accidental video/action for the house:

[charring]

[See Gwaine the puppy. See Gwaine the puppy bark and snap at the device, growling playfully.

See Gwaine grab the device in his puppy teeth and run. Charlie's voice comes through a minute later and there's a very shaky upside down image of her feet running after the dog.]

Gwaine! Gwaine, no! Drop it!

[Nope! Gwaine keeps running, sliding on too big paws and practically falling over himself. Charlie catches up eventually, picking the puppy up and removing her device. She doesn't know it's on so, puppy under her arms and device in her hand (now showing everything upside down) she speaks.]

Dog. What the heck was that? I already jogged today.

[And since she can't go a curse weekend without some weirdness, she calls out to one of the people in the house.]

Ken, have you seen your father? Can you tell him it's almost lunch time? And tell your uncle, too!

[...for fucks sake, City. The device switches off eventually to the image of Gwaine's wiggly, flailing feet and desperate attempts to lick Charlie's face. ]


[ooc: charlie is cursed with family day! she thinks ken is actually her and merlin's son. and merlin and ken are in the same boat. uncle arthur isn't related, she just calls him that because apparently mom!charlie is more open about what she thinks of people for the sake of her boy.]

Comments

[voice, as apparently Charles has decided to just use this as a very small phone indefinitely]

[unwheeled]

[ Laughing.] You might want to wash that off, now.

[voice]

[charring]

Oh, yeah. It's all gross now. Also, Hi. You must be new. Your voice isn't all that familiar.

[voice]

[unwheeled]

I am! Though I don't seem to be new in the way a few people are 'new'. [Meaning, of course, people who wake up in apartments belong to their past/future/altered selves.] Fresh off the boat, as it were. How long have you lived here?

[voice]

[charring]

For over a year. It's quite exciting here. And occasionally harrowing. We had Zombies a few weeks back. And they're apparently still here, rebuilding something somewhere.

[She didn't pay attention to where. She's just glad she doesn't see any more of them.]

I'm Charlie.

[voice]

[unwheeled]

I'm sorry, did I hear you correctly? Zombies? As in shambling rotting undead?

Wouldn't the entire City smell like rotten flesh after that?

[Charles...what is this topic of conversation?]

It's very nice to meet you Charlie, I am Charles. We have a name in common, it would seem.

[voice]

[charring]

Zombies. Yeah. With an added twist. Some of them looked like people we knew and could only be killed off by specific people.

[It's a typical conversation in the City, Charles.

And speaking of his name, that gets a grin out of Charlie.]

Oh, that's cool. Hello. It's definitely a pleasure to meet you.

[voice]

[unwheeled]

[There is a long pause; a very long, rather confused pause.]

I am so fortunate to have missed every single aspect of that point in time, and so thankful, you have no idea.

A pleasure to meet you as well! I'm still getting my bearings, admittedly.

Re: [voice]

[charring]

If you're here long enough, something just as crazy might happen again.

How long have you been here?

[voice]

[unwheeled]

Hopefully...not, to be perfectly honest. I have absolutely no interest in engaging with the dead.

Though I do realize that may or may not be assuring myself that I'll have to deal with something equally ludicrous before the month is out.

A few hours, really! Long enough to find housing, clothing, and explore a bit.

Re: [voice]

[charring]

You're doing better than most. A lot of people panic and freak out. I know I did.

[voice]

[unwheeled]

Panicked is one of my least favorite modes of being; I avoid it whenever possible and it's easier to engage others when cooler heads prevail. But thank you for the compliment! [You can hear the smile in his voice.]

At some point, if you don't mind, I would appreciate the chance to talk to you more about this place and it's various predicaments. Whenever is best for you, I'm in no rush.

Re: [voice]

[charring]

Absolutely. Sure. I work at The Jasmine Dragon most days, but feel free to catch me there. I'm the redhead who is usually working the sandwich press.

[voice]

[unwheeled]

Charlie is the redhead who usually works the sandwich press; I won't forget. The Jasmine Dragon wouldn't happen to sell tea, would it?

Re: [voice]

[charring]

It does. It's a teashop. We've expanded a bit over the past few months.

[voice]

[unwheeled]

Wonderful! Then we will definitely have the opportunity to meet in person. Do you work tomorrow, or Monday?

Re: [voice]

[charring]

Monday. Bright and early. [Blah blah texting Charles' the hours and location.]

Did that go through?

[voice]

[unwheeled]

Yes, it did, thank you. [She can even hear Charles writing it down on paper like a luddite.] I'll see you then.

Re: [voice]

[charring]

Looking forward to it. And, again, it was a pleasure to meet you.

[oceantrauma]

[Ken comes, rather obediently, when called. She's lucky she's dealing with this version of Ken, cursed or not, rather than one from about a year ago.]

Yes, mom. What are we having, though? In case they ask? [Because, of course, the soft spoken kid will go right to them to inform them of this.]

[charring]

Hey, sweetheart. [Always happy to see her boy.] Fried chicken and salad.

[oceantrauma]

[He smiles at her welcome, then picks up his - still nameless - cat that was winding around his ankles.] I'm still not too keen on fried chicken [it was a little messy] but you make it taste good.

[charring]

I'm trying to make it not greasy. But thank you. [Gwaine eyes the cat and then scampers off in the other direction. Cats are not his friends in this house. Phantom is the only animal Gwaine likes.]

Hey, it's your choice for dinner tonight.

[oceantrauma]

[He watches Gwaine scamper off, but thinks that for the best. Even though the cat is just as even tempered as Ken.]

[To Charlie's offer, Ken looks a little unsure and bashful.] Would fish be okay?

If it's not, some soup noodles are fine, too.

[charring]

I can always do both.

[oceantrauma]

You don't have to, if it would be any trouble.

[charring]

Ken, I'm your mother and it's my job to spoil you. Plus, noodly fish soup sounds really good.

[oceantrauma]

I think I'm spoiled enough.

[But he smiles to her next words.] It does. You're right. Especially in this weather.

[charring]

So, let's talk about what kind of vegetables to put in it. And what kind of fish.

[oceantrauma]

Well, catfish is versatile. [And it's a cheaper one.] And zucchini, or some cabbage and onion? Maybe. [Cooking wasn't exactly his thing.] Carrots?

[godsgrace]

[ Giggling. ] Your pup is quite unruly.

[charring]

He is. He was worse when we first got him.

[godsgrace]

I've always wanted one of my own but Mama never let me.

[charring]

Really? No dogs or no pets in general?

[steleheart]

No. She doesn't like them.

[charring]

We should get you one here. A cat or maybe some finches.

[godsgrace]

I'd have to ask Mae and Mr. Lightwood first.