[He's in his lab, returning from locking the door apparently. He was rousted out of bed early in the morning and is wearing a t-shirt and jeans, but he's still excitedly poring over the data pouring in from the sensors that are operational.]

I need first-hand reports on what you're experiencing. This many new arrivals, is this common?

Look, new people, I understand you're disoriented, but don't just go walking into buildings and apartments. Not everyone here reacts well to surprises.

[ooc: Bring it on. Time out for a few hours. Heading out to see Wreckit Ralph. Feel free to tag in and I'll pick up when I get back. (Possibly with random pings from the train.) Baaaack, game on!]

[Natasha is, and has been sitting at a bench in the park, hidden in the shadows, and watching, since the early hours of the morning. Sleep has been difficult, the guilt she carries with her all the time weighs heavier since she's been here.

She'd already gone for a run, and worked out a little. Funny thing about insomnia; you have more time to do everything, which leaves you with more time to think about the things you don't want to. Which is why she's here. To think.

Her hand comes up to rub her brows, her eyes closed. James...No Bucky. He's at the front of her thoughts and she...She's doesn't want to think about him. She doesn't want to think about ways to avoid talking to him. She doesn't want to think about how heavy all of this sits and how much it hurts.

The sigh that leaves her lips, is tired. Exhausted really. She's spent too much time thinking about these things, things she can't do anything about. It's time to move on. She'll go for a walk, clear her head. Start today with the resolve that she's done letting circumstances she can't change weigh her down, she carries enough as it is.

She stands, and starts on her walk back to her room, she's lucky she does have friends, even if they really aren't her friends, but friends of a version of her that they know. It makes it easier for most of them. And in turn, perhaps a bit easier for her. Barton, gave her a room, he's been a good friend, just like he always has been, despite the...way she treated him.

With an irritated sound she stops, shaking her head. No! Not this Barton, this Barton...she hasn't done those things to...his memories of her are happy ones. She has to remember that. She starts walking again, angry with herself for not putting up walls. For not drawing lines in the sand to distinguish the people here from the ones she knows. She's having to start entire relationships over, and that's not easy.

She's distracted, much more distracted than she'd ever like to admit, when she comes upon the the crowd of people. Standing still she blinks, head tilted. Immediately tense. There are... way too many people here. Green eyes wide with surprise, for the first time this week her thoughts are cleared. Blissful silence in her head, to contrast the buzz of voices in the space in front of her.]

What the hell?

[He's in a better mood than normal -- not that that's saying much, given that his normal mood vacillates somewhere between dour and downright irritated -- and he's gone for a walk, cigarette in hand, enjoying the quiet.

Until, of course, he starts to realize that there's far more people here than there should be. Either he's been incredibly unobservant and not noticed these people before -- unlikely, as his rampant paranoia means he's noticed most people in the City during his time here -- or there has been a sudden influx of people.

He looks suspiciously at the first person who walks by him, taking a long drag on his cigarette, holding the smoke in his lungs for a long time before exhaling. If he blows smoke on that hapless visitor, well, can he really be blamed?]

[[OOC: COME AT HIM BROS]]

[Holy shit. It's busy in the Dragon today. So, Charlie has words for her employees. She doesn't bother filtering it. It's just said into the device.]

Guys, I think we need all hands today. It's insane. [She disappears long enough to give someone their tea and their sandwich and then returns a second later.]

Think of it this way. Gift giving holidays are coming. [And Charlie's birthday, which she's more prone to tell people about than she was last year.]

The extra money would be nice, yes?

[End feed.]

[Action at the Jasmine Dragon.]

[Charlie's bustling around the cafe, helping customers. Keeping things in order and cooking, of course. So she's all over the place. Totally bother-able unless you're that clown monster from last time. Then gtfo. No clowns allowed. Especially not since the Circus.]


[ooc: sadly, she will set any clowns on fire. so keeping them away would probably be best. other than that? anything goes.]

... This again?

[ Karl's expression, dripping disdain, says it all. ]

Any familiar faces out there? Hm~?

Won't you come out and dance for me, Saya?

[OOC: Have at him! Anything goes!<3 ]

A breach in the City's barrier?

[ He's noticed this population-influx in past Network entries. Tourists. Some leave with the weekend, taking Citizens with them. Others stay behind -- semi-replacements. A law of equivalent exchange -- something gained for something lost? ]

[ He doesn't know. ]

[ He's caught between observing the phenomenon up-close, or retreating Underground. But parsing his separate threads of choice, he decides to stay Topside. To, for once, maximize instead of satisfice. There might be familiar faces. There might be outsiders with answers. He wants to learn more about the City. He wants out. ]

[ And solving any problem is predicated on understanding it completely. ]

It's really crowded today, isn't it? [ Li sits in a bustling little caff, enjoying breakfast. He slices into the strawberries with a fork. The juice runs out, dark-red, like blood. He smiles at his device -- calculated, a perfect mix of innocence and sweetness. ] It almost reminds me of rush-hour in Tokyo. But hopefully there's no need for train-tetris or pushmen. It's sort of a Fact Of Life back home. But not everyone here would enjoy that, would they? [ He skates the strawberry around with his fork. Bites into it neatly. ] I wonder how many of these visitors have been here before...?

[OOC: Gimme all the trolling! Gimme! Just please avoid spilling his real identity over the Network :3 ]

If you get lost, a good point to find other people is the Fountain. You'll only be here a couple of days, so don't worry about food or drink - most of the City opens up for this, so apartments and hotels are available, although you'll find a lot of the citizenry friendly.

Try to keep the peace. The police force will be out to help if there's any trouble, but can we keep that to a minimum?


[ooc: As usual, face doubles are okay, no character doubles please! Otherwise have fuuuuuun]

[Filtered from Known DELILAH Members || !!WARNING!!: Code Failure: Viewable to All]
It seems the tourists are back again today--this really is becoming something of a tradition. How amusing that it would fall so close to the halfway point of my 'anniversary' of coming into the City. Five and a half years and perhaps the only constants have been the Clock, the Carousel, and these periodic invasions.

It's rather like bad weather or any of the curses: it's going to happen, sooner or later.

But I'm in no humour for this ordeal this time.

Nor am I especially holding out hope that anyone I should like to see will appear. I'd almost rather they didn't anymore.

If you think you need me, you really don't. Send a message if matters are pressing. If the cafe is desperate for my help, send for me, but I'd like to avoid being trampled for as long as I can. I may be going out, but only in desperation.

Why anyone would visit the City, I shall never understand.

~C.

[ooc: Cain is still moping after the circus ordeal. But hit him. Hit him hard. Anything that really unsettles him will either be written off as the ravings of a lunatic or fade from memory after the curse. (And, just as a side note, so everyone knows what I mean by that, Cain is from Volume 5 [North American numbering] of Godchild.) I'd prefer it if he not get spoiled on his own ending, but he can also just forget what anyone tells him.]

[When video opens, it's because the device has been thrown, and turned on as is its wont. Luke is wrestling with a frankly enormous wolf. Sometimes he manages to scruff it, and push its head down, or tumble sideways and get it onto its back, but mostly the wolf seems to have the upper hand. They're snarling at each other as they wrestle: at one point, the wolf grabs Luke by his shirt and starts shaking him, but Luke rips the shirt away and tackles the wolf once more.

This goes on for about a minute until finally, the wolf knocks Luke down and pins him with one big paw on his chest, forcing him down with his entire weight. Luke goes oof, there's a pause, and then Luke is laughing. The wolf leans down and licks him across his entire face.]

Blaaaugh! [Luke wipes his face with one sleeve and pats the wolf's paw with the other. It lifts it up and steps aside, and Luke rolls onto his front, pushes up to his feet, gives the wolf a cheerful scritch about the ears, and then heads over to pick up his device.]

Oh. [He notices it's on.] Today is good, isn't it? I really am fond of today. What a terribly good curse.

[As the wolf comes over to shove his big head under Luke's arm, Luke shuts off the video.]


[ooc: I know it's not exactly a canon anyone (save Chris) plays from, which is exactly why you should tag me with EVERYONE EVER.]

I don't care where the fuck you came from, how fucking confused you are, or if you're bleeding out of your goddamned eye sockets-- just shut up! You'll go home soon, so suck it up.

Um, there's like, heaps more people here today. Is this like a weekends thing? Does this place have tourists?

[Filtered to Mike and Zeb]

Zeb and I reckon we should start looking for flat, eh. You're in, right?







[ooc: OPEN TO EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING. Other gods are particularly welcome. He will be out apartment hunting if you'd like to bump into him.]

These are always my favorite days, and I think maybe, right now this is just the kind of thing we need.

It's a nice day, and if we've got visitors it means there's not a curse. I think maybe I won't open the store-- unless anyone really wants to visit it, I mean-- and just spend the day out.

And of course, for all of you who're only here for a day or two-- I hope you enjoy your stay.



[ooc; please no duplicate neils, and no outright telling him he doesn't exist. Otherwise, anything goes! <3 BACKDATING WELCOME]

[Setsuna looking through some of the people on the street, walking along.]

Hey! Any of you see a guy, about my height, my build, my face, but with really long, kinda pale blue hair? Very girlie looking. Some of you know him as Rosiel.

If you see him, let me know.

The rest of you, yo. Welcome to the City.



[ooc: He'll be out and about everywhere. Feel free to just run into him wherever.]

Ah, today is one of those days again, isn't it? [She giggles.] I always enjoy seeing all the different faces that today brings. Welcome to the City, everyone! My name is Estellise, and I hope you enjoy your temporary stay!

[And she's made a habit of sitting in the park and sitting on the bench reading a book. Of course, she has all kinds of snacks with her just in case little hungry (but cute) blobs come to visit her. Feel free to sit next to her and say hello!]

((OOC: anything and everything is welcome. Bring it on!))

[She's not even aware it's recording. Mocha bumped the device. Mindy's sitting outside Rapunzel's place with her dog, broom handle in her hand. She's just chillin'. Listening to the world around her and pretty much set to not move from her seat.]

...noisy today. What's the deal?

[And there's a shuffling sound, sniffing and barking from the dog. The device is knocked from Mindy's hands and shuts off on it's own.]

Quite a bit of new arrivals, we have. I never thought this place could feel- er - crowded. [He's sitting on a bench, picking single kernels of candy corn from an over large back, red bull in the other hand and just watching all of what seems to be going on.]

[OOC: Hit me with your best shot, but no mention of anything past JiM 644.]

[This is Justin making a post. Reluctantly. If there weren't people he hopes to see again, he would happily spend the day in his room with his cat and a book. As it is, he's in the garden with his cat and a book.]

For those of you who are new to the City, don't panic. This happens periodically. It's temporary. Anyone who arrived today and hasn't been here before: Don't panic. You'll go home soon.

"Don't panic" is actually the best advice I have.

If you're looking for me, I'll be in Xanadu.


[Private to Ken Ichijouji]

I'd like to discuss something with you, please.


[ooc: Anything goes! Replies may be sporadic due to NaNo.]

[ Bucky hates jogging.

It seems kind of pointless, running around with no real purpose at hand. It just reminds him of cramped boot camps, of men training to be soldiers in sunny little towns when the reality had been nothing like that. So he's not the biggest fan, and since coming here he's put it off. Sure, he keeps his aim strong, still works out but he doesn't exactly stick to a regime.

Right now though, that's precisely what he's doing. If it isn't clearing his head, it's keeping him from focusing on anything beyond breathing and the thump of his feet against the ground. He doesn't have any of the flashy kit some joggers seem to have either, lucky enough to find faded green in the stores, trainers that have seen better days, nothing too futuristic, nothing out of his time. It makes him feel more at home. Anyway, who needs to have a heart rate monitor when you can hear it in your eardrums?

But the one thing that does temper his jogging ability is crowds. He hadn't noticed until he'd come up to the park, and then it's pretty much clear. ] Awh hell, again?

[ Jogging on the spot for a second. The place is over run with people he doesn't recognise and it's a pretty big clue that it's one of those weekends. ]

( ooc: okay so no character twins pls! canon mates is fine as well as having face twins because I enjoy that but no other Bucky's because his poor brain would break and then where would we be? )

I love these weekends. So many new faces. I'll be downtown for lunch if anyone cares to join me. My treat.

What a pleasant surprise to have you all back here. It's been a little while since your last visit.

Now, is there anyone I know out there? I'd be very interested in a little visit.

Alright you shitfaces. I have the same rules as the last time you were here so listen carefully.

1. Don't piss me off. I will shoot you in the damn face.
2. Litter and I shoot you in the damn face.
3. Keep the volume down or I will shoot you in the face.
4. Be a jackass and I will shoot you in the face.
5. Touch my family and I will kill you.

Got that? I'm not repeating them.

You're all so damn noisy. Why don't ya all just go the fuck home?

[He huffs then realizes something.]

Raphael, if you're here then don't show your damn face to me. I hate you, you bastard. So stay away from me because I'm never talking to you ever again.

[Marishka is fascinated by this day and she watches everyone before smiling at the camera.]

Will all these people stay? They seem so...delicious.

[There's a giggle before she licks her lips.]

Come, my darlings. What fun we shall have today.

Hello, new friends. I think I should establish a couple of rules for visiting Diva's Palace today.

[He smiles at the camera fondly before resting his head on his hand. This is very amusing to him.]

There are some very temperamental people living here. If you don't want to be ripped to pieces or eaten then do tread lightly. I would hate for something tragic to befall you. Especially for something so innocent as a visit.

[He laughs softly then brushes his fingers through his hair.]

So, who wants a tour?

[Having seen his father, and dealing with him, Theo began to look around hopefully for someone else he knew.

With the two zombie rats on his shoulder and his general undead vibes, he cut a strange figure moving between everyone as carefully as he could, but occasionally bumping shoulders.]





((Have at the necromancer. People trying to smite him are always fun.))

The last time, it was summer--June, I think, the end of June or so, because Edmund was gone and I was still trying to sort out the Blue Light and all--and now it's autumn and everyone's come back again. That's how it goes, you know, in seasons. Once in the summer, once in the winter, once in the fall or spring, but not often both. Sometimes it happens on Halloween, even--I remember there was once when everyone came, and that was the silver lining to an awful October, getting to see everyone and...

It's just, one does this enough and one grows to expect...well.

Edmund, are you here? Please, I hope you are--and Blue, if you are too, I'd...and I know Alexander was here last, and sometimes Mother comes, and Daddy, and...

Um.

That is, it's very nice to see all of you visiting today, both the people that have come back and the ones that are here for the first time. Just as before, we'll have the Blue Light open late tonight and tomorrow, for anyone to come and sit and have something to eat and visit awhile, and that's where I'll be should anyone come looking for me.

And if you're here, too, you awful dog, you keep away from me--you haven't gotten me yet, and I won't let you, I won't--


[OOC: As per usual, she's canonically from just after the end of Perils of Rosella, and with some very disjointed and vague knowledge of Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder. Not that that really means anything to anyone, but. If something comes up that I don't want her to know, I'll just have her forget it, so have a party--anything goes! HIT HER WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT. Troll, threadjack, have a ball!

And of course, because RL has shown an unfortunate trend of eating me alive lately, I am totally okay with backdating. ♥]

Am I back? ( A beat. ) I'm back, aren't I? 'cept it's busy. Is it one of those weekends? Does that mean I'm just visiting, then?

( Yes, this is Amy Pond, sitting down on the edge of the fountain — a little older. ) How long has it been? Bucky? ( A painfully hopeful expression. ) Doctor? Doctor, are you here?



(ooc; Anything goes for Amy. Also, she's back from being canon updated, and she's a few years after The Angels Take Manhattan now. )

[ Clint's not planning on admitting to it any time soon, but the conversation he had with Phil recently about everything that happened before either of them arrived here has been weighing on him a little, and he knows that he's not been the best person to be around lately. Well, less so than usual, at least, and that's when he's not been going off alone.

So he's up earlier than he's been used to, dressed, and out walking Fury around the streets of the City, a take-out cup of coffee in hand. It's not that he doesn't often walk their dog, but he doesn't usually do it quite so early, especially not on a weekend, and this way Phil gets to sleep in without Fury barking for attention and waking up the whole building.

Sometimes he's slow on the uptake when it comes to personal things, better at shrugging them off than dealing with them, but Clint's finally settling into everything, thankful that he's been given chances he would never have had at home, and he's happy. He knows how lucky he is and he doesn't plan on taking it for granted.

He's in a good mood, even smiling outright without attempting to conceal it, and even the fact he's noticed that there are far more people out in the streets, the majority looking puzzled, which can only mean another long weekend of strangers flooding can't dampen his good spirits.

He should probably know by now that this amount of contentment can never last. ]


[ OOC: Fourth wall! Feel free to run into him anywhere around the City. ]

Anyone looking for me today?

Anyone from home or who used to know me here?

Please, I'd love to see you.

[Zack is walking around the City. He found himself a suitable apartment (finally) and now he's just enjoying the fresh air. Every once in awhile, he will pause and watch the new (?) residents, unable to hide his curiosity.]

I guess they were right. The numbers have swelled. [He stops at a cross-walk, tilting his head.] If anyone named Cloud shows up, give me a shout out, alright?

[He's still worried about that particular Chocobosoldier.]

I've got some loose ends I'd like to tie up while I'm - [alive] here.

[OOC: Fourth-Wall me, bbs. No duplicates, though. ♥]

[video / action]

[Peter strolls across the screen.]

Jesus Christ, Howl, what'd you do the place?

[He picks up one of Uhura's bras and holds it up to his chest.]

Did you piss Sophie off? [peering closer] No, don't think they're big enough.

[Uhura walks in and stops.]

Excuse me? Who are you?

[Peter leers and the feed cuts off]


[About twenty minutes later, the feed clicks back on. Peter is outside the basement door. He looks a little worse for the wear.]

That bitch is crazy.



[ooc: Peter's around for 4th wall! Let me know which of them you want to respond in your comment.]

[ Carla Morir is quiet for a moment looking down into the camera, after that moment however she smiles wryly, lifting it to point at this gentleman. He gives her an irritated look, fiddling out a cigarette to blow the smoke at her.

All Carla has to say is this, ]

Someone come take this prick off my hands before I kill him.


[[ooc; I am weak. All of your 4th wall madness is welcome to me. Her brother Donovan (no_affection) may pipe up as well.]]

A weekend like that again, huh?

...guess it can't get worse than last time.

[Kira's sitting at a bar - one he's been frequenting with a couple of people, some of them gone already - and looking less than impressed.]

If anyone of interest happens to drop by, I'll be having a drink. Join me. Invitation also goes to people that don't just drop by when they feel like it.

I could use some steady people to hang out with.

( some filters )

I swear to fucking god it's alway the weekend where I need to get shite done-

Okay, fuckers, come on, say your piece already, I'm listening.

Moore, tug your pants up, no one needs to see that.


[ooc: Anything goes!]

Ah, hello again, everybody! I forgot how busy these visitor weekends get...it's been a while since we've had one, I think.

But if you're thirsty or hungry or just want a place to sit, the Jasmine Dragon is always open to visitors! Best tea in the City, and yeah, it's sort of overcrowded at this point, but still, you're always welcome there!

...Oh. And Flynn...if you're here? Come say hi. It'd be really great to see you again.

It figures that I'd end up here just in time for another one of these weekends to roll around.

( OOC: open to any and all fourth-walling action! COME GET HIM. )

In lieu of the visitors returning to the City, I shall make it known that the apartment I inhabit shall easily suit all those from Asgard. I know you are here - and should like to hear from you again.

[A pause. Her eyes narrow.] And you - I know you are here, you are always here in these days. Whatever you may think you can wreck in two days, I shall return it tenfold. Behave, or it will be my sword and my shield who educate you. And they do have backup.

[ooc; Even if Sif only is waving to Aesir right now, I personally encourage ALL THE THINGS except for doubles. Please.]

Hello, hello, so it's one of those weekends and I can't let it pass without a formal announcement. [ He sounds giddy for a moment, one can only assume that the reappearance of his former companion has boosted his emotional standing. ]

So, all old friends if you're wandering around out there searching for a cup of tea, this is the Doctor speaking. Look for a hat shop. The kettle's on the boil. I have jammy dodgers. [ Excitedly. ] And scones.

[ Static and then: ] Of course, even if we've never met, feel free to pop in too. I love meeting people.

( ooc: no eleven twins pls but any other regeneration is fine! canon mates muchly loved. ♥ )

So just what kinds of visitors have we been greeted with this time? 

 [New people that won't be around long enough to complain about potentially being eaten by hungry magical goats? A very good plan if the poor goats get to digest them, if not...oh well, next.]

So. [She's sitting in a dimly lit room at a small, round table. There are books stacked high to the side, but she looks like she's given up on reading any.]

Has anyone come to drag my ass back home, yet? With all the people popping up, you'd think someone would be here to hover and tell me to stop slacking off and my vacation's over.


[OOC: Opting in to the fourth wall! Anything goes except doubles. And maybe avoid "joke" accounts, please and thank you!]

[Doc knows what he's come to the network to say, but he still takes a moment before beginning. He clears his throat, awkwardly.]

I hope that everyone is well. I, ah-- I believe I owe a great many of you a very sincere apology. I realize that many consider it to be something that goes unsaid, when one's mind has been altered by the effects of a curse. Most do not feel that an apology is necessary. However, I can't in good conscience let this go unsaid.

I am immensely and sincerely sorry for my behavior during the circus' stay in the City. Using scientific knowledge or skill for such mindlessly cruel entertainment, designed for the purposes of financial gain and personal exploitation... I would never for a moment consider assisting in such an enterprise, were my wits my own. But, as they were not, I can only apologize. I can certainly understand if some have too great a difficulty in finding forgiveness, and I can only hope that I have not lost any friendships over the matter. There are few things I consider to be of greater value.

[That being said...]

I also realize that we again find ourselves with a number of guests; welcome to the City. If there are any familiar faces among the crowd [he can always hope], don't hesitate to make yourself known. Though, certainly, anyone is welcome to stop in and say hello.

[private to charlie]

I wanted to thank you, for both the cookies and the message. I can truthfully say that it meant a great deal to me, and came as no small relief, to know that you harbored no animosity.


[ooc: Open for fourth walling! Please don't outright tell him he's fictional, though uncomfortable levels of knowledge are a-okay, and no duplicate Docs please! (Can't be having paradoxes up in here!)]