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

[a pause.]

( LOTS OF TALKING )

It doesn't look like this winter's going to go away anytime soon, so I've got a question.

Any advice on how to keep a cold-blooded person warm aside from bundling her up layers upon layers of clothes until she sinks in the snow from the sheer weight of it? I think she'll have trouble moving after a while too.

She'll probably be okay but she got really cold in a winter-based amusement park attraction once. It's worrying. ( ´△｀)

[LOCKED from momo kisaragi;]
That aside the real reason I'm posting this is because I have no idea how to celebrate people's birthdays but my sister's is coming up next month (not that I'm not worried about you, friend).

She's never had a birthday party with friends before so I kind of want to get something together? Any advice would be nice and if anyone's friends with a MOMO KISARAGI, that's her. Her birthday's next month, so if anybody can drop by once it's planned or chip in...

I don't have a place yet either so ideas or offers on that would be nice. [He'd ask Flora or Kido if they could do it at their place but if it's planned right under her nose, even Momo would notice...]

[ it had been a just one night since oz's departure and alice had more or less kept quiet. after spending a night searching fruitlessly, she spent the rest of the dark hours sulking with (1) gilbert nightray until they eventually fall asleep, buried in the sheets like sad children who have lost the dearest thing they held at night.

in the morning alice wakes up and her first instinct is to cry, but the second is something more violent... and of course she goes with that instead.

THERE'S A LOUD BANG. something appears to have fallen and shattered, although it's hard to say when things are happening off-screen. and before anyone can attempt to understand what just happened, they get an earful from one angry looking young girl shouting into the tablet. she never did care for this thing, but at least she knows now that someone will be able to hear her. ]

THEY TOOK OZ AWAY! I WON'T FORGIVE THEM. [ her head's clear but it's hard to stop yelling when you're so upset. if someone could hear her, feel threatened by her,

help her

then she might actually have time to think and calm down. ] How dare they take him away without my permission? Don't they know its the master's job to take care of their servant? How am I suppose to do that when he's not here? Huh? SOMEONE GIVE HIM BACK! NOW! I'm waiting!

[ don't be fooled by her tough exterior, she's gonna burst into tears any minute now.

oh. there you go. the tears roll down. ]

This is all your fault, idiot! [ blames the ne..twork... ] Bring him back... useless! Useless....

Brrrr, hunting food down here is rather hard work!!! ｡゜(｀Д´)゜｡
When you're watching someone do it, it seems pretty easy, doesn't it... but when you try it yourself...
It's nice that we got a bunch of crops to harvest, but a guy's got to have some good jerky once in a while (*｡_｡)
I wasn't prepared at all for coming down here... hey, there's a lot of people in the same boat as I am, am I right??
Since we have so many stupendous warriors amongst our midst, it wouldn't hurt for us to share tips. At the very least, drawing up a map of where we're all staying would be useful if any of us need any help (or food lol) ( ﾉ^ω^)ﾉ
It wouldn't be good if any of us freeze to death from our own ineptitude (｀・ω・´) Maybe we could even put together a survival guidebook of sorts!
Well, well?? What do you think, everyone?

[He'll manage to answer some replies before all goes silent on his end for a few minutes or so.

...

Still on Kano's tablet and under his name, the entry gets a video tacked onto it. Some green hair can be seen but only for a moment as Kido turns the video on a certain idiot sitting in the snow, putting pressure on his leg. An irritated sigh is heard.]

Tch, I'll give a lesson: Don't let an idiot handle a gun. He's fine by the way. It's just a graze.

[She's still fretting anyway.] We came this far out looking for something like small game or whatever. We were trying to assess the resources of this place outside of getting in good with the villagers and doing mission runs...

Anyway, I guess what Kano says still holds. [Fumbling with the tablet, it points down at the snow.]

Hey, let me look at it... [The gentle voice gets cut off as she shuts off the video.]

It looks colder in Exsilium than last year. Can anyone make me a hat and something to cover my horns? I know the money doesn't work there anymore, but I have other stuff, too.

[He turned the video down to a small collection. There were a number of different items ranging from books, feathers, bolts and screws, pretty but fake jewels, and more. There may be the occasional item of value but a lot of that value highly varied depending on personal taste.]

If that's not good enough, I can help with something. I'm good at cleaning and I can move heavy things.

[While Coby is lacking when it comes to fully understanding how private filters work despite their ease of use in most circumstances, his concerns about their necessity rarely ever overlap in that same vein. So, when he decides to orient a message towards a handful of people all at once for the sake of catching their attention, he doesn't realize how an already rude concept can get progressively worse when introduced to everyone else, especially those not particularly involved.

Particularly as he turns on his camera in starting a video post, sticks two fingers in his mouth and releases an inhuman, extremely loud and even more shrill whistle from his lips.]

I have an announcement for my few students among you.

[Was it mentioned that this was done at 2AM?]

In 0300 hours, I'll be commencing a Virtual Reality Session which will entail experiences from a war you may never have heard of in history. As we've experienced the United Earth gaining superhuman abilities well beyond our scope, I believe this time of turmoil may be put into perspective if you experience something very similar.

Ah. For clarification, I had been looking to catch the attention of... Johnny D'Amico, Saul Goodman, Sango and Korra.

[ He doesn't actually really like text; he's not great with technology and there's bound to be some spelling/grammar errors, but right now he trusts typing more than his ability to keep a professional tone. So be it. ]

Hi.

First things first this isnt going to be a lecture. Tensions are high enough and Ive barely been here long enough to have the whole history down yet. (Working on it) Besides, you've already herd plenty of it. So this isnt about that.

[ Not overtly, anyway. He's trying to do the "subtlety" thing. He's not taking notes or anything. ]

I'm Doug by the way. Mostly I'm trying to figure everything out still, you know. That sort of thing. I'm a curious and openminded sort of person wich is why I have some questions:

1. Whats your favorite thing about being here?
2. And least favorite thing?
3. If you had to make up 1 rule what would it be?
4. Why's the coffee so bad & Are there vending machines (where)?

Thank you thats all.

( 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 place is extremely dull, isn't it? Would anyone like to participate in a game with me to pass some time?

Since I don't know most of you, I figured an introduction type of game would be alright. A simple question game, maybe? We can take turns asking each other yes or no questions about each other and every time someone gets a yes for a reply, they get a point. First person to reach ten points wins.

[Huey is scratching the side of his face lightly, looking embarrassed by what he just said.]

As you can see, I'm not . . . the most creative with games. Books are really more my thing. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know.

(ooc: as a note, this is an ic info gathering post and if you comment, there's a chance he will start looking up old posts/comments that your character might have made in the past for future reference and not necessarily for gaming purposes! basically, STALKING WARNING)

[Alright... Now Kenjirou is drunk.]

Doesn't really matter where we are, does it?

[Whatever alcohol Kenjirou had kept throughout his time in Exsilium and accumulated during missions has been officially depleted. It's been a rough couple of months, and they're only getting rougher. Still, there was one constant that allowed him to keep going. Now that she's gone, it really has become too much to bear. Honestly, a dark part of him wishes she hadn't come in the first place so he wouldn't have to deal with what seems (and Kenjirou fully expects to be) the death of a family member for the third time. His judgment has been a little compromised by the stress, so clearly, the only rational course of action is to make an ass out of himself on the network.]

's not like the scenery down there was breathtaking, either. And even if we get enough supplies to make it through, even if... [give him a second] ...Even if we return things to the way they were, what's the endgame? Don't really care about whatever war this is part of. Nothing but trouble...

I... ugh.

Class is... cancelled. Indefinet--... Indifi--... Forever.

( 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. )

[When the video starts, the view shows Erika in good spirits. She's downright upbeat in fact and it makes her seem even younger than usual. It doesn't help that some cup noodles are visible and she keeps twirling her chopsticks playfully.]

Good evening, everyone! It's now October 4th, a very special day. I've decided to extend the celebration of this day to everyone here with a little party game. It is an elegant and intellectual game, though, so please don't try unless you have enough brain cells to participate.

[She claps her hands together.] I'll say the prize first for motivation: the winner gets to have me at their beck and call for fetch missions for the duration of our stay on the moon. Trust me when I say I'll be able to quickly acquire any items you want.

Now for the game! It's a murder mystery of your design! This is perfect in light of the fact that no one can be revived now, isn't it? A true murder mystery is finally a possibility.

There are a few guidelines. One, you must use the moonbase as your setting. Two, it should be designed with the intention that you, the 'culprit', escape. Of course it must also be solvable so like any good mystery, the culprit won't get away.

Anyone who follows Knox's Decalogue gets extra points! Closed room murders get extra as well. I'm the sole judge, though I may ask Christopher to help me decide. Keep his tastes in mind as well.

Be creative! After all, this is just hypothetical, right? Surely there must be multiple ways to murder someone here, don't you think?

Feel free to add to each other's ideas. At least for this, I'll allow multiple culprits. It's only fair on this day. Well then, good luck everyone!

[She giggles before shutting off the video.]

[ filter; all Mekakushi Dan members; video ]

[ She debated doing this as a voice post at first, but if she's going to actually address the entire Dan as the Exsilium branch leader for the first time, she needs to have her face be seen. She also needs to take a moment to come up with what exactly she wants to say, and how to say it.

How to be a leader when she's only twelve years of age.

Kotetsu & Barnaby would be having a fit over this, surely.

She's sitting on the couch and takes a deep breath before she opens her mouth. ]

Afternoon, everyone. My name is Kaede Kaburagi, and I am the Exsilium Branch Leader for the Mekakushi Dan. I wish I could be introducing myself to you all at the party Kido & I were planning, and on much more lighthearted terms, but that got squashed with the recent kidnappings.

As you all may have heard/watched a few minutes ago, we're now under a nuclear strike thanks to the United Earth, and we're moving to the moon. I just want to extend my assistance to anyone and everyone who may need help packing up items, especially those of importance. If you also wish, once you are completely packed with what you want to take up there, you are welcome to drop your bag, or bags, off in Unit 202, and you can even hang out here while the Initiative prepares to send us up. Kido, Kano, and I all want our door to be open for you all, especially in this time.



[ filter; Keith Goodman & Karina Lyle; video ]

[ And now that that is done, she shakes the numb feeling settling in her hands and takes several more deep breaths before making another filter. ]

Hey! Are you both okay? I'm sorry I disappeared for the past several weeks — the UE got their hands on me, but I'm okay.

Bullshit is showing up here with everything on me but my comic books. All those Savage Starlight issues, gone. Just like that. Fuck you too, Initiative.

[A pause. Ellie's never really addressed a group of people. Technology is crazy. Okay, there was a point to this whole thing.]

... anyway, guess I just wanted to say thanks to the people that helped me out when I got here. I found who I was looking for, so. Didn't wanna leave anyone with a cliffhanger.

[When the video clicks on, it shows half of the inside of a bag, and the rest of a blue dress-covered hip bumping into the tablet, which is most likely what set the video on in the first place. There's quiet breathing, and the sound of a door being pushed bodily open, and then the quiet thud of boots-covered feet moving across a floor.]

[A whirl of light, and the bag is set down against a chair in on of the apartments, showing off the living room, and the skirt again, before the skirt moves away to reveal its owner, Elizabeth, turning a slow circle as she examined the apartment. She dressed in a long blue skirt and white corset, her dark hair a bit longer than when she first arrived, and with her rifle strapped to her back. She has a small black and white kitten in her hands, and after a moment she sets the little animal down and sighs.]

Hello?

[A pause, listening for a response, and then she turns back to her things...only to hesitate when she looks at her bag, noticing the little recording light on her tablet, most likely. She pauses to swing her weapon off her back and rest it against the wall, then strides back over, the little kitten bounding after her, and scoops the device up, presumably intent on shutting it off. But at the last moment she stops, considering the little machine thoughtfully for a moment.]

Well I suppose I've been putting this off long enough.

[She settles down on the couch next to her bag, silently staring at the tablet for a moment before she speaks.]

Hello. I am...Elizabeth. I've spoken to a number of you on here before but I've never bothered to send out a transmission of my own...honestly I wasn't sure what I should talk about.

[She hesitates as the little kitten bounds up onto the couch and into her lap, and she can't help but smile before her attention turns back to the tablet.]

I'm still not sure, exactly. I suppose a bit about myself. I am from a city called Columbia, in 1912 by the roman calendar. It was a city in the sky, which is apparently nearly unique even amongst the variety of places we've all been drawn from. And no, I can't really explain how it hovered, I never really managed to get quite that far into Doctor Lutece's work before I was...

Well, anyway. It floated in the sky. It was quite beautiful...And I always wanted to escape it, but looking out at this city, I do miss it. Everything is so brown here.

[Another pause, biting her lip as she tries to figure out something else important to say. Or at least interesting.]

...I don't suppose all of you could tell me where you're from?

[it's probably obvious, by how annoyed she looks, that no matter how many times she used this bloody gadget, she would never get used to it. At the very least she isn't turning it upside down anymore.

Tempest is sat on her bed, hood up, but fingering what black hair is peeking out]

Given that this is not my home world, and that the usual materials are not available . . . is a, mm, "modern" dye for hair available? And if so, where can one purchase such a thing?

Ah, and out of curiosity - how many of you are from worlds that contain magic? [her tone turns dry, if slightly amused] Worlds with wizards, witches, that sort of thing.

[Today, two unforgivable errors were made: the first, he let Rosette use the kitchen.

The second: He let Rosette use the kitchen.

When the feed blinks to life, the serenity of the figure facing the camera is directly at odds with the thunderous cacophony in the background. Chrono just smiles blandly at his unseen audience as a terrible burst of sparks makes itself visible in—is his back to the apartment's kitchen?]

I just had a quick question. [He might as well dive right into it, as a crash echoes around the apartment. He doesn't even flinch.] Does anyone here know how to repair electronics? A microwave, specifically? I think apartment number 304 could use your services.

[It's here that Rosette comes into view, hurdling around the corner as smoke billows in her wake; if Chrono were actually looking, he might think it seems appropriate for Rosette's definition of an entrance. It's unclear whether she's addressing Chrono or the tablet (even realizes he's talking to the tablet) when she bellows FIRE! THAT'S A FIRE! It's very likely the former based on how the serenity of Chrono's smile twitches into something that speaks silent danger for someone.]

Quickly, if it isn't too much trouble? [The feed doesn't cut off; evidently, his quiet fury is such that he completely forgets to turn off the tablet before hurling it across the room to go perform some manner of intervention.

It lands facing a ceiling that is growing increasingly smokey.]

( action / in case you want to help, judge, or laugh at them. all options are legit. )

 Is it really August already...?

[It's not an actual question. He has a calendar. That said, Kenjirou is genuinely surprised at how fast the year flew by. Getting old, getting old...]

[That's a line of thought best saved for a more private moment, though. He made this post for a reason.]

Er, it's about at this time that summer vacation starts back home,isn't it? I'll be suspending class for a single month. I do need some time to prepare for the next 'term', and I'd like to have a set schedule for the entire year. Might as well start the break when it always has.

If you're not one of my students, then you don't really have to respond, unless you know of any good bars in town.

[Shameless. The lazy side of him wants to end the message then and there, but if he wants things to go properly...]

Ah... I forgot to mention. There's still summer homework. Personalized, since not everyone's on the same level yet.

[The feed comes on to one of the sectioned-off areas of the temporary housing area, more specifically to a cot carefully made and covered with a plastic sheet. Atop the sheer is a collection of plants in various containers, mostly stereotypical pots made of plastic plastic or unglazed ceramic, though there's at least two or three deep cereal bowls for smaller plants and a paint bucket barely in frame. These are very clearly mostly tomato plants, from the small red shapes spotting them here and there.

Finally, a slight redhead enters the frame, fidgeting with her coat nervously.]

Um, hello! My name is Tsubomi Hanasaki--I'm new. It's nice to meet you all! I'm here to talk about plants!

[She lifts the closest pot with any reddening tomatoes, leaning closer to properly show it to the feed.] I've been growing some vegetables. Mostly tomatoes, and I'm waiting on some carrots. Anyway, after some trial and error, I think I've figured out how to grow tomatoes indoors, if anyone wants a plant! There are... a lot here... [She gestures to the pots on the cot.] They need a couple of lamps and some water, and all I ask in return is letting me look at it sometimes! You can keep all the tomatoes, and everything. So if you want to come to the Hold and pick one up, ask around for me! Or I can come to you! I have about twenty, but I'm planting new ones every day, and as soon as they've taken root I'd be happy to give them away. [The power of magic, to get these plants started!]

[She looks uncertain for a moment, and then takes a deep, visible breath.]

Thank you for your time!

[She bows, and goes to turn the video off, only for it to go tumbling from whatever she had it perched on with a rough clatter. Tsubomi's concerned expression fills the feed just before it turns off.]

[Action is open to other people in temp housing or anyone who wants to come by and pick up a plant!]

Um, hello! [ The video starts with Ayano sitting somewhere, which looks like the wall of an old house. It’s hard to tell because most of the city kind of looks the same.

And there’s a cat sniffing her, but Ayano is ignoring him. ]

I guess I should introduce myself…my name is Ayano. Tateyama Ayano. Nice to meet you! [ She’s really cheery, yep.]

I just got here and I guess I had a lady telling me what is going on but…I think I zoned out? And then there were all these people and I just kept walking and now…now…

[ She looks around, the cheery expression changing slowly into an embarrassed one. ]

I’m kind of lost!? Everything looks the same here. I’m a bit dumb for this kind of thing. [ She never stopped smiling, by the way. And she’ll probably call herself dumb a lot. ]

So if someone could tell me where the rooms are…or where the place with all the people is, I would be very thankful! In your debt, even! I’m a great cook, I’m sure I could repay you with food…if you have food. Now I’m getting a big hungry.

[ Right on cue, her stomach growls. ]

Anyway hi! I hope we all get along.

[ She’s going to get along with everyone whether they do or not anyway. And that’s it. The video ends with her cooing at the cat and lifting it ]

( oz has spent some time practicing, so when the video feed comes on, it's steady and propped up to give a good view of him in the living room of his apartment. he shoots the camera a grin before holding up a helmet that may seem familiar to some people. )

Hello, everyone! You won't believe what I found today. ( a meow can be heard off-screen, and he corrects himself - ) Or more correctly, Li Jun did. Something like this must belong to someone, right?

( he hefts it up closer to the camera so that viewers on the network can get a better view. it's probably clear he basically thinks it's one of the coolest things ever. a real helmet like what a real knight would have!! maybe even what one of his favorite fictional knights would wear while doing something gallant.

it would probably be rude to put it on his head. which is what he does a moment later, cheerfully, because look okay how many chances like this does one get!! the network gets a wave before he takes it off and adds, )

Well, if it someone's, I wouldn't want to keep it from you. So tell me if it's yours, alright?

All right, everyone needs to listen to this! Especially if you were one of the casualties the other day!

I'm as pissed off as anyone about what happened, but the overall attitude here isn't going to help anything! Maybe you got hurt! Maybe you died! But if you just sit around and mope, that's not going to help anything! You're alive now and it's up to you to decide what to do with that opportunity!

You choose how you keep moving forward! Do you really think you can make a difference for those people if you just stay where you are?! Or if you try to pretend like it never happened?! NO! I'm not saying it shouldn't have an effect on you, but the sooner you get past it, the sooner you can do something about it!

[You see Kousuke Nitoh, a maned young man with hungry eyes. He beams and waves, fluttering his fingers at the camera]

OKAY! Hi guys! I been doing a little bit of investigation, I guess you could say... I mean it's not my thing, really, but anyhow. I been looking into all the stuff about ghosts up on this floor? I live on floor 7 and there've been some crazy things going on, so I thought I'd like share my findings or whatever.

[He waves his hand over the tablet and his face is replaced by a photo of the hallway. There's nothing in the photo... Maybe some glare from the window off a few dust motes in the air creating some blurry orbs... his voice comes over the image]

So this is the kind of stuff I'm seeing. I'm hearing noises and stuff too. Like a scream and all? Also once I saw some blood coming off the wall but I didn't get a picture of it.

[Another couple of clearly-not-ghost photos pan over the screen, and then the image of Kousuke comes back.]

Anyone else know anything about the ghosts? Anyone from this floor or who used to live by the ghosts? I'm tryin to figure it out and it's givin' me goosebumps, but the good kind!

[Just after the footage comes back, an indistinct shape is seen hovering over Kousuke's shoulder. It resolves into an eerie face, see-through and lightly glowing. It's difficult to tell what it is, other than definitely, definitely a ghost.]

I'm all about researching the unknown, though I usually like stuff I can actually touch and feel more. Heh. So yeah, bring it on, ghosts!!

[The face over his shoulder, though still vague, is definitely smiling.]

[Lights on Cedric sitting in his room, twirling his wand in his hand. It's decorated in glittering yellow and black, flashing bright because a bored wizard needs to amuse himself somehow.]

That was a remarkably quick repair job on the housing building. I do wish I would've been allowed to help more, but I'm glad it's done. Having a space of my own is nice.

But is anyone else bothered by how...idle life is around here, for lack of a better term? Oh, sure, there's action sometimes, but I personally haven't seen any in ages. It feels as though I've been sitting on the sidelines of someone else's life, watching all the excitement pass me by. All my life, I thought I was going to be taming dragons or breaking dangerous spells or dueling other wizards when I grew up. Instead, the worst that's happened to me is that I was stuck as a unicorn for a week a while ago.

[He ruffles his hair awkwardly, still embarrassed by that memory.]

I need to be accomplishing something with my life, really making it count, and I'm just not getting there. So if you'd like to combine your abilities with magic to make a nice change to this place, or you have some exciting task that a wizard would be qualified to help with, please let me know? I have all day, except for the afternoons when I work at Saori's tea shop. It might not be the most exciting job, but it's nice to unwind sometimes.

[ backdated to earlier in the day before the ship crash ]

( locked ⇢ text )


[ video; ]

[ The video feed comes on, and if her surroundings look familiar to a few Transports, it is because she is currently sitting in NORA cafe, treating herself to a milkshake as she munches on a piece of candy. ]

Hi! I was wondering if anyone who knows Barnaby Brooks Jr. has seen him lately, or if they know he is for sure gone? I haven't heard from him lately, nor seen him...

Seems like a lot of people want to know about time travel - which, given the objectives here, isn't all that surprising. I'm not a mathematician or a physicist - if you want the grounding in temporal mechanics, you're better off asking someone else. I am a time-traveller, though, long before I ever came here. I've timeslid enough to have lost count of the number of times. So while I can't tell you the science, I can tell you the practicalities.

People who don't deal with this sort of thing generally have one of two concepts of how time works. One is that time is perfectly linear and immutable. If you go back and time and change something, you will have always gone back in time in changed it, and therefore nothing has actually changed. It will have always already happened. The other view is that every choice splits the universe, into an infinite multitude of realities in which every choice has happened at least once.

The reality, from what I've learned of the mechanics, and what I've experienced, is somewhere inbetween. What the Initiative seeks to do - it's entirely possible, given the right skills. There are nexus points in time, moments that are important whether or not they seem so at the time. History hinges on those moments, and so does the timestream. If a moment is uncertain enough, two different futures will exist for the same timeline simultaneously - call it timeline 1, futures a and b. 1a and 1b will exist in phase until the nexus point snaps into certainty, at which point one will become the future of timeline 1, and the other will become a different reality, timeline 2. Or something else happens entirely, if things are uncertain enough, and both futures break off into timelines 2 and 3, and something else becomes the future of timeline 1.

I don't know anyone who's actually tried to carry out the grandfather paradox, though I assume if you did, you'd strand yourself in a timeline that was no longer your 'native' one - your reality would continue on without you while you're stuck in the other one.

And, I suppose, the one piece of advice I can give - if all of this seems overwhelming, it's simplest to think of things in terms of your own personal timeline, the chronology you've experienced. Which may be out of order with what people around you experience, but it's easier to keep straight that way. And even if you experienced things in a timeline that later - from your point of view - was broken off and orphaned, that doesn't make those experiences any less real.

[Aaaand now you are free to ask questions, even if he forgot to actually invite them. He's not really a teacher, okay]