♕ |[98]| show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be alive

[had_not_lived]

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.]

Comments

[passingthrough]

Is a favorite curse anything like a favorite disease?

[had_not_lived]

I've always thought it'd be better to call the nice ones something else, but it's never caught on.

[passingthrough]

What term were you proposing?

[ships_and_snow]

Curse? The City? What's going on?

[had_not_lived]

Oh, well! This place is called the City-- it doesn't have any other name, I know that's a little strange-- and all of us here came from different worlds, different times and places. Mostly we're stuck here, but every few months there's a weekend like this one, where more people from other places come.

But it'll probably just be for the weekend-- don't worry, you probably aren't stuck here.

[ships_and_snow]

Well...

[He has to take a minute to think about all of that.]

They should have picked a better name for it. That's not very interesting at all.

[Yes, that's what he chooses to focus on.]

[joiedeviolet]

[Somebody swings by the bookstore, pushing the door open and walking straight to the counter where she drops a greasy paper sack on the counter. Smells like... meat.]

Don't work yourself to death.

[had_not_lived]

[That's a poor choice of words, isn't it? But Neil's in too good a mood to be morbid, especially seeing a familiar face.]

Don't tell me it was your turn to buy again, I thought you got the last one.

[Grinning like a fool, yup.]

[joiedeviolet]

[Indeed, but he has a heartbeat now, right? So the words aren't all that meaningful anymore.]

I couldn't remember whose turn it was, so I figured that if you're working, I'll just say it's mine.

[worldhopper]

Welcome back would be a bit more like it, don't you think?

[Why, look who's walking through the door of the bookstore in her pink sweater and gray skirt, hair tied back with a darker pink ponytail scarf.]

I'm assuming you know where Todd is, since you always do. The bad news is, I've lost track of Nuwanda.

[had_not_lived]

[See, that makes him do a double-take. Looks like Rosella (except the outfit,) sounds like Rosella (except... Nuwanda?) But somehow doesn't seem quite right.]

Rosella? [Tentative, but of course he's glad to see her.] When did you meet Charlie?

[worldhopper]

...You mean earlier today? I didn't; we were going to have lunch, but then I blinked and--well, here I am. And here you are, too, but I haven't found any of the others yet.

[She remarks, vaguely puzzled.]

[notfuckingcasper]

You got books? Good ones? I'm fed up with old crap.

[had_not_lived]

Oh, we have all sorts of things. A lot of old books, but well, we take nearly anything in trade.

[notfuckingcasper]

I guess I'll look.

Anything about birds?

[mescalined]

[He's coming around the corner of the bookstore, a copy of The Bell Jar in hand.]

How much for this?

[had_not_lived]

[Today's a day of grinning like a damn fool for Neil. The best kind of day.]

If you can manage to smuggle it home, it's yours. How've you been?

[mescalined]

Dreaming.

[watsonyourmind]

[ A young woman enters the bookshop, pausing on the threshold. She's perhaps in her mid-twenties, with blonde hair and a bit of a limp. She lifts her head to sniff the air, and then grins, a bit sheepishly, as if aware how strange that sort of thing was. ]

I may have been kidnapped to a weird City who knows where, but at least the bookshop smells the same as the one at home.

[had_not_lived]

[it's not that strange at all; there's something lovely about the scent of old paper. The original owner of the shop would agree all the more vehemently, but Neil nods nonetheless.]

I think that's common to every universe.

[watsonyourmind]

Thank God for that. [ She smiles at him. ] You must have been here a while, yourself, though. I heard your post on the internet. You're an old hat at this.

[ So clearly she had to come be nosy. ]

bookstore;

[practicingforhell]

[Remember this guy? He doesn't blame you if you don't. C'est la mort.]

Got any book recommendations?

bookstore;

[had_not_lived]

[From the friendly smile, he does. Neil's good about that kind of thing.]

Of course, but I'm not sure where to begin. What do you like?

[prettyimpulsive]

Neil! It's so good to see you.

[had_not_lived]

Is that you, Euphie? It's been a while! How are you?