[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!]

[please enjoy about 45 seconds of silent film: small wildflowers, shrugs, and grass...some creeping vines up a dead tree trunk. it's only a little shaky, because this is being filmed in his hands, but hey.

once it's done, there's just follow-up text:]

The plants around here are getting healthier :)
I take it a good sign.

[private text to: ADRASTEIUS]

Everything looks a lot better here, and I'm pretty sure it's mostly thanks to you!
I found an interesting book today about where certain kinds of plants can grow. And I might have some ideas because of it...

[The tablet has been carefully propped on a library table against some books in order to capture video of Charles from the mid-chest up. Or, initially a close up of his face all frowny and concentrating and then he pushes away to lean back again.]

Hello. I'm Professor Charles Xavier, something of a recent arrival, although, it seems as if I've been here previously. If you happen to remember me from before the beginning of this month, I'm afraid I don't remember you, but I'd be fascinated to know anything you can tell me, if you don't mind.

I'll return to that in just one moment, but there's a rather important thing I have to get to first. The locals, those who have been living in Exsilium long before we were ever summoned here, are not happy with the current state of affairs. And can you really blame them? They've been told we're here to help, but they've no proof of it, not when it involves time travel and reality modification. All they can see is the negative attention we draw from the United Earth, and the preference given to Transports over them. So, this is my proposal: we form a team to protect them. A team that visibly makes an effort to prevent harm from coming to the Exiles, that protects them where the Initiative might not. It won't be easy, especially right now, at the beginning. They don't trust, or like us. But with time, if we demonstrate our willingness to coexist and use our resources to help them, there is no reason for us to remain at odds. Now! What is a volunteer service without volunteers--which is where you lot come in. If any of you are inclined to help, or even if you only want to ask questions, do speak up. The more of us there are, the better use we'll be.

As for my previous self, it seems as if he'd, or, I'd managed to secure funding, and a building of some sort for the purposes of, well, creating a school. I've really no idea if any of his arrangements carried over to me, but before I go looking into that, I'd prefer to know how far he managed to get. Did any renovations occur? Where is the building to begin with?! If any of you know anything about this school, I'd be terribly grateful for your help.

[He smiles, and then leans forward again, to switch it off.]

[Mahdi is wearing his hair down, a rarity for him. He's dressed in a loose-fitting shirt, nothing too impressive, sitting in his room and smiling.]

I've learned a lot since I arrived here a year ago. Most of all, I learned that people are more than just a sum of their good and bad deeds, People are much more complicated than I ever understood at first. So I want to thank everyone for being patient with me - or uh, not, as the case may be - because it's been a chance for me to learn. Thanks.

Have you learned anything really surprising while you've been here? I'd like to know.

...On the note of anniversaries, um, I'd like to go out dancing? Somewhere with really upbeat electronic music, that's my favorite. Sort of as a personal celebration for making it this far. Maybe I'll have a dinner or something too, if I can think of something nice to make. Would anyone like to come with me? Dancing, not to dinner. Dinner's still in planning stages. I'll need a buddy, or um, a bodyguard, because I'm so small. It's not good for me to go crowded places on my own. I'd feel more comfortable if I had someone big and tough by my side! Or just tough. Pretty much anyone's tougher than me.

[As if to prove him right, a small black kitten crawls up his arm and begins chewing on his hair.]

Truffle! How many times have I told you, I'm not your mama! You don't need to groom me!

[This is the breathless voice of someone in panic.]

Does anyone know how to get chewing gum out of hair?! It's kind of an emergency...!!

Please help me. I don't want to cut it!

[ After finally being able to return to her own apartment and clean herself up, Anne tentatively begins to explore the outside more, now that the worst seems to be over. She's seeking out where the bombs dropped, partially out of morbid curiosity and partially out of a desire to help. She can't just stay at home.

It's nice to walk and talk, and these tablets are handy, so she attempts to use it properly for the first time, flipping on the video to address people at large. This face greets you, Exsilium, and it looks just as happy as in the picture! Same dress, even. She might get an unpleasant reaction from some natives soon because of it... ]

I can still scarcely believe what I have been told, and what I have seen with mine own eyes. This was once my home, but how can I call it so now when I look about and see nothing but disease, horror, and strangers who either suffer or condemn. My heart breaks, and I know not how to piece it back together in this wake.

There must be a sane and like-minded soul here who is willing to make sense to me. My name is Anne Boleyn, and I am most grateful for any assistance provided in this hour of need, and for suggestions on how I may assist. For your time and your consideration, you have my humbled thanks, and I continue to pray to Almighty God to bless you, and those most in need of His love and guidance in this dire time.

[ She leans back, lips twisting a moment in consideration, before continuing more softly. Anne isn't sure how to contact people privately using this. ]

And if I could hear word of Mister Clovis and the Lady Daenerys, I would breathe a sigh of great relief.

[Man, look who looks healthy! Or, well, healthier than his last appearance, anyway, which is saying a lot. He's still smoking, of course, and he looks just as dour as his first appearance.]

There's, uh, a dead body here.

[He gives the camera a look before swinging his tablet down. It's a man, leaning heavily against an alley wall. Anything valuable has been stolen from him-- buttons, cufflinks, watches, and a tooth (a gold tooth, Jack suspects). He's got hundreds of little holes in him, bloody and gorey.]

Smells like shit here, I'll tell you somethin'. So, uh, I dunno who takes care o' this stuff, but you might wanna c'mere. There's nothin' worth lootin', so don't everybody come all at once.

[He adds the coordinates afterwards.]

[Jack appears on the network. It looks as if he isn't aware he's being filmed at first; he glances around him nervously, his eyes darting from place to place.]

So-- right. You guys don't got no newsies, yeah? But I'm grown outta that business anyway, so I figure, I'll do somethin' else anyway.

[And now he focuses on the camera. His eyes are a little sunken in; his cheekbones jut out sharply from his face. The entire effect is unpleasant; he looks like he hasn't slept or eaten in quite some time. Carefully, each movement deliberate, he takes a cigarette out of his pocket; his gaze focuses on that as he speaks.]

I draw pictures. Real good, if I do say so myself. Do paints, too. You want your picture done? You want your wall painted? Maybe you're in theater, you want some sets done, or maybe you want somebody to put a, a, a mural on your wall. If it's somethin' to do with art, I can do it. I don't give a damn what it is. I'll paint you and your stupid girlfriend if you want, 's long as you pay me. Name's Jack Kelly.

[He nods sharply, once, and lights up the cigarette.]

An' in personal business, a couple thin's: this gun's good an' all, but I'm in the knives business, meself. Anybody sellin' any good blades? I don't mean no stores, all right, I ain't lookin' for no directions to no weapons shops. I'm talkin' about the good stuff, the stuff you get on the streets. I don't got much money yet, but like I said, I got a few skills I can exchange.

An' speakin' o' them: I hear I got some roommates. Miss, uh, Galadriel and some guy named Guy? Well, I ain't gonna be in at all. Not for sleepin', anyway. So don't trouble yourself with that, when you don't see me come in.

[A deliberate pause. He exhales a lungful of smoke and watches it drift upwards before adding:]

Asano Rin. I got a bone to pick with you, and I think you know why.