( 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]

( Who is this small cherub? )

I um, I try to be. But John's got pretty much everyone beat on the whole good guy thing. ( Also she has made ten thousand mistakes and will continue to beat herself up about them for a long time coming. She doesn't deserve John, but she'll do her best to be better. )

I might take you up on that? Because I mostly know how to put something in the microwave. I should probably stop living off pizza pockets. ( A grin. ) How do you and John know each other?

[foxtrots]

[he's also a member of that club, so far from being a cherub but still trying, even if it means fighting a war with himself every day.]

Pizza pockets are good, but dangerous. [no matter how many times he burns his mouth on them, he never really learns.] Ah! He's helping me with control and meditation, and I try to remind him to eat.

[viatorius]

( That startles a laugh out of her, eyes bright and playful. )

Better you than me. I get fidgety if I'm still for too long, and I'm pretty sure John "My Body Is A Temple" Proudstar would not want to eat anything I might give him. But that's really good, he's a great teacher. Don't tell him I told you that.

( Because then he'll make her do yoga or something. )

[foxtrots]

It is a really nice body. [he means that in a purely observational sense, but wouldn't you agree, clarice!] I'm more like you, it's hard to sit still or be quiet, but he taught me to start out small - a few minutes at a time! I really think it's helping.

He teaches and you take care of people, is that it?

[viatorius]

( Listen Minsu, she's okay with people knowing her boyfriend is buff as heck. He is. It's an irrefutable fact. )

That's really cool. I'm glad it's working out. Honestly, I keep thinking about getting him to teach me, but I'd probably drive him crazy. I drink too much coffee for stillness.

( Her expression turns a little reserved then. She's not all that good at acknowledging her place in the world. )

I mean, I try. Or at least, I am trying now. John kind of makes me want to be like that. And he can't do it alone, no matter what he says.

[foxtrots]

He said that he thinks that you think that it's probably all hippie bullshit.

[minsu, you don't. have to tell everything that you know.]

I don't think you'd make him feel that way at all! You might distract him a little, but not drive him crazy. In fact, I think he'd probably go crazy without you.

[he rambles a little, not always thinking about his words before he speaks them. but he feels like he's hit the nail on the head with this one.]

[viatorius]

I mean, I did.

( She seems pretty amused by Minsu's blunt attitude. He definitely doesn't mean any harm by it, and she has told John what she thinks before. So it makes her laugh a little, shaking her head. ) I don't get how it works, but if people can find something in it then more power to them. I'd much rather eat a donut and chill.

( They're an odd couple. But Minsu's last comment wipes the humour from her face, makes her blink, before something softer reaches her eyes. )

Yeah. Yeah, I would too.

[foxtrots]

[minsu likes odd couples. he likes all kinds of couples, and he's watched a lot of sappy, fictional, and frankly unrealistic things to learn more about relationships. but he hasn't been disappointed about the real ones that he's encountered, not even once.

but let him go back to something before that.]

I could eat donuts instead of meditating?

[it's not that he minds the meditation, but donuts. he'd probably sit still for longer eating them.]

[viatorius]

Totally. I just don't know how centering it'd be. I'm pretty sure dropping sugar everywhere is a distraction.

( Sorry, John. She's already leading people astray. )