scene buddies: friendship moment
[backdated 2017] — february bingo scene — gigi stanich & ris kennedy

Considering her whole life had been spent in New York, San Francisco was a big change. It had been Gigi's choice, she was the one who sought out the move, but that didn't make it any less daunting to deal with. At least she wasn't completely on her own. She had Theo, and Theo's friends. Not that she assumed they would all be her friends too, but some of them probably be her friend too, right? She was nice, there was no reason for them not to be. It felt a bit like she was a younger sibling tagging along, but at least her cousin didn't seem annoyed or irritated by her presence. Because Theo was the best.

Speaking of the best — Larissa. Someone Gigi already knew before getting there, thanks to years before when everyone had been in New York, everyone else all grown up while Gigi had still been small. Well, smaller. But Larissa had been nice to her, someone Gigi had looked up to because she was so cool, and there they both were in the same city again. Now that she was settled, both where she was staying and her routine at USCF, they had a chance to hang out. Knocking light on the door, Gigi paused and looked down at the address on her phone for the third time since arriving, making sure she was at the right place.

The door opened to a warm, small studio apartment, and Gigi's host for the evening. Larissa smiled, stepping back and holding open her arms to welcome her young friend into her home, into her city. "Hey girlie, come on in," she said, pulling Gigi into a squeeze, before pulling away in the small foyer that connected her living space to her kitchen. "Let me get you a drink. Wine, water, a cocktail, what's your poison?"

To be honest, Ris didn't really know how old Gigi was. Younger than her was a broad enough category that she didn't try to nail down specifics if she could help it. "Watch out for Wolvie," she added, as a thud from the other room of something hitting the floor, and a large cat rounded the bed to come sit and stare up at Gigi. It was impossible to tell if he was big or if it was just his overabundance of hair, but he was curious and furry and immoveable. "He'll trip you on purpose," Ris said, going to the small shelf loaded with drinks and drink accessories. "Red wine? White? I have both."

Unsurprisingly, Larissa still looked like the coolest person Gigi had ever seen. She gladly welcomed her embrace and greeting, moving into the apartment and offering her a smile before giving a quick glance around the space. It was so cute and cozy, definitely full of vibes she appreciated. She couldn't wait to be in a place where she had her own space she could decorate and make pretty and homey like how Ris had done with hers.

"Oh, um," she started, pausing at the thud and then the sight of the cat. He was beautiful but giant, and her experience with cats was somewhat limited to the one at the bodega on the corner of her neighborhood back in New York. Crouching down, she held out her hand for him to sniff at if he wanted. "White? Is he friendly, other than the tripping?"

"White, solid choice," Ris said, pulling one of the bottles free and reaching for her corkscrew. She assumed Gigi drank, and if she didn't, well, she could have easily said no, and that would be that. Then again, if she didn't think it was 'cool' not to drink, Ris paused. "If you want. I also have iced tea, seltzer, and uh ... milk?" She gestured at the fridge, before leaning her hip against the small dining table.

"Wolvie? Yeah, he's friendly, a little too friendly," Ris said as Wolvie thumped closer to Gigi, letting out a little prrrow. He headbutted her leg, rubbing the whole length of his body against Gigi.

Gigi glanced up at Ris, offering her a soft smile. "I'd take some water, too." She certainly didn't feel pressured to drink, but wine sounded nice. Grown up, kind of, which was a silly thought but still. She'd been so much younger when they'd known each other back in New York — or rather, Ris had known Theo and Gigi had known her by proxy — but now she was old enough for them to have a drink together. It was nice.

Her attention was drawn back to the cat with that cute little sound he made, nearly getting knocked over when he rubbed against her because she hadn't expected it and wasn't exactly crouched there in a steady, sturdy way. "Hey buddy," she said softly, scritching her fingertips against the top of his head. "I don't think 'too friendly' is possible."

"Oh, now you've started it," Ris said with a smile, nodding down to the cat, who began to rub against Gigi's leg with a bit more force, before leaning into scritches on his head, purring wildly. He turned, pawing at her legs, claws catching as he attempted to climb towards more pets.

Ris shook her head, turning back to the bottle of wine, and in a lickety split it was open, the cork letting loose with a small pop. "So what's your plan, kiddo?" she asked, pouring two glasses of wine, before reaching for a glass and filling it with water. She grabbed a bunch of grapes from the fridge, along with a few leftover bits of cheese, quickly making a tray of nibbles and loading the drinks on as well. "Let's see if we can't move this cuddle party to the couch."

It only took a couple more passes of Wolvie pushing against her legs to topple Gigi, though that was partially because she figured better to sit on the floor than stay perched there precariously. He was very soft and fluffy, an enjoyable intruder onto her lap as Ris got things ready in the kitchen. She gave a little hum at Ris' question, not really sure what to say in response but she could blame it on giving her attention to Wolvie.

"Come on bud, couch time..." Giving him a nudge, and then a few more when that didn't work, Gigi managed to get him off her long enough to get back to her feet and move to the couch. "How old is he?"

"Uhh," Ris said, picking up the tray and carrying it into the living room, not terribly large, but enough for a bed, a couch, a small vanity she used as a desk when she needed to focus. "I'm not really sure. Somewhere around seven years, I think." Setting the tray of snacks and drinks on the coffee table, Ris joined Gigi on the couch, tucking her feet beneath her. Picking up her wine glass, she handed the other one to her young companion.

"Cheers," she said, "To new starts in new cities with old friends." She offered her glass for the toast with a warm smile. Wolve thumped over to them, sitting on the floor beside Gigi, staring up at her with wide eyes.

"He's beautiful," Gigi commented, waiting for Ris to sit down before she settled completely, turned a bit toward her so they could see each other better while they hung out. She took the glass with a quiet thanks, her expression brightening at the toast, and she clinked her glass against Ris' before taking a little sip. Not wanting to neglect Wolvie, she let her free hand dangle down to be able to offer noggin scratches.

"I'm so glad I get to see you again, it feels like it's been forever." She leaned into the back of the couch, pressing into the cushion there. "Do you like living here?"

Wolvie eagerly crashed his head into Gigi's hand with a little mrrorow. "He'll keep doing that until you eventually let him in your lap," Ris offered, taking a sip of her wine as she settled into the cushions. She looked around the small apartment, cozy and warm, her home for nearly six years now. "Yeah, I think it's a good spot," she said, nodding. "I like the neighborhood, and I mean, San Francisco is my home. I liked New York, but this is where I grew up, and this is where I'll always come back to."

She took another sip, leaning forward to make herself a little cracker cheese sandwich. "How are you doing here, so far from home?"

Gigi laughed softly at the way the cat kept headbutting her hand. He was definitely welcome in her lap, whenever he decided it was time to jump on up there. Until then, she was happy to give him pets and scratches. She followed Ris' gaze around the apartment, again enjoying how homey and cute it was. Small, but Gigi was plenty used to that considering she'd lived in New York her whole life until then. It wasn't about the size of a space, it was what you did with it.

"I'm okay." Her brow furrowed slightly as she thought, but smoothed out a few seconds later. "It's different, really different, but I like it so far. I miss my dad but I think it's good for both of us. He doesn't have to be worrying about me — I mean, I know he'll still worry, but I won't be right there for him to see and worry about, you know?"

Once Gigi shifted back, the cat jumped into the space in between the two women, sniffing at their fingers, before beginning to make a bed for himself on Gigi's lap.

"I don't think there's any rhyme or reason to a father worrying about his kid being so far away," Ris smiled, with a small shrug. "My parents went through it when I went to NYU, and if they had a little more money, probably would have flown back and forth all the time to check in on me. But, at least you have family here. An older brother-type will get you out of a lot of scrapes." Theo was a good guy, would cover for Gigi if she needed it, or probably get her out of any trouble she might have.

"Plus, I'm here to get you into all the bars," she teased, taking a sip of her wine.

With Wolvie kneading at her lap, Gigi absently pet over his head and down his back. She knew Ris was right, there was no way her dad wouldn't worry — and he hadn't been super excited about her moving clear across the country, so there was that too. Hopefully he'd be able to take care of himself more now he wasn't having to take care of her on top of it. Besides, she made sure to text him a lot so it was practically like she was still there.

"I don't think I would've been brave enough to move here without knowing I had people," she said, taking a sip of her wine then cradling the glass in against her chest. "Like, Theo living out here definitely helped. Not that I'm trying to make it so he has to get me out of stuff," she added with a little grin. "But it helps knowing he's nearby. And that you're here to help me have fun."

"No, no one wants a rescue," Ris said, tipping her head to the side with a shrug. She couldn't remember the last time she had been rescued, or when she'd called out for help and gotten it. There was something lonely about independence, about relying solely on her own two feet, and she was certain her parents would offer whatever assistance they could, but so rarely did she want to bother them with her own adult grown problems.

"But, if you do need to talk, or want someone you're not related to, you know where I am, and Wolvie will always need a lap to curl up on," she smiled. "And the couch pulls out, so if you need somewhere to crash, it's all yours."

Gigi knew she wasn't exactly one to get herself in situations needing bailed out of. Her rebellious streak was almost only in her dad's eyes, because they were such different people. She knew it hadn't been the easiest for him as soon as she got old enough to go off on her own and make her own choices. He was all straight lines, rules, procedure, and she liked to see where the wind took her. Which usually wasn't anywhere dangerous or bad. Then again, she didn't know San Francisco that well, so who knew when she might stumble her way into needing a rescue.

"I appreciate that so much, Ris." Gigi offered her a smile, reaching over to give her hand a brief little squeeze. She didn't want to take advantage of the offer too much, abuse those privileges, but it was good to know Ris was there and willing to take her in if needed or wanted. "You should tell me what your band's up to! I want to come to your next show."