This Is Darkness, My New Friend

Hwum still couldn't believe chief had allowed her to leave the house and move into the dorms. Sure, she had tried to remain positive as she had asked, but at the back of her mind Hwum had been almost certain Fweiu would've turned her down flat. But what do you know, the chief had actually been quite lenient. She hadn't even contacted the Pillar to ask for her blessing. Well, that all worked out well for Hwum, so she wasn't going to mention that to Fweiu. Because if the Pillar found out Hwum was living in the dorms, away from the chief...
Yup, Hwum would just stay quiet for now. It'd be easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission.

Hwum had finished her move yesterday, and was currently in the middle of emptying the last box. This certain box was the one filled with all types and sizes of rocks, that Hwum used for practicing. Her favourite ones were the sandstones, they were malleable and could be easily bent into almost any shape. Maybe Hwum should give her new roommate a sandstone statue as a gift? She had been told she would be getting a roommate, which was beyond exhilarating for Hwum. She was used to sharing rather small spaces with multiple people, but never a stranger. She hoped they could become close friends.
Hwum hummed as she unloaded the rocks and set them on a shelf in her room. Currently she could see perfectly, as the whole apartment was pitch black. Hwum had requested that the windows would have curtains that blocked light completely, and they worked perfectly.

Hwum hummed as she held one of the bigger sandstones in her hand, and began shaping it into a statue. She made it into a vase of flowers, and the vase had the words "Welcome!" written on it. Hwum wanted her new roommate and friend to feel welcome, naturally. She stood up and exited her room, looking around the shared space for a good place for the statue.

The sound of door opening carried to Hwum's ears, and she turned her head to look at the white sliver of light coming in from outside. She naturally couldn't see anything but the person's shadow, as they were still in light. And Hwum could guess they were going to put the lights on before coming further into the apartment, that was just normal behaviour. So Hwum smiled and quickly found a place for the sandstone flower vase, and just when she set it down the lights came on and Hwum couldn't see anything but white.

"Hello."
Hwum said with a cheery tone as she turned around and waved towards whoever was her new roommate. She had not seen their, or apparently his judging from the voice, face.
"I'm sorry for the darkness, I can only see in it. I won't keep the shared spaces dark if you cannot see in it too."
Hwum said that because there were many creatures on the island that could see in the dark, perhaps her new roommate was one too. If Hwum was lucky.

Hwum's new roommate spoke some more, and as Hwum caught his scent and listened to his voice some more they were both familiar. And her smile remained, if not widened a bit, and Hwum laughed a bit at Broen's words. She indeed could discern and could imagine the smirk on Broen's face.
"Unfortunately this is just a happy coincidence. But I guess we are for now stuck with each other. I'm very glad to have an acquaintance as my roommate."
Hwum was genuinely glad and it showed, as she reached out her hand for Broen to shake. Though she reached it in the wrong direction and actually it pointed too much to the left.

"Yes, I remember you very well, Jason. And I'm Hwum, Hwum Roch'Der. In case you didn't remember."
Hwum chuckled, referencing to the first time they had met and Broen had given her a false name. It was very funny to her, even though the name had apparently been a reference that she didn't get.

Hwum was glad that Broen remembered her, and it showed on her face as she smiled happily upon that confirmation.
"Great! Well, it's wonderful to re-meet you, and welcome to our humble abode."
Hwum more or less remembered where she had left the welcoming vase of sandstone flowers, and she stepped aside a bit so Broen could see them as Hwum gestured to them. Overall the flowers were decently done, but some of them were in odd shapes and the work was a bit crude. After all, Hwum hadn't seen that many flowers yet.
"I made a small decoration, I hope you like it. Naturally you can also put it away, it is your room as well, after all."

This time Hwum was surprised by Broen suddenly turning the lights off, and she blinked at him in the dark. Well, it wasn't dark for her. He did explain he didn't need it, but Hwum couldn't help but feel she was inconveniencing him. She often felt like that when in class her corner was the only one without any lights, or when the chief had kept certain rooms dark just for her.
"This is really not necessary. I have my means of seeing even without the dark, I'm sure there is a good compromise. Um..."
Hwum looked around, and stepped over to the window. She cracked it open about halfway through, and although her vision immediately worsened she could see, that there was enough light for Broen to see where he was going and for her to also see where she was going.
"There, perfect!"
Hwum deemed with a satisfied nod, and stepped away from blocking the light from the window.

Hwum more or less vaguely saw Broen reach for her hand, and she met his hand with hers and shook it. Hwum's grip was soft but tight, and very much projected how excited and eager she was.
"I guess you could say it 'sucks ass', though I have never used those words to describe it. Really colourful."
Hwum let out an amused and delighted laugh, and let go.
"But I have my ways of coping, I'm doing wonderful. Besides, I can see the world in my own unique way in both light and dark."

"Yes, partial light works perfectly, I can make out shapes and movement well enough."
Hwum confirmed and nodded once, happy they had found a compromise. Hwum didn't want everyone having to adjust their comfort zones drastically every time she was involved, so she always tried to find the middle road, where both she and everyone else was just as comfortable and uncomfortable.
Broen's sudden words and cursing first made Hwum blink, and then she laughed a bit.
"I really appreciate your fuckin consideration."
She answered with a small grin, feeling kind of guilty but excited having said a swear word.

"Homey? Perfect! Just what I was aiming for."
Hwum chuckled and turned to look at the vase for a bit, though she saw it worse now in this light. Yes, she was happy with it. And she was happy it could stay where it was, Hwum liked their room feeling homey and comfortable.
Through her tremor sense Hwum felt Broen suddenly vanish and then reappear on the couch, and her head whipped to look at him with confusion, that disappeared pretty quickly when she remembered he could do that.

"Rules, yes. Rules are a good idea."
Hwum agreed, just going along with Broen for now since he seemed like he was used to this having roommates thing.
"I promise not to touch your apple juice, and make no promises about the orange juice. Although I should ask you to either tell me where in the fridge they are, or put a piece of tape on the apple juice so I don't even accidentally drink it. Because I won't probably be able to see it, since the fridge has lights."
Hwum explained, and gestured to the fridge briefly.
"Well, I hadn't even thought about my rules. I'm nocturnal, so I sleep during the afternoon. But don't worry about loud noises, my room was sound proofed with that in mind. And I suppose please don't leave any objects on the ground that would be easy for me to trip on, in case I can't see."
Those were pretty much what Hwum needed.
"But feel free to just chat with me, I'm known for being decent company. I just love a good conversation. And I must warn you, I'm quite friendly."
Hwum grinned a bit, she was teasing Broen a little bit since he seemed like he could be kinda grouchy. Naturally Hwum wasn't going to force her company on Broen, he did say not to fuck with him and Hwum intended to respect that.

Broen was strange. He said mean things about himself while at the same time exhibiting kindness and thoughtfulness behind those said words, and his actions. Hwum was often called clueless, and she was somehow aware that she indeed was, but no matter how much Broen said he was not nice or an asshole Hwum couldn't see it so one-sidedly.
"Warning received. I will make my own judgement according to my own observations."
Hwum said with a smile, indirectly insinuating that she didn't really care what other people said about Broen.

Broen went on, explaining how he operated, and Hwum nodded along, not really feeling the need to comment. She would keep all these things in mind, and not put any of her own possible drink cartons at the back of the fridge so she didn't even accidentally drink Broen's juice.

Yet again Broen said he wasn't nice, and in the same sentence said he'd help Hwum if she had any trouble. It almost made Hwum chuckle, but she imagined that might offend Broen. So she simply kept a smile on her face and nodded once.
"Understood. Thank you for being so nice, Broen."
Hwum had said those words without realizing that they pretty much went against what Broen had just said, and she only realized it few moments after. And that did make her laugh just a bit, and Hwum covered her mouth as she giggled.
"I'm so sorry, I'm not laughing at you, it's just, I just said you were nice, and you said you weren't, I didn't even realize..."
Yes, Hwum was easy to amuse, that much was clear. She took a few more moments to stop giggling and then she answered more properly.
"I will do my utmost best to remain in good ties with our dorm neighbours so you don't have to worry about me."
Hwum finally said, still with a smile on her face.