006 x 600 // video // forward dated to the evening

[dignity_misery]

[This is not a post from a cursed woman. Lacking clothes she may be, the line of her body outlined by a thin sheet, but the faint flush to her skin, the disarray of her hair, and the softness of her eyes can be attributed to nothing beyond satisfaction. Natural sexy.

All day she's been harassed by you ridiculous damn sexy people though, and she only has one thing to say about it,]

You are all trying too hard.

[That's all. Carry on, children.]

Comments

[cold_dry_pieces]

You get better at ignoring it, eventually.

[Not that he's ignoring it entirely. Nor is he ignoring this, hi there Carla.]

[dignity_misery]

[She purses her lips, it isn't entirely what she wants to do, but magic was something beyond her control, and this entire city was rife with it.]

It's getting there.

[She had done a great deal of harm to herself in a fit of panic over some of the previous weekend's events. It had frightened her, to lose control of herself so dramatically. She was not eager to repeat it, and if that meant learning how to ignore some of the city...

Only some of the city, however. She offers a faint smile of greeting.]

[cold_dry_pieces]

[He wouldn't have much sympathy if he knew, but does he ever? At least he's got the manners not to stare mid-conversation. Though his interest is, perhaps, of a different stripe than most. He smiles back, ever polite.]

Proof you're settling in all right.

[dignity_misery]

[She shifts, running a hand back through her hair with a pensive look.]

It's the only game running, anyway.

[Not like there was anywhere else she could go.]

[cold_dry_pieces]

All too true.

[For a moment, a slight frown curves his lips. Truth be told he's not entirely settled after last weekend.]

Can I take that to mean you're doing well?

[dignity_misery]

Half of my apartment is filling with sand, but yes.

[Better. Things were looking better than they had in a long time. She props an elbow up on the mattress, letting her cheek rest in her hand. From off camera, her roommate grumbles something about the damn sand.]

[cold_dry_pieces]

[Shame, seeing her suffer might've soothed his nerves a bit.]

That is strange. There's just been some in corners, things like that, but having a curse without that stopping... It's not normal.

[dignity_misery]

[Misery is in her skin, he may have a chance yet.]

Maybe the sand's coming from someone else.

[She doesn't sound at all committed to the idea, she doesn't know enough about how this place works to be making any assertive statements about it.]

[cold_dry_pieces]

[It's one of her most charming qualities.]

There's an awful lot of it for that. But you could be right.

Maybe the City's falling apart.

[dignity_misery]

I'm surprised it held together in the first place.

[cold_dry_pieces]

I'd make a feels like home joke, but it's too dry.

From time to time things happen-- extended curses, you could say, but they don't usually double up. So who knows.

[dignity_misery]

Your mercy is noted. [Snort.] What sort of extended 'things' have happened?

[cold_dry_pieces]

Oh... There was a rash of memory loss; some sort of parasite; flesh-hungry sheep. Looking back on the last two years I guess this sort of thing isn't so uncommon.

They're creative, at least.

[dignity_misery]

Creative is a word for it.

[It's so hard to take this place seriously.]

And you made it through without hurting yourself much?

[She means that in the way of general injuries, her own compulsions aside.]

[cold_dry_pieces]

Carnivorous or not, sheep aren't that threatening.

[It's not entirely true-- they certainly caused enough trouble-- but he'd rather enjoyed some aspects of the invasion.]

I guess I've gotten lucky so far.

[dignity_misery]

We can't all be so lucky.

[cold_dry_pieces]

You're welcome to impose on me for a cup of sand-free coffee, if you need.

[dignity_misery]

Is that revoked if I don't drink coffee? I'd settle for some water.

[cold_dry_pieces]

Even easier.

[dignity_misery]

I think you'll see me then.

[cold_dry_pieces]

Has it gotten into your pipes?

[dignity_misery]

In the kitchen. It's working on our bathroom still.

[cold_dry_pieces]

No wonder you're worried about it.

It isn't a problem, just let me know. Bring a jug if you want.

[dignity_misery]

Thanks.

[An appropriate response in this scenario, Carla thinks.]