maskormenacelogs | [closed]

Chidi smiles at her, but it's a bit tight at the corners. He doesn't know what to expect other than what she's told him—and it was just enough to make him worry about how well he'll be accepted.

"All right, then," he says, not having stepped forward yet. "Here we go."

One moment of steeling himself later, he steps forward with great purpose in his stride.

Eleanor shut the door behind him, she would make sure to stay with him as much as she could. She was sure that Thor and Ashley would be fine. Hopefully Loki would be on what could be considered his best behavior.

"You got this," she assured him, reaching for his hand to give it a brief squeeze. They had been through a lot together in the Bad Place, he had always helped her and now she would do the same for him.

"Hey guys, come meet our new roommate!"

While he waits for one of them to appear, Chidi turns back toward her and squeezes her hand back.

"This is just a lot to take in," he explains. "I'm a bit overwhelmed by it all."

"I know- I felt the same way when I arrived." And it didn't help that her first introduction was Loki lighting the curtains on fire. But with help from new friends, she's been able to adjust.

"We've been doing ethics lessons on Saturdays...I even got a chalkboard like the one you got."

"That's incredible," he says, and he means that literally—he can hardly believe it. He wonders what kind of people she's encountered here that immediately made her want to follow his example in teaching ethics. But he doesn't ask. He's about to find out for himself as soon as one of them shows themselves.

As If On Cue, out comes Loki as played by Natalie Portman, drawn by the mellifluous sound of Eleanor's voice.

He leans against the doorframe in a halfway alluring sort of way, like someone who is being attractive by accident. Or trying to be.

"Another one? Who's this supposed to be, then?" Despite the acidic tone, he (she) makes direct eye contact with Chidi and suggestively raises his eyebrows. Hey hot stuff.

Eleanor narrowed her eyes slightly. She had never seen this woman before but there was a possibility....

"Really, dude?" She's unimpressed as she looked at Loki, just as unimpressed as she had been when he had set the curtains on fire.

"This is Chidi- " she turned to Chidi then, for a moment before looking back at Loki. "And I'm pretty sure this is Loki. I think he's still upset I made it rain shrimp on him."

"Wh—why are you not sure if this is Loki?" Chidi asks, looking at Eleanor and then back at Loki. He'd been told on the way here about Eleanor's powers, so that bit about her raining shrimp on Loki is not surprising. Still, you'd think she'd know what her roommate looks like.

"I'm somewhat of a mercurial figure." Still, he doesn't change back, just looks at Eleanor expectantly. He'll let her explain.

Look, Thor isn't here and he's like 75% of Loki's impulse control.

Oh yeah, this was definitely Loki.

"And by that he means he's an ash-hole," she commented to Chidi, ignoring Loki for the moment. "He does this whole 'I'm a god prince of someplace' routine but mostly he just sits around and lights the curtains on fire."

Chidi's starting to see why Eleanor decided to do lessons.

"I...see," he says. "So being mercurial means you sometimes just...change faces." He can handle this. He just needs to work out what the parameters are. He glances at Eleanor and gives her hand another squeeze. He's got this. He does.

That earns them both a rather impressive eyeroll.

"Among other things, yes." He waves a hand in their direction, with all the air of a dismissal--and for a moment, nothing happens, so maybe that's all it was.

But if Eleanor or Chidi look down at themselves, or at each other--they'll see the opposite of what they expect to see. Chidi looks like Eleanor, and vice versa.

But it's not a transformation, just an illusion; they'll still feel like themselves. Either way, Loki-as-Jane-Foster turns away and strides down the hall. After all, his introduction is over, isn't it?

"Gimme a minute," Ashley calls out at first, but it's actually several before she emerges, shoving her phone back into her pocket. She says to whom she thinks is Eleanor, "Sorry - work has a booth at that FanPort thing, so as if Project Alke wasn't enough, we've got to set that up too."

Turning to the unfamiliar face, she offers a hand to shake. "Hi, I'm Ashley."

"Hey, girl!" Eleanor and Ashley are definitely very different but Eleanor still has some respect for her. Also, the girls in the house have to stick together, right?

"Ashley, Chidi. Chidi, this is one of our housemates, Ashley."

Ashley doesn't blink too much at "hey girl" coming from a complete stranger, but "our housemates" along with already knowing her name does give her pause.

"Um," she says eloquently, her hand still up for shaking. "Who are you, exactly?" She has a hunch, based on the familiar speech patterns, but the face is throwing her.

Chidi, meanwhile, is looking at Ashley with confusion, as she seemingly is prepared to shake Eleanor's hand instead of his.

"Nice to meet you?" he says, his tone very much betraying his bewilderment.

"Wait, what?" Why was Ashley offering Eleanor her hand.

Then she looked at Chidi and realized she was looking at herself. And only one person could do something like this...

"LOKI YOU FORKING ASH-HOLE!"

"What?" Chidi asked, looking at Eleanor and then Ashley in bewilderment and dismay. "What's going on?"

Chidi didn't really know what they were going to do that night. Really, he hadn't thought about it for one second, considering the way introductions had gone. He'd been a bit busy, all told.

But now they'd managed to retreat to Eleanor's bedroom and the whole question came barreling violently into his mind, because he didn't quite know where to sit. Was it okay to sit on her bed? That should be okay, while they talked, right? He looked at her after the door closed and decided to be oh-so-casual about it, and headed over to the bed, and sat down.

"So, that was interesting," he said.

Eleanor closed the door behind them, leaning against it for a moment. They had survived introductions and now they had to talk. They hadn't had a chance to talk in the Judge's chamber, there was a lot to tackle.

"Yeah, it's never a dull moment," she said as she went to sit by him on the bed. She had been making an effort to keep things neat- there were only a few clothes tossed around but she had been doing a good job of cleaning up after herself here.

"I'm really glad you're here, Chidi," she said honestly after a moment, looking at him. "I missed you."

Butterflies began dancing in his stomach just about then as he realized something very important—they were now sitting on his love interest's bed. The woman who, according to his point of view, he had just come off of kissing before being unceremoniously sent here. His lips quirked and he smiled, as he attempted to cover up his uncertainty by appearing to be at ease.

"I'm glad it worked out," he said. "I don't know how it worked out, but it did, somehow. Maybe the judge sent us here..."

He thought, briefly, about the video, about the two of them in bed together, and he thought perhaps the specter of that had caused him to be too bold. And then he couldn't help it—the smile falters, just a little.

"It's okay that I sat down here, right?" he said.

"That's what I thought! I can't even say fork here, it's such bullshirt," she exclaimed, sitting forward a little without thinking about it.

"I'm not sure if it is or not but I'm still trying to be the best I can here." It wasn't always easy but she had learned her lesson- she had to make the most of whatever chances she had been given even though she had not been a good person when she had been alive.

She couldn't ever forget that video, she had watched it over and over again. Now they were alone on a bed- hopefully, this time there weren't any cameras. "It's fine, don't worry about it," she quickly assured him.

"Okay," he said, and he knew it was. Okay, that was. She was the one who'd asked him about his feelings first, after all, back when she showed him that video. And she'd sat forward now, shifting toward him. So he relaxed—probably visibly—the smile returning to his face, and he covered her hand with his. "I know how important swearing is to you," he said, teasing.

Chidi had only had a few relationships during his time on Earth. None of them had ever been all that serious. And he'd only shared a bed with another person a handful of times. So the fact that they'd ended up in bed together at all was what was most impressive. He knew that didn't necessarily mean he'd taken the initiative on that occasion—but he thinks considering what had happened after they'd talked about the video, that she would be more likely to be waiting for that now.

But it was also important for him to do things at a pace he was comfortable with. So he turned his hand over to take hers in his, and left it at that for now.

That small gesture of him putting his hand over hers meant a lot, she knew that he tended to overthink things.

"We all get our own rooms but- I mean- if you know-" she started, gesturing with her other hand. She knew that she had sprung something big on him when she had shown him that video, she wasn't going to rush into anything with things so new and uncertain. She would let them work out what their own pace ended up being. They didn't have to do everything like everyone else did.

"If you want to stay in here, you're welcome to," she finally offered, giving him a small smile. "But you have your own room, so I understand."

He nods, tilting his head contemplatively. He didn't want to rush things—but he also didn't want to be so indecisive that he messed things up. Either way, it seems like they'll end up together. It's just a matter of what pace they end up doing things at.

"What do you want?" he asked. "And I mean that honestly. Don't say something just because it's what you think I want to hear."

Eleanor was now the indecisive one but it only lasted a moment before she made her choice. She had never had a relationship like this before, where she could communicate with someone like this. When she was alive, she had gone out of her way to drive boyfriends away.

"I want you to stay here, with me," she said as she looked at him, her expression serious. "I won't rush you, Chidi," she promised.

He nods again, taking in a breath and releasing it.

"I'm used to taking things pretty slow," he admits (not that he expects her to be surprised by that). "But...I think I'd like to do that."

Everything is so crazy and up in the air here, but it's nice to be settled in that. He smiles, and lets go of her hand enough to move his hand along her shoulder and bring her in for an embrace.

"We'll take it as slow as we need to," she assured him as her smile grew. She never knew that being in a relationship like this could feel so...warm. Amazing. She knew that she was a better person not only because of him but for him as well.

"Have I said I'm really glad you're here?" she said, her tone relieved as she leaned in closer to wrap her arms around his shoulders to pull him in for a tight hug.

"It's at least been implied," he teases, returning the firmness of the embrace. She's so warm and present. She's a bit smaller than him, enough that she tucks into his chest nicely as they hug.

"I don't really have anything to move in with me, so..." He leans his head on hers. "Maybe we should do some shopping for the rest of today, make sure I have everything I need."

She closed her eyes for a moment, for the first time since she had arrived here she felt at home. Life...or death...wasn't the same without him.

"That's a good idea- I know some places we can go," she assured him but didn't move right away. There was no rush.

Indeed, it seemed they were set on just holding one another for a good while. Chidi eventually started running his hands up and down her shoulder blades, scratching lightly with his nails. He didn't feel compelled to do anything more passionate, though, felt no need to kiss her or pull her into his lap.

That could all wait until later, sometime when he'd settled more into the reality of all this.

Finally, though, he sat up, sat back, and smiled at her.

"I'm ready when you are."

"Right, we should get going," she agreed with a laugh as she sat up, letting go of him slowly. She got up to grab her phone to tuck it into a pocket of her jeans.

"There are some places nearby- we can grab something to eat too, if you're hungry for more than just shrimp," she offered with a grin. She was proud of her shrimp power.

"Maybe a bit more," he agreed, standing with a smile. His own phone was already safely in his pocket, so he headed toward the door and led the way.

In the end, they spent more time walking and talking than anything else. They did stop at a department store to get him a toothbrush and some clothes, and a few other things, but it seemed like just spending time together was more what they wanted to do than spending their time being productive.

Eventually they wandered back to the house, getting there in time to avoid being out after dark, and Chidi took his things to their bathroom to set them up. It was slightly early to get ready for bed, but he brushed his teeth and put on some pajamas they'd bought, and came back to the bedroom. Thankfully, there hadn't been any other encounters with roommates of any significance. He'd had his fill of weird things earlier that day.

Eleanor was just happy to be able to spend time with Chidi. There were no certainties about what would happen with the Judge so she wanted to use her time here wisely, while she could. This was an opportunity that she refused to waste. She helped him select a few necessities but figured most things could wait until later.

She was glad that they were able to get back to her - now their - room without anymore drama. She knew that she had been overwhelmed when she had first arrived and adjusting had taken time.

While he was in the bathroom brushing his teeth, she took that change to change to her pajama pants and a loose blue t-shirt, looking up at him when a smile when he came back from the bathroom. "A bit overwhelming, isn't it?"

"It is," he said, moving into the room and closing the door. "I wonder how we came to be here. You think it's something the Judge did? Another chance to show we can be...better?"

"I thought that as well but I seemed to be the only one who knew about the Good or Bad Place," she said thoughtfully. "It could be though-I haven't seen Jason, Tahani, Janet, or Michael though." And they were sorely missed. It had been all of them together who had worked hard to become better.

"I can't even say fork- you know what I mean- like, properly say fork." Which was frustrating sometimes but her shrimp power made up for that. "Either way, I'm not going to backslide."

"I wouldn't expect you to," he said. "And you have me here, too, now, so..."

He didn't want to take responsibility for her improved state, but it seemed like his presence always did make a difference for her.

He moved to the bed, feeling the slight tension of anticipation in his midsection. It would be so nice to be free to just hold Eleanor, kiss her in bed, maybe even do more when he felt ready for that...

It made him a little nervous to think she was probably expecting that to happen soon. He knew that in some other reality they've made love before, because they had the video evidence. But he didn't want to just choose do that because it had happened before. And now he was nervous, overthinking it. Instead of sitting on the bed with her, he stood in front of her, reaching with one hand to touch her shoulder and try not to show that he was starting to freak out just a little.

Eleanor looked up at him, reaching out to put her hands on his arms gently. She knew enough to be able to tell when he was starting to get uncomfortable.

"No rush, ok?" she assured him quietly, her expression serious. She was willing to take all the time he needed. She didn't know what had happened in that repeat where the video had come from, how long that reset had lasted, but she wasn't going to rush things.

"It's just us," she said softly.

"I know," he said. "It's just a matter of... You know, knowing how much is coming from myself and how much is what I think you're wanting."

He moved his hands down, since her hands were on his arms, and put his hands on her sides. He gave her a little tug, to get her to stand.

"For now, just this," he added, and kissed her.

"I just want you, Chidi," she assured him, standing when he prompted her to. The last thing she wanted to do was pressure him- they had both been through a lot recently that was going to take time to process.

She wrapped her arms around him as she returned the kiss, letting herself lean closer.

That's wonderful to hear, and he ponders it as they hold each other. She wants to be with him, only to be with him, whatever that would entail. It makes him feel better to know that she's planning to be patient, to work through his feelings with him, even if it means he keeps things slow. Knowing that she's not planning to rush him helps him not feel like he needs to drag his feet, interestingly enough. If she was pushing him, he'd really put on the brakes.

As it is, he kisses her with a steady pressure, moving his hands to her back and making small circles with the pads of his thumbs. It's been a long time for him—other than whatever happened between them during the reboots—and he's relishing the sensations. She's a good kisser, he notes, not that he's surprised. His hands drag down her back to her waist and he pulls her a little closer.

She wanted to enjoy each moment with him, each kiss. They could be going to the Bad Place when they returned having failed their test so if this was all they would have, she would make the most of it while they could be together. She would do it for the both of them.

She leans against him, relaxing her arms around his shoulders as she felt herself practically melt. For a moment, nothing else mattered except the two of them- it was all that she had ever wanted.

When they broke the kiss to take a breath, she could feel a surge of emotion coming up. Even if their memory had been wiped through each reboot, Mindy had been right. Something in her remembered that she had known Chidi a long time, longer than she remembered.

"I'm really glad you're here- I know I've said that a million times but I mean it."

He kept his face close to hers, brushing his lips across her cheek as she spoke.

"I'm glad too," he admitted. "I just need to not think too much about how it works."

Thinking too much had always been the way he'd gotten himself into trouble in the past.

He slowly released her then, standing fully upright, and smiled gently at her. He didn't know what she'd just been thinking about how there was something in them that remembered, despite the reboots, but he'd sort of been thinking the same thing. He just had to be careful not to overthink that.

"Are you tired?"

"That's the best idea," she agreed. She had made that mistake when she had first arrived, thinking it was part of their test, that she was always being watched. But she had decided that even if it wasn't part of the test, she needed to try anyway.

"A little....come on, l'm sure you must be exhausted from everything," she said with a smile as she leaned over to give him one quick kiss before pulling back the blankets for them.

"It' going to be alright, though," she promised, squeezing his hand before pulling him into bed with her.

"I am pretty tired."

He squeezed her hand back and climbed into the nest of covers beside her. Once he was settled in he gave her a little tug to lean on his chest, the same position they'd been in in that video.

"It will be all right," he said. "I know it."

Eleanor didn't need much prompting, only taking a moment to turn off the bedside lamp before settling in against him. She had seen it on the tape but it felt so natural as well as if they had done it so many times. She wrapped an arm around him with a yawn

"We got this," she murmured as she let her eyes close, listening to the beat of his heart.

He didn't respond, not audibly, but he moved his hand to stroke her hair, and listened to the sound of her breathing. After a bit of time he sighed, resting his head back. He had been holding his shoulders a bit tense.

He didn't let himself fall asleep until he was sure she had gone to sleep first.

She had missed this, more than she realized. It wasn't difficult to let her eyes fall shut as he stroked her hair, letting herself relax against him.

There was a small, content smile on her lips as she drifted off to sleep, knowing that he would be there when she woke up in the morning.

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