Speaking of things to complain about...

As Viola racked her brain, there was a sudden tap on the door. Robin shrugged apologetically once again and crossed the living room to the door, where he opened it to find the large women from across the way standing, dressed in a black sweatshirt and pants and wearing an urgent expression on her face.

"Hey Robin, hate to bug you, but can we use your space again?" The woman's eyes roamed over Robin and he felt suddenly extremely uncomfortable, as he always did when this neighbor asked for favors. The car space had been standard, since Robin didn't own a car, and Lauren's wasn't always in it.

"Actually, I really was hoping..." Robin began.

"I mean, I'm not going to take ALL Of your space, I'm just going to park on the grass next to it, and I'll totally take responsibility for parking on the grass." Ashley grinned again, her face broad and welcoming.

Viola couldn't help but notice the way the woman at the door was speaking to him, and a sudden flash of anger ran through her as she took in how Robin was giving off exactly zero of the signals that he had given her. Was this woman really THAT oblivious?

Robin continued to nod and listen as the woman continued her monologue regarding the blue truck that was parked in the space that should have been the public space but she had no idea whose it was, but she had told the guy... His eyes began to glaze over as she continued, and he wished that anything would end this damn speech of explanations.

"...So, I'll totally take responsibility for parking there, and we can totally fit three cars in. So, thanks, and I'll see you later." Ashley smiled what Robin assumed was an attempt at a flirty and seductive one, and then proceeded to walk back up the small concrete path towards her portion of the duplex, where a small group of people sat on lawn furniture, drinking from bottles and laughing. A few words from one of the women in the group caused a general laugh and Ashley to wave back at Robin, who closed the door rapidly.

"So, I've got my complaint," Robin groaned against the door, placing his forehead against it. "Remind me next time to pretend I'm dead."

"Need me to play Tarzan Boy really loud?" Titania smiled.

"You can't do a synthesizer on a Cello," Robin's forehead did not move from the door as he shook his head back and forth. "So, don't know if you've met my neighbors, but they're... uhm... really social."

"Think I missed them," Viola said diplomatically. For some reason the window seemed more and more inviting the longer she spent over here. It was like a nice little escape. Her life was on one side, open the window, and here you are in goofy family land with weird eighties music references and situations straight out of a comedy from the same era. "So, how's Lauren been?" She changed the subject to one that Titania seemed much more interested in.

"She's great!" Titania gushed, a great deal of the nerves seeming to leave her as she began. "Totally gets me, and will watch the internet shows with me that dad won't."

"I just can't get into the who would win stuff," Robin shrugged, turning to look at the small group of women at the table, who proceeded to begin gushing about internet shows that he had absolutely no idea about. Names were dropped like he should know them, and frankly they sounded like trucker handles to him. And Viola's joining in! Oh crap, I'm officially OLD, he realized. This is it, put me in the grave, pour some dirt over me.