Chapter Text
Even loves traveling, but he hates planning.
When he was with Sonja, she would do it all. Booking the flights, finding places to stay, researching the best restaurants — all of it. Even would just throw a few vague ideas out there — Let’s find some cool graffiti. What about a deserted building? I saw this picture of a café once — and Sonja would just get it. But now, Sonja is gone, Even is traveling alone, and he has to leave in five hours.
When Even got the call last night, he was thrilled. Going to Berlinale was always a dream of his, even though he was going only because everyone else on his team was busy. But the idea of even crossing paths with some of his favorite filmmakers was more than enough for him to say yes.
He booked the flight right after he hung up — luckily there weren’t too many options. But trying to find a place to stay was a different story. Even always preferred staying in Airbnbs over hotels. Hotels were just too pristine — the sheets too crisp, the duvet too white.
Airbnbs felt lived in. He loved going through the drawers, closets, and shelves, trying to piece together a narrative of the people who live there. When he and Sonja went to Budapest, they stayed in the apartment of a university professor who was on summer vacation. Even almost didn’t want to go out — he was too busy exploring the world of dusty board game boxes and tattered cookbooks.
He couldn’t believe the options in Berlin. Lofts, tiny homes, boats?! He got distracted and filtered by places way out of his price range, instead choosing to look at the most luxurious places. When more than an hour passed and he started to get stressed over the options, he told himself they’ll still be there in the morning. So he went to bed.
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He dreamt of tiled bathrooms and light-filled living rooms and woke up in a panic. He only has a few hours before he has to leave for the airport, so he has to book something and book it fast.
So he frantically started clicking through and saving a bunch of places that looked decent, fit his price range, and were in areas he heard were good. But when he went back and saw the more than twenty places he bookmarked in a frenzy, he groaned and turned his music up. He’ll pack first to clear his head, then just pick something.
The new Sigrid song blasts on repeat from his speaker, and he sashays and flips his hair as he goes back and forth from his closet to the open suitcase on his bedroom floor, haphazardly folding his sweaters to fit like Tetris blocks.
Once he’s satisfied and has checked off everything on his packing list in his Notes app, he sighs deeply and opens his laptop again to the Airbnb page. He chooses one in Kreuzberg that’s described as “central, cozy, & airy” — some of his favorite things. This one had shelves and shelves of books, a guitar hanging on the wall, and in the navy tiled bathroom, there was a marble bust statue sitting proudly above the toilet.
Maybe he should love minimalism because he’s Scandinavian and all, but there was something so off-putting about all the apartments with all white furniture and two or three perfectly placed monochrome paintings. He decided to go for one where he gets the entire apartment to himself, so for the next ten days, he’s not sure how much he’ll talk to anyone else.
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With everything finally booked, Even finds a window seat on the train, plugs in his headphones, and settles in for the ride. But when he unlocks his phone to put on music, he has a new email.
Subject: Let your home pay for your trip
Earn 12,990 NOK toward your upcoming trip
As you pack your bags for Berlin, a traveler is packing for their trip to Oslo. Why not let their trip pay for yours? Enjoy the financial perks of hosting, and travel knowing your empty space is earning money while you’re away.
Interesting , Even thinks. He’s just an assistant at his company and while he makes enough to pay for a one bedroom apartment close to his office, he could use the extra spending money. Plus, his place is clean and he lives alone. He likes to think it looks cool enough. Wanting to build a home now that he was living on his own for the first time, he put care into actually framing his posters and art. He made sure his plants stayed alive. Some of his furniture was actually from real furniture stores and not just IKEA.
To: Mikael
[image attached]
I’ll give you 10% if you use your spare spare key to prepare the place, take pictures, and give your key to the guest.
15 and I’m in
O kay okay. Thank you!!! 🐬🍄🌟🍃
When Even lands in Berlin and turns his phone on again, he has 15 new photos from Mikael of his apartment. Wow, Mikael really went for it , he thinks. While he left the place pretty organized, it’s now spotless. Mikael also put away some of Even’s less attractive knickknacks (he still thinks hanging his lightsaber is awesome, but he gets why Mikael hid it) and hung up some of the art pieces Even hadn’t yet found a place for. I can actually do this , Even thought to himself, so he uploaded Mikael’s photos to the app and started writing a description.
Cozy apartment in exciting Grünerløkka
Stay in Grünerløkka, the best part of Oslo, right next to some of the city’s best cafés, restaurants, and shops!
It’s walking distance to many of the city’s best attractions and there’s a tram stop right outside the apartment that will take you to the city centre in less than 10 minutes.
My cozy one bedroom apartment has a queen size bed and a full kitchen that you can use. There’s also a sunny balcony with great views of the city.
With a large flat screen TV and access to Netflix and HBO, it’s perfect for movie lovers, who can also choose from hundreds of movies in my collection, ranging from Pretty Woman to J'ai Tué Ma Mère. I also have a record player and a wireless sound system that you’re welcome to use.