002 ✎ video l a clock is ticking, but it's hidden far away

[rehashing]

[ It's fitting. Elena has lost pretty much every parental figure in her life. Now, she's lost Alaric literally after almost losing Alaric - well, literally. She can play that night in her head like a movie. It's the first morning where she has to remind only herself to wake up and keep breathing. She doesn't have Jeremy to motivate - hell, he's in Denver. Jenna's gone in more ways than one. She's utterly alone.

But, she's Elena Gilbert.

She doesn't give up and she doesn't spend all day in bed. This is the equivalent of a break-up in some ways. What Stefan's done before Elena ended up here for most people is unforgivable. But, Elena is not most people.

Elena deals. She moves on. She perseveres.

But there's one thing that she hasn't dealt with before. This incessant ticking she can't shake. At first it was dull, soft. She thought she was making it up. It isn't like she's never been in a house alone before. But, it's been three days and that hasn't changed. Couple it with the rousing war that went on? She's a little shaken up. But, she's making a real attempt at hiding this. ]

Do people here... hear ticking? It's getting worse and if it's a curse I want to know how long I have to wait before it ends.

[ It's... incessant. ]

Those Daleks were dangerous. I'd ask if that happens often but... [ She knows the answer. ]

Is there a school here? Or a - college? [ She'd like to not lose out on her senior year of high school. ] Classes I could sign up for?

[ Maybe asking for a job is pushing it. She's only been here for a weekend. And Daleks attacked the day before. So, she keeps back that part of her post for now. But, then she glances at her refrigerator. ]

There are jobs here, right? I should start making money if I want to eat or keep this apartment... I know everything just happened, so I'm not... asking to be hired right away or even this week. But, I'm putting my interest out there.

Comments

( video. )

[feigns]

Company helps with the ticking, generally speaking; the deities, or whatever they are, seem to wish us to be social creatures.

( video. )

[rehashing]

Are you saying that the ticking is getting worse because I'm alone right now?

( video. )

[feigns]

Essentially. The City is rather delightful like that.

( video. )

[rehashing]

... I have to be around people 24/7?

voice only;

[skintoskin]

[He sounds tired...]

Yeah, I can hear it. It's driving me fuckin' crazy... And yeah, Daleks... Apparently not unusual for shit to happen around here, but...

[He sighs.]

I need a job, too, I guess. I can't stay at the Welcome Center forever. They're giving me the hairy eyeball...

voice only;

[rehashing]

[ Who can sleep with the Daleks running around? ]

Someone just told me it's because deities want us to be social. Yeah, curses.

The... hairy eyeball?

voice only;

[skintoskin]

[My guess would be... nobody?]

Yeah? Seriously? That's fucked up...

[He sighs.]

Yeah, you know... The hairy eyeball. That look that says I should probably be going now.

[Video]

[eagleofautozam]

That is a lot of questions, you must have only recently arrived?

I'm sorry one of your first experiences here was those Dalek creatures. Really, invasions of that nature are actually fairly rare.

[Video]

[rehashing]

[ She really only meant to ask one thing. Then other questions came up. ]

On Friday.

[ Whatever. She's alright. She lived through it. ]

I survived.

[Video]

[eagleofautozam]

That you survived is the important part.

Now, what kind of job were you looking for? Anything specific? There are always job openings in this City.

[dudeimbatman]

Yeah, there are jobs here. There's a school too if you want to go. You ought to be able to get one making coffee or waistressing. That sort of thing.

[rehashing]

Morning, Dean.

[ She's never waitressed before but Jeremy has. She's... never really had the time for a job. First, her social schedule sophomore year - and then her life just... exploded. Waitresses sounds blissfully normal right now. She also makes good coffee. ]

Okay. [ So, there's a school. Good to know her nearly finished high school education hasn't gone to waste. ] Do you think everyone might be cleaning up from the Dalek attack today?

[dudeimbatman]

Probably. They did a lot of damage. [He would hire her at the police station but he doesn't think she's probably qualified for much of what they do there.]

You settling in all right?

[whattingawhat]

You need a pet or a room mate. It'll help.

And yes to the jobs thing but someone's probably already told you that.

[rehashing]

So I've been told. You don't think they give pets away for free, do you? [ Living with a complete stranger. Not the keenest on that idea. ]

They have. But, there's no such thing as too much information. [ She does like to get all the facts. The whole picture. ]

[whattingawhat]

There's an animal shelter. I think they give them away to good homes. [Buffy understands. She has done some living with complete strangers and it turned out okay but she's happy with the housemates she's got now.]

Just don't go attack the clock. It doesn't appreciate it.

[deadly_legacy]

You'll get an allowance from The City if you are under eighteen, but you're right that you'll want a job otherwise.

Also, even with everything... Well, people here are rather used to picking up the pieces after a curse. [We have to do it all the time.]

[rehashing]

[ Missed it by... that much. ]

I'm eighteen.

I've... heard that. Another one is coming in a few days?

[deadly_legacy]

[Euphie nods.]

Another curse? It's very likely. We never go too long without them, but some are less disruptive than others. And individuals aren't cursed every time. At least I've never heard of someone who was.

[stopbleepingme]

Ticking doesn't stop -- it's a little metronomey if you ask me.

[ RECOGNIZE SOMEBODY, ELENA? ]

Eri, you're horrible. But, I love you.

[rehashing]

[ SHE - WAIT - SHE DOES RECOGNIZE YOU. SHE... SAW YOU DIE. YOU DIED. YOU WERE DEAD.

But the dead come back. So, her momentary wide-eyes lessen. ]

Unless I get a roommate or a pet.

what? how am i horrible? what even

[stopbleepingme]

True, but there are always moments of alone time, you know. Ruined my favorite Sugababes song the other day.

[ She will proceed to sing, now. Badly. ]

video;

[mrbackwards]

Were you going to school back home?

video;

[rehashing]

[ Without focusing on it, yes, she was. But she had a lot more to worry about. Hey bro. ]

I was in my senior year of high school.

video;

[mrbackwards]

[ Pft. School problems are petty problems, who focuses on them anymore? Sup, gurl? ]

Supposed to be the best year, yeah?