[So there's a long silent moment, where Mae faces the camera - pale-faced, a small smile painted on her lips for all times sake - looking ready to talk. Deliver one of her speeches. She opens her mouth to try -

Ends up scrambling for the device, and switching it straight to audio.]

I'm not ready to say goodbye. [More silence.] So what now?

So - what does everyone think about this door? The possibility of going home, which in some cases would be finally? [A long pause, after which follows a sad laugh.] I don't know what to feel of it.

[Silence stretches for so long it might as well be eternal. Cricket sounds and all. And then, with a brighter tone,]

Now, visitors. The ones of you I know - if you can't find a moment to come say hello, I will be more than cross. And - this is a lot to ask, as usual - Jamie, if you're there...

...yeah.

[ooc; WALL HER.]

Well, doesn't everyone just have a funny glow about them today? Take thoughtful breaks to avoid any carpal tunnel syndrome. Stay hydrated. And maybe don't put anything sharp in your mouths.

If it gets worse, I predict I'll be celebrating the end of the curse with a drink.

[ooc; National Fetish Day? Yes. Kissing and telling? Not Mae's style. But you can pretty much assume she has not gone to work at the Library today, and maybe only made one or two appearances at a supermarket.]

[This broadcast starts up in Mae's room, early morning.]

Wow, what a weekend, right? It's a shame we couldn't keep the uniforms, or the wands, or even the quills. The quills were nice. Maybe we could make some - Ginny, are there any recipes for the sugary quills? Because I think we could -

[And now, the scene changes, as she excitedly leaves her room, out in search of the best and most wonderful flatmate ever.] - make a whole girls' night of it. Right, Clary?

[Silence. She checks the clock: well over Clary's usual waking hour. And come to think of it...does she remember her being in the magic school at all? Unless...] ...Clary? [smaller voice, the smile on her face disappearing. Distracted by a more important matter, she leaves the device - forgets it's recording - on the living room table. Viewers, if they continue watching, can see Mae moving from one room of the apartment to the other, every Clary growing increasingly smaller, until all the rooms have been covered. And then, without bothering with her device, she grabs a coat and leaves, slamming the door behind her, leaving the video on to a view of an empty apartment, until finally, the battery runs out.]

text; public; one hour later;

Clary Fray is gone, to those who knew her.

[ooc; Not all curses end on a bright note :c.]

[WHAT EVEN PASSES FOR VIDEO IN HOGWARTS.]

In lieu of the upcoming examinations and Quidditch games, I just wanted to say a few things. Slytherins might be cunning, and Ravenclaws might be smart, and Gryffindors might be brave - but while those three Houses are busy battling over who's the best house, Hufflepuffs are going to just steal this from under your noses. Through hard work and competence. Cool as cucumbers.

This is our year, people. And if it turns out it's not our year, we'll still have a celebratory House feast before the holiday anyway.

Now, if anyone's seen a Dragon Species of Great Britain and Ireland book with a pink Sugar Quill as a bookmark, that's mine and I'd appreciate it be returned. Thanks.

[ooc; Your dedicated, lovely 7th year Hufflepuff, Mae Crawford here with words of wisdom. Hufflepuffs can feel free to 'action' this baby, as she'll be studying for N.E.W.T.s, but non-Hufflepuffs are welcome to loving the view.]

Okay. No-one else is saying it, so I will.

It looks like today we've got a problem. Of pocket dimensions.

[Aaaaaand pause. Aaaaand snort.] I feel much better now.

private to Derek Hale;

I got something of yours.

[ooc; BOLDLY GOING WHERE NO MEN HAVE GONE - bad puns.]

[This post comes up at nighttime, roundabout midnight.]

So I've had a thought. With all the inventors and geniuses in the City right now, how come there's no-one developping some software that let others know when a person is cursed? Just think about it, we - the users - have to answer a few safety questions, and if we don't get all the answers right, for example, an alert message can be sent to our most trusted person.

Alternately, it could just prevent you from sending embarrassing text messages to everyone, for example. I know the general effort is focused on getting everyone out, but that's like saying the general effort when you're stuck on a deserted island is to swim back to your country. Can't we build a raft first? Just consider it.

[There's a pause.] Also, is there any newspaper in the City?

I find that it's very difficult to want to help out and return photographs to the people they belong to without looking at them first, so. As a result, I've seen quite a few things. Sorry if it upsets you.

I know it's belated, but I don't suppose anyone found anything of mine? I wasn't so lucky.

[ooc; a belated chance to poke and be poked about April Showers.]

Oh fuck, they're dragons.

All right, here's a poll I've been postponing. Raise your hand if you've at some point in your lives - long or short - felt a dangerous and inexplicable attraction towards the tall, dark, and handsome. I'm very keen to note whether it's one of those disorders that affect people regardless of gender, or not.

Bonus points will be given if they solve their problems with fire, or are emotional walls.

I'll start - yes.

private; stiles, text;

status report

[ooc; No curse, just curiosity.]

I've got a jar of conffetti ready to be tossed at your beautiful head, Jamie Crawford. If you're around and have not texted your big sister yet, I will be very upset.

Anyone else should be welcome too, but not to the magnificent entrance.

My kingdom for a boat! A gondola. A flying eagle that can carry me over the canal.

A challenge while we search our respective flats for supplies. Come up with two bright sides to this situation.

private to Charles Xavier;

Apology accepted. The cookies were good, I mourn their loss now.

private to Clary & Jace;

Say I've found drinks in the cupboards that I'm fairly sure I can mix into something fancy. If I impart my wisdom with you, I think any price involving Jace and braids and ribbons is a fair one. Clary, your thoughts?

[Just to be safe, she turns the video on first. The post comes late in the evening, after work is over; Mae is filming it from her room. She missed her moment of YouTube glory back when, so she's making up for lost time.]

In light of today's informative and random curse, I'd like to remind everyone of a few things. Just in case any of the jewels spilled today by - [air quote] - "the curse" - [stops air quoting] - come from a subconscious part of your brain or from a moment in the future or from the interpretation of the universe of what you might consider a life option, here are some tidbits to remember. Some from personal experience, some not:

[She begins to enumerate them by ticking each off on one finger.]

One, they sell condoms in the City. No-one is going to judge you for liking whichever gender and body part of that gender's anatomy you like, as long as you keep safe about it.

Two, for extreme hangovers brought to you by why am I sleeping in the dog's bed, hydrate. An aspirin could work as well, though water is the most important part. Everyone has a different reaction to home-made hangover remedies, so either experiment or...groan on the couch whilst regretting your life choices and the existence of your stomach.

Three, it's okay to be single, citizens. Your arms won't fall off if you don't have someone to hold with them. But if you're really in need of a hug ever so often, just ask.

[A clap; standard teacher etiquette here - signalising the end of the list.] And that's it! As for what inevitable remains of this cursed day, let's try to take it with a pinch of salt?

[A pause.] Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if one message popped up with this post as well. [She shrugs; as they say, yolo. And so on. Done with tonight's lesson, she switches the video off.]

[ooc; WAIT FOR IIIIT - everyone replying to this will get their very own TFLN. Let's see how long until she's fed up with grains of salt ;)]

So...hah, am I sure glad we discussed moving to a new place, because between the ghouls and the blizzard, my room would be a downright mess. Mom finally got to ruining all my clothes, I suppose. Only without presenting me with what she considers fit for a lady, but that's City irony for you.

And then what was up with that two-day blizzard? Almost froze my t-tiiiiny toes off. [Yep. Y e p.] My tiny toes.

[A sigh.] So how are the rest of you? Recovering, refurbishing, remodelling, resoluting? Who's had one hell of a beginning of the new year? And who's up for drinking? Nothing like alcohol to drown out the trauma. To healthy life choices!

[ooc; I am considering a Mae Goes Out log, those interested should poke it.]

[SURPRISE! The camera shakes a bit, showing a view of the window in Mae's room, and the closet next to it. The closet rattles, and a muted moan can be heard from it.

She turns the camera to herself. She looks like...she hasn't slept for a few straight days; she joy and mischief's gone from her eyes. Instead, there's anger and fear and tiredness.] Who wished for a zombie apocalypse for Christmas?

[Another rattle from the closet, and its subsequent moan has her closing her eyes with a pained expression.] That's my mother. I used to think she had it in for me, but now she really does, and - [Her voice chokes.] What am I supposed to do? Aim the gun for her heart? I can't - I just -

[Another rattling noise, then the sound of wood breaking, ripped apart from the inside.] Damn - okay. [She starts to take a calming breath before turning to face her demons, except the shadow that falls on her has Mae spinning around quickly.

And there they are. Floating at her window, gaunt and decaying and decadent; her actual demons. Liannan with her red, red hair and her ice-like skin, and Anzu with his hand held out and pressed against the glass.]

Let us in, Mae.

[The last image after that is Mae reaching behind her for the gun, the device getting knocked over and shutting off just in time with the sound of window shattering.]

[ooc; FUN TIME IN THE APARTMENT! For others interested in Mae's ghouls, - if you want them to have seen them - there's her mother (use your imagination for her aspect), AND THEN THERE ARE THE FUNNY ONES: Anzu and Liannan, both demons (Liannan's name might ring a bell to others) of the incubus/sucubus tendencies. In Mae's world, demons enter your dreams in the forms of people you want. If you let them in, they mark you. If you let them in three times, voluntarily, they've got an open door on possessing your body, fooling around town a bit, then leaving you like a vegetable. See? Fun.]

So, dictionaries keep finding their way into my hands, which I took as a sign. But look at what I've found:

EAMES
Pronunciation (US): i:mz
• EAMES (noun)
1. United States designer noted for an innovative series of chairs (1907-1978)
Familiarity information: EAMES used as a noun is very rare.
Instance hypernyms:
decorator; designer; house decorator; interior decorator; interior designer; room decorator (a person who specializes in designing architectural interiors and their furnishings)

Legitimate entry in a dictionary, and all! However, I want to submit a different meaning, considering my vast, thorough research into the matter:

EAMES [i:mz]
adj. Eamesier, Eamesiest

1. Said of a surly, yet (relatively) stylish, rake with a tendency to get in the good graces of anyone despite all instincts warning towards the contrary. 2. A precarious mix of cynicism, imagination and smarminess. 3. Said of a person with a disposition towards changing their mood from lots of fun to the world is ending and everything is a trap in under two comments.

I propose we push this forward as a City-wide accepted definition. All in favour, say-or-type aye.

[ooc; That first definition is real, I shit you not. (He had it coming.)]