Yo, hey. This is Jesse Pinkman, for you guys that ain't met me yet.

[And for those who do know him and saw him down in the catacombs: he's looking infinitely better now. Bathed and trimmed his facial hair and everything, no longer appearing like he's at death's door.]

I know people are still sick and we got a lotta rebuilding to do, so I totally get it if nobody shows. But if you been here a while, you know we do this thing were we get together at the end of each month to make cookies for the new guys who show up on the 1st. You know, set up a tent and feed the hungry and answer questions and whatever. Even with it being a shit month, I don't think it'd be fair to let those guys down. So I'm gonna be out there, and you're, um, welcome to come and help bake and give stuff out, too.

I'll be baking all day on the 30th, the door'll be open and you can just drop in. Unit 409.

Hope everybody's doing okay.



(( No baking log again this month because what is time, so handwaving that, but here's an example of what the newbie log thread will be like. No need for permission to participate! Jesse lets everyone help out and teaches anyone who doesn't know how to bake. ))

[This is Berserker, standing in one of the training halls. Shortly after the feed comes on, he prompts himself to stand back from it and take his shirt off, immediately confusing his intentions for the message he's about to send. He's not wearing a little collar and bow tie, so there's a low risk that a Chip n'Dales show is about to break out, though. A little off camera, a younger man stands there, holding a roll of duct-tape.]

My Masters. I have little understanding of how to send private messages, so I will simply ignore the necessity. As I understand, you both have been distracted. The benefits of my binding to your wills has provided physical benefits to you both, yet little has come of it. I suppose it's time to change such a thing. Just the same--no, I am not embittered by your refusal to allow my death. I have gotten past such a petty discrepancy.

[He raised his left hand and then set it behind his back horizontally. The young man approached and began duct-taping Berserker's arm to his back.]

Given my perfect mastery of weaponry and incomparable swordsmanship, I cannot teach you in the conventional way. I would recite the saying, 'I can beat you with both arms tied behind my back,' but that would defeat the purpose of you observing my technique. Instead, I will have one arm fixed behind my back to create a semblance of hope for you both.

[The young man finished rolling the duct-tape, heavily rolling his eyes as he listened to Berserker. When he was done, he sauntered off, the sound of him scraping money off the ground heard as he hunched over a little.]

I will remain in one of the training rooms, practicing my conservation of energy. Please arrive at the same time to minimize your injuries.

[The video feed is deliberate and the woman broadcast is someone obviously very serious about what she is about to say. While certainly beautiful the burn scars that spread across her face, half hidden behind a curtain of blond hair, only serve to intensify her severity. From here it doesn’t take a genius to see that behind her professionalism she is pissed. Hell hath no fury like a woman taken from her home world.

A cute little monkey sits on her shoulder within the feed frame.]

I will make this quick; I am General Klaud Nine of the Black Order. While this may not hold as much meaning here as it does where I hail from, let me assure you I do not intend to let my title go to waste during my stay here.

Any and all updated information concerning our situation with the United Earth that has not yet been documented - [as in she has yet to find out about through this weird-ass tablet thing] as well as an estimated number of reported transports currently here would be greatly appreciated.

Those that may hail from my world please report in.

Thank you.

[ The video feed switches on to show a large number of stuffed animals lined up neatly across Sophie's bed. A stuffed rabbit sits on top of the pillow, further away from the rest. Those who were around during for Separation Awareness Day in February may recognize that these plushies came from the festival in February. Sophie can't be seen on screen, but she can be heard speaking. There might even be a quick glimpse of her long pigtails swaying around. ]

When my best friend Lara was sick, she couldn't get out of bed. I didn't want her to feel lonely when I left her house, so I brought her lots and lots of dolls. That way, she'd never feel lonely again. It made her really happy.

I was thinking... since I have lots of dolls left over from the festival a few months ago, I want to give them away to people who need the company or something to cheer them up.

Kaneis already took the dragon, Allen has the chicken, and I have the rabbit. Hmm. Kaneis named his Flarey, I think. [ ...Or was it Flamey? ] Allen and I named our dolls in memory of Tiger Festival. [ Their pet rabbit, Tiger Festival. Or more like only Sophie herself decided on that name. ]

So, if anyone wants one, come to Unit 103. If you can't come, let me know. I'll bring the dolls to you.

[ And finally, Sophie shows herself on screen, waving goodbye and ends the feed. ]

[Unusually for this network user, the transmission is purely Audio. A great deal of transports will of course recognize the voice as belonging to Kanaya Maryam. Strangers will hear a fifteen-year-old female, naturally rather mature and composed, doing her best to sound even more so. She speaks crisply and briskly with no mercy, like the distinctions between American and British English are to be stalked into a dark alley and shot in the back of the skull.]

The armageddon that occurred in the world of Elmer C. Albatross isn't the only one that's ever occurred in paradox space, you know. Just ask Asuka Langley Soryu or Rei Ayanami or Shinji Ikari. Any of them can tell you that the end of a world is always at least as ugly a thing as what happened on May Twenty-First. Anyone who escaped the planet Alternia before the meteors struck can reiterate the sentiments that Exsilium is a far better alternative to no planet at all. For many of us, Exsilium is our home now and we'll fight literally to the ends of an Earth for its sake.

I know not all of you feel that sort of debt to the Initiative. You do want to go home, this isn't your war, it's their fault. That's really too bad. Because if we let the United Earth have their way and don't develop Initiative in both senses of the word, we're all going to be post-apocalyptic refugees before long. We come from dozens of worlds. Would you like to take arms with the Initiative to fight against the reckoning, or watch each one meet the same fate Elmer's world did?

[An open question, Exsilium.]

... Hmf.

[A grouchy voice. Cyril is a little too effusive some (all) of the time, but he's still family, and after deciding his fellow Noah was too quiet and subsequently sniffing around for a sign of the man and finding - nothing, nothing - well.

It doesn't put Tyki in the best of moods.

You better be all right, Cyril, or Tyki might have to lift a finger doing something unfun, and who wants that?]

Talk about a short performance with an anticlimactic ending. [Sniffs.] That's the way it works around here, I suppose. Promising build up and then a whole lot of nothing afterward. Speaking of that, I am bored. These people don't use what they catch.

Better to arrive here a traveler, eh? [He isn't what you'd call hurting at the loss of his brother/brother-in-arms. And he can take whatever the Exorcists decide to bring. But still.] Australia, now. That was a good trip. Kangaroo is pretty tasty. And it's not as if we ever see sunlight in this dour shithole. Too bad we couldn't be waging war from around that time in Australia.

[Weird place to cut off. But it seems like that's it.]

Nutty times around here, huh? It's nice to see things happening, even if it's stuff like "spaceship crashing into building you call home, inevitable relocation into a room with three other people." There are worse things.

[Grump grump. She just sounds dry. It's a little overcrowded here for a girl who likes her privacy, but whatcha gonna do...]

And now a trip home. Or a try for it. What good news for everyone who doesn't want to be here, maybe - if it works they could as well just install a revolving door and kick the people who won't have with fighting in a surprise war right back home. It could make life pretty difficult for the Initiative if it works out, if nobody'll stick around from the goodness of their hearts, or whatever.

It's the first time I've seen a place manage that though. So that's something.

Anyhow, welcome in to all you new people, I hope the Hold has been kind so far. If you're homesick cheer up, it could be so much more terrible around these parts. The group missions aren't so bad. You got armed and you got money and maybe you won't even be here a long time. The future looks bright, right?

[Jesse's reporting in from the lab, for once, which probably looks a little strange for anyone seeing him in hazmat coveralls for the first time. Look at him. Professional-like. Behind him is a peek at the Initiative's futuristic chemistry equipment, but the focus is on a vial of clear liquid pinched between Jesse's fingers.]

Yo. Remember how I said like a month ago I was working on something? I finished it.

Wait - Um, backing this up a little in case you missed it. We got word a few months back that the U.E.'s been drugging their people with something called verstatsi. A lotta the Exiles that turned up here ended up sick 'cause they couldn't get their fix. A lotta them were dying from the withdrawal. It was pretty bad.

Anyways, I was developing an anti-addictive drug. We tested it this week.

[He taps the vial he's holding, looking pretty proud of himself.]

It's working. Everybody we gave it to stabilized in like under two hours. Cravings totally gone, symptoms gone. And the dose is only once a day, which - if you've ever been on methadone - that is huge, okay.

I know a lotta you are probably like, "Who cares? I'm not a junkie anyway." No, seriously, this shit? This could save your life if the U.E. ever captures you. This is big. We're gonna keep testing it, but I'm making sure the clinic gets stocked A.S.A.P., yo. All my research notes'll be there along with it so I don't gotta sit here explaining science to you for three hours. Everything about dosage... Recipe, too, in case anything happens to me.

So... Yeah. And thanks to Vanadi and Rin for helping me out with getting chemicals. We totally did it, you guys.

[ The video feed turns onto Medusa in her new apartment - expression serious before she begins to speak. ]

Greetings Exsilium. For those of you who do not know me, I am Queen Medusalith Amaquelin-Boltagon, and from this point forward I will be acting as a direct liaison between the Initiative and Transports. While previously discussed, my appointment now is in part due to the actions of those individuals who procured the space ship and the request for more transparency and warning of upcoming events from the Initiative.

My job, as it stands, is to make sure everyone is informed about upcoming missions and other news with ample time to prepare, rather than the hurried explanations that we are all familiar with at this point. Which is what brings me here before you now.

[ She straightens even further, hair spreading out to cover the rest of the screen that isn't taken up by her body. ]

Recently the Initiative has been working on technology to return those who are unwilling or unable to fight back to the universe of our origin. But it is new and unrefined, and the possible consequences include permanent relocation to a world not your own.

Which is why the Initiative requires a volunteer to return to his or her own universe. The portal will be unstable - it may not open to the correct universe or remain open for long. They also seek a small number of people to go as a security team to protect both the individual who's world you have hopefully traveled to and a number of Initiative members sent to examine the situation.

Again, I must stress that there is no accounting for the dangers one might face, and the consequences it may have for you, your universe, or the team that the Initiative will send with. Do not volunteer if you are hesitant or unprepared to deal with said consequences; however, if you have questions, I will do my utmost to answer them.

Furthermore, if there are any among you who wish to aid me as a liaison, please inform me at your earliest convenience.

Thank you.

( ooc|| Signups are still open and can be found here as well as ooc information! )

I hope that everyone will make the best of their new housing arrangements. The meeting of two personalities is like the mixing of chemicals: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.

[soft piano music begins.]

Of course, "home" is not a place, but people. Seeing the face of a loved one brings you home. Likewise, the presence of an enemy brings you back to the conflict you have with him, regardless of your physical location.

[he pauses, letting the piano fill in the empty, unstated spaces around his words.]

...No matter who else may come, I'm fortunate to have that good part of my home here with me.

[The video cuts in on a redheaded girl with one shock of green hair grinning at the camera]

So is it just me or does that [air quotes] "orientation" thing need a little spicing up? Seriously. I didn't know whether I was going to the grand inquisitor's office or if I was back in the... uh... [She cringes, realizing what she almost just said. Grinning suddenly she waves it off] in bed having some weird-ass dream or something.

I do feel kinda gypped, though. [She mocks the woman's voice] "your housing companions will assist you in becoming ready." Yeah well I don't have any "housing companions" so I guess I'm on my own. [beat] Again.

[Yeah this is so familiar. Left alone in an unfamiliar place. Groovy. Yeah. She's done it before and she can do it again. She shrugs, shooting the camera a lopsided grin]

So I guess what I'm really saying is: Is there any place a girl can get a burger around here? I'm starving.

[The video shows someone that may be familiar to a few, but who hasn't been seen for a while.

Also for some reason, she looks as though she is dressed like some sort of super hero or something.]

So.... I'm back here, apparently? Yay, I guess.

Anyone want to explain the spaceship? This is why you shouldn't drink and drive.

[Bette is on the network right away, as soon as she’s understood how to use the tablet. Never one to sit around bored or alone, she’s immediately setting out to make connections, to try to prove herself, to show that there’s a reason as to why she was chosen to be here. After all, it couldn’t just be pure chance, right? This was it. This was her moment.

The screen crackles to life and there’s Bette, her mask on, her eyes shining bright from behind her sunny yellow lenses. Any confusion, any worry has been pushed aside to be dealt with later. Right now, she’s just happy to have been chosen to help save the world.]

You know, I’m gonna say it. This place? Not so different from Gotham City. Okay, sure, there’s no creepy architecture, but the stink, the darkness, the gloom, the doom, I’m already getting a sense that it’s all here.

Not gonna lie, that’s kind of why I miss SoCal. Which may or may not even exist anymore, as I understand it?

But that’s besides the point for now.

[There’s a brief pause as Bette contemplates something.]

So, who wants to hang out? Explore? Show me all the stuff that needs to be shown? And, you know, if there’s like anyone here who considers themselves a Titan, Teen or otherwise, drop me a line or something. So we can do, like, a Titans get-Together thing.

[The video feed is almost painful to look at. It's fragmented, and disorienting. Someone hasn't fixed the lens they cracked a while back, apparently.

But at least the video is short? For once, Yosuke's not chatty. He gets right to the point.]

I'm in ten-oh-five. My name is Yosuke. I...can a doctor come here? The clinic is far. I can pay.

[And then for good measure:]

Please?

[The kid isn't bleeding, and aside from being damp and dirty -very dirty, he must have just come back from a hike- doesn't appear to be in bad shape. But he does sound sincere about the request.]

(Ooc note! He's back from his hike tonight guys, and if you were in on the log go on and do your own things. It's that time. I sent out charts so you know what to do!

Anyone else? It's not contagious, don't worry.)

( action; backdated to the 2nd and 3rd )

[video]

[If the camera angle is any indicator, the tablet recording this must be lying flat on a table. All the better for Ed to loom over it. Most of the room isn't visible behind him, but the machinery that is suggests a lab or workshop of some kind.]

So I hear some smartass thinks it's well past time the Initiative got serious about this full-scale war. Whether or not you think that's the kind of judgment we get to make is your problem. [His tone of voice, initially light, hardens a little here.] But the Initiative guys aren't the only people at home, and they still won't be when that war does come knocking.

If the Initiative has too much on its plate right now to focus on them, then let's take them off its hands. We've got the knowhow, the equipment and the skills. Even if some of us are more ordinary than others, we've got more resources put together than anyone trapped in a single world could dream of. Stepping in to protect them works for now, and I'm glad we can do it, but someday they've gotta be able to stand on their own feet. We might not last here forever one way or another... [He lets that hang in the air for just a moment.] but we can at least leave them that much behind.

[He leans in a little closer, just to be sure - the whole point of filming himself is as a lightning rod for people's attention, after all. The small smile on his face doesn't quite match the uncompromising look in his eyes.]

My name's Edward Elric. That's [he points his left thumb towards his chest] Edward Elric. If you think you might be interested, get in touch. I don't care who you are - there's something you can do to help, and I want to hear what it is. [With the same hand, he reaches down to the side of the tablet.] I'll be waiting.

[The video shuts off.]

[ooc: This is the IC announcement of this weapons development research team! There's an OOC post on it here. Signups are open to freaking everyone and can be done wherever; handwaving is totally fine. (Replies to the video that aren't signups are entirely welcome, though!) In the distant, distant future, there should be a log related to this. ♥]

[Filtered away from Remy LeBeau]

So - who wants to tell me how Remy LeBeau's been here? [Nate sounds more or less conversational about the whole thing - he does actually understand subtly]

And before someone asks - I know him from our world, but it's been a few years, and I know he'd never give me a straight answer.

[It's rare that she addresses the network at large, but today, Kyouko is perched on a far-off rooftop. The remains of the domed ceiling and the slightly bent, scorched cross atop it suggest that this place, wherever it is, used to be a church.

She is dressed as a Puella Magi for this, and with a care that belies her usual behavior, wraps the chains of her separated spear around the bent cross, and begins to pull, slowly. The comm device catches bits and pieces of this work — her boots, the strain and squeaking of old metal and wood. Eventually the cross is righted as much as it can be without tipping over and crashing to the ground below, and apparently satisfied, she leans against it, unwraps a candy bar, and places her comm device in her lap, staring down at the screen.]

[She turns away a little, and speaks in a contemplative tone of voice.] Y'know, the people who live here have hard lives.

[She takes a bite out of her candy bar, and continues to speak. Seems she's in an introspective mood.] Not you guys, [rude.] the people who lived here before we got here. When those bombs hit, a buncha of these buildings didn't make it. A lot of the people didn't either.

[A grin, but there's little humor to be found in it.] Heh, and this place is still here. It's a dump, but people come in here anyway. There's no priest and no books, but they leave junk here at the altars, even though the rain leaks through. They bury people without givin' 'em their rites. [...] I wonder if they even remember 'em. Betcha they don't, huh?

[She continues to chew.] I got here almost a year ago, and this building's still the same as the first time I saw it. I used to think nobody gave a damn about it, but I see them coming in and out of here all the time. An' even after the bombs, and what just happened, they always smile at you when you walk by. People give me stuff for no reason. I used to think that kinda attitude was stupid. Who smiles in a shitty place like this? Why give a buncha strangers anything? It's better to just care about yourself. They'd live better lives if they did.

[The wind is soft. Still. Kyouko's expression appears to close off, becomes difficult to read.]

Maybe. I don't know what I think now.

Time!

[ the screen flickers onto a scene in the training rooms; there's a complicated systems of fabricated heights and landscapes, all metal, but changing. it's for terrain training; so people can understand and utilize the things around them. it's simple and made of clean metal, and riku stands on one side of it, breathing heavily, eyes focused ahead. the camera itself is wobbly as intense flapping can be heard--it's most likely that the device is in the hands (well, claws) of one stellaluna the dream eater, especially in the way he glances towards the camera with a little smile.

the timer blinks on a screen above him; he turns his head to watch it blink 2:03, and he narrows his eyes, obviously displeased with that. the terrain changes again, and he yells start before he's set to run.

he just... doesn't run normally. he jumps from edge to edge where he should probably topple over the edge, tucks into a roll when he makes a slightly clumsy fall so he doesn't injure himself, climbs back up, slides and pitches himself suddenly forward, grabbing onto a ledge and hurtling himself backwards onto another one. nothing is purely decorative, not even the flips he does that seem a bit like showing off, some aspects purely gymnastic. either way, if he isn't doing an essential move, he's booking it straight to the other end of the course, head dropped low and tucked against his chest.

when he finally hits the flashing button on the end, he turns sharply. ]

Time!

[ loading. loading.

loading--

the same voice from before crackles. 1:49. he grins, and glances to stellaluna, raising his hand. ]

Hey, high-wing--

... hold it. [ squint. why do you have his tablet. why is the red light flashing--

fzzt. end feed. ]

[ Who hasn't made a network post in a while? This guy. It's been a rough few weeks, but he seems to be back in form now, if the grin he flashes the feed is any indication. ]

Guess it's time I made things official. [ He turns the tablet around as he speaks, showing a less fancy version of this. There's a fair amount of activity going on, with drinks being served and orders being taken, but the noise level isn't too bad. ] We've been up and runnin' for a while, but this here is the NORA cafe. We do meals, coffee, tea, milkshakes, and cocktails for all the adults out there. Figured this place could do with some livening up.

[ With a laugh, Snow faces the camera towards himself again. ]

Consider this our grand opening. If anyone wants a job, drop by and I'll find a spot for you. Just make sure you're old enough if you wanna work the bar. [ SEE HE CAN BE RESPONSIBLE SOMETIMES. ] We've got a stage, so I'm lookin' for people good at entertainment, too. Let me know if you're interested.

[ ooc; Here is a WIP info page/list of employees, based off responses to the OOC plotting post. If you're interested or want something changed (or if I got something wrong, which isn't unlikely), we either can thread something out here ICly, or drop a comment there and it can be handwaved. c: ]

[An audio post begins, and for a few seconds it's just the sound of the rain. Then, a piano begins to play. Those familiar with classical music would recognize it as French Suite No. 4, a well-known work by German composer J.S. Bach.

The music goes on for about fifteen minutes. It's a piece with a sense of introversion to it - even as the music turns complicated and speedy in some areas, it maintains a restrained elegance. Emotional, without being passionate.

When it finally ends, there are another few seconds of rainfall before Kaworu speaks.]

The demands of human relationships are overwhelming when you consider just how much love a heart needs to survive.

But, conversely, a heart can give an infinite amount of love in turn. The world is less scary if you simply remember this.

( Action for 705 )

[As Open Action before the post gets made, a rainbow drinker can be seen clattering about half the shops of the city at a breakneck pace - on the streets, this is literal, a blur of supernatural running so fast her clothes are practically dry. She's buying things. A fold-up hexagonal playpen. Blankets. Food, none of it cooked or complex. You usually don't see her carrying too many of these objects at once because she's rushing in and out of the apartment to set them aside. Inside the stores she maintains a more normal pace, though she flickers like a morse code technician out of nervousness.]

[This relatively short video shows nothing of Kanaya except for her voice and softly glowing hands. She's holding a gray sphere about the size of a soccer ball, covered in smaller versions of the orange horns all the trolls possess.]



The restoration of the troll race will take place at four o'clock today in Unit 705. I thought you should be informed if you're a member of our species or care about it at all.

( Homestuck text under the cut )

( Filtered text for Kido and Kano )

( Action for people who show up to 705 )

I still don't get what the point of birthdays are. They're just another year gone by. They're just like any other day.

Please tell me things like body swapping don't happen often.

[because she's not sure if she could handle magic and powers again.]

[Disgruntled and serious looking as ever, Kido appears flips on the video. May as well. She's sitting up on the couch, hood up, but she seems to be in a pretty good mood. How can she not be? She's back in her body.]

Never thought I'd miss my body so much. [Well, anyway.] Oi, anyone in the Mekakushi Dan! Report in. And I'm counting you if you want to be in it and just haven't joined yet, so this is for you, too. We need to assign your numbers. First come, first service, I guess. Kinda hard to keep track otherwise.

Ah, yeah, how did welcoming the newbies and the Initiative's mission go? How are you feeling? That's all I need to know.

[She scratches her head. Business done, she slouches more into the couch, tablet sliding in her lap. Just some leftover messages for people. She switches the video off and goes to text only for that.]

Sayaka, I uploaded some music for you. [Have a download link featuring copious amounts of Radiohead, Oasis and pretty much any bands you can find here as well as indie Japanese artists.] Tell me if you like it. I'm thinking I'm going to practice singing and maybe try taking up guitar. ...Ah, anyone who wants the music can take it though.

Ringo? I'm up for that...girls' night or whatever whenever you are. What do you do on one anyway?

Oz, when you're free I'll teach you how to cook so let me know.

[She tries to remember what other things she was thinking about... Oh yeah.]

Oh yeah, two things. I remember hearing about that holiday with the bunny that hides eggs. It's sometime in spring, right?

Other thing is I need some new recipes to try. Don't really care what kinds. There must be some foods you guys like a lot and want to tell someone about. If it's something you like, I'll make it for you in exchange.

( Private Encryption//Not too heavily encrypted but why would you bother? )

[Locked AWAY from Seles Wilder, Sophie, Lloyd Irving and Pidonus]

[The name that appears on the register seems to be "Kaneis". Though for anyone who knows him? He doesn't sound normal. Instead, have a girl's voice that sounds really lazy, blunt and way too casual considering the conversation topic coming through]

Hey, does anyone know what happens to dead people once they get sent away from here? Do they go somewhere else or just back to being dead? I kinda like to know...for my own reasons.

Thanks.

[a beat. Oh wait]

Oh yeah- don't worry! This isn't Ino, she's not dead- well, as far as I know. I'm just in her body until the Initiative sorts stuff out.

Hope I didn't worry anyone! ♥

Yo, Edgeworth. How you holding up there, buddy?

[He's sneering when he says that, sarcastic as hell, but he's honestly wondering. His body will be deep into the worst days of withdrawal right now. Not that he's really sorry about it. The ugly part of him is pleased that Edgeworth's getting a taste of what addiction's like, after the judgment and the lectures he had to endure from the guy.]

I was gonna keep this a surprise but, uh, I figure - hell, why not show it off now?

[He shrugs his hoodie off and re-positions the camera. This isn't one of those get naked broadcasts, no. He's just getting a nice clear shot of Edgeworth's right forearm. Which now sports this NSFW tattoo.]

Pretty awesome, right? You don't gotta pay me back. It's a present.

[He wiggles his arm a little, making the tattoo dance.]

Yeeeeaaaaahhhhhh!

Thieves.

[ River is currently pacing around anxiously in front of the tablet where it's sat on the bed she has not slept in once in the week she's been here. ( Has she slept at all ? ) She's playing with the ends of her hair, head bowed, but wide eyes with dark circles dart over to the tablet on every other pass. ]

You're all - thieves and thefts, criminals and their crimes. They told you to go and you went, toy soldiers lined up in a row, and they took it all. Took everything, took you -

[ She stops for a moment, just to stare, before her pacing grows a little more jerky and frantic. ]

You're not you anymore. They mixed the signals and broke it apart, tore you into pieces and put you back wrong. You are a soul and you have a body, he said, but when you take someone else's brain and put it in someone else's body, can you still be called you? Were you even you to begin with?

Nǐ suǒyǒu de shuōhuǎng zhě, it wasn't yours to take and you took it, stole it away, and I - I know what they're trying to do. I can see you, and you're wrong.

[ A hand buries in her hair, shaking. ]

They want help. They need help, they're trapped and they - put it in my head, you cut it out and put it there but that doesn't make it right. Who decided you were right?

[ She lifts her head suddenly, fingers still tangled in her hair and eyes gone even wider. ]

Where are you? Whose side are you on?

[ ooc; as per usual, hover for Chinese translations and please check out her permissions post! you might notice that her name as it appears on the network is listed as "Mǐnsōu Shí," which is the alias she'll be using while in Ex. The first name is an anagram of her brother's name and composed with hack-job Chinese characters that don't actually mean anything, which anyone that can speak the language is more than free to call her out on. :') ]

[When the video clicks on, it's nicely arranged so that Seles is visible sitting in a chair in her room and her hat doesn't take up too much of the screen. Her hands are folded formally in her lap off screen and she gets right to the point.]

I'm interested in training... So for those of you who happen to be experienced in using swords, I'd like to request that you share your routines with me. I could make my own, of course, but I've heard it's more educational to encompass knowledge from a large variety of people.

And could Cloud respond to me as soon as possible? It's... regarding the same thing!

...Thank you. [Click!]