Tsubaki and Anon pt. 4

>Head up to the 4th floor of the complex.
>Coming up to the door notice it's different than the ones on the lower floors.
>Door looks like it belongs more on a log cabin than as the door to an apartment.
>It also looks like it's taken a beating over the years with some faded claw marks etched in it.
>Do the polite thing and knock and wait.
>The door itself looked hand crafted and stained to protect it, though the years hadn't been kind with various claw marks on the outside.
>I knocked and waited, looking over the door itself as a way to kill the time.
>seconds later a voice appeared on the other side of the door.
>"Whose there?"
>Have to clear throat because it feels like something is stuck in it.
>"Uhhh..Anon. I wanted to knock out that problem with your computer as quickly as possible Lahlah."
>"Give me a second dearie to unlock the door."
>Muffled sound of tumblers unlocking told me that behind the door were a lot of locks. Not just the lone key based on above the wrought iron handle.
>Door opens with a groan and creak, sounds like it's way too heavy for it's frame.
>"Oh Anon, I didn't expect you to come so soon. I figured you'd want to relax and spend time with Tsubaki."
>Wave my hand a bit, "nah Tsuba and I aren't like that. Besides something like what you need done should always be addressed in the timely manner."
>"Well then come in! Come in!"
>Lahlah beckoned me inside, shutting the door behind me.
>Stepping inside I'm blown away with how different the inside of Lahlah's apartment is.
>Feels like I've stepped inside a cabin out in the woods.
>Walls and cieling look like they were made of cut timber rather than the plaster and whatnot that made up the other apartments.
>Looks like it was done by hand by a professional.
>Realize through my awe that her home is rather large.
>Like full blown house large.
>"Anon is something wrong?"
>Lahlah's question snapped me out of my stupor.
>"It-This is amazing." I said looking around.
>"You've never been inside have you? My late husband did this, to remind us of home."
>Lahlah let out a bit of a sigh her stare went off into space as she looked like she was day-dreaming.
>Another deep breath seemed to mark the end of her dream as she spoke to me.
>"Well, while I admire you're in wonder of my little home you didn't come here to gawk Anon."
>"Right, so which way is it or am I going to have to find the computer room?"
>"This way dearie, I've already booted it up, was going to check my E-mail but you've come at a good time."
>As I'm lead to her office get to see more of the house.
>Like the main entrance the rest of it is designed like a log cabin.
>Her office space is no different.
>The room is cramped and filled with filing cabinets marked with things like "Utilities", "Owed", and "Paid".
>Computer itself resting on desk that looked like it was carved from a massive tree.
>Only other thing of note was the shelf with pictures on it.
>"My my Anon, you really look like a wide-eyed child." Lahlah said with her usual rough laugh
>"Sorry, just still amazed at how nice everything in here looks."
>"My husband was a man who was good with his hands."
>Lahlah seemed to close her eyes and smile as she dove into old memories.
>"Anyways Lahlah, what exactly is wrong with the computer?" I asked trying to keep my mind off what she could be smiling about.
>"It's just slow Anon, I dunno why."
>"Hmm...Lemme see."
>Sitting down I noticed the OS
>"Geez...Windows ME in this day?"
>"Whats wrong with that Anon?"
>"Nothing, Just ME is outdated so part of the problem is the machine's age."
>Decide to start with the basics of debugging.
>Open control panel and have it look for files that can be cleaned.
>In the meantime open her internet explorer.
>It's IE.
>Worse still it's loaded with more search bars than I could count.
>The actual window is smushed under all the search bars.
>"Lahlah? why are there so many search bars?"
>"Some of the things I've installed did it, I don't know how to get rid of them."
>"Right, well first we're gonna get you off IE."
>"Whats wrong with it Anon?"
>"For starters? It's bloatware, software that's way too big for something it's programed for. I'll set you up with like Firefox or something. I'll also get to removing the crap bogging down the computer."
>Lahlah's gnarled hands grabbed my shoulders, a throaty laugh escaped her mouth.
>"Anon you're so talented with machines, I don't know why you and Tsubaki aren't an item. Any child you two had would be a smart one."
>I felt my face flush, though glad Lahlah couldn't see it.
>"Honestly Anon if you don't hurry up another man may catch her eye."
>Still facing the monitor I responded as best I could without spilling spaghetti.
>"I-It'd be awkward, and what would happen if we decided to break up? I can't very well kick her out when she has no place to go, at this point I'm helping her like I would any other friend."
>"See, that's how I know you're a good man Anon. You're putting her before you, I just don't get why you hold back. I'm sure she'd be happy to have you."
>Couldn't respond, I felt a bit too embarrassed .
>Hide it by checking the installed programs listed.
>Lahlah continued, my face reddening as she did so
>"I just worry, a nice young man like you should find someone he can be happy with before some less savory woman comes along and tries to claim you."
>With all the grace of a drunken ballerina, I attempted to shift the conversation as quickly as possible.
>"Umm...Right, so first is a new web browser, Firefox with an ad blocking extension and noscript should keep you safe. As for the other things I-I removed all the search bars and some stuff that looked like spyware."
>Continue prattling on as I try to drive Lahlah's words out of my mind.
>"Defrag shows the drive is find and I cleaned up about 4 gigs or so of dead files,uh...umm also Yo-You're gonna need to run a virus scan after this reboots just to make sure I did everything I could, lemme know if anything turns up."
>Standing up I only hoped my face had lost of signs of embarrassment.
>"That about does it Lahlah."
>"Oh Anon thank you, come with me I'll repay you."
>Expecting to be brought to the door to be paid instead Lahlah lead me the her kitchen.
>The rustic look continued here as well, the appliances however stood out in stark contrast with their more recent look
>a small cast iron pot of sat on the stove, the hot surface light still on.
>"I ended up cooking a bit too much, but you and Tsubaki could probably use a good hearty meal."
>"Uhh, What is it?"
>"It's Thorn beast meat that's been left to simmer in a special broth, it's meant to bring out the flavour."
>"You're sure I can just take this?"
>Another of Lahlah's throaty laughs escaped her as she waved her hand in a dismissive manner.
>"I'm not letting you keep the whole thing dearie, when you eat your fill, just dump the rest and bring the pot and mitts back back."
>"What about you? Isn't this supposed to be your supper?" I asked taking the pot and holders from Lahlah.
>"I made just a bit too much, and I already ate Anon. Don't worry about this elderly orc."
>More laughter, this time I smiled a bit too from the seemingly infectious good spirit of the old orcess.
>"Well I'll let you get home Anon and eat, tell Tsubaki I said hi to her."
>"Thanks again for the meal Lahlah."
>"My pleasure dearie. Now hurry up before it gets cold."
>Get shown to the door by Lahlah and sent back down.
>The cast iron pot is not only heavy, but I can feel the heat still through the mitts.
>Realize when I finally get back to my apartment that I have my hands full.
>End up knocking on the door by banging my head against it.
>"TSUBA! LEMME IN! MY HANDS ARE FULL!"
>Waited a bit, wondering if she had put my headphones back on before I heard Tsubaki quickly making her way to the door
>As the door swung open Tsubaki looked at me with curiosity. Her large fluffy tail lazily swishing back and forth.
>"What's in there Anon? It smells good."
>"Lahlah said we could have this, it's 'basted Thorn Beast' she calls it."
>"Oh my god anon it smells amazing."
>"Well you can eat it if you move out of the door and lemme inside."
>With Tsubaki removing herself from the doorway I moved to transfer the pot onto my stove, turning the heat low to let it simmer.
>After waiting a bit, our mouths watering at the prospect of the meal we scooped the meat and some of the broth into bowls.
>Making sure we had both our meal and something to drink with it we sat down at the table and began eating
>"Hey Tsubaki, I noticed you're still in your PJs." I said pointing out her current outfit.
>"No point in changing out of them really. I'll just shower tomorrow and put on fresh clean clothes"
>"Alright, just making sure."
>"So how did fixing Lahlah's computer go?"
>"Fine, I'm amazed at how nice her house is, it's like a big log cabin."
>"It is impressive, the first time she called me in to help with her financial records I was shocked at how peaceful it felt."
>All I could do was answer with a 'Mhmm', my mouth full of food.
>"Did you two talk about anything?"
>"Nothing much, just that I'm very helpful and all that, she also talked about how you're good with finances. She isn't wrong about that." >Left out the bit she talked about Tsubaki and I's current relationship.
>Tsubaki seemed more focused on the meal. Her tail making swishing noses as it moved back and forth.
>"Anyways, Tsuba...Can I bug you to take the pot back to her tomorrow if you aren't busy or would you rather I do it?"
>"I can, but it'll have to be around noon or so when there's a break in the trading."
>"Thanks Tsubaki."
>Finish our meal not long after.
>Took it upon myself to wash the dishes much to a rather weak attempt from Tsubaki to get me to sit down, retreating to the bedroom when I won the argument and demanded she not worry about me.
>With everything squared away I beat a path to my makeshift bed.
>Figured it best to turn in early.
>Setting my alarm clock I got under the covers and went to bed, Lahlah's word's still lingering at the back of my mind.