Continued from Here with @halfprodige
“It’s not much, but it’s home.” Alyx gave a short laugh when dropping the spare key in the hand of the other. She hadn’t met her before today but there would be time to get to know each other, after all they shared an apartment now.
It was on the third floor of a near derelict apartment building. A two room apartment with a rundown bathroom and a kitchen corner. It was more than most had and they lived there legally.
She got lucky to have this place granted to her by the Combine, and it wasn’t too far from the car shop she worked at, and the new face got lucky by running into her a few days ago in search of an apartment.. And now here she was. There was no way she wouldn’t have taken her in.
Unlocking the door with her own key Alyx stepped in “Oh, yeah..” before turning to face her flat mate “I’m Alyx Vance, your new landlord.” She introduced herself but the title she gave herself left the woman with an expression that showed both amusement and confusion. She clearly wasn’t used to the idea of having a subtenant. “Don’t worry about rent, they don’t collect it from me and I won’t collect it from you.” The word “they” had certain sense of fear and distain to it and no one could blame Alyx for that. The Combine, the alien benefactors of the human race, were seen as an oppressor.
She gave the other a quick tour of the apartment and showing that she had already moved in to the other room. Alyx didn’t have much.. Just a suit case, radio and a wooden closet sut tight with a padlock, not to mention the small cables that snaked out of its back to the nearby socket.
“I will be coming and going at odd times, so I hope you won’t mind?” While Alyx trusted the other woman enough to take her in just after meeting her a few days ago she still held back on telling how she was part of the resistance against the Combine. After the quick tour she lead them to the kitchen, only to pull herself up and sit on the counter, and smile “So.. Care to share your name? I’m sorry, I should have asked it before.”
Grabbing the key Sombra smiled and moved to follow along into the apartment. “I've lived in much worse. This seems good to me.” A rundown bathroom, but one she only had to share with one other person. Her own room, and a “landlord” who seemed sensible and wasn't making weird demands. So far so good. Sombra really couldn't complain at all. Hearing of the rent she nodded happily. Some people would demand rent anyways be it in the form of money, or favors. Not that she'd have an issue offering Alyx some favors, but it was better to keep that thought to herself for now.
“No I wont mind at all. I'm much the same way. Although most of my work is done with my computer so it's less coming and going, and more being up and awake at all kinds of random times.” Shrugging Sombra waved towards her small collection of gear. Two suitcases and a duffle bag. The suitcases held all her various electronics, and the duffle bag her clothes and a few odds and ends including a stuffed bear.
The question about her name made her blink then laugh softly. “Well aren't we just an interesting pair? Moving in together and we didn't even know each others names. At least not till now. I'm Maria Colomar.” That of course wasn't her real name. Her real name was Olivia Colomar, and her internet name which was far more important to her was Sombra. Maria however was a common enough name, and she had all the relevant paperwork and documentation to make it a valid ID and worth while using.
“A pleasure to meet you Alyx, and just so you know this isn't me coming onto you but ah... I'm into all genders. So you might see me, ah, meeting up with another woman from time to time if I find some one or a guy or you know who ever else. I just wanted to mention it because some times people get weird and I'd rather just be up front about it.” As far as Sombra was concerned it wasn't about shoving her personal life into someone else's face, it was about being able to be at least half honest about who and what and how she was. If this Alyx was really going to have an issue with Sombra showing up with another woman better to find out now rather then later.
