New Home, New You

It wasn't like Cosette to complain about what was gifted to her, she tried to be modest and happy over what she could get. But despite that she had very quickly gotten sick of the apartment the island had given her. The pipes leaked and Cosette had to call the plumber at least once every two weeks, and the floor was tilted and there was mold everywhere. Cosette wasn't a neat freak, and the place was much better than the prison Ulric had provided her, but she had gotten enough. So after finally landing a job with a good enough salary Cosette had requested an advance and found a new apartment. She had received help both from Ghum and Aranea in finding a good place, and today she was moving into a charming flat near the city that was just right for her.

"Thank you so much for helping me. I really appreciate it."
Cosette thanked Aranea with a happy smile, while they were driving towards Cosette's new home. She had rented a small moving van, and Aranea had been so kind as to help Cosette load it and then further drive it. Cosette didn't have a license, and had pretty few friends. But even if she had had a dozen friends Aranea would've been Cosette's first pick. Cosette always enjoyed spending time with Aranea, and didn't want to do this moving with anyone else.

"I don't know if I could've even done this by myself. I'm not exactly the strongest person around."
Cosette answered with a small chuckle and felt her bicep a bit. Cosette indeed was just human levels of strong, maybe even slightly weaker. And all her extra budget had gone to renting this van so paid help wasn't an option either.
"Thankfully I have reliable friends around, I don't know what I'd do without them."

Cosette snorted a bit at Aranea's joke, this was nice. Cosette felt most relaxed with Aranea than with most other people, like she didn't have to hide the sides she usually did in company.
"Unfortunately those would only taste good to me when I'm a swan, and I prefer to cook when human. Hands are much more handy. But if I do find some in this apartment I'll be sure to save them for you."
Cosette answered, attempting a joke, but didn't even realize she had made an unintentional hand pun.

The two eventually arrived at the apartment complex, and Cosette got out of the car and looked at the complex for a moment. She felt strangely touched suddenly, this was actually happening. Cosette was moving in on an apartment she had found, chosen and rented all on her own. Well, with some help from her friends, but still. Cosette's eyes watered a bit, but she probably shouldn't cry now, they still had to move all her things to the apartment. Thankfully it was on the ground floor.

"You do know how much I love cooking, perhaps I should try my hand at it."
Cosette answered, only half joking. Honestly it didn't sound like a bad idea, and it would be a fun challenge to try and make an insect dish Aranea would enjoy. Personally Cosette had tasted some insect dishes in human form and they had not been awful. Since Cosette already knew making good enough dishes from insects was possible she wasn't afraid to try it herself.

Since Cosette wasn't in the best possible position financially her luggage was small. When it came to furniture she had one table and two chairs, a bed and dresser. She was planning to buy more as she earned more money. Otherwise she had multiple boxes, that had clothes, some decorative items and naturally her candy wrapper collection. Though that Cosette had neatly tucked away in an ornate wooden box she had gotten from her mother.

When Aranea called out Cosette snapped out of the daze she had fallen into, and she circled to the back of the van.
"Hm, perhaps it would be the best if you began with the furniture and I began with the boxes. I can at least carry clothes with my strength."
Cosette chuckled, and reached for the closest boxes when she realized something.
"Oh! Of course, I should probably go and open the door first."
Cosette said, letting out a small embarrassed laugh, and dug out her keys. She had already bought some keychains to them, a small baby pink fluffy ball and a swan made from see-through plastic. She went over to the apartment to open the front door to her apartment, better do it beforehand.

Cosette made sure to also leave the building door open, as she went inside to open her apartment door. Her apartment was the one immediately right as you stepped in. Cosette opened the door, her smile widening as she turned the handle. This was her very own place, she had worked so hard for this, and now it was-
"Where do you want this?"
Cosette suddenly heard Aranea's voice behind her, she had been so immersed in thought she hadn't heard the woman at all. Cosette let out a small startled squeak and turned around, having to crane her neck a bit since Aranea had turned back to her true form. That didn't startle Cosette anymore, she was entirely used to it.
"Dear me, you made my heart jump."
Cosette said with a small laugh, pressing her hand against her chest. She looked at the dresser Aranea was carrying, she really was strong.
For a moment Cosette wondered how it would feel to be that dresser in Aranea's arms, but she very quickly shook that thought off, it wasn't proper in this situation.
"Please just bring it inside for now, I will decide on the order after everything is inside. Thank you so much Aranea."
Cosette smiled appreciatively up at Aranea as she made way and began walking past the woman. She touched a hand to one of the woman's spider legs briefly before going out and over to the truck. And when Aranea wasn't around to see Cosette let herself blush ever so slightly.

Cosette got two box of clothes piled on each other and began carrying them inside, struggling to see ahead of her and occasionally stumbling a bit. But Cosette didn't want to seem too useless, when Aranea was being so helpful and efficient. So Cosette ignored her aching fingers and arms and carried the boxes with determination you usually wouldn't put into just carrying boxes.

Naturally Aranea offered to help Cosette when she came back outside and saw her carrying the boxes. Cosette had expected that, Aranea was kind and Cosette was starting to think perhaps she had bit off bit more than she could chew. But Cosette peeked her head from behind the boxes so she could smile reassuringly at Aranea.
"Thank you, but no worries, I can carry these. It's not a long way."
And with that Cosette adjusted the position of the boxes, and promptly walked inside. Because she knew that if Aranea pushed even a little more Cosette would let the woman help her.

When Cosette after a short while set the boxes on the floor in her new apartment she exhaled and looked around. Cosette yet again smiled happily, and she walked to the window that opened to the front lawn of the complex and threw it wide open. Cosette leaned out and if Aranea was on the front she would wave at the woman with a big smile on her face. Cosette had her own window. This was amazing. And she had her own floor and roof and walls. They hadn't been given to her, she was paying for them on her own. Just this simple fact was enough to make Cosette giggle a bit from excitement, and she let herself spin a couple of times in the middle of her new living room, eyes closed and breathing in the new apartment smell.