video/action:

[charring]

[It's Charlie, frowning at pretty much the world. It's not her typical frown, this one seems a bit more confused and hurt than her usual scowl. And it's not accidental video for once. She speaks, her tone calm but exasperated. And an underlying hint of anxiousness.]

This is ridiculous. I have work to do. I can't serve people tea if I can't get within five feet of them before something knocks them over. [She goes quiet, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose before running her fingers through her hair.]

Toph and anyone else working the tea shop, apparently I have several feet of semi-invisible and completely impenetrable bubble or something around me. I don't think it'd be wise for me to come in. I keep knocking people over. I'd apologize, but this is a curse. It'll be over by midnight and I'll work a double tomorrow.

[And the feed shuts off, but not before Charlie scoffs, shakes her head and mutters 'ridiculous'.]

Comments

[ Action ]

[latenightfondue]

[ It's a wonder that Howard makes it to the apartment door without injury, eyes glued to the device in one hand, which he's now tucking away into his jacket, and two coffee cups in a cardboard carrier in the other.

He knocks on the door, not as confident as he had been moments ago before seeing the distress in her feed. ]

[ Action ]

[charring]

[Charlie can't exactly open the door, for fear of knocking whoever it is over so she takes a peek out of the peephole and smiles slightly. She unlocks it and then takes a few steps back.] It's open, Howard.

[latenightfondue]

[ He feels a gentle push backwards, as if an invisible force is working its magic, and he thought he'd imagined it whilst handing over money at the coffee shop on the way over.

He helps himself, steps inside and knocks the door closed. ] I can't stop long, but I figured y'could do with coffee and a shoulder.

[charring]

[She's silently thanking God she cleaned yesterday. And her cats are watching Howard from a nearby cat tower, Petrichor with a little more fascination than the older cat.]

Coffee, absolutely. And I could definitely use a shoulder, though I think in this case it's entirely figurative. Apparently, the best way to hand each other things is if it's set down so I can pick it up.

[latenightfondue]

Yeah, I'm figuring that out the hard way. The broad in line before me? Well, she ain't having a good start to the day.

[ He grabs one of the cups and puts it down, stepping aside, and shaking free the other to take a sip. ]

[charring]

[When Charlie's sure Howard's safe enough distance away, Charlie gets her coffee, taking a sip of it as it is. It seems like a black coffee kind of day. She makes her way over to the couch, sitting on it. Petrichor hops out of the cat tower, heading over to just watch the two.]

How are ya, Howard? Recovering from the desert okay?

[latenightfondue]

[ He shuffles over to the couch, but doesn't sit, happy enough to stand and watch the cat watching them. He's a secret animal lover, they don't expect things he can't offer. ]

Still got a bit the old sunburn, but it'll shake. Y'doing okay, Lena?

[charring]

Mostly sunburn free. I was hoping for a nice tan after but, nope. Back to being pale. [She smiles slightly, taking another sip.] This is a very weird curse.

[latenightfondue]

Y'look beautiful as you are, darlin', you don't need no tan getting in the way'a that. [ He winks before taking a mouthful of coffee. ] Ain't it just. Apparently everyone's got a different size one'a these bubbles.

[charring]

Thank you, Howard. Do you have a bubble or did you luck out?

[latenightfondue]

Think I got one, it's hard to tell. [ People tend to give him a wide-berth in general, he doesn't know why. ] Don't feel much different to usual, though.

So you just upset about this whole curse or is there something else bugging you, huh?

[charring]

[She hesitates, sipping her coffee and considering her phrasing carefully. She even takes a moment to watch Petrichor pouncing at nothing.] I got used to enjoying having people nearby. This doesn't seem entirely fair.

[latenightfondue]

[ He's watching the cat, too, curious about them, but as soon as his mind drops right into the gutter he looks to her with a raised eyebrow around the styrofoam cup. ] Oh. Oh. Y'having trouble in the bedroom department?

[charring]

[Charlie sputters on her coffee, eyebrows raising in shock. It takes a few seconds for her to catch her breath.] Wha...? No. Nothing at all like that. I'm not used to having people in my life for long. Just got used to having friends and people caring and all that. I wasn't talking about... that.

[latenightfondue]

Ah. [ He flashes her a sheepish grin, an apology in there somewhere, but he can't help finding her reaction amusing. ] Misunderstanding. Guess it's kinda weird to go from one extreme to the other, but these curses never last.

[charring]

[Apology accepted, Howard. Charlie grins back, still blushing and feeling a tad flustered.] I know. Midnight and the bubble will be gone. All that fun. It just sucks when it's happening.

[latenightfondue]

[ He shuffles closer to the couch, preparing to sit down, and then he remembers, frowning as he understands what she means. ] Yeah, it ain't right how these things work.

[charring]

Not really, no.

[latenightfondue]

[ Perching on the arm of the couch. ] Tell you what, soon as this thing's over we'll schedule in a hug, huh? Might do us both good.

[charring]

I'll seek you out first. See you around midnight?

[latenightfondue]

Y'got it, it's ain't like I sleep before then anyhow.

[charring]

Me, either. [Insomnia. PTSD. Fun times.] Just lemme know where to meet you. Send me a message. Okay?

[latenightfondue]

Forgot you've never been 'round to my place. [ He slides out the communications device, types out his address in a text and sends it over.

Smugly, because he loves this piece of technology and it's uses. ] There's a map in there and everything, y'can't miss me.