Tenement Funster

My New Purple Shoes....

A/N -  the above artwork was done by an artist who read this story on Archive of Our Own and drew this rendition of Roger.  Thank you.  You can check out their amazing artwork on Instagram or on Tumblr. 

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It was a chance he couldn't pass up.  Having a place of his own for the summer months was like a gift.  Brian currently shared a flat with two other people and they weren't necessarily his favorite people in the world.  But living in London was expensive and he had to live there for work as an editor.  His cousin and wife were traveling with a group of students for 3 months and needed someone to stay in their flat while away.  And Brian jumped at the offer to live there temporarily.

"Here's the key and this one is for our post box downstairs..."  Stanley explained when he finished walking his cousin through his flat. "Just check the post once a day and stick it all in this box over here..."  he requested and pointed at a large empty box in the corner of their small dining room.  Brian nodded as he listened.  Absorbing all the little detailed instructions he was given.  It had included the watering of plants and certain cleaning products to be used on the wood surfaces in the flat along with a stern reminder about their delicate plumbing.  Stanley's wife, Margo, was a stickler about her housekeeping but trusted Brian to do as she asked.  To ensure things were done as requested, she provided him with a handwritten instruction sheet.  He did appreciate it and just smiled when she read it out loud to him.  Humoring her for the moment in exchange for use of the flat.

"There is a laundry in the basement but it can be a bit dodgy..."  Margo explained.  "I recommend the launderette two blocks over on Hastings..." she advised.  Brian nodded again and Margo smiled at his quiet amiability.  Feeling confident in their choice of house sitter.

"I guess that's everything!"  Stanley announced as he and his wife walked to the front door of their flat.  Brian followed them; anxious for them to leave.  The couple looked around their flat one more time and then Stanley grabbed the door handle.  "See you in three months then..."  Stanley said as he opened the door.

"Don't worry...I'll take good care of the place and you just enjoy your trip..."  Brian said with confidence.  His cousins nodded and waved goodbye as Brian closed the door behind them.  They had already carried their luggage down to the waiting car.  So the only luggage in the room was Brian's two cases.  He leaned against the door and smiled to himself at the knowledge he was on his own for the summer.  No noisy flat mates up at all hours and bringing in a constant stream of visitors.  No worries about whether the food he had in the refrigerator or cupboard would disappear before he could eat it.  Not having to share the communal space with Clive and whatever girl he was seeing that week as they all watched the telly.  Brian did his best to ignore them practically fucking on the sofa next to him.  No, he wouldn't miss that.  He wouldn't miss his other flat mate Paul either.  He was arrogant and opinionated and helped himself to Brian's shampoo and conditioner a bit too often. No, he wouldn't miss any of it.

Brian got busy unpacking his things and filled the empty drawers left for him in the dresser in the bedroom.  The closet was sparse from his cousin's own packing and he found plenty of hangers for his clothes.  Brian grabbed his second suitcase and opened it up.  He placed the current book he was reading on the nightstand in the bedroom and then carried the large box of manuscripts to the kitchen table.  He had decided to work in here rather than Stanley's office in the spare bedroom.  It had more room to organize the pages he was editing on the large table and the view from this room was nicer.  After organizing this new work space he left the flat and went to the neighborhood market to stock up on food and drink.

It was after seven before his new home was in order and Brian plopped down on the sofa to enjoy some peace and quiet as he watched television.  There wasn't much on and he grew restless.  Despite having  bought food for dinner Brian decided to get some Chinese.  He recalled seeing a takeaway down the street and slipped on his sandals before heading out.