Nikki Sutton's Apartment

Nikki Sutton's Apartment
moonstraw city

Her apartment building stands near the heart of Moonstraw, falling within her price range due to how shabby it is. It's occupied by full-fledged adults, providing a quiet atmosphere away from buildings partially occupied by fresh graduates, but she uses charms to drown out her neighbors anyways. A lot of upgrades have been thanks to her specialty in spellwork, disguising the building's shaky foundations. A creature in the attic causes random rumblings at times, but she argues it adds to the ambiance. All of her furniture was brought with her from America with the use of magic, and her only roommate Suzy (another constant brought from America) is found lurking behind her visitors at all times just waiting to pounce. Her apartment is lived-in and comfortable, providing a new home for her here in Moonstraw.

Nikolette Sutton

spellmaker
ateleia

Christmas Eve had been uneventful for her, scoring some overtime pay by volunteering for an extra shift in the morning and then briefly visiting Zach at a time when his nephew wasn't there. It had been such a fleeting visit, but not enough to regret trying. Christmas had been significantly more eventful, finally reuniting with some of her peers from Hogwarts and meeting Clarence's children. Everything that unfolded from there had felt jarring– just one transgression after another; it started to remind her of a retired section of *Witch Weekly* where blatantly fictionalized characters wrote into an advice column with some of the most baffling drama anyone had ever read. It had left her unsettled, feeling as if she shouldn't have been there to witness such events. A guiltiness plagued her when she noticed how relieved she felt to leave, but she has minimized a significant portion of such feelings by focusing on Zach coming over. Having insisted that she had time to herself in between, she found the energy to shove some scalloped potatoes in the oven and start some steaks on the stove. Their wine is sitting on the coffee table with a set of glasses. Even if Zach prefers firewhiskey, wine goes better with the food she (or her magic) is crafting for them, a thought that she surmises concludes she's fit for whatever high-end lifestyle her partner was born into. When glancing over at the alcohol, she is reminded of this conclusion and laughs at herself. Beyond the table, there's a worn couch with one blanket too many and an equally as worn out Suzy cuddled into the corner. Nikki wonders if she recognizes what's to come, knowing she is going to have to move in only a few minutes... due to Zach no less. She laughs again, prompting the pet to raise her head at her before settling down again.

Zachary Bishop

cfo and heir of bishop hotels
paintedred

Zach, on the other hand, feels just as relieved that the Christmas lunch at his brother's is over without any of the accompanying guilt. He is frustrated with Clarence, yes, for so obviously going on with the defensive. Not to mention, as he left Cedrica made a snide comment to hint that she somehow already knew that he had 'dared' to suggest that Leighton stay with him instead over break. He isn't sure when Clarence might have pulled Cedrica aside to relay the discussion, but it was smart of Clarence to do it immediately before he could tell Cedrica his own version of events. Not that Zach would have wanted to go to Cedrica for advice or comfort, but he's somewhat aware that she always tends to side with whoever comes to her first. That *might* have been helpful in this situation, if it weren't for the fact that when Cedrica starts acting sweet that it becomes unnerving and feels a bit condescending. He doubts Leighton would enjoy that. Anyway, Cedrica and Clarence have ruined too many days for him (hello Hogwarts years) that pushing thoughts of them aside has become a learned skill. Besides, he's seeing Nikki again tonight and when they're together, it's difficult to think of much else. Letting that warm fuzzy feeling overcome him, he relaxes and forgets about the whole ordeal. He has a gift with him for Nikki that he's pretty excited to give her too, (though he gets her so many that it's hardly a special Christmas thing). After he arrives at the building and gets buzzed in, he reaches her apartment on the third floor and knocks on the door. On the other side, he already hears Suzy waddling over at the sound of a visitor. Zach likes Nikki's apartment more than his own and everything about it (Suzy included) feels like home.