A place to live

[ErisThoughts]

Ally, took a deep breath as she turned off the engine of her car, placing her hands on the steering wheel - she let it out slowly. This was all still okay right? This was the right choice? She had moved herself and her horse so far from everything she knew, everything she had wanted ... and for what? Was it worth it? Was this going to work out? Brandon was- no, she couldn't think about him. Ally had left it all behind for a purpose, to improve herself and Wheeler.

Ice blue orbs gazed through the windshield as she pushed the thoughts aside. First, she had to find a place to live. Someone had told her about Woodknot Housing, saying that it was a decent sort of place to live and handy since it was close to the stables. Was Wheeler going to like it there? Where they really as good as .... NO. She bit her lip, she couldn't think about those things.

Pulling her purse over her shoulder, Ally opened the door and stepped out of the car. The day was lovely, a light breeze chilled across her skin, making Ally wish she would have remembered her jacket. Nevermind. Her hands flew up to tighten the band that kept her auburn hair pulled up, and straightened her ball cap. Her clean jeans had a single smear of God knew what across her thigh, her blue halter top spotless as it would ever be. A small hole at the base of her shirt had snuck by her vision from earlier that morning. No matter.

As she reached the heavy double doors, her fingers twisted around her silver chain and moved the clasp to the back as she had constantly, the small trinket unrecognizable to any that didn't study it. The iron handle was cold, but it pulled the door open and warm air welcomed her in from the brisk spring weather.

The room was light by large windows overlooking the fields and paddocks in the distance. Ally smiled, and turned to the desk ... no one. Her brow furrowed as she looked around, seeing a couch, a hallway, a flight of stairs, and the desk again. She approached the oak counter, and rang the small bell that sat atop the wood.

"Hello?" The greeting a question. Realizing no one would hear her if they were about, she continued, "Is anyone about?" She called in a louder voice.

[femalefred]

Ella was just trotting down the stairs from the Pine Level, keys to her battered landrover in hand, when she heard the sound of an unfamiliar voice. She didn't know all of her neighbours, that was true, but there was something slightly trepidatious about the voice that made her think for a minute that it wasn't someone who was a regular around her. The young woman stopped for a moment on the stairs before continuing down, glancing over towards the post boxes and trying to guage if hers had anything in it before she turned to look at the new arrival.

The woman appeared to be a little younger than she was, and was standing in front of the porter's desk looking a little expectant. Ella was pretty certain that the porter wasn't even here today, and that probably didn't bode too well for whoever this was.

"Hey, you after the super or someone?" she asked, smiling brightly. "Tom, that's the super, is on holiday right now, and I'm not sure that there's a porter in today. I'm Ella by the way, I live on Pine level."

[ErisThoughts]

Ally's eyes shot to the stairs as footsteps sank lower and lower until a woman bounced down. She watched as the woman looked past her, then to Ally herself and smiled. Ally smiled as well, happy to see someone so friendly.

"Yeah, actually," Ally said, her voice light and musical. The news hit a chord in her, disappointment resonating. Her tone dropped, but her warmth stayed, her teeth hid behind a small smile. "That's a problem. I just moved out here and I need a place to stay," her worry wasn't co-op. There was going to be an issue if there was no where for her to go. Oh well, she'd slept in a car before, and it wasn't like he'd be on holiday forever.

She glanced outside and then back to Ella, "Do you know when he'll be back?" Ally blinked, suddenly realizing that she had to return the u-haul that afternoon. She had dropped Wheeler off at the stables a little while ago, but all her belongings, his tack, equipment ... everything was still in the tiny rig that followed behind her old pick-up. Concern showed easily on her face, her stance shifted ready to walk out the door to find a hotel if need be.

[dari]

Lyris bounced down the steps, a paintbrush sticking out of her back pocket and a hoof pick in her left hand. Her large slingover bag swung from her arm, and she dug through it, looking for her keys. She didn't notice the two standing in the lobby until she had nearly reached the bottom of the stairs, having finally found her keys.

Hey, Ella, she said with a smile. She looked at the other, unfamiliar-looking woman, smiled in greeting, and went to check her mailbox before turning back.
Hi, you looking for the super? I think he's on vacation this week, but he leaves a stack of cards over there on the desk with his number on them, if you want to reach him. She pointed to the desk across the room with a small stack of business cards on it. He's usually pretty good about getting back to people.

She turned to Ella. Are you going to the barn today? I may need someone to trail ride with later, she said with a twinkle in her eye.

[femalefred]

"Ahh.." Ella replied, a frown darkening her sunny expression. She couldn't for the life of her remember when Tom was supposed to be back, and her frantic searching through her memory was only broken when Lyris came bouncing down the steps.

"Oh, heya Lies," she said, smiling again, that smile broadening when the other resident continued. She was obviously rather more aware of what was actually going on in the building than Ella was, and that could only be a good thing for the newcomer.

"If he doesn't get back to you I've got the landlord's number. He's much less friendly and less likely to get back to you quickly though, if you're in a hurry about it. There're a couple of hotels in town if nothing happens today and I've got a spare room though," she added. The young woman didn't seem able to stop herself from offering her apartment, even if she didn't even know the other's name. Probably a dangerous move, but it was pretty unlikely that she'd accept to stay at a stranger's. Or so Ella retrospectively hoped.

"I was just gonna head down now. I've got a couple of kids coming in for their first jumping lesson, then I was going to do some more dressage work with Duke. A trail'd be good later though," the bright redhead said, grinning again to Lyris. It must be nice for her to finally have the cast off.

[ErisThoughts]

Ally smiled at both women, "Please, don't let me get in your way, thank you very much ... em?" Her ending tone prompted either or both of their names, her face showing she was at a loss as to what to call them. They were friendly enough, but clearly very busy. She herself had to get a hold of either this, "Tom" or the landlord - or she would be out of luck.

Her eyes flashed at the idea of a trail ride, she and Wheeler hadn't been out of an arena in almost a year. Their previous boarding place had not been so trail friendly. The horse was a champ on the trails, and quite fearless since he had aged a bit. It was a disappointment when she learned they had only a round pen and arena to work in. Happily, she had seen many trails and cross country courses here ... this was why she was here - for Wheeler ... for them.

[dari]

Name's Lyris, Lyris said and offered her hand for a shake. I live up on Pine, 214 if you need anything. I'm usually around in the evenings... I work down at the theatre, and I'm there a lot, but it's not a show week or anything, so I'll be at Elysium, that's the local barn, a lot this week. She smiled as she thought of the time she and Bex would get together. She noticed the girl's clothing and noted that she might have a horse at ES. On a whim, she asked, Do you have a horse? I know Hope was expecting a few more boarders this week.

[ErisThoughts]

Ally smiled, her blue eyes dancing as she put her hand out for a shake in greeting.
"I'm Ally McCroix, well met," she said happily. It looked like they were both boarders at Elysium Stables, how wonderful! "Yeah actually," she continued. "I just dropped him off a bit ago. I'm letting him take a rest from the trip," she bit her lip. It had been several hours on the road, and had taken a toll on the gelding.

"I'm sure you'll see him if your on your way over, he's hard to miss. The big blood bay with chrome on the end," when she said 'big' her hand shot up over her head unconsciously, then settled at her side. "Feel free to say 'ello to him if you'd like." Normally Ally would never extend an invitation to anyone to "say 'ello" to her horse. Her past experiences with people and horses ended in unhappy. But these were horsewomen, Ally knew, and they of all people would know their way 'round the big beastie.

Ally turned to the other woman to shake her hand as well with a smile while she was talking, then smoothly excused herself to use the phone. She hoped she would see them later at the stables, but it was already late-morning and she had to get her situation taken care of.

Later that day she was setting up a room on the "Pine" floor, happy that she had gotten ahold of the landlords, though they were definitely not the friendliest of people. She spent the next few hours setting up her room, and organizing her belongings. She didn't have too much, and the room was already outfitted with a bed and several other accomidations. Before she knew it, she loading the rest of Wheeler's tack in the back of her pickup, and hauling the empty u-haul off to drop it off just in time. After paying the bill, she headed over to the stables ... she wanted to see how Wheeler was liking his new home.

((OOC- I have NO idea if that all was okay or not, I kind of wanted to get rolling so I could "get down to the stables" ... hope to see you guys there ))

[femalefred]

((I won't bother replying, seems pretty neatly tied up x3 Sorry for not getting back to this, I've been horribly busy))

[ErisThoughts]

((Dont even worry about it. I thought it would be a nice place to start We can "go riding" later and catch up <3))