charring | First Smoke Signal

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First Smoke Signal

[Since shortly after waking and discovering this wasn't a familiar environment at all, Charlie has been pacing in her room in a highly agitated fashion. Her lower lip is occasionally chewed on as are her fingernails. And she's watching the door for any signs of movement. Any sound outside of it and she tenses, hands dropping to her sides as though she were ready for a fight. WHen nothing happens, the pacing begins again. She wrings her hands, she chews her nails, she sucks on her lower lip and after a minute or two of this, she sits down and picks the network linking device up. She turns it to face herself, speaking in an even and semi-calm tone.]

I don't know how I got here. I don't know why I'm here and I don't like this situation at all. The last time I was in a situation like this I lost everything and burned the place to the ground without so much as a second thought. That seems like something we'll want to avoid, honestly, so if someone could please tell me where I am and how I got here and how I can leave, we can avoid any and all unpleasantness. And if this is those dumbasses from The Shop...really, guys? Really? You didn't learn from the last time you tried this on me?

[She scoffs, shaking her head.] Honestly. I'd love to see the job application and hiring process and job application to become an agent of the U.S.D.S.I.

[With that, the device is set down again and Charlie puts her face in her hands, shaking her head just slightly as she says one last thing.] This is bullshit.

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That door, open it. I don't think it'll be locked and then if there's a hall go down it and so on until you come to something that gives us both more ideas about where you are.

Oh. For the love of...now I feel relatively stupid. Back in a bit.

[Blame stress, Buffy. Blame lots of stress. She's usually brighter than this. She's up and out the door and down the hall and a few minute's later, she's back to rattle off her location.]

So...can I get your name?

[Buffy doesn't blame her. She did some shock and stupid when arriving here.]

On my way. Oh, sorry, I'm Buffy Summers. What's your name?

[The fact that Buffy is being nice may actually bring the smallest of smiles to Charlie's face. This also happens to be the biggest of hersmiles. Eesh.] Charlene. Charlene McGee. And see you in a bit, Buffy.

[She's going to wait out in the hall because this room is ridiculously confining and oh my god she's been kidnapped by a City and there are dieties. This sounds decidedly worse than the Shop.]

[That probably, definitely depends on her version of 'worse'. Buffy finds the place without much trouble, waving as she comes up the hall.]

Hey, Charlene, right? I'm Buffy. In the flesh. Not that you couldn't have already know that because of the video thing but now, here's me. You want coffee? [Because clearly caffeine will make this better.]

[Charlie again smiles just slightly, extending her hand. At least she remembers her manners, right?]

Yeah. Hi. Nice to meet you. Coffee sounds great, actually.

[She glances at the door, memorizing the number on it.]

I guess that place is mine, huh?

[Buffy shakes her hand and gestures for Charlie to follow her toward the coffee shop. She glances up at the door and shrugs.]

If you want it to be. You can pretty much live in any empty space here.

I'll stay there. It's familiar. [And right now, familiar is a godsend. She follows Buffy, keeping a wary eye on her surroundings.] What's it like here? I mean, I know that's probably an odd question but I'm curious.

Not an odd question. Sort of the one everyone has when they first get here. It's...sometimes it's okayish. You make friends and there's some great people here and they understand so much of the weird. [She fiddles with her device a moment and sends Charlie this file]

I sent you a City guide so that should help. Stay out of the Underground. It's nasty there. We've got curses and sometimes you can avoid them and sometimes you can't.

You're probably going to want to pick up a room mate. The clock ticking that you might be able to hear, it's going to get worse.

Worse? [She had only just noticed it, actually.] I thought that was my hearing going funny.

[Honestly. And hang on...] What was that about curses?

Yeah. Like headache-y loud. having other people or living things around help. If you're really not a people person you can get a cat or a dog to help.

Curses. Some days you'll be cursed to talk to everyone about your sex life [That was her last curse] Or to be a dog or to play truth or dare. That sort of thing. Most of them revert back to normal at midnight.

I'm relatively okay with people. Never had a pet before, though. Unless chickens count. [And another small smile, slightly more relaxed than before.] Those were just kept for the eggs.

[Her eyebrows raise slightly, an almost alarmed expression on her face but she says nothing about the curses. She just wants to process that information first. It's a bit unbelievable.]

What do people do here? Other than deal with curses and get pets?

Really? Chickens? [These are foreign things to a city girl like Buffy.]

Oh, you know. Get jobs. Go to work. Meet friends for coffee. [Patrol can be included in that for Buffy but it's not so much a City wide activity as it is just a Buffy one.]

Yep. They were my adopted grandparents chickens and didn't like me all that much unless I had food. [She nods slightly as Buffy talks, making a mental note to at some point use the device to ask for a job. She'll worry about the room-mate thing later.]

What sort of jobs are around here? It's nothing weird, is it?

[This is a valid question, all things considered. And now they're outside the apartment building and Charlie is getting her first look at the place. It's not readily apparent if she likes what she sees or not. She's just studying her surroundings.]

There are some weird ones. [For example, one of Buffy's jobs is fighting in the arena with people betting on her or the monster she's fighting.] There are normal jobs too like barista and waitress and salesclerk. That sort of thing.

Barista, I can do. [She had a job in a coffee shop for a few months.] And I'm sorry if I'm driving you nuts with questions. I'm sure it's all in the file you sent, but getting the perspective of someone who's been here for a while is a bit more personal.

No I'm fine with the whole question girl routine. I get it. I've been here for a year so...it's a long time.

Most places are usually hiring on a regular basis. The whole incoming outgoing population keeps the hiring demand high.

Yeah, I guess that'd redefine the phrase 'no call no show'.

Yeah all of the jobs here are pretty lax on the not showing up if there's a curse thing. It's not as if they want you there on a day that you're a chicken, or whatever.

That's good, at least. [Charlie's quiet for a moment.] So..I'm sorry for threatening to burn the place down. It was a huge shock not being where I remember falling asleep and I thought something awful had happened. I mean, I know it's not your place since you're kidnapped by the City, too. I feel bad, though. You've been very nice. And helpful.

You kidding? I took a big scythe to the clock tower within days of arriving. Threatening arson is a totally valid response. [She pauses a moment and bites her bottom lip, only even knowing to consider such a thing because of Pyro.] So when you say burn down, are you talking whoosh arson and gasoline or...[She'll leave that dangling so that if Charlie doesn't know about mutants and people with abilities, she won't think that Buffy is crazy.]

[Charlie pauses slightly, one eyebrow raising just briefly before speaking again. She's mildly amused, truth be told.] I mean something came off as a threat so one angry glare and a slight 'push' later it's suddenly on fire. Not the best description in the world, but there it is.

[Buffy pauses a moment to make certain she means what she thinks she means.] So you can create it? Or just manipulate it?

Little bit of both. [Charlie replies, smiling briefly. She's underplaying her ability for now, not entirely sure why Buffy's asking.]

I've got a friend here who can manipulate it. He's amazing. [That slightly dopey smile on her face might clue Charlie into the fact that maybe Pyro is more than just a friend. Not that Buffy would admit it.]

First Smoke Signal

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