( accidental video // voice )

[likeboudica]

[ —the video turns on. Tessa's curled in a chair, book in her lap and the angle of it, the way her knees are drawn to her chest, protects most of her modesty. She's still, unmistakably, naked.

Gaze flickering to the device for just a moment and then again, longer, when she notices it's on. A second later, there's a hand filling the screen and the video shuts off. The voice function continues a moment longer: ]

I think that I will be staying inside today.

Comments

[misterblackbird]

I think that might be rather wise, Miss Gray.

[likeboudica]

I don't understand this curse. The least I can do [ anyone can do, really, and she hopes most people will, but looking at the network, that isn't the case ] is mitigate its effects.

[misterblackbird]

I understand it well enough--it seems quite simple, really--though I am glad I am not being made to participate. And, as best I can, I am avoiding it too.

[likeboudica]

I do not want this and yet I cannot bring myself to— [ put on clothes. ]

That is what I do not understand.

[misterblackbird]

I see.

Well, it is a curse. They do tend to take one's will away.

[likeboudica]

[ Sighing. ]

Yes, you are likely right in that. I should perhaps not think too much of it.

[misterblackbird]

No one will think the less of you after this is over, I feel sure. It is a curse.

[likeboudica]

Thank you— I do hope that holds true. [ She may think less of herself, but she'll try not to. ]

[voice]

[claimyourself]

I think most people should, yeah. Today's been weird.

[voice]

[likeboudica]

It has been, indeed. [ At least she isn't the only one who thinks so. ]

[voice]

[claimyourself]

I'm not into exhibitionism, so I'm glad this curse hasn't made me into one. Trying to sit on my leather couch with no clothes on is bad enough.

[voice]

[likeboudica]

Exhibitioni—

I do not think that I would want to know what that terms means.

[voice]

[claimyourself]

[There's laughter in her voice as she answers.]

Probably not. I'm Lena, by the way.

[voice]

[likeboudica]

Theresa Gray, or you could call me Tessa. It is nice to meet you, Lena. [ Though perhaps not under these circumstances. ]

[voice]

[claimyourself]

Nice to meet you too. I uh, only got a quick look at your face, but I'm guessing we might be close to the same age? I'm seventeen.

[voice]

[likeboudica]

I am sixteen.

[voice]

[claimyourself]

[Yay for teenagers!]

Yeah? Cool.

[voice]

[likeboudica]

Have you been here long?

[voice]

[claimyourself]

A little over a month, which is too long if you ask me. What about you?

[voice]

[likeboudica]

Over a year, now.

[voice]

[claimyourself]

Wow. That must be really tough.

[And Lena hopes she's not in for a year or more long stay.]

[voice]

[likeboudica]

I prefer it to my world.

[voice]

[claimyourself]

Oh. [What do you say to that?] Then I guess you lucked out.

[text]

[othersdie]

I remember talking to you the last time something like this happened. Sorry you're affected this time.

[text]

[likeboudica]

[ It's a good thing that this is text so that he cannot see how mortified she is that this was on the network. ]

I prefered last time when I was not, by far.

[text]

[othersdie]

So did I. Some days I wonder if the deities are trying to torture us or just humiliate us.

[text]

[likeboudica]

Humiliate, perhaps. For the most part, I do not think that the City is quite bad enough to constitute torture.

[text]

[othersdie]

Not usually.

[text]

[likeboudica]

At times, though, I would agree.