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

[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.