( [Filtered to Riku] )

[The vid feed is dark. In the shelter of the alleyway, there's some flickering attempts at a fire in the shelter of the eaves. Luke ventures away from the camera to try and feed more paper and fuel into the half-busted can, but he's not very good at this. After a sigh, he returns to the tablet and flops down. The rain drones on just a couple feet away.]

Heh, I thought building a fire would make me feel better, but I can't even do that properly...

[He runs a hand through his hair to briefly collect himself]

I wanted to let everyone know that Asch and Guy are both gone. I don't know how many friends they had, but Asch had a lot of connections. [He doesn't look at the camera. Guy is okay, he's sure of it, but Asch...]

There's-- there's so much he left unfinished. I'm not Asch, but if anyone needed his help with something, then... please, let me try in his stead.

[His fingers tighten in the gathered fabric around his knee, trembling visibly. He reaches over and turns off the tablet.]

[It's been a while since Kili's shown his face in public, and as the feed starts, it becomes apparent as to why. The young dwarf is terribly pale, a gleam of sweat shining on his brow and dark shadows beneath bloodshot eyes. He's been ill, very much so, and it's only really now that he's become conscious enough to speak.

Some words are difficult to understand as his voice is mostly gone, and what is understandable is spoken in a rough, croaky tone.]

I will pay for someone to bring me food, and ale if possible. I have coin or I can pay you back in fresh game, once I-- [He's interrupted by a harsh cough.] Once I can hunt again.

[He's half tempted to ask for a healer. He may be getting better, but he still feels awful. His pride rebels against the idea. He's a dwarf, he's strong. He can handle this on his own. It's difficult enough to admit he's too weak to fetch himself food.]

If I could get that soon.

( filtered to Celebrian )

[the camera is on Renee in Nondescript Alley #9, not wearing the mask that usually renders her faceless. She figures unless she wants to walk around with the mask 24/7 she'll need people to get used to seeing her normal face and avoid associating with her Question identity.]

Haven't had much use for this thing so far, but I'm getting desperate so I figured I'd give it a shot. Tell me someone knows where I can get a drinkable cup of coffee in this dump. Anyone who does gets a cup for themselves on me.

[No she's not going to give her name and background. If you need it she's likely already found you or will find you. Pardon her attitude, recovering alcoholic/ex-cop in a city with more bars than coffee places does not make for a happy Renee. Still, at least she's offering a reward. She taps her finger on the side of the computer for a second, then looks vaguely irritated at something and goes on]

Also, I've been hearing stories about tension between arrivals and exiles, not to mention inter-group conflict. Anyone doing anything about that? Doesn't seem to be any sort of police force.

[Mahdi is wearing his hair down, a rarity for him. He's dressed in a loose-fitting shirt, nothing too impressive, sitting in his room and smiling.]

I've learned a lot since I arrived here a year ago. Most of all, I learned that people are more than just a sum of their good and bad deeds, People are much more complicated than I ever understood at first. So I want to thank everyone for being patient with me - or uh, not, as the case may be - because it's been a chance for me to learn. Thanks.

Have you learned anything really surprising while you've been here? I'd like to know.

...On the note of anniversaries, um, I'd like to go out dancing? Somewhere with really upbeat electronic music, that's my favorite. Sort of as a personal celebration for making it this far. Maybe I'll have a dinner or something too, if I can think of something nice to make. Would anyone like to come with me? Dancing, not to dinner. Dinner's still in planning stages. I'll need a buddy, or um, a bodyguard, because I'm so small. It's not good for me to go crowded places on my own. I'd feel more comfortable if I had someone big and tough by my side! Or just tough. Pretty much anyone's tougher than me.

[As if to prove him right, a small black kitten crawls up his arm and begins chewing on his hair.]

Truffle! How many times have I told you, I'm not your mama! You don't need to groom me!

[The video opens up with a longer-haired Lisbeth, her red-head roots showing because what does a woman have to do around here for some black hair dye? She seems distracted as she clicks around on her computer to the side. Soon, she's biting the cuticle of her thumb.]

If you could take on a project that has the potential to lead to some kind of public attention - attention on you - would you do it?

[Have a rare not-text post from Johnny. He has the tablet's camera sitting on a table, as he relaxes on his bed with his old guitar. He idly strums some cords as he talks.]

What do you guys do for entertainment around here? I'm startin' to think I've been here too long when I'm actually waitin' for the Initiative to send us somewhere just to break up the monotony. Don't get me wrong, going back to the prehistoric beach was pretty friggin' sweet. Didn't know I needed some sunlight that badly. But lately, back here in Dreary Town, things get... I dunno, tiring. Wake up, go train, put buildings back together, practice guitar when I can, go to bed and repeat it all again.

So what are you guys up to? I'm pretty stoked about this radio thing, I gotta say. That'll be cool. But what else is goin' on out there? What do you do in your free time?

I was also wonderin' how many other people have been here as long as me, or longer. Been here a year now this month. Time flies when you're havin' fun. [Maybe just a liiiiitle sarcasm there.]