[The feed flickers on with a wobbly view of a single eye and a thick eyebrow. It wobbles.]

Oh! Ohh!! It's on! I think!!

[The image pulls out to focus more generally on Nitoh's face. He holds his device out at arm's length as he walks up a back staircase in some nondescript building]

Hey! I'm Nitoh, Kousuke Nitoh. I'm looking for my RIVAL, Haruto Sohma, Kamen Rider Wizard. And also PHANTOMS. I'm sure he's hiding some somewhere around here. They told me there are no Phantoms here, but that's gotta be a trick or something. BECAUSE! There's no way I could be here AND he could be here without there being any PHANTOMS here!!!

[He treks up and pushes open the door up to the roof, and for a moment the video feed whites out, until it adjusts to the light and it shows him silhouetted and the scattered rooftops below him. It bounces up and down as he paces.]

Okay, stop don't say it, I know what you want to know. How do I know my rival's even here? WELL! I asked about him and they said he'd been here for a while! So Haruto! Don't try to hide from me! I'm sending my little gryphon out to find you!

[He sets the camera down, still pointing at him, as he activates his driver belt and a little self-assembling model appears in mid-air in front of him: a green somewhat robotic-looking gryphon. He pulls off the ring he is wearing and sets it inside, then looks at the camera significantly.]

SEE! I'll find you if I have to search every donut shop in the city!!

[Gryphon flies off and he waves his forefingers at it as it leaves, smiling fondly. Then he looks back.]

And then you can show me where you're keeping all the Phantoms in this city! You gotta share, you KNOW why!

[At the last, he focuses strongly on the camera, pointing accusingly at it. Then he waves, back to a winning grin.]

Later!!!

[The feed switches off]

[ despite how hard she's trying to appear calm and collected, Gwen's eyes are wide, voice a little rough. she's not about to burst into tears, nothing to dramatic. but enough bad news might make her switch from video to text. she can't be away from her family right now, she just can't. there's too much going on, not to mention finals and- right. ahem. the camera is rolling, so to speak. ]

Hi. [ ahem ] Hello. I'm not sure who's receiving this video message, which seems a little dangerous, but I thought this would be better than not attempting to use this device at all. My name is Gwen, Gwen Stacy. About two hours ago, I was on my way to work - at the Oscorp Tower in New York, for reference - and now I'm... here. Just like that. [ and it's clear she doesn't like that fact at all. ] I'm not hurt, and I don't remember being taken or anything, it just- it's like I blinked, or- or tripped off of a curb, and ended up falling into that room. Which makes no sense. [ yeah, despite having a very polite woman walk her through that introduction here, help her with her weapon ( WEAPON, who gives out guns? honestly. ) and her new belongings, she's still completely unconvinced that this is all real. how can it be? ]

So, I just have a couple of questions, if anyone wouldn't mind taking the time to answer them for me:

One: Where are we really? In relation to New York City, specifically.

Two: Is there any way this can all be cleared up and sorted out so that I can be home by 8pm? My mother's cooking dinner for the family tonight, and I really shouldn't be late or she'll start to worry. And trust me, you do not want to see what my mother gets like when she's worried. It's bad. [ even heh!ing and doing an 'oh boy' sort of handwave as her eyes get a little bigger. hell hath no fury like a worried Helen Stacy, folks ]

I'd say those two questions are all I have so far, so.

--Thank you!

[ Now that she's properly in her own body and Archer has disappeared from the face of this world, Saber can resume what's important. ]

For those who wish to practice or learn of a blade and spear, training will pick up once more in the early morning of the weekends. As for those individuals who think highly of their skill to practice, you are certainly welcome to try your hand against me.

[ Yes, this girl who doesn't look older than fifteen is challenging everyone. Someday this will backfire on her, but so long as she holds the Golden Sword of Cheap Hax!! ]

... The loser has to provide lunch however. [ That's tacked on more as an afterthought than anything as her expression shifts to a calmer one. ]

[Have a video feed. Thassarian grumbles briefly, and the camera swings around as he's trying to figure out how this Light-forsaken thing works.]

...I think that's it.

[GUYS HE READ THE TUTORIAL.]

This is Thassarian, of Lordaeron. I don't quite appreciate being pulled from my task and being dropped here, but I guess I've had worse.

[That was a joke. He smiles grimly.]

So we're supposed to fight this "United Earth"?  Did I get that part right?

--------------------------------

( comment spam for bella )

[ Voice; ]

[ Kira and Athrun are friends. And it seems the network is about to hear and understand how close these two friends actually are. One of them had accidentally knocked Kira's tablet which caused it to turn on and well, the reason behind this broadcast of their... um, very private moment. ]

Kira, I don't know about this. Are you sure this is a good idea? What would Cagalli think? What would Lacus think?

I'm sorry, Athrun. But I need this. I need to get it out of my system.

Kira, you ...

Turn around. Let's get this over with.

[ Then there was a brief silence and the sound of rustling clothes could be heard as you might even sense the awkwardness even if it's an audio post. ]

Let me help you with that.

[ More rustling of clothes. ]

I'm going to push this in ... and this might hurt a little. Athrun, I need to know if you're ready for this. There is no turning back. The best I can do is to try to not make the first try hurt too much.

I am. You owe me if I ever survive this, Kira. Big time, in fact.

[Boy, this sure sounds suggestive doesn't it, but fortunately (or unfortunately if you are a fan of that), the feed cuts off around that point with a loud... buzz?]

[ ooc: Blue is Kira. Red is Athrun. ]

[ this bizarre, ugly situation certainly doesn't have the same quality of his hallucinations, and in none of them has kazuaki ever been so cold right through to the bone. or, well, human, he's definitely never been in a human body in any of them, either... he's tired of trying to figure out if it's an effect of the gas he'd been breathing before he appeared here, or an effect of higure's pheromones, or if it's real. just like his hallucinations, what it is doesn't matter. it's that he gets through it.

so with that in mind, he's managed to make it to his assigned apartment with a small purchase of several blankets and a good coat. he needs a lot more to make it through this kind of weather, but it's good to regroup, after all... now he needs to network, to make acquaintances, to be known as helpful and likeable. it's the only way he's managed to get anything done so far and he won't be changing tactics that have worked.

after the broadcast begins, kazuaki can be heard fiddling with the flexible little tablet thing. he's not quite sure how to tell that it's broadcasting at all. ]

Aa... How confusing, hmm... Well, at least I'm warm while I try to figure it out, ahaa... Oh! Oh, there it-- yes, it must be on now. [ he shifts to get more comfortable now before addressing a bunch of complete strangers. ] Hello, everybirdie, this is Kazuaki Nanakiii. It's very cold here, isn't it...? Well, I hope we can all make the best of it, and everybirdie is welcoming to new people... especially those, mm, who are newly... people, eheh...

[ for a few moments the feed is silent, and it's pretty obvious he's falling asleep. he manages to wake himself in time to ask an important question, though. ]

Ah! Yes, I had forgotten to ask... Does anybirdie know a Yoshio Akagi? He'd call himself Anghel Higure... I believe I could be considered responsible for him, and I'm a little worried...