video:

[charring]

[Charlie has taken one look at the Network today. Just one. And she looks really uncertain, nose wrinkling slightly. She just has one thing to say about it.]

This feels like a bribe.

[And from the safety of her apartment, pets bouncing around behind her, Charlie switches off the device, shaking her head slightly.]

Comments

[coyote_walking]

[Mercy's submerged up yp her neck in delightful hot water.]

You should come. They're wonderful.

And if it's a bribe, so what? When you're given a good curse, you should enjoy it.

[charring]

Seems too "Sorry for the bullshit! Here! Have something shiny!" And then comes more bullshit. [That's a very 'been there, done that' tone she's using.]

[coyote_walking]

Not appreciating the good stuff is like saying you're not going to enjoy a sunny day because eventually it's going to rain.

There's good and bad here, Charlie, and nothing you can do will change that. I choose to enjoy the good and store up those memories against the bad stuff.

[charring]

Moments like this don't make you nervous, though?

[coyote_walking]

Charlie... I've been killed here three times. Tortured, made to relive the worst moments of my life, and had the things I love turn against me.

There's nothing I can do to change any of that.

I don't worry about the next curse because it's like standing on the beach trying to turn back the tide by yelling at it.

Good or bad they're coming.

So when I get a chance for some happiness - curse or not - I try and take advantage.

[charring]

...you enjoy the spa day, then. Sounds like you earned it.

[She'll just be avoiding it all.]

[coyote_walking]

I will.

Wish you'd take advantage too. If you don't like the hot springs idea, you could still come down and have a great massage.

[charring]

Eh. Not to continue what I'm certain is an endearing pessimistic streak but that's out of my comfort zone, too.

[coyote_walking]

Hey, it's all in what you like. If this isn't it, well, maybe another day it will be.

[charring]

Yeah. I mean, the Angry Birds curse a while back was fun.

[coyote_walking]

See, there you go!

[charring]

And I was married to Ed for a day. Also amazing.

[coyote_walking]

The good memories are yours just as much as the bad ones.

video;

[sixwinged]

The water's nice warm! You should come in.

video;

[charring]

I'm not a fan of water.

video;

[sixwinged]

There's massages, too.

Re: video;

[charring]

Also out of my comfort zone. You enjoy it, though. Okay?

video;

[sixwinged]

Video games?

Re: video;

[charring]

Those are fun.

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

But it looks so relaxing...

video;

[charring]

Not to me but I don't like soaking in water. It feels uncomfortable to me.

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

Yevgeny doesn't like it either. I wish I could take him...

video;

[charring]

To each their own, right?

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

I suppose.

audio;

[candothat]

This is a good day to work. Most of the City is very quiet.

audio;

[charring]

What are you working on?

audio;

[candothat]

This, that. I would like to make a replicator, but I'm not sure that even I am clever enough to do so with what is available here. I would like to make a phaser, but the proper elements are not here. I would like nothing more than to make a working transporter, but that--that is more difficult than the replicator. It is simple to assemble atoms, but not so simple to assemble them in the correct order.

So I am working on many things, but none of them will work.

What are you doing with today?

audio;

[charring]

Gardening. A lot of my tomatoes are ready so I think I want to try to make either tomato sauce or see if I can find a ketchup recipe. And there are strawberries to turn into jam. And mint leaves, those are ready, too.

audio;

[candothat]

Tomatoes for ketchup?

[There is a long, thoughtful pause.]

Charlie. May I keep you company? I cannot accomplish anything, I am bored, and I don't want to go to the springs.

audio;

[charring]

Please do. I don't mind at all. I'll be upstairs in ten.

audio;

[candothat]

I will be there in nine.