Here's a saying: in youth the days are short and the years long, in old age, it's just the opposite.

[ Nash is sitting in his apartment, with a cup of tea. He takes a polite sip. ]

Recently I've discovered that my birthday was— oh, a week ago, maybe. [ His non-occupied hand gestures vaguely. ] I know what you're thinking! You don't have to get me anything. I wouldn't have anyplace to put it.

No, I'd just like to let everyone know that I've decided not to have anymore birthdays. I'm old enough already, and I don't think any that I have here should count. We're always supposedly going back and fourth in time. I'm sure some of that's undoing itself. If I understand it correctly, that's the whole point.

Henceforth, I, Nash Clovis, will still be thirty-seven. No less, and definitely no more.

[ Another sip of his tea. ]

Here's another saying: you can't choose how you come into this world, but you can choose how you leave it.

[This is the second time only that he's used video function, only because he knows about a suspicious paranoid fellow Guild member who will demand to see him. He looks wind-swept, tired and grumpy, the latter of which is basically his usual expression.

He's standing to one side of a building that's he come in front, and he nods his head at someone off screen before he finally looks at the camera.]

At least the other place was hospitable. This place is still the same, though I see the addition of a flying machine has been added. I missed out on some entertainment. [He doesn't particularly sound enthused and his eyes narrow dangerously.] I'll be interested to hear some of your adventures in a private talk. [Maybe at gunpoint.]

[He openly sneers before changing to private setting. Someone woke on up the wrong side of the hovercraft.]

( [Private to Elza] )

[Video]

Think I've basically got my bearings down around here pretty good. Just one big thing I haven't been able to find (Aside from white sand beaches, that is.).

Have we got a good firing range around here? I'm gonna get rusty without having Overwatch or the CPs hounding my ass constantly.

[Private to Gordon]

So.

Morrigan?

This may only apply to a few people, but has anyone actually left the island and gone into UE territory?

If you have, I would like to speak with you. I have a few questions.

[ Short and to the point. Now to sit back and see if anyone bites. ]

Apparently, in some countries, in some worlds, blonds are considered dumb! [ He smiles like there's some private punchline, not like he's the butt of the joke. ] I just thought I'd share.

Anyway— [ he makes a circling gesture with his left hand ] people like to use this thing to ask questions, right? This is one you'll like. [ By "you" he means the Initiative, which he is sure is always watching. Well, maybe not always but enough that you can't count on them not. ] I want to practice my fencing.

I guess that's not a question though, is it? [ He squints. ] Okay, how's this: I'm looking for a sparring partner. No, still not a question. Hmmm. [ Tapping a finger. ] Anyone up for a match?

I can't promise I'm anything but out of practice, but… that's the whole point of practice.

And I hope everyone's recovered from that out of body experience. Like I was saying before, It's a tricky thing to fight when you don't know which is your swordhand.

Good afternoon. I'm Yuri Petrov, of Sternbild City.

[Yuri doesn't hesitate to use the video function. It's how he's used to communicating in Sternbild. He also doesn't hesitate to air his opinion, however much some might disagree. Someone is not in a good mood. Yet his tone remains, overall, polite, in spite of the stern nature of his words.]

I hope I'm not alone in finding this kind of conscription both morally and ethically insupportable. It doesn't matter what the reason for the war is. Not only is there no such thing as a just war, but a cause can never truly be just when supported through unjust means.

Furthermore, to meddle with the past in the hopes of affecting current events strikes me as patently absurd, if not outright foolish. Time is an interwoven series of events. Think of it as a cloth. Tug on one string, and others begin to unravel. Who knows what the unintended consequences may be?

I do not know if there are other conscientious objectors among the population, but they may count me as one of their number.

( The most unconventional challenge you will ever see. )

[However the peace is broken again as the network explodes into life showing Natsu still wreathed in flames and lightning. His face a mask of pure fury with flames blazing within his onyx eyes and even inside his mouth as he speaks. ]

Did you get my invitation you bastard? Oh I know you did. Unless you're blind as well as brain dead. Did you really think you could just eat and run? Come and pay the price, you worthless piece of shit of a leech! If you've got any guts that aren't rotted over inside that stinkin belly of yours, you'll come to where that beam just punched the sky.

[The flames and lightning billow outwards more fiercely the angrier he becomes but they settle down again as his voice lowers]

Or don't. Either way the ending's the same. I'll still track you down, then make you cough up every last drop of blood you took from her.

[And to elaborate his point he brings his gauntletted fist in front of the camera. To those who have seen Natsu use it before, they would know that until that day, his hands could not ignite while wearing his choice of weapon. However that no longer seems to be the case. The glowing pyres in Natsu's eyes are reflected in the weapons own miniature dragon head and its jaw is now opened with a red hot flame dancing in its mouth. A flame that is clearly wrapped around both of his fists now.]

I've given you a last chance you don't deserve. Take it or say your prayers. Because I'm coming for you.

[Suddenly Natsu holds his fist to the side and the viewers can see the flames around said fist forming into a very distinct shape, a snarling snapping Dragon's head made entirely of fire. Without warning, Natsu punches at the screen and the last thing anyone can see is the gaping firey maw of his attack. Nothing but static and then silence follows.]

[An anxious Cedric appears on screen. He looks from left to right, his mussed hair flying just about everywhere. He taps the screen to ensure that it's turned on---in his mind this somehow serves a purpose. When he's sure everything's working, he waves.]

Hello! This is Cedric again. I've talked about this with one or two of you before. I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself or it's something you've all heard before, but this is something I need to sate my curiosity about. It's just that this world is so different from what I'm used to and there are so many different types of people. If that's even the word you prefer. And sometimes we have conflicts with one another.

So I have to ask: what do you think of people who are capable of using magic? Witches, warlocks, sorcerers, casters, wizards, or whatever you choose to call them. Are they all right, do you think? Or not?

[Her hood is down, the camera catching bits of fire. Ygritte isn't focused on the camera, poking the fire a bit more.]

I want t'know more about the lands outside o' the city. I been there, so if one more person tries t'tell me that it's dangerous out there, I swear to the gods I will shove my spear so far up your arse you won't sit for a fortnight, aye?

[Ygritte: making friends through threats.]

I wanna know about the game out there. I've got enough o' those birds, but I miss real meat, a bear or ox. Enough furs to actually make somethin'.

An' yeah, I know I promised t'take a few out there. Now that this whole mess with them machines and time is over-- I can go whenever.

[That whole time thing? It makes her bristle. It was only a few months or so before, but enough to make her chest hurt all the more to think of a certain Crow.]

[ Flashes of video input— the corner of a walls, floors, a swath of blue clothing, with a frantic, tapping accompaniment. Someone doesn't know how these things work. But the confusion settles and the video feed cuts out.]

This isn't how I was expecting my kidnapping to go. I don't think you've thought this out at all. I mean, where's the ransom note? I don't like to brag, [cough cough] but I could fetch a good sum.

If you wanted to do this right, you'd chop off my little finger and seal it in a letter to my father. "We have the Latkje heir, please send one million potch." That's how you do a proper kidnapping.

Don't worry, I promise to be very uncooperative.

Dear individual who broke into my room yet again,

Since obviously stealing that is a big game to you, I will give you the chance to return what you took peacefully. Doing so will insure I don't tell all these wonderful people here who you are and just how much you shouldn't be trusted.

Sincerely,

Caesar Silverberg

And on the off-chance that they have ditched it somewhere rather than keep it, if anyone else happens across a fancy piece of paper from some little art supply shop and it has my name on it, I wouldn't mind seeing it returned all the same.

[ Basically, missing: one gift certificate. Not terribly important, but still his, so it's worth a shot asking. ]