checkin | video

[The few days it's taken to adjust have been, well - Sam is not going to use the word 'Hell' because he's actually been, and this is crappy but it doesn't come close. Still, anyone who hasn't seen him yet might be a little alarmed at what's being broadcast: six feet and four inches of sickly sasquatch, valiantly trying to address the network, appallingly pale, sallow-faced and bloodshot-sunken-eyed.]

Hey. Uh - Sam. I'm new. I guess this is a, uh, a thing that, that people do. Is introduce themselves. And I get that - we're all looking for a way out.

[Auspicious beginnings. Who knows if anyone's even getting this? Nevertheless, he continues.]

Okay. So. No promises, but there's something I can try. Kinda like a ward, or a spell. [Magic exists, surprise. The few people he's already talked to have expressed a kind of varied interest in this sort of thing, so caution be damned.] Anyone wants to help, I'll need a couple things.

First is - salt. Table salt, any kind will do. Second? Matches, a lighter, anything that can make sparks, even for a few seconds. And then I'll need something to write with, marker, pen, spray paint - I don't care. Anything along those lines.

[He looks at something off-screen, mouth briefly twisting in what might best be categorized as 'disgust'.]

I have food to trade for it. Heard that's kind of a limited resource these days. Food and, uh. [He squints at something.] Neosporin. If anyone, y'know, needs that.

[Yeah, he doesn't get it either. He jerks off frame for a moment, face buried in his elbow. It's not enough to fully stifle the ragged, fierce coughs that leave his shoulders shuddering. Finally, signs of life trickle back through the feed, albeit muffled and with their subject mostly lurched off camera as he mutters in his more characteristic deadpan, wearily sardonic, 'so-done-with-this-shit' tone.]

Also. If anyone happens to have some aspirin on them, that'd be great.

[There's the rattling of trembling, uncoordinated fingertips trying to navigate the tablet, and the feed snaps off.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[At least there's no questions about what exactly those abilities are. That could have led to awkward questions that Alec's not ready to discuss with anyone who doesn't already know about the Shadowhunters.]

I don't think small things will be effected. Or they haven't seemed to be so I might be able to help with the fire.

Are you trying to get a fire message out to someone?

Uhh, not sure - it's more like, I'm thinking if I try anything along those lines, magic leaves a signature, right? So hopefully it'll be something like a beacon, and all we have to do is light it.

[Figuratively and literally, ba dum tish.]

Fire messages would send the message instead of just the signature.

[But if they could get something past the hotel's wards...]

If we can get it to work we could try to get as many different signatures out as possible so there's more people looking. Give them something for the tracking spells to pick up.

[Sam's nodding along, chewing on his lower lip thoughtfully.]

I like the thought. Sure we have the kinds of materials for that? What I'm trying's pretty...basic.

[And probably ill-advised on a lot of levels.]

Basic is probably what would work best. Something more complicated might be picked up by our captors.

I can try a fire message with the beacon. I've never tried one from different dimensions but I know it's possible.

As long as some trace of my energy is connected whatever spells are used, Magnus should be able to track it. If he can't get us out, he'll know people who can.

[There's that name again. Nice to know someone who has that kind of faith, especially since Sam can't quite muster the same despite it being his plan.]

Well, assuming I can get everything, we can give it a shot. If whoever's keeping us here hasn't bothered to show themselves by now, I'm not gonna hold my breath.

[Orrrrrr maybe they're smart and know this whole endeavor is useless, because that is how you optimism!]

What items are you missing?

[Whatever they didn't have, Alec would find. If there's even the smallest chance of getting out of the hotel, he's going to take it. He is not going to waste his second chance with Magnus by sitting around a creepy hotel.]

We can always be prepared in case they try to stop the spell. At least then we might get an idea of who's doing this.

Still need salt, but I've got a couple ideas on where to find some. Still looking for some way to make fire since this place seems to have some kinda vendetta against matches or lighters.

Hopefully the spell will do something. Even if it's just bringing whoever's keeping us here to light.

Since we're stuck in here with no way out they probably are controlling access to fire. I can practice my method and see if it works.

Are you going to have some of the fighters here nearby in case it does bring our captors out?

I've gotta friend who's insisting on standing by. I certainly wouldn't wanna get on her bad side, let's put it that way.

My brother will probably show up once he knows what's going on. I don't know anyone else here well enough to be certain they can handle themselves in a fight.

I'm pretty sure she can. And I might not look it but, uh, I'm not too shabby.

[He'd do better with a Colt M1911A1, but what can you do.]

We'll be okay.

[Don't worry; if Sam sounds confident it means he probably isn't.]

I figured that you knew how to handle this kind of situation.

[Even if Sam was a Mundane, if he knew about magic, then he probably knew how to take care of himself. Mundanes that didn't usually didn't survive long.]

Jace and I have been going out on missions for years. He'll like having a chance to fight.

If we need reinforcements, I'm sure there's enough people here that would like a chance to discuss our living arrangements that we shouldn't have a problem.

Yeah, I figure that won't be a problem.

[Plus, you know, if Sam fucks up that badly it'll raise quite the ruckus.

What a reassuring thought.]

Got most of what I need, just don't have any lighters or matches.

Don't worry about the fire if you don't find them. Between me and Jace we'll come up with something.

[He didn't want anyone around the hotel to know too much about Jace but if it meant getting a message out...]

All right. I'm gonna keep looking, just to see what we can muster up. Send me a wave if you find anything.

I will. I should know in a couple hours if what I'm thinking of will work.

All right. Best of luck.

[A brief nod, and with a stutter of taps and the rustling of shifting fingers, the feed goes dark.]

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