--Hey!

[ the sound of muffled footsteps, quick and light, can be heard, followed a scant second later by swearing. ]

GIVE MY SWORD BACK, YOU ASSHOLE!

[ language, young master nightray. ]

Ugh! Give me that back or I swear on my honor as a Nightray that I will make you pay!

[ and now, more rapid footsteps, this time much louder and clearer than the last set. if you're prowling around the streets of the city, it might be best to scurry out of the way lest you be slammed into by an angry little boy. ]

[ when the video clicks on, it shows a teenager — not uncommon in and of itself — looking distinctly bemused, not wet and somewhat out of sorts. what can be seen of his surroundings show him to be near the fountain, like most new arrivals, although he doesn't look especially surprised. when he speaks, his tone is primarily level, whilst his accent belies his british origins — southern english, with a noticeable undercurrent of welsh. ]

The last time I was here, I was greeted by a multitude of redheads and a blonde. I also, as it happens, momentarily believed myself to be Alice, although rather than having taken a tumble down a rabbit hole, I found myself the victim of a short drop into water. This time, I find myself in possession of all of my faculties and wholly dry. Alas, there appears to be no redheads in my immediate vicinity — recognisable ones, that is — or the solitary blonde bearing a cup of delightful coffee with an awful name. [ a beat. ] If it helps, I could go for a short paddle in the fountain and recreate my arrival from before; the sympathy and pity were quite welcome.

[ there's another pause, albeit a longer one, and the humour briefly fades from his expression and is replaced by a rather marked lack of surety. ] Tessa—. [ nope, nevermind. refuge in the familiar; awkward conversations can come later. ]

I wonder, will I have to spend my first night under a bush again?

[Ciel seems less than pleased with recent events. The camera is on intentionally and it's quite clear from the barrage of things going on he's ruffled, he seems angry, even. Though he forces himself to remain calm and collected. Even that is hard right now.]

I would like to say that without my expressed permission no one but myself, Alois and Luca are allowed to stay on my estate grounds. If you are here please come speak with me immediately-- it would seem there has been a misunderstanding.

[ He was never one for flashy intros, never one to be heard. Seen, yes, but not heard very often. While there were those who went about in their confusion and panic, the more curious asking about here and there, this particular one was calm and cool as you please.
He knew what he needed. Nothing else mattered.

There was a rather distinct furrow of frustration in his brow and the slightest glint of magenta in those gold eyes as he glanced at the device. Almost as if he had no choice but to use it if he wanted to get his message across.
He knew what he needed. Everything else would come from there.

It pulled at him like an incessant fishhook, itched like a mosquito that wouldn't leave him well enough alone.

When Claude finally speaks, his statement is rather clear.
Straight to the point. ]

My name is Claude Faustus. I serve Lord Trancy as the butler of the Trancy household.

[ A pause as he adjusts his glasses. ]

I believe my [ A touch of acid in his tone at the word. ] master, Alois Trancy is in residence. If anyone would be so kind as to direct me to him?

[ There's a little girl standing by the carousel. She's very neatly dressed: a red dress peaking out under a black coat, shoes polished and her hair in pigtails. Her accent, when she speaks, is faintly British: ]

So this is the City? I have been here before, it appears. Kincaid, where-- [ she breaks off, a fleeting expression of sadness and fear crossing her features before they become impassive again. ] Kincaid is not here.

I will require a place to stay, certainly for the night, and a meal. I strongly believe in regular mealtimes for children. If anyone could help me with one or both, I would be much obliged.



[ ooc; Also, please take a look at this permission post. ]

[Sebastian wasn't entirely used to waking up in foreign places. He was rather good at keeping track of where he was and how he got there, but not today. None of what he was seeing looked or felt familiar. For a second he felt a spark of relief. He might finally have some space to-

No. He could feel it. Ciel was here. And he wasn't the only one. He eyes the device he is holding carefully before speaking in to it.]

Pardon me, but would someone so kindly inform me of my whereabouts?

[A pause.]

And if anyone could direct me to one Ciel Phantomhive it would be much appreciated.

[Sickly sweet, the words came. Oh how he wanted to just turn the other direction and run until he couldn't anymore. But he felt a certain obnoxious demon in the area as well and he needed to make sure either of them weren't doing anything particularly stupid.

[The video opens to show an exceedingly nice terrarium sitting on a desk, which is located in the room Justin is borrowing from Neil and Todd. A copy of "The Importance of Being Earnest" is lined up neatly to the left. Aaand zoom in.]

From the Diapheromeridae family. [The view shifts to show this beauty.] And this one's from the Phylliidae family.

[Justin, clearly behind the camera, sounds even quieter and less enthusiastic about life than usual, which is an accomplishment.]

I plan on naming one Gregor and one Mendel, but I'm not sure which should be which. I'm open to suggestions.

[The video switches off.]


[Text]
I've never been interested in entomology, but this combination--plant and animal--is interesting. Worth buying on impulse, now that I'm financially secure for the moment. The bank had an account for me. I made decent money before I left.

The network is a good place to ask open-ended questions. I'd like to ask this: What do you do when you feel as though you're missing something? Not that you've misplaced something, but that there's something fundamentally important to you as a human missing. Drink? Are there any more creative answers?

[ The image on the screen is off a very wet, very smiley looking bloke. His face is youthful, hair flattened down by the water running off his scalp. Landed in the fountain then, unfortunate. ]

Right, oi. I hadn't even gotten into my fa-la-la's yet, there's no reason to send me swimming. [ Fishing in his pocket for a slim, silver device. He pulls a face, features twisting as he shakes the water out of it. ] All right dear, yes, I'm terribly sorry, but if we could hurry this along. [ It takes a minute, buzzing faintly before he wipes it on his jacket, the light finally catching. It makes the screen wobble, the way he shakes his other arm around, scanning the sky. ] Ooh, now that's interesting. I like interesting. Unless it's a smell in the fridge. Who knew stuff could go off?

A-ha! Oh, now that is good, that's wonderful, that's just - [ Scrambling out of the fountain, the device tilted down to the ground first before his face swims into view. ] Calling all Ponds, calling all Ponds, come in Ponds. This is your Doctor speaking. Get here in five minutes or I'm going exploring. [ Grinning. ] Without you, Amelia.

[Good morning, City! You are greeted to the lovely sight of a very small girl, age 5-ish or so, seated on a window-sill, her legs dangling outside. She's dressed in an over-sized blouse, which is hitting her around the ankles. When she sees the light come on she grins and waves.]

Hi City! So guess what happened at midnight! I was hanging out in my room and then I felt all weird and tingly and then when I looked in the mirror I was tiny! See!

[She waves again, the extra-long sleeve of her shirt flapping over her hand.]

I wanna see if I can still fly! My wings are all funny, too.

[She stands up carefully, balancing with bare toes on the edge of the windowsill. A pair of white, fluffy wings open up behind her, looking a little downier than her usual set. With a giggle, she dives off the window, and her device turns black.]

[ooc: Yep! Dulcie has been age-reversed this weekend to 5 years old. Action for anyone who wants to find a pile of fluffly baby angel in the shrubbery underneath her apartment window. Replies coming from ducklingwings]

[The device is reasonably far away from her, enough to be able to see her whole body as she’s sitting on her bed, leaning back on one arm, legs crossed, and a slightly smug sort of smile on her face. Beside her on the bed, neatly stacked into a little pyramid, are a small number of what appear to be monster skulls.]

I guess I should thank whoever that was that mentioned the Underground a few days ago. I can’t believe I hadn’t known about it before. It’s fun.

[She doesn’t draw any particular attention to the skulls, though one might presume they have something to do with that statement. Proving that, yes, a chick can handle the Underground She smiles, seeming downright cheerful.]

There’s a casino there, too.

[Meaning Judith just found her new source of income.]

[ooc: If housemates had at all wondered why she hadn't come back last night until sometime rather closer to morning... that's why.]

[The feed flickers on, as Estelle appears thoughtful, deciding to muse on a random topic if anyone would be willing to listen to her. Sitting at her desk she looks out the window, into the ocean, the waves can be heard since she has the window slightly open despite the cool weather. Right now, it felt nice, but she’ll probably close it soon.]

Since I have arrived here, I have gotten to pet three different animals. A dog, a cat, and a bird like creature known as a chocobo. All three of them seemed rather calm around me as opposed to running away. There was a curse around a month ago where a bunch of cats were attracted to Rita, but seemed to not go within a certain radius near me.

I still wonder why animals have a general dislike for me. At least, enough that they won’t allow me to pet them. [She sighs, looking out the window once more. To her, it was an interesting thing to ponder since she really never had pets growing up, and once she did encounter more tame animals, they seemed to avoid her like the plague, unless they were forced to be used as a pillow for her.]

Maybe some animals here don’t seem to mind whatever it is I’m emitting… Though I do vaguely wonder… [She shakes her head. The City needn’t worry about that. She then gives one last smile to the feed before turning it off, but unbeknownst to her, it seems a video was attached!]

=======================
( video attachment - memory theatre )

[There is a blonde, little girl laying on her stomach on the floor. There are papers and crayons scattered all around her. The tip of her tongue is caught between her teeth as she works on a drawing. After a moment she looks up at the device and waves.]

Hullo. [She holds up her drawing. It's a very six year old drawing. There's something that appears to be a blue police box and two stick figures. One of them has hair that sticks straight up from his head. The other has no hair.] These are my Doctors and this is the TARDIS.

This Doctor [She points to the stick figure with the hair.] made me pancakes this mornin'. He flips 'em in the air and everythin'. I wanted 'em shaped like things so he made 'em shaped like the Medusa Cascade. The Medusa Cascade is shaped like this. [She puts her paper down, draws on it and holds it back up. It's a blob shape.] The Doctor says m'gonna go there when I'm bigger and grown up.

This Doctor [She points to the one without any hair] has never finger painted before so we're gonna fingerpaint today.

[ooc; Rose is cursed to be tiny today. Replies will come from badpup]