He imagined most ten-year-olds considered being home alone a paradise. The sought-after dream. No adults to stop you from playing video games or Tepigging out on junk food.

All those kids were idiots.

See, they all forgot about the alone part of things. Once you realized and saw the empty rooms, endured the silence, you'd know the truth.

That it was crushing.

Roman's sitting on the bed petting Po when jayden cross knocked. The canine's ears twitch, but after a week together, he recognized the man's scent.

"You're supposed to wait until someone says come in to open the door."

The bedroom is bland, housing only the necessities to classify as a bedroom. Dresser, bed, and a closet. The bed is at least a queen-size, impressive but far too big for someone of Roman's size. It felt and looked as though he sat in the middle of an island.

"I'm just petting, Po."

Roman frowned.

"Did you need something?"

Where did Jayden go when he disappeared? The man always came back, but it was strange, and he hated it. Reminded him of his mother.

The one he'd run away from.

jayden cross

[attr="class","jayden"] if it hasn't been obvious already, jayden is not all that familiar with having roommates.

[break][break] 'you're supposed to wait until someone says come in to open the door.'

[break][break] shades of violet-blue shutter as he blinks, slowly. "oh, okay."

[break][break] his gaze follows the path of the room, mostly empty with the exception of a few things. it's only been a week yet it feels like a lifetime that he's let someone live with him. he wonders, briefly, what father would say. he snips the thought as quickly as it comes, however.

[break][break] instead, he decides to focus on the state of the room. while jayden was more than happy to let his house lay bare - as should've been obvious from the minimalist style of the place - he was told that not everyone felt that way. sometimes people liked something to make them feel like home.

[break][break] yahoo answers was sometimes surprisingly helpful.

[break][break] "yes," he says quickly at the other's answer, blinking. jayden stands at the alcove of the doorway, because roman had not allowed him to step into his room yet. of course, jayden could've easily broken entryway — but at least for now, it was no trouble to respect the other's space. "do you have some time?" his head tilts.

[attr="class","noodles"] Roman Maher

[attr="class","rules"]+ idle chitchatter

[attr="class","pkmns"]

He cast an exaggerated, almost sarcastic gaze along the width of the room. Empty of anything remotely entertaining for child to do. The answer to Jayden's question should be obvious.

All Roman had was time. Time to think, to question himself and the choice he'd made. Regret rarely an answer that came when he did.

"Yeah, why?"

Emerald greens focused on the man. The sharp edge that often lined them dulled. Despite his unexplained disappearances for long lengths of time, Roman found Jayden's presence to be oddly comforting. Warming, almost, as if he filled a vacant space carved by boruta maher's absence.

"Did you wanna go somewhere?"

Excitment is hard for him to hide.

jayden cross