Summary:Tim and Steph search for a place of their own. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
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Tim has never hunted for an apartment before; even while he was in France, he just stayed with the dorms, nice and simple. And he's certainly never hunted for an apartment with his girlfriend before. Yet, that's exactly what they're doing this afternoon, now classes are done. They've taken a table at Cafe Wha, and he has his laptop out in front of them.
"How about this one?" he asks, while pointing at an entry. Nice and vague; it could almost seem like it's Stephanie who's looking, and Tim's just there as support. They have to preserve the cover.
Stephanie's never hunted for an apartment either. So, she has really no idea what to look for. Still, he mentioned it was something that needed doing and she made a mental list of things it needed.
"Three bed, one point five baths? What on earth does that mean?" she asks of the property Tim's looking pointed at. Located on the northwest side of Staten Island, just west of Mariners Harbor, it's a simple but functional space. https://www.forrent.com/ny/staten-island/219-pond-way-unit-219/cn5rzde
Tim lays a hand idly on Steph's back, occasionally scritching while they look. "I think the 'point five' means there's an on-suite bathroom attached to one of the bedrooms, rather than a second separate bathroom." He hrmms, looking sidelong at her. "Is the three bedrooms a bit… excessive? I know it'll need two, at least." So that there's one for Steph and one for 'Alvin'. Though talk of sleeping arrangements does bring a thoughtful look to his eyes… and a slight blush to his cheeks.
"Oh. Right. Yeah. Of course," Stephanie rambles as Tim explains a half bath. Considering that three bed rooms is yes, excessive, andnodding to his comment about needing the two beds, she leans forward to sort the search for appartments with only two bed rooms… and misses his slight blush completely.
"What baout this one? Just south of Port Richmand, off Clove," she says pointing at https://www.forrent.com/ny/staten-island/24-greenleaf-ave-unit-2/f3nxvpt before hrmming to herself.
"This one looks nice, but it's got neighbors…" https://www.forrent.com/ny/staten-island/106-willowbrook-rd/r66knr0
Tim squints at the new options. "Wait… that Port Richmand one. It's got less than the first one — loses half a bathroom, a full bedroom, and 276 square feet" Tim, why did you need to calculate the exact amount? "but it's the exact same rent." He frowns. "These are all Staten Island, though. That's good for some things" Availability and access for night-time deeds. "but wouldn't you want something closer to school?"
Stephanie quirks a brow at Tim as he runs the numbers.. .in his head… and frowns that the apartments are the same price. It amazes how easily he seems to do that, and she hides a tiny smile for it. Of course, then he mentioned location and she again tweaks the ForRent.com search engine to show properities in Manhattan, which woul dbe closer to NYU. As the new listings pop up, Stephanie inhales at the prices. Nearly doble is some cases. Her lips press into a line, but she clicks on one none the less. A quick scroll and she backs up. It's clear she's looking at the deatils only for hte ones about hte same price range the ones on Staten Island, and that she's looking at the Nearby Colleges section.
"Ah," she exhales, a tiny smile on her lips. https://www.forrent.com/ny/new-york/424-e-13th-st-unit-20/f34clts
"Two bed. One bath. Near NYU… Gated Community. Between Stuyve and East Village," she says, sittin back a bit so Time can see.
Tim exhales, his eyes wide when he sees how the prices shoot up. "…well that's a good reason to stick with Staten." On his own, price would be no object. But this is something he's doing with Steph, as equally as possible, so he's taking pricing into account. He considers the new listing, a hand rubbing over his chin. "That is a bit better. Mm." He turns to face Steph more fully. "What do you think? You'll need to commute between, one way or another. Which one do you want to be closer to as the default?"
Stephanie regards Tim as he asks. She knows he could afford any and all of these apartments. Even the ludicriously priced one pratically ON campus grounds. (Really? Twenty-two thousand for an apartment?) The thing is, she's still not sure how she feels about him being so willing to give up living at the Drake Estate, which she's seen and knows is very fancy, or Wayne Manor. It's flattering. It's nice. But is it a petty thing? That uncomfortable feeling hasn't gone away, even as she turns back to the computer, looks over the map of the Burroughs, and finally changes the search field to look at Brooklyn instead. Half way between Staten Island and Lower Manhattan, it's about as good a compromise between her day life and her night life as she seems able to make. Still, the prices of these places are more than her scholarship allows. The only saving grace is knowing it's going to get split down the middle.
He'd better let her take half. Stephanie presses her lips together, battling down the worry that he's going to try to chivarly it and pay for everything.
"One bath, gated community, but no wash/dryer hook-ups in the apartment. Laundry room on site, though," she says, again leaning back. https://www.forrent.com/ny/brooklyn/905-43rd-st-unit-c9/zlvbl7y
Whereas from Tim's perspective, there are a number of other reasons to take this step. It's good for the cover ID to actually live somewhere. It gets him out of his family's home, where… to be honest, his father had kind of got used to not having Tim around. (He is doing his best not to recall what he walked in on that one time. Pass the brain bleach, please.) And, hey… it's a chance to live with Steph. That's a thought that gets him nervouscited in all the most twisted, intestinal-gymnastics kind of ways.
But that's not spoken aloud, not while he's watching her, considering her responses. "Mm. We'd want some of our laundry more private than that" *cough* Costumes *cough* "but we can take some things back to Staten as needed. Oh hey, and cats and dogs are allowed. Selina would be happy about that."
"Oh, because she's totally staying over every other weekend," Stephanie quips, sarcasm dripping from every word. This, as Stephanie backs out of that property and keeps looking.
"You probably shouldn't say 'we' right now," she murmurs low, under her breath, eyes having scanned for anyone near by before mentioning the fact that this isn't supposed to be an apartment for THEM. Even if it's an apartment for… This is getting confusing to think about, and Steph huffs softly at herself for even mentioning it. Of course, all of this as she adjusts more of the filters to narrow the search down to ones that have in unit laundry and don't allow pets.
"Split level?" she asks, stopping on one just off the bridge from Staten Island. https://www.forrent.com/ny/brooklyn/sunny-split-level-two-bedroom-unit-2a/b2v6bwc
Tim eeps at her murmur, nodding his head. "Good catch," he murmurs. "That one still works, though, with the laundry provision." They'd just have to clean and maintain their costumes at the Cave, which… is probably a good idea anyway, as it has all the needed tools. He chews his tongue while he looks at the new offering, his hand idle on her back. "Hmm. Looks pretty 'spacious', which means wide-open sight lines. Tricky for privacy. But…" He sighs, shaking his head. "I haven't seen any real deal-breakers in any of these. It's up to you, Steph."
It's where she maintains her uniform now. For Steph, that part doesn't change. The overnight backpack houses the underarmor work out clothes. Unlike most of the others, she doesn't even carry a Shit Kit for emergencies. Still, she has to use laundry facilities at the university right now and having the option to get a place with one she can use privately is actually nice. The hand on her back is keeping her calm enough to look again.
The open lines Tim mentioned do have her pursing her lips, eyes narrowing as she considers the security of it all. Leaning forward again she finds another place. https://www.forrent.com/ny/brooklyn/100-w-9th-st-unit-1f/y03xfpt
This on'es got an open floor plan, but fewer windows. An extra bath means that for the cover of her rooming with a man not her boyfriend, it works better. Even as she looks over the listing, her eyes flick over the price, a thousand more than the last one, and despite the better location (off the expressway leading to Lower Manhattan, Stephanie sighs and moves to back out of it.
"I know," she grumbles at herself.
"Jeez," Tim murmurs when he sees the price. He's managed to get his head more fully in the space of economic reality for Steph and 'Alvin': Alvin isn't a Drake, and can't throw unending money at every issue. His arm draws more fully around Steph, cuddling in at her side while he gives his head a mystified shake. "Stuff like this almost makes me want to just build my own. Finding a place to live really is complicated, isn't it?"
Build his own. Stephanie huffs on a snicker, leaning into him anda way from the computer. She's done looking, having found the whole ordeal frustrating.
"Yeah. Looks like it is," she agrees, sighing and reachign for her coffee. French banilla white chocolate mocha soemthing with whipped cream; it's sugar and caffeniene in a drink. And she's sipping at it, making the few dollars spent on it last.
Sugar, caffeine, and not much else. Tim has a half-caf something-or-other; he likes to manage his tolerance so it doesn't get too high, and he can still rely on the super-caffeine when he needs it. "Mmn." He takes the signal and closes up the laptop lid. A glance around the cafe shows that it's not abandoned, so there are some topics they'll have to keep close to the chest. Instead: "So… how's class going?"
"Oh my god. I don't want to do this anymore. Can I please change my major to something brainless? Like… English or soemthing?" Stephanie complains. Her voice is high and airy and every bit the 'too young for college anyway so just go back to high school' she looks like she is. The tone is completely at odds with how her shoulders relax as she leans into him.
Tim laughs. His hands come up to dig into her shoulders, aiding in that relaxation. "If you really want to, but you'd end up pretty bored of the 'analysis', I think. Sometimes, a red curtain is just a red curtain, and doesn't 'symbolise the author's passion', or whatever."
Stephanie's giggle is bright and high. "Unless that red curtain is being used to make a ball gown," she adds. Her eyes close so she can focus on Tim working out the knots of her shoulders, mind pushing the annoyance of failed apartment hunting out of the way.
It's not quite failed; it just shows that there's still more work to be done to find just the right one. He smiles at her, a warm look in his eyes. "Or it's bed sheets, and they're being made into a costume," he says, his voice low. "What would the purple and black 'symbolise' there?"
He didn't.
Stephanie's cheeks turn crimson at his low rumble, the warmth in his gaze. What was she thinking when she grabbed THOSE sheets? That Staten Island is chilly at night, and a double layered cloak would be warm? And those were the sheets her mother hadn't used in months? And she'll look a little like Batman? Sort of. If you squinted really hard?
"Shuddup," she mumbles, chin ducking and eyes cutting away even as her lips flick up in a smile.
But more than the pestering question, the fact he even thinks to ask it shows that he remembers. Remembers that costume she made way back when, remembers what she'd told him it was made of. He gives her an impish smile when she mumbles at him. His arms slide all the way around her, tugging her into his chest. "If you insist."
"I do," she states, leaning in and talking to his chest. He remembers. Some days, it feels like he's the only one who does. Stephanie inhales, that hint of cologne, going still to just soak up the warmth and comfort.
And so, Tim stays quiet and just… holds onto her for a while. His eyes shut, and that smile of his turns softer and warmer, while fingers run through her hair. Sometimes, it's nice to just have a nice, quiet moment.