Aubree had decided, although she understood the undertaking the apartment may have been, to at least give it a chance. Plus, she had to settle down if she were ever to recover. She chose an apartment on the upper floor, but when she finished climbing the stairs, she only stared at the inside of it with a disgusted look on her face. Her sensitive nose was not prepared for the smell from the bathroom that was so unfortunately attached to the kitchen, for some god forsaken reason. She gagged at it, quickly slamming the door shut on it. “Christ, it smells like death in there.’ Her Scottish laced voice spoke to the door. She stepped into the hallway again, and breathed a time or two as the leather clad woman chuckled and decided what to do. On a nod, Aubree gently closed the door, and went back down the stairs, and straight out to the nearest store. Aubree bought probably more cleaners than necessary, a little portable stereo, a few toiletries and soaps, a snack or two, a coffee from a little shop along the strip, and some extra clothes and towels for afterwards. After that, she went back, tied up her long blonde hair, turned on her new stereo, and got to cleaning.
As she did, Aubree quickly learned she both loved, and hated her senses at that moment. The rot was driving her mad when she stepped in, and smelling around to find where it might be coming from, Aubree was just plain disgusted when she discovered a family of dead mice buried in the back of a cupboard in the bathroom. She scrubbed that particular room down a minimum of three times before she ever considered using it once. Luckily, a steady stream of rock and, as she settled into her routine, ridiculous dance moves helped the blonde get through it. The whole event took a couple of days, with Aubree occasionally, very restlessly, sleeping with her head on her backpack and using her coat as a blanket, but finally, the condo shined. It was empty, but it was clean. The next step was to get herself some furniture, which took a little longer as Aubree didn’t have transport, and had to get each item up individually, but she was able to wrangle a new mattress for a reasonable price. She also bought sheets, a pillow and blanket, and a small table with two chairs. It was no trouble for her to move the items, as she was much stronger than she appeared, but it was a work-out nonetheless with the far too narrow hallways.
Finally, the ordeal was done to a satisfactory level. Aubree fell back on the freshly made bed, proud of herself for getting this all done alone. She closed her eyes, but within minutes, the visions of horror started sliding in front of her eyes, and shot up as she had many times before. She instead stood up, and headed to the bathroom to take a shower. She cleaned herself up, and tried to decide what it was she should do now. She thought about it as she finished washing herself up, and stepped out to towel off, and get dressed.
As she did, she recognized the fact that she had a limited amount of clothes left, and probably needed to do something about that. She emptied out her backpack, finally as well. It held a couple other outfits she had only been sparingly able to wash until now, her brush, her wallet, and although it was very dead, and she’d likely need a new one, her phone. Not that anyone would be calling it again, she thought as she took a deep breath. She closed her eyes against the thought, and tossed the phone back in the backpack. She turned, picking up the clothes, the used towels and the cloths she had kept from the cleaning. Lacking a basket, Aubree stuffed the small pile into a garbage bag, and tossed it over her shoulder as she picked up the tiny bottle of liquid detergent, and headed down the three flights to the laundry room.
Aubree couldn’t help but cringe when she flipped on the stuttery, yellow lights that always seemed to hum when they were on. The machines were dusty, but they looked functional, and she was pleased when she opened the washer and nothing jumped out at her. She sighed as she was sure she was risking life and possibly limb by trusting this machine. Before she started it, she had the sense to take one of the cloths and wipe off the dryer across from it for somewhere to sit while she waited. Once it was loaded and going, Aubree sighed, and slid herself onto the dryer to sit and wait. Hopefully, something interesting might happen.
As she did, Aubree quickly learned she both loved, and hated her senses at that moment. The rot was driving her mad when she stepped in, and smelling around to find where it might be coming from, Aubree was just plain disgusted when she discovered a family of dead mice buried in the back of a cupboard in the bathroom. She scrubbed that particular room down a minimum of three times before she ever considered using it once. Luckily, a steady stream of rock and, as she settled into her routine, ridiculous dance moves helped the blonde get through it. The whole event took a couple of days, with Aubree occasionally, very restlessly, sleeping with her head on her backpack and using her coat as a blanket, but finally, the condo shined. It was empty, but it was clean. The next step was to get herself some furniture, which took a little longer as Aubree didn’t have transport, and had to get each item up individually, but she was able to wrangle a new mattress for a reasonable price. She also bought sheets, a pillow and blanket, and a small table with two chairs. It was no trouble for her to move the items, as she was much stronger than she appeared, but it was a work-out nonetheless with the far too narrow hallways.
Finally, the ordeal was done to a satisfactory level. Aubree fell back on the freshly made bed, proud of herself for getting this all done alone. She closed her eyes, but within minutes, the visions of horror started sliding in front of her eyes, and shot up as she had many times before. She instead stood up, and headed to the bathroom to take a shower. She cleaned herself up, and tried to decide what it was she should do now. She thought about it as she finished washing herself up, and stepped out to towel off, and get dressed.
As she did, she recognized the fact that she had a limited amount of clothes left, and probably needed to do something about that. She emptied out her backpack, finally as well. It held a couple other outfits she had only been sparingly able to wash until now, her brush, her wallet, and although it was very dead, and she’d likely need a new one, her phone. Not that anyone would be calling it again, she thought as she took a deep breath. She closed her eyes against the thought, and tossed the phone back in the backpack. She turned, picking up the clothes, the used towels and the cloths she had kept from the cleaning. Lacking a basket, Aubree stuffed the small pile into a garbage bag, and tossed it over her shoulder as she picked up the tiny bottle of liquid detergent, and headed down the three flights to the laundry room.
Aubree couldn’t help but cringe when she flipped on the stuttery, yellow lights that always seemed to hum when they were on. The machines were dusty, but they looked functional, and she was pleased when she opened the washer and nothing jumped out at her. She sighed as she was sure she was risking life and possibly limb by trusting this machine. Before she started it, she had the sense to take one of the cloths and wipe off the dryer across from it for somewhere to sit while she waited. Once it was loaded and going, Aubree sighed, and slid herself onto the dryer to sit and wait. Hopefully, something interesting might happen.
After signing the rental agreement for his condo, Creed went to take a look at what he had just signed up for. He was soon standing in front of the correct apartment number and unlocked the door, pushing it open. The first thing he noticed was the smell, which was moldy and some type of decay. Unknown from what as he would have to investigate and do everything in his power to get the place aired out. He noticed the front door opened into the tiny kitchen, and directly to his left was the bathroom. He shook his head and continued through the small living space and noticed that the living room was just as big as the bedroom to which the latter did not have a closet. He was taking notes of the cleaning supplies he would need, as well as possibly picking up paint. He walked to the balcony and opened the sliding door, surprised that it even worked. He did enjoy the view, but the living environment was definitely less than desirable. He shut the sliding door back, locking it before making a call, and soon he was heading back out to find a store.
Creed picked up his sister's car keys and made a trip to the local Wal-Mart, taking notice of the small businesses, restaurant, and the police station on the way. When he bought everything he would need to fumigate, sanitize, and paint twice over, he returned back to his rundown condo and started to get to work. It took him about three days to get everything done with little rest in between and sleeping on the boat while showering in his sister's apartment when she wasn't there. Finally, the inside of his apartment was livable, and he had all the furniture delivered but installed it himself.
After showering and getting dressed in a white t-shirt, basketball shorts, and tennis shoes, he soon thought about going to the communal laundry room. So, he packed all of his dirty clothes into a hamper, grabbed his detergent, and headed towards the laundry room. Making sure he had his keys, phone, and wallet in case he had to pay to wash his clothing. When he got there, he saw a blonde woman sitting on a dryer and possibly watching the washer across from her. He paused in the doorway with the basket in his arms and looked straight at her face first, then a quick glance over and back to her face. He looked directly at her. Looking into her blue eyes he said in a sarcastically playful way, "Security guard in the laundry room. You get paid by the hour?" As he looked between her and the washer that she seemed to be waiting on from what it looked like to him. He soon continued walking inside and started separating his clothes from his hamper into the empty washers and waited to see if she responded or if anything else would happen.
Creed picked up his sister's car keys and made a trip to the local Wal-Mart, taking notice of the small businesses, restaurant, and the police station on the way. When he bought everything he would need to fumigate, sanitize, and paint twice over, he returned back to his rundown condo and started to get to work. It took him about three days to get everything done with little rest in between and sleeping on the boat while showering in his sister's apartment when she wasn't there. Finally, the inside of his apartment was livable, and he had all the furniture delivered but installed it himself.
After showering and getting dressed in a white t-shirt, basketball shorts, and tennis shoes, he soon thought about going to the communal laundry room. So, he packed all of his dirty clothes into a hamper, grabbed his detergent, and headed towards the laundry room. Making sure he had his keys, phone, and wallet in case he had to pay to wash his clothing. When he got there, he saw a blonde woman sitting on a dryer and possibly watching the washer across from her. He paused in the doorway with the basket in his arms and looked straight at her face first, then a quick glance over and back to her face. He looked directly at her. Looking into her blue eyes he said in a sarcastically playful way, "Security guard in the laundry room. You get paid by the hour?" As he looked between her and the washer that she seemed to be waiting on from what it looked like to him. He soon continued walking inside and started separating his clothes from his hamper into the empty washers and waited to see if she responded or if anything else would happen.
Without a phone, there was nothing interesting to do while waiting in a laundry room. She didn’t have any books yet, and she wasn’t even convinced her phone did work. With the lack of anything better to do, Aubree picked up one of the bottles that someone had left on the dryer and started reading the back of it. She learned all about the properties and ingredients in laundry soap, and was working her way through the words on the back of the dryer sheet box when sharp ears heard someone approaching.
Deep blue eyes looked up at the stranger who had entered the room and spoken. Her eyebrows rose at the sound that came from his mouth, and amusement caused her head to tilt. The English didn’t normally get along with the Scottish, plus Aubree could smell that something about him was….different. Still, despite that, his words were cute and they produced a small chuckle from the blonde as she set the box she had been reading down. “Aye, but they forgot the network hookup this time. I’ll have to write a strongly worded letter.”
Since the room was not at all big, Aubree tucked her long legs under her body ontop of the machine so he could walk past her to the other machines without them getting accidentally entangled, but those blue eyes did follow him, and curiosity had her asking; “Why, think I should start putting in for a raise?”
Deep blue eyes looked up at the stranger who had entered the room and spoken. Her eyebrows rose at the sound that came from his mouth, and amusement caused her head to tilt. The English didn’t normally get along with the Scottish, plus Aubree could smell that something about him was….different. Still, despite that, his words were cute and they produced a small chuckle from the blonde as she set the box she had been reading down. “Aye, but they forgot the network hookup this time. I’ll have to write a strongly worded letter.”
Since the room was not at all big, Aubree tucked her long legs under her body ontop of the machine so he could walk past her to the other machines without them getting accidentally entangled, but those blue eyes did follow him, and curiosity had her asking; “Why, think I should start putting in for a raise?”
After adding the detergent to his clothes, Creed saw that the washers needed a method of payment, and it happened to be a credit card machine. "Well, I hope this bloody hell works." He mumbled under his breath and pulled his card out. He swiped the first machine, and it happened to work. He tried the second one, and it took a few swipes before it actually worked. Just as he started the washers, he heard the blonde woman speak. He smirked and lifted an eyebrow as he turned around, leaning against the washer. "Well, if it's strongly written then, I bet they will jump right on that after they finally fix that vending machine." He replied sarcastically, but in a friendly way as pointed to the vendors nearby.
He soon heard her banter back by asking if she should ask for a raise, which made him amused. "I mean the least they could do is let you wash your clothes for free." He joked back again and pushed off the washer he was leaning on while stepping the short distance toward the blue-eyed woman. "How bloody rude of me. My name is Creed. I just got to the hell hole a few days ago." He stuck out his large hand to offer her a handshake if she so willingly accepted. If she did take his offered hand, she would feel them calloused and firm, but also oddly warm. Though Creed wasn't worried about it, because he definitely sensed that there was something more than meets the eye with this woman.
He soon heard her banter back by asking if she should ask for a raise, which made him amused. "I mean the least they could do is let you wash your clothes for free." He joked back again and pushed off the washer he was leaning on while stepping the short distance toward the blue-eyed woman. "How bloody rude of me. My name is Creed. I just got to the hell hole a few days ago." He stuck out his large hand to offer her a handshake if she so willingly accepted. If she did take his offered hand, she would feel them calloused and firm, but also oddly warm. Though Creed wasn't worried about it, because he definitely sensed that there was something more than meets the eye with this woman.
“Unfortunately, I sincerely doubt anyone is going to fix anything, no matter how strongly worded the letter may be, but it’s a nice thought at least.” Aubree mused as she looked around the room. She looked back at him as he spoke once more, and smirked softly. “I’d be happy if the machine doesn’t crap out and shred my clothes, if I’m entirely honest.” She said, eyeing the machine with suspicion.
Her head so quickly turned to the man as he stepped towards her. Because she was sitting on the machine, and because the room was so small, although she was almost sure that he didn’t mean it, Aubree reacted to the man being that close to her. It wasn’t his fault, but Aubree’s brain switched for a moment, and the memories of the last time a tall, dirty-blonde man had been that close to her flooded her brain. Her eyes widened for a moment, eyes flashing in fear and defence, and her instincts had her moving. Out of that defence, and self protection, and it may have radiated off of her, she pushed herself off the machine so she was on her feet.
She quickly realized he probably wasn’t intending to harm her, but a person could never be sure of that, and Aubree had learned the hard way that friends and kindness were not always that. She breathed lightly, but her heart rate was high, and pounded in a nervous rhythm. She looked at him again, and took a breath, lowering the hand she hadn’t realized she put up in that defence. “Oh, uh. Sorry, I just..,I have a thing with close spaces.” That even sounded lame to her, but it was better than explaining the alternative and her heart hadn’t calmed down enough yet to think beyond that moment. It took a couple of moments to get under control, and not feel like she had to shift and defend, but then she turned back to him and tried again, steadier now that she was on her feet. “I’m Aubree, if you’d still like to know.”
Her head so quickly turned to the man as he stepped towards her. Because she was sitting on the machine, and because the room was so small, although she was almost sure that he didn’t mean it, Aubree reacted to the man being that close to her. It wasn’t his fault, but Aubree’s brain switched for a moment, and the memories of the last time a tall, dirty-blonde man had been that close to her flooded her brain. Her eyes widened for a moment, eyes flashing in fear and defence, and her instincts had her moving. Out of that defence, and self protection, and it may have radiated off of her, she pushed herself off the machine so she was on her feet.
She quickly realized he probably wasn’t intending to harm her, but a person could never be sure of that, and Aubree had learned the hard way that friends and kindness were not always that. She breathed lightly, but her heart rate was high, and pounded in a nervous rhythm. She looked at him again, and took a breath, lowering the hand she hadn’t realized she put up in that defence. “Oh, uh. Sorry, I just..,I have a thing with close spaces.” That even sounded lame to her, but it was better than explaining the alternative and her heart hadn’t calmed down enough yet to think beyond that moment. It took a couple of moments to get under control, and not feel like she had to shift and defend, but then she turned back to him and tried again, steadier now that she was on her feet. “I’m Aubree, if you’d still like to know.”
Creed smirked at Aubree's comments about the machines possibly crapping out on them. When he stepped forward to introduce himself, he saw a look in her eyes, and she dropped off the dryer she had been sitting on. He dropped the offered hand to his side and took a step back, seeing the fear in her eyes. He noticed she got into a defensive mode, and he picked up her accelerated heartbeat, so put some distance between them. "I apologize. I didn't mean to frighten you." All he could do was look around the small space, until the tense atmosphere calmed down.
Soon he looked back at her and noticed she seemed to be calming down as she lowered her hand. "I can understand that. Closed quarters can be quite a nuisance. Personal space is definitely a thing that I am respectful of." He tried to calm the atmosphere by showing that he meant her no harm and was just being friendly. "Aubree? That's a beautiful name. It's nice to meet you." He sincerely meant it, but did not offer her a handshake or step forward again. Although he was curious as to why she was scared and who or what caused that, it was not his business. All he could do was offer her a reassuring smile and try to make small talk. "Are you alright?" He asked genuinely concerned, but didn't want to be intrusive. He showed her a sincere smile and waited to see if she calmed down enough to engage, if she did he would continue to chat with her.
Soon he looked back at her and noticed she seemed to be calming down as she lowered her hand. "I can understand that. Closed quarters can be quite a nuisance. Personal space is definitely a thing that I am respectful of." He tried to calm the atmosphere by showing that he meant her no harm and was just being friendly. "Aubree? That's a beautiful name. It's nice to meet you." He sincerely meant it, but did not offer her a handshake or step forward again. Although he was curious as to why she was scared and who or what caused that, it was not his business. All he could do was offer her a reassuring smile and try to make small talk. "Are you alright?" He asked genuinely concerned, but didn't want to be intrusive. He showed her a sincere smile and waited to see if she calmed down enough to engage, if she did he would continue to chat with her.
In that moment, there was a high chance that Aubree managed to miss almost everything Creed said. She tuned back in around when he asked if she was alright, and her eyes blinked once to reveal that she was not standing at home, where she had once been. For a moment, she glanced down at her wrists, and was relieved when she didn’t see the chains she constantly felt. The relief was temporary, but just for the moment, it gave her the ability to speak.
“I’m fine, I….” The truth was she wasn’t. The animal in her was constantly raging, slamming against the confines of its cage, beating its way to find a way out. It was screaming inside, like poison that ran through her blood. She recognized the symptoms, and recognized that it was not this man’s fault. “Forgive me, but I have to step out for a minute. I’ll be back, I just…”
There was no follow-up to this, as Aubree’s senses found her the open door. She didn’t want the aggression she felt building to pressurize itself into a heated ball she couldn’t control, and she felt it best to get away from any living being at the moment,…even the ones she could smell were different. She would be back for her clothes, but the memories that sat still too close and too sharp to the surface stabbed at her brain, biting and snapping like spiders crawling all over her veins.
“I’m fine, I….” The truth was she wasn’t. The animal in her was constantly raging, slamming against the confines of its cage, beating its way to find a way out. It was screaming inside, like poison that ran through her blood. She recognized the symptoms, and recognized that it was not this man’s fault. “Forgive me, but I have to step out for a minute. I’ll be back, I just…”
There was no follow-up to this, as Aubree’s senses found her the open door. She didn’t want the aggression she felt building to pressurize itself into a heated ball she couldn’t control, and she felt it best to get away from any living being at the moment,…even the ones she could smell were different. She would be back for her clothes, but the memories that sat still too close and too sharp to the surface stabbed at her brain, biting and snapping like spiders crawling all over her veins.
Confused and unsure what to do, Creed just watched as Aubree left the laundry room. Maybe she just needs a moment? He thought to himself
as he thought what would have triggered that reaction. He knew something really bad had happened to her with how she reacted, like it was PTSD. Thinking maybe she had felt cornered, and that was what set her off, made him feel slightly bad. Though it had been none of his business, the protective instinct in him made sure he stayed until she came back. If this had been his sister, he would have done the same. He knew Aubree was definitely something different, not exactly what he was, but not a normal human. He was curious and protective by nature, which one thing was for sure. Aubree was running from something or someone, which led to why she reacted the way she did. Is what he assumed.
As he thought about the blonde, Creed's clothes were finished in the washer and actually clean, which surprised him. "I guess the bloody machine didn't shred them." He mumbled to himself, as he loaded them all into the only working dryer and turned it on after swiping his card four times. He soon leaned against a broken washer and started looking through his phone while he waited to see if Aubree came back or until his clothes were dry. So after he finished sending a text to his sister, he turned on some music and just listened until something else happened.
Soon the clothes were done drying for Creed and he noticed Aubree hadn't come back. He felt bad that he set off what looked like a panic attack or PTSD episode, so decided get out of there so she could finish washing her clothes in peace. He shrugged it off, folded his clothes and put them in the basket. He looked around and made sure he didn't leave or drop anything, because he was positive it would be stolen if it anything was left behind. He grabbed the basket and left they laundry room, back towards his condo before heading to check on his sister's boat.
as he thought what would have triggered that reaction. He knew something really bad had happened to her with how she reacted, like it was PTSD. Thinking maybe she had felt cornered, and that was what set her off, made him feel slightly bad. Though it had been none of his business, the protective instinct in him made sure he stayed until she came back. If this had been his sister, he would have done the same. He knew Aubree was definitely something different, not exactly what he was, but not a normal human. He was curious and protective by nature, which one thing was for sure. Aubree was running from something or someone, which led to why she reacted the way she did. Is what he assumed.
As he thought about the blonde, Creed's clothes were finished in the washer and actually clean, which surprised him. "I guess the bloody machine didn't shred them." He mumbled to himself, as he loaded them all into the only working dryer and turned it on after swiping his card four times. He soon leaned against a broken washer and started looking through his phone while he waited to see if Aubree came back or until his clothes were dry. So after he finished sending a text to his sister, he turned on some music and just listened until something else happened.
Soon the clothes were done drying for Creed and he noticed Aubree hadn't come back. He felt bad that he set off what looked like a panic attack or PTSD episode, so decided get out of there so she could finish washing her clothes in peace. He shrugged it off, folded his clothes and put them in the basket. He looked around and made sure he didn't leave or drop anything, because he was positive it would be stolen if it anything was left behind. He grabbed the basket and left they laundry room, back towards his condo before heading to check on his sister's boat.
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