MOVE-IN DAY
Welcome to Cadelle, cuddlers! The city is — for the most part, at least — very happy with the first wave of volunteers who have chosen to spend time here! To help everyone get settled a little easier, Mayor Drake and her team have put together a series of helpful booths, each staffed by friendly citizen volunteers who are more than ready to answer any questions characters may have.
▸ First things first: visitors will need to visit City Hall to officially enroll as a Cadelle citizen. Once complete, they'll receive their Welcome Packet, which will include all of the most important items for settling in. Characters will find keys to their apartment and associated mail box, their housing assignment, and their pre-activated CuddleCard, ready to go. In addition, the volunteer coordinators have included a newly printed map of the city, as well as contact information for various city-run organizations, just in case!
▸ Due to the influx of energy from all of the new visitors, the city’s computer systems have been experiencing some "minor hiccups". While this is nothing to be concerned about, characters may find themselves mildly inconvenienced — they may have received keys that don’t work in their door, or been issued someone else's room assignment unknowingly!
▸ If they've arrived during regular business hours, characters are, of course, able to visit the maintenance office on the first floor of each building for help switching out their mismatched keys or determining their correct assignment. However, getting settled after hours will require a little extra creative problem solving — like asking a new friend if sharing a bed for the night seems reasonable, sleeping on the couches in the public lounges downstairs, or maybe even roughing it for the night outdoors. (Of course, there's always the frowned-upon methods of breaking and entering... not that you heard it from us!)
▸ As with any move-in day, there’s bound to be lots to see and do. Characters may need help carrying their things, or even just help finding their way around. If they're lucky enough to find their room without problem, they may not be so lucky in their assignment. They may find themselves living underneath someone who's got to be part elephant (who stomps that much at 6 AM?!) or just above someone who insists on burning every batch of popcorn they make! Get out there, meet the neighbors, and see what this city has to offer!
CITY SCAVENGER HUNT
A few days after the big move-in weekend, characters will find an unread message on their CuddlePhone, encouraging them to check out the CuddleTalk network for a very special message from two very special guests. When they do, they’ll find a cute (but admittedly very cheesy) video message from Cadelle’s volunteer coordinators, Flora and Cornelius. The video highlights a few of the most popular destinations in the city — Blaze Pizza, for example, the home of the ninety-second wood-fired pizza, or Dinah’s, where you can enjoy a literal bucket of fries perfect for sharing.
At the end of the video, a link will come up for characters to click if they are so inclined. They’ll be directed to a sign-up page for a city-wide scavenger hunt, with a grand prize promised for the first team to complete the challenge.
Want to participate?
▸ Characters will be able to sign up for the scavenger hunt either on their own or with a friend. (The prizes remain the same regardless of the size of the team, so if your character wants all the money for themselves, they'll either want to race it alone or pick a very generous teammate!)
▸ Among the many delicious dining destinations around Cadelle, characters will discover three venues that the volunteer coordinators have tapped as their current favorites. Somewhere in those three venues, characters will find a beautiful framed photo of Flora and Cornelius.
▸ When characters find the photo, they'll be instructed to take their best selfie, being sure to capture themselves, the framed snapshot, and their teammate (if they chose to bring one along) in the shot.
▸ The first group to send in all three selfies will win the grand prize — one month's stipend worth of extra CuddleBucks! However, all competitors who complete the challenge will be rewarded with a token of appreciation — one week's stipend worth of CuddleBucks, just for playing along!
▸ While characters explore the city, they just might find some "bonus" surprises along the way. Keep your eyes peeled!
Helpful Hint: To find the secret locations (and any hidden bonuses along the way), check out our CITY DIRECTORY for all the amazing destinations your character can explore! Feel free to sort by category on the left, and click your way through your first big adventure in the big city!
Mod Note: For fairness, the "grand prize" winner will be determined by RNG in a drawing on August 4 at 3:00 PM. If your character would like to be eligible to win the grand prize, please be sure to leave us a comment so we can include them in the drawing!
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cuddlecity2017-08-01 12:00 pm
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When they reach the elevator, Clary takes a step away to lean against the wall, but her gaze still returns to him quickly. She wishes things were simpler, really, wishes she didn't have to think so much. It used to be like that, instinct overriding her senses, it used to be easy and careless between them. And then she had to build walls and walls between his heart and hers and she's finding it --
Difficult.
She wants to touch him, but she's not sure she won't shake down something important when she does.
Her mouth softens though, eyes scanning his face. ) Me either. ( Technically, moving to the Institute would have counted. But Isabelle didn't let Clary disappear into large rooms, didn't let her get lost. Suddenly, she's afraid of the silence her own promises, a feeling of unease sweeping through her. She doesn't want to be alone, doesn't want to have to deal with the ghosts that only get silenced when she's busy trying to save the world. ) We'll help each other. Maybe tomorrow we can go into the city and figure out what we need for them?
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Another soft ding; saving grace for both of them. Or simply a delay of the inevitable. ) Sounds like a plan. We need to get a feel for this place, and put some runes up on your walls later. ( Chances of an attack were remote; some habits aren't so easily forgotten, though. An excuse to spend more time with her might represent a certain degree of the truth.
A short walk towards the 'south' unit. He can feel it already; a tightness in his chest, the elevation of his pulse, over something that wouldn't illicit nearly the same reaction from a different visitor. The apartment> is an open studio; dark grays and metallic touches, modern, without having a hint of 'Jace' to it yet; the design pre-furnished. Once Clary's stepped inside, the door quietly shuts behind them, and a breath he hadn't realized was being held is finally released )
Pretty different from the institute, I guess I'll get used to it, eventually. ( A pause, eyebrows knitting together, and then: ) I'm glad you're here.
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I'm glad you're here too.
( Because she is. She likes him being where she can find him. Every time they get pulled away from each other it feels like something's missing. Despite everything they've been through, Clary feels a lot more herself when he's there. )
I think it's nice. This place, the apartments. ( Her fingers drift over the edges of a shelf, still exploring. ) It's not home, but it's not terrible either.
( She frowns, stops walking, looks over to him. Her words come out in a rush, like they've just hit her themselves. ) You know, I feel guilty. That I said yes? I know they can help me, but at the same time I feel like maybe I've run away and I shouldn't have. I feel guilty that I'm relieved, because no one is going to knock that door now and tell me someone else has died because of me. I feel guilty because I'm happy you're here too, that I'm not alone, that we get to talk. ( Crossing her arms over her chest, the confession strange in her mouth. ) I've been so afraid, lately. And now there's no reason to be, at least, not right now. I don't know what to do with it.
( She laughs, but it's weak. ) It's really dumb, right?
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Shifting, he reaches out, fingertips slipping into the fiery locks of her hair, gaze meeting in a shared moment of understanding ) Do you know why I said yes? ( A thick swallow; mouth dry, and the thunder of his heartbeat threatens to overpower everything else. Words he didn't know if he would share. ) My wish, Clary. It's not some...heroic pursuit. I could have asked to stop Valentine and I didn't. Or made sure all our friends would be safe. The people we care about.
( Reasons in the hundreds; belief, even when his self worth was at the lowest, that they were capable of doing all of those things on their own. And a pure selfishness. Having others that loved you never stopped the feeling of being an orphan ) I could have, and there's no doubt in my mind when I activate the wish stone, those things would have happened.
( Cupping her face gently, there's a vulnerability in his eyes, raw and shining ) It's not dumb, being happy, on some level to be here. ( Thumb brushing over Clary's cheek, he breathes out softly, closer now to her than before ) My wish is to meet my parents. It doesn't matter if it's only for five minutes. I-I need them to know Valentine didn't win. That I survived...and that I'm their son. That's...that's why I can't force myself to regret being here.
eff u i'm cryin
It's not even the first time this week. Sometimes Clary gets so angry at how things have turned out for him, so furious that someone like Jace has been deprived of a better life that she wants to take on the entire universe. There have been nights she's lain awake and remembered every thing he told her, piecing together an unhappy tapestry of an upbringing and held it against the light of her own. At least Clary knew that she was loved. What had he? An uncertainty so strong he'd been more than willing to write himself off as a monster. A belief so real he'd thought the very blood in his veins was poison.
Valentine's cruelty has taken a lot from them both. For him though, the wounds run deep.
But Jace is beautiful, inside and out, brave and smart and strong and so wonderful that she couldn't have helped but gravitate towards him. If he were any less, she'd have been able to walk away, but here she is, even now. )
They're going to be so proud of you. ( Her voice is soft, threaded through with feeling. Clary lifts a hand, presses her palm against the back of his, turns her cheek against his touch. Her lips brush against his skin, a sweet gesture, as if for a moment she could prove how good he is through action alone. ) I know it. They're going to be so proud, Jace. They'll love you.
( Just like his siblings do, just like she does. )
i regret nothing
Eyes closing, he's taking in the sensation of her lips, an intimate gesture, deeper than what words could express. For the briefest of moments, Jace does attempt to call forth the harder edge, force his lips into a smirk, and comment of how he's fine, that the point was she shouldn't feel guilty. Those things don't happen.)
It terrifies me, the thousands of ways it could go down. ( A step closer; until they're together, inches of separation, nothing more ) I never knew them, so as much as it hurt, finding out the truth. It wasn't the most painful thing that Valentine took from me.
( Past incidence could be filed away; the torture and manipulations, still very real, but a haziness existed to dull some of their damage. The Lightwoods had done a tremendous amount in making sure happy memories weren't in short supply. Head tipping down, forheads near touching, Jace found another surge of courage ) Nothing compared to how I felt when he took you away from me.
( A truth unspoken until then; regardless of how much she may have felt it in her heart. The lie of Clary being his sister had cut the deepest simply because of the timing; right as he had been ready to admit to himself he was in love with her, Valentine struck )
no subject
She couldn't bear it if he closed her out.
Jace leans closer, and Clary's breath catches in her throat, eyes doing nothing to hide the strange sort of thrill it brings. It's like her world shifts every time, turns on it's axis until it's right again and Jace is close. She can't help it. How she ever pretended to be anything but hopelessly in love with him is a mystery. )
I think --. ( A pause, Clary worrying at her bottom lip with her teeth. Now she knows the truth, it should be easier. But the lies have left scar tissue on them both and trying to talk about it feels like reopening a wound. ) I think I was so ready to accept it, because it gave me a reason for how I felt. Whenever you were with me it was like that's where you were meant to be. It's where I was meant to be. I hadn't felt that way before, so when he lied to us, I thought maybe I'd confused it, that belonging with you was just a different kind of love.
( It should feel like a betrayal, telling him this. There's still Simon to think of. But Clary is so tired of pushing down her emotions. She's tired of trying to be strong. )
I thought maybe if I just acted like I was supposed to, then it would make sense. That I'd forget how I wanted to --. ( Kiss him, every time she saw him. Clary lets out a sigh, her gaze skipping to his mouth and back up, guilty and powerless to stop herself. ) That I wanted you.
no subject
Clary's strength; a type different from his, purer, untainted by what she's endured. The ability to love without fear. This conversation, the lingering moment between them, serves as a point of honesty rarely achieved by Jace before. Yet certain things won't come out. Dark tendrils, born of trauma and betrayal, wrapping around his beating heart to keep words unsaid )
It doesn't matter. Valentine isn't here to manipulate us, or cause any further damage. ( Jace could feel his tongue becoming heavy; stopping a further declaration. Parts of it are written on his face. Another slip in the remnants of his willpower; actions, an easier expression of sincerity
Leaning in, the point of turning back already crossed, he claims what's been threatening to burst within him for weeks as their lips meet. Any residual guilt no longer stood a chance; washed away by the softness of her mouth, thoughts of the painful heartache she's been put through so recently taking a backseat. There's a gentle tug at Clary's hair, hand moving into position to cradle her head, deepening the kiss )
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( It doesn't matter that she still tries, lines of graphite always turning a sketch of a stranger into an approximation of Jace. )
Clary's hand lifts, curls into his shirt as though to anchor herself, or keep him where he is, pressing up on her toes to meet the kiss. When he doesn't instantly jump back her fingers flex, then press up to curve around his neck, the pounding of his heart beneath her palm, stubble tickling her thumb. When they part to breathe, she only allows it for an inhale, then pulls him closer again, the flare of unforgiving longing softening into something sweeter. There's time for that later. His honesty deserves this: Clary doing her best to prove her love for him through gentle touch. He's not anything but a boy who is worthy of more love than he's ever been given.
And she does love him, could never have pretended otherwise. She might have tried to change it's shape to something more fitting Valentine's lies, but Clary has always loved him. )