MHA #8 | Friday Morning

[flourish_or_perish]

Faye had made a promise awhile ago, and today she was finally getting around to it. For as much of a ditz she could play at being, she was surprisingly handy.

So here she was, Friday morning while Stark was at class, casually installing a new lock on his door. A better lock. One that your average sneaky thief couldn't just get past. Not like the discarded lock on the floor over there, which had been laughably easy to get past, again.

But this new lock was pretty nice, if she said so herself. And it was nice to have a little project. Something to do with her hands besides smoking. (She was still smoking, too. Of course.)

[for the alien whose apartment she's in, but if you want to chastise her for smoking in this apartment building, the door is literally open!]

Comments

[flourish_or_perish]

"This building has a manager?" This was news to Faye. "I think we're good, really. And if you want to talk to Stark about a key, that's fine. It's his call."

She wasn't going to just hand out a key to some guy who said he managed the building, thanks. Not when she was going to all the effort of making sure Stark's door was more secure in the first place!

(She had been planning on installing a similar lock on her door, and note to self: do that under cover of darkness or something, lest nosy building managers -- sure, dude, she could be a 'building manager' too, nice cover -- had further questions.)

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon nodded. "Right. I'll talk to Stark." Immediately, just to make sure this was okay with him. "Just...please be careful. And don't smoke in the hallways. I do understand, but some of the residents are probably nonsmokers."

He pulled out his phone. "I'd like to know your name, if I'm to tell Stark I spoke with you."

[flourish_or_perish]

Some of the residents could deal! Besides, she knew Mr. Across-the-Hall, and if he had issues with the smoking -- or, for that matter, with the B and E -- he probably would have arrested her or whatever a long time ago.

And an alias was absolutely right there on the tip of her tongue, but before Faye could even finish thinking that Whitney could be a girl's name, she sighed. If this guy was legitimate -- and she still had her doubts! -- then it might backfire if she lied about her name.

"I'm Faye. I live next door," she said grudgingly, clearly annoyed at having to give this information as she jerked her head over at #7. "Stark and I are -- friends."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Ah! Okay. My apologies; I believe I've heard about you on the radio, but I haven't yet met all the residents. Thank you, yes, I'll speak with Stark. Just please drop me a note or something before making any improvements? I, um. I don't actually care myself very much, but if I ever do hear from whomever actually owns the place, I will need to be able to answer questions."

[flourish_or_perish]

"Sure." It could still be a cover! Even if he was all nervous and weird -- maybe he was just a good actor. "I'm just looking out for security," she added, a little concession. "The old lock wasn't great."

Don't ask her how she knew that.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

If there was one thing Jon wasn't, it was a good liar.

He frowned. "Then please, by all means. Do you think...that is, I'm wondering if the others are as bad and will all need replacing."

[flourish_or_perish]

"Maybe." Faye really didn't care about the rest of the building. "No one else has said anything."

No one else had a purple-haired woman without boundaries breaking in on the reg, either.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Hm. All right." He would have to look into it. "Well, thank you, I suppose."