( open ) it's 19c in london right now and i'm jealous

[apolly]

A. REDBRIGHT INSTITUTE: CLASSROOM

It's after hours for Apollo and he couldn't be happier, even though the feeling of exhaustion he could do without. While it's a job he loved he could definitely do with a vacation anyway.

He's currently struggling to erase the top of his chalkboard where a taller student wrote out the answers. Smart kid, but liked to quietly pick on Apollo for his size anyway, and he's close to stomping into the nearest library and grabbing a stepladder.

B. ON THE TUBE.

Apollo has a better idea of where to go for this and that, thanks to it being a few months since his move. He's currently sitting in one of the trains, coming back from Harrow, though there's one problem.

He fell asleep, earphones in, cheek pressed into the silver rail and leaving an opening for anything to be taken. Genius.

C. MISC tell me whatever and we'll do it. brackets are awesome

Comments

[apolly]

That actually sparks a laugh out of Apollo. "A little broody!?"

He stops himself short, as if now just realizing how rude that was. Uh, right. "He's not that tall, I think. He's like... an inch taller than me?" And Apollo was depressingly short.

"But yeah, he just walked into the office, wanting a job."

[warmheartedly]

"Everyone's tall when you're only 5'2 like me!" Not that she seems to mind Apollo's reaction because its a fair reaction. Still. Clara always likes to see the best in people.

"Oh fine! He's quite broody," she admits, "but he means well, I'm sure. I hope he's doing alright in his work then. He was sweet, in a way, when I met him."

[apolly]

Oh, yeah. Clara's tiny. Thank god. And also very... positive. It feels like an effort to not be a killjoy sometimes, so Apollo just slowly nods and tries to. Well, get into Clara's point of view.

"He's a very... protective type of guy, I'll give him that." Though in a good way? He can't say that much.

[warmheartedly]

"He can be a bit grumpy," she admits as she recalls the way he scared some of the children in the graveyard where she had first met him, "but aren't we all at times? It's just a matter of luck on getting him in the right place and time."

Right. Luck.

Replacing 'luck' with 'miracle' would make that statement more true for people but let's not go into the nitty gritty of such things. "I hope Sasuke is helping you out at your work! If you ever need another help of hands, let me know? I have all the time in the world after all."

[apolly]

"What if the right place and time aren't at work or in the classroom?" He was politely not disagreeing, but. God, he felt like this entire conversation was a lie on his part.

"Maybe you're... you're right." Clara tended to be when it came to people. Sort of. "Yeah, he's actually pretty efficient. Whenever his shift ends I have all the paperwork I need and then some." It was almost weird. "Do you know where I work? I can give you directions."

[warmheartedly]

"Sooner or later, something will happen. Takes a while is all."

WIll it be a good thing though. That's the question. Thankfully, the question Apollo asks has the conversation changing to something more natural and easier to talk about to have. "Oh! I don't think I know where you work. Otherwise you would have had me dropping by! I believe it happens to be one of the places that start with a... hmmm... an 'H' I believe? Hillingdon?"

Those offer of directions is a good idea, Apollo.

[apolly]

"... Please don't walk into Hillingdon." He doubt the clan could do much to a ghost, but STILL.

"No, uh. Hounslow. I work in Hounslow. I would write down the directions but would that actually help you?" It's not like Clara can carry a piece of paper everywhere. It'd scar kids.

He just tells her the address instead, but he's not sure if it's enough...

[warmheartedly]

Her eyes light up when he tells her the directions. The address! She knows it. Ish.

That's one she knows, somewhat. It's close to a place she and Francisco used to visit in their youth. At least there's a place marker for her to go by when traveling. "I promise! I'll remember the address and visit you when you can see me. And I won't go to Hillingdon."

She has a faint idea what's going on in that part of the city. Being a ghost for ten years? A ghost that has a known haunted shop? Sometimes they pop by to check in on her and she hides in a coffee machine to get away. "I swear you won't need get a spooky call from me asking for representation from one of them. Would hate to tie you up since you must be busy these days!"

Especially with cheeky students who write such long sentences out of reach. Does this trickster do it often?

[apolly]

Yes, they always write their sentence to the corner of the page. And Apollo often catches them do it, and they start looking a little anxious when the bottom line starts to run out. He knows that feeling way too much.

Apollo's shoulders drop in relief when he accepts that Clara will definitely not go to Hillingdon, but the though of taking one as a client was kind of...

"It wouldn't be the weirdest case I've ever done," he replies, organizing whatever the heck this mess was in his bad. "Though I don't think representing a clan member's gonna go over well in a Council trial. It'd be better if they didn't have enemies."

"... I think it'd be kind of cool representing a ghost though."

[warmheartedly]

"That's something to put into your resume if I ever need help," Clara says, trying not to laugh at the idea of making her one phone call to be bailed out of ghost jail. Which, in her head, is being stuck in a little glass jar that has the sign 'GHOST JAIL' written across it. "I can see it now: 'Aids other forms of supernatural figures.' Though they might be a bit confused you put a cafe's name under the contact details."

She has a lot of questions she wants to ask -- from how representation works to what exactly happens in a Council's trial -- but she doesn't want to be too nosy. She's just here to erase the board and give support.

Alright she'll be a bit nosy but in a way she hopes is subtle. Satisfaction brought back the cat after all. "Well! If I ever end up in some form of ghost jail, I know how to call then. I don't know how lenient the Night Council is to shenanigans so I'll try to keep my nose clean. For both our sakes. Who knows what could happen if you get them mad at you over a thing?"

[apolly]

Apollo's no stranger to antics like this but if he notices, he doesn't seem to mind. Or maybe he actually just doesn't notice. Either way, he's happy to share.

"I don't know if there is a ghost jail... Not too long ago I got stuck in a haunted house with a bad one and she was kept in a jar over the years. I guess that's how they trap hostile spirits."

Not like Clara would have to deal with that, since she was sweet as can be. "I think, ghost-wise, as long as you're not a jerk to people you're fine."

[warmheartedly]

She blinks, a bit shocked to hear that since she was only joking. There is a thing like a ghost jail? Or the closest equivalency of it?

Huh. That's something useful to remember if she needs a reminder why she needs to keep herself in line. Not that she would have reasons not to abide to the rules. "Years? She must have done something pretty bad to have done that. I'm glad she didn't get out of it while you were with her! I would hate for you to be in trouble."

"And I promise on my heart, where I have a heart at least, that lightbulbs and people who talk in the movie theaters the will always be safe even when I'm around." She's crossing her heart and everything, see?

Whoops the eraser drops from her grip. "Ah! Look out below!"

[apolly]

"She was already out of it and causing mayhem—"

Apollo looks up just in time for the eraser to drop onto his face and leave an impressive chalk print. The coughing fit is instantaneous, but so is the way he aggressively cleans his face with a sleeve and wiping at his eyes. Okay, he deserved that one a little bit.

"... You held it longer than I thought." Honestly.

[warmheartedly]

"Goodness gracious! Are you okay?"

Much as she's curious to hear what happened in that haunted house she thinks the story can wait. She's immediately coming back to the ground, and her real height in a way, to make sure he isn't too badly hurt. "I'm sorry! I forgot myself for a second and looks like it got the slip on me."

Only she can still have time for puns.

[apolly]

Slip on me. Clara, PLEASE.

He dusts the chalk off his air, messing up his gelled style in the process. Now you know his hair is meant to look this way. His tastes are a disaster.

"I'm fine, it didn't really do anything." Haha... "Thanks for cleaning the board, though. It's huge and... uh. I'm not that tall." Obviously.

[warmheartedly]

All the puns. There's no getting away from them when she's around.

"You're welcome. I'm always happy to help you out." She is! It always makes her day when she can make others' day in little ways. "Do you need anything else, Apollo? I should probably leave you be now since you have so much to do, I bet. Would hate to be a bother after all with how much I took up your time!"