video:

[charring]

[Charlie's also confused as to where this came from. She woke up next to it and has been carrying it everywhere. It's made of light, as far as Charlie can tell. And it pulses occasionally, colors flickering like flames and puffing out small bits of smoke that almost seem to form words, dissipating quickly before any of the words are fully recognized.

She's at home, in the kitchen and has her device turned towards her heart, held safely in her hand. She tried putting it down at one point, tried setting it on the surface of the kitchen table but there's a charred spot. Oops. She wasn't expecting that, honestly.]

I get that this is mine. Whose else would it be, really? But...where did it come from?

[Charlie turns the camera to herself, one eyebrow raised.] Anyone know where it came from?

[And the feed shuts off. This is gonna be an interesting day.]

Comments

[oceantrauma]

A lot of people on the network seem to have heart shaped things that came out of nowhere. Maybe it's some sort of Valentine's thing?

[charring]

It's possible. It coulda just given me a card of some kind. [Pausing.] Never mind. Scratch that. I just thought of a couple ways that could end badly.

[oceantrauma]

It could...? Well, it is the City. It could have been an obnoxious singing card.

[charring]

Exactly. And the song would blab some embarrassing secret or something.

[oceantrauma]

This is probably prettier, too.

Would you like any help with the table?

[charring]

Nah. I have it.

Did you wake up with a heart today?

[oceantrauma]

No. [He shakes his head. Almost glad of it, too. No telling what it would look like.]

[charring]

That's good. This curse is kind of weird.

[Charlie's looking at her heart again, chewing her lower lip slightly.] Any idea what it means?

[oceantrauma]

[Ken shakes his head.] They're all different. Maybe they're Valentine's suited to the person given to them?

[charring]

That makes sense. Mine is warm, but I don't think anyone but me can touch it. The animals keep trying and they go right through it.

[oceantrauma]

Huh? I haven't seen anyone else trying to hold the other hearts, just the person who found them. I wonder if that would happen to all of theirs, as well.

[charring]

I dunno. It'd be interesting to find out. And sort of scary, honestly.

[oceantrauma]

What if it doesn't?

What if it's only your heart, or just a few, that are like that?

[charring]

Good point. I should keep an eye on it, then.

[oceantrauma]

Yes, especially if only you can touch it.

[Ken started wondering though, the second she said no one but her could touch it, the importance of them. Maybe they were more than just appropriate. And if it's like flame, what would happen if water got poured on it?]

And maybe today I can wash the dishes for you?

[charring]

[Theories Charlie doesn't want to test. She already feels suffocated in water. Let's not add to her dislike.]

Really? I don't mind helping with dishes. And I don't mind the help, either.

[oceantrauma]

I think it's best if I wash them. You're going to have hold onto that all day, after all.

[charring]

True. There's nothing I can safely put it on, either.

We really need to get more fireproof containers in this house, all things considered.

[Yes, that is a slight jab at herself. She does this all the time.]

[oceantrauma]

[He frowns to that.] Don't see why it's necessary. Although, I suppose with the riots, maybe it would be wise.

[He looks at it. The animals could go through it like nothing, but it burns tables.] Could I see if I can touch it? Is that all right?

[charring]

Sure. [Surprisingly, he can. It'll be warm to the touch. Charlie holds it out, not really expecting much.]

[oceantrauma]

[He's a little surprised when his hand doesn't go through. The warmth radiating it isn't enough to burn him, so he keeps his hand there for a bit.]

Maybe it's only animals that can't?

[charring]

Maybe it's something to do with how I connect with people? [The City does that sometimes.]

[oceantrauma]

[Well, seeing as he thought it might be a representation of something, that's highly likely, and it makes him blush a little. He can make the connection to that.]

Maybe I should be flattered, then?

[charring]

[She grins. If it makes sense to him, she must be onto something.] Just a bit, yeah.

[Son.]

[oceantrauma]

[He finally pulls his hand away, though he still looks flustered.]

Maybe you should see if Merlin-san can touch it?