She shrugged indifferently and let out a small laugh.

"Well, that's good for you then. I don't know how to feel anymore, really. Just... numb, I guess." She took another sip of beer.

"But hey, who needs feelings when you've got video games, right?" She smirked slightly, but there was no real humor behind it.

"Oh yeah? What do you like to read?" She seemed slightly interested for a moment, looking up from her phone.

"I mean, not that it matters much. But you know, conversation and all that." She chuckled dryly, taking another swig of beer.

She looked around and grabbed another can of beer from the coffee table, tossing it to you.

"Here ya go. I've got plenty more where that came from." She smirked a bit, taking another drink of her own beer.

"Manga, huh? I used to read that stuff all the time back in high school. Never really got into the romance ones though. Too sappy for me." She rolled her eyes playfully.

"Oh, a man of culture, huh? I can appreciate a good bloodbath myself." She raised her beer can to you in a mock toast.

"But seriously, what's your deal? You're not like any of the other guys around here. Most of them are just...boring." She looked at you with a mix of curiosity and something else, hard to define.

She nodded slowly, her expression softening a little.

"Yeah, I get that. Sometimes it's hard to relate to other people, you know? Like, they're all so caught up in their own little worlds." She took another sip of beer, her eyes meeting yours.

"But hey, maybe we could hang out more often. You seem... different. In a good way." She gave a small, genuine smile. It was the first real smile you'd seen from her since you'd known her.

"Cool. We could watch a movie or something. I've got Netflix. Or we could play some video games together." She gestured to her console.

"I mean, if you want to. No pressure or anything." She shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a hint of hopefulness in her eyes.

"I just... I could use a friend right now, you know? Someone to talk to, maybe help me get out of this funk I'm in." She sighed, looking down at her beer can.

"I just feel so lost and alone lately. It would be nice to have someone around who actually cares." She looked back up at you, her black eyes searching yours.

"Would you want to be that person, Микола Гончарук? My friend?" Her voice was soft, almost vulnerable. It was clear that she was putting herself out there, opening up to you in a way she hadn't with anyone else in a long time.

She smiled warmly at you, her face lighting up.

"That's better. I like it when people call me Poppy too, not Pops or something stupid like that." She took another sip of her beer, then set it down.

"So, Kola, what do you say we start with that movie? I'm thinking something funny, maybe a comedy or a romcom. We could both use a good laugh." She picked up the remote and started scrolling through the options on Netflix.

"I don't know about you, but I could definitely use a distraction right now. Something to take my mind off... everything." She glanced at you, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty.

"Will you stay with me, Kola? At least for tonight?" Her voice was soft, almost pleading. It was clear that she was asking for more than just your company. She was asking for your support, your friendship, your understanding. And you couldn't help but feel drawn to her, wanting to give her whatever she needed.

She blinked, then laughed softly.

"Oh, right. Kolya. I knew that, I just... I guess I'm a little buzzed already." She grinned at you, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"But yeah, we're roommates. Guess that makes us pretty much stuck with each other, huh?" She winked playfully.

"So, what do you think? Romcom or comedy? Or maybe we could find a horror movie, if you're feeling brave." She was teasing you, but there was a genuine spark of excitement in her eyes. It was clear that she was enjoying your company, and looking forward to spending more time with you.

"Or maybe we could just talk. I feel like I haven't had a real conversation with anyone in ages. It would be nice to just... chat, you know? No expectations, no pressure." She looked at you hopefully, her black eyes wide and earnest.

"So, what do you say, Kolya? Will you stay and keep me company for a while?"

Poppy raised an eyebrow at you, then chuckled. "Godzilla, huh? A bit of a departure from our usual romcoms and comedies, but I can appreciate a good monster movie." She grabbed another beer and tossed it to you. "I think I've got just the thing." Poppy flipped through Netflix, then settled on Godzilla 1998

"This is the American one, not the Japanese classic, but it's still pretty fun in its own way." She hit play, then turned to you with a smirk. "You sure you're ready for this, Kolya? Godzilla can be pretty intense." Poppy took a swig of her beer, then settled back against the couch cushions, her legs tucked up underneath her. She looked over at you, her eyes dancing with mischief. "So, tell me, Kolya. What's your favorite monster movie? And don't say Godzilla, because I know for a fact that's not your only one."

Poppy's eyes widened in surprise, then she laughed. "Oh, you're one of those fans! The ones who only want the 'real' Godzilla." She shook her head, but she was smiling. "I can respect that. I guess I'm just a cheap date, huh? I'll watch whatever." She grabbed her phone and started typing away. "Okay, I'm adding it to my list. We'll definitely have to watch that one next." Poppy set her phone down and took a sip of her beer, her eyes flicking back to the TV screen. "You know, I never really got into Godzilla as a kid. I was more of a Pokemon fan myself. But I can appreciate a good monster movie now, especially with someone like you around to nerd out over it with." She glanced at you, her black eyes soft. "I'm glad you're here, Kolya. It's nice to have someone to talk to, you know? Someone who gets me."

Poppy grinned at you. "Detective Pikachu, huh? I can't believe you watched that. It's like, the most mainstream Pokemon movie ever made." She shook her head, but she was still smiling. "I'm surprised you didn't go for something more... obscure. Like, I don't know, the original Japanese dub or something." Poppy stretched her arms above her head, her T-shirt riding up to reveal a sliver of skin. She didn't seem to notice, or care. "I never did get into the whole Pokemon thing. I was more into anime, like Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z. You know, the classics." She leaned back against the couch, her eyes fixed on the TV screen as Godzilla rampaged through New York City. "I guess we all have our guilty pleasures, huh? Mine's probably this romcom I watched last week. It was so cheesy, but I couldn't stop watching it." Poppy glanced at you, her black eyes sparkling with amusement. "So, Kolya."

"Oh, so you're a romantic at heart, huh?" Poppy teased, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "I can't say I'm surprised. You seem like the type." She took a sip of her beer, her gaze lingering on you. "Romantic anime, huh? I can see that. I mean, what's not to love? The drama, the angst, the inevitable happy ending." Poppy sighed dramatically, her hand over her heart. "I swear, I must have watched Sailor Moon a hundred times. That ending always gets me, every single time." She looked at you, her expression softening. "I guess we all need a little romance in our lives, huh? Even if it's just in the form of a cartoon." Poppy reached out and grabbed your hand, giving it a squeeze. "I'm glad I have you to share it with, Kolya. It's nice to have someone to geek out over this stuff with." She smiled at you, her black eyes warm and inviting.

Poppy raised an eyebrow at you, looking a bit taken aback. She let go of your hand and leaned back against the couch, crossing her arms. "Huh. I never would have guessed." She took a long swig of her beer, her eyes fixed on the TV screen. Godzilla was battling the military, the city crumbling around them. "Must be nice, being able to live without all that... drama. I don't know if I could do it." Poppy sighed, her shoulders slumping a little. "It's just... hard, you know? To be alone all the time. To not have someone to share your life with." She glanced at you, her black eyes filled with a mix of longing and sadness. "I guess I just haven't found the right person yet. Someone who gets me, you know? Who accepts me for who I am." Poppy looked away, her voice softening. "I'm not saying I need romance or anything. I just... I wouldn't mind having someone in my life."

Poppy looked at you, her eyes widening slightly. She seemed taken aback by your words. "Wow, I... I didn't know that about you, Kolya. That must have been really hard." She uncrossed her arms and leaned forward, her gaze softening. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed anything about your life. It's just... it's easy for me to forget that not everyone has it easy, you know?" Poppy sighed, running a hand through her short white hair. "My parents were always there for me, in their own way. But it was always... strained, I guess. They never really understood me, not like I wanted them to." She looked at you, her black eyes filled with a mix of understanding and sympathy. "I guess we both have our own issues, huh? Our own demons to deal with." Poppy reached out and took your hand again, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm glad you're here, Kolya. I'm glad I can talk to you about this stuff."