[At first the video feed doesn't show who's making the post, instead it's focused on a remarkably well crafted stone statue that some people might recognize as Gin Ichimaru, just standing on the spot. After a few seconds(given to allow everyone to admire it, of course) the person recording walks closer to the statue, then turns his tablet around, focusing the camera on both himself(it's Gin, what a surprise) and his stone lookalike which he now has his arm around it's shoulders, and grins that godawful grin of his at anyone watching.]

I came into some extra money this month so decided to treat myself.

Whaddya all think?

[For roommates, it's just back up against a wall facing the rest of the apartment. No matter where you walk, it's visible out of the corner of your eye, unless you turn your back towards it.

But it's still there.

Watching.]

[Today, two unforgivable errors were made: the first, he let Rosette use the kitchen.

The second: He let Rosette use the kitchen.

When the feed blinks to life, the serenity of the figure facing the camera is directly at odds with the thunderous cacophony in the background. Chrono just smiles blandly at his unseen audience as a terrible burst of sparks makes itself visible in—is his back to the apartment's kitchen?]

I just had a quick question. [He might as well dive right into it, as a crash echoes around the apartment. He doesn't even flinch.] Does anyone here know how to repair electronics? A microwave, specifically? I think apartment number 304 could use your services.

[It's here that Rosette comes into view, hurdling around the corner as smoke billows in her wake; if Chrono were actually looking, he might think it seems appropriate for Rosette's definition of an entrance. It's unclear whether she's addressing Chrono or the tablet (even realizes he's talking to the tablet) when she bellows FIRE! THAT'S A FIRE! It's very likely the former based on how the serenity of Chrono's smile twitches into something that speaks silent danger for someone.]

Quickly, if it isn't too much trouble? [The feed doesn't cut off; evidently, his quiet fury is such that he completely forgets to turn off the tablet before hurling it across the room to go perform some manner of intervention.

It lands facing a ceiling that is growing increasingly smokey.]

( action / in case you want to help, judge, or laugh at them. all options are legit. )

Um... Um... Okay! IT'S TIME FOR A POLL!

Which of y'all are not humans?

And which of y'all who are humans are the... the shoot everybody up, bust all the doors down, take no prisoners... critter-barbecuin' variety?!

[It's getting to be nighttime when Aradia films this. She's sitting on a sofa a little ways back from the camera, with a small stack of papers on the coffee table in front of her, and waves once she's sure it's recording.]

Hello, everybody. My name is Aradia Megido, Maid of Time. As you might guess from my title I have a great deal of experience with time travel. But while I have been here I've noticed a major flaw in the Initiative's overall plan; namely, that they don't seem to have any idea how time travel works.

[She reaches over and picks up the first paper, showing it to the camera:]

( Image below cut )

As you can see, the basic idea is that, by traveling back in time and altering certain events, we can sabotage the United Earth and improve our situation in the present.

[She pulls up a second diagram, holding the two side by side:]

( Another image below cut )

In reality it is a little more complicated than that. Let's say, here, that the red timeline is one in which the desired result is achieved, whether that's the United Earth losing power or never achieving dominance in the first place, whatever. We'll call this "Timeline Alpha". The blue timeline is ours, in which a result occurs which we want to prevent. Let's say, the UE dominating the planet and everybody else dying.

As you can see, the time traveler does change the targeted key event. However, all this does is link two separate timelines, contingent upon how that event happened. Timeline Alpha continues with the alteration in place, but the offshoot timeline that caused the alteration continues without it. Because obviously, if no timeline existed where the event needed to be changed, no one would have gone back in time to change it.

[She puts down those two and picks up a third diagram instead:]

( Yup another image )

This leads us to the fundamental paradox of time travel, which is: the alpha timeline simultaneously must be changed, and cannot be changed. It is the final result when all temporal meddling is taken into account, as well as the only viable version of the timeline. All alternate timelines are, by their nature, doomed. Think of it as paradox space's way of cleaning up before things get too messy.

[Switching pictures again!]

( The image pile doesnt stop from getting taller )

Of course, you can travel within the alpha timeline as well, but only within the context of stable time loops. That's where you cause an event to play out in the way it already did. This is the only way you can affect the past without creating a doomed timeline.

That leads me to the first point I wanted to make - I don't think I'll have time to make the second, since the timer is coming up on five minutes already and I do want people to actually watch this.

[She picks up the first image again, holding it next to the fourth.]

Basically, either A) our time travel missions are having or will have a tangible effect on the alpha timeline, but our timeline is a doomed offshoot and will die off sooner or later; or B) this is the alpha timeline, but our intervention is and will be the direct cause of the current circumstances.

[PHEW. That was way more than a hundred words! She puts down both pictures and folds her hands neatly in her lap.]

I think that explains it adequately. Let me know if you have any questions, I will do my best to answer them. Thank you for your time! [PUN VERY INTENDED 0u0]

I, the elegant and glamorous Dist, the Rose have arrived here from my home planet, to grace this savage place with my presence.

[He sits back in his chair. It's not as comfy at the one back home. He'd have to remedy that.]

Though I am a genius, and my work is unparalleled, I do have a small question for you. How many of you are not entirely ignorant about technology? How many have constructed something with their own hands?

Additionally, where might one find the gardens?

Mmm, don't be shy, now.

Recently, several of you have made complaints on this network of being attacked by a strange girl. She used needles for weapons, dressed elaborately, and seemed unbalanced in her affect.

I want you to know that the issue has been dealt with.

[He probably should leave it there. That's the most relevant information: the threat is gone. But he's thinking about the way people spoke of Regina, the terms they used. He's thinking about Martin, who may still not return. But even so.

He clenches his jaw, and he's unable to marshal his irritation.]

I also want you to know that what you encountered was not solely a monster. She was a girl, an infected girl, and her name was Regina Darkov. Her younger brother, Martin, was a long time resident of this place. If he returns here, and you speak of your experiences to him, try to show some respect.

Ladies, gentlemen, a question: what do you look for in a significant other?

[he's grinning something fierce, like he's a host of a dating show or something. don't answer him, he's just going to use what you'll tell him against you when it suits him :c]

Looks, property, good with their hands, an excellent cook? Willing to die for you on missions? Takes a bath every week? I'm curious, this sort of thing isn't spoken about in my time!