willbetested | (no subject)

Clarke was on a mission. It was a very small, very minor mission which was refreshing. That was fairly normal for her life. Admittedly, every so often people disappeared and the routine was interrupted by strange festivals or rituals or some other strangeness she couldn't explain. But it was different. The immediacy of trying not to die had gone out of her life.

It was kind of nice and still very strange. She hoped that feeling would never go away.

Stepping out of the coffee shop, she waited for Molly to join her. Holding it with two hands, she was glad it wasn't as cold as the almanac she'd picked up had told her it could be.

"Thanks for helping me out with this," she thanked her friend again with a smile before taking a sip. The coffee was a sugary mess, but she loved it. "Ever since I found out that ugly Christmas sweaters are a thing, I haven't been able to resist the idea of getting Bellamy one."

If worse came to worse and they couldn't find anything, then she would just make one. But she had to give finding an old one a try. Having a new terrible sweater seemed a little counterproductive. Going forward with the historical fun idea meant going all the way.

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"Well, it's the least I can do," Molly says with a shrug and a smile. Clarke has become a good friend in the time since she'd found her in the park that day, and she's fond of Bellamy, too. Really, she should try to do something more, maybe see if Lee would be interested in the four of them going to dinner sometime. For now, though, an ugly sweater is absolutely called for, and she sees no reason not to contribute to the cause. "I'm working off a pretty great Christmas bonus, anyway. Sometimes working for the mayor actually pays off. Literally."

If the money were her priority, she'd never have gone into this line of work, but it is helpful at times like this, to get some financial benefits, too.

Money is still a pretty strange reality for Clarke. Oh, she understands the concept, knowing that it's not all that different from ration points and budget units from different jobs. But it's barely tangible and is still so necessary. She's glad that she has a job that not only applies to what she wants to do, but pays more than the little stipend that mysteriously appears.

"And just in time, since apparently tis the season of disregarding budgets," Clarke jokes as she pauses to double check the sign to make certain it does say Antelope Swap, which it does. "I have no idea if they do anything like that for us, but who knows."

"Oh, yes, it really is," Molly says with a nod, brow raising. She's done alright thus far, but there are still a lot of people she needs to buy for, and having the capability to, she wants to really get something nice, not half-ass it the way she might have done in the past. Then again, she's always been pretty secure on that front. The difference is now that the money is really her own, not coming from her father, the same as she could say for her career here. "And they might. I guess you'll find out soon."

"We used to make-and-trade gifts, so buying them is still kind of weird."

Secondhand stores instantly put Clarke at ease. Not that she doesn't appreciate the availability of new things, but swaps and consignment stores are familiar. It's a realm she somewhat knows even if the items are still newer than the ones on the Ark. Antelope Swap is no exception, oddly lit and organized ostensibly by gender and clothing type. There's a set of stairs towards the back that lead to even more things. The good intentions of having clothes on the racks being separated by colors has definitely seen better days.

Scanning the areas, she finishes off her small coffee before putting it in the trashcan near the door. "I think they might be towards the back? Mixed in with the rest of the sweaters?"

"Yeah, probably," Molly says, nodding. Barring any kind of setup for Christmas, which seems unlikely, it makes the most sense that they'd be with other sweaters. She just hopes that maybe the approaching holiday will have brought an influx of them, people clearing out things that had been put away with other Christmas decorations and such, realizing that they really probably never will wear the ugly sweater from some old aunt or something. One person's terrible gift will be their gain, and in context, a much better present to be giving. "Look for anything bright red or green first. Those are going to be our most likely options."