I have information to share with you all, about information that we lack.

[a pause.]

( LOTS OF TALKING )

Yodelehee yodelehee yodele hee hoooooo~!

[ It's a cozy tableau: Xerxes Break is sprawled sideways on a plush, overstuffed sofa, drinking hot chocolate out of a teacup. Seated beside him is a "woman of a certain age," once beautiful in her day, probably, and even now could be called "handsome." She is primly and respectably dressed, unlike the gaggle of young ladies (and a few men) clustered around the form of one (1) Gilbert Nightray, backed up against a wall, red-faced and cringing. While Break looks entirely at ease in this situation, Gilbert can only be described as scandalized. The sweater he’s wearing with the giant reindeer on it probably doesn’t help. ]

Has anybody ever been to Switzerland? Lovely place, excellent fondue, and the singing!

[ Break yodels some more. He has a high, breathy voice, and difficulty keeping a tune even at the best of times, so this is a particularly vicious form of vocal villainy. His handsome companion giggles into her cup, whilst Gilbert ducks his head and holds his ears. ]

The Swiss also make terribly good clothing for clambering up mountains, of which they seem to have a great many.

[ "Advanced nano-engineering" is what the Mammut retailer had told him, making their technical clothing light, automatically formfitting (one size really does fit all), impervious to the elements, and able to keep the wearer's body comfortably warm, even in the most extreme, frigid temperatures. ]

Anyway, I've got a few of these left over, with which I might be persuaded to part.

[ He produces a small bundle, hardly larger than a deck of cards, and gives it a shake. It puffs out into a snow suit with an attached hood and gloves, clearly a wonder of late 27th century technology. Unfortunately, late 27th century fashion was to emulate 1980's ski wear. ]

With that in mind, I have some information that might be interesting to those of you who haven't yet found suitable accommodation. My esteemed hostess [ a nod to the respectable lady seated beside him ] has been telling me about an enormous castle, half-buried under the snow. In addition to housing a number of works of art, it was also once used as a hotel, apparently. Thus it occurs to me that, with a bit of, ah, sprucing up, it might serve as a place for us Transports to stay, without having to impose on anybody's hospitality.

[ He pauses, frowning. Somewhere off camera, a baritone voice is pleading about something regarding sin and God and exciting underwear. ]

….which is, alas, all too easy to wear out. [ He leans over the back of the sofa calling: ] I think that's quite enough, Mister Cecil~!

(ooc: Break, Gilbert, Kevin, and others have found temporary shelter in a cathouse bordello. Responses will be from some assortment of the above. Actionspam and threadjacking welcome.)

[ There's a little bit of fiddling around with his tablet. In fact he's not even looking at the screen for a good fifteen seconds as the video records his dumb face, before he finally looks up and gives it a bright and cheery grin! Gonna keep positive despite all the recent going ons of this place. ]

Well hello there, folks! It's been some time since I made one of these public announcements. Er, do they count as announcements? I suppose they are announcements of sorts. Can't say I've had much of a reason to, but it's been--

[ Looking back down at the tablet for another few quiet seconds. ]

Egads! Has it really been that long? I see it was with Miss Lalonde. What I wouldn't do to see that gal again. She'd know how to liven up the moment.

Which reminds me why I booted up this old computer in the first place. In light of recent incidents it might seem rather inappropriate to ask such a questions, but I do feel rather chagrin even bringing the whole thing up! But I'm looking to procure myself a cake, and possibly a few party goers if anyone's interested. You see today's date happens to be a personally big one for yours truly. Seems today I've not only made it to the ripe old age of seventeen, but I've reached my first full year here in this particular universe. Like a grim anniversary of sorts, but just because the occasions grim doesn't mean it can't be treated as an occasion to celebrate!

[Hello network, you might know this one: small framed with long, dark hair, violet eyes, perpetually clueless expression, dressed in a soft blue sweater, hair pulled back with long bangs free. Mahdi's voice is airy and nervous.]

Hey, um! It's me, Mahdi. I'm really sorry to do this when everyone else is making really good posts about important things, or going through really difficult things, but I just have some stuff I need to say and I think doing this is better than like, dropping off a dozen notes to individual people's inboxes. I kept putting it off, but there's probably never gonna be a good time.

[Mahdi pauses for a long moment, fussing with long strands of hair in nimble fingertips, frowning. The angel takes a deep, nervous breath.]

The thing is... I'm not a boy or a girl, I'm just me, sort of neither and both. I guess if I really thought about it, I'd say I'm a little bit more of a girl than a boy, but I'm still in between. Where I'm from, that's not as uncommon as it seems to be here. It's also - [Mahdi clears hir throat] like, it's not a big deal, because it's just an ordinary part of life. If someone realizes one day that they are a girl when they were a boy before, or they were a girl and now they are androgynous, or whatever, it's just a part of life. Like it's not any more interesting than someone picking a new style of dressing, or a new hobby. If that person changes their name, everyone does their best to learn it. It's all about just accepting people for who they are, whoever they are.

I know it's different for a lot of people and cultures. Even though genders other than male and female exist in many human cultures, and have throughout history, it seems some cultures are just as invested in the idea that there are only two. And that there are rules about how those two kinds of people should behave. I don't know anything about cultures other than human ones, I mean, aside from mine, though. So. Um. [A shrug, and Mahdi glances off-screen awkwardly.]

I don't mean to inconvenience anyone, or make it awkward, since I know this stuff might be confusing for a lot of people, and others will be like "why is that even worth saying anything about". But, I just wanted my friends - and future friends! [smiling] - to understand me a little better. So, in conclusion: [Ze points to hirself] not a girl. Not a boy. Just me.

If anyone has any questions, I'll try to answer them as much as I can. I'm gonna take a quick walk to the observatory and if you want to talk to me in person, we can do it there!

[A bright, if a little forced, smile.]

Thanks everyone!

[The video ends.]

[TEXT ADDENDUM]

IN terms of pronouns I prefer 'hir' instead of 'him or her' and 'ze' instead of 'he' or 'she'. If that's too hard to remember, just using my name or 'they and their' is acceptable. Please and thank you!


[OOC: just let me know if you'd like to do an action thread here or if I should open a log post!]

( When she speaks, Collette aims to sound warm. She's tired, keyed up, and confused as well as trying to understand what's gone on since the mutiny began, and what's continuing in the aftermath. She brings a question she'd talked to Ros about, in her own way; something she wants to know very simply because she doesn't, and it's all the more important now.

Out of respect for that same woman, she keep's Ros's name out of this. )

When it comes down to do or die, who do you trust here to make decisions to pull people through, and not leave people stranded high and dry, or freeze up and fall into inaction? People who keep their temper in heated circumstances. Ones who maybe aren't going to forget the bigger picture, even if that doesn't make it easy on the smaller scale.

I've got a few names myself! Blue, Kate Kane, Nathan Summers, Caesar Silverberg, Lenalee Lee, Xerxes Break, Gilbert Nightray, Jaime Reyes, Ashraf, Kang, Peter Quill, Donny, Armin Arlert, Chrono and Rosette, even Dick Grayson and Ahiru and Vanadi, of all people, would stand by you figuring things out.

Those are some of mine. What're yours?

( I'm going to keep talking, though, so you might want to tune out if you don't want to hear me ramble about a few maybe important, maybe not things! )

( PRIVATE to LILY )

( PRIVATE to ELLIE & DICK )

[ Her voice, while somewhat tired, is leveled as she speaks. ]

For the time being, the clinic should be stocked with some personal hygienic products anyone might have been wondering about. There's shampoos, soaps, sanitary napkins, and pads and tampons for the ladies. There's also patches for smokers. Anything else you're looking for, like medicine or bandages, you'll have to check with someone at the clinic.

Anyway, I asked the AI the decrypt a couple of drives belonging to the UE. There were various analytical notes specializing in robotics, specifically robotic spacecraft — rovers. For those unfamiliar: a rover is a vehicle used in space explorations. Depending on the design, they can either be partially or completely operated on their own, or they can transport crews.

There's a couple of bad ideas that come to mind knowing this information: one being they may have plans to come up here eventually and if they aren't fully aware how many of us are here, they'll find out.

Research also indicated "interdimensional colonization". We've been well aware for a while they're able to access portals into other worlds.

The drives also contained some notes on Project Chimera and talks of previous genetic projects the UE's researched. I'll forward anyone who wants a copy of these notes to look over.

[ For those who ask and receive: here. ]

Has anyone begun to compile the information we have together to make it more streamlined? I imagine the AI can likely do it if you ask.

[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.]

( there's a slight sound of rustling after the feed clicks on, as oz makes himself more comfortable on a seat in the observatory. why he's there late at night — night by circadian rhythms, anyway, simulated nights on the moon — is anyone's guess, or maybe it's obvious enough. in any case, when he speaks up a moment later, he sounds to be in a good enough mood. )

What's your favorite story? Scary ones are probably best for late at night, but what I really want to hear about are everyone's favorites. For instance, something about a princess and a dragon, or maybe a mystery with a twist ending, or something out of history....ah, if you make it up or adapt it from a book, that's fine too! Or even if it's a real one that's happened to someone you know, ( and a light laugh ) — don't worry, I don't tell anyone!

But it's rude to ask without giving my own preference, right? I can start with mine, if anyone wants.

( he'll tell people about holy knight. all about it!!!! don't ask him about it. )

Hi, this is Donny Casey. This is mostly about coordinating some of the ideas that have come up lately.

Ashraf and I are working on trying to getting a clinic functioning, inventory lists and everything like that. Probably figuring out a steady roster for collecting supplies to make sure we can keep up with demand and never get to low, maybe build up stores for emergencies and everything. When things go bad here they tend to go really, really bad so having a maximum capacity clinic that's really well stocked is really critical. If you have any suggestions or ideas they'd be really appreciated.

The better prepared we are with the basics, the more time and energy we'll have to focus on saving Exsilium. I think having all the basic stuff sorted out up here and having what we need on hand will make working out the details and tactics for helping Exsilium, and it means that if anyone disappears then the system can keep going because everyone knows how it works?
If anyone has any ideas about the best way to do this, I'd really appreciate any help. I know a few people have posted ideas since we got here about different areas to focus on, so it would be worth meeting up or something? It could be worth brainstorming.

I also have metal manipulation magic so if anyone needs help reinforcing things or anything like that, anything construction-wise, I'd be glad to help.

If anyone was close to Crystalia, Sweet Pea, Guinevere or Margaery Tyrell, it looks like they've all gone home. I kept looking for them in case there was an administrative error with the Initiative after everything or in case they just needed some time to themselves but it looks like they're really gone.

I'm really sorry.


( After Kang's response, he edits the post to add: )
special medical note:
For non-humans in particular, if you require specific medical care or there are differences in how your body functions from humans then it would be great if you could come by and talk to us so we know how to treat you. With the resurrection tech being down it's even more important that we get everyone the best medical care possible.

Even if you're human but have allergies or anything like that, get in touch so we can make sure our records are accurate.

[ Effie clears her throat. Taps the microphone. Puts on her best smile even though nobody can see it and parts her rouged lips to speak in that designer Capitol accent.

She is a woman on a mission and for once it isn't entirely selfish. ]

Attention.

Attention everyone.

Thank you.

There has been some concern as of late regarding the lack of feminine necessities available to the recruited ladies of this establishment. I have taken it upon myself to run a charitable drive for distribution of these items to any person who requires them.

We would be delighted to accept your generous donation of fine fabrics and aesthetic materials such as powder or perfume that could contribute towards a woman's well-being.

Please note, gentlemen, that this effort is as much for your sake as it is for ours, and on behalf of the ladies in Exsilium we appreciate your cooperation in advance.

[The image first shows an open book lying on a table. It seems to be open at the very back, though looking at the page on the left would show that it's full of text so it obviously was supposed to continue where the cover now is. Closer observation would show that several pages after that one were apparently ripped out.

It stays on this image for several moments, or at least what the person showing it thinks is long enough for said observations to be made. Finally, the screen does a very quick 180 to show a livid Elliot.]

WHO IS THE CRIMINAL RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?!

Library books are the property of EVERYONE WHO USES THAT LIBRARY! YOU CAN'T JUST TEAR OUT PAGES WHEREVER YOU SEE FIT! IT'S COMMON COURTESY!

ESPECIALLY NOT IN THE FINAL BOOK OF ONE OF THE GREATEST SERIES EVER WRITTEN!!!

[ The feed comes up to life and Gwen is by the window, watching the street outside.

Perhaps she is concerned, perhaps she's simply tired. ]

To those who helped me to improve the state of the Civic Gardens for the purpose of a memory headstone, thank you. I don't know if the recent bombings have spoiled our work but -

[ she bites on her lip, clears her throat and turns from the window. ]

I know very little of what I can do for this city. I am a maidservant, not a warrior. I don't have great powers or special skills with a sword but -

I'll help in whatever way I can. A friend of mine once taught me that every action has its significance, as small as it may appear and I suppose it's this knowledge that made him who he was. Is.

[ and she misses him. she was silly to forget that lesson. ]

....I will need more help in the Civic Gardens, if you can provide it. I will be there every afternoon. And if there are any smithies working in the city I would like to speak to them, if it's not too much trouble.

[When the feed starts, there's a girl who will be familiar to some. She doesn't begin by explaining that she just returned or anything, though. Instead, there's a brief silence of only several seconds, but she soon starts to speak once she's found the exact words she wants to say.]

So, um, I know there's a clinic for the Transports here. And, I know it's probably only for people who have lots of experience in medical stuff to be working there, but I wanted to know if there was any kind of, like, training program, or someone who knows a lot about medicine and stuff that's showing people how to do it? I only know a little bit of first aid, but I'd really like to learn more, is the thing.

Apart from that, um... I'd like to hear stories from other worlds. It can be things that really happened to you, if anyone's comfortable with that, or famous legends from the place you lived, or, well, anything! I just like hearing about different places, and I think stories are a good way to do it.