[The feed comes on to one of the sectioned-off areas of the temporary housing area, more specifically to a cot carefully made and covered with a plastic sheet. Atop the sheer is a collection of plants in various containers, mostly stereotypical pots made of plastic plastic or unglazed ceramic, though there's at least two or three deep cereal bowls for smaller plants and a paint bucket barely in frame. These are very clearly mostly tomato plants, from the small red shapes spotting them here and there.

Finally, a slight redhead enters the frame, fidgeting with her coat nervously.]

Um, hello! My name is Tsubomi Hanasaki--I'm new. It's nice to meet you all! I'm here to talk about plants!

[She lifts the closest pot with any reddening tomatoes, leaning closer to properly show it to the feed.] I've been growing some vegetables. Mostly tomatoes, and I'm waiting on some carrots. Anyway, after some trial and error, I think I've figured out how to grow tomatoes indoors, if anyone wants a plant! There are... a lot here... [She gestures to the pots on the cot.] They need a couple of lamps and some water, and all I ask in return is letting me look at it sometimes! You can keep all the tomatoes, and everything. So if you want to come to the Hold and pick one up, ask around for me! Or I can come to you! I have about twenty, but I'm planting new ones every day, and as soon as they've taken root I'd be happy to give them away. [The power of magic, to get these plants started!]

[She looks uncertain for a moment, and then takes a deep, visible breath.]

Thank you for your time!

[She bows, and goes to turn the video off, only for it to go tumbling from whatever she had it perched on with a rough clatter. Tsubomi's concerned expression fills the feed just before it turns off.]

[Action is open to other people in temp housing or anyone who wants to come by and pick up a plant!]

[there's the sound of scuffling, and a perfectly fine view of the ceiling before Artie's tablet gets knocked off the pile of books it had been sitting on as he rummages around. he likely turned it on by accident in his search ... think of it like pocket dialing. he's talking to himself as he does so]

No, no, I know it's in here, it's got to be in here - unless it's in the wash, I hope it isn't in the wash, then it's ruined and where am I going to find a clockmaker to fix it in this place? At least one that will actually want to do business with me...

[he paces past the table, though the view is sideways and lopsided. he's patting down his pockets, frantically]

-- Of course I haven't completely lost it, why would you say that? I would never - no! No, not even now. ... I don't hate him that much, he - it wasn't his - well maybe it was but I don't ... he was my ...

[he shakes his head, looking almost desperate, then scowls suddenly] NO. That is NOT my fault and don't you even TRY to tell me that it was, he made his OWN decisions, and -- and -- DON'T YOU EVEN SAY HER NAME, DON'T YOU DARE.

[he picks up an empty glass from the table and hurls it into a shadowy corner with extreme prejudice]

I can take you wheedling me about my father. About my family. About Moscow and the NSA and about Carol and Jimmy, I've been doing that myself for years, but YOU DO. NOT. MENTION --

[and then he looks over and sees that the tablet is on. cue deer in headlights.]

((OOC: Have one more Transport seein' runeblade demons! Enjoy your peek at the skeletons in Artie's closet, and please feel free to poke the badger.))

( Open action, cut for length. )


[Later, his voice tight and restrained:]

So who else is aware that we seem to have a problem literally lurking in the shadows? In any event, I haven’t had a proper spar in some time, if anyone properly skilled for it is so inclined. [AKA: he needs to get some aggression out.

[And after a moment, an addendum:] Not you, Ichimaru.


[[OOC: Yep, it's them runeblade demons again.]]

[ Feferi looks worried-- frowning, braiding and unbraiding a lock of her hair ad nauseum. She doesn't speak at first, distracted by something offscreen as soon as she turns the feed on. She brings her attention back to the tablet after a few seconds. ]

I have been thinking a lot lately, and I think I understand now what other people have been saying the whole time.

We should leave here. I mean it, just leave the Hold! They cannot do anything about it if we do. I know they can't send us back, and they're probably not going to kill us because they need us, and even if they tried, I bet we could take them on! We fight and win against the UE, why couldn't we fight and win against the Initiative? We have magicians, scientists, doctors... everything! We could make it on our own if we wanted to!

[ She gets herself all worked up the more, the finally sighs and deflates a little, her shoulders sagging. ]

I don't want to be here anymore, I am tired of being the scapegoat for something we didn't do.

[ And, quieter: ] I wish my lusus was here...

[[ ooc: Feferi is currently falling victim to the runeblade shadow demon thingies from this plot here. ]]

[The unpleasant whispers have been nursing his worry all afternoon. They had been quiet enough at first; relatively easy to put aside while he worked but now, in the quiet of his apartment, the vicious words and the shadows that danced just outside of his immediate vision were starting to wear on him. When he reaches for the tablet and flicks on the video function, it's with a degree of unease.]

Seems like others see them too, then.

[His manner is guarded, face set in an unhappy, worried expression. He eyes the tablet, skimming through what he can, swallowing lightly. To be strong one must put their faith in the Light, and he reaffirms this with a pale shimmering aura about himself before saying anything else. The shield will help protect him, of that he's certain, but the unease continues to grow.]

Tell me, does anyone have any idea where they've come from? Are they only affecting us around here or ...can those outside of the city itself see them - hear as well?

[He gently presses the button that sends it to audio. The whispers have begun again and he would rather not lose his careful composure. Meditating doesn't seem like the correct path, not right at this moment. Still, he hesitates for a moment, and one might hear the slight inhalation before he simply says-]

Please be safe, everyone.