As Sui stepped into what was about to become her room, she couldn’t help the disappointment that started to leak through. The room was exceptionally messy. Compared to the neat living area; it was practically a dump.

There were opened packing boxes stacked against the corner, as well as two shelves that where just in the centre of the room for some reason. They don’t even have anything on them. They are just random shelves. They even look completely different.

And Sui was right, the one closer to the door was an old wood construction with carved edges, making it look like the cabinet had vines crawling around the edges of it. It had a smooth vanish coating, and even shined with the light that leaked in from the window despite the curtains.

The second one was… less impressive. It was less a shelf and more a loose collection of plastic that threatened to fall over the moment someone decided to make use of it. “Right… not that I’m ungrateful for the living space but what am I meant to do with all of this?”

Aife sighed “We always meant to clean up, I swear. We just sort of both brought over a bit less than a house worth of stuff. I mean the couches and a lot of the living room are new, but the stuff for the bedroom mostly ended up hear”

Aife gestured towards the stacked boxes “And the rest of it, well quite a few of the boxes on top are actually empty but we wanted to keep them around because… well I don’t know what Trina was thinking but we didn’t need to use the room so I didn’t complain”

Sui nodded “So, what shall we do?” Sui carefully examined the space provided to her “I might barely be able to fit my bed in here if we move the shelves to the side, but then I wouldn’t have my thread cupboard”

“Is that really nec-“ Aife was cut off as Sui turned herself to face Aife and she realised it was a stupid question. “Ok, then… maybe we can… hmm”

Aife then proceeded to start placing the boxes onto the shelves... they didn’t exactly fit, and hung dangerously off the edge threatening to fall out, because while the shelves did leave enough height for the boxes, the width was lacking.

To ‘solve’ this issue Aife simply took the nicer of the shelves and leaned it against the wall so the boxes were kept in place without gravity pulling to sharply on them. Once the first shelf was full, Aife put the second in the corner now empty of boxes.

A second after that Sui’s cupboard popped into existence next to the wall. “There we go, now I just have to…” as Aife trailed off she then picked up the teetering boxes/shelving combo and after a few seconds moved the whole construction to her inventory.

“There we go” said Aife glancing around the room and finding Sui on the floor messing around with the carpet. “Sui!” said Aife sharply but quietly

Sui’s eyes quickly met Aife’s “Yes?” said Sui

“You’re welcome, for making space by the way” said Aife

“Indeed, thank you Aife” said Sui, before returning back to the carpet. This is actually really weird. What makes this different from the beanbag? I could feel the whole thing despite the fact it was a bunch of thread sewn into plastic, but when that plastic is part of the floor suddenly it doesn’t count?

Aife sighed, she didn’t mind moving things around, and with her greatly increased strength it wasn’t even hard. The second set of shelving though… was going to be a challenge. Aife wasn’t entirely sure that it would hold up.

Placing it flat on the ground, and moving it to the opposite corner Sui was in… Aife then realised she needed to move Sui. She contemplated asking, but with her drastically increased physical stats it was easier to just move her.

Depositing Sui in the doorway, Aife then proceeded to stack the boxes into the shelves sideways. Even this small movement was enough to cause the old thing to creak, making Aife question why Trina even owned this in the first place.

Once that was all packed up, there were a few boxes that contained… something reasonable Aife was sure… she hoped… Brushing her hands Aife quickly deposited the bed in the now mostly free corner, and then stored the shelf. She was glad that it was counted as one full object.

“Rooms done” said Aife

Sui looked up from her examination of the carpet to find Aife was correct. There were still a few boxes, but that could be dealt with by hiding them under the bed. Though… they looked a little tall. Hopefully that won’t be a problem, and if it is maybe I can just tape them together and throw them in my inventory. I still have a space left after all.

It was at this point that Trina decided to poke her head into the room. This was also that point that it became clear that not having a perception stat might make their survival more questionable, as Trina proceeded to trip over Sui.

Aife sprang into action, taking two large steps forward she was able to catch Trina before she could fall on Sui, lifting her up and away so as to make sure that neither was injured. Once Trina was secured over her shoulder Aife then asked “Sui you ok”

Sui nodded “Yeah, didn’t hurt”

“Trina? How about you? I’m pretty sure I didn’t move to fast for you, but you alright” asked Aife

Trina mumbled her reply so that only Aife could hear “I’m so embarrassed. I mean I was before but now… can you let me escape back to our room please”

Aife just laughed, her chuckles bobbing Trina up and down as Aife’s shoulders moved. Sui just shrugged at the pair and went back to the carpet. This separation is seriously bugging me. Is it just because it’s carpet? Is it the type of carpet instead? Like I can feel the loops clearly, but they aren’t so much tied off as they are stuck in… is that the difference?

Aife noticed Sui’s eyes glazing over and clearly finding something interesting in the carpet, and lowered Trina slowly in front of her. Trina paled, and tried to leave, but Aife overpowered her before, and her new stats made it so Trina had no hope.

“Aife please let me escape” said Trina

“Nope, you have to confront this” said Aife

“She knows now, I don’t have to confront anything” hissed Trina.

Aife raised an eyebrow “Does that look like the face of someone who cares”

Trina took a good look at Sui, her half-glazed eyes but clear look of concentration with her face screwed up to the side, and her hands twitching slightly as they shifted across the carpet. Ito, was resting in the crook of Sui’s neck, somehow unphased by nearly having Trina fall on her.

“Um, Sui…” mumbled Trina

But Sui didn’t even register the words.

“Sui” said Trina with slightly more conviction, to identical response.

“Sui!” said Trina, louder than she meant to, but seeing Sui’s reaction it was worth it. She jolted out of her trance and turned to face Trina. “Yes?”

“Look… I’m sorry I didn’t mention I was dating Aife, and it’s my fault she never said anything” said Trina

Sui shrugged “I don’t see how it’s any of my business”

Trina furrowed her brows “What do you mean how it’s any of your business. We’re your best friends doesn’t it matter that we are dating?”

Sui shrugged “Who you date is your own business. Clearly you didn’t want to tell me”

Trina growled “Why can’t you just be angry so I can feel bad and then we can move on”

Sui looked strangely at Trina, as if she was some foreign entity “Because I just don’t care. Why are you making a big deal about this?” asked Sui. “Clearly you are still my friends, and I don’t see why you dating each other changes that. Look at Aife she clearly doesn’t care.”

Trina turned around, to find Aife… doing push ups with one hand… with a set of shelves full of boxes on her back. “Aife, what the hell are you doing?” said Trina

“Well,” said Aife in between push ups “You seemed. To be. Having a moment. Didn’t want. To interrupt.”

Trina groaned “Why do I hang out with you pair again?”

“Well, I dunno about Sui, but pretty sure I get to stick around for my charm and good looks” said Aife

Sui nodded “I concur with Aife”

“Wait you think she looks good?” asked Trina suddenly suspicious

Sui shrugged “No idea really. She’s… symmetrical? I’ve heard that’s what people like. And I’ve seen a bunch of pictures around that look close enough to Aife so she must be doing something right”

Aife burst out laughing while Trina groaned “Why did I even expect anything different”