*buys a flat*

[mme_depompadour]

*buys a mobile phone and plays with it for hours*

*finally calls Caetherine with it*

Hello?

*holds it several different ways until noise comes out*

Caeth? It's me, Reinette.

Ianto said you might be able to help me if I needed anything. Have you ever heard of this place called...
*looks down at her piece of paper*
...IKEA?

Comments

[off_c]

*tries very hard not to laugh*
Right. Um, it's a flat-pack furniture store. You go through a showroom, mark down what you like, buy it disassembled, take it home, and assemble it yourself. Because you're doing a lot of the work the prices are cheaper. The style is very modern, clean lines, very, very unlike the furniture where you're from. Nice-looking, but the materials are a little on the flimsy side.

You still interested? I can take you there, there's one in Cardiff, but we'll need to rent a van.

[mme_depompadour]

*chirpy*
Yes, that sounds wonderful. I'm doing Penny's room, she doesn't need any of that antique French stuff. She'll only draw on it.

Oh... and I'll need tools. Screwdrivers and such. We can pick those up somewhere, can't we?

[off_c]

Mmhm. Hardware store.

I'm free right now. I can go get a van and meet you at yours if that's okay.

Is there anything else you need to get while we're out?

[mme_depompadour]

*thinks*
Yes... I need a...
*consults list again*
digital freeview box and television... and I'd like something called "The Internet".

[off_c]

*stifles laughter again*
Okay. Arrangeable, definitely.

We have a big day ahead of us.

[mme_depompadour]

Arrangeable? Oh, good. I'll see you here, then shall I? I'll put some coffee on.

*hangs up*
*after several attempts*

[off_c]

*goes to rent a van*
*drives to Reinette's*
*knocks, finding it very strange to do*

[mme_depompadour]

*opens the door*
Hello!
*shows you in*
It's still a bit of a mess, I'm afraid. I'm unpacking.

[off_c]

Absolutely fine.

*looks around, impressed at the furniture*
How's Penny adjusting?

[mme_depompadour]

She was a bit sad. But she seems to have cheered up now... going to your house yesterday did her a world of good. And we're going to do up a tree here, too, so I'm sure she'll like that.
*pours us a coffee*
And she's excited about her new room.

*drinks*
She'll be fine. It's for the best.

[off_c]

*puts her hand on yours*
Reinette... what happened, if you don't mind me asking?

[mme_depompadour]

When? Oh... that. I'd just... had it... suddenly. He was asking me for my advice about how to cure his boyfriend of his evilness and something just snapped in my head. I thought "Enough!", you know? I thought about it for another week or so, but nothing changed. I love him, but there's only so much I can take. I think I'm better off on my own for a while.

Plus, that house was just depressing me.

[off_c]

Well, I'm glad. You deserve someone who's going to pay you proper attention. And this apartment is terrific for getting out of the Victorian rut. Fantastic view.

*finishes her coffee*
Well, Reinette, are you ready for your first foray into the exciting world of modern consumer retail?

[mme_depompadour]

I most certainly am.
*puts the cups in the sink*
*grabs her mobile*
I'm supposed to take this everywhere, yes?
*shows it to you on the way out*
I get 20 free texts a month. I have no idea what that means, but it sounded good.

[off_c]

You don't have to take it everywhere, but yeah. It is a useful thing to have when you're out. If something happens to Penny then you're reachable.

Texts mean you can send small text messages, using the keypad to spell them out.
*takes out her mobile and texts "Hi Reinette" to your phone*
Very useful if you don't have time for a whole phone conversation, or if you're in a place where you can't talk but need to send a message.

You're catching on to the modern era pretty darn fast.

Onward and upward.
*drives you to IKEA*

[mme_depompadour]

*phone beeps*
Ooh!
*reads your text*
Oh, that's very good.

*looks out the window*
It's very big, isn't it?
*gets out of the car and goes inside with you*
*stares*

Ooh... meatballs.

[off_c]

Yup. Shopper's paradise. Careful, it's specifically designed to encourage you to impulse buy.

*smells the meatballs appreciatively*
They're famous for them. You can get them frozen, too, to fix at home. Let's get some afterwards.

*hands you a form and a teeny pencil, grabs a net bag, and walks through the showroom with you*
What do you need? Bed? Shelves? Bureau? Toy storage?

[mme_depompadour]

Yes. All of those things. Ooh!
*distracted by cuddly toys*
*puts one in her bag*

*reads the label on a wardrobe*
21-6.
*reads again*
Oh, I see.
*writes it down*

Ohlookatthedarlingcurtains...

[off_c]

*recognizes she is in the presence of a champion shopper and trails along in your wake*

Are you making up a room for Dafydd, too? Or will you just use stuff from the old nursery for him?

[mme_depompadour]

*busy choosing matching cushions, curtains and duvet covers*
Yes... of course. He's getting the bigger room. I'd like to get an adult bed in there, too, just in case anyone ever stays over.

*consults the catalogue*

Anyway, how are you? I heard your father died. I'm so sorry.

[off_c]

I'm all right. Compared to what happened before he died, it was pretty easy to deal with.

*looks at a lamp*
Um, Ianto and I are trying for a baby of our own... I'm going to try to build up my singing career again... my sister and I have reconciled. All pretty nice, all things considered.

Can I just say it's been so nice to be able to share the children with you... It's really been amazing, taking care of them.

[mme_depompadour]

Are you really? Oh, that'd be lovely, you two make good parents.
*gets a second bag*
Well, they love you too, dear. And to be honest, I don't know what I'd have done without Ianto. He's so good with them. It's not like I can leave them with the Doctor, he's useless. And their gran... well, she means well, but half the time she'd end up taking them to her lab because she was busy working on something. I mean, honestly, would you be happy to leave your babies in a lab?

[off_c]

Recipe for disaster. That's kind of surprising, I thought Penelope'd be good at taking care of kids.

Here, let me.
*takes your full bag*
*collapses into a nearby chair as you look at rugs*
*takes out her phone and makes a call*
-Reinette, have you got a credit card?

[mme_depompadour]

Have I got a what?

[off_c]

*smiles nervously, uncertain of what she's unleashing*
*takes hers out and shows you*
Credit card. Used for purchases, issued by banks, essentially a short-term loan. You need one to start internet service at your flat.

You have a bank account, right?