( [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.]

Whoever cares, Jake and Kriem are gone.

[May be a little tiny bit bitter about that. She was actually becoming somewhat attached--they actually cared, even though she pushed them away. Annoying, yes, but they seemed to understand her motives better than anyone else here, and they were her allies. She had needed those, had the time come for action. Not to mention her house had been ruined, so she was stuck with her new roommates, whom she'd been avoiding. She wasn't up for dealing with people at the moment, and especially since it just reminded her that her old allies were long gone. She would miss them. Even if they were idiotic in her mind.]

I'm Kagura, if you're new. Don't bother me. I don't want 'friends'. 

As if those even exist, anyways.

[See Axel. See Axel looking puzzled. See Axel looking puzzled with a very small cat sitting neatly on his shoulder, mesmerized by this strange device in Axel's hands.]

So this happened. [He shrugs the shoulder that is not a cat perch.] I was near the ruins and... Well, she followed me home, you might say. As in she staged a hostile takeover of my hoodie pocket.

[He looks a little uncomfortable. Watch out, Axel, your squishy side might be showing.]

I think she's still too small to take care of herself, you know? So... [Fidget fidget. The little cat blinks at the screen, then turns to look at Axel and impulsively bonks her head against his jaw. Great. Cat, you're not helping that squishy side showing thing at all.] I've never had a cat before.

[Translation: HALP?]

[Sango doesn't waste much time once she gets the feed on.]

A few things.

First... I would like to have some sparring partners and some teachers. While I'm good with my own weapons, it's pretty clear that they're not advanced enough to take on the UE's technology. If someone would be able to show me how to use something more effective, maybe some sort of gun, I'd be grateful and would do something in return. I think other people have already offered, but I'm also open to instructing in swordsmanship and related combat things.

Second, I wanted to say thank you to those of you who have been concerned or helped me out lately, both in arriving here and in... well, recent events. It means a lot.

Third. [She hesitates, wondering how to phrase this.] Say that someone from your world, who's... from later in time, tells you something bad happens in your future. You don't trust the person who says it, but they don't exactly have a good reason to lie about it at this point. What...

[Where is she even going with this? Sango stops abruptly and her frown is nearly palpable on the feed.]

You know what, never mind. Just sparring partners and teachers and thank-yous are all, I guess.

 What the hell was--

[Thud. Kagura had actually decided to sleep in the apartments last night, since she had been in the area, instead of around the borders like usual. Unfortunately, this time, the power would actually go out. Despite having awesome demon powers and such, she's still bumping into pretty much every object ever, yelling loudly as she does so, including several expletives. It hasn't occurred to her yet that her tablet might actually serve as a light, as she's moving away from it in search of the door. Sorry to anyone around her, but she's grumpy, and she's horribly inconsiderate.

So, par for the course.]

If this is is some sort of fucking joke, I'll take their head off. Where is a lantern.....

[Axel looks a bit haunted and haggard, like he hasn't slept in a few days and maybe was recently in a fight. Which wouldn't be incorrect assumptions, for that matter. He stares at the feed a moment like he's not sure what to say, then frowns.]

According to the date on my tablet, I've only been gone a little over a day. [A bitter laugh.] My, how much can change in a day.

[A brief pause and then he puts on a private filter.]
[Private to Riku]

We should talk. [His tone is severe, but not belligerent. You got some 'splainin' to do, Riku.]

[Axel doesn't usually feel the need to hide his face--he's gotten good at concealing his thoughts and making sure he doesn't give himself away... but everyone has a breaking point. Waking up to find Roxas' room as empty as Xion's suddenly was a less than a month ago is apparently his. He has to keep reminding himself that he doesn't have a heart, this can't actually hurt, it's only residual phantom pains, leftovers of memories... So why can't he just make it stop?

[There's a beat of silence, and then his voice sort of tumbles into the recording, like he tripped over his own tongue. His tone is a little strained, as if his throat hurts or he swallowed something terribly bitter.]

How often do people come and go from this place? I've noticed there seems to be a lot of turnover. A good number of people leave, a bunch of new faces show up, but sometimes old faces show up too. Is there any sort of pattern anyone's found?

So, um, first off I just wanted to say hi to all the new people! And say that I'm sorry you're kind of stuck here, too. It's tough, but there are lots of nice people here, so if you're having trouble with anything I bet you'd be able to get help. Except going home, that's still a mystery for everyone.

[And then a smile breaks out on her face, and she moves her tablet so the feed shows a wing of one of the gyms with a barre running along a wall, and mirrors attached to that wall. As quickly as she turned the camera away from her face, it's focused back on her.]

I know last time that I mentioned I was looking for a place to dance, and some other people mentioned they'd be interested in the same thing, so I asked the Initiative people if it would be okay if we could have a wing in one of the gyms to turn into a place for the dancers here to practice. And, um, they said yes, so here we are! There's not going to be formal lessons or anything, unless somebody else wants to set something like that up. I just wanted to let everyone know that they can stop in whenever they want to!

Oh, and - if there's anybody interested in going outside the city sometime, I'm looking to take a trip or two. Before anyone gets all worried, I know to be really careful, and I've done it once before.

[With another smile, she leans forward to end the feed.

ooc: this is all mod approved!]

[Elliot seems annoyed. This really isn't surprising for anyone that knows him.

Those people are probably also not shocked that he seems to have forgotten the thing he read about filtering this to specific people.

Or the fact that a kitten has walked along the edge of the furniture behind him and is curiously staring over his shoulder.

Nope, he's got too much on his mind for any of that!]

OZ VESSALIUS? WHERE ARE YOU?!

...This is gonna sound kinda weird, but hypothetically--just work with me here, hypothetically someone had a birthday here. Does it still count even though they're sorta uh, dead? See, I have this buddy and he's been worrying about it for about a week now--if it counts, would he just keep tacking the years on? Does it even matter here? I know some worlds have limits like in some you can only drive when you're 16 (if you have a license that is), and then some you can only drink if you're a certain age.

_{[Demyx could you be any less obvious? Just man up and admit it's your birthday, jeeze.]}

A-Anyway, would it be weird if he did want to go out and celebrate with himself, even if it doesn't count?

It is surprising, to hear of two holidays that hold such little in common with each other colliding on one day.

[ the feed has caught onto Larsa, awkwardly holding a bunch of candies. it seems like someone who's just passed by has just poured out a bunch into his cupped, gloved hands. he looks at all the chocolate and caramels and shuffles a little, with a grimace. ]

I... must admit to not having a fondness for sweets. If anyone would want these... please.

[ he sets them carefully into a little satchel beside him, atop a sketchbook that seems dog-eared and meticulously kept. he had watercolors next to him as well as a few brushes, but does not seem to draw attention to them. when he turns back to the feed, that awkwardness disappears, covered by a thin sheet of smiles as he struggles to keep his cheer about him in light of all that's happened. ]

I have heard of this 'Valentine's Day' and this day of Separation.

I have heard my full of Exsilium's Day of Separation--and gave gained trinkets abound due to my age. [ which he's so not going to go into. ]

Yet, I have heard little of this Day of Valentine's.

From what I have been able to gather, it is a day wherein love is celebrated, is it not? Committed relationships as well as passing fancies... it seems far more complicated than a mere day of Separation.

May I ask for a more detailed explanation from one who has celebrated such a holiday before?

[Axel greets the feed with a look that teeters somewhere between abashed and indignant.]

Usually when someone gets sent back in time it's with the added perk of retaining everything they'd learned up til that point. I hope I'm not the only one who's really glad they grew out of who they were ten years ago. [He grins then and spins a frisbee around one finger.] At least I got to keep a souvenir this time, though~

By the way, anybody who shared their food with me when I was so rudely told that my currency from home was no good here, you have my sincere appreciation. [And surprisingly, he means it. Even the sincerity part!]

( Private to Roxas )

[ as usual, Riku's been helping Transports that're coming in. it's the courteous thing to do, he figures. but even he needs a break, and remembering what he was told as a kid during the event, he's ... made something of a makeshift soccer field in one of the gymnasiums. with two goalposts and lines in tape, it looks like a proper field.

without the grass, of course. he'd love to play in the rain, but with all the new Transports and with dirt turning to mud and good god, the chill... well, not much of a game if everyone's slipping and sliding and freezing, anyway. he bounces the ball on his head like the proper showoff he is. ]

Who's up for a game?

There's got to be soccer--uh, or football [ he glances to the Initiative staff member who coughed when he said 'soccer' with a raised brow ] on other worlds, too.

There's a lot of new people around, now, like there always is around this time of month. So if you just arrived and need to kick something--

[ there's a flash of yellow and purple suddenly, and the ball he'd been bouncing is suddenly gone. he has to turn to look off-camera, and he levels his gaze. ]

C'mon, Stellaluna. You can't...

[ ...!

he rolls his eyes and moves off-screen, himself. ]

That's not for eating. Spit it out.

[ off-screen wrestling; the ball shoots out, hitting the chair his device is sitting upon. it tumbles over and reveals Riku taking the ball from a flapping bat's grip.

once the ball's let go, the bat perches atop his head, and he gives her a pet before looking back at the device. ]

... oh, right. [ he starts to get up. ] If you helped me as a kid, I'd like to talk to you. Privately.

[ he moves over, and clicks off the feed. ]

[ So maybe an hour or so after everyone's return to Exsilium, some might have noticed it started snowing. Probably even more noticed when said snow quickly turned into a full on blizzard, covering everything in a thick layer snow in a matter of minutes. After an hour of letting the blizzard rage on, the culprit finally reveals himself.

Jack turns on the feed, squinting into the camera before quickly pulling back a little when he realizes it's on. He's leaning back against a wall, staff resting on his shoulder and he opens his mouth to speak when suddenly the screen grows blurry with a soft crackling sound. The screen goes dark for a moment then as Jack hurriedly wipes the frost away while muttering darkly under his breath. When the camera focuses again, the communicator is placed somewhere low and Jack's crouched down instead.

He raises one hand and waves sheepishly. ]

Hey. Since it seems a lot of people can hear and see me which wow, still unbelievable, I figured I should give this thing a try. For those who can't ... this will probably be a really weird video. Oh well!

[ He shrugs and the previous uncertain expression disappears in favor of a grin. ]

For those that can hear and see me, hi. I'm Jack Frost and I come bearing gifts. The heat back there was bad enough, but I can't say I was feeling up for all that dreary rain again, so ... [ He flips the device, showing the big snowflakes that are now gently drifting down from the sky. ]

Have some snow. [ A pause and he moves back into view. ]

I also wanted to thank everyone who helped me back in the desert, you all kind of saved my life. You too, guy who kept leaving glasses of water. So yeah, thanks. [ Wow, awkward much? But he obviously means it sincerely and the awkward is replaced with excitement again soon enough when he gestures to the snow-covered courtyard behind him. ]

Now, everyone should come out and have a little fun!

How many people celebrate Christmas here? Or Hanukkah? and on that note, is anyone doing anything on the 25th?

[Private to Peter, much later]
hey. can I ask you some questions about something? a medical something.

[Action for Jesse]

[She shows up at his apartment without sending notice. Partly because she wasn't sure she was going to go there at all. Claire feels a little awkward after the masquerade but they do have something they need to do. Although she remembers how freaked out he got when she asked if he wanted to see her ability, she thinks she's doing him a favor in helping him figure out how and if the anti-powers setting on his gun will work or not. It's also selfish, too. The idea of being able to feel normal for a little bit is massively appealing to her. Plus, there are certain people Sylar she's considering using it on if worse comes to worse.

Knocking a little timidly at the door, she hopes he's home. She also hopes this isn't going to be too weird.]

[The screen comes on, to reveal one uncertain hobbit. This isn't at all what he is used to, but now that he has taken a closer look, interest takes over. Frodo leans in close and murmuring under his breath]

Such a fantastic glass.

[. He has gotten more used to it since the first time, but it still impresses him. Frodo clears his throat, all business and aware (so he has been told - and seen, unintentionally, thanks to Rick O'Connell's luck with the tablets) that he may have a number of eyes on him, more than he might expect. It feels odd speaking into this thing, rather than a group he can see, that for a moment, he finds himself pausing. He may never get used to this.

Now. Where to begin?]

My name is Frodo; well met to all of you. I wish it were under better circumstances, but as a good many already know, it seems we are quite stranded here for the time being.

There is one thing I wish to ask of you all; has anyone seen any other hobbits around? They would be small compared to you Big Folk, with curly hair on head and feet, and pointed ears.

Video:

[When the screen flickers on the sight of a red-headed girl with equally striking red eyes will be seen on the screen. She seems dumbfounded by the tablet before her as she stares at it with something akin to curiosity. When she realizes what shes supposed to do she snaps her attention back to the camera.] Oh..

Hello..? Uhm..I just arrived to this place a day ago..It's..[She struggles to come up with a word, face scrunched up in what looks like annoyance.] It's a little bothersome.

Is anyone having problems getting used to this environment?

Text:

I was wondering..If anyone is able to recognize these three names;
Aladdin
Alibaba
Hakuryuu
They are very important friends to me and I just want to know if they are okay. Thank you.

_{( Gambit’s seated at a table somewhere, a generic part of the surroundings that seem familiar enough but are hard to pinpoint. There’s a table in front of him that he has his feet propped up against, and he’s idly shuffling a deck of cards between his hands, over and over. When he glances at the device he flashes it a brash smile. )}

Seems like a lot of you post questions here, no? Get what information you can from each other. Good way ta go about things, and it means dat lot’s available for us newer ones comin’ in.

_{( He pauses, inclines his head. )}

But, where I come from, dey say giving has a price. So, I say we do something a bit different. A wager, of sorts, or a deal. I give you somethin’, you give somethin’ back, and no one goes home unhappy.

Well. ‘Cept there’s no “going home,” is there? C'est vrai, I’ve figured out a bit already. So you’ll have ta work hard ta impress.

_{( Another smile, this time with his lips pursed together. He’s laying the cards out one by one, now. Preparing a game of solitaire, perhaps. )}

So, here’s the challenge: tell me something I don’t know. It’ll be worth your while, promise.

_{( He winks at the screen, half challenging and half inviting. And then he cuts the feed. )}

Hey. Got a question for all of the tech freaks out there. I know there's plenty of you around.

[It isn't the most formal way to start a message, never mind a request - but even so, there's a briskness to his voice that sounds almost business-like.]

Let's say I want to keep an eye on the names that show up on this thing [a couple of relatively loud taps] along with the new people. Is there a way I can set it up so it... [He hesitates for a fraction of a second, but carries on as if he hadn't.] lets me know somehow when a specific name gets added to it? Or any name, that works too. Just out of interest.

Details would help, but a straight yes or no's better than nothing. I'm not exactly expecting any hand-holding here.

Okay, let's see here... Push this one, uh... Then that--Whoa!

_{[After some fumbling (and a near drop), the device finally flickers to life to show a hooded figure peering down into the camera. At first he's dead silent, his mouth opening and closing a few times as he tries to figure out what to say before he decides to take a chance and shake a proverbial fin.]}

Soooooo, I guess I should probably introduce myself or something... I gotta admit I'm totally lost even with that chick telling me the basics. Either way-- _{[He reaches up to push the hood back Light what is wrong with his hair.]} You guys can just call me Demyx, and this is gonna sound really dumb considering the whole... y'know, circumstances, but does anyone know a good place to grab a bite to eat? I figure it'd be better to get some grub while I try to make sense of some of this stuff, anyway.

[Really, does this girl ever look happy? Because she's still as frowny faced as ever when the feed kicks on, idly rubbing at the fading scratches and bruises still left over from the fighting not so long before.]

I know at least some of you here are capable of holding your own in combat. [And even the way she says it almost gives the impression she's giving everyone much more credit than she thinks they deserve, whoops. But she's getting itchy feet without her apprentice here to help her practice her stances....] I need a sparring partner. This "training" is useless without one.

[Totally not so she can also gauge who might be a useful ally in this place. Who might be a threat and who might be worth keeping tabs on. Nope, never.]

( Winry taps on her tablet screen, waiting for some sign of feedback. When it plays, it shows her frowning, bandana in hair, apron on. That also appears to be the ceiling. )

No, send the message already, don't do whatever you're doing now --

( Ah, but the tapping pays off, the video feed ending and a text message posting to the network soon after. )

Imports -

I'm looking for some kind of foam molding to outfit a leg I'm working on now that my customers have all reappeared. I don't know if any of you have worked with prosthetic limbs before, but I've heard rumors of some kind of shape-retaining foam that used to be used for them? Has anyone seen some kind of material that would work similarly?

Let me know if you have, or if there's any good scrap metal or hardware stores you've run into off the main part of the city.

Thank you,
Winry Rockbell
Automail Mechanic and Prosthetics Consultant