[This lady might be a new arrival but she is going to be damned if she appears with anything less than perfect hair and perfect make-up.]

Good morning, everyone. First, thank you to everyone who welcomed me so warmly on this chilly day. I'm Sofiya Karimov, and I'm new to this city, and I'm asking for a little bit more help from all of you - trying to get in here before all the other people I saw rush to give their introductions.

First, I'd like a world map and a compass. Don't ask me what it's for, because I'm not going to tell you and I'll get really annoyed if you ask.

[She sounds cheerful, like she's joking.]

Second, I need the names of useful people. I mean really useful. You might think you're useful, but then you come and you start talking about your emotions, and that's not really all that useful to me. Smart people, literate, willing to work and put something in place. Heads down, getting it done. They're what I want. And if you're not them, then no complaining to Chicken Little when you don't like the taste of her bread.

I'm a lawyer. I'm going to be starting with the system of law here. You have things in place, and you've all done decently, but it's underdeveloped. There'll be more after that. Interested?

[And cheerily, with a little salute, she shuts it off.]

A scorpion needs to cross a raging river but fears drowning. As he wonders what to do, a frog approaches. The scorpion asks, "Please, will you carry me across the river on your back?"

The frog replies fearfully, "No! You'll sting me!"

The scorpion promises he won't because if he did the frog would sink and he would drown. So the frog agrees and takes the scorpion across the river on his back. As they cross the deepest part of the river at the midway point the scorpion suddenly stings the frog with its tail.

The frog writhes in agony as the poison slowly paralyzes him. He screams, "What have you done? Why would you sting me after you told me you wouldn't?"

And the scorpion replies, "It's my nature." Both of them drown in the river.

[A pause.]

What do you make of it?

[Jack appears on the network. It looks as if he isn't aware he's being filmed at first; he glances around him nervously, his eyes darting from place to place.]

So-- right. You guys don't got no newsies, yeah? But I'm grown outta that business anyway, so I figure, I'll do somethin' else anyway.

[And now he focuses on the camera. His eyes are a little sunken in; his cheekbones jut out sharply from his face. The entire effect is unpleasant; he looks like he hasn't slept or eaten in quite some time. Carefully, each movement deliberate, he takes a cigarette out of his pocket; his gaze focuses on that as he speaks.]

I draw pictures. Real good, if I do say so myself. Do paints, too. You want your picture done? You want your wall painted? Maybe you're in theater, you want some sets done, or maybe you want somebody to put a, a, a mural on your wall. If it's somethin' to do with art, I can do it. I don't give a damn what it is. I'll paint you and your stupid girlfriend if you want, 's long as you pay me. Name's Jack Kelly.

[He nods sharply, once, and lights up the cigarette.]

An' in personal business, a couple thin's: this gun's good an' all, but I'm in the knives business, meself. Anybody sellin' any good blades? I don't mean no stores, all right, I ain't lookin' for no directions to no weapons shops. I'm talkin' about the good stuff, the stuff you get on the streets. I don't got much money yet, but like I said, I got a few skills I can exchange.

An' speakin' o' them: I hear I got some roommates. Miss, uh, Galadriel and some guy named Guy? Well, I ain't gonna be in at all. Not for sleepin', anyway. So don't trouble yourself with that, when you don't see me come in.

[A deliberate pause. He exhales a lungful of smoke and watches it drift upwards before adding:]

Asano Rin. I got a bone to pick with you, and I think you know why.

[The feed cuts on and a voice starts up almost immediately.]

Soooo... [He pauses.]

I was gone for a week, like the Initiative said I would be, but I get back and it's been more like- [Hums a little, as if he's calculating it] -six weeks give or take, according to the network date here. It looks like everything caught on fire while I was gone, too. Go figure.

Not only that, but there's a flood of newbies, too, as well as people I missed from the last one. Anyone willing to give me an update? Or link me to where another thread that explains it would be fine, too.

Anyway, I'm Blaine. Good to meet the new people, and for the old crowd, I'm back.

[Feed cuts off]

[[Action available for Roommates or people who would seek him out to speak in person. All responses will be in Audio unless it's text.]]