fast, you know?" Cassie giggled, shaking her head. "As far as I'm concerned, you can move in right away. We'll work out something for this month's payment, probably a partial split, or something like that? I have last month's bills around here, if you want to take a look at it...we're lucky enough that it comes in one big bulk of a payment, but they're pretty nice about due dates and all..." She shrugged, "I figure we can generally agree that, if it comes to wanting to kill each other, we can just call it off, right?"

"Um..." Cassie said, looking down. "Splitting it sounds good to me, unless you can think of something else...I don't know how long it'll take me to pack, would me moving in next weekend work for you? I can get my sister to help me, and maybe some friends, and you can help too if you want, so you can get to know everybody..."

Lilith shrugged, “Whichever works for you.” She really had no current plans, other than the usual – work, laundry, trying to convince the landlord to let her have a dog or something to keep her company. She was interested in meeting Cassie's family and friend's, though she was sure they were the upper-class, enormous-house-with-forty-bedrooms type, and she wasn't sure she knew how to deal with that. But she was interested, just the same.

"So, um, what do you like to do? Random question, I know, but I think we ought to get to know each other a little bit, you know? Since I feel like I just rambled on about myself incessantly...”

Lilith's lips curved up in another smile. “You want coffee or anything? We can sit down for awhile and just, you know, talk...” She went to grab a couple of cups, adding, “I found out when I was little that, though I really liked to express myself artistically, but that I have no real talent for it.” Lilith sent Cassie a smirk, “So I prefer to just sit back and enjoy the creativity of others. So I'm a collector. I have my closet stuffed with just boxes of different paintings, sculptures, CDs and things. As for my spare time, when I get it...” She sat down on the overstuffed couch, clutching two cups and holding one out to Cassie, “I guess I like taking photos...” She took a sip. "Mostly of people. I like their faces, and I love those candid-type photos when the person has no idea you're capturing them forever in that single moment. I think it's beautiful, and quite difficult to do." She chuckled, "And I can possibly catch it, if I push the button fast enough. It's something that takes less talent and more chance and timing, I think. Which is nice of fate to give me."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"I really like this, and I'm pretty anxious to move out, if you know what I mean," Cassie said truthfully. You have no idea. "So, do you want to figure out a day where I can move in, or should we get to know each other a bit first?” At the look of surprise and maybe a little amusement that Lilith shot her way, Cassie slowed down, adding as both an afterthought and an apology, ”Um...yeah, sorry. I'm not usually that blunt..."

"No, no, it's fine. I just didn't expect it to go this fast, you know? As far as I'm concerned, you can move in right away," Inwardly, Cassie breathed a silent sigh of relief. Thank God. That makes this so much easier, it really does... "We'll work out something for this month's payment, probably a partial split, or something like that? I have last month's bills around here, if you want to take a look at it..."

In all honesty, Cassie didn't want to look at them. She hated numbers, always had. Math and finances took logic, problem solving skills, the ability to be rational. While people sometimes told her otherwise, Cassie considered herself to be the most irrational person in the universe. And logic? Figuring out the one right answer? Forget it--Cassie was an artist. What am I thinking? I've never done a budget before, never had to take care of my own money or anything. How am I gonna do this? I can't ask Dad or Shelby to help me, they'd just tell me not to leave, to stay with them...what are we going to do?

"...we're lucky enough that it comes in one big bulk of a payment, but they're pretty nice about due dates and all..." She shrugged, "I figure we can generally agree that, if it comes to wanting to kill each other, we can just call it off, right?"

That's a comforting thought, isn't it?

"Um...Splitting it sounds good to me, unless you can think of something else..." Cassie said, purposely trying to give as vague an answer as possible. I don't know how long it'll take me to pack, would me moving in next weekend work for you? I can get my sister to help me, and maybe some friends, and you can help too if you want, so you can get to know everybody..."

“Whichever works for you.”

Cassie nodded, mentally planning the whole operation. Shelby had already insisted on helping her, and she knew Erin wanted to... "So, um, what do you like to do?" she found herself asking out loud. "Random question, I know, but I think we ought to get to know each other a little bit, you know? Since I feel like I just rambled on about myself incessantly...”

“You want coffee or anything?" Lilith asked politely. Cassie nodded. "Sure, that sounds nice." "We can sit down for awhile and just, you know, talk...” As she spoke, she made her way back into the kitchen, fetching coffee cups for the two of them. “I found out when I was little that, though I really liked to express myself artistically, but that I have no real talent for it. So I prefer to just sit back and enjoy the creativity of others. So I'm a collector. I have my closet stuffed with just boxes of different paintings, sculptures, CDs and things."

Cassie laughed, taking a seat on the couch. "Yeah, I sort of collect stuff too, although mine probably isn't as nice as yours...maybe the right word for me is a pack rat." She chuckled.

"As for my spare time, when I get it...” Lilith handed Cassie her coffee as she came back. Cassie sipped at it, smiling to herself as she remembered how only a short time ago she had hated coffee. Somehow, the last semester of her senior year, she had magically developed a liking for it, just as every coffee-addicted adult she knew had warned her would happen. “I guess I like taking photos...Mostly of people. I like their faces, and I love those candid-type photos when the person has no idea you're capturing them forever in that single moment. I think it's beautiful, and quite difficult to do. And I can possibly catch it, if I push the button fast enough. It's something that takes less talent and more chance and timing, I think. Which is nice of fate to give me."

"I totally know what you mean!" Cassie cried. "The first time I talked to my best friend, I drew her picture because the look on her face was just so perfect that I had to record it somehow. I think you have the better end of the deal because you can capture their expressions so quickly, you know, since it takes so long to draw a picture and make it look just right but it's basically the same thing, you know? It's really an awesome feeling."

[Elda Forever]

OOC: Wrapping this up because it is sooo old. I am so, so sorry it's been so long! Seriously. DX BIC:

Lilith Eytinge

“I found out when I was little that, though I really liked to express myself artistically, but that I have no real talent for it. So I prefer to just sit back and enjoy the creativity of others. So I'm a collector. I have my closet stuffed with just boxes of different paintings, sculptures, CDs and things." Lilith and Cassie both found themselves falling comfortably into the couch, its ugly and welcoming arms offering a sort of reprieve from the awkward stances of a new friendship.

Cassie laughed, taking a seat on the couch. "Yeah, I sort of collect stuff too, although mine probably isn't as nice as yours...maybe the right word for me is a pack rat." She chuckled.

Lilith smiled, sipping her coffee and shrugging. 'Junk' was such a malleable term. "As for my spare time, when I get it...” she continued, “I guess I like taking photos...Mostly of people. I like their faces, and I love those candid-type photos when the person has no idea you're capturing them forever in that single moment. I think it's beautiful, and quite difficult to do. And I can possibly catch it, if I push the button fast enough. It's something that takes less talent and more chance and timing, I think. Which is nice of fate to give me."

"I totally know what you mean!" Cassie cried. "The first time I talked to my best friend, I drew her picture because the look on her face was just so perfect that I had to record it somehow. I think you have the better end of the deal because you can capture their expressions so quickly, you know, since it takes so long to draw a picture and make it look just right but it's basically the same thing, you know? It's really an awesome feeling.”

“Yes, but I think photography has more to it than most think. I have poured for hours over a lost shot because of bad lighting or not paying attention to the surroundings. Plus, it's hard to get creative...you will always have your own style, and you can change a portrait to suit you however you like and truly compliment it. I am – sadly - left with whatever I manage to catch in the rush of a moment.” Lilith sighed, then smiled. “There are ups and downs to both, I suppose. I have a very good feeling about this, Cassie...” Her smile softened, then, weakened by the returning revelation that she was, in part, eager for Cassie's company around the house because it had been so long since she had shared a house with anybody. Her last roommates felt a lifetime ago...

Their time sped by with tentative but enjoyable chatter in getting to know each other more, and Lilith promised to send by the proper paperwork the next day, and gave Cassie her number and email address to contact her by. They said their goodbyes for the day, and when Cassie had gone Lilith fell onto her bed with a sigh, happy to have not found a freak for a roommate.

I believe we are done with this interaction, as long as Poppy has anything else to add to it!

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Okay, so maybe in retrospect the run had been a bad idea.

School had been piling up again, and yet in a completely different way than it had in high school. Midterms were just around the corner, and Cassie was wondering if she would ever get out of this weird slump. Since the fire, she'd been finding it harder to focus, her mind wandering as she tried to study or work on projects or even drive. Meeting Cat had helped save her artists' muse, so to speak, and for a while Cassie had allowed herself to feel hopeful that this meant it was the end, that she was finally coming back to her old self--back into the light, as it were, and it had been an amazing feeling. She had gone home and actually been able to finish another drawing, staying up until four in the morning working and finally feeling like herself again. She'd slept through her morning classes the next day, but in her mind it was worth it.

But a few days after leaving the coffee shop, the slump had returned. She couldn't sit still, couldn't focus, couldn't breathe when she tried to draw, and it scared her. Scared her enough to go to the hospital, even, to check to see if there were some delayed side effects to the smoke inhalation or something. She had been sent home with a clean bill of health, but her artist's block still remained, gnawing away at her until she'd been too frustrated to focus on anything at all. She couldn't draw. She couldn't work. She couldn't do anything. She had to get out of that house. She had to focus on something that she knew she could actually do, something she could achieve on her own and something that she knew would never be taken away from her, no matter what the situation.

Cassie went for a run.

She didn't think she'd ever run as far and as fast as she had that day, pushing herself far past her limit. Six miles, not stopping once. Six miles she'd run past the artist's block, past her anxieties about school, past her anger at her mother and father and stepmother and sister. She'd run past her jealousy of Erin's wedding, past her insecurities about her art, past her confusion over Kagayaki and Clarence and Cat. She'd left it all behind and never looked back once.

Now, though, she regretted it.

Cassie stood shivering in the shower, her breaths still heaving after her intense run. She hadn't felt the freezing chill of the February air so much while she'd been outside, but now it seemed impossible to escape from. She stayed beneath the hot water for as long as it would let her, only turning it off when she was sure there wasn't anymore warmth to be found. She dried off and dressed as quickly as she could, throwing on the warmest clothes she owned and running out into the kitchen with her hair still wet and dripping behind her. She slipped her freezing feet into a pair of thick plush slippers and set the teakettle on the stove, searching through the cabinets for a packet of hot chocolate mix as she heard the front door open behind her.

[Elda Forever]

Lilith Eytinge

The grocery shopping had gone much nicer today than previously. No trouble at the checkout with having no money, no being left out in the cold for a ridiculous amount of time. No random run-ins with past boyfriends that would drive her to tears. And she'd found a couple of non-flammable treats that her and Cassie certainly couldn't wreck miserably. Totally safe, non-threatening treats. It was a little difficult unloading it all herself, though she couldn't be promised Cassie would be home. It was more of a random wandering in and out of the house between them, which is the way Lilith preferred it. It was the way things were at Sanctuary...

She stumbled her way up the front walk and unlocked the door, shuffling five or six bags of groceries, the handles stretched to the limit around her arms like enormous, bulky bracelets as she turned the handle and practically fell inside. She had a set of bulky headphones around her neck, the volume turned up to create a pair of portable speakers as she walked, and Blue Oyster Cult's Godzilla crooned while she turned to close the door. "Hey, Cassie-andra, I'm back!" she called out, reasserting her bags for the last short trek across the living room, dropping the bags onto the counter.

Cassie was already there, her hair wet and dangling down her back in thick tendrils while she searched the cupboards for something. When she turned, Lilith let out a giggle, seeing her outfit fully for the first time. "What is that?" she pointed to the strange sweater, black with a couple of yellow stripes and trail of red bus-type things across her chest. "I think I had a sweater with buses on it when I was in fourth grade..."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

She shivered as she searched through cabinets, her wet hair serving to only make her colder as she tried to find the elusive hot chocolate. Even bundled up in thick socks and plush slipper-boots, Cassie's feet were so cold they were beginning to hurt, and she dimly wondered about things like frostbite and losing toes. Wouldn't that just be the cherry on top of this wonderful day, week...life of mine? Who knows, maybe it would help. Van Gogh cut off an ear to suffer for his art. Maybe losing a few toes would make me able to draw again.

She chuckled darkly to herself as she looked through a few more cabinets, not finding anything even remotely resembling cocoa. Cassie was about to improvise and just make her own by melting down some Hershey bars she'd found and mixing them with the last of the milk when she heard the key in the lock of the door, but didn't turn around as Lilith stumbled inside, accompanied by a faint chorus of 80s music and the crinkling of plastic bags. "Hey, Cassie-andra, I'm back!" her roommate called as she shut the front door behind her, crossing the apartment to set the precarious grocery bags on the counter.

"Hey!" Cassie answered with a smile, standing up and turning to face her. "Groceries! If you tell me that you got hot chocolate, Lilith, you'll be my favorite person on the planet. No pressure." Laughing a little, she walked over to the shopping bags, opening them up to continue her search and putting away Lilith's purchases as she did so. "Here, let me help." Things like milk and orange juice--a must-have for Cassie every morning--were put directly into the fridge, while the things that didn't need to be refrigerated were shoved into cabinets or just left on the counter to be dealt with later.

Lilith's eyes fell on Cassie's sweater, and a giggle escaped her lips as her face lit up. "What is that?" Cassie looked down as Lilith pointed to her sweater, remembering all at once how hideous the thing was. "I think I had a sweater with buses on it when I was in fourth grade..."

Cassie gave a snort, putting a box of cereal into the cupboard. "Don't be hating. My stepmother gave me this for Christmas. The woman might have the fashion sense of a five-year-old--which, fun fact, is the age difference between her and me, how awesome is that?--but this thing is toasty. Feel how soft this is!" she cried, holding out her arm so Lilith could feel the soft fabric of the sweater. "This sweater is the reason I'm not dying of hypothermia before your very eyes. Besides, it's quirky." Her eyes fell to Lilith's outfit and she laughed. "At least it has color in it. You look like you could go sing backup for Evanescence with that outfit," she said, her eyes sparkling to let Lilith know she was kidding. "But then again, you don't look like a kindergartener. So maybe you do have the better end of the deal here."

[Elda Forever]

Lilith Eytinge

"Hey!" Cassie greeted, sending her a smile, "Groceries! If you tell me that you got hot chocolate, Lilith, you'll be my favorite person on the planet. No pressure." They laughed, and Lilith sent her a grin as she reached into one of the bags and pulled out two blue boxes.

“Marshmallows or no? Things went smoother this time, so I splurged.”

"Here, let me help." They started putting the groceries away, when Lilith noticed Cassie's sweater and made the comment that she hadn't worn anything quite like that since fourth grade. Cassie gave a snort, putting a box of cereal into the cupboard. "Don't be hating. My stepmother gave me this for Christmas. The woman might have the fashion sense of a five-year-old--which, fun fact, is the age difference between her and me, how awesome is that?--but this thing is toasty.Feel how soft this is!" she cried, holding out her arm so Lilith could feel the soft fabric of the sweater. Lilith obliged, commenting that it was, soft, but her amused smile remained. "This sweater is the reason I'm not dying of hypothermia before your very eyes. Besides, it's quirky." Her eyes fell to Lilith's outfit and she laughed. "At least it has color in it. You look like you could go sing backup for Evanescence with that outfit," Lilith stuck her tongue out at Cassie, untangling a box of pop tarts from the handle of a bag. "But then again, you don't look like a kindergartener. So maybe you do have the better end of the deal here."

“Perhaps,” Lilith replied, smirking as she put the last of the Spaghettio's in the cupboard. “So what's this about hypothermia? We can turn the heat up if you want...It's pretty chilly out anyways.”

Turning to Cassie and inspecting her for a minute, she pursed her lips and thought, “You know, I might have some extra sweaters for you to borrow, you don't look like you're too far from my size...want to see?”

She led the way to her room, a place she hadn't often brought Cassie after the move-in. Moving around the bed, she opened up the walk-in closet to reveal that it was full to the brim, and then some. She had several organizers of shoes on the ground, and clips and hangers hanging from the door with her most commonly-used accessories. With a half-embarrassed, half-proud smile, she turned to Cassie and flipped on the light. “Yeah, I know. I'm obsessed. But at least I don't spend a ton of money on it. I can be thrifty and obsessed!” She moved forward to the sweater section, pulling out a few options and tossing them onto the bed with little clinking noises of the hangers.

“Don't ask,” she murmured, throwing a fuzzy, longish black jacket onto the bed. “It was an experiment, and it's cozy. This,” she said, pulling out a thick black jacket, “Is not as comfortable, but warm, and it comes with this red belt and hat.” She moved onto a loose, grey number. “This is very comfortable, not very warm, though it looks great on most everybody. It's like a magic sweater.” She giggled, then went, “Ah! How about this? It's much warmer than it looks.”

She stepped back from the closet to inspect the pile of other sweaters she's found, making enough of a pile to stuff a garbage bag already. Gesturing toward the pile, she happily offered, “Take your pick, or feel free to dig through my collection, if you wish!”

Lilith flopped onto the clearest spot on the bed, bouncing a little as she tugged her sleeves of her shirt up over her hands a bit. “I make most of them, or at least rework them from thrift store outfits. A few of them are pretty treasure finds, though. Like the knitted sweaters and stuff.”

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Together they worked to get the groceries put away, Cassie playfully defending the hideous bus sweater by daring Lilith to feel the fabric. Say what you like about Ilaria, but her gifts do have some practical applications...unfortunately that's just about all they're good for. It was a little weird, to be honest, that this 23-year-old girl her father had married turned out to have the taste of either a 75-year-old woman or an elementary schooler. To each their own, I guess, but...sometimes I wonder about her. Granted, sometimes I wonder about Dad, too.

Lilith ran her fingers along Cassie's sleeve, but remained unconvinced. Cassie tried again. "This sweater is the reason I'm not dying of hypothermia before your very eyes. Besides, it's quirky. At least it has color in it. You look like you could go sing backup for Evanescence with that outfit," Lilith stuck her tongue out at Cassie as she put away a box of poptarts, and Cassie returned the gesture. "But then again, you don't look like a kindergartener. So maybe you do have the better end of the deal here."

“Perhaps,” Lilith replied with a smirk. “So what's this about hypothermia? We can turn the heat up if you want...It's pretty chilly out anyways.”

Cassie looked down, giving an embarrassed sort of grimace. "Uh...I sort of decided it would be a good idea to go for a run. In thirty-degree weather. Six miles of it, actually. Yeah, not my finest hour. I'm gonna be so sore later, too..."

Lilith looked deep in thought as she watched Cassie, who was close to growing uncomfortable under her gaze. It was if she was being scrutinized for something, but she didn't know what. “Yeah, I know. I'm obsessed. But at least I don't spend a ton of money on it. I can be thrifty and obsessed!”

Cassie broke into a smile. "That would be awesome, if you don't mind. A lot of my warm stuff was actually at my dad's, and it kind of got reduced to ashes in the fire..." she gave a little shrug. "And I have some at my mom's, but I keep putting off actually going over there to get it. Thanks."

She followed Lilith curiously into her room, which was still slightly unfamiliar to her. Their relationship as roommates was an interesting one--they talked and hung out and watched movies together and stuff, but for the most part it sometimes felt like they lived completely separate existences. She cast an appraising eye around the room before moving to sit tentatively on the bed, watching as Lilith opened what turned out to be a pretty packed closet. Cassie's eyes widened at the abundance of shoes, scarves, belts, dresses... "Woah!" she cried, laughing in approval. "Lilith Eytinge, secret fashionista!"

“Yeah, I know. I'm obsessed. But at least I don't spend a ton of money on it. I can be thrifty and obsessed!”

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with obsessions like this," Cassie said as Lilith began tossing sweaters and jackets onto the bed, describing each in turn before she moved onto the next. “Don't ask,” she said of the first jacket, which felt almost like a feather boa when Cassie ran her hand across the collar. “It was an experiment, and it's cozy. This, is not as comfortable, but warm, and it comes with this red belt and hat.” This too was thrown Cassie's way before Lilith focused on another sweater, this time grey. “This is very comfortable, not very warm, though it looks great on most everybody. It's like a magic sweater. Ah! How about this? It's much warmer than it looks.” This last one looked rather thin and had a deep V-neck, but also looked the most comfortable of the bunch, like something you would wear while relaxing in front of the fire on a Sunday afternoon.

Cassie gave another laugh, shaking her head. "Wow. I am impressed. I'm gonna get them all wet from my hair, though, hold on. I'll be right back." She jumped off the bed and ran towards her own room, grabbing a hair clip and pulling her hair up into a bun. When she came back, she looked over her options, finally settling first on the V-neck, slipping it over her head then covering that with the first jacket Lilith had thrown her way. "Wow, these are awesome..."

“Take your pick, or feel free to dig through my collection, if you wish! I make most of them, or at least rework them from thrift store outfits. A few of them are pretty treasure finds, though. Like the knitted sweaters and stuff.”

Cassie crept over to the closet, one hand holding the jacket tightly around her for added warmth while the other browsed the variety of clothes inside. "I'm so jealous...I've tried to make things, but it always turns out looking like a seventh-grade home ec project."