AUGUST, 2020....

A young feline sets a bottle of water on the table, ignoring the oppressive heat building up around her. She turns to the air conditioner, reminding herself that it is out of commission. As a result of a unfortunate mishap, it is held together by long strips of duct tape. She focuses on a large piece of cardboard resting on her lap, pulling a black marker out of her pocket and filling in the last two letters of the sign. The process took mere minutes, but she is grateful that such a simple task did not make her sweat any more than she needs to. Blowing the dust off the sign, she sets it against the window, hoping that it would be easier to see. The previous sign was only up for a week before it was ruined by the heat, so she hopes that this one should last a bit longer due to the thickness of the cardboard. She enters the kitchen and cooks her meal, waiting for new candidates to come.

"ROOMMATES WANTED!"

OUTRESIDE
ORIENTATION ARC

TRACK 1: Tenancy, Verse 1

"So this is the place? Not bad."

A young grey wolf approaches a series of condos, one with the particular sign lying against the front window, "Roommates Wanted!" He has the appearance of a drifter; messy hair and fur alongside a rugged looking jacket and jeans. He seems to have been traveling for quite some time, with the condo being his last destination. Wiping the sweat off his brow, he taps the door thrice.

"I'm coming!" A young woman shouts from the other side.

Within seconds, she opens the door. This lady is a feline with yellow fur, wearing a pink shirt and rose-colored jeans along with a ponytail and rose-framed glasses.

"Can I help you?" The lady wipes the sweat from her forehead.

"Yeah, um..." The wolf sheepishly rubs the back of his head. "I'm looking for a place to stay. It's a pleasure to meet you by the way. My name is Joshua Jones, but most just call me JJ."

"Ooh, I see. I am Amanda Maria Katarina Herdeiros. It's quite a mouthful, I know," Amanda chuckles, holding out her hand for JJ to shake, "Please come inside."

Both enter the condo, and JJ is immediately hit by the heat building up inside. Talk about a warm welcome. JJ thought the outside was bad enough, but the humidity here is practically weighing him down!

"I noticed that you were sweating quite a bit... does this place have air conditioning?" JJ rubs his face.

"We did, but my sister thought it would be a good idea to put her clothes in it," Amanda rolls her eyes, leading up a flight of stairs him down a hallway until they stop at last door at the end of it.

"So, this is where you would be staying," Amanda opens the door, revealing a large room with pastel grey walls. A twin-sized bed is against the far wall, covered by white sheets. A medium-sized table is next to the bed with a pencil holder and a clipboard resting on it. Despite the size of the room, those appear to be the only pieces of furniture. A few feet from the bed is a large window with small curtains, the small ray of sun seeping from the curtains makes it the coolest room in the condo.

"I was going to use this room for business matters, but I never got around to it," Amanda picks up the clipboard and a pen.

"Oh, that's fine. I don't mind it really," JJ opens the curtains, revealing a nice view of the apartment buildings outside, "It does seem comfy at least. I can arrange some small furniture in here... maybe a bookcase, or something like that."

"You can if you want to, just make sure it's not crowded, “Amanda laughs.

"Don't worry, I don't plan to," JJ smirks sheepishly, "Aside the bookcase, the only other thing I could bring is a desk for my laptop and schoolwork."

"At least you won't go overboard, that's a relief there," Amanda examines the clipboard, "So in order to get the room, you do need a job. Rent costs $800 for me and my sister, so you would be paying a one-third of that."

"That sounds reasonable," JJ nods, then ponders, "But where to find work..."

"'Find work'?" Amanda raises an eyebrow, "You don't have a job?"

"Not yet, I just came here a few days ago. I'm going to attend this school called 'NIVA.' It's a good place to have a scholarship, but I can't afford to stay on campus."

"I see. I hate to spoil the fun, but you must already have a job so you can stay here. Sorry, I can't really tell you any other way," Amanda shrugs.

"Aww man. Well, um... just give me a few days and I'll come back," JJ lets out an embarrassed sigh, looking down at his feet.

"Hopefully, the room would still be here. Let me know as soon as you get hired, okay?"

"I plan to. Sorry for the trouble."

JJ sulks down the hall, letting out a heavy sigh. This place was just too good to pass up! Just one thing stood between him that room. JJ opens the front door, but as he steps out, he hears something tumble. They shout some sort of expletive in a bizarre tongue, catching JJ's attention.

"S-Sorry! Are you alright?" JJ bends down.

The person on the ground is another wolf. Unlike JJ's greyish fur, this newcomer is golden-brown. His clothes are neater than the scruffy JJ, he wears his auburn hair in a ponytail and has a pair of half-rimmed translucent glasses.

"My bad I didn't watch where I was going," JJ extends his hand to the newcomer.

"Ja... it's okay," the wolf adjusts his glasses and dusts himself off before standing. He rubs the back of his head, checking for a bruise.

"You're not here for the room, are you?" JJ asks.

"Ja, I am. Do you stay here?" The other wolf tries to hide it, but JJ noticed a faint European accent. Perhaps he is trying to make himself easier to talk to?

"No. I came for the room, but they said that I needed a job sooo... you know," JJ shrugs sheepishly.

"Oh, that's too bad," Suddenly, the wolf looks down, his chin resting on his hand.

"Hello?" JJ slowly tilts his head. They have not known each other for two minutes, and this guy already seems a bit weird.

"I have a question."

"Yes?"

"Are you here to go to school?

"Yes, I am, I'm, uhh... going to NiVA," JJ studders, "I know it's not far from here, which is why I was trying to get this room. It's too expensive to stay on campus and I lost my last job before coming here."

"You're going to attend NiVA too?" The wolf grins, "That's good. So we..."

"Hello?" Amanda appears at the door, taking notice to the second wolf behind JJ, "Are you here for the room?"

"Yes I am... Is it still available?"

"It is, did JJ here tell you about the requirements?"

"Ja, he did," The Wolf nods, holding out his hand to shake Amanda's, "I'm Vael, and you are?"

"Amanda Katarina Herdeiros," Her grip is unusually strong. Maybe she is going through a bit of stress now?

"Well, I guess I'll be heading off then," JJ waves at the two with a small smile. Vael's eyes narrow slightly, knowing that this grin is a mask, and knowing just the way to lift it.

"Wait!" Vael shouts.

"Y-Yes?" JJ stops and turns, "What is it?"

"I'm not sure if he told you Ms. Herdeiros, but he is with me. We were looking for a room together," Vael smiles with a bit of confidence.

"Really?" Both JJ and Amanda blink.

"Yup. We thought it would be for one person, so I was going to give it to him. But since we need a job, I'm wondering if I he could stay as a roommate."

"W-wait..." JJ's face slowly turns red. It's so bright that his cheeks look like cherries, "Y-You want me as a roommate? I.. I don't know what to say."

"Well we are both students at NiVA, so it would make sense to get a room close to us," Vael winks at him.

"That's sweet of you," Amanda smiles, putting a hand on her hip, "but my question for you is... what kind of job do you have?"

"Umm... well," Vael rubs the back of his head, "I do some volunteer work."

"And that pays?" Amanda raises an eyebrow.

"It does, I know it's a bit weird," Vael's cheeks go bright like JJ's.

"And do you earn at least $200 a week?" Amanda puts a hand under her chin.

"I would say yes, but do you need, um... what it is called..."

"Paychecks?"

"Yes, let me get that in a second." Setting down his bag, Vael searches through it.

"I never heard of volunteer work that pays," JJ shrugs. Is this guy joking or does he mean something else?

"Neither do it," Amanda responds, "But I know of-"

"Hold on," Vael has finally found it, "here it is."

What Vael shows them is not a paycheck, but a receipt. Amanda knows the emblem on the corner; it belongs to Teyen Foundations, a company that restores vacant and dilapidated properties for future businesses and shopping centers. The company's emblem is not the only thing that caught her interest, but the amount on the receipt is... Five Hundred Dollars!

"No way...!" JJ's eyes and jaw stretch wide! "That can't be real... can it??"

"It is, I know that company," Amanda confirms, "they usually have temporary jobs for construction work, but I never thought they'd pay this much!"

"Yeah, I was, um... a bit surprised when I had that amount. I worked with them for almost two weeks too," Vael's face goes red and points to the ground.

"What did you do over there?" Amanda asks.

"Oh, um... "I use a... what do they call it? A LiftFork?"

"Forklift," JJ corrects. He suddenly pulls out a notebook and writes something down in it, sticking his tongue to the side as he finishes it up.

"Sorry, I'm not from this country, so I could still get some terms wrong," Vael laughs in a thicker accent.

"I can relate with that one," Amanda chuckles, "but I have one more question before I give you the room."

"Yes?" Vael's ears twitch.

"How long do you plan to stay?"

"As long as it takes to get a scholarship," JJ answers.

"As for me, at least a year. I get a big paycheck for my work, but I still can't afford to stay on campus. Is that okay?" Vael's face slowly goes back to normal.

"As long as you don't make too big of a mess," Amanda laughs.

"Trust me, I'm quite organized. I'm not a child," Vael teases.

"Same here," JJ adds, "I know I might look a bit scruffy, but I like my books organized. Like I said before, I don't need much to be happy."

"I remember that," Amanda set down the clipboard, and shakes both JJ's and Vael's hands, "So congratulations! You both got the room!"

"Thank you very much," Vael shakes her hand, then bows, "I'm wondering though..."

"Yes?" Amanda blinks.

"Did no one else come for this room, yet? Besides the two of us?"

"Well, there was someone last week. She was this weird cat girl who said she came from the sky," Amanda rubs her head, hesitating to even describe the incident. And could blame her? The first few words sounded silly enough.

"...From... the sky?" Vael tilts his head, "was she being serious?"

"It sounds pretty farfetched to me," JJ agrees

"And she didn't have a job too," Amanda shrugs, "She must've been one of those crazy addicts from Bloomburg."

"Seriously?" Vael and JJ try to hold back their laughs, but Vael fails miserably.

"I wish I were kidding," Amanda laughs, "My sister is still in High School. I am not exposing her to that junk."

"Smart move."

"Well, I'll be inside. If you two have something to bring in, leave it in the living room," Amanda goes to the kitchen.

"Um Vael..." JJ's studders again, "Thank you so much for this man. You saved my skin back there."

"It's no problem, brother," Vael grins, "I like to help others in need."

"Either way, I look forward to rooming with you." JJ holds out his hand.

"Ja, det samme for deg," Vael responds in a thick accent, gripping JJ's hand to shake, but can hear JJ laugh, "What is it?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. It's just, um, I didn't know what you just said," JJ's face goes redder. He is afraid of offending his new roommate.

"Ja, don't worry about it, brother," Vael pats his shoulder, "I get that alot. I said that I am looking forward to it too."

"I had a feeling," JJ laughs, setting his things inside. He stretches back as he goes to their room. Vael follows, grinning as he looks around.

"This place is pretty big, I thought it would be a bit smaller," Vael sits on edge of the bed, but suddenly laughs nervously. "Oh fokka."

"What is it?" JJ turns to Vael.

"It would be a bit weird for, um..." Vael's cheeks flush red, an awkward image flashing through his mind. If they were blood brothers, or perhaps if they were gay, it would not be a problem for them sharing one bed. As kind as Vael is, he has a habit of not thinking things through.

"Oh, right," JJ chuckles sheepishly.

"So... who takes the bed?"

"If there is a couch, I could take that... at least until we figure out the bed issue," JJ sweats as he closes the window curtains.

"There are a few couches in the living room," Vael laughs awkwardly, "We... have to ask Amanda about sleeping there."

"Well, unless we want things to be awkward, we REALLY don't have much of a choice... or we could build a bunkbed, or something like that."

"We don't have things to build a bunked with," Vael shrugs, "We could just buy an inflatable mattress, as long as it's affordable."

"Eh, sure, that could work," JJ nods, "And in the meantime, once I get a job, I could buy supplies for the bunker."

"And maybe you could look for a job while we find that bed," Vael laughs.

"A bed?" Wild Amanda appears! Good timing, boys!

"Well, we were talking about some... sleeping issues. Sharing a bed is out, but we were wondering if we could sleep on the couch unti-"

"Out of the question," Amanda crosses her arms.

"Dammit," JJ utters, "but yeah, if the couch doesn't work, we could get an inflatable bed, until..."

"...Untiiil?"

"Until we get the materials to make a bunker?"

"Bunker?" Amanda blinks at that word, "What the heck??"

"He means a bunk bed. Would it be okay if we build one?" Vael asks.

"Sure, as long as you take it apart when you leave," Amanda nods.

"Sounds good to me," JJ nods.

"Ja, JJ. Do you know where we could find a mall or a store?" Vael cleans his glasses.

"Sorry, I'm still learning my way around," JJ adjusts his jacket.

"...You guys ask each other questions I might know the answer to?" Amanda chuckles, shrugging a bit while shaking her head.

"Oh, sorry! Do you know where we could find an inflatable mattress, Amanda?"

"There is the Bullseye shopping center. It's about 20 minutes from here if you take the bus," Amanda answers.

"Sounds like we're on the right Target," Vael jokes, "Thank you, Amanda."

"Aaaand good timing," Amanda looks at her phone...

...

"The bus is right outside. Hurry or you'll miss it!"

....

"Oh FOKKA! Let's go, man!" Vael grabs JJ's arms, immediately bolting to the bus stop!

.....

The boys reach the bus faster than you can say "SuperSonic Racing!" One could wonder if they keep their feet right on the ground!

X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X

OUTREFILES

Joshua Jones ("JJ")
Race: Wolf
From: USA
Birthday: November 28
Age: 18
Height: 172 cm
Seemingly a drifter from the Southern United States, JJ actually traveled to Neumont to complete a scholarship. But little does he know that there is more to this town than meets the eye!

Amanda Herdeiros
Race: Feline/Fox
From: Brazil
Birthday: August 21
Age: 23
Height: 173 cm
The older of a pair of Brazilian migrants known as the "Kat Sisters." Amanda is the responsible one, maintaining the condo and managing a cafe while her sister plays around. There is a more laidback side to Amanda, which surfaces on days where she can kick back.