[ Aerith appears to have finally decided to get around to using her communicator more, now that she's had some time to get settled in and explore (and also establish that there really isn't anyone she knows from home around here). Her hair looks a little damp and her face a little flushed, like she's been out in the rain, but she's smiling, an empty basket in her hands. ]

I don't suppose there are very many flowers growing around here, are there? It looks like it might take a little time to get back in business since I have to work from scratch.

[ She shifts the basket aside, pointing the camera toward a raw patch of earth that she's clearly been tilling, dug right down into in a particularly large section of missing/damaged pavement. There's a scattering of flowers there, growing just as resiliently as ever in a place where they have no business being. ]

No place is too gloomy for me to work with. Soon, I'll be able to fill the whole basket! I'll accept orders in advance, limit one per person.

[ She laughs faintly, playful, teasing, and turns the camera upward again. ]

Do you think—"they" would allow something like a flower shop around here, anyway? If I'm going to be here awhile, it may not be a bad idea to keep busy. —Busy-er.

( Private: Fenris )

[ Over the network, a quiet voice speaks up, getting louder and more excited as she progresses, only to slow down somberly towards the end. Merrill is somewhat reluctant to use the video feature this time, wondering if people will treat her better if they don't know she's an elf right away. Not that she's ashamed! It's just an experiment, right? ]

Hello, everybody! My name is Merrill, and it's so good to meet you. But oh, I suppose this isn't really the same as meeting, is it? I mean, you can't really bow or shake hands or see the way someone stands, or go places with them. But it's still a marvelous creation, this contraption! If we had such a thing on Thedas, I wonder how much more quickly everything would be taken care of! But then people might visit each other less, and that's no good.

[ Although if she fixes the Eluvian, won't that virtually be the same thing? Maybe that's why this thing fascinates her so. There might come a time when she has to take it apart. ]

Is that the case here? I hope not. It's much more fun to go to the market with an actual person, but then I guess this is better than a ball of twine! I do wish I had a ball of twine, though, to keep me from getting lost. Even with the map, it doesn't seem to help much, but fellow Transports have been very kind with directions. And speaking of, what I was hoping to ask is if anybody knows of a proper garden? I know of where there used to be one, but it's clearly been abandoned.

I am sure there are many plants of this world that could be revived and nurtured if we could create the proper environment, and I also have acquired some very interesting seeds and species from that ancient beach we all visited! Most of what I scavenged was lost in the trip, I'm so very embarrassed to admit, but not all of it! Beyond the barrier, you see, there was so much more than you can even imagine.

Here, even if it isn't bright and warm, I just think there must be something we lot can do to make this soil healthy again, even if it's just a small start. If there's really nothing to hunt, then I suppose we should rely more on what can grow from the ground, if we can only attempt as much. And imagine if we had actual flowers...and trees of grandeur and health!

This place is simply...too sad and too lonely, no matter where it is I step; Inside or out, it chills my feet and my bone.

[Chloe--long time no see, network-- is settled down in a dimly lit bit of local architecture. At least it looks that way at first glance; Initiative buildings are usually a touch more pristine, and one hell of a lot more futuristic.]

Evening lads and ladies. Given the way things've been going lately between our sort and the locals, there's no doubt that finding what we need to get by isn't exactly an easy venture. Then again, when everything around here is coated in a couple hundred years of grit, it wasn't all that easy to begin with. [A small, thoughtful little beat. Drummed out on a table too low to see.] Or worth it for that matter.

Which is why after a lengthy hiatus, I'm pleased to announce that my item retrieval service is back up and running-- with a few minor adjustments.

[The camera shifts, dipping slightly as whoever’s holding the tablet shifts their hands. The cameraman in question hisses at her, clearly trying and failing to be discreet:] Oi, your retrieval service?

Well it was mine first. The next time you wind up in an alien future before the rest of us you can go start your own bloody business.

Fine, alright. Go on then. [And the camera shifts up again, less steady than before.]

--Right. So as I was saying. For those of you that need something-- anything-- found or picked up or even gently borrowed from a few bygone eras, Frazer and Cutter's Acquisitions and Fine Antiques is here to manage it for you. For a few nominal fees of course, and with much less glaring than what you’ll find around here.

Trust me, with the sort of luck the Initiative’s been having, you’ll want a pair of professionals on your side.


**Charlie Cutter is in red and the pair of them are more than happy to respond to any incoming inquiries or requests!

[The feed turns on to Gin, Seles and Yoruichi’s apartment, where the statue of Gin is just hanging out in their living room. Yoruichi is out of sight behind the camera, for some reason, filming the statue.]

[After a few moments, the feed swings over to a slightly different angle as Yoruichi takes a few steps to one side. Then she walks clear across the room, still keeping the statue the focus of the broadcast. Strangely enough, the terrible, knowing grin seems to be fixed on the camera, no matter where in the room she stands.]

[Finally, she speaks, her voice faintly disgruntled.]

No matter where you stand in the room, that thing looks like it’s watching you.

[She flips the device around, her expression matching her voice.]

You guys saw it too, right? I know I’m not crazy.

[The tablet has been carefully propped on a library table against some books in order to capture video of Charles from the mid-chest up. Or, initially a close up of his face all frowny and concentrating and then he pushes away to lean back again.]

Hello. I'm Professor Charles Xavier, something of a recent arrival, although, it seems as if I've been here previously. If you happen to remember me from before the beginning of this month, I'm afraid I don't remember you, but I'd be fascinated to know anything you can tell me, if you don't mind.

I'll return to that in just one moment, but there's a rather important thing I have to get to first. The locals, those who have been living in Exsilium long before we were ever summoned here, are not happy with the current state of affairs. And can you really blame them? They've been told we're here to help, but they've no proof of it, not when it involves time travel and reality modification. All they can see is the negative attention we draw from the United Earth, and the preference given to Transports over them. So, this is my proposal: we form a team to protect them. A team that visibly makes an effort to prevent harm from coming to the Exiles, that protects them where the Initiative might not. It won't be easy, especially right now, at the beginning. They don't trust, or like us. But with time, if we demonstrate our willingness to coexist and use our resources to help them, there is no reason for us to remain at odds. Now! What is a volunteer service without volunteers--which is where you lot come in. If any of you are inclined to help, or even if you only want to ask questions, do speak up. The more of us there are, the better use we'll be.

As for my previous self, it seems as if he'd, or, I'd managed to secure funding, and a building of some sort for the purposes of, well, creating a school. I've really no idea if any of his arrangements carried over to me, but before I go looking into that, I'd prefer to know how far he managed to get. Did any renovations occur? Where is the building to begin with?! If any of you know anything about this school, I'd be terribly grateful for your help.

[He smiles, and then leans forward again, to switch it off.]