( → third rune ← )

[steleheart]

[ Her device is aimed at the view from the window of her new apartment, taking in the flock of birds spiraling to and fro through the sky. She keeps quiet for a moment, letting the video run before she finally speaks. ]

Either we're stuck in Snow White's twisted fantasy or the next thing you know there'll be a partridge in a pear tree sprouting out of every single crack in the sidewalk. [ As amused as she sounds, this will be the first Christmas Clary's spent absolutely alone. No mom, no Luke, no Simon. She's not sure how Shadowhunters feel about Christmas but it would have been nice to spend it with them too.

She's not a natural pessimist though, so when the feed switches to her she smiles. ] I'm kind of looking for work? I did a few stints helping out at a museum last summer, so I'm good with crowds. [ A little self-conscious now. ] I mean, okay I haven't really got a lot of experience but I'm eager to learn my hand at a trade so anything out there would be awesome.

Comments

video;

[brobeforehos]

Look at you, your first City jinxing and all.

video;

[steleheart]

[ Grinning slightly. ]

I tried being a bum but then I got super bored.

video;

[brobeforehos]

How's that been going for you?

video;

[steleheart]

Terribly.

[ Shifting to pull her leg to her chest. ] The ticking is driving me insane. I literally cannot get it out of my head.

video;

[brobeforehos]

That will happen, unfortunately. You're supposed to either play music loudly, surround yourself by people, get roommates or pets.

Myself, I just make sure to spend the most time possible out of the house.

video;

[steleheart]

So the City is pretty much anti-quiet then? [ Which, y'know, sucks. As Clary has a certain fondness for peace and quiet. Of course, since meeting Jace that really hasn't been an option. ]

What about earplugs?

[Video]

[brothertragedy]

... partridge? [That's not a Pokemon, is it?]

I should hope there won't be trees sprouting out of every crack! That would be very bad for infrastructure. The situation is bad enough without that sort of instability...

[Video]

[steleheart]

It's a bird, I think. [ She's not entirely sure what kind of bird it is though. ] Must be a Christmassy thing.

[ A pause. ] I don't think they'd do that, the deities need the City in one piece, right?

[Video]

[brothertragedy]

Ah, like a Delibird? There are these bird Pokemon who carry sacks... they're popular during this season because they deliver gifts, although, sometimes, the gifts are unpleasant jokes like flash bombs.

[He's saying this as if it's perfectly ordinary.]

... deities? Forgive me, but I have not been here very long. I have not heard about them.

[Video]

[steleheart]

Pokemon fan, huh? [ Because that has to be the reason he knows so much about them, right? He must really like the videogame. ]

Oh! They're the Gods who run this place apparently. I haven't spoken to any of them yet, but they're in charge of the curses. Has someone explained that part yet?

[1/2; Video]

[brothertragedy]

Actually, I'm a trainer. [Perfectly serious as he brings out a small red-white sphere and presses the button to unshrink it.]

[2/2; Video]

[brothertragedy]

[Wait, what...?!

It's clear from his momentary look of shock that no, nobody has explained that part to him yet!]

I would be very grateful if you could tell me about them. [The shock's very quickly replaced with a look of quiet anger. Poor guy, he probably thinks he can do something about them.]

[Video]

[steleheart]

[ Oh.

As much as she wants to ask about the Pokemon thing, she figures he needs to know about the curses more. ]

They do it quite often. People in the City start doing strange things. Like today with the birds. They're revealing people's secrets in their own voices.

video:

[charring]

How are you with food? And if you say bad, I can change that. I have a lot of openings at The Jasmine Dragon that won't even put you near food, if you prefer.

video:

[steleheart]

I'd need trained up on that front first, but I'd love to work somewhere like that.

Re: video:

[charring]

That can be arranged. Rapunzel and I train people thoroughly in a lot so we can see where a person fits best.

I'm Charlie.

video:

[steleheart]

Rapunzel? [ No way, seriously? But she's smiling either way, happy to just have found someone offering to help her out so quickly. ]

I'd love that, really. And call me Clary.

Re: video:

[charring]

Yeah. Hi, Clary. Feel free to come in any time today. I'm here setting up pie-jars and rewriting the menu for the winter months. Just come in and ask for Charlie.

video:

[steleheart]

Okay! Can I come in about half an hour? I'm still finding my way around.

[ Video ]

[bettercallit]

[ He hides it well, but he's sad to see her go, the apartment too quiet. ]

How's the new place working out?

[ Video ]

[steleheart]

It's ... [ She doesn't want to be ungrateful, that would be cruel of her. But she doesn't like it at all. Which is why she was so relieved when Mae offered her a place to stay.

Almost apologetic. ] Mae asked me to move in with her instead. I'm going to pay my rent here until the landlord can get someone new? It's just really quiet and it makes the ticking so obvious.

[ Video ]

[bettercallit]

[ He listens, nods, because he can understand that, can sympathise. ]

She's the kid with pink hair, right? Seen her around once or twice.

[ Video ]

[steleheart]

Yeah, she seems really nice.

[ She smiles a little. ] I thought I'd be okay by myself but apparently not so much.

[ Video ]

[bettercallit]

Well, there's nothing wrong with admitting to that, and her place is bound to be where the fun's at.

[ Video ]

[steleheart]

I'll make sure to apologise to the landlord though. And I am seriously grateful for you helping me find this in the first place. I just don't think it's for me.