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"You should expect anything if the environment disallows the flower to flourish. Of course the flower would die, no matter how much you may chastise, or how much it fights."
Lenore eyed him, her eyes lowering solemnly. This flower was much too tired to fight any longer. She looked weary, her eyes hollow and sunken, and her skin was pasty. She was still very wet from the rain from earlier, and shivered slightly just looking at the pounding rain outside.

His laugh was chilling. She waited, a little weirded out but as he explained himself. It was what she thought as well, and looked away sheepishly when he pointed it out. "It is nice you are so optimistic. While with more people it is mostly what makes them blinded to the negativities of the world, you use your optimism to see the brighter sides of people. It is...heartwarming," she added softly, looking out the dotted window. She noticed they had stopped and looked at Nicholas. For a moment, she hesitated and then looked back at her apartment building before looking at Nicholas.

"Would you...Like to...Come inside?" She took her time looking back into his eyes, a little sheepish. "I don't mean anything by it! Just...Umm...You're wet and it's raining. I wouldn't want you to get a cold or get in an accident. You can...dry off at my place," she murmured.

Lenore did not get the hand signs, not noticing them actually, and hugged her arms. She looked back up at the apartment, which would be empty besides Rosco. She then nodded. "Ah, well, come on," she murmured and opened the door. It was still raining but seeing as she was already wet, Lenore didn't mind resoaking herself. She glanced back at Nicholas, running under the eave of the building, and waited for Nicholas to follow her up.

Lenore licked her lips, which were dry, before turning to walk up the stairs. She took one stair at a time, glancing behind herself to check up on Nicholas. It occurred to her that she was allowing Nicholas into her home, into her private and personal territory, alone with just the two of them, but the thought did not make her feel uncomfortable. Nicholas was, in what words Lenore could describe such a phenomenon, someone she could trust. She had relied on him more than once, and he did not fail in sending his regards. The least she could do was offer some sort of hospitality.

Lenore climbed to the first floor and led Nicholas to the fourth door down the hall. It was a simply painted one, one that did not stand out from the rest. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a key, using the instrument to open the door that made this apartment so different than the rest. She entered first, slowly, and looked around, listening before entering fully and holding the door open for Nicholas.
Rosco immediately welcomed his soaking master, purring with satisfaction before watching with intrigue at the stranger with golden eyes. The cat, now disinterested, trotted away as if he had better things to do than to get to know the newcomer. Lenore watched him with pursed lips before closing the door behind Nicholas. She walked down the small hall that served as an entryway to the small apartment. The walls were covered in frames of pictures and paintings, none of them of actual people. A small table lurked in the corner covered in mail with a small vase and a lush plant. A picture faced down also took homage to the table, yet was unnoticeable.

To the left was the closet, which was a small, unimportant door. To the right was the first room, the kitchen, which was painted a coral color. It was a classic fitted kitchen and did well with the space it was given. Beyond that was a counter/bar that extended into the small living room. The big, black screen television hung on the wall, one of the nicest things in the whole apartment. The coach was black leather with several bright throws and pillows. A small glass coffee table stood before that. Beyond the living room was yet another small hallway, which would house the bathroom, and the two living spaces of Lenore's mother and herself. That hallway was dim and dark.

She turned on the lights to the kitchen and living room, guiding Nicholas to sit in one of the stools for the time being.
"I'll go change and I'll find something for you to fit into. Help yourself to anything in the cupboards or the fridge," she murmured and disappeared into the second hallway, a door somewhere off opening and then closing behind her.