is there life on mars?

“Casey’s a bit forgetful and definitely a bit more on the ‘tends to be late’ side, but I wouldn’t be living with him if I didn’t adore him. I made a promise to myself that when I moved into my own apartment, my roommate would be someone I actually enjoyed being around, not just someone who paid half of the rent,” Sugar laughed lightly, giving a small shake of their head as they did. “Dork patrol seems about right to describe the both of them, but really... I think if Casey was any other way, I’d have gotten frustrated with him leaving behind messes and always losing stuff.” They were certainly the organized half of the pair, that was for sure, and when they’d first moved in together, they were certain that they’d probably end up on some 90 Minute episode about a killer roommate from it all - but thankfully, he’d grown on them, so it was no longer a concern. And at times, they even liked when he had to ask them with help finding something he’d lost. “Yeah, I can’t even begin to imagine - even just working at the costume shop, sometimes by the end of the day, I can’t be bothered with helping any of my friends with picking out outfits or anything. Luckily I’m passionate about it, but could you imagine if I wasn’t? I’d probably live in sweats just so I never had to think of an outfit again outside of my job.” Giving the shrimp a stir in the sauce it’d come in, Sugar made a hum in the back of their throat before they reached up and retrieved two glasses from the cabinet and set them down, turning towards the fridge to grab the pitcher of iced tea and pour them both a glass.

“It’s nice. I’m not used to people being punctual... Probably because I’m not really punctual myself, honestly. I mean, I’m never late late, but off by a few minutes? That’s practically my brand.” Shutting the door behind the woman, Sugar made a faint hum in the back of their throat as they headed back towards the kitchen, grabbing a wooden spoon to stir the shrimp on the stove. Their plastic spoons for cooking had lasted a grand total of one week before their grandmother had popped over to inspect their living conditions and practically threw a fit - a few hours later, an entire package of wooden cooking utensils had been deposited on the kitchen counter, with their grandmother saying something about how if they ever used plastic utensils to prepare her recipes, they’d be disowned. Sugar hadn’t totally believed her, but they weren’t going to argue with getting more expensive replacements for free. Who in their right mind would, after all? “D’you want a drink? There’s beer in the fridge... and soda. And iced tea with enough lemon added to practically make it half and half, iced tea and lemonade. I usually keep a lot of drinks around, because I hate drinking water.”

“You’re lucky you’re cute,” Sugar hummed, their nose scrunching up just a touch as a grin spread across their face. Truly, when they’d first moved in together, they’d fully believed that Casey’s penchant for misplacing things would drive them up the wall - but it hadn’t taken them very long at all to find their groove and settle into a routine, and in a lot of ways Sugar even found it endearing now, habitually making mental notes of wherever he left things just in case he came asking them where he’d left them later. “I would say we should get a key hanger and put it on the back of the door, but I don’t think you’d remember to hang them up when you came in.” When that all-too familiar smile spread across his face, a tiny laugh escaped Sugar’s lips, and they stepped forward, tapping the center of his chest lightly with their index finger. “Probably be forced to just leave the apartment without locking the door and most likely get your stuff stolen. But that’s why you have me, so you don’t have to do that, because I remember where you put your keys when you lose them. And the remote. And your phone, that one time.”

“Tiny Pretty Things. I mean, I know the TV show dramatized the entire thing because it’s... ya know, fake, but I definitely think that I could have been a ballet dancer in another life. It looks badass.”

“Shapeshifting. Just... shapeshifting. Being able to look however I want, whenever I want? Sounds badass.”

Casey was at Kier’s for the night, which at first had made Sugar feel almost lonely in their apartment - so used to his presence, it seemed that they noticed when he wasn’t there more than they’d like to admit - but then they’d remembered that Leda was coming over for dinner, and almost immediately, it had them perking up, moving around the kitchen preparing the dinner they’d promised the woman when they’d first planned the meal. The meal was halfway through cooking when a knock sounded at the door, and it made them turn, perking up a touch as they walked over, opening the door to invite them in. “Hey- your timing is impeccable, you know. Only a little bit left before dinner is done, and then I can make you that hot chocolate for dessert.”

“I’ve done that to my roommate before when he does something ridiculous - so as a giver of those looks, I can assure you that your boyfriend only gives you that look from a place of love,” Sugar laughed lightly, giving a small shake of their head as they spoke, their head cocking to the side just a touch. “Listen, I get it. In high school, I was the weird loner who tended to get a bit argumentative if someone crossed me. People expected me to shut up and put up with things, but I didn’t, and a lot of people shied away from me because of it. But maybe that’s why I understand the concept of being kind when people look like they need it. Because I know what it feels like when people are either being not nice, or when you need someone to be nice and they’re too wrapped up in their own worlds to bother.” Head turning back when the woman was covered up, Sugar gave their best smile. “You really don’t have to - but, let’s be honest, I’m not planning on saying no if you insist. I’m nice, but not nice enough to say no when people insist on returning favors.”

“Yeah- I mean, I’m lucky, my grandmother is a kickass seamstress, so if I do manage to buy something too big, she can usually take it in for me however I need it, you know?” Their head cocked to the side just a touch as a faint hum fell from their lips, a grin playing at the corners of their lips. “And she never complains when I ask her to adjust things that I wear. Sometimes she gets a bit judgy, but it’s that very... Old fashioned grandma way, not her being a bad person or anything, which I’m grateful for.” Pushing their hair behind their ear, Sugar made a faint sound of agreement, a small crease forming between their eyebrows. “Yeah, definitely. Granted, Brita filters gave humanity too much power. I mean, how many videos have you seen online of people peeing into them and drinking it on a dare? Because I’ve seen way too many.”

“Honestly, don’t even worry about it. I’m really just glad that I could help,” Sugar laughed lightly, giving a small shake of their head as they held up the sweatshirt, spreading it out. “Here, I’ll even make a little curtain for you to block you from any passersby.” Their head turned to the side respectfully, a faint hum sounding from the back of their throat as they did. “All I know is that if I was in the same situation, I’d want someone like me to come to my rescue, you know? So, I make an effort to be that person for other people, when they need it. Call it my good deed for the day, or whatever. I’d say it’s the Catholic in me, but I’m not Catholic - don’t tell my grandma, I think she’d have a heart attack if she found out that I don’t go to church.” Granted, their grandma would have a heart attack about a lot of the things they did, but the sentiment still stood, as far as they were concerned. 

and my brain is Dead so i can’t think of a fourth rip me @ledavalenti

“Honestly, don’t even worry about it. I’m just glad that we managed to find something you like, and that you feel good in. That’s what matters, right?” Head cocking to the side just a touch. Sugar gave their best grin, before brushing off the rest easily. “You go have fun. I’ve got a few little things to do before I go to family dinner night at my parent’s tomorrow. I’ll see you later, yeah? We should do this again sometime.”

“Honestly, don’t even worry about it- I’m just glad I can help,” Sugar laughed lightly, giving a brief shake of their head before they stepped back. “I’ll go grab it, hold on.” They jogged off, delving into the backseat of their car to find the sweatshirt, large and deliciously oversized, as they liked to say, before they were turning and holding it up. “I can totally use this to shield you from wandering eyes while you... figure that out. We might even be able to figure out how to get your pants free, when your body isn’t in them. That usually helps me when I get caught somewhere.” An easy grin spread over their face, because if there was one thing Sugar understood more than anything else, it was being there when there was a person in need. They might have been a terrible pessimist, but they still believed in being a good person, no matter what.

“I don’t know about memorable - when it comes to meals, I don’t really have any that I find particularly memorable, I guess? I’ve always been sort of odd that way. I don’t really make a lot of memories when it’s something simple like meals. I need something big, exciting, not just... food.”