[accidental voice post]

[A split second of silence, then a loud splash, followed by more splashing--]

Fucking Christ!

[Coughing, sputtering--]

I knew the bloody deities had got something in store for me when I tried that, but this is just uncalled for. Not even very creative, either.

[More splashing, then:]

Bugger. One of these things again. Thought I'd got rid of it. Ah, I s'pose it's got its uses right now, eh?

Anyone there? Feel like rescuing a bloke from drowning?

Don't worry. Nothing more ought to be coming after you, at this point.

[OOC: John returns! (For the record, he activated a spell he'd left inside the clock, which the deities had altered so that it dumped him out in the middle of the ocean.) Psychics and other "sensitives" will notice that a couple seconds after his post starts, some kind of nasty backlash ripples through the City; if it's IC for them, they can also start having nightmares. All other effects will not show up for a few more days. See this post for more details.]

[voice post]

[static]

--'king hell, can't believe I've still got one of these things--

[violent coughing]

Right.

[sound of running; something slamming]

Did you lot really think any of that bollocks would do any good? Look--I'm trying to do you a favor here--get a dictionary. Turn to the "S" section--no, further, after "shit" but before "symbolism"--

SUBTLETY.

Jesus wept.

No, don't bother trying to tell me what I've missed. I'm a little short on time right now.

[OOC: The aftermath of the escape attempt distracted the succubi enough to let John escape their clutches, and he is now planning his final attack on them, which will lead into his return in a little over a week and this plot a few days later. He's now posting largely to distract his pursuers by deflecting them onto nosy passersby on the Network, because he's a bastard like that. Characters who respond to this post may, if their players want, later mention catching a glimpse of some horrifying, demonic-looking ethereal thing, but fortunately, they will refrain from actually attacking anyone (other than John).]

[voice post]

[Same noises of churning gears and endless ticking as in the previous post.]

I hate this fucking City. I hate these fucking gods. I hate this fucking clock.

I want my bleeding cigarettes--

What's this?

Ha. I knew I'd find something like this eventually. Dare I pull the switch? It might mean the end of the worlds, you know--well, if it does, I'll fix it then.

[Clunk.]

Is that it--

[Swish thwack thump.]

...Ha bloody ha.

[OOC: John pulled a dramatic-looking lever in what seemed like the center of the clock...and got snagged by a mysterious rope from behind, was flipped upside down, and found himself dangling from a tree in Xanadu. I'm kind of woozy tonight so I won't be responding to that many comments before going to bed, but I'll definitely get the rest when I wake up.]

[voice post]

Ha, you bastards, I'm in. So much for the impenetrable clock of mystery and doom, eh?

[Strange metallic noises, as of gears grinding--and the ticking.]

And don't think you can scare me off with the usual door-swings-ominously-shut-behind-you bollocks. I don't want to go out that way.

I'm not leaving till I know what makes this bleeding place tick.

[OOC: mod-approved! John's biggest wish is to know the secrets of the City and its gods, so today he's been able to get past the barriers and into the clock...but no one can follow him, and now he's kind of stuck. D: I'm going to sleep now, but will pick up tags in the morning. Expect John to get progressively crankier as his cigarettes run out. ♥]

[voice post]

Hullo, what's this thing? Can it get us some chips? Or tell me where I am?

I've been here since yesterday and I'm still lost. This isn't any fun anymore. Adventures are meant to be done by supper.

Cheryl? You're not going to tell Dad on me, are you? I didn't mean to run away for so long. I was going to come back. I didn't mean what I said about your knickers. I don't even know what a slag is, just that a good girl shouldn't be one.

I'm hungry, and it's cold out and I slept on a bench last night and I'm still hungry. Someone help me get home.

[OOC: have tiny John, before he developed filters of flippancy and snark to cover up his dysfunction and vulnerability. He's still a morbid little brat, though. No one ever taught him better.]

[voice post]

Right, so my computer's still broken from that last curse. 'kinell was I meant to know that stomping on the keyboard and smashing a bottle into the screen would break it? Bugger all this technology, you can't trust a bit of it. For now I'm using [crackle] this thing to post instead.

Of course, now that I'm back up on the Network, looks like there's another bleeding curse. Either that, or Cassidy's right about all the birds here being on the rag at once. But I don't think that's it.

Ladies, I noticed a few of you've mentioned being a bit lonely, like. How can I help?

[voice post]

So now the City thinks it can placate me--or at least the rest of you poor bastards--with pretty flowers. Hah. Fat lot of good that'll do.

And why is there a sodding doll outside the door?

[Dragging noises.]

Hullo, I'll be using you as an ashtray tonigh--

Bloody fuck.

[Thud.]

[transmission ends]

[OOC: Tags will be responded to after midnight, when the killer dolls' victims revive. Cassidy is welcome to find John's body with the doll looming over it.]

[Voice Post]

[*CRASH*]

Ha! Take that, you buggering bastards, you--and all you fucking wankers that pass for gods, too!

[Sound of running; sound of coughing; sound of more running--]

[Transmission ends.]

[OOC: A continuation of this post. John just magically misdirected the two Hollows that were after him so that they crashed straight into the glass walls of the gods' office. Then he took off for the subway while they were dazed. Too bad he's going to be disappointed when he realizes the gods don't actually care that he did a little more damage to their already-bombed office.]