[ Claire looks more determined than ever and she has a serious mission she needs to accomplish. She's packing a bag and pacing back and forth as she talks, looking at the screen from time to time. People respond better to direct eye contact right? ] I need a worldhop. As fast as I can get one, actually. I'll -- pay you, or something. I'll figure something out to make it worth your time just -- please. If anyone can get me to Peter Parker... The faster the better.

(( ooc; NOTE - this was plot relevant so I wanted to get it up ASAP but I'm headed to bed because boohiss early day tomorrow, so replies may not come until morning! ))

[ When the feed kicks on, THANKS COMMUNITY, there's some sort of pop music, in Spanish, playing in the background, the sounds of many voices speaking both English and Spanish, laughter, and the clinking of many, many glasses... There's also Claire, sitting at a table full of empty shot glasses, a nearly empty Tequila bottle, and a heaping pile of assorted forms of money, with an older, middle aged man laying practically passed out not too far from her. And there's a guy, college aged, talking to her, just as she kicks back another shot. ]

"Yeesh! Whad'ya weigh, like a buck ten?!"

[ The guy is clearly incredibly drunk. Claire is clearly not. ]

That's none of your business!

"I'm's -j's'ayin' man, y'js'... don't even look drunk."

[ Claire looks... suspicious, for a moment. A little unsure of how to proceed, she's carefully plotting her next move. And then, after a few moments of awkward, straight-faced silence, she bursts into some very feigned drunken giggles. Feigned flirtatious pep, feigned drunken slurring. ]

I think that you're just jealous that I caught up.

( CUT FOR LENGTH! )

( OOC; Canon move for Claire! She's being bumped to 3x21, Into Asylum! Woohoo! Feel free to note how not actually drunk she is despite having probably taken well over 20 shots of straight up tequila. This also signals my triumphant return from the impromptu extremely slowatus hiatus style thing life dictated. )

What -- Hello?

[ Click. Thirteen seconds. ]

what is this? why are there ducks on my phone?

Rebel? are you doing this?

[ Two minutes. ]

seriously what is going on?

A lot of teenagers act like they're invincible. Nobody actually wants it to be that way. Most people wake up every day knowing somewhere in the back of their minds that it'll be over someday, that there's a light at the end of the tunnel where things won't be as complicated. Where it won't hurt. Where they can finally just rest.

I don't get that. I just get to go on living, with every choice I've made, with every nightmare haunting me, with all the lies and the secrets building up and suffocating me, because I'm different from everyone else.

I can never die.

[ When the video cuts in, it’s Claire sitting on a bed that’s really obviously not her room. For those who live in or have visited Casa de Serial Killer, it’s recognizably Sylar’s. It’s around the time of Adam and Peter’s wedding, and where is she instead? Here. In a baggy t-shirt and boy shorts.

Sylar wasn’t going to go to that shit anyway. Unless it was to ruin it, but he didn’t even care that much at the moment. He’s also chilling on his bed, wearing clothes that look similar to Claire’s. ]

Are you hungry?

[ The tone of voice is pretty tired and resigned at first. She reaches up to rub her hands over her face. ] No. [ After a beat, she gets some momentum and turns to look at him over her shoulder for a glare. ] No, you know what? Can you just … not? Talk, I mean. In general. Not really in the mood to listen to it.

Yeah, I don't really like the part where we talk anyway. [He inches closer to her on the bed, snaking him arm around her waist to keep her close. And then he starts kissing her neck, slowly making his way up to her jawline.

At first, she turns her head away, looking pretty clearly uncomfortable and disgusted by the action judging by the look on her face and the tenseness in her jaw. She shuts her eyes, frustrated with herself. ]

Sylar … [ It’s said sternly in a tone of ‘cut it out’ but after another moment’s frustration, she shifts in her spot to turn and kiss him more fully -- aggressively, like she’s just channeling all the bad feelings into him instead of dealing. Like it’s her way of getting him to cut it the fuck out except … the opposite. It’s teaching him that he’s not the one in charge here. He doesn’t get to instigate when she’s supposed to be using him.

Since neither of them really require air, this could literally go on forever. And it does, until Sylar feels the need to break away and insert his opinions. As usual. ]

See? You wanted this. You've always wanted this.

[ She just looks frustrated with him for a long moment. ] I said shut up. [ Sitting forward, she straddles his lap and dips back in to kiss him again, hands planted on either side of his face to hold him there, because he’d never just shut up on his own. ]

[ When the video cuts in, it's a shot of the ground of Ariel's Grotto in Disneyland -- the date in the corner says it's from yesterday.  But it quickly flips over to catch the round, blonde-framed face of Claire Bennet, who scrutinizes it for a minute. ]

Uh right. It should be recording. [ She shrugs, raising an eyebrow at Zuko and then awkwardly moving to hold her cell phone out away from them so that they're both in the shot, myspace-style.

He takes it out of her hand and places it on a nearby... something, idk a rock or whatever so that it's at eye level and recording them and they have their hands free. He doesn't know how long it'll record, so he doesn't waste any time and closes the distance between them.

Zuko rests a hand lightly on her upper arm, and leans in to press his lips gently to hers.  At first she's hesitant, but when he kisses her, some of the awkwardness loosens up, and she reaches one hand up to rest against his cheek, returning the kiss and pressing her lips back against his firmly, deepening it.

Zuko's other arm comes up to frame them, and he makes a soft sound without realizing it. He's getting more into it than he probably should. Abruptly, he realizes that and breaks off the kiss with her - flushed red again but for different reasons now, and he can't help but stay where he is, watching her as he breathes.

When he pulls back, she finds herself leaning forward and nearly toppling forward a little as she tries to keep the contact. Her hands drop from his face and rest on his shoulders, a quiet and breathy surprised noise coming out of her as she blinks her eyes back open to stare at him in frozen, frightened and vulnerable awe.

She gulps, sucking her lower lip between her teeth uncertainly, and it takes her a long moment to drag her gaze away, but when she does she suddenly becomes interested in the sand beneath them. She takes another moment to catch her breath and then looks at her phone. Right. ]

I should -- I mean, the thing's ... turned on. [ Awkward town. ] That should be good, though, I mean -- right? [ She breaks away from him, going to take her phone from where he'd set it. ]

Yeah, that should be-- that should be good. [ It came out unintentionally rough and soft, and Zuko clears his throat to reorient himself,  and then the recording cuts out. ]

Well, it's official. As of August, I'll be an incoming freshman of Arlington University!!! I got the letter today. Which, I guess I should probably complain is stupid, because I've got a semester's worth of courses so I shouldn't technically be freshman material, but honestly I'm kind of relieved at not being hurled head first into the shark tank. Been there, don't like it.

Orientation could be a good thing.

Anyway. What I really wanted to ask was -- Lilith, Zuko and Katara wanted me to come by this week for lunch. Do you think you could drop me off and pick me up? I know, big favor to ask, but ... I don't have anyone else to ask. :(

( filtered from hiro nakamura on good faith )

I need to know if there are any worldhoppers here who can teleport into small spaces on short notice. Nate? Are you free? There's a guy here who could use your help. He's in Japan - in my world apparently. I don't know, maybe it's not my timeline, but ...

Look, he just ... he needs help. Please.

( filtered to hiro nakamura )

So, do you know that new guy? The coffin one. You guys seemed pretty familiar ...

[ It's butt-ass early in the Fire Nation morning and Claire still has bed head and a thin-strapped camisole on, looking generally disheveled. She's a classy lady and it's fucking early and she got distracted from her morning routine by ... ]

Anybody else wake up with one of these? [ She holds her wrist up in front of the camera, a thing red string tied around it. When she moves her wrist back down, it can be seen dragged across the floor between her and the door of her room. It disappears under the door, though, obviously leading out of it. ] Better question: has anyone followed one? I'm kind of afraid to see where it leads, knowing the way these things usually end.

And more importantly, will it interfere with my Valentine's Day plans? If I'm going to follow this and turn into a fox again or something, I might need to call a raincheck on the cupcake-baking and adventures I had scheduled to celebrate my lack of love life.

[ She leans forward to dick around with the video so she can set it to a private filter. ]

(  filtered to spike  )

(  filtered to zuko  )

Okay, first of all: I need a lift home from the Fire Nation sometime soon. I'm approaching the three week mark and I'm pretty sure my dad will wind up, like, flipping his lid or something if I make it past a month. [ That, and virus Zuko kinda freaked her out and she likes distance to deal with these things. ]

And on a totally separate note. Let's talk Valentine's Day. V-Day. Whatever you want to call it. Singles' Awareness Day, in my case. How many people here actually like and celebrate it? I'm not really huge on the idea [ only because she's not emotionally capable of a relationship at the time being and therefore can't appreciate getting cool shit ] but I like doing stuff for my friends, so ...

I was going to bake cupcakes for some people. Does anyone mind playing courier? You'll get free cupcakes out of the deal, and while I'm usually not the type of person to toot my own horn, I have to admit, I make preeeetty awesome cupcakes.

Zuko, Sokka, Katara, I was gonna ask ... do you guys even celebrate that here? Or is it another thing for me to inevitably add to the guide of Earth culture that I'm going to write for you guys. I figure I should probably ask if you even celebrate it before trying to make plans ... Oh! Speaking of Earth culture! Sokka, Zuko told me there was this really awful song I should get you to sing for me.

[ ooc; All of the following will be receiving some cupcakes next week: Sam Winchester, The Emoticon, Hikaru Sulu, Ianto Jones, Jack Harkness, Tony Stark, Zuko, Katara, Sokka, Spike, Willow Rosenberg, Buffy Summers, Peter Petrelli, Debra Morgan, Dexter Morgan, Jacob Black, and Bella Swan. If you think you belong on this list and you aren't, contact me. Via plurk is easiest. ]

If one more person on this stupid community forgets me, I swear I'm gonna explode. I mean, it shouldn't even matter, right? But, every time a new one piles on it's like another knife in my back and I feel like I can't breathe.

I've lost so much already, I can't lose the people here who matter to me too. [ She shuts her eyes and rubs them with the tips of her fingers, sighing. ] I thought I was past all of this memory wiping crap. I'm not cut out for handling it again. It's scary.

I know, I know. "It's part of the deal," "cry more." But I didn't sign up for this. I don't think it's asking too much for my friends to keep their memories. You just don't mess with someone's head like that, it's not fair. They're not hard drives you can reformat.

A lot of you have been around for a lot longer than I have. You must have some way to deal with this stuff, right?

[ooc; Claire is not one of the virus infected. This is just ... her whining because of Sam coming back recently and now Spike getting virus'd and the Haitian has given her amnesia PTSD over people forgetting her. 8( Feels bad, man. And it will ... be worse when S1!Zuko rolls up no doubt, so /gets this out early yeahhhh.]

Travel tip: if any of you have plans to head the way of the Fire Nation, I suggest brushing up on your … I don't even know. What this is, Japanese? Chinese? The books are all in Chinese. I don't know if this elaborate blob of ink is supposed to mean elephant, oak tree, or "simmer for fifteen minutes or until golden-brown."

[ There's a sigh, followed by a thumping noise as she tosses the book aside. ] I guess I should be focusing on catching up on my own books, anyway. I've got like a million chapters of Spanish to catch up on, and Nietzche doesn't read itself.

Oh, and also? Don't let seasons fool you. It's always warm here. I swear, it's like fifty degrees warmer here than it was in Washington. Which, don't get me wrong, is a good thing. Awesome, even. [ Of course, that might have something to do with the volcano that the castle is on. Which is ... a tiny fact she hasn't picked up on. ]

Are there any worldhoppers free who can take me by the Fire Nation? I wanna visit Zuko.

[ claire's sitting cross-legged on the bed of her crappy motel room, hair in a messy ponytail because, fuck the world, in patzcuaro, mexico it is still 75 even on christmas and it's stuffy in that tiny motel room. it should be noted that there are little chili pepper lights wrapped around the bed's metal headboard behind her.

look. she loves christmas and will not be held down by her illegal status. ]

Not that I'm really in a position to criticize Christmas gifts, but how exactly am I supposed to take these? [ she holds up a set of car keys, raising an eyebrow. ] In case there was any confusion, I wasn't lucky enough to bring my car when I picked up and abandoned my friends and family to flee the country, and these don't seem to open anything in the lot. Or the pony tied up at the saloon.

[ spoiler: there is no pony tied up at the saloon. she shrugs and drops the keys away, sitting back some and grabbing the teddy bear beside her to put in her lap. she looks down at it after a minute, because honestly the gesture's kind of a second nature thing for a girl with her collection of teddy bears, then back at the camera. ]

While I'm at it, though, if you catch this post, Emo, I wanted to say thanks. I hope everyone got the presents I sent out. It's not exactly an exact art.

[ooc; WATCH AS I HANDWAVE HOW PEOPLE GOT PRESENTS FROM CLAIRE. Barely anyone gets them anyway since she's ... on the run in Mexico surviving on money hustled from fratboys. :| But, Tony gets an excellent sombrero and Emo gets a bottle of tequila. Peter will ... be cooked for at some point as per their conversation. Jack Harkness and Ianto get couple-gifted because as far as Claire is concerned, they live together. They get a set of weird Mexican coffee/tea mixes. Zuko gets one of those dancing, talking saguaros with sunglasses and a santa hat and Minatsuki gets a snowglobe with cactus inside. :) Enjoy. None of it was wrapped, she lives a hard fugitive life.]

[ she takes a few deep breaths to try and keep her tone even, but it's still shaky despite it all. ]

I don't have a lot of time [ she has all the time in the world ] so I'm going to try and keep this brief [ so that she doesn't start crying again ] :



If you trust Rudy Cooper, you're an idiot. He's not who he says he is.

[ ooc; ALSO, POSTING BACKDATED LOG FOR RESCUECHANS AND IRON FAMILY DINNERCHANS IN CLAIRE'S JOURNAL now that I'm finally getting around to it herpaderp. :'( Sorry for the wait, but yeah, look out for those if you're interested in tagging innnnn. ]

Consider this an S.O.S.

Please tell me someone here's an expert on figuring out how to get overprotective crazy seriously mentally unstable and probably dangerous fathers to stop freaking out on their daughters' boyfriends. Maybe like a twelve-step program or something?

Honestly, at this point, I'm willing to try anything. Just as long as I can get him to cut it out and stop having to sneak Nate in my window.

I need a worldhop. Please, it's really important, someone needs my help. I don't have anything to give you right now, which is stupid, I know, but ...

Please. I need to get to Rudy Cooper's world.

Some virus, huh? Looks like it's hitting a lot of you guys really hard. Does anyone know what the common link is yet? So far it just looks like a lot of ... pointless misery.

I mean, not that that's really so different from your run-of-the-mill virus, but they usually have some common link outside of schadenfreude, right?

[ ooc; Spoiler: you can't tell, but Claire is affected. For her inability to trust anyone ever and her constant lies, she's been punished with the inability to doubt or keep secrets. AKA she's become the most gullible, open, forthcoming person on the planet. ]