Still working on expanding the world here. I'm mostly improvising, but some things are thought through. For those of you strictly opposed to it, please don't worry as I don't intend to have any love triangles here. However, stories do tend to write themselves at times so I make no promises!

Enjoy!

The one day of the week where the sun was supposed to be out, Mira and Ashley were going out for a walk when they noticed a moving van pulling into their street. They continued on their way to enjoy a walk and get some boba tea on their route.

They lived in a neighborhood in Brooklyn, east of the Brooklyn Bridge. It was a simple street with apartments of various sizes and heights as they were on the cusp of the city where large and small species try to coexist.

The roads, vehicles, and public transportation were all updated to suit the various races, and construction was still ongoing to update streets and living spaces to Earth's new diverse population. As new races sought to make peace with Earth and join the intergalactic alliance brought forth by the Utroms, new technology brought about solutions that would be easily implimented if not for the most stubborn of humans in New York.

"I can't believe how crowded it's gotten," Ashley huffed after pushing her way out of a crowd, boba in hand. "I didn't think they could fit anymore Alliance-ers in these bouroughs."

Mira simply shrugged as they continued past some new food vendors on the street. "I mean it makes sense with all the new apartments they're building around here."

"Did you hear they're planning on making atmospheric zones for outerspace refugees and emergency placements? Pretty soon we'll have to get those apparatus devices or whatever they're called," Ashley said as they stood at a crosswalk.

Mira thought for a moment as she spied one of the apparatuses her friend was talking about on a stranger across the way. They were short and had purple skin with a strange texture she hadn't seen before.

"Do you ever wonder what it's like living on another planet?" Mira asked as they crossed at the light.

"I guess they have to wear apparatuses too," Ashley said thoughtfully. "I don't know how anyone gets off the planet at all, though. I'd die if I ever stepped foot into a live rocket or spacecraft."

"Not the flying type, huh?" Mira asked with a grin.

Ashley took a sip of her tea as they entered their neighborhood again. "Nah, I like living."

Ahead, coming out of the very apartment they lived in, was a turtle-like person who appeared vaguely familiar to Mira. Of course, she couldn't completely forget someone like that. She was hoping he wouldn't notice her as they approached, and planned on just going in without a word, but of course it didn't work out that way.

Ashley, typically introverted and not one for socializing, had a knack for getting the urge to speak to someone when it was the least convenient for Mira. Raphael had looked at them right when Ashley looked at him, and she just had to greet their new neighbor to the building.

Mira stayed silent, hoping her name wouldn't come up, and made it clear to her friend through her body language that she wanted to leave.

"Yeah, I'm on the 4th floor. It's nice to meet you," he said, before going into the truck parked outside to grab another item.

"Don't let him fool you, ladies, he's as dumb as he looks," another turtle said as he exited the building.

Raph hit him upside the head as he walked by with another box, and Ashley and Mira followed him inside. "Ignore Mikey, he's only got one mode: annoying."

He seemed to pay them no mind as he continued up to the fourth floor. Mikey was suddenly behind them, carrying a single lamp. "It's nice to know there's at least a few good-looking people around here to balance out your ugly," he joked as he walked behind Mira and Ashley.

The girls stayed quiet as they arrived at the 3rd floor. "Well we'll see ya around," Ashley said with a wave before they started off.

"See ya!" Mikey replied before heading back up the stairs.

"You were awful quiet," Ashley said once they were in their apartment again.

"I know that guy," Mira said, sounding almost upset. "We used to go to school together."

"Wait, you went to school with him? Which one?" Ashley sat down to hear the story.

It was apparent Mira didn't want to share. "Well, you remember all those times I told you I'd get into fights at school? Most of those fights were with him. Raphael. He's such a jerk. At least he didn't recognize me I guess."

"Well he seemed a little grumpy but I think it's cuz Mikey was talkin shit. I mean you remember when we moved in here and the stress got to me pretty easily right? It's possible he's not a jerk anymore, maybe he'll recognize you once he's settled in."

Mira scoffed as she drank her tea and opened her computer. "I hope not."

How am I doing so far? Let me know please, and tell me what you wanna see more of! I promise I'll get back to non-human characters soon. ;D