Lana went back over the email from her smartphone while sipping her coffee. Noel was just a little older than her, and just from her email it looked to Lana like she could be a good match. It had been a long day, spent mostly at the institution with a brief lunch break where she'd made her new friend Evelyn. Then it had been right back to work accessing the patients. Lana still had a bag full of files to take home and read over night sitting on the coffee shop table. Tomorrow she'd have her first briefing down at the precinct. Then back to the institution by the end of the day for a new patient admittance.

"Evelyn seemed nice." came Laura's voice from across the table. Lana looked up from her phone and narrowed her eyes at her ghostly sister. She knew how much it irritated Lana when she spoke to her in public. Lana could rarely reply without seeming like she was talking to herself. So instead, Lana pretended she was receiving a phone call and picked it up. She made a mental note of the time so she could record this vision of Laura later in her notebook.

"Oh hello, sis." She began. "I did make a new friend today yes, she seemed lovely. Always nice to meet another mutant." She spoke into the phone, but she stared directly at Laura, who grinned evilly.

"I was nervous she might be able to actually see me, the way her mutation was working." said Laura. "Is this roommate applicant a mutant?"

"I'm not sure." admitted Lana. "There weren't any of the usual markers, but I haven't met her in person yet. I'll have to use my power of deduction or come right out and ask. I'll know if she's adapted if you aren't around."

"I drift in and out." laughed Laura. "You're so boring." she gave a half smile. "I was planning on giving you privacy."

"Oh." well that was a first. "Well, just stay here til she arrives. If you randomly go I'll think it's her adapted nature, but if you say goodbye first I'll know it's not." suggested Lana.

"OKay, I can do that. What if she's not an adapted or a mutant?" asked Laura.

"I don't think it would be a good idea for me to live with a human." admitted Lana. "I think I'd scare them. At least if it's another mutant even if they can't help me with my powers, they'll at least understand I'm not crazy."

Laura nodded in agreement.

"I'm just going to look over these case files until she arrives. Hopefully she'll recognize me from the description I gave. Honestly, looking around, it shouldn't be hard. I'm the only person IN this coffee shop with red hair!" Observed Lana.

She didn't mean to eavesdrop, but Lana -the girl Noel was supposed to meet- was the only red head in the coffee shop. The memorymancer shifted from foot to foot behind Lana. Was Noel supposed to interrupt the phone call or...

"I don't think it would be a good idea for me to live with a human..." Curiosity got the better of Noel and she listened on. Oh. Well, she had planned to be upfront about the whole mutant thing since it was such a big part of her life, but now she apparently didn't have to be nervous.

And then Noel just started to feel like a louse. She had already gotten her coffee... she shouldn't just lurk around...

Ah. What the heck. Noel swept her long braid out of the way and slipped around the table to take a seat across from Lana. The brunette smiled apologetically for interrupting and set her disposable cup on the table.

She waited for Lana to end her call before offering her hand across the table to the red head. As she did so, Noel's sleeve pulled back revealing a simple black wrist tattoo of Noel's own name. "Lana, right?" Otherwise this would be embarrassing. But it was her. "Noel. Sorry. I overheard some of your phone call." Of course, her phone screen never lit up, but it could be broken...

"Lana, right?"

Lana looked up from her phone, caught a bit off guard. A hand from a smiling stranger reached out to greet her.

"Noel. Sorry. I overheard some of your phone call."

Lana blinked. Her first instinct was always to get a strong first impression of someone. Take in the details of their body language, their looks, their clothes... but whenever she was caught off guard like this Lana's mind drew a total blank. It took her a second to actually process what the woman said.

"Noel?" she asked. "From the email?" she blinked. "Oh of course it is." she mentally smacked herself. "Sorry, um yeah, telephone." she held out a hand to meet Noel's and gave her best forced smile. She was actually happy to meet Noel, just a little flustered. "Lana." She shook her hand and sat back in her seat, wanting to sink into a little more. Here she was all psyched and prepared to meet Noel and when the moment finally came she was drawing a blank. Her sister stared at her from across the table and gave her usual evil grin.

"Phone call yeah, a uh- friend, knew I'd be meeting you today. They were asking if I'd prefer to live with a human or a mutant basically." Lana was never sure how many people were really aware of adaptives. A lot of the adapted didn't even know they were adapted. "I guess that comes off a little rude." she motioned for Noel to sit down. "I'm not the best with first impressions." she admitted. "But I'm a quiet roommate?" she offered up. "...uh most of the time." she turned a little red. "wooboy."

Her sister was silently laughing. So Noel was not an adapted. Lana took a moment to look her in, aware she might look odd in the process. Lana was good at doing a once over, quickly. She'd known Noel was around 30 from the emails, but in person she certainly was beautiful enough to pass for a few years younger. They were similar in height, but Noel had long brown hair. She could tell Noel must be a jogger, not unlike herself. Joggers tended to carry themselves a certain way, have certain postures, and defining physical features. Loads of earrings filled her ears, Lana had to smile. It was something she'd wanted to do when she was younger but her parents never let her. Now that she was working in mental institutions earrings usually weren't allowed to be worn in. She could also tell just by the way that she introduced herself, that Noel was direct. Lana appreciated and respected that sort of trait. She tried to be direct herself too.

"Well it's really nice to meet you in person." Lana finally said. "I've interviewed a few people. I'll be upfront, I am a mutant." she didn't care to specify her mutation yet. "I'm really open to living with anyone, and it's really none of my business if you're one or not. I just wanted to start off in the right direction right away. My first applicant decided they didn't want a mutant roommate and left after 2 minutes of speaking." she admitted.

"Phone call yeah, a uh- friend..." Noel rolled her lips in on themselves to keep from pointing out the lie in Lana's words. What did it matter who the red-head had been talking to? Once she knew about Noel's power, she would be a bit more careful with her words, no doubt. That was both good and bad.

"I guess that comes off a little rude." Noel shook her head to dismiss that sentiment. Her braid swished behind her chair, the end dancing back and forth. "Your friend is removed enough from the situation that they have the luxury to be as rude as they want. But, really, you don't have to worry about that. You aren't likely to offend me. I work in security and everyone's a bit rough around the edges." She shrugged. The way that Noel chose the seat with the best view of the door rather than the most likely seat, the one that Lana's friend currently occupied, confirmed that Noel had training.

The brunette sat back in her seat as Lana made her assessment, not in the least bothered. In truth, Noel had already had her chance to observe the woman. She was curious about several things that, should they get along well enough, they would share in time. See? She could be tactful... when she made it a direct priority.

"My first applicant decided they didn't want a mutant roommate and left after 2 minutes of speaking."

"I guess that explains why you're so worried about scaring me off." Noel smiled, but it was more of a business smile than a personal one. "Do you mind if I tell you a bit about why I'm looking for a roommate? I dunno. Maybe it's not weird in New York since rent is so freaking expensive, but I've lived with people before. I've also lived alone." Of these facts, she was sure. "I touched on this a bit in our emails," and really it wasn't such a strange request but it was the degree of the request that made it difficult, "but I really need a roomie who will be accountable and hold me accountable, but not try to fix me or save me."

If ever Noel looked uncomfortable it was now. She had to admit that she was broken. That out of all the useful powers out there, she got one that made her brain like a sieve. "I have a mutation that can make day to day life difficult. I forget things like an amnesiac. Not always. Sometimes I know in advance." Like when she had a scheduled meeting with someone from her ad in the paper. "But I need physical reminders. It's like... a glitch in my brain." She shrugged. "I don't know any different." And she hadn't even touched on what she could do.

>>"Your friend is removed enough from the situation that they have the luxury to be as rude as they want. But, really, you don't have to worry about that. You aren't likely to offend me. I work in security and everyone's a bit rough around the edges."

Lana blushed a little deeper. If anything she was embarrassed that she hadn't deduced that this woman worked in security. She was off her game today. Meeting Evelyn earlier had introduced her to mutants who had powers similar to her own profiling. Could it be Noel had a similar power too? Or maybe she was just trained to be super observant- like Lana was.

Noel sat down, right in the space where Laura was sitting. Lana tried not to let it show on her face. Laura simply dissipated from where she was and reappeared next to Noel. "Rude." said Laura making a face and sounding very much like a teenager. Lana had to fight the urge to roll her eyes. It was time for Laura to fly off.

>>"I guess that explains why you're so worried about scaring me off. Do you mind if I tell you a bit about why I'm looking for a roommate? I dunno. Maybe it's not weird in New York since rent is so freaking expensive, but I've lived with people before. I've also lived alone. I touched on this a bit in our emails, "but I really need a roomie who will be accountable and hold me accountable, but not try to fix me or save me."

Lana was nodding silently as Noel explained her situation, and then she had to work very hard to keep the shocked look from her face. Noel really was a direct person, and here Lana was anxious about how to come out and say her own issues when Noel was willing to lay it all out there. Noel made Lana nervous, but so did everyone else. What caught Lana about Noel instantly was how much she commanded respect without actually demanding it. Just by being genuine, Lana wanted to like her.

"Well, I can appreciate that. I've lived alone too, and it just doesn't work for me either." admitted Lana. "That's why I've been so serious about looking for someone. I'll be honest, it's always the easiest for me to live with someone who is adapted." she paused to let that sink in. "My mutation can be quite stressful on me, and it's nice to have the break honestly."

>>"I have a mutation that can make day to day life difficult. I forget things like an amnesiac. Not always. Sometimes I know in advance. But I need physical reminders. It's like... a glitch in my brain." She shrugged. "I don't know any different."

Lana nodded and felt herself fall into the very comfortable clinician role. She never meant to, but she instantly looked and felt more at ease. Her thoughts were clear now.

"I can imagine that sort of mutation would be quite stressful as well." she reflected. It was important to show people you were hearing what they were saying. "Never really knowing if you're about to forget something. I guess that's sort of like me, I never really know when dead people might show up. That's my mutation." she paused again and motioned to the space next to Noel. "Seeing dead people, like the one sitting next to you. Unpredictable, and very distracting." she gave a half smile at her sister. "Nothing like the movies."

"I'm really appreciative that you've been so direct and honest with me from the start, it's refreshing." she took a sip of her tea feeling much more in her element. "From what you've shared so far, we seem more alike than different. Perhaps I'll explain a little more about my own situation. I am currently splitting my work efforts between being a clinician at the New York Institution for the Criminally Insane, and being a consulting physiological criminal profiler for the NYPD and local FBI Branch. I know, it's a bit obnoxious. But sadly, budgets are tight in law enforcement. People see things on TV and think it's just standard but it isn't. So many parts of C.S.I. are outsourced to the cheapest place, and consultants while so often very needed, are brought in on a budget basis. Those things don't really make it to the T.V. shows. The cases that get thrown out not for lack of evidence, because the police literally just don't have the budget to run certain tests or consult experts." she frowned, lost in her own thoughts for a moment, but abruptly brought herself back to reality.

"My job is stressful, but I enjoy it. I'd say a good deal of the stress I experience on the job comes from trying to keep my mutation under control. Living with me it shouldn't be an issue during waking hours. I've already chosen a flat with minimal spirit activity, so I don't anticipate us needed to do an exorcism or anything soon." not that she believed such things worked. She was bad with humor, and hoped Noel could sense her attempt at a joke. "I won't forget anything, and I'd be good with helping you remember. I pride myself in remembering things myself and staying organized. But I do not sleep well. Honestly, sometimes I don't sleep. My mutation causes a lot of anxiety and restlessness. In the past Ive sought out adapteds or mutants with psychic capabilities to help me sleep." she didn't want to put Noel off, and make her feel like she needed to commit to helping Lana control her mutation, but she wasn't quite sure how to phrase it. Lana always found it hard not to drop the ball at this point. It's why she was so thankful for her previous roomies. They'd all been willing to get to know her better and see past her obvious lack of social skills.

 "I am certainly open to living with another mutant though. In my experience even the most evil mutant is capable of empathy toward the plight of other mutants struggling with their powers and capabilities." she wasn't trying to suggest Noel was evil, moreso that she'd actually worked with evil mutants through her job. but Lana just wasn't good at putting these things into words with regular everyday people and mutants. If Noel would have been a psychopath this could of gone a lot smoother.

Crap, crap, crap.

Noel paled. Lana worked with the FBI? And at the NYICI? Noel hadn't been in that particular asylum, but only by the grace of the courts. They had put her in a mutant-specific facility. All because she had worked for the FBI... or believed she worked for the FBI.

And of course, she remembered nothing of this. She'd read her own background check and transcripts of court proceedings before Noel talked it out with her, then potential and now current, boss.

Lana didn't... she wouldn't have access to those records, right? Or reason to find them? So if Noel didn't mention it... It wasn't like it came up in everyday conversation.

Gulp.

"That sounds... taxing." Noel huffed, suddenly weary of the conversation even though they had only just begun. "The uh... person. The one... you know..." Noel pointed to the other chair that Lana had indicated rather than saying, as if saying it out loud might tip off the dead guy that they were dead.

Oh. How to ask this delicately? "They're not... somebody I know, right?" AKA: somebody she had killed? Because she had. It was all in the paperwork.

Noel cleared her throat. If Lana didn't mind about her past, this could still work out. Maybe. "I'm sort of the crummiest psychic you'll ever meet. I can see past memories and take them away. If you think that might help, I would be more than willing to try. It'd better than being dependent on someone like an Adapted." She knew about those. They gave her insane headaches and that was the main reason she left the Sanctuary. They just let one wander the halls.

"They're not... somebody I know, right?

Lana shook her head. "Nope, not unless you lived in Canada 15 years ago or more." she shrugged. "Spirits rarely follow humans around, mine does because of... well.. an intense personal connection. There's also one phasing in and out of the wall by the fire exit." she pointed. "But so long as I don't out myself as someone who can see it, it should leave us alone. More than likely it's just tied to this place for some reason."

Noel had seemed to get a little nervous when asking about the spirit. It wasn't super noticeable, but enough of a crack in her armor that Lana noticed it. Lana didn't think much of it. Most people were freaking out by spirits, and most people had someone close to them that died. A lot of people assumed Lana was some sort of medium. Back in the day when she'd been a bit more open with her skills people would approach her to get in contact with dead loved ones. Unless that spirit was following them around- which they usually weren't- there was nothing Lana could do. She couldn't simply call spirits up for no reason.

"I'm sort of the crummiest psychic you'll ever meet. I can see past memories and take them away. If you think that might help, I would be more than willing to try. It'd better than being dependent on someone like an Adapted."

Noel explained a bit of her mutation and Lana raised an eyebrow. "It's funny, in my experience a lot of psychic mutations cancel each other out depending on the level of the mutant." she was quiet for a second, thinking, and drummed her fingers on the table. "I think my memories are essential to my human skills." she said after reflection. "and while I'd like to blame my insomnia on them, I really don't stay awake at night thinking of bad things I've lived through. It's more-so that spirits will find me." that and her insane fear of death. Could Noel make her forget that she was afraid of death? Or were phobias just so ingrained in people after a certain amount of time? "Thanks for the offer though." she said sincerely.

"I don't have much to show beyond what was on the ad." she pulled out her phone and woke up the screen, then slid images across it to show Noel the building. "You'd have your own bedroom, bathroom, and we'd have shared living room and kitchen space. I admit there is one office, and I am likely to over take it." she motioned to the pile of folders in a bag on the table to the left of her. "I'll end up with a lot of, uh, homework I guess is the best word for it."

She was nervous. Noel seemed like a really cool person. Everyone she's interviewed so far, by this point in the game, had really turned her off. A lot of them had been too young too. She didn't want brand new college students who'd be loaded all the time and bringing friends over.

"I guess what it really comes down to is this- you'll catch me talking to people who aren't there sometimes. I mean, they're there. You just probably wont be able to see or hear them." she said probably because she still wasn't 100% sure about Noel's powers. "If you can handle that, and the odd night owl roommate, then I think you can handle me." she always tried to be respectful of the sleeping patterns of her roommates and had learned to be light on her feet in the wee morning hours. "As far as your powers go, if you choose to live with me I can't promise I'll be home a lot. But I will make every effort to help you remember things. I'm organized and a big fan of sticky notes."

Canada? Noel shrugged. It wasn't outside the realm of possibility, but most likely Noel had just been hanging around here her whole life. She really didn't know.

"Most people don't have that foresight, to know about their memories make them who they are today, I mean. Then again, I think when people do accept that offer, a lot of times they are trying to change who they are." Another shrug. That was neither here nor there. "I can get pretty specific sometimes, but... brains, you know? If you'd rather not mess with it, I respect that."

"You'd have your own bedroom, bathroom, and we'd have shared living room and kitchen space. I admit there is one office, and I am likely to over take it."[/color]

Ah yes. This was the apartment with her own bathroom! What a luxury in New York. "I don't mind about the office. I shouldn't have homework." The idea was amusing. The most homework Noel had was cleaning and servicing her sidearm.

"If you can handle that, and the odd night owl roommate, then I think you can handle me."

"Is a problem that I mostly work nights? I was thinking your night terrors wouldn't bother me since I wouldn't be there, but you don't..." How did she say this delicately? "need somebody there? Like, when that kinda stuff happens?"

"As far as your powers go... I'm organized and a big fan of sticky notes."

"Sticky notes and a label maker. Can't really make a home without 'em."

The LCD screen of Noel's phone lit up, though no sound came through to disturb their talk. She checked the display. "I actually had one more interview I was going to go on today." She checked her wrist which had no watch -old habit- and then checked the time on her phone. "But I don't think I'll need that interview. I have a couple hours before work. I don't know what your plans are like today, but do you have some time to hang?" Because Noel was slowly becoming a bit more comfortable with Lana. If she could trust her, then maybe she could ask Lana about the FBI stuff. That really weighed on her.

Noel's thumbs moved across the screen with dizzying speed as she texted her next appointment to cancel. No private bathroom and living with a man? Moving in with Lana would be a bajillion times better than that.

"I don't mind about the office. I shouldn't have homework."

Lana gave a mental sigh of relief. She was worried not sharing the office or not having space for two would be a deal breaker. It was hard to know. She had lived with a guy who was super OCD about that stuff.

So far the more she spoke with Noel the more she got that familiar feeling she had around her past roommates. That this was a person who could be counted on, but also knew how to respect privacy and space. Plus, it was a real treat to actually see someone her own age.

"Is a problem that I mostly work nights? I was thinking your night terrors wouldn't bother me since I wouldn't be there, but you don't...need somebody there? Like, when that kinda stuff happens?"

Lana thought for a moment. She was caught off guard by Noel's indirect offer for help. Well, maybe not an offer, but there was a kind intention there. "I'm pretty okay honestly. It's freaky, it lasts a few seconds, but I can usually tell what's going on. I'm more anxious about freaking you out or ruining your sleep... honestly." she admitted. "I'm supposedly able to make my own schedule. I'd rather work at night but I'm not sure I get a choice unless I get slotted for the night shift at the institution."

Noel joked about sticky notes, and then Lana recognized the old familiar glow of a cell phone lighting up. Noel quickly checked it.

 "I actually had one more interview I was going to go on today. But I don't think I'll need that interview. I have a couple hours before work. I don't know what your plans are like today, but do you have some time to hang?"

Lana grinned from ear to ear and then tried to reel it in. This was a great chance to get to know Noel, but also to see if she'd been right about any of her observations too. "Sure! That sounds like a lot more fun than this." she exclaimed motioning to her pile of folders. "Actually, we could swing by the apartment and I could drop this stuff off, and then what do you maybe think of heading to the mall? I need to pick up a few things for the place and then I'm sure I'll be hungry at some point." she'd had a tea and a muffin here but she knew that wouldn't last long. She hoped she didn't come off too eager. She was feeling far less awkward.

Oh. Lana worked nights sometimes as well? "That would be a real change to have a chance to see each other. Usually I just see my roommates in passing, if at all." Could Noel be making a friend? Her phone was full of people she no longer recognized... which reminded her. "Oh. Could I take your picture? For identification purposes." She asked as a courtesy. Noel needed a picture either way.

Lana's enthusiasm was catching. Noel was not a mall girl, but she could hardly expect they go to the range on their first date. Plus Noel was getting an unexpected first look at her soon to be (assuming she didn't mess this up) new room. "The mall isn't may favorite place, but I think I can suffer through." She teased. Malls were a necessary evil best weathered with a partner that would defend her from poor choices. Noel could probably use a couple winter things.

"Just keep me from buying anything too horrible? I have a fondness for things unloved and ugly." Noel usually just tried to stay safe with bland solids and neutrals. Black? Red? Safe. And also the majority of her wardrobe. "Fuchsia is my weakness." She sighed. It went horribly with her skin tone.

Ooc: I'm going to skip us through driving and just take us to the apartment if that's okay, feel free to add in anything from the drive if you want.

Ic:

"Oh. Could I take your picture? For identification purposes."
Lana was used to having her photo taken for all the various ID passes she needed for her work. SO it didn't catch her off guard when Noel asked, but she did think for a moment and realized with her mutation revolving around memory it was likely having a photo just helped.

"Sure!" Lana gave a cheesy grin for the camera phone.

"The mall isn't may favorite place, but I think I can suffer through. Just keep me from buying anything too horrible? I have a fondness for things unloved and ugly. Fuchsia is my weakness."

"I'm not a big fan of crowds but I find them unavoidable. Even if there aren't living people around there seem to be dead ones." shrugged Lana. "But we can certainly be in and out. I have a list at the apartment."

She stood up and made sure all of her files were accounted for and in their bag. She adjusted her jacket, tossed her scarf around her neck (A few seasons of BBC's Sherlock had convinced her scarfs were pretty much the sexiest accessory ever.) and picked up her gloves. "I'm sure this will sound obnoxious with this being New York and the traffic terrible and everyone relying on public transit, but I actually have a car."
She motioned to her stellar parking job that could be seen from the coffee shop window. An average sized white car was perfectly parallel parked. "With my work I often get called in for emergencies, or into crime scenes. When I'm really needed I actually get police escort and can drive as fast as I want." She wasn't intended it to sound like bragging, she simply always felt the need to explain everything. Force of habit. If she narrated all these things and people came to know her as someone who narrated her thoughts they maybe wouldn't be as freaked out if they caught her speaking to a ghost.

Lana led the way to her car - which was in pristine condition inside- and opened the door from the inside for Noel. "I'm not a neat freak or anything. I just tend to not have a lot of personal possessions in case I need to pick up and go for work. I replace most things, get used things, give things away... so there's really not much to leave in the car." She also forgot to eat pretty often because of how busy she could be, and sometimes because of anxiety. How ironic was it to be a psychologist who experienced anxiety? Most patients never realized their head doctors got into the game because they overcame a battle too and wanted to help others. It was certainly more common than most people realized.

The drive didn't take as long as Lana feared. They beat the rush hour traffic and Lana asked Noel a few questions about landmarks as they drove. She was remarkably skilled at driving in New York. It could be crazy driving, but Lana was always good in high pressure situations. She could make quick decisions. She could be calculating even though she had the habit of getting lost in her thoughts.

They arrived at the apartment which didn't look like much from the outside. Just a simply standard New York flat. Lana lead Noel up the creaky stairs and popped her key in the handle. Inside it was beautiful. Hardwood floors, new paint, and beautifully large windows that let in a lot of light. "I feel sort of guilty" she admitted. "It seems like the perfect place for a bunch of art students." She motioned with her hand. "Well, come on in. Take a look around." she gave Noel a welcoming smile.

Cheesy photo acquired, Noel worked to associate the number and picture before they left the coffee shop. And it wasn't the subway or a cab waiting to ferry them to their apartment. "Wow. I think you are the first person I've met who has a car. Isn't it like, the cost of another apartment for parking spaces?" Was Lana loaded? She certainly looked more put together than Noel, but that was a low bar to hurdle.

"Do you have a little light you can slap on top?" She was joking... kind of. Weren't those not really legal? Besides, a police escort didn't sound half bad. "Don't worry," she ammended quickly, "I wouldn't dream of borrowing the car. There'd be no guarantee I'd still know how in the morning. I get weekly recerts just to conceal carry." That was a self-imposed and boss enforced mandate. Though weapons seemed to be the one skill she kept coming back to, memory loss or not.

"Man, between the two of us, I'm guessing there's no safer apartment in New York."

"I'm not a neat freak or anything..."

Mhmm. Tell that to the crumbless, fingerpintless interior. Noel settled for just trying not to touch anything too much. Well, anything besides the handle. Riding shotgun was a tad terrifying even if Lana seemed in control the whole time.

"I feel sort of guilty. It seems like the perfect place for a bunch of art students."

"You could always adopt one." Noel's joke was a bit distracted sounding. It was the wood. She hadn't expected wood that looked good after that paneled apartment she visited. The memorymancer drifted through the kitchen in a daze. "Dang. Where do I sign?"

She hadn't even checked out her room yet. Noel grinned and dashed around to the open door to the empty room. It was hard to see with nothing in it, but this... this could be home for a while.

Lana giggled. "I'm glad you like it. It can be a bit noisy at night because of the street down there..." she motioned "but that apparently won't bother either of us night owls." she shrugged and opened the curtains a little more to let the light in.

She didn't have a whole lot of furniture yet. A simple black couch was against the far wall, a tall potted palm tree (Lana loved having plants around, they helped her feel calm), a treadmill stood in the corner with a pair of 10lbs free weights nestled next to it, a medium sized flat tv was on the wall... as Lana's eyes drifted around imagining how Noel was perceiving this she hoped it didn't come off the wrong way. Lana had money. You didn't work in high level psychiatry without getting money. But she didn't spend much on herself. She wore fitted suits, had a decent and reliable car, and reasonable appliances. She enjoyed buying things used if they were in good condition, and wasn't one to sporadically dump a lot of cash.

She wasn't hurting for money. Her parents were. She sent quite a bit back to keep them living in their own home. Her father was aging and was having a harder time, his mind wandered, his hip needed replacing, and he was one of those people who didn't do retirement well. Part of what Lana paid for was a nurse for in home care to visit several times a week, a molly-maid type service to help her mother keep on top of things around the house, and a young local boy who would visit to do whatever heavy lifting her father felt like assigning. The house had been paid off for years, but on two small pensions her parents couldn't afford upgrades or much of the upkeep, so Lana paid for that too. Truth be told, she was considering having a long talk with her father about installing a chair lift over the staircase until he could have hip surgery.

Having this sort of relationship with her parents helped them all stay distracted. There wasn't typically any talk about her dead sister, and nothing they spoke about went beyond the surface level of familial communication. It was just easier that way. One time a few years ago Lana's mother had cracked and asked about Laura. Laura begged her not to say anything, it was too painful. Lana knew for their mother to ask was a huge thing- she never did wrap her head around the fact that Lana was a mutant and not simply schizophrenic. (as if there was anything simple about it).

"your bathroom is over here." called Lana leading Noel down the little hall. She pointed to a small white tiled room with an old style sink and a claw foot tub. It also let it a remarkable amount of light. "The bedroom is right here."

There wasn't anything in the bedroom but it was hardwood floor, nice white paneling on the walls, good light, and chilly. "The heat is electric." said Lana when she noticed the brisk chill. "I haven't really been in here so I haven't turned it on yet, but doesn't take long to heat up." she pointed to the dial on the wall. "Because it's electric it's all included in rent, same with water. But they did want rental insurance so I went ahead and got that. Wasn't much actually. Got a deal through my insurance agent." it had only been 100$ for the year for 100,000$ in coverage. Lana didn't think she even owned 100,000$ worth of stuff yet.

She let Noel stand in the room for a moment and dashed to her own to grab her list. "Ah here we go." she said as she walked back to join her. "Just odds and ends really. A shower curtain..." that had been an enjoyable first shower when she realized she had forgotten it. "a bath mat, dish rack, spare light bulbs..." she prattled on a list of odds and ends. "I need to pick up winter boots too and some warmer mitts." she added.

"and I guess... if you wanted to we can always pick up anything you'd like... if you want to stay?" she smiled. "I can bring the stuff back here and drop you off wherever you like when we're done." she was hoping Noel would be willing to move in soon if she really was as into the place as she seemed.

Noisy? Where in New York (besides maybe a penthouse suite) was not noisy? "I think at this point it would be harder for me to go to sleep when it's quiet."

And yeah. Lana was totally loaded. Noel was used to being the responsible (hah!) roommate. The one with the steady income. Easy to mooch off of. That was one less thing to worry about with this chick.

Noel rubbed her arms against the cold as she entered the empty room. It was hard for Noel to visualize this being home. Not that it was bad, but... it just had no stuff in it at all. And it was cold. The memorymancer went to check the window, a perfectly unobstructed view of the fire escape and beyond that... trees? Her lips mouthed the words 'Holy moly.' She could see something green from her bedroom!

The bathroom was small and had very little counter space, but it was private and that was worth the sacrifice in storage.

So, in short, it wasn't perfect but it was as close as she was ever going to get.

"How long ago did you move in?" Lana's stuff didn't look 100% settled as Noel had zipped past it and some of those things on her list were pretty basic. "Some of that stuff I have already, if you could wait a couple days. My lease is up Tuesday, but my next day off is Friday. Like. This Friday." As in, just a couple days from now? Noel rubbed her arms again. That was why she had so many interviews this week. She needed out of that solo apartment. It was just costing her too damn much.

"I was hoping to pick up some more winter stuff." Since Noel's wardrobe was entirely made up of what she had picked up since she lived at the women's shelter in the summer, the bomber jacket she wore now and a few light sweaters were just about the limit of her outer-wear.

"I need clothes. Which takes considerably longer than just picking up some stuff. So I can do that later if you want." Noel checked the display of her phone again. She had time if Lana really meant to drop her off by car.

"Also... contract?" Noel was itching to sign before someone talked Lana out of it.

"How long ago did you move in?"

"Only a few days ago." admitted Lana. "I'm not huge on creature comforts. It usually takes me a while to...settle into a place. Truthfully I never invest too much until I'm sure I wont be, well there's no other way to say it really... haunted?" she looked at Noel questioningly to see if she would catch the drift. "So far so good here. I signed the lease anyway so if something goes bump in the night I'm still sorta stuck ahah" she laughed nervously. She pushed her red hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ears.

Laura was watching from next to Noel, and Lana tried not to pay attention to her. She had disappeared when they left the cafe but she was back now, and obviously looking Noel over. Noel wasn't an idiot and whether it was her intuition or  her mutation Lana felt certain she has some sort of idea what was going on. But she still didn't want to be rude and tried to look everywhere except where her dead sister was standing.

 "Some of that stuff I have already, if you could wait a couple days. My lease is up Tuesday, but my next day off is Friday. Like. This Friday."

"Friday is great!" beamed Lana. "I have to go into the precinct first thing in the morning but I'm done by noon and barring an emergency I am free after that. If you wanted I could swing by wherever you're staying now and help you get stuff loaded in. Unless you'd rather get a moving van. I don't mind making a couple trips." again she had that flitter of nervousness that she might be coming off too eager. 

>>"I was hoping to pick up some more winter stuff."

"I need clothes. Which takes considerably longer than just picking up some stuff. So I can do that later if you want."

"Well that's great, I read online there is a factory outlet for a lot of that gear at the mall. In regards to your clothing it's really up to you, I don't mind. All you're doing is saving me from very boring case work." she gave a lopsided grin.

"Also... contract?"

Lana whirred around and dashed back into her bedroom. She came out with the lease agreement and a new bounce in her step. Noel was going to stay! Noel would be her new roomate! The deal was practically sealed! Yay! "Here it is!" she exclaimed passed it to her. "Rent is due by the 30th of each month for the following month, except in February, 28th for obvious reasons." she laughed. The superintended has tried explaining that part to her very slowly and they got embarrassed when he saw her ID badge and realized she was a doctor of sorts.