video. un: hartbeat.

[recoined]

( kimberly hart does not have time for this. this, of course, being the entire wishing well garbage. she's currently seated on one of the stone benches, elbows resting on her knees, one hand pressed firmly to the bridge of her nose as she tries her best to ignore the casual bitching of her friend in the background. her friend who is, you know, currently half in the water. her friend that's a goddamn fucking mermaid, with a great big giant floppy tail and everything, who just so happens to also not have a fucking shirt on.  

it's just a lot, okay, and kimberly isn't really prepared for it. she hasn't had nearly enough caffeine yet today, but she can't just sit here either. so. head up, face the camera, smile. go back to being a cheerleader, and just focus on getting through halftime. or something, whatever. she's a bit out of practice. )

Hey, so — ( and as soon as the words get out of her mouth, clary's high pitched freakout can be heard steadily rising in volume in the background; kimberly's whole body turns like a whip, voice snapping, ) Clary! Can you not!

( which, okay, maybe it's a little harsh, but. whatever. she's trying to help. )

Hey. So. Cadelle. Does anybody have, like, a wheelbarrow... or a hose... or one of those stupid Nerf water pistols? Because my friend here just turned herself into a goddamn mermaid — yes, Clary, I'm talking about you!

( more fingertips pinching the bridge of her nose. more deep breaths. she can do this. focus. think about yoga. )

Does anybody have anything that might help? Or know what kind of fish merpeople eat? Or... anything?

( please, for the love of god, anything. )

That'd be great. If you could, like, let me know? Or maybe come help out, if you've got stuff? Or — oh! — if anybody knows where I can get a kiddie pool? Yeah. That'd be good too.

( somebody help her. )

Anyway, yeah. That's... that's about it. Thanks? Okay, bye.

( end feed. )

Comments

video| un: reyes

[acuerdo]

[well if that's not a whole hell of a lot different, he thinks. robbie's been firmly attached to a wrench, having heard talk of the wishing well — hard not to considering that everyone is a buzz with gossip about it — but not yet ventured to visit the location.]

I'm good for some heavy lifting... [as is kimberly but that's not the point here is it?] but is Clary in any danger if you leave her there long enough to go stop by a market for fish?

Or is she one of those vegetarian mermaids?

[as soon as the words leave his mouth he shakes his head at how completely ridiculous this is. also, that clary can no doubt hear him asking about her as if she can't hear. time to fix that.]

Sorry, Clary. Did you want a seaweed salad or maybe a tuna sandwich?

[roberto, please. this is not helping.]

[recoined]

( he's just lucky she hasn't started texting him to bring water in the trunk of his car. baby's not answering his phone, and she hasn't found anyone to bring her a wheelbarrow or a suitcase or anything. )

She says she's not hungry. ( #eyeroll. ) But we can't just leave her here, Robbie, she has to get home. And I'm sorry, but I'm not going without showers just so she can live in the bathtub.

( absolutely not. and she's pretty sure robbie and baby don't want kimberly hogging their bathroom too. )

Can you get a kiddie pool or something at the store that we can fill up? I know it's not summer yet but maybe somebody has something in the back? Or in storage?

[acuerdo]

No one's saying you have to give up showers. [he squints as he thinks about what he can offer up because he doesn't really like the idea of sharing the bathroom with yet another person. after a few seconds he has a eureka moment and a grin crosses his face.]

Don't they have showers at the gym that you can use?

I'd get a pool, but where are you going to put it? The backyard doesn't have that much cover. She probably shouldn't stay out in the sun.

And why aren't you focusing on figuring out how to fix her problem?

[recoined]

I am not hauling ass to the gym every time I want to take a shower. ( the nonplussed set of her mouth in a firm line should underline exactly how little kimberly likes that idea. ) It's bad enough I have to wait for you to get out half of the time, I'm not sharing with the entire gym.

( an exasperated click of her tongue against her teeth, and kimberly turns back to where clary is currently imitating a dolphin, tail flapping in boredom against the surface of the water. )

Oh, yeah, because I totally know how to fix a mermaid problem. Please, tell me, how should I be fixing this? Should I be speed-dialing Ursula the sea witch to take away Clary's voice in exchange for her legs back?

[acuerdo]

Because you don't shower at the gym already after work? [hey, it's a logical suggestion.] My morning routine doesn't even take that long...

[robbie please. a twenty minute shower and shave followed by vigorous teeth maintenance is not exactly fast]

Uh? [he's not exactly the disney channel's target audience, hence the puzzled look.] How the hell am I supposed to know? But why don't you try going to the local clinic?

Or the animal hospital????

[recoined]

( the resultant screeching of clary in the background should clue everyone in to how little she likes being referred to the animal hospital. )

Oh my god, Robbie, you can't just call her an animal, what's wrong with you?

( sure, she has a tail, but don't rub it in... )

[acuerdo]

Oh my god.

[he groans, dragging his hands down his face.]

I didn't mean it like that. She's got a fish tail.

And as far as I know there's not a "mythical creature" hospital.

[did he really just air quotes? yep.]

[recoined]

And you have a head that lights on fire, but nobody's telling you to go to the home improvement store for help.

( jeez. )

[acuerdo]

There's a big difference. I can turn that off without a fire extinguisher.

[more seriously for a moment though...]

Had any luck yet?

[creatio]

I'm not hungry.

( The whole drama has put her right off, but considering she doesn't know how long she'll be like this, it is something she has to worry about. )

I was just going to have ramen for dinner anyway. I could probably still eat that. Maybe. I don't think noodles are bad. It's not like dogs and chocolate.

( Is it? Why is this happening. )

[acuerdo]

But I'm guessing you will be at some point.

[he's more than a little out of his element. who knows what mermaids eat. he assumes something from the ocean, but cup of noodles doesn't sound like it'll be bad. maybe a little salty, but for an ocean dwelling creature...]

I can bring you some if you'd like. Or uh anything else you might need... [like clothes... maybe?]

[creatio]

( The hysteria is rising again, and Clary's having trouble not letting it get the better of her. She can't stay a mermaid. She has things to do. Worlds to save. )

Izzy's bringing me a bikini top.

( Because yeah, she knows. It's why she's in the water up to her neck. She really didn't intend flashing everyone today. )

But I do need you to do something for me. I know you're not his biggest fan, but I won't be able to feed Simba so can you do that? And like, change his litter box. I'll owe you one, I promise.

[acuerdo]

[robbie's glad izzy's doing the clothing thing because, honestly, he wouldn't even know where to begin.]

It's not seashell-themed is it?

[because that'd just be ridiculous and also appropriate here. his face screws into a frown because well he doesn't love simba, but since he's also not cruel he agrees.]

Yeah, I can manage that. Does he do wet or dry? I assume his litter's somewhere easy to find? [because he's never really bothered to look for simba's stuff when he's been at the pink house.]

[creatio]

It better not be. I love Izzy, I don't want to have to rue the day I met her or anything.

( Clarissa, you are so fucking dramatic. )

Dry in the morning. Wet at night. And it's under the sink. He doesn't usually make much of a mess, so it shouldn't be too terrible.

[acuerdo]

It'd be pretty funny if it was though... Maybe I'll make the suggestion.
[there's a teasing grin there which should be hint enough that he won't but that doesn't stop robbie from talking about it either way.]

You don't happen to have her number handy do you?

[it's not all that complicated as far as he'd concerned. his dog has a pretty similar diet, so he nods in understanding.] I promise I won't take him to the shelter while you're gone. But I'm pretty sure he's going to pounce on you by the time you're... you again.

[creatio]

( Look at this face, Robbie. This is not a face to be messed with. )

I'm ignoring that, because you're doing me a favour. ( But she will hold a grudge for the rest of her life. One day, when he least expects it, she'll get revenge. )

Hopefully not because he thinks I'm some tasty tuna. ( :c )

[acuerdo]

[that's a very intimidating face. almost as intimidating as an angry kimberly, which is to say... not in the slightest. maybe it's the relative safety of cadelle that makes him reckless. maybe it's the fact that he's invulnerable. regardless of the reason, he's not too worried about clary exacting revenge if robbie were to make a very earnest recommendation to izzy.]

You're right. I am doing you a solid. Your cat's well-being is in my hands.

[beaming angelic grins.] Hopefully not. But does he like fish?

[creatio]

( Begrudgingly. )

Yes.

( Simba would probably eat her. She's well aware. )

I'm trying not to think about it.

[acuerdo]

Guess it'll be my job to get him strictly hooked on chicken or beef.

[a beat]

I'm really tempted to make a comment about sushi, but I'll keep it in.

[creatio]

Don't. I doubt Kimberly would be happy if we ended up in a fight.

( Still, there's something relieved about her expression. Simba's going to be fine. )

Thanks, Robbie. I'll make it up to you.

[acuerdo]

Probably not. I'm pretty sure wouldn't give me the same treatment I got the last time I picked a fight with someone. Especially considering we're friends.

[a smile and a nod.]

It's no big deal, but if you wanted to maybe draw something for the garage... I wouldn't say no.

[creatio]

Oh!

( Look, that's actual delight on her face. ) I will so do that.

( She's actually kind of ... not shy, but hesitant, with her art in this place. She wouldn't have offered yet. But being asked is different and she's more than happy to agree. Especially because Robbie's seen her stuff spilling everywhere. He knows her style. ) Think about ideas and maybe make a list? And then when I have legs again I can come down the garage and we'll talk it out.

[acuerdo]

[it's hard not to note her style. there's stuff at the barbie house... it's made it as far as kimberly's room. he's definitely impressed by it, especially considering that paint and graphics aren't the thing he works on at the garage. he can't even really do the pinstriping.]

I've got a couple of ideas already, but yeah I guess it'd probably be kind of hard to make it out of the pool without your legs to talk it over.

[creatio]

Pretty much. That and my sketchbook might get wet and that would really piss me off. It's bad enough Simba keeps hiding my pencils under the couch.

( At least she's smiling now, so good job Robbie. She won't try and drown herself anymore. )

[acuerdo]

This is why I deal in things that are mostly waterproof. And dog proof. Mostly

[relief sweet relief. he's glad to see a smile on her face because he really does feel terrible that she's stuck like this.]