( video | o1 ) un: blink.

[viatorius]

( The feed starts with a wobble, Clarice ignoring the swoop of fear and nausea that washes through her to tighten her grip on her phone. )

Hi.

( She smiles, and it looks easy even though it's not. She's made no effort to hide her mutation, unnaturally green eyes bright in the light of her apartment, pink mark over one of them. The only thing that isn't obvious are her ears, and the fact that she can rip holes in space. But she's trying to look approachable. She's sitting cross-legged on the floor, her back to the couch. Her free hand moves restlessly, seems to be petting something off camera as she gears up to speak. )

Um, my name's Clarice. I got here a couple of months ago, and I figured now would be a good time to say hey and maybe ask some questions. ( Blowing out a breath. She can do this. ) I've noticed that some of us - the displaced - are a little young, and it got me wondering if anyone had set up something to make sure they're being properly cared for? Not like a foster home, because we've all been given beds and sh --. Stuff. ( Motherfucker. ) But more for emotional support? One of those big brother-slash-big sister schemes. Making sure they're safe, or uh, that they're eating proper food instead of candy bars. Or even just to talk. Because it's hard enough for anyone ending up here, but I know I would have been freaked out as a kid.

( Another pause, and then --. )

Actually, I've been through the whole world turned upside down high school thing, so even if there's not and anyone wants to talk about it, or just have someone to rant to? My phone's always on me. And if I'm not good enough then there's always Zingo. ( She angles the camera now to take in the dog sitting at her side. ) Who is definitely a good judge of character and requires so many hugs. You'd be doing me a favour. My arm's getting sore.

( There, she's done, she's made it through the broadcast and can now panic a little off-screen. ) Okay, thanks!

Comments

[viatorius]

they're on schedule?

( That she did not know. But now she's going to have to ask. )

what do you mean, depressing?

[spellslots]

They're holidays, not parties, you can google that shit

It's about like grieving or whatever. Boring as fuck, depressing as fuck, I dunno why they do it

[viatorius]

i'm not exactly used to either.

( Holidays or festivals. )

huh. that sounds not good.

[spellslots]

It's like Candlenights or whatever, they're on a schedule

I guess it's supposed to cathartic or healing or shit but like fuck that, you know?

[He just represses his grief and trauma like a normal person, god.]

[viatorius]

yeah, i try to avoid reliving shitty situations if i can.
thanks for the heads up though. at least now i can do some research.

[spellslots]

You're super welcome. That shit does change a little, like the first Sampremi did not involve a kink expo, but the basics of them stay the same

[viatorius]

yeah, that was pretty out there.
i avoided that whole part actually.
the robot cats were wild enough for me.

[spellslots]

I was kinda more into it this time but I'm a fan of the powder

[It's fun? Don't @ him.]

I guess robot cats are their own kinda fun

[viatorius]

maybe next time.
i was trying to keep my cool around a guy. adding more feeling to what i already had would have been a Bad Idea.

( She can take advantage now that they've gotten over the whole will they / won't they worry. )

> private

[spellslots]

[hold on he's turning this private because he wants to share his Funny Story but only with Clarice, not with the entire network.]

Good fucking choice, my dude, cause like my boyfriend from the future showed up while I was high on that shit and lemme tell you:

It was a weird kinda experience

> private

[viatorius]

yeah, see. i had all the best intentions? but then the next freaking day i ate a candy without reading any of the warning labels and threw myself at him.

i mean it worked out. me dying of shame and avoiding him for a week kind of forced us to get our shit together and say what we wanted? but my god, i was trying so hard to play it cool.

boyfriend from the future, huh?
how did that work out?

[spellslots]

You poor thing. I got real close to the throwing myself at him but after I fessed about about the aphro he backed off

[Kravtiz is a good egg.]

It's been kind of a trip, you know? He knows me a hell of a lot better than I know him but we're working on it

[viatorius]

yeah, i'll bet.
i thought it was weird that people seemed to know a different version of me. i've managed to wrap my head around the idea of alternate universe, but a future version?
i'd probably freak.

[spellslots]

Is this where I tell you I was like fifty years ahead of my sister when we first showed up?

[viatorius]

no! seriously?
how the hell did you cope with that?

[spellslots]

Seriously. I was way ahead of Luce and had a decade on Magnus, it was all kinds of fucked up

But I just told her shit, we don't really keep secrets, and fifty years isn't all that much for a couple elves

[It was so much harder than that, and still is sometimes, but he's not going to get into it.]

[viatorius]

you age slower, right?
idk most of my knowledge is from reading the hobbit once when i was super bored.

[spellslots]

We mature at the same rate but once we hit adulthood we go a lot slower

The Hobbit is pretty far off at least for like, the kinda elves we are.

[viatorius]

at least puberty doesn't last a decade.

( THAT SOUNDS LIKE HELL. )

i don't even want to think about the moodswings that'd bring.

[spellslots]

Being a teenager was bad enough for the few years I was one, I would for sure not want that shit to drag out

[viatorius]

same.
i was so glad to finally shake that shit off.

( BUT. )

ttyl bro, i've just realised i'm late for my shift. this'll be another score in the terrible role model column.

[spellslots]

Make good decisions 😘😘😘