You know what it's like to feel like you've always been somewhere, even if you haven't? That's what I feel like. The City's felt like home since the first day, just about, and all of you are this giant extended family. What I'm getting at is that leaving is definitely not my favorite thing, which is so weird because I get to be alive and go wherever I want. That should basically trump everything else, right? But leaving means making a new home, and I like the one I've had here.

I remember coming here. It was January and I'd just died at home, so I looked like an extra in a horror movie. Steve Rogers, you were the first person I talked to, and you showed me to the Welcome Center. I might as well admit that I had a huge crush on you for... well, I still do, a little, but I'm really, really happy for you and Bucky. I met Wilson and Rosella and Curt and Lucy and Chase and Raikov, and you all remembered me from the last time I was here--or they remembered the other me that was here. Stephen and Euphie did, too. I don't know how that works, exactly. It was strange, and it only got stranger when Euphie told me that I started the Welcome Center. There was even a box of things I'd left behind. I still have all of it. It doesn't feel quite right, since I'm not sure that I'm the same Penny as the Penny they belonged to, but who lets a gorgeous violin go to waste?

That's something I plan on doing more in the future. Violin-playing. Painting, too. Things've been so busy that I forgot how to have hobbies there for a while.

What I really want to say is thank you. I freaked out a couple of times and there were always friends to talk me down or give me vegan comfort food or take me out to get my mind off of things. When I was lost in the City-Desert, Dean--not the one who's here now, the other one--came roaring in with that car of his and saved me from a two-headed worm thing, and when I was handcuffed to a drunk pervert--no offense to Peter, that's just the truth--a bunch of you convinced me not to do anything crazy like cut my hand off. When I thought I was back in high school, you guys were friendly even though I was more spastic than normal. That one time I thought I was a working lady at a saloon? Yeah. There are a lot of people I should thank for not taking me up on my business offers. I drank tea that turned me into a complete jerk and everyone forgave me. And then all of the times I've been totally overwhelmed by newcomers or visitors and didn't have enough people on board to help, it seemed like almost everyone was willing to lend a hand. And Yin? I don't think anyone's ever been as willing to help out as much as you. I really appreciate that.

And this last October... things were really bad there for a while. Thank you for sticking with me.

I want to say something to everyone I know, but then this would last forever and I might miss someone and that'd be awful, so I'm going to find everyone who's still here so I can tell you how great you are and how much I've liked getting to know--or re-know--you. Or you can come to me. Either way, try not to leave without saying goodbye? There're too many times in life when we don't get a chance to say goodbye. I don't want to waste this one.

Take care of yourselves (especially you, Jimmy). Never stop finding a reason to smile even when things get rough, and remember that everything happens. Good, bad--everything, and none of it lasts forever. So really enjoy the good things when you have them, and tell yourself that the bad things'll improve eventually. Don't be afraid to love, even when it hurts.

That's about all I know. If you're staying, I know things can only get better from here on out.

If you're leaving, be safe and be happy, wherever your door takes you.


[COMMENTS]

There's a lot of love going around today and I'm all for that. The thing is? I can't tell you what to do to get someone to love you back. I know I'm always saying that I'm completely happy to help anyone who needs it, but I'm not exactly qualified to help out here. Seriously. I've never, ever been able to keep a boyfriend, and most of my relationships have been pretty disastrous. So if you're planning on swinging by the Welcome Center for help of the romantic variety, you might want to rethink your options.

What I can do is tell you what not to do, okay? Here you go:

First, don't ask Penny for relationship advice.

Second, don't stalk whoever it is you're into. I'm serious about this. Even if you're a really sweet person, whoever you're stalking is gonna think that you're creepy if they catch you.

Third, don't be a total jerk. That should probably go without saying, but I've met a lot of guys who could use the reminder. Don't talk about yourself all the time, listen, and keep the conversation appropriate. So, like... don't talk about your sex life in a super-public place. That's important.

Last, don't act like someone you're not because you think you'll be more impressive that way. If the person you like can't love you for who you are, then you're probably not the best match, right?

That's all I've got. Wait--no... one more thing. Don't throw yourself at some stranger just because he stopped a runaway van from mowing you down or whatever. No one makes good decisions right after a near-death experience. Get to know people a little before deciding that you're in love with them. It'll make life a whole lot easier, I promise.


[COMMENTS]

Hey, everyone. How're we doing after yesterday?

There'd better not be any horrible wounds and bleeding today. I'm so sorry to everyone who was affected yesterday and I know I'm lucky that I got out of it, but another day of that would've been... you know.

[She doesn't know. Bad doesn't quite cover it.]

So if you were trying to die yesterday, please, please let me know that you're okay? A shout'll do. I'd even be cool with a message delivered via pigeon, just give me a sign. If you don't, I'll come after you and make sure you're okay. [Ahem.] ...That was meant to sound like a threat. Because it was.

It's a hot chocolate and brownies kind of day, I think.


[COMMENTS]

Hey, everyone who's new! Don't freak out, okay? You're in the City and it's a weird place, but you probably won't be here for very long and almost everyone's really nice. Oh, and time stops in your world when you leave it, so it's completely okay if you were in the middle of something. You should plan on being here through tomorrow sometime, so if you can find some friends who'll lend you a couch, that'd be a good idea. If you don't have anyone, look for the buildings with the signs that say "The Welcome Center" or "The Youth Center." We have some beds in both places, and no, you don't have to be a kid to stop by the Youth Center. Curses're special that way.

Both buildings'll be offering free food and drinks for as long as possible. Sorry for anyone who was waiting early this morning; these curses don't exactly come with warnings, so it took a while to get everything together.

Anyway! My name's Penny and I'd be happy to help you out if you have any questions or need anything. You can either talk to me by using the video-thingy you're watching this on--there should be a button that says record reply or something like that--or, if you see me around, give me a shout. I hope you have a good time!


[text; unfiltered]

PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY: Thank you so so much to everyone who's been stepping up and helping out! Quadruple thanks to you restaurant and cafe owners. You guys are the best. But even with all this help we're still completely swamped so if you feel like helping and you're not already signed up with one of the Centers, we could really use you.

And if anyone's interested in helping to run either the Welcome Center or the Youth Center, please please please let me know! Thank you! ♥


[action]

[Penny is all over the City's main square, trying to oversee both centers while running errands and trying to be helpful. She may or may not be carting meals, bedding, or other sundry goods. Tumbles, a half-collie mix, might be following her around. Whatever she's doing, though, she's genuinely eager to lend a hand to anyone with a question.]


[COMMENTS]

I know I probably don't post to the network like I should--keep up with things, tell everyone what's going on in my life, things like that--but the City's just so weird that I can't ever think of anything to say if I'm not replying to someone else. 

What do you post after a ship sinks and people who're really important to you kind-of-die?  "Hey, sorry you guys froze to death and drowned.  That totally sucked.  It's cool that you're alive, though!"  Or when there's a crazy Shakespeare serial killer running around?  "So I heard that a couple more people were murdered in really awful ways.  I even knew one of them.  Bummer, right?"  What about when you spend the weekend being a completely disgusting... rotting... thing?  "Sorry for not coming out of my room.  My body decided to go all zombie today and I thought it'd be better to stay in.  I would've posted, but a couple of my fingers fell off.  It's okay, though, because everything went back to normal at midnight on Sunday."

I mean, what do you even say?

Also, that zombie-rotting thing was completely true.  I don't know if that curse is supposed to make us dead people think about how we're not really alive or if it's just meant to gross us out.  The grossing out was a complete success... not so much the first one.  I don't know about anyone else who's dead, but I'm pretty okay with it.  It happens to everyone, right?  I'm pretty lucky, I think--I get to hang out here instead of going wherever it is people go when they die. 

Oh!  Totally unrelated, but what do you guys think about cards for City-related occasions?  I know I've talked to a couple people about this, but what do the rest of you think?  Do we need sorry-about-what-I-did-during-that-curse, thanks-for-taking-care-of-my-body-when-we-body-swapped, congratulations-on-living-here-for-so-many-years-without-going-crazy, or I-heard-you-died-and-that's-horrible-but-I'm-glad-you're-better cards?  I don't want to make the stuff that happens here any less important, but there're just some occasions that call for cards.  Tacky?  Inspired idea?

Seriously.  I think this could be a thing.


[COMMENTS]