charring | Smoke Signal 12 [action]

[One week out of work due to a case of "killer fishlady" and Charlie was determined to make it to work today. She'd tried on Halloween but apparently, she was mistaken for something tasty and nutritious a few times and after making sure people got home and away from the cannibalistic residents of The City, Charlie stayed in until she was sure it was safe to go out. She had errands to run before heading to The Jasmine Dragon, though, so her schedule sort of went like this:

First Stop: Laundromat. Her clothes need washing. Some of them are bloody. Anything that still had a blood stain on it after being washed was tossed. She also brought along a couple books to read and an apple and has tucked herself into a corner to read while she waits for machines to finish doing their thing.

Second Stop: Groceries. Yes, she's going to try to carry groceries AND a small duffel bag of clothes. No, she doesn't need h---okay, maybe if someone took a shopping bag, that'd be super.

Third Stop: Home but that's irrelevant. She's just here to drop things off, put things away and then head to work.

Final Stop! If anyone is at the Jasmine Dragon, Charlie will be your friendly waitress today.

Feel free to catch her at any of these places! Even after work!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She glances over at him, smiling briefly before heading over and sitting next to him, quietly nudging his shoulder with hers. That's pretty much all she does. Not a word was said BUT she was definitely happy to see him.]

[He looks over and down, and puts his book down]

Hi, Charlie.

I'm not bothering you, am I? [And she's looking over and up, smiling.]

[He pockets the book]

No, I'm just waiting for my clothes to dry.

Same. I need my work stuff. [She pauses, watching her own clothes spin.] So...please tell me you avoided the horrors of this past week.

I was too busy to get on the Network, were you okay? I should have checked on my friends, but so many people needed help.

I was okay. [Which isn't the entire truth but she worried telling him what happened wouldn't sit well with him.] Have I told you yet that I admire how willing to help people you are?

You don't have to say that, you know.

I'm glad you were all right, though.

Same for you. [She wasn't able to help if he wasn't and this honestly bothers her.] What were you reading?

[He pulls it out and offers it to her]

The Great Gatsby. I thought I should finally finish it.

[She takes it for a moment, looking it over before handing it back.] Can I borrow it when you've finished it? I'm reading Wicked right now and am almost through the entire thing.

Sure.

[No comment on the fact that she's reading a book called Wicked.]

I hear November's usually less hectic than October.

Thanks. [It's actually not that bad, Steve! There are *ahem* naughty moments BUT IT'S STILL A GOOD BOOK!]

Yeah? I hope so

[Maybe she'll get a break.]

Hey, what are you doing tomorrow night?

I didn't really have any plans.

I was going to make a pizza for dinner but the recipe I found is for a good sized one and was wondering if you wanted to help finish it off.

You want to make me pizza?

[A grin]

That'd be swell.

Yeah. I haven't made pizza in a while. Kind of miss how much fun it is.

[She grins, too.] Oh, good. Feel free to show up whenever. I'll be home all day.

Smoke Signal 12 [action]

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