Winona West was, quite possibly, the world's most infuriating paradox of a roommate. Somehow, she existed on two planes; as both the best roommate and friend one could ask for; and the absolute fucking worst.
She had, briefly, worked at InfoBYTE before Elliot started, helping him get his foot in the door before ducking out for a big name fashion magazine. Which surprised quite literally no one, as Winn was perhaps the most fashionable person in Starlight City. It was roughly ninety percent of the reason Elliot stayed so close to her. Friendship aside, nothing is more beneficial than a stunningly gorgeous, biracial amazon of a woman with connections.
Elliot frowned without looking up from his laptop, “Can’t you and whatever-her-name-is just go out like two normal people? We’re not children, Winona. There’s no point in a double date.”
“This is different,” She whined again, this time sneaking up behind where Elliot sat on the couch to snake her arms around his shoulders, “Val’s friend really needs to get laid.”
“Yes, and your local and desperate homosexual™ would be more than happy to help, is that what I’m getting?” Elliot glared, still without moving from his position as he typed away mindlessly at yet another stupid InfoBYTE article about the newest celebrity drama.
Winn huffed loudly, “Well, it’s not like you’ve been picky before.”
Elliot finally broke his concentration on the screen in his lap to shoot his roommate a nasty look before he resumed his typing, “Says you.”
“Look, I met him and he’s really charming in a super...awkward way, ok?” Winn said as she unsnaked herself from Elliot and hopped over the back of the sofa to sit beside him, her exasperation obvious, “And no offense, but like… he seems like someone who’d be good for you.”
“Lonely and desperate strikes you as my type? My God, could I ask for a better friend in this life than you?”
Winn rolled her eyes, “No, you’re an asshole and he’s...good.”
“Thanks.” Elliot retorted flatly, not finding the energy within himself to continue the argument, “If I go will you re-tailor my suit? The arms are all flubby again.”
Winn leaned over and kissed his forehead, “Thanks, doll! Val is going to be super excited.”
“Tell her not to get her hopes up, let’s see how the forty-year-old-virgin holds up.” Elliot said as he closed his laptop.
“He’s only like, twenty-four.” Winn frowned, already typing away on her phone.
Elliot frowned, though not without Winn’s notice.
“That’s only two years younger.” Winn said flatly, “He’s at least older than Tommy.”
Elliot shrugged, resigned to his fate, “Just don’t show me any pictures. I want to be surprised.”
Win smiled, “Lucky you, he hates social media so I don’t think I could find one unless Val sent one.”
Elliot exhaled sharply, “Ew.”
~
Elliot sat at the booth of Starlight Diner, swiping away at his phone in the throes of what had started as light curiosity and had somehow morphed into a mad chase for...anything.
Much to both his surprise and dismay, there really wasn’t much to find on Valerie’s sad, mystery friend.
At this point, Elliot hated to admit it, but he was certainly intrigued. There was one photo of a trip to an amusement park in which the name Daniel Chae was tagged, but that was only attached the the back of someone’s head.
Elliot scoffed,He’s got to be damaged goods, who has this little of a social media footprint?
“Are you still trying to find him?” Winn asked in amusement as she plopped back down next to Elliot in the booth, the smell of her cigarette clinging to her bomber jacket.
Making a noise of discontent, Elliot placed his phone screen down onto the table, “This is insane.”
“You know, it might have something to do with his family. Val said they’re like, loaded.”
“You could have mentioned that first,” Elliot frowned, “Crazy is acceptable if crazy is also loaded.”
“Yeah, but like...he apparently lives on his own and works like, a normal job.” Winn said, pausing to take a sip of her soda, “Something about wanting to pave his own way or whatever.”
“What I’m hearing is he’s a serial killer.” Elliot said, reaching to pick his phone back up.
“It’s more due to crippling social anxiety...I haven’t killed anyone…at least not to my knowledge.” A voice said as Valerie and her partner slid into the booth, leather seats squeaking beneath them.
Elliot was not very accustomed to feeling like his foot was in his mouth. It was a sensation he should certainly be used to at this point, but not being the best person he could be had accustomed him to a general lack of self-awareness, which was required for such a thing.
The person Elliot assumed to be Daniel Chae grinned, a slightly embarrassed flush to his cheeks, “I’m kidding. I just don’t see the point in all of that nonsense, if I’m being totally honest.”
“Ignore Grandpa, he hasn’t taken his medicine yet.” Valerie said with a snicker, leaning over the table to plant a quick kiss on Winn.
“No,” Daniel interjected, jabbing his slightly tanned index finger into the air defiantly, “Think about it! How much do you miss out on because of Facebook or whatever? There’s a real world out there, my children. It is to be tasted! Experienced!”
“You’re allowed to have that opinion, you have money.” Valerie grinned.
Daniel frowned, settling into the booth, “My parents have money, there’s a difference.”
Valerie rolled her eyes, “Anyways, Dan, Elliot. Elliot, Dan. Shake his hand, nerd.”
Val nudged Dan in the side, Elliot finding an odd rush of amusement as the shorter boy obeyed, eyes falling to the braided leather bracelet hanging from his oddly not-thin wrist.
Elliot wasn’t sure why he had assumed the other boy would be waifish, but now that it had occurred to him that Daniel wasn’t, he realized he had been so taken off guard that he hadn’t bothered to actually check out his date.
Elliot shook his hand, taking a moment to fully appreciate the blue, quarter-length sleeve shirt against the soft tannish color of Daniel’s skin. He wasn’t sure what exactly Dan did for a living, but serial killing definitely seemed probable with those oddly defined muscles.
Or in the very least, he worked out.
Dan’s hand darted back to his side of the table, a soft flush creeping across his cheeks, visible beneath his tortoise shell glasses and messy black hair.
Cute, Elliot thought absently to himself.
“So, icebreakers, what do you do for a living?” Elliot asked, taking a sip of his water as he noticed the look Winn shot him.
You’re interested! She seemed to say telepathically.
No, Elliot corrected with narrowed eyes, Just curious.
Yeah, sure, okay, Winn conveyed with a roll of her eyes.
“Uh…” Dan paused, taking a brief second to clear his throat, “Bar-tending...actually.”
Elliot’s eyebrows raised, “Bar-tending? Can’t say I saw that coming.”
“Why not?” Dan asked, unsure of how to read the statement.
“Honestly, I’m not sure?” Elliot shrugged, “I was guessing tech guy or something.”
Val leaned forward, frowning in an almost cartoonish exaggeration of what a normal human face should do, “Well you know what they say about assuming things, Ellie.”
“Good thing I said ‘guessed’, then.” Elliot retorted.
It could be argued that Elliot was never the biggest fan of Winn’s friend and frequent “with benefits”, Valerie Sparks.
For starters, she had the dumbest surname he’d ever heard. She had always rubbed him...not quite the wrong way, but certainly not the right way either. He had, for the most part, chalked it up to jealousy. Elliot had a rather awful habit of needing to be the center of attention, especially when around people one could accuse him of being fond of, and Valerie certainly had a way of drawing quite a bit of attention to herself. Granted, there were very specific...physical reasons that certainly drew in Winona’s attention, and Elliot wasn’t jealous of that by any means, he just...wanted to be the only thing anyone paid attention to.
He was slowly starting to realize that he may have some rather crippling personality flaws, though if no one else had pointed them out, perhaps they weren’t so bad.
The four of them sat there talking and eating for what seemed to pass by eerily quickly to Elliot. It struck him as rather strange at how quickly their little group had fallen into what was, admittedly, a perfect dynamic. Val and Winn loudly debating the merits of some sort of shoe, Elliot wasn’t sure as he had lost interest in the debate rather quickly, and Dan awkwardly trying to interject himself into the debate, but to little avail. Val was certainly the loudest of the group, in both volume and presence, but Winn could certainly hold her own. Winn, unlike Val, had more of a calming presence, but once the debate had sparked all was lost.
Elliot felt something nudge his foot, drawing his attention away from Val’s incessant screaming.
He looked over to Dan, who’s furiously heated face seemed almost comical, “S-sorry!”, he nearly squeaked, “I was just trying to get your attention.”
“Well, it worked.” Elliot said with a wink, feeling tremendous enjoyment as he watched Dan’s face get somehow redder.
“That’s not...I wasn’t…” Dan flustered, “I just…”
Elliot snickered, “Use your words.”
“I was going to see if you wanted to walk...or whatever.” Dan spat, clearly needing more courage than he had, “I just...they’re so loud.”
Ah. Elliot thought, He’s either overwhelmed or trying to seduce me….poorly.
Judging by the wincing, Elliot hoped it was the former.
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