video; un: veneficus;

[appetitive]

(Joint post between Magnus & Alec Lightwood-Bane)

[When the feed starts, it's focused on the silhouette of a man looking out of a large window that's obviously looking out on the city from high up. Even though the sky beyond the glass is grey with storm clouds, there's enough light to outline his features, particularly a brow furrowed in thought. Even though he looks like he's brooding, the view seems to inspire a pleased hum from the man filming from behind the device.

Noticing that he seems to have an audience, Alec turns towards the camera around to walk toward Magnus. One eyebrow quirks upward as he realizes that the device is recording him. Sitting down beside his husband, Alec's expression shifts from amusement to something more somber.]

I'm not supposed to be the subject of the video, Magnus.

[He gives Magnus an encouraging smile. They both talked about this before and he knew what they both wanted to say, but the building is Magnus' to manage, not Alec's. With a playful sigh, Magnus turns the camera around to fit them both in the frame, sitting together with enough close proximity to have anyone unfamiliar with them wondering about their relationship.]

It was your idea, darling, and I'm sure your good looks drew quite the audience for our little announcement. [Smiling at Alec, Magnus turns a more somber expression towards the camera.] As I'm sure you've all noticed, there's a bit of a water problem plaguing our fair city. [He wrinkles his nose, opinion of all the rain and rising river water clear in his expression.] It seemed like a perfect time to point out that I find myself in possession of the lease for a mostly-empty apartment building. All of the units are furnished, and while this isn't the grand reopening I was hoping for, we are flinging open our doors to anyone seeking temporary or permanent housing. Under normal circumstances, I'd sell you all on the fabulous club on the ground floor, but as it is, I think this building's waterproof properties are currently more desirable to any interested tennents.

[Glancing over at Alec beside him, Magnus gives him a gentle nudge.] Anything you'd like to add, dear?

[Even though he should be able to easily explain the topics they’d discussed, Alec still looks nervous. A faint motion out of video range shows that he’s fidgeting, picking at his sleeve until he takes a deep breath. Looking over at Magnus for support, he finally finds the words for guidelines they'd previously discussed.] Anyone who has been displaced by the flooding, or just needs a new place to live, is welcome, but we do have some rules that everyone living here will be required to follow. Whoever stays here has to be open-minded toward magic and the supernatural. If you don't want your neighbors casting spells or being able to shift into another form, living here isn't a good idea. There also will be rules against violence in the building.

No fighting. No history of rule-breaking or breaking the laws here. If this happens for any reason other than self-defense, you will be removed from the building. We want this to be a safe place for everyone who decides to live here.

[A hand appears on Alec's shoulder, Magnus smiling to contrast the serious face his partner is wearing.] The silver lining to that cloud is that you'll be removed by a gorgeous member of the Perimeter Guard. On an even brighter note, anyone looking to become a permanent resident has first pick of the apartments while the bottom three floors will be set aside as temporary homes for the time being. The top three floors are currently occupied and thus spoken for, but we have a lot of room here, so anyone who's interested, make your way to the Lux Building, southeast of the river.

Or if you have questions, we can answer them now.

[Magnus smiles and, unable to help himself, leans in to kiss the edge of Alec's jaw.] Yes, of course! Or if you're in need of assistance, please don't hesitate to ask.

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3rd (lack of) sleep note. Audio at three am but left on the network as always.

[11calls]

[Alex doesn't sleep. It's a problem. So, when she doesn't sleep, she reads the network. That's probably a problem too. But for now, she's focusing on one thing. It's a thing that she probably shouldn't focus on, and that Strand would shake his head at, and it's three in the morning but Alex's chipper, canadian ready for radio voice comes out anyway.]

You know what I love? Ghost stories. It's so weird how there's ghost stories that seem almost universal. Well, [You can hear the smile in her voice here.] Earth-versal I guess? But things like the hitchhiker in the dress that you pick up and then drop off somewhere or she disappears and it turns out that she'd been dead for years and it couldn't have happened. Or the ghosts of children who move cars from where they were tragically killed.

Or dark ladies or monks or banshees that warn of impending doom. Or ghost battles that happen hundreds of years after blood was first spilled on the soil.

[A beat.]

And let's not forget about vengeful ghosts who are going to get you for something you've done wrong in life. There's too many of those to even talk about.

But what I want to know what ghost stories are like in your worlds. You can even tell me your favorite fictional ghost story. Mine is Hamlet. It used to be "A Turn of the Screw" but a friend ruined that by calling it "the best case for apophenia in fiction." So it's not fun anymore.

[And then she laughs.]

Don't worry, I promise not to call anything you've experienced here apophenia. We've all seen way too much for that.

And just in case you don't know, I'm Alex. Alex Reagan.