clockhouse groupchat.

[clocktowers]

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video | portopia1983, dated on Jessica's arrival

[forwantofahorse]

Hello, everyone!

[Shannon is beaming at the camera as the video turns on. The ambient lights from the carnival around her even make it look like there are sparkles in her eyes.]

I have some very important news for all of you. Starting today...

[She wheels her omni around, bringing another young lady into frame—Jessica.] We'll be hosting another guest at Clockhouse. This is Jessica Ushiromiya, Ange-san's cousin and my dear friend.

"Hey! You can call me Jessie if you want! Thanks for letting me crash here!"

I'm aware that we're running out of space, but I'm fine sharing my room with her, so please don't worry about that.

Now, I trust there are no objections?

[A two-second pause.]

Good! Don't worry, I will help her get situated. I'll see all of you soon!

text | locked to ange

[forwantofahorse]

NOT A WORD, ANGE-SAN!

Not! A! Word!

text; eternally private

[entreats]

[ It says probably a whole lot about the way Ange's mind works that it takes a moment or two for things to even click together in her brain enough to tell what the other is refering to.

Look, romance is definitely not usually foremost on Ange's mind, okay! ]

I won't tell her.

[ Please, as if Ange would interfere when it comes to this sort of topic.

But she can, at least, be a little nosey, so: ]

But are you?

[forwantofahorse]

It's

I

There are circumstances!!!

[Namely that any degree of being honest about romantic feelings would require admitting to being Kanon, which was something Sayo was slowly working her way up to but definitely wasn't ready to spill her guts about yet.]

[entreats]

I'm not saying you have to do it right now.

[ She can get that. It's not like the other expected Jessica to turn up here. Ange didn't expect it either. And even aside from that, she's sure Jessica has enough to process at the moment to begin with. ]

I was just wondering if you're even considering it for way later down the road. [ Or just not at all. ]

[forwantofahorse]

Ange-san, I... I can't.

I'm furniture. There are so many reasons why it would never work.

video | un: diggs

[justoscar]

Hey, Shannon. Hi, Jessica!

[Oscar was there, perhaps smiling a little too brightly after recent events. Still.... that was no excuse for a cold welcome!]

I don't think there's gonna be a problem. We can just put up bunkbeds-- or we can use this as an excuse to fix the tower!

[forwantofahorse]

Bunkbeds sound delightful! Jessica-san and I haven't had a sleepover in ages...

[Shannon giggles at how ridiculous those words seem once they escape her mouth.]

My, I sound like a twelve year-old when I put it like that, don't I?

[justoscar]

Nah-- we slept in bunks when we stayed in Atlas, before everything happened and then we woke up here. It's pretty cool sharing a bunk bed with someone old enough to have graduated!

[Spoken by the actual fifteen-almost-sixteen year old... who had only been fourteen at the time.]

If everyone agrees, it shouldn't be hard to do. I've even got some spare wood and hardware in the garage if you need help rigging one up.

[forwantofahorse]

[With the demeanor he occasionally slipped into, it's easy for Shannon to forget how young Oscar really was... even though she was only four one years older than him.]

Thank you for the help, Oscar-san. I'm pretty sure trying to put together a bunkbed out of all my bookshelves would've been a doomed endeavor...

1/2

[justoscar]

Trust me. I've seen worse.

2/2

[justoscar]

[Living with Ruby was a constant adventure of watching equal parts brilliance and disaster spawn from the same source-- and Oscar had learned to roll with it.]

Seriously, though. A basic bed frame isn't hard, and we can find you two some nice head and foot boards in town once we get everything settled. We can get working on it as soon as you two are ready.

[He really needed a crafting project that didn't involve renovating the burnt out tower, and this seemed as good of a project as any.]

video | un: jessie-sama

[snakesdonthavelegs]

[ Jessica too, smiles with an exuberance that she can't bring herself to feel. Shortly after arriving she's learned of things that shattered her heart like porcelain, and she hasn't quite managed to glue the pieces back together yet. ]

Ah, sorry to make so much trouble! If you have to move things around to get me settled in, then let me help.

[ Having something to do will keep her distracted from the despair that threatens to choke the life out of her. ]

I hope she hasn't been doing too much work for you guys, either! She's not a servant anymore, you know?

[justoscar]

Shannon can do whatever she wants here!

[Oscar replied, insistently, and cast Jessica a chagrinned look.]

Ange would kill us if it was different. Unfortunately... it's kinda hard stopping her, so I decided to share the kitchen since it helps her feel more comfortable.

[snakesdonthavelegs]

[ Shannon, huh? She feels just a bit wistful that she's still going by that name, even when she doesn't need to. ]

Sheesh, that girl. Well, I'll make sure she does more than just that if I have to drag her out myself.

[justoscar]

Well. I mean. I'm not complaining.

But, she does deserve to relax. I mentioned my vegetable garden and she wanted to get her hands into that too-- I said I didn't need help, because it's probably not a good idea to upset Ange.

Video | UN: ClickClickBloom

[onekindsoul]

Oh my gosh!

ANGE'S FAMILY IS HERE!

ANGE'S FAMILY IS HERE!

[forwantofahorse]

I'm sure Jessica will be delighted to regale you with embarrassing stories about baby Ange.

[onekindsoul]

Please! I need all the deets!

[snakesdonthavelegs]

She had a really delicate stomach! She could hardly eat anything without saying "my tummy hurts!"

[entreats]

[ Mercy. ]

Is this really necessary?

[onekindsoul]

Oh no, poor baby Ange.

I think we've done that to other people here.

[snakesdonthavelegs]

[ Jessica still isn't in the best place mentally, but she's doing her best to focus on what's in front of her. She smiles, even if it doesn't completely reach her eyes. ]

Ahaha, yup! This is basically just a secret hideout for the three of us, now!

[onekindsoul]

[Ruby's quick to catch onto how that smile is a touch forced. She... can only imagine what Jessica might have been through from what Ange has told her about her family. Which admittedly was not a whole lot but she knew the broad strokes of what happened to them.]

Yeah! You know- If you really want we could make a blanket fort downstairs. Watch some movies.

You know. To help you get settled in.

[snakesdonthavelegs]

[ It hardly feels real yet, nothing does. But none of this will be easy. She's glad there are people here who can make it a bit less scary, at least. ]

Oh, they have movies here? That sounds fun!

...I'm glad I have those two with me, and you're being really helpful too.