[he's in the process of tilting this device to its proper angle as this turns on, and only a beat passes before he stills, his expression drawn but placid.]

Should you find yourself, throughout all these wanderings in this world's time...standing at the very moment the United Earth's rule handed over to a computer, what do you believe you would do? If you know yourself well enough to know.

This precise moment is unknown to us. The chance is there. And it being so critical to everything about our current state... [a slight pause, mouth pressing into a thin line.]

I feel it something that needs consideration among us.

[another beat, and he shifts to turn the public feed off.]



( private filters to CABLE, RAIDEN, and SOFIYA KARIMOV: )

[This video recording takes place in a VR room with low power; the lights are patchy and gravity is only moon strength, making kneeling on the floor an easy position. Kanaya's words languish philosophically like students trying to pay attention in class.]

I've been part of the Initiative for a year now, if that's what the month being October again means. Bombs were falling on Exsilium for the first time back then, much like they did in May. I wonder how many of you remember that. Everyone was so surprised, back then, that the United Earth would attack us so directly.

That fact isn't very relevant to what I have to say, but it seems there is an unspoken tradition of celebrating these milestones and getting introspective about how often you ask yourself, "Is this day my last." [She seems to regard that with cynicism, reinforced by her pressing forward into business.] So to combat that existential doubt and make this post more than a waste of electricity, I'm here to announce my complete lack of anything better to do than go on missions.

[Remembering something else and turning sad, consolational, she goes on a tangent.] Madoka, if you're watching this, I'm so sorry about everything that's happened, and if there's anything I can do for you now, please just let me know.

[That taken care of, detachment gets easier.] Anyway, I've seen a fair share of posts about having a desired end for a mission but being apprehensive about going alone. I'm in pretty much the opposite position, having the cumulative experience of three missions and no objective. One solo, two paired, all successful.

In light of our current technological status having a partner is especially prudent if safety is of any concern at all. In case my age is giving viewers any doubts, let me assure you I have the strength and speed to offer adequate protection from most earthly threats.

Finally... it seems that I'm one of about five Transports aware of and interested in the virtual reality system prior to our lunar plight. [It's a little funny to her.] I heard about it before it went moonstream, you might say. So if you need help constructing assets for your digital home or office or what have you, that's something I can assist with as well.

[Just then, the power fails, turning out the lights, though the view of the room isn't entirely black considering its occupant's glowing skin. Kanaya looks up at the dark ceiling, frowns a little, then sighs and reaches out to the communicator (already beginning to drift for lack of gravity) and cuts the feed.]

[ When the feed turns on, there's a poorly-shaven and generally scruffy guy in a labcoat peering critically into the lens. He might not look familiar, but when he speaks, Transports who have been around for a while may recognize the voice. ]

This thing on? Hey, looks like we're broadcasting. I'm a genius, as usual.

[ The view shifts as he tucks whatever is broadcasting into the front pocket of his shirt, showing a hallway within the Hold. His voice drifts in from off-screen: ] We got the best of the best having a powwow in here. You know, the fate of all of Exsilium, and stuff like that. They're gonna tell you guys when they're done, but I say we pick up the pace a little. We're on a tight schedule, you know? [ The view strides forward as he makes for a closed door. ] Just our little secret, alright? I'm not even supposed to be on your fancy network — like they could ever actually kick me off.

[ His voice drops with the last part as he pushes open the door. Inside are ten Initiative employees, and Saul and Medusa, seated at a table and looking terse. Someone shoots a frown toward our loyal broadcaster, who mutters an apology for his bladder and slides into the only empty seat. ]

( Cut for length and a transcript! Sort of. A prose transcript, because who really wants to read the word-for-word. )

[ The talk winds down, and someone near Saul and Medusa mutters to them, something along the lines of, I don't envy your job, telling everyone. Saul, already pissed and definitely having been on the "no" side of the voting, lunges for the guy — but is restrained by Medusa's hair. The view shifts again as the broadcaster lifts the camera from his pocket, turns it around to grin weakly into it. ]

Done and done, pals. It was the pen all along! Ha, told you I was a genius, noooo one feels like listening to poor old Sponde…

[ There's a quick raising of angry voices, but the feed ends and cuts them off. ]

[[ooc; Saul, Medusa, anyone else in DITR, and possibly the NPC will be responding to questions here, but also feel free to use this as a general IC discussion space!]]

[ the video opens on a table, spread with long cards, most of them face-down. the one showing is xvi, the tower. the camera pans out, a little jittery, to show physis sitting at her card table, turned to the side in agitation. blue is knelt on the floor beside her, glancing up at her with concern.

it was almost like it's all happening again, but this time she can't be quiet about it. she doesn't know the initiative as well, she can't really trust their efficiency in the face of something like this. the mu were always mobile, the moment they knew their location was compromised, they would find another one. that wasn't the case in exsilium, and the warning was necessary. ]

To those who don't know me, my name is Physis. I have the [ gift? not hardly. ] ability of foresight, clairvoyance.

We've made ourselves known, acted openly against our enemy, and they are preparing to make a retaliation. We are to be an example of how they retain their power, I have seen it.

Does anyone know what the Black Code entails?

[ Aerith appears to have finally decided to get around to using her communicator more, now that she's had some time to get settled in and explore (and also establish that there really isn't anyone she knows from home around here). Her hair looks a little damp and her face a little flushed, like she's been out in the rain, but she's smiling, an empty basket in her hands. ]

I don't suppose there are very many flowers growing around here, are there? It looks like it might take a little time to get back in business since I have to work from scratch.

[ She shifts the basket aside, pointing the camera toward a raw patch of earth that she's clearly been tilling, dug right down into in a particularly large section of missing/damaged pavement. There's a scattering of flowers there, growing just as resiliently as ever in a place where they have no business being. ]

No place is too gloomy for me to work with. Soon, I'll be able to fill the whole basket! I'll accept orders in advance, limit one per person.

[ She laughs faintly, playful, teasing, and turns the camera upward again. ]

Do you think—"they" would allow something like a flower shop around here, anyway? If I'm going to be here awhile, it may not be a bad idea to keep busy. —Busy-er.

_{( Remy’s hanging out in what passes for one of the classier taverns, leaning back in a wooden chair as his hair falls over his eyes. He’s eyeing the communicator a little devilishly, and, as ever, he’s shuffling a deck of cards. And though the process is constant, he eventually pulls out exactly the card he meant to: the Ace of Diamonds. )}

Diamonds are called Coins, sometimes. If it was gonna be an element, it’d be Earth. Has ta do with the physical, your body an’ your wealth. People who do work like that, too—merchants, traders.

Sometimes it jus’ means you’re an achiever. Y’like gettin’ things done.

_{( He nods, solemnly, before replacing the card in the deck and continuing with his shuffling. He pulls out the Ace of Clubs, next. )}

Clubs’re different. Called Wands, in the old days. They’re Fire, willpower. People who do hard work, wit’ their hands. If you’re someone who likes destruction, that’s your suit. But that’s no so bad. The world needs breakin’ down an’ buldin’ up.

_{( Another nod, another tilt of his head. The next card is the Ace of Hearts. )}

Hearts’re special, some people think. Used ta be called Cups. They gotta do with Water, with emotion. People who do things spir’tually.

Hearts’re socializers. They like other people, more than things.

_{( He kisses the card lightly before shuffling it back in, pulling out the last. The Ace of Spades. )}

Now, Spades. Also called Swords, sometimes. They’re Air, freedom. But wit’ that comes unpredictability. If you’re a Spade, y’like havin’ authority. But that comes wit’ responsibility, an’ consequences.

Spades’re explorers. They like the unknown, seekin’ out what they might be ‘fraid of o’ what might bring ‘em joy.

_{( That card goes back into the deck, too. Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle. Remy smiles at the communicator once more. )}

So, here’s a question. Which’re you?

[ Video opens on Roslyn at her desk in the police office, well dressed as she holds up her badge in front of her for a little bit before placing it back down on the desk. The office is small and cramped and clearly actively in use by the piles of folders, even if they're neatly stacked and arranged. ]

Some time ago, the police force was unfortunate enough to lose Inspector Barnaby, Sergeant Howe, and Sergeant Calhoun back to their homes. Their service was appreciated and will be missed.

In their absence, I am currently assuming the reigns as Detective Chief Inspector of the Transport Affairs Unit. I wanted to reassure the population that the police will continue to operate with integrity and dedication. Should you ever require our services, we can be found at [ address & ooc link ].

For those of you considering joining the force, we are always welcoming new recruits and the pay is reasonable. Serving as an officer is a way to help mend the fences between us and the natives and earn a living. Thank you for your time.

[ click. ]

[ ooc: check here for further ooc information on the police force and opportunities with it. ]

[Kousuke appears on the screen, covered in dust and sweat and blood. If you look closely, you can see the trails his tears have left in it. But he gives a wan smile anyway. Anyone who's seen his real smile could tell what a pale imitation this one is.]

Uh... Hey, hey everybody. I'm Kousuke Nitoh. I, uh. I'm calling you on my way back from the outskirts of town. I gotta tell you something important...

[He sighs heavily, leaning up against the wall of a half-ruined building.]

There's a monster in town, a Phantom. It, uh, well, the easiest way for me to explain it is that it... killed Haruto.

[He looks immediately despondent, having said those words. He quietly repeats it.]

Haruto's dead. The Phantom stole his body, and it's walking around lookin' like him. So if you see him, don't talk to him. Phantoms usually don't kill people, other than the ones they're inside... But he'll try to feed off your despair.

[He starts walking again, looking around awkwardly.]

It's my responsibility to kill him. I gotta do this. But if anyone could help me keep people back while I fight him, or like... Just help me out. I have to deal the final blow, though. My life kind of depends on it.

[ The silence in the background is full and steady, which makes the fast, uneven breathing behind the tablet a little more out of place than it might have been. ]

My friend, he- Jericho. [ a huffed breath out. ]

They- it wasn’t even an accident. He didn’t have a pulse when I... when I got here. [ not a certainty, the accident part. but a guess. a good guess his head's rushing to already, but he's too upset, too angry to think it through right now. ]

I don’t know how long it’s been but you- you could tell that with the right equipment. With the fractures and the head trauma that’s- that’s a lot of- [ work to do is what he doesn’t say.

no he won’t say that. ]

Whatever it takes, I’ll- whatever the white coats use to bring people back, we’ve gotta use that. There has to be a way, there just...

There has to be.

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. ))

[It's this nut again. She sounds dejected - really dejected, not even excited to be feeling dejected. ]

Hey, my big sister was here for a little while. But she disappeared a little while ago without saying a word. It's really typical of her! She did this before too when we were younger. I thought maybe we could have fun together while she was here. We're twins, you know. So it would have really funny to prank everyone here for a little while, to see if you could tell us apart. Ugh, but you know, she isn't a very good actor. I bet you would have all seen right through her.

[She's so disappointed. Mukuro never does anything right. And she's too bored to be gleeful about it. It's the worst feeling, wanting to despair and not even having the strength to overcome boredom to feel it. ]

But now she's gone and I'm super bored. I guess she went home, huh? Mukuro was so selfish. She didn't even leave me anything cool to defend myself with in this scary war. That's so typical of her, too. She always said she'd protect me, back home, and she's left me all alone again. I can't even find the strength to change my personality like usual!

[She sighs very dramatically. She's playing the abandonment issues up, really, but whatever gets her what she needs. ] So, you know, everyone's always sounding really hopeful when I listen in here, or they sound really tired of it all. I'm envious! So I decided I'd make my own fun without Mukuro. But Junko isn't selfish like her big sister, so when I'm done I'll share it all with you. But I have a super duper important question: there's bound to be engineers here, right? Even programmers? Can I borrow you to help?

[A beat. ] Huh. I guess that's everything. I feel a bit better already. Hope is really something.

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/]

I doubt the Initiative would appreciate me discussing this, especially when we have new people arriving here. However, I believe it’s only fair this should be said. 

Last month has not been kind to any us. The United Earth overwhelmed us and we lost an entire world to them. It also showed us there are some cases where they can’t revive us.Tragically, we lost Adam Jensen during the mission. I send my condolences to anyone who was close to him.

If it’s alright, I thought about getting a shrine constructed for both him and that world but I wanted to know if those who were close to him were okay with that. Perhaps it could help in bring some closure.You’re welcome to message me privately and anonymously.