You are all far too comfortable here.

[Seviilia is sitting in the outlands peering down at her tablet almost lazily as she rolls ice over a rock in her hand.]

Talk of self-governing bodies and other such things that suggest longevity. [She had opted out of the survey for this reason.] We exist in a rebel compound in a world tangled in war, where everyone is on the opposing side. A war that you all were conscripted for without your say-so. A war that has most likely taken you from those you love, a family, an agenda of some sort, all for strangers who expect foreigners to erect defenses for them.

[She frowns a little too harshly. Its been days since she had blooded anything, and it seems to be getting the better of her temper and tone. Her words are clipped and barbed.]

I am still keeping count of the days that pass between bombings, you know. And you, Exsilium? Or shall we continue to sit around and bask in the sunlight until they come and knock upon the Initiative's door once more? Perhaps run some more errands until they deem a proper opportunity for us to strike back?

[Seviilia's eyelids lower.]

They could do with cleaning the land up a bit, if they're good for nothing else. Perhaps grow and ferment something strong enough to win a battle against my liver with the clean soil.

[ When the video comes on, it's a little close to Edmund's face so everyone is getting a good shot of how some nice brown eyes. He shakes it a bit, not sure it's even working properly. Technology. Pah. ]

Er - right - this thing on? Dunno if I'll ever get used to these ruddy things...

[ He pulls it back so his face is more properly in focus and it seems like he's reading through how to work it one more time just to be sure. ]

Well, it should be. Guess we'll find out.

[ He looks back into the camera and offers a small smile. ]

I had a question. I'm not sure if it's been asked before, though I tried my best to look through archives to see, and I think I got pretty far back in it before I got bored and gave up. So sorry if this is a repeat of something you've all answered before, but -

How many people here have experience with world traveling before coming here? And if so, was it like what I've been told here, where you went back to the exact same time you were taken from without it seeming like any time had passed at all? Or did your world keep on moving while you explored another?

... Just curious. No one's forced to answer of course, but it'd be interesting to know.

[ There's another pause before he smiles a little. ] And on an unrelated note - is anyone here any good at chess?

 Is it really August already...?

[It's not an actual question. He has a calendar. That said, Kenjirou is genuinely surprised at how fast the year flew by. Getting old, getting old...]

[That's a line of thought best saved for a more private moment, though. He made this post for a reason.]

Er, it's about at this time that summer vacation starts back home,isn't it? I'll be suspending class for a single month. I do need some time to prepare for the next 'term', and I'd like to have a set schedule for the entire year. Might as well start the break when it always has.

If you're not one of my students, then you don't really have to respond, unless you know of any good bars in town.

[Shameless. The lazy side of him wants to end the message then and there, but if he wants things to go properly...]

Ah... I forgot to mention. There's still summer homework. Personalized, since not everyone's on the same level yet.