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.]

[There is a Hulk about in the City. He isn't angry - correction, he isn't any angrier than usual - but he is on the hunt for a green ball of legs. Anyone on the street despite the ghoul infestation may encounter the hulklegs ball and subsequently have a close encounter with a Hulk. Alternatively, the Hulk can occasionally be bumped into mid-ghoul smash.]

Legs?

Leeeeeeeegs?!


[ooc: Related to this with its genesis back here and here in a grab bag curse. It's crack. It's City-born, curse-born crack and now Bruce (really the Hulk) is the profoundly disturbed parent of a Loki monster baby. Never let it be said that I can't be enabled into just about anything.]

[Bruce's morning had come with a jarring transition from sleep to wakefulness when his sleepy morning chest scratching had come minus the usual scritch of chest hair under his fingers and plus the uncomfortable obstruction of a metal object in his chest that turned out to be an arc reactor.

After a period of freaking out and self-examination, the varying particulars of which he will forever keep to himself, he's grabbed his communicator in an attempt to track down his own body.]

Hello, City, this is Bruce Banner currently occupying Tony Stark's body.

If you see this man, he is not Bruce Banner today.

Do not give him caffeine. Do try to help him stay calm.

Tony, wherever you are, I'll be responsible with your body. I assume you have mine, come see me so I can give you care and feeding instructions.

[The video feed opens to the network after Bruce has already situated the camera to his satisfaction. His lab is as brightly lit and gleaming as one might expect. What one might not expect is the Christmas display in the center of the camera's optical field.

It's a tree built of various glassware and equipment from his lab, colored water (yes, just water) providing the festive component in the clear glassware.]

We did this when I was an undergrad. Don't ask how long ago that was. As long as you're just using nontoxic colors and water, it's pretty eco friendly.

I guess I wanted to put my own spin on things. I know the City's been treating us to every-other-day 12 Days of Christmas-themed treats, but it's been a while since I was settled enough to do something myself.

So happy holidays. I hope that those of us who want to go home, find our way home soon, and for those of you who are happy here, I hope the curses are more kind than cruel.

( Bruce's Chemistree pic )

I'm down one physics student, which leaves me with a lot more ticking time. I hate to admit it, but it's getting pretty hard to tolerate.

I guess... what I'm trying to say is that I could use some company. I'm going to find a decent, Cage-free restaurant and lunch will be on me.

Serrure, what have I said to you about going to your mother when you don't agree with what I've told you? Just because your mother and I aren't living together doesn't mean that we don't share parental responsibilities.

I'm sorry you're upset about our living situation right now, but this isn't the way to show it.

Are you going to spend the weekend here or at your mother's house?

[ooc: Ye olde family curse of utter crack this weekend. Bruce is dad, the Hulk is mom, Serrure is their kid, and Luke/Loki is the homewrecker. No, we aren't on drugs. Yes, maybe we should be.]

[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!]

[Behold a view of Bruce's lab in City Solutions. In the corner, the coffee machine is spraying hot brown liquid. Lights are blinking crazily on and off, and Bruce is fending off a robot arm that seems determined to douse him in some kind of yellow foam while he fights his way to the lab door.

It looks like he might not make it, but a coat rack with a manically waving lab coat hung on one of its hooks rolls into view and gives Bruce enough time to get out the door, slamming and locking it.

The perspective changes, for the first time making it clear that this video transmission is coming from the lab's security cameras, showing Bruce pulling his network device out of his pocket.]

Security.

[The video blinks out and suddenly the feed is coming from his communicator's camera.]

Security, lock down the research floor for the day. You...ah... might want to check the rest of the building while you're at it.

[Behind him, the mesh-inforced glass window on the lab door suddenly floods with yellow foam and Bruce jumps in surprise before breaking into a trot, heading down the hall.]

This is another one of those hinky City things, right?

I'm going to take a break from the City for a few days. If you need me, you know how to reach me.

Private to Pepper :: Heavily Encrypted
Are you okay?

[Bruce is beaming at the camera. Beaming. He looks happy and relaxed and... who is this guy?]

I'm getting some really interesting readings from the sensors I've deployed, and the network's doing some fun stuff.

If you're experiencing a curse of some sort, could you reply here and describe the symptoms? It would be a huge help with my data collection.

[ooc: Anti-angst day is go. There's not a thing you can say that can bring this guy down.]

I'm not sure what kind of curse this is supposed to be if it's even a curse.

I don't usually wake up on strangers' couches with no memory of how I got there. [Particularly if there's no nearby Hulk damage.]

Could someone please explain to me what's going on? I checked the network and it seems that people are experiencing a variety of effects instead of city-wide single effects I'd been led to expect.

[Barely heard off-microphone...] I feel very strange.


[ooc: Bruce has swapped bodies with Luke infernoandhearth but is unaware of the swap because Luke is a shapeshifter and his body semi-automatically shifted to match Bruce's expectations. He'll be walking back to City Solutions tower and can be encountered on the street, which I especially encourage if your character has some kind of fire-related abilities. :D ]

[Transmission opens with a crashing sound and low curse that ends in...] --ck!

[A different voice, much deeper, comes in.] Sir? I think you dropped your-- [Fingers on the microphone muffle whatever the man says before...]

Thanks. [And then there's another crash as the communicator hits the ground again.]

What's your problem, buddy? [The man with the deep voice sounds kind of pissed off.]

Look. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I have this. I don't know what it is, actually. I'm sorry. Thanks for your help, but think I'm just going to sit down here and wait for these arms spasms to pass. Why don't you just take these technicolor coins and-- [Yes, there's the sound of coins hitting the ground and the following deep-voiced profanity cuts out of the transmission for the sake of little, innocent, Loki ears.

A video transmission cuts in a minute later and Bruce is sitting on the ground next to his communicator with his face in both hands.]

Dear world, I take it back, my day could get worse.

[ooc: Back from con! If you have a thread in Bruce's last post that you'd really like to see picked up, let me know. Otherwise, I'll grind up the remaining stale threads to bake fresh, tasty threads for your gaming delectation.]

[Bruce looks a little flustered on the video. Today is a strange one. He came into town to gather supplies and got more than he bargained for.

Still he looks relatively happy and he's out and about in the park if people want to come and find him.]

Today's curse has had some unexpected results. I am sorry for unexpected kisses I've given.

[Or will give.]

[Bruce retreated to the mountains after talking to Loki. The god had rattled him and he was concerned the other guy would make an appearance in the town. And it definitely isn't Bruce's eyes that fills the video.

The Hulk steps back, and frowns at the comm which is on a branch.]


Hulk no like white stuff.



((ooc: for the snow day curse because I couldn't resist.))

[Bruce is in a lab with a cowboy hat over the back of his chair. He's moved in with Tony and he hasn't worked out how to leave yet. There is something addictive about being surrounded by science.

Bruce looks up from his notes]

I don't think I'll take up being a cowboy if being a scientist fails.

I don't suit a bandana.

That was a close one Banner [Bruce says to himself as he turns the video on and directs the comm at the fountain that is inches away from him. The video isn’t completely steady as Bruce shifts with a nervous energy.

He turns the video around to show his face. It’s pale, and he is making an effort to breathe slowly. He doesn't think the other guy would do any good at getting answers from people.]

Is it customary to almost be dumped into a fountain or was this arranged just for me?