[Back in Queens, Delmar had been a homebody. Shy, soft-spoken, and generally considered odd by everyone in the neighborhood, he always felt like a hermit crab turned out of its shell whenever he went out for groceries or popped in to the drugstore, and generally tried to keep his eyes on his feet so as not to catch the looks. Yes. He knows the looks he gets whenever he goes anywhere, and he also knows that if he sees those judgmental eyes on him it usual takes the wind of out his sails, what little confidence he had would crumple into a little ball in his stomach, and he'd regret having left the house again.
But so far Hadriel has proven to be different. Despite it being a kidnapping by Gods who have their fun by pushing them around and it being a cave full of people with questionable criminal records, Delmar has found that his attempts to reach out to others have been met with much more positivity than back home. He's even made some friends, and friends who will actually call him a friend. That is amazing!
So it gives him a little bit of courage. And it is this courage that inspires him to introduce himself to his new neighbor. It would be rude of him not to, right?
So gathering what bravery he has, he steps across the hall, raises a hand, knocks on the door--
-And immediately regrets his decision. Oh god. What if this person was asleep. Or they were busy. And now he's bothering him. He should just go back into his apartment, yes that would be good--
No. No. that would be worse. Then it would look like he was just one of those kids who likes to prank innocent people by knocking on their door and running off.
Nope. No, whatever happens now, Delmar must face it. ]
[Tucker's not especially busy when Delmar comes to his door. In fact, that's the problem.
Back home, he had plenty to do. His job, for starters, which kept him busy most of the week, and then his secondary job on the weekends. And when he wasn't working, he and his buddies had stuff to do, places to go out. And he had his cats to take care of, actual food to cook- god. He misses his cramped schedule.
He's cleaned his apartment about a dozen times, unloaded, reloaded, and cleaned both guns, rearranged his furniture a bit- all boring. He's shrugging on his jacket to go out for a run (much less interesting without the crowds, but whatever,) when he hears movement in the hall.
Tucker pauses, listening. Footsteps shuffle over to his side of the stairway and then a hand knocks on his door. Interesting. He hasn't checked out his neighbor yet, and anyway, it's something to do.
He tosses his jacket on the back of the couch and answers the door, trying to put on a friendly air.]
[It does not help Delmar's nervousness that his new neighbor turns out to be a knock-out. In fact that seems like the world being unfair. Also kind. But also unfair. But also generous--
He nods first, his voice taking a moment to come back]
Oh yes, hello. I'm your neighbor. I thought, um, I thought I should introduce myself.
[Which he then forgets to do, not even mentioning his name.]
[Aw, poor guy. Dude looks like he's about to faint. Tucker's not sure if it's because he's nervous or because he's old. He's not that old, though. Definitely not in the senile range. Must be anxiety, then.
In any case, he doesn't seem threatening or aggressive in the least, so Tucker sees no need to make it worse.]
Right, cool. I'm Tucker, nice to meet you.
[He offers a hand. He doesn't even mention the fact that Delmar forgot his name. Give him a chance to redeem himself.]
[He doesn't say it like it's a bad thing, though. When he shakes Delmar's hand, it's firm enough to seem not-weird, but gentle enough to seem not-aggressive. There's a nuance to these things.]
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But so far Hadriel has proven to be different. Despite it being a kidnapping by Gods who have their fun by pushing them around and it being a cave full of people with questionable criminal records, Delmar has found that his attempts to reach out to others have been met with much more positivity than back home. He's even made some friends, and friends who will actually call him a friend. That is amazing!
So it gives him a little bit of courage. And it is this courage that inspires him to introduce himself to his new neighbor. It would be rude of him not to, right?
So gathering what bravery he has, he steps across the hall, raises a hand, knocks on the door--
-And immediately regrets his decision. Oh god. What if this person was asleep. Or they were busy. And now he's bothering him. He should just go back into his apartment, yes that would be good--
No. No. that would be worse. Then it would look like he was just one of those kids who likes to prank innocent people by knocking on their door and running off.
Nope. No, whatever happens now, Delmar must face it. ]
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Back home, he had plenty to do. His job, for starters, which kept him busy most of the week, and then his secondary job on the weekends. And when he wasn't working, he and his buddies had stuff to do, places to go out. And he had his cats to take care of, actual food to cook- god. He misses his cramped schedule.
He's cleaned his apartment about a dozen times, unloaded, reloaded, and cleaned both guns, rearranged his furniture a bit- all boring. He's shrugging on his jacket to go out for a run (much less interesting without the crowds, but whatever,) when he hears movement in the hall.
Tucker pauses, listening. Footsteps shuffle over to his side of the stairway and then a hand knocks on his door. Interesting. He hasn't checked out his neighbor yet, and anyway, it's something to do.
He tosses his jacket on the back of the couch and answers the door, trying to put on a friendly air.]
Hey. You're the guy from across the hall, right?
SORRY THIS TOOK FOREVER FOR ME TO RESPOND
He nods first, his voice taking a moment to come back]
Oh yes, hello. I'm your neighbor. I thought, um, I thought I should introduce myself.
[Which he then forgets to do, not even mentioning his name.]
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In any case, he doesn't seem threatening or aggressive in the least, so Tucker sees no need to make it worse.]
Right, cool. I'm Tucker, nice to meet you.
[He offers a hand. He doesn't even mention the fact that Delmar forgot his name. Give him a chance to redeem himself.]
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Very nice to meet you, Tucker. My name is Delmar.
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[He doesn't say it like it's a bad thing, though. When he shakes Delmar's hand, it's firm enough to seem not-weird, but gentle enough to seem not-aggressive. There's a nuance to these things.]
How long have you been stuck here, Delmar?
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[He looks bashful. Delmar had been a more common name in the 1900s and 1910s when his parents were knocking about but now not so much]
And I've been here a few months now. Yourself? You must be pretty new here.
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[To explain why he hasn't always had his own apartment.]
A few months though? Bet you've seen some crazy shit.
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[A smile]
Oh! You have friends from home here? That's very good. They can look out for you.
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To be honest with you, though? I'm the one who spends the most time looking out for them.
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You must have your hands full.
[He means it jokingly, but there's a kernel of truth there. He can see how trying to look out for Harlan might be quite an endeavor.]
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Sure do. Being the sole voice of reason isn't an easy job, but somebody's gotta do it.
[He gets you, Delmar.]
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Well I am glad they have you then. But you need to be sure to look after yourself too.
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[Perhaps too good care of himself.]
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That is very good to hear. Sometimes I worry that young men don't realize they aren't immortal.
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Yeah, I definitely know the type.
[His entire party, basically.]
It's not even limited to men.