( → Second Rune ← )

[steleheart]

[ Clary's giggle is really the first thing that comes through. Then the feed twists to show the cow currently trying to chew on the hem of her dress. ] C'mon, you're very cute but I need this dress.

[ New York doesn't have that many cows but Luke's farm had a couple of cute ones when she was younger, so Clary just climbs up the stairs of the fire escape and sits down, the feed still focusing on the cow. ] I had a few questions about the City, but I'm not sure I factored in Invasion of the Cows. Is there a farm nearby? [ Because Clary's still of the naive mindframe where that's the only logical solution. ] Should I try to lure Daisy back?

Comments

[ Video ]

[bettercallit]

And here I was worried you wouldn't make any new friends. [ He's smiling, but that's because the cow is actually kind of cute. ] If you can fit her in the elevator, she can come stay here.

[ Video ]

[steleheart]

[ Laughing. ]

I'm not sure you can keep a cow in the apartment, but okay. [ Daisy snuffles at the bottom of the fire escape while Clary watches her. ] It's kind of making it hard to get on with my to do list though. They're everywhere.

[ Video ]

[bettercallit]

What the landlord doesn't know can't hurt him.

[ He's sprawled out on the sofa, device held steady above him. ] Give it until midnight and it'll be like they were never here. What's on the to-do list?

[ Video ]

[steleheart]

Job, apartment, earplugs for the ticking. [ Inspecting the teeth marks in her skirt. ] A sewing kit, maybe.

[ Video ]

[bettercallit]

Not sure about the sewing kit, but I can help out with the other stuff.

[ Video ]

[steleheart]

Yeah?

[ Because Clary has no idea where to start or what to do about her life here. She's pretty much flying blind. ]

[ Video ]

[bettercallit]

Sure. Getting an apartment shouldn't be a problem, there's some empty ones in the building. [ Not that she has to move into the same building, but if she's close it's better for him to keep an eye on her. ] And if you've got a couple of strengths, we could figure out a job.

[ Video ]

[steleheart]

Oh.

I didn't have to leave the apartment, I could have saved being accosted by animals and just asked you.

[ Video ]

[bettercallit]

Daisy is kinda getting touchy-feely.

[ The image shakes as he pushes up off the couch. ] You want me to grab some keys, let you look around?

[ Video ]

[steleheart]

Are we allowed to? [ Because she believes people when they tell her she's stuck here, she might as well settle until she can go home again.

( Back home to the people she misses like a burn in her throat. ) ]

[ Video ]

[bettercallit]

Depends if I ask or help myself.

[ Video ]

[steleheart]

[ Under her breath. ] You'd get on with Jace so well.

[ Then eyeing the cow up more. ] If I climb up the fire escape can you let me in that way? I don't want her trying to eat my clothes again.

[bettercallit]

You'll have to tell me all about him.

[ The feed cuts off and moments later the fire door is propped open with Clint grinning down. ] Need a leg up or can you manage?

[steleheart]

[ One of these days she's going to be as agile as Jace is, or Izzy, one of these days she'll learn how to be a proper shadowhunter. As it is, she just clambours up the fire escape with a grin and waves back down at her new friend before stepping inside. ]

Thanks.

[bettercallit]

She's missing you already.

[ He leans against the wall, making room for her as she steps up. ] You got any talents?

[steleheart]

What --?

[ Oh wait, jobs. ] Um, not really? I can draw, that's it.

[bettercallit]

Yeah? You should meet Rogers if you haven't already. And there's bound to be something you can do with it around here somewhere.

[steleheart]

I'm not very good with it. [ Curiously. ] Who's Rogers?

[bettercallit]

Show me something and I'll get back to you on that. [ Gesturing. ] Tall, bulky guy, kinda cute, nice ass. Goes by Steve.

[steleheart]

I'll look out for him.

[ Except she might need more than kinda cute and nice ass. ]

[bettercallit]

Blond, floppy hair. Can't miss him. If he speaks like he's out of a forties movie? It's 'cause he kinda is.

[steleheart]

Oh. Like the time thing people keep telling me about. [ A pause. ] The poor guy - this place must be even weirder for him.

[bettercallit]

He had some experience with waking up in the future between being here. [ He shrugs. ] Guess it must be a culture shock if nothing else.

[steleheart]

Does he know how to work the device?

[bettercallit]

Appears to. His buddy still has accidents with the thing, but we all have our off days.

[steleheart]

Even though they look like normal cell phones, I kinda don't understand all of the functions.

[bettercallit]

Need help figuring it out? [ He absently touches his own poking out from his pocket. ] Took me a while to work it out, but it's second nature once you get the hang of it.

[steleheart]

Maybe after we've looked at the apartments? [ Curious tilt to her head. ] Did they let you have the key?

[bettercallit]

[ He lifts a hand up between them, keys jangling. ] Ready to go?

[steleheart]

Yeah.

[ Smiling. ] So the building's nice, right?

[bettercallit]

No rodents, roof's not caving, people aren't half bad. Been in worse.

[ Nudging her, Clint leads the way through the apartment and out the door, heading for the stairs at the end to take them down a floor. ]

[steleheart]

Well, it sounds reasonable. What's the rent like?

[bettercallit]

Reasonable. Free. Some places further out'll cost, but these? Nothing.

[steleheart]

Wow. That's kind of impressive.

[bettercallit]

Got to give it to the deities, they know how to keep their victims happy.

[steleheart]

Stockholm Syndrome, right?

[bettercallit]

It's one way of putting it.

[steleheart]

I'll try to watch out for that.

[bettercallit]

Well, you've got your own place and someone to share it with. You'll be okay. And if you ever need anything? You know where to find me.

voice;

[maoser]

I don't think there's any farm with this many cattle.

voice;

[steleheart]

I'm just trying to figure out where they could have all come from.

voice;

[maoser]

You should ask the deities that.

voice;

[steleheart]

I thought we were supposed to avoid them.

voice;

[maoser]

Who told you that?

voice;

[steleheart]

Well, everyone seems to think they're pretty awful so I assumed.

voice;

[maoser]

You shouldn't make assumptions. [Life advice, kid. Take it or leave it as you please.]

The deities are powerful, and that makes them dangerous. Beyond that, it's your decision.

voice;

[steleheart]

I'll bear that in mind then.

voice;

[maoser]

[Mao doesn't respond. That's the extent of the free advice he's willing to give a stranger.]