[Keith starts out by taking a bow at the camera]

Good evening, citizens of Exsilium! If we haven't met before, my name is Keith Goodman and I want to wish everyone good luck, and again good luck on the upcoming mission! Please give it your best and we'll come back safely.

Now I have a small request to ask of anyone with any prior experience in pets and is not participating in the upcoming mission. Since I will be gone for a while, would you mind looking after John for me? [He tilts the camera to show a large golden retriever sitting by the doorway.] I cannot estimate how long I will be gone so would you please take him in? I assure you he is fully house trained, I have the necessary supplies for his care and you will be paid handsomely for the trouble.

If you have any questions, you can leave them here or privately contact me. Thank you and good night!

[Oh! He's back to broadcasting video! At least for this occasion. For anyone who saw him while he was detoxing: he looks much healthier now. More color to his skin, no sheen of cold sweat. His eyes are still ringed by dark circles, given his ongoing insomnia, but he no longer seems like he's on death's doorstep. His tremors are less pronounced, only occasionally noticeable. Slow improvement... which doesn't include his mood. He doesn't look much like he wants to be talking right now. He's grumpy and tired, damn it.]

Yo. I'm Jesse, for you guys that showed up this last time. Real quick just wanted to say: we do this thing every month, like... getting together to bake cookies for the new guys. It's pretty big, so we use a few different kitchens, but I got all the supplies and ingredients and everything...

Anyway. It's almost that time again. Collette's all on my ass so I guess I'm back to running things. I was thinking we'd get together - what is it? - uhh... 30th. Yeah, 30th. Room 409. You can come even if you don't know how to make cookies. It's real easy, I'll show you and we all kinda do it together.

Then, on the 1st, I set up a tent outside and give 'em away. You can help out there, too, if you want. It's pretty cold and wet, though, so that sucks. No pressure. Don't have to hang out the whole time or anything.

...Yeah. So.


((OOC note: this does overlap with the upcoming mission, which Jesse won't be going on.))

[ when Kururu comes on she's sitting on a couch, or more like fidgeting in place, surrounded by various metal parts some of which look like they used to belong to a wheelchair. ]

U, um... I'm sure someone has probably mentioned this before but - what do you suppose happens to people who...aren't here anymore?

I, I'm sure they just go back home and all is well, right? [ she laughs softly to herself and for a moment there's a rather sullen and worried look on her face. however, she quickly recovers and a bright look on her face overtakes everything. ]

I'm sorry if this is a really silly question, but I was only curious.

─Oh, crap.

[ The video flicks on just in time to spot (1) one blonde reporter darting around the island in the kitchen towards a smoking toaster. And no, that is not smoke from a potentially ruined meal.

Elena swiftly pulls the power-cord from the socket, waving smoke with her free hand. ]

You're kidding me? You're choosing now to die on me? [ It is clearly all the toaster's fault here, all the toaster's fault.

Annoyed she retrieves the black as night toast (yes the meal was also ruined) from the now defunct toaster and drops it into the bin, before return to her tablet. Not at all surprised the video function has turned on in her rush. ]

I spend twenty minutes trying to think of something productive to post to the network, instead you get a grown woman fumbling grandly with the most simplest of tasks. [ Somehow ruining a perfectly good toaster. ]

I'm Elena Fisher, international news correspondent and all around ruiner of all things toast.

[ At least she can find some humor in all this? ]


( ooc; action open to roomies if they so feel inclined. )

It's not fair.

[someone doesn't sound happy at all.]

She was my friend. But now...

YOU CAN'T TAKE HER AWAY!

BRING HER BACK!

[some loud, pained screaming.]

BRING HER BACK. NOW!

[wherever painwheel's at, she's decided to take her anger out on the place itself, as it sounds like there's quite a bit of wrecking, breaking, and smashing going on.

yeah, it's pretty bad.]

[Anduin's voice is once more quiet and lightly tinged with a well-composed disappointment. He had perhaps been a bit too-focused on finding a sembalnce of normalcy lately, and now...]

May Aunt Jaina find peace ...or at the very least the strength to ...get herself through what is to come.

[Because he knows what lies ahead for the departed Mage and feels nothing but sadness for it. More than the loneliness of an empty home, more than his homesickness and desire to see his father once more - this is still perhaps worse. The knowledge of what lay ahead for Jaina very soon now that she had gone home was heartbreaking. He sighs softly, the weariness creeping into his tone.]

Ah- tell me, what do you do when you have trouble sleeping?

Okay, wait, no-- no, I can do it!

( Possibly there are sounds of other voices, but Ellie is being stubborn because she's Ellie. The complaint is undermined by the laughter running rich through her voice; a new sound, maybe, for a fair few on the network. )

Come on, it can't be difficult. ( But her voice drops, as she grumbles. ) iPod, what the hell happened to walkmans-- ( Oh! Wait, gentle listener: ) It's working! Steph, I made it work!

( And what is playing? Why, the finest compilation of eighties classics, of course, with the dulcet tones of a few teenage girls and glasses in the background. Sorry, Bones - the unit has been invaded. )

Sami, this is the one you need to hear. ( Because, as we all know, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. )

This is...the longest I've ever really been away from home.

[He sounds depressed about it, but then he hurriedly adds; ] And I'll be fine, I just -

[Lapsing back.]

I just...miss home.

[A pause, like maybe he shouldn't even say what he was planning to.]

...so...is there anything that - anyone can suggest I do...or...something?

[After Watari and Hisoka appeared in town, Tsuzuki had been trying his best to find a way home. While it's great to have some friends in town, he's worried that they'll be hurt if they're forced to stay here.]

....I don't suppose there are any cherry trees around here? I haven't found any yet.

[He looked out the window, at the grey and decaying city. The city lacked in natural beauty. Perhaps he was being too optimistic.]

[His first post is voice.]

Say, to all you magic-users! I'm curious. How did you learn your art? I suppose this applies to anyone with an "unnatural" ability as well.

[The second is a text post under his name, posted an hour after the above.]

I have a puzzle for you, Exsilium. But that's not fun enough, is it? Let's make it a game! I'll pay the first three people who solve it 10✥... no, up to 50✥! The first one gets a special prize! Isn't that exciting? (⌒▽⌒)☆

[Attached to this post is this diagram.]

Now, here is the situation! There are three houses. Each house needs electricity, gas, and water. The goal is to connect the houses to their utilities by drawing lines. It's easy, right? Very easy!

But there's a catch! None of the lines can intersect. But even with the handicap, it's a simple puzzle. I'm sure you can all crack it in no time!

Respond with your answers. Be sure to lock them, so there won't be any cheating~ 1✥ will buy you a hint.

I look forward to rewarding the winner!!

[A young boy appears on the camera, sitting on his bed cross-legged and smiling. He's managed to work out how to use the tablet before as he had talked to a couple of people on the network.

And yes, that is a monkey-tail. Yes, it is attached to his body.]

So, I've been here for over a month now. I have to say, it's still pretty hard to believe that I've been pulled into another world just like that. [And he shrugs] Still, there are a lot of other guys in this city who are pretty much the same boat as me. I'm sure that no matter how all of us ended up here, we'll find our way back, somehow.

Speaking of which, I'm kinda curious to know what worlds you're from and what they're like. Only if you wanna tell me, of course. I've just never knew there were so many worlds out there and it would be kinda interesting to know what they're like. 

[And he beats his chest dramatically] So, to those of you guys who don't know me, the name's Zidane Tribal. I'm from Tantalus, the greatest acting troupe on the whole of Gaia! [Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration but they're pretty bloody good. They're also thieves but Zidane's not going to leak that out in public.] You guys might have met another girl here who's from the same world. Her name's Dagger. Long dark hair, reeeeeaaaaaally damn beautiful and smart. [As you might be able to tell, he has a huuuuuge crush on her. A bigger one than he's letting on.] 

Hello, and good afternoon! I've something of a strange proposal for anyone willing to play along. I can phrase it as a game, if that would make anyone more willing to humor me.

In any case, here it is: I would very much appreciate it if you could tell me three facts about yourself. Two of them should be true, but one ought to be a lie. Just harmless lies and truths, if you please! I'd rather not hear about the bodies you keep in the cellar at home. [ that goes with a polite laugh. that's a joke, see??? ]

Much obliged.

[[ooc; Damian will be practicing his new lie detector of a weapon!! The permissions post for it is right here. I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER IF YOU FILL IT OUT FOR ME.]]

[He speaks with a mildly British accent, mixed with twinges of French in every other consonant. His first instinct would have been to use his native language - the latter - but it's become clear that he'll have more luck being understood going with his father's.]

I... wish I could think of something wrong I'd done. Something that would explain why I'm here and why I have to - fight. [He's having a hard time expressing himself. Peter doesn't... really know what he wants to say, other than that he would very much like to be placed back where he came from.] Then I'd feel there was some kind of justification I could understand.

Anyway, uhm - if there's someone I know out there, is... is there any way I can find them? Contact them? I'd really appreciate any help. I - I have a friend - his name is Frederick, he's a doctor, English, taller than me... [He gestures with a flat hand, above his head. Then he reaches into his pocket to bring a small photograph closer to the camera,] This is the only picture I have of him. I don't have pictures of anyone else.

[With a soft sigh, Peter's shoulders drop. He then mutters to himself, a presence of annoyance in his tone,] Je ne sais pas sur quel pied danser...

[There is a shot of a pale face with what appears to be black armor along the jawline. This young man's eyes run across the screen briefly before he notices the video feed is on and he lifts a seemingly armored, clawed hand to the camera, covering the lens with his palm. After a moment he turns off the video feed and the screen bursts into static. After another moment, a voice speaks. It is a low, rusty voice that has an unnatural snarl to it, as if the voice's owner is trying his best to sound menacing.]

Send me back.