I had thought that the answer was clear, but considering what we were recently put through...

I'm having difficulty deciding which one I find more insufferable between The Initiative and the United Earth.

Perhaps some of you would like to share your thoughts on the matter?

[When the communicator turns on, the first setting that it gets turned on to is just voice. A male voice can be heard, cursing softly.]

This shouldn’t be that hard to work. If that button does—ah, there we go.

[The voice setting is turned into video, and a young man with blond hair appears on screen.]

Well, looks like this thing is finally working. I was almost getting tempted to bash it against the wall, but the technology is too good to waste. Or was it the network? [Grins.] So, from the depths of despair we emerge, possibly victorious, possibly having made things worse.

[His grin slowly fades, and he grimaces as he looks down at his clothes.] And all this good leather wasted out in the rain... I was glad those others didn't offer their robes to the rest of us. Not something very leader-like, isn't it? More like a monk of some sort.

[He turns the camera, offering a shot of the rubble.] It's been a real joy and pleasure moving rocks, but after hearing about those airships and the bombings, I'd like to know more about those. If there's a way to fly, I want it, and I'd like it now.

[Lena is sitting cross-legged on her bed with a sword balanced across her knees. She scowls down at it]

Why are these...apartments so white? [The way she says 'apartment' makes it clear the word is unfamiliar] It's almost enough to give a person snow blindness.

I need to get some air. Is there anyone out there with some familiarity in using a sword? Or...who doesn't mind facing off with someone using one, for that matter. I need practice against more than just people using the same weapon as me. [She shoves a hand back through her hair] Especially in this place.

[ Scott's made the effort to prop the netbook up on his desk, so when the video flicks on, it has that staged look - he's sitting in his desk chair a few feet back, elbows on his knees and head slightly lowered. But his eyes are locked on the screen, and the general vibe is definitely "not happy". ]

I'm looking for Derek Hale - let me know if you've seen or heard from him. [ There's a beat, then he remembers to have some manners. ] Thanks in advance.

Derek, if you're out there, quit being a jerk and respond.

( Private - Dean Winchester )

[ Arthur clears his throat with a loud ahem before he sets in. ]

I'm looking for a man. He could easily be mistaken for a boy with his twig-like figure, and perhaps even a lady for how pale and dainty he appears.

He answers to a sundry set of things 'Servant', 'Dunce', 'Useless dolt', but more often than not 'Merlin' is the popular title.

Places you may choose to look first would include any taverns or pubs about, as he has the nasty habit of wasting his workday away nose deep in a pint of ale. Sometimes he can even go missing for days, weeks at a time. It's dreadful, really. It's painful to watch. And sad. Tearing his family and friends apart, and it really doesn't help he has no social skills to speak of, so getting said friends back will be a task hard won.

[ Ahem, back on track. Right. ]

Should you see him or catch wind of his likely unbathed and alcohol drenched state, please inform him, his liege's boots require his attendance, and should he take a second longer than needed, said boots may be coming to impact with his backside.

Thank you kindly.

[video]

I dinnae what a 'netbook' is. The wee woman wasnae very helpful ...

[There are sounds of movement from the netbook, but the picture is dark. It takes a moment or two of rustling around before something comes into view. It's blurred from quick movement, and then an eye appears, filling the screen. It's brown.]

What are ye, now? [The voice is male with a Scottish accent. The picture pulls back to show a man's face; wild dark blonde hair with grey at the temples, a mustache and soul patch that's serving for a beard, and a scowl that conveys a great deal of attention paid to the netbook.]

Magical box. With voices! Well, bugger me. At least it's got a wee typewriter attached.

[tap tap tap on the screen]

'allo, people in the box! What're ye doin' in there?



((ooc: heading to bed, will respond in the morning!)) Back!

[Currently, the netbook is upside down when it's finally turned on, so there's a weird angle on the young woman's face as she leans into super close to the screen. Seriously, she spent about twenty minutes pressing buttons and commanding the mirror to turn on. Anyone paying attention to the network probably saw a lot of keysmashing and hearing her say some crap like "Mirror Mirror". :| It's pretty embarrassing.] This is a piece of junk. Is this like one of the magic mirrors I've heard about? Because it's no wonder only witches have them.

[Her cheeks puff out a bit as she moves back, and while the video is still upside down, you can make out that while the girl is pretty, her dark hair is messy and full of leaves, her clothes are slightly dirty, and she's scowling pretty intensely.] I am sick of magic. And also people holding me against my will. [The girl taps at the screen, hard.] Or people using me for their own means. [Basically? There's a long list of things that Belle is sick of.]

Send me home. I will make any deal you want, give you anything you ask for.