Moving In [Belarus]

[Emma Lambert]

With a slight spring in her step, Emma Lambert made her way over to the building where the new apartment she was considering buying was located. It was the perfect place for her! Much larger than her previous box of a home with two bedrooms and a stunning view of the beach. The only problem was that it was a little too much for the Belgian with a reporter's salary. That was why she'd put an advert in the paper, advertising how she was searching for a room-mate. Somebody to split the rent with, plus it was nice to have a little bit of company after work. She'd only got one reply to the advert: a Natalia Arlovskaya.

"That will make it easy to narrow down the list," Emma lightly chuckled to herself as she entered the building and began making her way up the steps to the floor the apartment was on. She was meant to be meeting Natalia outside the apartment so they could get to know each other, take a look round their potential new home and sign the final paper work. Emma had to admit, she was pretty excited to be meeting somebody new. "Fingers crossed we'll get along!"

[Natalia Arlovskaya]

Despite not normally being a very social person, Natalia was fairly excited to meet her potential future roommate. Potential, as in it was still very likely that the young woman, named Emma Lambert, would decide that she did not wish to be involved with her. Natalia supposed she would understand. She was used to being "dumped" by roommates in the past.

This time, though, she had answered an advertisement, instead of a person she was already friends with. From their brief contact over the phone, Natalia had come to think that Ms. Emma was not the type of woman to abandon a potential roommate based on whatever it was people seemed to dislike about her. Natalia never really understood. She supposed it could be her shakiness at keeping work; but something told her it was the cold way she regarded others.

Natalia was very concerned as she walked up the stairs to the apartment she may or may not be living in soon. She had scrounged up a bit of work, and made just enough to cover a down payment and her share of the first month's rent. So far, everything was going well. She stopped to wait by the door to the apartment, a few minutes earlier than arranged.

[Emma Lambert]

Smiling brightly, Emma made her way to the apartment, the keys she'd just picked up from the caretaker jingling in her hand as she went. As she approached the door, she was surprised to see a woman already standing outside. They hadn’t actually met face to face before, but Emma was positive this was the woman who had replied to the advert. Even from afar, Emma could see this was a pretty woman, with her long pale hair and dark eyes. She was surprised, quite honestly, that she wasn't already off living with a boyfriend.

“Natalia Arlovskaya?” the blonde grinned when she reached the door, holding out her hand for a shake. The Belgian was as bubbly as ever, her cheery voice chirpy and sweet. “Hello, I’m Emma Lambert. We spoke on the phone. It’s nice to meet you!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Emma began sorting through the pile of paper work she had, splitting it into two sections. She then, juggling the many papers and two sets of keys, fumbled her way to the door and slipped her key in the lock, opening the apartment.

“I’ve got a pile of forms for you to fill out and your keys, but otherwise we only need to get to know each other, really.”

[Natalia Arlovskaya]

Natalia did not have to wait long before a peppy woman, about her age, walked over. Her arms were full of papers and the jingle of their apartment's keys preceded her. The woman was full of energy and already had Natalia's hand locked in a energetic handshake. She introduced herself as the woman Natalia had spoken with. Ms. Emma spoke at a mile a minute, giving Natalia no time in between to say anything. The thought of what would happen if she were not Ms. Emma's intended roommate passed her mind for a moment, but she dismissed it as she was led into the apartment and handed a stack of papers.

Eyes wide, Natalia was given a startling amount of information at once. She had to do paperwork, and there would be immediate social interaction? The weight of the paperwork surprised her- she would definitely have a hand cramp by the time this day was through. She could easily handle this, but whether or not she could be pleasant enough for Ms. Emma to remain her roommate was up to question. Her nervousness had come back.

The pair were lucky enough that the apartment had come already, if sparsely, furnished. A coffee table with a small couch took up the "living room" space. Natalia knelt in front of the coffee table opposite the loveseat; in order for it to function as a real table. As she rummaged for a pen to begin the upsetting stack of paperwork before her, she calmly asked, "What are the kinds of things you'd like to know?"

[Emma Lambert]

Emma couldn't help but notice that Natalia seemed a little bit... stunned by something. Maybe it was the large amount of paper work she'd just be given? Or maybe the other woman had fallen in love with the apartment just like the Belgian had done not so long ago. Either way, the blonde couldn't help but notice the other woman was incredibly quiet. She really hoped she hadn't shocked her or something with her outgoing attitude...

"I know it's a lot of paper work," Emma began with a sigh as she perched herself down on the small sofa that had been left for them. "But if you need any help just ask. You could look at mine to see the sort of things you need to tick, sign, say, etcetera." The green eyed woman leaned back into the seat, flipping her bob over her shoulder and smiling at Natalia. "Hopefully it won't take too long for you."

The Belgian leaned forward again when the other knelt down across from her, her head tilted ever so slightly to the side. She couldn't help but chuckle at the question that had just been asked. It did seem a little funny to her. "I just thought we could chat about anything. Just so we become better acquainted. I don't really need to know anything in particular about you, I mean we've already spoken on the phone a few times." Emma paused, realising how she must've been sounding a bit ditzy. "Just so you feel more comfortable here, you know? Like... first thing, you can call me Em or Emma if you want."

[Natalia Arlovskaya]

Finally finding a pen in her mess of a purse, Natalia set to work. She did attentively listen to Ms. Emma. Natalia had only read the first few paragraphs of the first page of the stack, and she already knew that she would appreciate the help of Ms. Emma's already prepared work. She wasn't a very skilled reader, and the jargon was already starting to confuse her. She was about to ask to borrow the completed work as a guide, when Ms Emma continued.

She paused in her work and waited for a pause in Ms. Emma's explanation to ask. The intended meaning of her question derailed her for a moment. It did make sense though. If they were to live together, they might as well become friends. Natalia wasn't used to having friends for very long. Ms. Emma seemed different from most of the friends she'd had in the past. She was more kind and extroverted. Despite that it made her uncomfortable, she hoped it would help whatever kind of friendship they could have. Especially if they did end up living together for a while, it would be nice if they got along well. Which meant to Natalia that she would have to hold in any rude comments she had, if she could catch them before she said them, of course.

"I don't really mind whatever you call me," Natalia replied to Ms. Emma's last statement. She hid her slight embarrassment at admitting to her poor reading skills, before saying: "I've never been a very good reader, and I would be happy to take you up on your offer on using your forms as a guide to mine?" She wasn't sure why she would be embarrassed; then again, she wouldn't want to be roommates with someone who could barely fill out the form.