ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴇᴀʀɴ ᴛᴏ ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ

     ❝OKAY WHAT DID MOMMY SAY ABOUT TOUCHING OTHER PEOPLE’S THINGS?” Violet asked, bending down so she could look her little girl in the eye. The little girl pouted, clutching the object tightly in her grasp. “Freya, come on, put it down.” She commanded; still her tone was soft and motherly. It was more of a chide, and we all know how those things could be. The pair was on their way for a picnic, the weather being splendid for one; but Freya’s eyes caught onto something and when she had her mind set on something there was no going back. The ex-detective couldn’t tell if she was strong willed or just stubborn. Anyway, Violet was on the phone, just spouting away with her coworker when she realized her daughter had wandered away. Running into the room, Violet looked at the apparently “soft” thing that caught her daughter’s eyes. Suddenly seeing another figure also standing in the room, a guilty smile crossed her face as she quickly got up on her feet. “I’m so sorry, she’s four and uh, she’s good at it.” 

While playing around with Reuben quietly, at least soft enough to not annoy others as she sat in the living room, she made the white Husky twist and turn with a happy bark everytime he got rewarded with his toy in the form of a bone. The dog eventually too caught up in the red head’s talking, both of them didn’t notice the child stealing the slimey toy that had been in Reuben’s mouth only minutes ago. Even though Nicole had been watching the child for some time before she had gotten distracted by playing with Reuben, she was having too much fun with her best friend before she heard a voice coming from right beside her. ‘’Oh- oops! Our bad, well actually mine, I wasn’t paying attention.’’ She then moved her eyes to the child, carefully approaching her before resting her fingers on the toy next to the girls’ hands. ‘’How lovely this bone may seem to you, it’s actually Reuben’s favorite toy and he would be very sad if he’d lose it. You wouldn’t mind giving it back to him, would you? He’s very very sweet, wouldn’t even dare to bite such a sweet thing like you, promise!’’

“I’m new, yeah” Raven repeated, biting her lower lip. She hoped that meeting the girls that lived here would make her nerves go away but seeing Nicole in front of her – and wanting to help her only increased the feeling. She knew that she’d have to control that – not wanting to give anything away, at least not yet. And if she did, then she hoped the older woman would figure it was because she was getting used o everything. “I’m glad I’m not the only one who goes through this then” She said with a sigh of relief. She pushed her brows together when the bedroom door opened – wondering if she had already scared the woman away. “Oh, okay” She said with a grin, standing outside while Nicole put the papers away. As the Husky came towards Raven, she grinned widely and held her hand out towards him – knowing that you never just approached a strange dog, no matter how friendly they seemed. “Hi, boy” She greeted the husky, stepping towards him slowly. “He’s adorable” Raven told Nicole, turning her attention to the older woman for a brief moment. Once the dog seemed to accept her, the blonde ran her hand through his fur on his head before scratching behind his ear. “I always wanted a dog but my dad said I was too busy with gymnastics to look after a dog. I mean – he probably wasn’t wrong about that but still, dogs are wonderful and it would have been nice to have one” The blue eyed woman said with a slight frown. “I love dogs. Really. They say diamonds are a girls best friend but I think it’s really dogs. They just seem to know things. Right, Ruben?” She asked the dog – looking down at him and laughing as he gave another bark. “I think he agrees with me. Or just thinks I’m a complete idiot.”

Feeling like the girl might be shy, or maybe just wasn’t as much as an open book Nicole practically was, she decided not to think much of it- if anything she just wanted to make her feel comfortable. And animals could be a big help with that. Hearing the blonde’s voice go up in octaves as she greeted her buddy, she couldn’t help but smile widely at the sight. Reuben’s tail went nuts, like he always did when he became excited when he received attention. Someone to pet his head or to play with, he loved it all, once he trusted the people who were around him. She felt like she truly had made progress in comparison to the first time she had taken him home and introduced to other people, way too soon for the dog to handle. Which was barely months ago and now... right now he was wagging his tail like a lunatic just by such a tender gesture, receiving attention from the younger woman. ‘’Thank you, he’s doing his absolute best,’’ she replied to how he adorable he was, as it was all the dog’s own doing. ‘’You’re a girl after my heart, dogs are the sweetest creatures and best ones to have by your side. Mutual trust is one of the strongest bonds you can have with an animal. Really? What dog did you have in mind? I’m actually really, truly in love with pugs, but don’t let Reuben hear that.’’ The red head joked around to keep the air light between them as she moved closer towards the doorway. ‘’You’re no idiot, absolutely not,’’ she reassured her by softly resting her hand on the girls’ shoulder. ‘’Do you want Reuben to come along with us? It’s all up to you, darling.’’

Looking up as she heard a woman repeat the word she said – or at least, attempting to repeat it, Raven gave her a small smile. The blonde knew that she should probably stick to English, it would have made everything a lot easier for everyone. Noticing who she really was looking at, the younger woman froze for a moment. She knew that Nicole was in the mansion but she hadn’t expected to find, or walk into her so soon. Raven figured she’d have a little more time to get to know her surroundings more before attempting to know the woman who could have been her mother. Swallowing slightly, she quickly regained her composure. “It means wonderful in Norwegian” Raven informed Nicole. “Oh. Oops” She said with a sheepish grin. “I’m Raven and maybe a little. I’m not the best with directions and…. I thought my room was around here somewhere” Raven figured that if she could get to know the woman a little now then it’d be okay – before her dad realized what she was doing and the yelling would start. 

Nicole tilted her head slightly as she was curious to what the girl needed help with- if she needed help at all. The redhead would be happy to help, it was what she did: help others whenever she could. Comfort them with food or hugs if they were comfortable receiving them. She loved to tell stories about her work experiences, even if it meant nothing but just a silly story- she lived for the happiness of others. To just see a smile on their faces and make them feel like they could make it through whatever they were going through. To give them a little push into the right direction, it was what she always had been doing. Especially ever since she had lost her daughter to the man she should’ve loved like she loved animals and all the girls she shared the mansion with right now. ‘’Don’t worry about it!’’ Nicole waved her oops away, reassuring her with a gentle smile. ‘’Oh! You’re new? Don’t worry, you’ll get used to this place, really! Every new girl goes through the same experience, we all did when the show just moved actually. It was quite the mess, but actually so funny thinking back about it.’’ She giggled, her voice hopefully soothing the younger girl. ‘’Raven, what a lovely name, it’s nice to meet you!’’ The vet then opened the door of her room, since they had been standing right next to it. ‘’Give me a second, I’ll bring this back inside so I won’t have anything in my hands. I don’t mean to seem uninterested, not at all!’’ She mused as Reuben then made a happy bark at her before turning his head to Raven, slowly approaching her in curiosity. ‘’Yes Reuben! That’s Raven, a new girl. You don’t have to be scared of her,’’ she then moved her eyes up to the girl after she had set down the paperwork she had been holding in her arms. ‘’And you don’t have to be scared of Reuben, he’s a tame husky. Just let him sniff your hand a little, it’ll all be fine! --Unless.. you’re really afraid, there’s absolutely no need to!’’

Raven was glad that the flight from Norway wasn’t too long because she wasn’t a fan of jetlag  – a couple of hours time difference didn’t mean much. The blonde was nervous about joining the show for many reasons – and hoped that maybe meeting a few people on it would calm her nervous energy.  Walking around the mansion after putting her things into the room that was apparently now hers, Raven was already lost. Turning the corner, she let out a frustrated groan – swearing that this was the way back to her room. Looking around the corridor a frown formed on the womans lips. “Herlig” The blue eyed woman said with a sigh.

“Sure looks it. An’ here I was thinkin’ it’d be whoever notices it’s job to answer by acting on it or not. Ah well, thanks, love. That’s the biggest reaction I’ve gotten yet.”

‘’----Oh!’’ The redhead suddenly caught her drift, realising she had been thinking completely wrong all along, with a hint of innocence. Even after all the time she had been on the show, she wasn’t quick on picking up hints when it came to flirting or kissing, anything that had something to do with intimacy. ‘’Well... would you like that? For me to.. kiss you?’’

“ — so, d’you think I’m wearin’ this ‘Kiss Me I’m Irish’ shirt ironically or not?”

‘’Well--- that’s something only you can answer, I wouldn’t know! But I do know it looks very cute on you.’’

“No! No, blimey — I’m fine. Just a bad day at work.”

  “It was like a very, very light feather.” Harriet laughed gingerly as her cheeks promised a rosey shade to them. She had been most comfortable with Nicole out of everyone in the house, that was safe to say, but the woman every now and then still made her shell up with a nervousness. “I could barely feel ya. –I don’t know why I am complaining, I make wonderful furniture.” The girl joked light-heartedly as she spun a little in her chair she seated herself at the kitchen island. “You should write an inspirational book. Seriously, people would just carry around a cup wanting to see you, to fill it with your sunshine.” Looking over to her friend, Harry couldn’t help but let out another soft giggle. 

‘’See! So you’ve got nothing to complain about, I knew you wouldn’t be bothered by the intimacy I got to share with you there and then,’’ Nicole only got excited seeing the blush creep up on Harriet’s cheeks, this fueling her happiness even more. Resting her hands on Harriet’s shoulders, she laughed heartily when the other spoke about how she should write an inspirational book. ‘’Don’t be so ridiculous, nobody would buy it. Besides, I wouldn’t even know what to write about. Maybe podcasts are a thing? But then again, I wouldn’t really know what to talk about. I’d talk about you, yes, how cute you are and have a heart of gold. Shy, but seriously an angel that would make anybody fall in love with her.’’ The redhead mused before pressing a kiss on top of the brunette’s head. ‘’You think so? Well, touché. You’re quite the gift.’’

A smile curled Rosie’s lips, to see the stranger offer her kindness so freely. It reassured her. Hopefully there would be others like her; if there were, surely this place couldn’t be so terrifying. “I think I’m just … a tad overwhelmed.” Well, that was an understatement. But once again, she was slowly soothing. A lot of Rosie’s anxieties were worked up inside her own head. “Oh! I mean, that would be wonderful! Only if you wouldn’t mind, of course. I heard this place has a wonderful library.”

‘’And that’s completely okay!’’ Nicole smiled. Figuring the blonde needed help, she couldn’t help but offer so. ‘’I don’t mind, not at all. This place got so many great rooms, just like the old one! But I haven’t had the time yet to go explore... Reuben, my dog, just got used to New York and now in a complete new environment he’s having a hard time. But I left him in my room, so it’s all okay. Do you want something to drink? To eat? Anything? I’d love to have some tea with a good book, you know, always cracks me up after a long flight!’’

“Nervous?” You could tell simply by the tone that coloured her voice (not to mention the blush that crept to her cheeks), that the answer was ‘yes’. “No! Of course not.” Rosie lied futilely - an impish smile quickly curling her lips, followed by a laugh at her own expense. How could she not be nervous? “I’m … an awful liar, aren’t I?”

‘’Good! Because what’s there to be nervous for- if I may ask? Oh.. you-- oh, I thought--’’ she paused before she shrugged. ‘’So... so what if you’re nervous? Are you nervous because you’re new? I don’t think that’s strange, everybody goes through that when they first see the mansion with their own eyes you know. Even I was so nervous when I first got here. But no matter how scary it looks, this show, this building and most especially; the people are amazing! I’m here to help you if you’d like?’’