every color can be found

[Penny needs help. She wants a date and she can't for the life of her seem to find one, so she does the only sensible thing.

She phones a friend.

And this is where the network device clicks on. The scene: Lucy's place. The players: Penny, dressed in her usual less-than-flattering cardigan, and Lucy, looking just as amazing as always. They look like they're on the verge of a musical montage.]

Is it seriously as easy as wearing different clothes?

[ Clearly a make-over was the obvious solution. Lucy had invited Penny over, made piña coladas in the blender, and put on some pop dance music. Lucy takes a sip of her piña colada and shrugs in response to Penny's question. ]

Different clothes, different shoes and some make-up. Yeah. It's really that easy. Even smart boys are powerless in the face of a short skirt and a pair of heels.

[ Yes, that was a reference to her own genius boyfriend. Sorry. It's true. Lucy grabs a handful of dresses and shoves them at Penny. ]

Go try one on then come out and let me see.

[ Cue the appropriate music for a montage! ]

No wonder I can't get a date. I always thought guys looked for, like... a nice smile, or a good personality.

[She takes the dresses and, yes, there's actually a montage. It's the City. Things like this happen sometimes. Penny comes out in a couple of dresses that are so-so before finding the winner. She tugs on the hem uncomfortably.]

I don't look skanky, do I?

[ There is appropriate gasping at the final choice. ]

Penny, you are a hottie. There is no skank here.

[ Lucy retrieves a pair of black high, high heels to go with the dress and steers her toward the vanity to put makeup on her. ]

They're going to drool on your feet. Boys that is. Maybe a couple of girls.

[Penny is no stranger to high heels, but there are high.]

There's no way that'll happen. I'm not a people-drooling-at-my-feet kind of person.

[It doesn't take Lucy long to do Penny's hair and makeup thanks to the power of makeover music. It's amazing what mascara and a curling iron will do. Penny takes a moment to study Lucy's work in the mirror.]

That's... different. I can hardly tell it's me. [But she smiles, kind of liking what she sees.] There's got to be a part two to this finding a date thing. Do we go out? Where do we go? What do I do?

[ Lucy is obviously pleased with her work. ]

We go out. We have drinks. We kiss each other for free drinks. We dance. You underestimate your hotness. There could be drooling.

That really works? The kissing thing?

[ That makes Lucy laugh. ]

Like a charm. [ She holds her hand out to Penny ] Come on. We'll kiss. We'll drink. I'll show you.

[The feed (intentional or not, who knows!) ends. Penny and Lucy can be found at any semi-reputable bar your character might care to find them at. Yes, there will be drinking and dancing and kissing. After all, Lucy is showing Penny how to woo.]

[ooc: Penny, Lucy. Bump into one or both of them wherever, comment, whatever!]


[COMMENTS]

[As early evening stretches shadows and forces the temperature down from Unpleasantly Hot to Basically Tolerable, Penny finishes scraping the last traces of graffiti from the Welcome Center's facade. She picks up a small stack of posters and addresses the network.]

Okay. I'm all for getting involved in what's going on in the community and freedom's a great thing, but it's been a week and I'm still picking these [a demonstrative wave of the posters] up. The graffiti's not too bad. The flyers, though? I don't know where anything in the City comes from or if we need to worry about conserving natural resources, but in most places, all of this anti-deity Cityzen stuff would be putting a dent in the tree population.

I'm not saying that stirring up some rebellion is bad. I just don't think we need to go around wallpapering the City with posters when we can talk about it. Save some trees--or whatever it is paper gets made out of here.

Oh! And sorry, but I'm not interested in any uprisings right now. Just trees. The curses've been weird enough this month without annoying the deities, right?

[COMMENTS]

Hello, visitors! I hope you're all having a good time in the City and finding plenty of interesting people to talk to. If this is your first time here, try not to worry too much. You'll get to go back home soon and it'll be like you were never gone.

If you need anything at all, feel free to swing by the Welcome Center. We've got coats and warm clothes if you aren't dressed for the weather or if you ended up in the fountain and food for anyone who's hungry--courtesy of the Blue Light, so make sure you visit there because it's an amazing place. I'm so sorry that we couldn't find beds for everyone who was asking last night; that'll be something to work on for the next time this happens.

But like I said, if you need anything, stop by or give me a shout here. My name's Penny and I'll do what I can to help out and answer your questions.

And if we've met before, I'd really appreciate it if you'd take a moment to say hello.

[The Welcome Center is only a block or so off of the main square, clearly marked by a big blue sign. Penny isn't the only one working, but she'd be more than happy to lend a hand where it's needed.]


[COMMENTS]

[In spite of the relatively late hour, Penny is at the Welcome Center. The Center is decked out in a strictly secular but seasonally appropriate fashion: colored lights running along the edges of counters, tinsel draped here and there, paper snowflakes hanging from the ceiling with fishing wire. There's a small artificial tree by the desk; it's a wonder that the flimsy thing hasn't collapsed under the weight of the numerous handmade decorations hanging from its wire boughs. The pile of presents, all wrapped in different papers (all recycled, upon close inspection), that surrounds it is almost bigger than the tree itself.

All of this is visible in the background of Penny's video. She doesn't match the scenery; there's nothing bright or festive about her. Maybe she's tired.]

Happy holidays, anyone who's celebrating any of them. I think I'm too late for the winter solstice and Hanukkah and I know it's too early for Kwanza and Christmas. I hope that you've been having a good time, even with all the curses.

Thanks to everyone who came to the City Solutions party, and double-thanks to all of the people who helped make it happen. It was pretty incredible. Pepper Potts, you did an amazing job organizing the whole shebang, too.

[She pauses to rearrange the garland on a mini tabletop tree.]

So... do you think the curses are over for a while? We got through all twelve days of Christmas, and then there was the kissing. [Ahem.] Today's curse was kind of sneaky and I might think about finding someone else to deliver groceries to the Center. Seriously, I had no idea that the pears the guy who does that for me now brought in this morning weren't normal. You know, until I had them sliced up and served with breakfast.

[And now the miniature tree's ornaments need to be rearranged. Obviously.]

A lot of people celebrate Christmas around here, so I suppose there'll be plenty of parties and gatherings and friends hanging out. That's always seemed like the most important part of Christmas, at least to me--having someone to spend it with. It's hard sometimes, being alone. Back home, I've been spending Christmases with the people who don't have anyone there for them or even places to go or holiday dinners to eat. Some of them have the saddest stories... not much in the way of happy endings. They seem to like having somewhere to go, even if that somewhere is just a homeless shelter. Everyone has to belong someplace, right?

What I'm getting at is that, if you don't have anywhere else to go, the Center's going to be open all of tomorrow and Christmas Day. I've been working on food between curses, so even if I can't promise you super-amazing company, I can promise chili and some different fruit salads and dessert. Go ahead and stop in for a sugar cookie even if you have plans.

[She finally stops harassing the tree and pushes it aside.]

Just don't feel like you have to be alone if you don't want to be, okay?

[Penny looks like she has more to say, but decides against it and ends the video feed.]


[ooc: Penny caught two memories: Chase being alone and unnoticed in a church and Mao being human. Chase's managed to get to her.

She will physically be inside of the Welcome Center through the end of Christmas Day, so feel free to come back to this post and action it up while she's holding down the fort. Backdate or forward-date to your heart's content, but please indicate a time hop if you do either of these!]

[COMMENTS]

[A month has passed since this particular communication device was activated. Its owner is back, however, and looks just as ready to fix the world as ever... and as tired as ever.]

Hello?

Sorry for leaving like that. I know it wasn't my fault or anything, but still... I promise I would've left a note or something if I could've.

I got back yesterday, actually. Late. Really late. I've been meaning to say something all day, but sometimes it's easier just to stay quiet and hope that nothing's changed while I was gone. You know, pretend that no one's left. ...Has anyone left? No, don't tell me. I don't want to know yet. Just let me know if you're still here, okay?

Whoever took care of Tumbles, Little Sam, and Lucretia... thank you. I owe you cookies or something.


[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]

Okay. I think he's asleep...

[Penny's speaking in a whisper, network device held close. She looks unusually high-strung and--is she wearing a purple pajama top? At this time of day? Yes, she is.]

I need someone who can pick locks.

[She turns the camera. There's a silver cuff around her wrist... attached to a silver chain...attached to another silver cuff that happens to be on the wrist of Peter Vincent. Peter appears to be in a drunken stupor. Penny directs the device back towards her face.]

Okay. This is the first time he's been quiet since I woke up--next to him in his bed! Not that--I mean, of course I wasn't there on purpose, so this has to be a curse, but he keeps saying all of these things and I can't change my clothes because I know he'll look! I'm all for giving people second and third and fourth chances, but this is crazy and I need someone to save me before he wakes up and I... I don't even know. I don't think anyone can hold me responsible for anything I might do.

[Penny glances back over at Peter to make sure he's still out. Her whisper might have risen slightly above a whisper there.]

If you reply to this, please reply quietly, okay? And not with text. My typing's awful with one hand.


[COMMENTS]

[The feed begins with static of both the visual and audio variety. This gives way to a nice shot of sand--as if everyone isn't tired of seeing that--and Penny's voice.]

--need you to work, please? I'm not Survivor material and this seriously isn't going to end well if you're broke--oh! You're recording?

[A dizzying spin and Penny comes more-or-less into focus. Her expression is difficult to see, darkened as it is by the diffused white light behind her. She's sitting cross-legged in the sand, a white blanket over her head forming a makeshift (and uncomfortable) tent. It's better than being baked to a crisp.]

Hey! I'm hoping someone sees this because I could use some help. I woke up yesterday in this building that definitely wasn't the building I went to sleep in, but that wasn't so bad because there was some water and food and... you know, a couple of walls. I couldn't get this dumb video phone to work, but I didn't start freaking out about that until this morning when the walls decided to turn into sand and--and I swear I'm not making this up--I heard growling.

[A shadow passes outside, just behind Penny and her sheet tent. She stays silent until it leaves and continues in a whisper.]

Did I mention the things? There're things out there. Growling things. So if anyone's getting this and knows what to do, I'd really, really, really appreciate help. I think I saw the carousel a ways off yesterday, but other than that... no idea where I am.

[Bright light comes streaming in from a hole in the blanket; sand falls on the device's lens.]

Oh no. Nononono...

[More sand falls and the feed ends abruptly.]


[COMMENTS]