[ video ]

Alright, you lot.

[The video begins at a slightly askew angle, as if someone's nestled the device in the branches of a tree. And when Ginny appears a few seconds later, happily aloft on her broom, it becomes clear why—yes, she might be showing off a bit, but it's to make this offer more tangible to its audience.]

We've got a pitch, the equipment, and at least one Weasley more than willing to captain a Quidditch team if it comes to it. [The look on her face says: We'll see how good you are.] I've been getting rather restless since my regular students went home, so I'm making another offer of flying lessons! Yes, on brooms.

[Ginny pulls back so it's a bit more obvious what she's doing, and despite another—familiar—hardship to living in the City (one more departure, Merlin, won't it end), she's got the best damn winning smile on her face. A challenge, almost.]

I wouldn't call myself a coach, but I'm pretty bloody experienced, if I do say so myself. With summer on the way, it wouldn't be a bad idea, would it? Give it some thought or ask me questions if you'd like.


[OOC; in terms of lessons, feel free to assume them if your character ends up doing it! though, of course, you are absolutely free to contact me via this journal if you'd like to thread/log something or have any questions. this is supposed to be a low-stress, casual, fun thing! 8) ]

[Video]
O-oh Good. I was h-hoping that you'd let me talk to s-someone.

[Piglet's face appears to be quite large (considering he's practically got it pressed against his face) as his hands try to work the very Difficult and Confusing buttons.]

I have a Very Important Question to ask...

[At this he does his best to look Smart.]

What exactly is the Best color, if one Happened to be a Curtain?


[ooc: Thanks to Derek and Charlie, Piglet is going to be getting a very nice proper tree house.]

[Standoff: Lone dalek VS 13" doll.]

"You will obey!"

"NO!!"

"YOU WILL OBEY!!! OBEY!!! OBEY OR BE EXTERMINATED!!!"

"PHAAH!!!"

"EXTERMINATE!!!

[Dalek aims and fires. Right after death ray's hit, roaring wind comes from the point of impact, rushing up at the dalek. Metal body violently shakes in place for several minutes, then all is quiet. Dalek sits in place, eyestalk twitching about. Rolls a few paces forwarded, stops, rolls back, stops, forward again. Goes in wide circle, picking up speed.]

"Vroom-vroom-vroom!"

[Spins out; stops on a dime.]

"What this do?" [Death ray shoots and exterminates a lamp post.]

"Pu-pu-pu!" [Bounces up and down in place.] "Heh-heh!"

[Puts in high gear and zooms off].



(OOC - If it's organic, HWK can possess it. Daleks are canned little blob mutants.

HWK's gonna be motoring around the City until curse ends or Cain calls him back into the already-reformed-from-the-ashes doll.]

[ Muffled sounds of chaos can be heard in the background, as though through a pane of glass. Then, a sigh. ]

Great. Another curse day when I will be staying inside.

[ Suddenly fearful. ] …They can't climb stairs, can they?



[ ooc: Pepper's holed up in her office at City Solutions. Open for action to anyone there. ]

[Captain Jack Harkness is standing in the center of the City smack dab in the middle of it all, it all being the Dalek invasion. He's looking every bit the hero, long coat blowing in the slight breeze, a pistol resting lightly at his hip in its holster and a big, complicated rifle looking weapon in his grip. He's grinning a little bit in a cocky, been here and done this before kind of way. And he might even look like he's been having a little bit of fun shooting the metal creatures with the electrical hardware of the rifle so they explode. All in a day's work, really. And anyone is free to run into him out and about in the chaos. He'll definitely do his best to get you to safety and play the hero.

Otherwise, he switches on the audio of his device, too busy and with too many things to do right now for the video.]

Everyone alright? [Mostly he's asking after his people, The Doctors, Torchwood and companions. But deep down he does mean everyone. He hasn't really been in the City long enough to meet all the people yet, although he is working down the list, slowly but surely.] Best to just stay inside and out of the way of them if you don't know what you're doing. For all their bulk they can be sneaky little creatures with a penchant for mass murder. I'd hate to see some of those pretty faces get hurt out there so if you need help, let me know. Besides, rescuing damsels in distress looks good on me. [And by damsels he of course means... anyone or anything.]

[The video opens to a shaky view of the sky. It spins, revealing a that whoever's holding it is standing on the roof of one of the apartment buildings. There's a flap of bright satin sleeve before the device is flipped around and a grinning Howl Jenkins fills the screen.]

I trust the majority of you are staying safe and warm inside. Meanwhile, some of us have work to do.

Don't try this at home and all that. ALRIGHT THEN! COME AND HAVE A GO IF YOU LIKE, YOU OVER-SIZED PEPPER POT!

[A speck in the distance suddenly turns and speeds in Howl's direction. Cries of EXTERMINATE EXTERMINATE are getting louder and louder.]

I've always wanted to do this.

[Howl stretches out one hand and shouts a series of words that seem to get lost in a clap of thunder. The dalek starts to spark, and is suddenly starts convulsing, waves of electricity passing over it like it's been struck by lighting. It lets out a dying cry and and crashes on the roof a few metres from Howl, sending off a few dying sparks.

Howl turns to the camera, beaming.]

Do let me know if you need any help with pest control.

[ The feed kicks in with a very frantic, breathless sounding Doctor. ] Right, listen up you lot, because we haven't got a lot of time. [ In the background there's the sound of crashing, a high metallic noise, and he sighs. ] Those things floating about and destroying everything? Most definitely not good. They're Daleks, and that is spelled D-A-N-gerous, all right? Whatever you do, stay away. Keep your friends, your family, your loved ones, even your enemies in plain sight and look after each other. Do not try and engage them, do not try to fight back, if you see a Dalek, get away as fast as you can.

They are ruthless and they will kill you.

[ A pause, someone yelling down the street. ] If any of you need me, I'll do what I can to get to you.

[ACCIDENTAL PUBLIC VIDEO / SPAM for McGee]

MCGEE. WHERE THE FUCK--

[She's not there, Ed. You know this. There's a heavy sigh mixed with a growl, and the viewers don't get the best view of things, but it's clear enough that he's pissed.]

You're trying to be a pain in the ass, aren't you. That is literally the only explanation because there is no other reason for going out into a fucking INVASION.

[And look who's going out into it himself now.

DAMMIT MCGEE.]

[Voice]

Well everyone, as everyone has noticed we're under attack. Yes they pretty much fit in the slot of strangest things we've come under attack under next to the slugs, the Santa, and those little creatures that turned people into Skittles.

[You can hear the sounds of something moving around outside the door and past it down the hallway. Huey begins speaking once he's certain he doesn't hear the Daelek anymore.]

So to add to the warnings, modern arms don't work. From my own experience means homemade ordinances and below. I'm pretty certain something nuclear could possibly work but that option is right out since we don't have any and that all of us don't like to juggle the idea of flattening this place despite our frustrations with it.

Best stay inside and hide in a closet, a cabinet, or under a bed.

[You can hear somebody screaming in terror for a few scant seconds before being silenced.]

Powerful threats, thanks whatever the Hell it is that enacts these damn curses. Would've been nice if you left behind the Rider System, Tsurugi.

...Aah, you know, I’ve seen some pretty weird things in the short time I’ve been here, but now evil, flying giant thimbles?

[he’s doing his best to remain quiet after seeing what those creepy things were doing to some of the people, after personally being chased by one, crouched down in what looked to be an alley.] It wasn’t really the kind of thing we expected to run away from when coming back from getting groceries, hm, Gazelle?

[crouched down next to him is Gazelle and by the anxious, very anxious look on her face that would be a definite no. she gives her head a shake and replies as quietly as possible as well.]

Mm, no... But we should do something, shouldn't we? [she says this because she believes they should, but the tone in her voice pretty much suggests that she doesn't want to fight those things either.]

Yeah, we can’t stay here all day. Not when they’re already looking. [hum, what to do, what to do.] Maybe we can find-- Gazelle!!

[the thought goes unfinished due to a Dalek flying down suddenly behind the girl, Akira’s reflexes kicking in and pretty much throwing her out of the way-- just in time for the ray to hit him instead after a resounding EXTERMINATE. excuse the shaky feed suddenly just pointing in whatever direction it happened to land in, City. the owner just got disintegrated.]

[amidst the chaos, she yelps loudly in surprise at being pushed out of the way. the device lands in a position where it can briefly catch the moment where she CRASHES right into a bin on the other side of the alley before it cuts out abruptly.]


(OOC: Red is Akira, Blue is Gazelle. Post backdated to the morning! Replies will be IC delayed by 15 minutes or so, then come from Gazelle's device.)

video, action for anyone near/in Donna's apartment
It's all right, now. C'mon, let's get inside; you'll be safe in here, I promise. I won't let anything hurt you. You'll be all right, really.

[ The video's a shaky Cloverfield-style, as Donna captures the image of the frightened child, and it juts upward into the sky-- Donna gasps. ]

In. In you go, hurry!

YOU WILL CEASE!

Don't look up, just run. Run!

[ Donna almost completely throws the little thing toward the door to her apartment building, turning to face the descending trio of Daleks, chin high and shaking like a leaf. ]

We're-- not hurting anyone. You don't have to do this, you know. The deities won't stand for it, anyway!

QUIET! YOU WILL TAKE US TO THEM! OR YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED!

No-- please, I can't-- it won't matter! I'll just come back, we all do!

SILENCE!

[ In a flash, Donna is thrown up and against the brick of her building, an electric arc extending from the lead Dalek into Donna's chest. She falls against the ground motionless, the device falling out of her hand to clatter onto the ground next to her. The Daleks zoom back up into sky, onto their next victim. ]

[Percy's voice is quick, quiet, and worried, and his breathing occasionally catches, clearly walking in a hurry.]

Ginny, Fred, George - stay inside, whatever you do, just stay inside - no matter what happens. I'm Apparating back to the cabin now.

[A door. Ambient noises of being outside.]

Okay, I'm - [quieter now, away from the phone:] Miss, are you all right? What happened?

[Indistinguishable.]

With a plunger? I'm not much for healing spells but I can wrap it up for you - here, hold still - Ferula. There, how's th -

[Another voice enters the exchange:]

Exᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴀᴛᴇ.

Get out of here! I'll hold it off - Depulso! Confringo! For God's sake, go!

Exᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴀᴛᴇ.

[There is the high whine of a laser, and the connection abruptly ends.]

Make sure you don’t drop it this time.

[ Bucky’s voice rings clear through the network post, a little out of breath. There are two sets of feet hitting the concrete, the background sound of carnage filling up the quiet. ] How is it I’m always running into you, anyhow?

[ Howard waggles the device pointedly, which makes the audio distorted for a second, the air filtering through the microphone. ] It ain't like I intentionally threw the damn thing, it just kinda slipped. Y'know how I feel about this baby. Good thing she ain’t scratched.

[ But the truth is he's distracted, fascinated at the things that keep popping up around corners and threatening to exterminate them, the wonder there in his voice. ] Now I remember why these things seem familiar, that Amy broad told me about the big pepper potts. And it’s ‘cause you like me, Bucky Boy, we both know it. Ain’t no use pretending. Y’just can’t keep away, can you?

Oh, bite me, Steve’d be pissed if I left you to die, you know that. [ He sounds - genuinely worried - his footsteps slowing slightly. ] Didn’t you see what her Doc said about ‘em this morning? They’re a bad idea and we need to get out of here, so just stick close and keep quiet, okay? No crazy science face until we find a safe place.

[ There’s nothing but the sound of breathing for a moment, the audio not really giving a clear clue of what’s going on bar the fact that they’re both still there. It goes on for a moment, for two, then. ] I think we’ve got the all-clear, let’s just -- holy shit. Howard, get --

[ There’s a thump, like someone being thrown to the ground, gunshots ricocheting off metal, then the high, scratching sound of the creature’s voice, Exterminate. The scream, if it can be called that, clearly comes from Bucky. Someone falls. ]

B--? [ As clear as the feed was moments ago, now everything sounds muffled, and urgent footfalls carry for a moment until they abruptly stop, the sound of something solid hitting what is distinctly a wheelie bin and then sliding down the plastic picks up. There’s sheer panic in Howard’s breathless voice, quiet, and the clear tone of concern. ] Jesus, Barney, Steve’s gonna kill me if I don’t get you back in one piece.

[ Nothing but heavy breathing can be heard for a minute or two, and then the sound of a Dalek sliding up somewhere close makes it stop altogether, the zeet-zeet as it turns its metal head before continuing on its way. Desperate gasps for air sound out, and the footsteps return, more freely this time, and the sound of something being dragged across the ground. ] Damn it, what the hell were you doing saving me? Y’better start breathing, jackass, or I’m gonna kill you myself. [ The dragging noises stop, and then there’s urgent shuffling sounds, but the device drops from a pocket with a clatter and cuts off. ]

So, two things. One, I was thinking about starting a service for running errands and stuff. Well, actually it's me and Roxas.

It's pretty straightforward: we would pick things up or deliver them.

But I'm not sure this'd be very useful for a lot of people. I figure we'll try it out for a month or two, see how it goes.

Uh, we don't have a name. Yet. But anyone who's interested, feel free to talk to me or Roxas.

[ pause ]

The other thing is, a while ago a girl, Hermione, told me she was thinking of starting up a protection group for people in the City who can't fight or aren't as good at it. I still think that's a good idea.

I was wondering if...there's anything like that already. Other than the police, I mean.

[Filtered Against Known DELILAH Members || Unhackable]
That's enough tries now to know the truth: my shots are doing nothing against them. But they're still milling about below the window here and shouting up at me and even trying to shoot back at me. Or, well, I'll call it that.

They haven't very good aim, though, I have to say.

He-Who-Kills has, for lack of a better way to put it, taken over one of them. It doesn't matter especially, but it means that they may be more vehicles than machines themselves--which is a more grotesque thought, I suppose.

Riff, as I said, He-Who-Kills has taken one of these things for himself and is guarding the opera house for us--he's hunting the things, and I think he's enjoying himself for it. I have no doubts about him--unless these creatures should organise themselves and attack him all at once. I've heard that these things, given their wheels, can't go up stairs. If we need to, we'll go up to the higher floors or even the roof. I don't know if this is true. I think we'll be fortunate to hear any answer at a time like this. We're better off here than in the streets, though.

Rosella, if you're in need of a place to hide, and you're near enough to reach the opera house safely, we'll shelter you here gladly. But if you're in the Warehouse, I know it's well guarded and well warded, and I'd as soon have you stay there as try to reach us here. We may use this place as a fortress, but we still have to fight to defend it.

I've never seen stupider or more willfully violent creatures than these. I've seen monsters in my time here in the City, but very few that seem to have no other purpose than to destroy anything they come up against.

Rumours are flying, such as one can hear, and I need to know the truth:

These machines--can they or can they not climb stairs? Or, rather, can they reach the upper stories of buildings?

~C.
[//end filter]

[ooc: Cain will just...stay inside for the duration, thanks. No need to shoot him with plungers and zap him with whisks. He hasn't yet found HWK's body--mostly because he's been occupied, but he may yet. HWK, being what he is can do some cool stuff. Go HWK.]

[Achoo!]

It grated pepper at me with its arm. [Teddy sounds slightly annoyed and mostly baffled.] I guess I ended up in the totally lame corner of the fighting, but anyway, if anyone sees the one that literally looks like a pepper pot with a grinder appendage, I can assure you that all its attacks are seasoning-based. I dented it, but I'm not about to waste time putting it out of commission when some of these are actually dangerous.

[There's a bright light as the communicator turns on and shows Mithos casting Judgement on one of the strange looking creatures (it lets out one more cry of "EXTERMINATE!" as it tries to escape his attack before it is hit and perishes).  The light fades, leaving a smug looking Mithos behind.  Honestly, he's just happy for an excuse to kill something (at least kill something that doesn't have half the city crying pitifully at him for the awful thing that he had just done to some poor soul).]

I've been enjoying the show very much today.  Quite entertaining watching these things take people out, one by one.  Though this one seemed to get a little too excited and tried to kill me.

Well, hopefully the rest will see this and reconsider that course of action.

Everyone just needs to stop dying. [ Amy sounds angry more than anything, but it's mostly a defense mechanism. Deep breaths, and then she continues, a little more calmly. ]

Look, I know they look like pepper potts and pretty useless but seriously. They're dangerous, okay. Believe me on that one.

So. Unless you're actually invincible, just run away. Don't play the hero and for God's sake, don't die.


[ Yeah, so I just posted a hiatus, but— it's Daleks and Bucky died, I couldn't not post. I'll be around today, but after that, well, I hope you're all okay with backtags ;; ]

[The video turns on an you can see someone in her Amulet Heart character transformation trying with all her strength to jump to the roof of Building 10 to take a breather. In the background you can hear the somewhat make out the Daleks which she was trying to escape from.

She pauses for a moment taking her device, unaware it was actually on before as she presses a few buttons changing the setting to voice]

— That was really close. Wow, as harmless as those things look...appearances really are deceiving.

I guess today is one of those day where staying inside is the safer option. I mean, they can't get us there, can they?

This is fragging nuts! They're like crazier versions of 'cons, only with stupider designs.

[He hears the distinctive "EXTERMINATE", and kicks it before driving off.]

Y'all know my policy on rescues by now.

[Private to Charlie McGee.]

I got somethin' jurry rigged for ya', Charlie. Didn't have much time to build it and had to scrounge for supplies small enough, but should help.

[VIDEO]

[Enter one young and confident superhero, who's noticed that daleks aren't exactly the most maneuverable of enemies, so he's not even breaking a sweat, staying out of the way and picking people out of the line of fire.]

Sodoesanyone--

[And before he can finish his rushed sentence--]

EXTERMINATE!

[He turns on it and drops the device, the video catching a flash of the big heap of metal advancing on him as it falls. It bounces and rights itself with a burst of static.

When the picture refocuses, Tommy has his hands up before him. There's an odd swirl and blur, then--

BOOM!

Tommy's face comes back into the frame as the dust clears and he picks the camera up.]

I was saying, anyone need a lift?


[ooc; action out on the streets welcome, or requests for assistance! <3]

There's still several hours before midnight. These monsters likely won't disappear from the City until then.

...Lady Estellise, are you sure you're doing fine? If you're at all tired, I can escort you back to our place.

Yes, I'm doing quite fine, Flynn. There's no need to worry about me. Instead, let's see if there's anyone who is in need of our assistance!

[ Flynn pauses in thought but then nods. ].... Understood. But if -- Please let me know whenever you'd like to return home. I can't have you pushing yourself too hard.

[She shakes her head slowly before looking up at him with a smile.] I'm not returning home until this curse ends and we make sure everyone is safe.

[ Flynn nods here and then smiles. ] Alright.

[Todd is sitting on the couch, holding the device. Clearly, this is actually an intentional video post, surprising as that may be. Nervously, he opens his mouth, then shuts it, glancing off to the side at something beyond the edge of the frame. But then he glances at the device again, and speaks.]

Um-- hello. I'm Todd Anderson, for anyone who doesn't know me. I, uh-- I wrote a play, which my roommate is putting on--

[And he glances over to the side again, now addressing a question in that direction with a little smirk.]

What exactly am I supposed to say?

Remind them what it's called?

[Neil-- because, really, who else would it be-- just sounds amused.]

And that we could still use people on the crew, if they want to help.

[And as Todd addresses the camera again, the frame shifts and there's Neil sitting next to him.]

It's called Like Clockwork, and we could still use people on the crew if anyone wants to help.

[After repeating Neil's words very literally, he looks towards Neil again, this time laughing slightly.]

Anything else?

[Neil leans in to the video frame, grinning, somewhere just behind Todd's shoulder.]

Just that we haven't set a show date, but probably sometime in May.

And [stage whisper] tell them we look forward to seeing them there.

[Todd laughs, and looks directly into the camera with the best fake smile he can manage; clearly a deliberate, jking move.]

We look forward to seeing you there. Thank you.

[He turns the device off, but he can't quite help that he bursts into embarrassed laughter before the feed cuts off.]


[ooc: Tra la la, still working through mounds of backdating, and as such this post is backdated to Saturday. Especially note that this is not happening during Dalek times obviously, ahaha. Blue is Todd, green is Neil.
PS: The ooc organization post is here.]