[She looks tired, a little strung out, like she's sure most people do right now, but this is important, and it's important that people listen, which means she's using video, in the hopes it'll help make this message stick.

When she speaks, it's steady enough, though there's hints of worry and desperation in her tone, at times. Indications of how serious she's taking this, how hard it's hitting her.]

I know everything's a mess right now, but if you're seeing this, I need you to take the time to sit and listen, please, because I'm trying to help all of us and that won't work if everyone ignores me. Some of are probably going to hate me for this, but that's okay, as long as you keep listening while you hate me.

[a beat; a breath]

We're not abandoning the Exiles.

( this got long winded )

When I was a kid, FDR would do these little— he'd come on the radio, and he'd sound cheery, and he could talk about all kinds of awful things. Poverty, and debt, and then war. [ His voice drifts off, for a second. ] And no matter how bad it all got, he could make you feel safe. I was always crap at that. I can't make you feel safe. But some stuff you've gotta know anyway, I figure.

I got a copy of one of the UE's field guides, and what it says is that the Black Code is the all-clear for a nuclear warhead drop, then carpet bombing. They have… fancier nukes now, I guess, with more than one point of impact on drop.

Now you know.

[The video opens to Celena's 30ft long draconic form standing at the edge of what looks to be a construction site, the area mostly cleared apart from what looks to be a pile of rubble on one side and ordered piles on the other as the tablet floats before her.]

Greetings.

I have a request to make to those who are interested and able, I am currently setting about constructing an abode suited to my needs and to practice my artifice without the need to take on my smaller forms.

To that end I would request that any who have experience with construction, or think themselves capable of heavy lifting that would like to assist in this endeavor contact me.

I would be quite willing to repay the services of those who assist me, whether with assistance with constructions of their own, repairs, or favours saved for a later date.

[With a gesture she projects the preliminary plans of the building in a semi-transparent illusion, quite clearly well planned.]

After I have finished with this, I intend to look into the possibility of constructing hardened shelters about the city for use should the catacombs ever be rendered unreachable.

Any who would wish to contribute in this matter, whether with construction, or insight on protections both mundane and magical, do not hesitate to contact me.

[With that she casts a smile to the tablet.]

In any regard if any wish to speak with me in regards to any matter may find me here or via the network.

[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?]

I miss home. I know that's normal, I know - I know there's nothing that can be done about it. I try to keep that in mind so it won't get to me so much. Everyone is so nice and helpful, even with everything going on. I'm very thankful, and - I would like to think I have made some friends.

[There's a pause, and he sighs softly. He suddenly isn't sure why he decided to start this feed.]

It's weird... one of the things I miss the most is hearing my language. [a little exhale, followed by a contradictory smile.] I wasn't used to speaking English for so long until I came here.

... Are all of you from English-speaking countries?

[When the feed clicks on, Seviilia appears to be cleaning out what looks to be a primitive and empty fuel canister with a worn piece of cloth. A grinding stone sits on her axes nearby. After quick inspection of the layout, it appears she is not anywhere in Initiate Hold.

Her expression is slightly darkened, but her tone is neutral as ever. She appears to be focusing on her task, even if the canister is mostly clean.]

Perhaps we should consider better preparing ourselves for the next inevitable bombing sequence, hm?

[She pauses in her cleaning and rotates the canister to change directions -- a motion tht seems to take more concentration than it should.]

Unless you are all content to add to the body count. In such case, disregard my notation, I suppose. But I do know we have some capable engineers here -- surely you might come up with something if rebuilding is to occur regardless.

[Those that have seen Thorin before might recognize that his beard is fluffier than he normally keeps it, and his hair is loose. A lot of this having to do with the cast he still wears, but takes great lengths to keep out of the recording.]

One thing I have never understood about other races is your flippancy with names. At birth, my people are taught to guard the name they are given, and to address ourselves in the Common Speech wherever there are outsiders. I know many others do not practice this: they have but one name and give it freely to the world. I have always accounted this to foolishness.

[He stops to sip his beer, and when some runs into his prominent chin hair, he catches it with the same hand.] Then there is the matter of your "science." Which has yet to be proven to me as different from what my world knows as magic. Though many are swift to claim they are not the same, science only seems different in the name it is given.

We are brought here by the power of Men. But if we are expected to fight against forces we may have never encountered before, I want to know how did they come by it? And how is it theirs to wield?

Or perhaps 'science' is simply a word that means nothing.

[ It takes a bit of shaking the thing about. Despite the tutorial, this is so different to Edmund that he can't seem to fully grasp it at once. He eventually seems to get that it's recording, though, and the shaking stops. ]

Oh - it's on. Good. I was starting to think I'd broken it.

Um, hello. While a great deal of things have certainly been explained to me, and I'm doing my best to try and catch up on it all, I did have a question I was hoping people might be able to answer for me.

Have you come across anyone with the last name "Pevensie"? I'm looking for my brother and sisters. Or even just one of them, maybe. Lucy? Are you here?

[ He's not used to world jumping without her and he's hopeful she'll get the message. He presses his lips together a little more roughly, trying not to convey too many of his nerves and keep up a mostly regal appearance. ]

Well, thank you in advance, regardless.

[Billy's face appears on the screen. He looks defeated, though he tries to school his face into a professional expression---for the past day or so, his horror's been growing until he couldn't deny his failure anymore.]

Hello. My name is Billy Cranston, and I'm the co-creator of the telepathic devices some of you have been testing for us. I'd like to issue an apology for my part in the failure of the test, and to put a stop to it. Edward Elric served as the director of the test, and he's done a fine job---but as the creation was my idea and I have the most experience with the technology, the fault is mine, not his.

I failed to adequately account for the differences in available materials between the telepathic communicators at my previous residence and what I managed to scrape together here. As a result, private thoughts have been broadcast, and I can't apologize enough for the intrusion.

[He stares idly at his hands for a moment, biting his lip.]

Removing your devices from skin contact should be enough to stop the broadcast, but please return them to the garage at your earliest convenience. I doubt my efforts are salvageable at this point, but...if any of you believe you can fix my mistake, I'd appreciate the assistance.

Once again, I'm sorry.

[He turns away and the feed clicks off]

[edit: added attached note]
I've especially hurt our telepathic population. I never should've sprung that mental assault on you, and I was stupid to think I could fully control it. I'll scrap the project altogether, but...if any of you think it's at all possible to save it, we would appreciate your assistance. I definitely understand if none of you are inclined to offer, though.
---

((and that concludes the broadcast plot! development to fix the devices is open to everyone, and please feel free to backdate telepathy posts if you want in))

( oz has spent some time practicing, so when the video feed comes on, it's steady and propped up to give a good view of him in the living room of his apartment. he shoots the camera a grin before holding up a helmet that may seem familiar to some people. )

Hello, everyone! You won't believe what I found today. ( a meow can be heard off-screen, and he corrects himself - ) Or more correctly, Li Jun did. Something like this must belong to someone, right?

( he hefts it up closer to the camera so that viewers on the network can get a better view. it's probably clear he basically thinks it's one of the coolest things ever. a real helmet like what a real knight would have!! maybe even what one of his favorite fictional knights would wear while doing something gallant.

it would probably be rude to put it on his head. which is what he does a moment later, cheerfully, because look okay how many chances like this does one get!! the network gets a wave before he takes it off and adds, )

Well, if it someone's, I wouldn't want to keep it from you. So tell me if it's yours, alright?

Seeking volunteers for a trial of a prototype comm device. As many as possible - new or old, human or nonhuman. Telepaths, mind readers, whatever else along those lines, those would be a bonus, but what we're after is variety.

I won't lie: it's nothing glamorous, we don't have a fancy name or brand like some people and we can't compensate you as well as we should. But we're not talking a huge time investment - all we need for now will be spread out over two days.

I can take questions if you have them. If you don't, be at [street name where the weapons lab is located] by 0700 tomorrow. We'll fill you in.

[ooc: This is the IC announcement of the broadcast mind player mini-plot! Please note the adjusted timeframe if you caught it when it was first posted; it now wraps up on June 5th, to overlap less with modplot.

No need to explicitly sign up, new characters equally welcome, and threadjacking discussion is encouraged! o/]

So.

[The haphazard mass of glass bottles covering this little worktop vary considerably in shape and size, but there's one thing all of them appear to have in common: the opaque white liquid visible inside them. If you squint, several of the bottles also have condensation running down the sides; they can't have been out of the fridge for that long. One of them, towards the front, is half empty, and therefore probably the most exciting thing on the scene.

But if you only had audio to go by, you could be forgiven for getting the impression that Ed just tied an unconscious puppy to some train tracks. He sounds like he's about five seconds away from hauling off and driving over it himself, too. It's a good thing he's not recording his face right now.]

Who wants some of these? C'mon, don't be shy - it's your lucky day. Plenty to go around. Unit 302. Offer ends soon. Just come up and take it.

[You might also notice that the fridge just off to the side still seems to be open. At least from this angle, it looks a little bare...]

[ If the Initiative ever wanted proof of how well they expanded their network's range, this would be it.

Normally Caesar isn't prone to using video, but this will be one of his few exceptions. He's sitting in a large metal chair, one with all sorts of technical whatzits and doodads that he'll never ever fully understand on his own attached. For those more future-inclined, it looks an awful lot like the captain's chair of, say, a spaceship's bridge. He waits a few beats until he's sure the tablet, either held by someone else or propped up on something across from him, is broadcasting. ]

Good evening, Exsilium.

If someone would be kind enough to go wake the Initiative up for us and let them know we have something large, space-faring, and very high up above the island right now that we'd like to bargain with them for, that would be really great.

( OOC note: Feel free to threadjack! This is totally a threadjackable post. )

Does anyone know where to get plants around here? In particular cherry saplings or seeds?

Also, a lab I can borrow would be very helpful! I promise to clean to clean up after and not leave any surprises ♥

My payment for borrowing... would be my help in the form of an invention! Something to make your life easier! You have to tell me what you need, of course, and then let me borrow your lab again... to use for my invention, of course!

 I'm looking for people who can build things. There is a broken down building I want to live in. It's in the outer part of the city. I'll transport you back and forth if it's an issue, and I have stuff I brought back from the last mission. Is that payment enough? Contact me if interested. I don't need to waste my time with idle conversation.

[OOC: For anyone who planned to do things, I'll have a log up! As for any action things at this place, the log'll be the best place to put it! Thanks!

EDIT:Log is up! Here!]

[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.] 

( 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. ♥]

[voice]
[you will all hear a female voice with a British accent speaking to you]

Good day, everyone. I was hoping you would indulge my curiosity a bit. I was actually in another world before my arrival here. And I don't mean my original world, but a world like this one that takes people away from their homes. This other world was a place called Paradisa.

My question to you is this: were any of you in other worlds apart from your original home before arriving? If so, how long were you there?

I will be the first to answer my own question: I arrived in Paradisa in July. I was there a total of one year and nearly seven months before coming here.

[Elissa's one of those people who still hasn't conformed to the more modern way of dressing. Her tunic is loose and her leggings are worn, still the ones she's had from home. Her tone is thoughtful when she begins to speak.]

We lose people so often here that it's rather staggering. They say they wish to build an army but I often wonder if the Initiative isn't grasping at straws in their attempts to keep us here. I've seen strong warriors come and go, some more than once. I cannot tell if I'm grateful at the idea that their control over our presence is slipping or if we should be worried about what the future may bring. After all, we still do not know if we are returned home when we depart from this world.

[If she seems fearful of the notion, she doesn't show it.]

But we still lose valuable friends and allies just the same. Many, too, will leave this world only to lose their lives. However the Initiative has managed it, they have brought people back from the dead, and they will probably perish once they disappear.

[That is enough to make her frown.] There's little we can do, unfortunately. But I believe someone mentioned wanting to build a memorial before, something to honor those who have left us one way or another. I'll...admit wanting to start such a project if it hasn't been created already, though I have little idea of where to begin. Suggestions would be welcome.

[Otherwise, she can only privately mourn fallen friends and departed allies in her own way, and she's not interested in just moping.]

( filtered to zevran )

[ Feferi doesn't look like she just got back from a three week mission, she's made sure of that. She is staring a little too intently at the camera, and looking a little too cheerful-- normal for her. ]

Hello Exsilium! It's so good to be back, but it looks like I miss one shell of a mission! I had my own to be on, but it sounds like it was a lot of fun, from what I've heard so far. And I missed the new arrivals? [ She raises a hands a gives a little wave. ] Hi to all of you too!

Oh, but I wanted to ask something too! Is anyone here really good with making furniture?

[It's late, but apparently tonight is a night Lacus is having a harder time sleeping. So she's still awake, trying to keep Haro from being too loud and waking Cagalli or Sheryl. She decides to check the tablet, maybe others are in a similar position, being friends from home but from different points, like she and Kira were. Maybe they might have some advice that might help. She never had particularly thought of it as an issue, not until Kira had brought it up with the fireworks earlier last month.]

I don't suppose....any others here have friends from home that are from different points? I have one who remembers two years more than I do. I didn't really think anything of it initially, but I'm just wondering how others might have dealt with it, that might help. Two years doesn't seem like that long, but a lot can happen.

[Well. That and, she figures things get more serious and intimate between them over that time. For her, they had only recently started dating, but for Kira they had been for a good while by the point he ended up here as well. That is probably her main concern, though she knows Kira would never push her on it, and that he had assured her it was okay to tell him if she wasn't comfortable. But she doesn't want to upset him either.]

[Well, isn't this a face you haven't seen posting to the network for quite some time, Exsilium. What's this weirdo girl up to this time, you wonder, clicking on her video? Surely it's going to be some kind of ridiculous announcement where she's grinning widely and--]

[Well, actually, she looks kind of distressed. And kind of shaky. But that just might be the camera, because she's moving around pretty quickly and you can see landscape behind her. But distressed, definitely that]

Sis, it's not nice to scare people! Are you trying to make me old and grey like Nick?!!

[And she clears her throat, though it's clear her composure is going the longer she speaks]

Has anyone seen my sis? Her name is Mia Fey, and she's a lawyer, and she's this tall [She holds one hand hiiiigh up (no, Mia isn't a giant, Maya's just really short)] and she's got long brown hair and she's really pretty [With a certain two assets you can't miss] and she's really good at defending--! Oh wait, that last one isn't a description.

A-Anyway, I can't find her, she's not in her apartment, and her phone's not working, and I really need to make sure she's okay, so, please, if you've-- [And it seems like her leg caught on something, because--]

Aaaaaah!

[--Because she's tripping and faceplanting right into the ground, dropping the tablet in the process and ending the feed. Yep, she just tripped and fell in the middle of her post, WHAT A CHAMPION]

[OOC: Feel free to action tag if you want to run into Maya in the streets, running around ineffectively looking for Mia. Yep.]

[ This lady's looking a little different, for anyone that's spoken with her before. Not any older, but there's a sort of crooked quality to her nose, like it'd been broken and healed some time ago. She's lounging in the Initiative apartments, looking like she's recently made friends with a superiority complex. ]

I want to speak to those of you who have seen a war before. Not the skirmishes that the Initiative sends us on here, but actual war.

And failing that, I'll take anyone that knows magic — and can teach it. That part is important. Don't waste my time if all you can do is cast it.

[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?

( well, that was - something. fifteen is not an age he'd ever wanted to experience again for a number of reasons, all of which stand out vividly in mind right now. there was so much he didn't know then, driven by a raw need for revenge and to get his answers, still hanging on mr maverick's every word. he wasn't happier then but things were simpler then, more cut and dry, and he was more certain of things than he may ever be now.

he sighs before he can stop himself, offering the feed a long-suffering expression. )

I'd like to thank everyone who helped me ( there's a slight stress on the last word ) in the last two weeks as I was getting reacquainted with living here - especially since I wasn't particularly easy to deal with, at that age. Presumably, everyone's aware that disruptions like this are difficult to predict or control, but if anyone would still like an apology for my behavior, I can't say it wouldn't be deserved.

Do you take me for a child? [ Asks the thirteen year-old who's short for her age. ] That I would believe that the older me was abducted by an organization from the future and now lives in this seedy lodgings? If this is some foolish attempt to foolishly prevent me from being a prosecutor, then know this-- my Papa will hear about this. And he will not stop until you've been found guilty of all the crimes you have and might foolishly commit.

I won't too, once I've successfully passed the bar. I won't show you any mercy [ She swings her riding crop around as an example ], not even one minuscule bit.

[ Convinced that she has managed to intimidate her abductors with her message, young Franziska von Karma smiles. True to her nature, that smile comes off as snarky and condescending. ]

Of all the lies... time travel? Really? In the future, when I am prosecutor, all criminals won't escape punishment for their crimes. I won't be caught in a den of fools like this.

Alright, lemme make sure I got this exact. We've been rounded up to fight in some dad-blamed future battle, and in the meantime we're supposed to sit around and twiddle our thumbs. Guess some things never change, huh?

Look, I got sympathy, I really do. You have terrific taste, bringing me here. I'm all aces. And hang, I hate to say no to a lady. Some of you have to be ladies, right?

[ Cough cough. Ahem. ]

But I'm all booked up. I got a date with Hitler and his Nazi crum-bums. I can't stick around for this.

( his faint, faint, faint memories of exsilium allow him to remember how to work his tablet easily enough; so much so that he assumes he was just that clever in his ability to figure out how to use a new, somewhat antiquated device. his voice is calm enough when he speaks, bored, just this side of sounding utterly disdainful. )

If you were looking for a ransom, then you should've done more research before kidnapping the first teenager in sight.

( this isn't entirely true, of course; there's his connection to mr maverick, but that's not very common knowledge. anyway, it's not like he's about to blurt out being somewhat adopted by one of the most influential people in sternbild to a potential kidnapper. )

Since there isn't anyone for you to demand it from, anyway, this is a waste of time for both of us. Should you really be giving away computers, anyway?

( this is incredibly stupid and such a waste of his life. whoever's on the other end of this device is going to have to suffer his scorn in all of its teenage glory. he doesn't care.

and there's always his hundred power, if it comes down to it.

after a moment, an attachment will appear: attached: ouroboros.png

yes he drew that, fight him.)

If that mark or its name means anything to you, I want to know.

 [ Here's a jerk in a faded t-shirt and sunglasses, tossing an old, ragged rugby ball from hand to hand.  It's the crack of dawn and he's been digging around the Hold's training areas, because seriously, who sleeps?  COME SAY HI.]

I've been thinking, this place only has to speeds: Slow and Something is Trying to Kill Us.  I mean, sure we had that masquerade ball thing a while back and managed not to blow up anything, but every other time, something's trying to kill us in these really dramatic ways.  We need some Scooby-Do hijinks mixed in to level this shit out.

[ He stops tossing the ball and holds it up to the camera.]

Anyway, object lesson for all of you swords and sorcery types out there.  This is a rugby ball.  It's a piece of equipment used in a game where two teams try to run it down the length of a field and score points.  

I think.  I'm actually not clear on how you play rugby aside from it's a pretty good excuse to kick the crap out of your friends in the name of sportsmanship.  The more ya know.

Speaking of knowing shit, not sure if someone's put out the note yet, but if you're looking for a blonde mechanic, Winry's gone.

[ This post has been brought to you by restless vigilante kids who don't know how to handle emotions.]

[ For the sake of not having to deal with too many distracting hallucinations, texts are obviously the best. ]

Wow, this thing actually works. Here i thought it would just be a portable cutting board with how clunky and hideous it looks, but i guess it does the job

still hideous though.

Anyway, hey, i just need some questions answered then you guys can go on your ~*merry way*~ and i won't need to look at this giant, flexible floppy disk with a screen for too long. Where can i get fabric? Sewing stuff. Shit like that.

Thought it'd be easier to ask rather than roam around since i stray off course pretty easily



and cookies


i really need some good cookies, like addicting good. Super important. [ Kougyoku got him hooked... ]

---

( OPTIONAL ACTION FOR UNIT 807 )

[After dealing with the uncertainty of being parent (or future parent, rather) and being taken care of by his son more than should be allowed, Kratos has finally decided to ask for help. Anonymously.]

What does being a father entail? Or rather, what sort of things do fathers do with their children and what responsibilities are expected of a father? Conversely, what activities do children enjoy doing with their fathers?