[Facilier has been busy since his fortuitous arrival a month ago. He's been keeping an eye on people, both on the tablet and off, quietly getting a feel for the place. People here won't be as easy to fleece as they were back in New Orleans, but it doesn't matter. If he plays it right, he has all the time in the world here to get his footing somewhere good. Now, he's aware he's going to have to do some advertising. Word of mouth is well and good, but he'd rather people know where to find him, should they be in need of his particular...services.

He still isn't used to using the tablet beyond its voice function. At least with that, he can pretend it's a telephone instead of some device that belongs in a moving picture. He's nothing if not a good salesman, though, and this time...this time he needs the video. The screen is static-y at first, the good doctor watching an unseen person trying to get the thing to work]

No, I don't think throwing it at the wall will help.

[Oh. There we go. Facilier offers the camera a wide smile, as his shadow floats from somewhere off screen to hover beside him]

Bonjou and good day, fellow Transports! I'm still fairly new here, and figure it's about time I introduce myself. [A flamboyant bow to the camera, this thing better be working] Doctor Facilier, at your most humble service. I would have introduced myself sooner, but I've been busy establishing myself in this new little 'ol world of ours.

[The shadow moves offscreen again and suddenly the tablet is floating about in mid-air, showing off the little one-room home that Facilier has converted into his Emporium.]

So if any of y'all are in need of potions, charms, or even have your future read, don't you ever hesitate to come find me. [A piece of paper with a scrawled address hovers in front of the screen for a few moments, before it and the tablet are put back down to face Facilier once more]

After all, I'm real interested in helping y'all out. That's what this should all be about, right? Givin' each other a hand while we deal with all this other mess concerning the United Earth and what have you. I'd hate to sit back with my particular talents and not have them be of some use to the folk living here.

[One more friendly smile for good measure] So I hope to be seein' some of you soon.

[Wes turns on the camera, giving it a polite smile, his dimples standing out.] Hi. Wes Mitchell.

[He hopes people don't remember the sanitizer post.] Um... well, I just wanted to wish everyone happy holidays. You should find your present on your doorstep if we know each other.

I'd just like to say thank you to those of you that have made me feel at home. I know it's not quite home, but it's meant a lot to me.

[He coughs awkwardly, his face turning a little pink.] Anyway, it's not necessary to give me a gift in return, but those that have- thank you.

What's one thing you miss? I miss my car. It's a beauty.

[At eight-thirty in the morning the crisp voice of a young woman begins to drone.] So the holiday of Christmas is just around the corner. For those of you not in the know - of whom I'm sure there are many, I was such a one myself less than 2 years ago - Christmas is a winter festival, meaning its hallmarks are decoration in the red and green hues that are so rare in this desolate season. There is delicious food, and an exchange of gifts, and an overall pretense of universal goodwill. It is, as they say, the most wonderful time of the year.

That time of the year, Christmas Day, is the 25th of December. Celebrations often start earlier on Christmas Eve, or the 24th. If you're familiar with the calendar that governs timekeeping in Exsilium, you'll know that means we have less than a week left.

Now I happen to work with Vennett, the temporal programmer. There are two main things of public import I've learned from him. First, New York and Las Vegas are some of the most popular destinations for missions that procure physical goods and no other result. Second, encoding a unique destination is a non-neglegible drain on resources, especially when the goal of the mission is not related to the location.

If you intend to spend the holidays in Las Vegas, enjoying whatever entertainments it has to offer, I can't really stop you. On the other hand, I have a proposal for whoever else has Christmas shopping to do: We all go to New York, together. I've made this announcement early in the day hoping to organize an expedition this evening; if there are enough interested parties who consider this notice to be too short, a delay of a day or more is perfectly feasible. Either way, we meet in front of the Transporter at 6 o'clock.

And one more thing. Should you be repulsed by the location or perceived frivolity of this entire exercise, but still want to get out of here, for the sake of a [she says like it's a dirty word] 'vacation' or any other reason, why don't you consider the latest lovely selection of mission proposals? AI's new simulations are absolutely top-notch, and we've been getting excellent results already.

Alright, that's all for now. I hope everyone listening to this has a Merry Christmas when the day comes.

[Yuri turns on the feed, greeting everyone with a lopsided smile. Almost telling that he has a really smartass remark to make...]

Am I the only one waiting for something bad to happen? Not that I wish it, but it's actually kinda nice right now. The calm before the storm, right? We're all working together, almost as if forgetting there was a civil war among us on the moon about sides and everything. Now, suddenly everything's sunshine and rainbows. [The last part is overly sarcastic. Of course, he knows not everything's going well, but for him and the journey he was on in his world, this is pretty damn chill.]

Though, gotta thank the place for supplying monsters. Kinda missed fighting regularly, and they're strong too. Gets me excited to actually do stuff now here. [Instead of moping around in his room about how much he hates this damn place, but ah, well, beggars can't be choosers.]

If anyone ever cares to join me, I wouldn't mind. Maybe I could find a few sparring partners that way. Gets boring with Flynn all the time. [He chuckles once at the end before turning off the feed.]

[ He makes the bother to speak in Basic (which is really English except maybe accented weirdly, who knows) but cuts right to it and doesn't betray his own thoughts on the matter. ]

How are we certain the Initiative is the right side to fight for?

((ooc: oh, also. permissions))

More importantly, now that I'm here, am I really expected to procure food and clothing for myself? That is what I have been thinking about. It's rude to spring something on someone like this.

[Give her a break, she's small. Well, more importantly, she's used to being given things, or to hunting food if really need be - but usually if she's in the woods eating small birds, she doesn't need clothes anyway! Look, if they want her to be stuck in society like this, they're going to have to take responsibility.]

[The video clicks on and shows the pale features of a young man that some might recognize as the warrior who was springing around in the warehouse. He's not as mute as he was pretending to be.]

Look, I'm flattered you invited me to join the party and all but you've got the wrong guy.

I'm no soldier.

Don't take orders well. Never did.

So how'bout you just send me back to my old crib, huh?

[He gestures into the camera with his off hand, which is holding an oversized white handgun.]

Do that? And I won't even charge ya for the work I've done so far.

Scout's honor.

[ooc: permissions post]

[ Celestia isn't much up for speaking to any of the people here if she doesn't have to. She's already been forced to deal with roommates, so getting out of her room and finding a place to call her own space has been helpful in the past few days she's been here so far.

Still, she finds herself incredibly bored, now that she's caught up on all the information she needed to properly have an opinion on everything going on in this crazy place.

But Celes moves at her own pace, and her pace has pretty much nothing to do with helping anyone but herself. So: ]

Might anyone be willing to participate in a game of some kind? Chess/shogi/mahjong ... maybe even poker?

This is Locrian Sergeant Tear Grants of the Oracle Knights, home world Auldrant. I'm seeking whoever can give me information on the clinic; I'm a healer and I'd like to offer my services there.

[ She pauses before moving on to her next order of business. ]

The Initiative makes a convincing case for why we should willingly join their cause. "The United Earth will destroy our worlds as well"... At the very least, it makes for a compelling argument, particularly in light of the recent display of the United Earth's level of firepower. But how much of that is actually true?

It's not that I find the Initiative untrustworthy, but rather that they've given me little cause to trust them. Although recent events certainly make you feel compassion for their cause.

I'm presuming some of you have already gone on missions, so you have less biased accounts. Any insight you could give me would be appreciated.

Venite da me tutti voi che lavorate sotto un pesante giogo; io vi darò riposo.

[ no one will ever know how long it took her to type that.

the video clicks on after the message. vanozza set aside the red silks for today in favor of a simple apricot gown.

a show of humility is becoming with her topic. when she addresses the network, her smile is quiet and kind. ]

Idleness is a dreadful labor it is said, but rest is blessed. I have set aside a room to serve as a chapel. A place for peace and meditation. [ there are some simple directions here. ] I would be grateful for any assistance you, kind listener, may provide and would be glad for company besides. Those not of the Catholic faith are welcome as well. We are all but children in the eyes of the Lord; now is a time for togetherness.

[ the walls and floor have been washed and a few chairs appropriated from elsewhere. several pillows from the unoccupied rooms now sit on the floor for use of the supplicant. vanozza sacrificed one of her gowns to create a runner for the table upon which to set a cross. two unlit candles sit before it. the room is sparse, but clean and, as promised, peaceful. ]