[As soon as it becomes apparent that the City is more crowded than usual, Justin does what is, for him, the unthinkable: he makes a post. There's no deliberation, no planning, none of the typical reluctance to interact with the world outside of his very small comfort zone.

Just a rushed public service announcement.]

If you haven't been here before, this is the City. It's difficult to explain and you likely won't be here long enough for an explanation to matter. Stay calm. You'll only be here for a day or two.

If you have been here before, try to set a decent example.

[But that's not the real reason for this post.]

Euphie? Are you here?


[ooc: Fourth wall post! Very much open, even if your name isn't Euphie. Absolutely anything goes, including face twins/movie spoilers/telling Justin he's a fictional character. Hit him up on the network or feel free to run into him somewhere in the City.]

[Rose walks along the various shops holding a shopping bag. She notices more people milling around than usual.]

It's one of those weekends isn't it?

[The video opens in Bobby's room. It wobbles as she attempts to prop it up at the right angle to show her bed, where a young woman in her early twenties is sitting on top of the covers knitting. Bobby makes a shh gesture with her finger over her lips before giving the camera a big smile.]

Bobby, what are you doing over there? I'm not done with what we were talking about earlier, you know.

[Bobby just makes a running leap onto the bed, landing half on the woman's legs and giggling.]

Honestly, you. I dropped three stitches.

[But the affection in her voice makes it clear she isn't mad at all. She puts down her knitting to pull Bobby into a hug, to which Bobby only squirms a little, laughing.]

Get off!

[As both girls laugh, the feed clicks off.]




[ooc: Bobby's older sister is here for the day! Replies will come from horseish and lionesque. (And maybe manlike if Boots feels brave enough to show his face.)

ALSO these ladies are open to all and any form of fourth walling. Hit me up, yo.]

[Meyer's never seen anything like this before. He wasn't around the last time this happened, and the way the City seems suddenly much fuller than before is confusing him. Sure, he's gathered that this is an event of sorts, but it doesn't stop it from being strange. Or from him looking intently at peoples' faces as he passes, wondering if he'll see someone from home. He's speaking into the video as he does so.]

Is this normal? I gathered that it's happened before, but how often does it happen? Does anyone ever stay permanently, or do they all go home?

[He's headed down the street towards Lucky's, deciding that, even though the casino won't open for several more hours, he can always find something to clean or organize there.]

This is as good an opportunity as any to say that between 5 and 8 tonight, we'll be offering half price drinks down at Lucky's. Figured everyone could use it, what with the...

[He pauses, having just nearly run into someone on the street, then looks back into the camera, smiling.]

Well, there's an example. It's crowded around here today.

This is always my favorite curse to wake up to. These aren't as regular as the other weekends, but I guess it's about time you all came calling. I hadn't realized it'd been so long since the last.

If we haven't met yet, I'm Neil. Welcome to the City. It's kind of a strange place, but don't worry, most of you are probably only going to be visiting for a few days.

If we have met, I'm glad you've dropped by! I'll be at the bookstore most of the day, if you'd like to visit.


[ooc; please no duplicate neils (tho facedoubles are welcome), and no outright telling him he doesn't exist. Otherwise, anything goes! <3 BACKDATING WELCOME FOREVER, I will be out much of today so expect some delays, darlings.]

Oddly enough, the first instance of this particular event I was here for has been the worst for me, thus far. I suppose, by the City's time, that's about four years ago now. It's been longer by my count, but to be honest, it's a little disconcerting to even try to keep track of that.

At any rate, when you go through enough of these they start to just become part of life here. Like a drastic, sudden spike in tourism that often comes with a few acquaintances and even friends - some of which have been developed exclusively over the course of these days - who are, of course, welcome to say hello. For those who haven't been here before, welcome to the City. I do realize that how terrifying it can be to find yourself here, but you'll probably be headed home before long, right back to when and where you came from.

For those of us on this side, the best option has always seemed to be going about your day and taking the visitors as they come, so that's precisely what I'm going to do. Besides, I somehow doubt the hospital would appreciate me calling out right after a massive population spike.


[ooc: Open for fourth walling!! Please no duplicate Wilsons, and no duplicates of current House cast without player's permission. Love face-doubles. Love all things, basically. Tags will be delayed as I'll be out today, but this is a SUPER backtagging friendly zone.]

[ video ]

This again.

[Ginny usually loves days like this, but she hasn't had a good time of it lately and she isn't sure if seeing familiar faces today will make her feel much better. They'll leave again, as they always do, and she's uncertain she'll be able to shrug it off this time as easily as the other instances.

Still, she's smiling, because the youngest Weasley's always got to soldier on. She's so damn good at it.]

I don't have to go through the old routine, do I? Welcome, you're visiting, don't get too worried or excited, it's magic, yes—I can do magic, too. And yes, my hair really is this red; I don't know why that's come up before, but there you have it. And no. You can't count my freckles. What a thought.




[ooc; FOURTH WALL! HAVE AT HER. Just no doubles, no telling her she's from a book, and no future spoilers beyond the Final Battle (though if it happens, she'll conveniently forget once it's all over). Feel free to threadjack, too! HAVE FUN AND BACKDATE FOREVER! ♥

Also—Mrs Ginny Potter (chasingafter) may be threadjacking in this post!]

It's not that I would want anyone stuck here, but so many of my friends have left it would be nice to see at least one of them today.

[He's looking through the crowds as he speaks.] If any of you are here we should meet. [And he'll be just about anywhere, searching for people he knows.]

[Yin's prepared, having read up on these days on the Network. Besides, extra people wouldn't have fazed her without the preparation. She speaks without emotion to the screen, expression blank as ever, but, if anyone thinks about it, this isn't in her job description.]

The majority of you will be leaving on Monday. I still welcome you to the City, and any who remain on Monday should go to the Welcome Center, located across from the fountain.

[She finishes there, but can be found by the fountain to greet people, or in the Welcome Center.]

The Garage is closed. So sorry.

However, I'm sure the Blue Light is open if you really need somewhere to congregate. Miss Rosella is more than capable of taking care of all your needs.

Hello.

Welcome to the City.

[ooc: open to anything!]

[Well, isn't this just a bit familiar?]

If you're lucky none of you get stuck here. If not...you're not the first.








((open for 4th wall, anything and everything is good))

[Today is the day on which you get HUCKSTER LUKE.

Because he's had an idea. Which is naturally great because all his ideas are great, thanks.]

Hallo! I'm Loki Laufeyjarson, God of Tricks and Fire! You may remember me from such ploys as The One Where I Cut Off Sif's Hair and Managed Treasures for All The Aesir, or The One With The Horse. Everyone remembers The One With The Horse.

That said, I suffer from a tragic lack of appreciation, and it would be a very kind, and incredibly welcomed if any of you newcomers might provide for me what I lack, in the form of an offering. All you'll need is a fire, and food, if you will, or if you want to play a small prank in my name, I'd gladly take that as well. Or bring the food directly to me. That usually also works.

In return, I can promise with complete confidence that you needn't worry about fire damaging you for the entirety of your visit. Yes, act now, and you have my guarantee that you shan't be troubled in the least by the fiery dangers that could await any unsuspecting City wanderer. There are dangers out there. Can you really afford to NOT insure yourself, with an offering?

Additionally, for the first five REALLY LOVELY offerings, accompanied with a summoning, I will respond in person.

[He winks.]

You're all lovely and I'm terribly appreciative you took the time to hear me out.


[ooc: Fourth wall. Everyone, everything, anything welcome.]

[Nobori is standing outside and not in horrible weather for once! He's recording by the fountain, while Chandela watches the water shoot through the air, flames dancing as it flits from left to right and back again, perfectly cheerful in stark contrast to its grim-looking human companion.]

The City feels congested once more. It remains to be seen whether or not these guests are of the dangerous sort. Are we to play dispatcher again?

I wonder if we've done something to offend these so-called deities... unless someone else has a better explanation for so many curses in rapid succession. I cannot wait for the last stop; I've grown tired of counting off the miles.

[He's too uneasy for the usual "all aboard!" closing, it seems?

He adds as though it were an afterthought:]

Look both ways, listen, and proceed with caution.

[Semi-Accidental Voice Post]

...een four years now since I had this dress restored? There was a wonderful woman with the funniest name--Edna, I think it was, a Miss Edna Mode--and it was all ruined from the water, you know, but I showed it to her and she bustled me right out and clicked her tongue and said not to worry a bit, she'd have it all fixed right away and even better than it was before. And it still fits! Goodness knows I've grown since then--it was my newest and finest when I was still just seventeen. Oh, but it does still look rather nice, doesn't it?

I suppose it's silly, a bit, wanting to wear it today, but--well, I suppose it's a bit silly to be making conversation with a cat, too, isn't it? Though I'm sure I've met some very nice cats before, and you're one of the nicest. I'm so glad you've come out. It's almost as though you're hoping to see some friends, too!

Well, then, let's just get your ribbon on and a nice warm blanket in the basket--there, and we'll even match! Though I think your fur's a bit lovelier than my dress, even so.

There! And now I'll just--oh, did I bump this? I suppose I must've. Well, er, hello, everyone! Welcome to the City--or back to the City, if this isn't the first time. Snowdrop and I are both happy to see you! I'm afraid we'll be out and about a bit today--I think Miss Saya would rather people weren't coming to call at the Warehouse--but we'll be around the Square all day, and at the Blue Light a bit later this evening. So please do stop in and say hello!


[OOC: Feel free to action Rosella (and her cat, Snowdrop) up anywhere in the City, either out and about or at the Blue Light! 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. 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!

And as is becoming the perpetual case and necessity, I am totally okay with backdating. ♥]

Sorry - what's going on, exactly?

[ooc: FOURTH WALL COME AT ME BROS]

[It's the last day before nir most recent trade with the deities is up, and while Hatter hasn't been out much due to  that trade (why risk anything happening when ne's powerless?) ne is out today. Even devils must shop for things occasionally, but especially when they have a human child living with them. So ne shall be out in the crowds, in and out of stores and along the way.]

It really is advisable to stay in on these weekends, but some errands are rather pressing at times.




((open to all for 4th wall, feel free to run into Hatter anywhere in the City))

So, it's one of those weekends again.

Um... if there's anyone from home... I know it's a long shot, there never is, but if there is... I've missed you. So much.

Anyway...

For anyone else, I'll be either at the shop or in the garage.

Tch. It was a smarter option to stay indoors.

But if Pai is out there. Or Amber...

[ Under the awning of a ramen-stand, 'Li's sits belly up in a pyramid of empty bowls. Yes: he ate every single one. And no: he's nowhere near done. As he starts on his twelfth serving, chopsticks poised in mid-air, noodles dripping, he smiles shyly at the Network device. ]

I guess it's another of those weekends, huh?

Please try to keep the panic and shoving at a minimum. If you're lost and need directions, don't hesitate to ask.

[ Also: don't expect him to share his noodles. Get your own. ]

[ OOC: Anything that is anything goes! Just avoiding outing his true identity on the Network. Replies will be slow ~ but BACKTAGS ARE GLORIOUS! ]

....Again?

[ Yes. That's all he has to say at this point. ]

[ OOC: All the trolling, all the crack! GIMME! x3 ]

[Video Post]
[A flicker, a shudder, a shaking view of what seem to be...stars? Stars in a blue sky, a great nebula of stars...? No, it's a view of the City, from a rise just outside of town. The stars are the lights of the City itself. It's beautiful, in its way, from here, glowing and bright and glittering, with light in dark places like magic lanterns and strange flames burning in many colors. And now the noise of crowds of people--shouting and calling out and cheering and crying and singing--rises up through the night air. A view of the City at night, filled to overflowing with people and creatures, both newly arrived and long-time residents. Quite a sight. Quite a sight.

Ah, but the view changes--the device broadcasting this scene is turned, and the lights streak like meteors across the blue night.

The view is darker on this side. The blue deepens on towards black. And one red star (light?) burns faintly in the darkness. It brightens and glows suddenly. Someone exhales. Ah. That explains it: the burning end of a cigarillo. And now, a voice in the dark:]

Guess there's no helping it.

[Perhaps that voice is familiar.

If one looks carefully, that burning red star moves a little--the man who has it bitten well between his teeth is smiling. Just a little. Just a little. He looks away from the device and back out towards the City again. And, with the left hand that holds it, he snaps the Network device shut again, abandoning the feed to the dark, pouring more darkness over the darkness of the video already, and ending the recording in a--]
[//video post ends]

[ooc: And the Man With No Name, who had hitherto been hiding out as best he could out on the edge of the Wilderness, now finds himself obliged to come back nearer into town. Probably someone's demanding a delivery of monster meat or something. Who knows. In any event...he is open for 4th Walling! Go for it! Action or Network! I welcome you!]

Why would my eyes look in different directions??!

[ooc: Courtesy of the Reservoir Dogs videogame 8( Anything goes except spoilers for the ending of Reservoir Dogs please! Asking for no doubles of crew members unless you've already talked to the poly players first!]

[video]
[Her face is so achingly hopeful]

Guys, if you're out there... find me. No, wait, I'll find you. Just don't go anywhere.

[action]
[She and Naga will be out and about in the City, looking desperately for any sign of her friends. Threadjacking encouraged!]

[voice]

Just what we needed: a further invasion. Keep it orderly. There is law enforcement here, and you don't get a free ride because you're new.

[action]

[ You can find Lin out and about doing depressingly mundane things like directing traffic and attempting (poorly) to calm worried temporary citizens. ]

If you've lived here for a while, you probably understand what's going on as much as any of us can understand the things that happen in the City. If you're newly arrived, either today or within the past month or two, this is probably more confusing.

There is a high probability that this is a two-day curse. People who have arrived today will likely leave after Sunday night. There's a history of this kind of curse in network postings if you go back far enough.

What I'm saying is that if there are people you don't want to see who have just popped up, they'll probably be gone soon and you can breathe a sigh of relief. If there are people here you want to see, make the best of this time, because I'm sorry to say it's probably limited.

Text Addendum
This guy: [link] is a few fries short of a happy meal. Just walk the other way if you see him and contact the police force.

Text Addendum 2
This guy: [link] isn't my favorite person when he isn't turning into a screaming beast apparently intent on eating me. If you run into him, it might be him, and that's enough reason to avoid him, and it might be this (link to a screencap from this conversation) and you really want to avoid that.


[ooc: Bring it on.]

[He's sticking a sign to the door of the clinic. Here, let him read it to you.]

Symptoms of seasonal flu: stuffy nose, sore throat, aches, shivers, cough, sneezing, headache, mild fever, and the incurable urge to spread it around in public.

If you've got one or more of these and you're not pregnant, suffering with a pre-existing health problem or at least reasonably certain you'll be dead before the weekend's out, don't come to the clinic. If imminent death is a possibility- [He taps the phone number at the bottom of the sign] call.

We've got a bigger crowd than usual in today already. Let's try not to turn it into a pandemic.


[ooc: have at! backtags and everything except House doubles more than welcome ♥ }

Oh, this curse again.

You can pester me if you bring free food. Having extremely good looks is also accepted. Bonus points if you're from home - as long as I like you, that is.


[OOC: No doubles or telling him what happens to Volgin please! Everything else allowed. He'll be at The Blue Light for people to action with.]

 I never know what the fuck to expect when this kind of bullshit goes down. Don't be a horse's ass and then everything should be fine. Plain and simple.

How's about we start off with a decent conversation point. The Stones or The Beatles?