Rachelle Hampton

Do they? They do. They're actually really good hunters. I saw my cat eat a silverfish once.

Do they? They do. They're actually really good hunters. I saw my cat eat a silverfish once.

Yeah. Yeah. Gemma starts searching even harder for new housing. And things settle into sort of an uneasy stasis. The cat, who we've named Merlin, is a very skilled hunter and does spend his evenings killing roaches. Good! Shout out to Merlin. Shout out to Merlin. Unfortunately, Merlin is not very skilled at using his litter box. Oh, Jesus Christ. And he shits everywhere but his litter box.

Yeah. Yeah. Gemma starts searching even harder for new housing. And things settle into sort of an uneasy stasis. The cat, who we've named Merlin, is a very skilled hunter and does spend his evenings killing roaches. Good! Shout out to Merlin. Shout out to Merlin. Unfortunately, Merlin is not very skilled at using his litter box. Oh, Jesus Christ. And he shits everywhere but his litter box.

Kitchen. Shit. Couch. Shit. Shower. Shit. Stairway. Shit. Every single rug in the whole apartment. Shit.

Kitchen. Shit. Couch. Shit. Shower. Shit. Stairway. Shit. Every single rug in the whole apartment. Shit.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Gemma starts keeping her door closed at all times. Even Ruth, who was originally thrilled with Merlin in the beginning, starts to make snippy little comments in the group chat. Like, Darcy and Duncan weren't wrong that the vibes are bad. The constant bubbling of the stew on the stove starts to feel ominous.

Gemma starts keeping her door closed at all times. Even Ruth, who was originally thrilled with Merlin in the beginning, starts to make snippy little comments in the group chat. Like, Darcy and Duncan weren't wrong that the vibes are bad. The constant bubbling of the stew on the stove starts to feel ominous.

Gemma's bitching to her coworkers one day, and one of them is like, "'Have you tried talking to them?' And Gemma's like, well, yeah, kind of. Well, yeah, kind of.

Gemma's bitching to her coworkers one day, and one of them is like, "'Have you tried talking to them?' And Gemma's like, well, yeah, kind of. Well, yeah, kind of.

Gemma's co-worker is like, babe, you got to talk to them at least once, like face to face. Yeah. It seems like you think this is good advice. I think this should have happened fourscore and seven years ago. Yeah, Jim is like, well, I've tried doing everything else, so I guess I can't just talk to them. And all of her housing leads keep falling through. So one day after a shift, she like,

Gemma's co-worker is like, babe, you got to talk to them at least once, like face to face. Yeah. It seems like you think this is good advice. I think this should have happened fourscore and seven years ago. Yeah, Jim is like, well, I've tried doing everything else, so I guess I can't just talk to them. And all of her housing leads keep falling through. So one day after a shift, she like,

bucks up her courage to finally confront Darcy and Duncan about everything the roaches that even Merlin can't keep up with the stew and the piles of compostable shit that it creates Merlin's literal shit Gemma's like pumping herself up as she walks up the stairs But as she gets closer to the front door of the apartment, she can hear music playing and people laughing.

bucks up her courage to finally confront Darcy and Duncan about everything the roaches that even Merlin can't keep up with the stew and the piles of compostable shit that it creates Merlin's literal shit Gemma's like pumping herself up as she walks up the stairs But as she gets closer to the front door of the apartment, she can hear music playing and people laughing.

And when she enters the apartment, it smells like weed and incense smoke. There are five or six women in flowing linen clothes lounging around the living room. It's very clear that Darcy has company. What's also clear is that Darcy is in a very good mood. She's like, Gemma, come and have a drink. Do you have a drink?

And when she enters the apartment, it smells like weed and incense smoke. There are five or six women in flowing linen clothes lounging around the living room. It's very clear that Darcy has company. What's also clear is that Darcy is in a very good mood. She's like, Gemma, come and have a drink. Do you have a drink?

Gemma's like, I can't lie. I'm a little bit charmed. She's like, this is good, actually. We'll have a good night. We'll build the friendship. And that will help me talk to Darcy when the time is right.

Gemma's like, I can't lie. I'm a little bit charmed. She's like, this is good, actually. We'll have a good night. We'll build the friendship. And that will help me talk to Darcy when the time is right.