[ a bit of awkward fumbling introduces the video before Madoka's face appears, she settles back to her place on the floor and smiles. ] Um- hello everyone!

With Christmas gone by and New Years Eve today, I couldn't help but think about all of the other holidays or traditions from other worlds. I already know a lot about the ones on Earth, or well... the ones in Japan and some ones outside of it like Thanksgiving but I never get to hear about any of the special days in the worlds outside of Earth. [ she laughs. ] Or maybe I'm just not listening well enough to the network.

So maybe you can tell me, while we're waiting for the New Year to begin, about your the days you celebrate back home. Perhaps we could make our own calendar here, full of holidays that represent us all.

[ she pauses briefly, her smile softening a fraction. ] I know we're in the middle of a war here and maybe it's childish, but I can't help but think that things from home... even little ones like this can bring some joy to all of us here.

[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.

[Lea's voice is quiet, strained. Anyone who knows him can tell there's something really wrong that he's trying not to let show--that's why this is audio only.]

So I have a question. Whenever we get back to earth and all... would, ah... would anyone be interested in making a memorial of some sort? I mean I know that the people who come and go here aren't necessarily dead, but. Well, enough of them don't come back that it kinda seems that way.

I just think it'd be kinda nice to have something to remember them by.

Memories are all some people have, after all.

[The sound clicks on, a low and unobtrusive hum before a voice is finally heard, hoarse and raw. Whoever it is, it sounds like she's screamed herself out, or cried herself out, either one, and is far more diminished than she would be normally.

It's rare for her to do this, so it must be important.]

There's a girl...someone is missing. Her name is Sayaka. She—

[—Ah, that's new. That's definitely Kyouko's voice, but she doesn't seem to be in a good state. Silence for a while. She's covered her hand with her mouth and just breathes in for a few seconds.]

She was in the outskirts, and I was looking for her, but I couldn't find her in time. I can't sense her either. If anybody's seen her, I gotta know.

[ the name attached to this account, and thus with all applicable comments within this entry, reads Haruka Takahashi, as usual.
for those of you just joining us at home, some info. ]

If you're only interested in useful posts, you can skip the rest of this. I'm only out to waste the time of those who want it wasted, today.
For anyone else, color me curious.

Water, Wind, Light, Flame, Earth, or Darkness.

Pick one, please.

To clarify, "light" doesn't mean good and "darkness" doesn't mean evil, or bad. Or vice versa; there's no moral alignment to any of them.
And I didn't "skip heart", so don't bother bringing that up.

[ tetchy. ]

[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.]

[ She was bored. So very bored. She wasn't training, because that's what they wanted from her, and the last thing Merida wanted to do was satisfy the people who wanted her to fight for them. She wouldn't do it. She wouldn't! And that was the end of it.

However, this didn't leave her with much to do. She wandered the city, even explored a bit of the Outlands, but she didn't go far. She was daring, but she wasn't stupid. She knew this world was dangerous, and she didn't want to lose her head without a good reason.

So she finally takes the painstaking time to learn to use the strange device she had been given upon her arrival. It took her plenty of attempts to get it working properly, and even when she does, there are several segments of very brief footage of the redheaded princess growling at her tablet in frustration. ]

Oi, is it working now? About time. [ She clears her throat. ] I want someone to tell me more about the land outside this city. [ It was much too crowded, too cluttered here. She wanted a freer space. ] A good place to explore, t'actually, you know, move around - that's what I'm lookin' for. How do you even stand it in this city?

[ She taps her chin. ] An' while you're at it, tell me what you do around here t'keep busy. I'm goin' out of m'mind.

[A dark-haired girl in strange clothes from a bygone era appears on the screen, somewhat askew, a sure sign that she has never used anything like the tablet before. She's frowning and looks more than a little overwhelmed.]

Ah. Hello? That woman said I could communicate with the others here on this thing, but... I'm not really sure how it works. I fear none of the technology I've seen here is available where I'm from. Looks like stuff from Kagome's time... Also--I believe something was said about temporary housing? And a... space ship? [It's clear by the way she says this that she has no idea what that's supposed to mean.]

Anyway, my name is Sango. [There's a meow off screen, and Sango shifts the camera to show a glimpse of a cream-and-black two-tailed cat perched on her shoulder.] Oh, and this is Kirara.

While I understand that the... problems here do need solving, and I would normally be happy to assist, there's something important going on back in my own world. And... there didn't seem to be much in the briefing about going home.

[Oriko understands how to navigate around the camera, moving slightly to adjust the impact of her message whenever her tone changes. To start with, she's facing her tablet's camera almost directly, smiling and polite, but at some point she will shift so that she sits considerably higher than the lens.]

Good afternoon. I hope everyone's settled in, those of us who arrived here recently. I guess this is mostly for you.

I'm grateful to the others who have compiled information on local shops. It makes me feel so much better about my potential expenses if I plan them out. Thanks to your contributions, I've already budgeted for the next two months with some left over for the woman nearby who makes her own candles - I'm happy to send more business her way!

[She seems very pleased about that, but soon falls serious.]

I expect that we will soon be called on by our hosts. For some of you, this is the most recent call of many. For that reason I believe we shouldn't become too hesitant or apathetic.

'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.' How many times have you heard that already? Surely you'll hear it again. I wonder...If that applies here, as well, to our story. Would you believe something like that?

I know you must be angry. So am I. I won't tell you how to feel, so I can only offer encouragement.

Those of us who need to repair from a previous life, don't you think these people worth that time?

( [locked to: madoka kaname] )

This is...the longest I've ever really been away from home.

[He sounds depressed about it, but then he hurriedly adds; ] And I'll be fine, I just -

[Lapsing back.]

I just...miss home.

[A pause, like maybe he shouldn't even say what he was planning to.]

...so...is there anything that - anyone can suggest I do...or...something?

( At least this time Ellie isn't in some random, ramshackle building, but enjoying the warmth of the kitchen and a giant cup of coffee. At least she looks marginally better rested than she has on previous occasions. )

So, with that whole swap thing, I've been thinking. ( A pause, and there's a note of self mockery in her voice: ) Because I don't think enough when weird stuff isn't happening. Or less-weird stuff, at any rate. ( Has she really digressed already and wandered off with her thoughts? She shakes her head at herself. )

I was thinking about anger. Or any emotion, I guess, when they get that intense that you feel like all your insides are writhing about like snakes, but anger's the one that stuck out for me. We're all in this war, and some of us have been in wars before and some haven't, and everyone handles it in these different ways.

( She trails off; articulating this isn't going so smoothly as she'd expected, but sometimes you just have to throw things at the wall and see what sticks. Homer used to throw pasta at the wall, a lot, and a bloody lot of that stuck. The memory makes her smile a little. )

I mean, just before I got here, Kev-- uh, this guy in our group, he wasn't doing so well with everything. ( See, Fi, she at least tried not to name and shame. Belatedly. ) Everyone tried different things to get him going, and it was this weird insight-- I guess it just said a bit about the kind of people we are, depending what tactic we used. ( Fi: sympathy. Lee: abuse. Homer: encouragement. )
I was all logic and common sense. ( A beat, before she continues, speaking a little more slowly as she grapples with her pride and tries to think it out. ) Sometimes I don't think that really shows the full picture, but.

( She could say that it definitely doesn't, not when you got anger that just bubbles up and blows being reasonable right out of the water. She could, but does not. )

Anyway, I was talking to this guy here, before, about anger. How you can use it, and that, make it work for you, and I just... I didn't know if that really worked for anyone. If anger's a weapon, or if you got an on/off switch for it, or what? 'Cause there's this quote in uh, this Shakespeare play - “wrath makes him deaf,” I think the Queen in Henry VI. ( She squints, trying to remember. ) And then there's another bit, about not coming between “the dragon and his rage,” in King Lear. I think Lear was already going crazy, though, by then, though. ( Quietly: ) It's been a while since I studied them. Trying to read that stuff and figure out all the language is hard, without those special high school study editions.

( Where was she even going with this? )

So I guess I just wondered what you lot thought about it. Anger and controlling anger and using it and whether it screws you up, or what.

( A beat, and she smiles crookedly. ) Or we could talk about dragons. We don't have any back home, but some of you have to have dragons, right?

I bet a bunch of people are glad that's over! Me too.

[A laugh.]

Still, I wanted to ask - how many people were glad for what happened? I mean, for whatever reason it might have been. I thought it would be nice to hear some people who weren't miserable! It's always good to know there are people out there who are happy with the way things are going. There are probably plenty more people who didn't like it at all. I didn't either, but... At least it was only five days, I guess, even if it seemed longer.

Look, I'm still getting this whole thing to sink in. I still can't really wrap my head around it, but I have to know one thing.

Is there a little girl out there? Her name's Clementine. She's eight, has a baseball cap on with the letter D on it.

And Clem, if you're there, please tell me.

[ It's a very, very short message. But the person appearing in the video looks panicked, and his voice is basically a stuttering mess. He's... ]

U-Um... if... if anyone sees a girl with pink hair in twin-tails... [ Swallows. ] Tell me right away, okay? Please.

[ For their sakes. Because the only person who's going to take waking up in the very, very distant future worse than him is her. ]

I'm, uh... I'm Yukiteru.

[ He opens his mouth like he's going to talk again, but instead, just awkwardly fumbles with the controls of the device, ending the feed. ]

[ as usual, Riku's been helping Transports that're coming in. it's the courteous thing to do, he figures. but even he needs a break, and remembering what he was told as a kid during the event, he's ... made something of a makeshift soccer field in one of the gymnasiums. with two goalposts and lines in tape, it looks like a proper field.

without the grass, of course. he'd love to play in the rain, but with all the new Transports and with dirt turning to mud and good god, the chill... well, not much of a game if everyone's slipping and sliding and freezing, anyway. he bounces the ball on his head like the proper showoff he is. ]

Who's up for a game?

There's got to be soccer--uh, or football [ he glances to the Initiative staff member who coughed when he said 'soccer' with a raised brow ] on other worlds, too.

There's a lot of new people around, now, like there always is around this time of month. So if you just arrived and need to kick something--

[ there's a flash of yellow and purple suddenly, and the ball he'd been bouncing is suddenly gone. he has to turn to look off-camera, and he levels his gaze. ]

C'mon, Stellaluna. You can't...

[ ...!

he rolls his eyes and moves off-screen, himself. ]

That's not for eating. Spit it out.

[ off-screen wrestling; the ball shoots out, hitting the chair his device is sitting upon. it tumbles over and reveals Riku taking the ball from a flapping bat's grip.

once the ball's let go, the bat perches atop his head, and he gives her a pet before looking back at the device. ]

... oh, right. [ he starts to get up. ] If you helped me as a kid, I'd like to talk to you. Privately.

[ he moves over, and clicks off the feed. ]

[The video feed comes on to show what appears to be a young woman, still dressed in the outfit she arrived in. She has found her way to the apartments, thanks to Jake's help, but there was no sign of her friends. And so she decided to use the tablet to try to see if she can reach them after practicing her cover story - since she's not sure if this place is safe to reveal herself as a princess or not.]

[Though the camera is a bit skewed as she's pretty to this stuff]

The Initiative said I should introduce myself over the tablet...I hope I'm doing this right.

My name is Dagger. I come from the kingdom of Alexandria, in...[a pause since this is weird to say] the world Gaia. I'm part of a theater trope, but I promise I'm no stranger to battles! I hope to help as much as I can!

And if you're in Unit 110, I'll be your new roommate. I hope we get along well!

Also, I'm looking for my friends I was traveling with. Their names are Zidane and Vivi. Zidane has blond hair and a tail, while Vivi is a small boy with a large pointed hat.

If anyone has any information on them, I'd like to know.

[a beat and oh yeah!]

Thanks.

[And the feed ends]

[a testing sound, a little huff of an exhale, and a lapse into quiet. he's hesitant.

but:] Did they say anything about this? Everyone changing...Last time awful things were happening, they said they were working on it. Things got better.

I'm...not very good at using this. Did I miss it? It's... [slight pause. his tone gets gradually more distracted:] It's going to change, like before. And every time we get sent someplace different, something else happens...

[beat.

WAIT:] I meant the Initiatve people, I'm sorry. [a quick, wincing pause. apologies....] They're who I meant should have said something.

[Video]
[The feed opens to a view of a white-haired male who is just giving a bemused stare as a young girl's voice could be heard in the background.]

Well, I suppose this situation could be worse, but you'd have thought that someone would've won the conflict.

[A shrug.]

Though, leaving me with a brat who can't tell what they're supposed to do in this place is quite the welcome back present, isn't it?

How dare you speak ill of me when I am right here!

[ There's a small bit of golden hair sticking it's way into the feed as well as a set of fingertips as the girl mentioned earlier tries to take the tablet from him. ]

They will think poorly of me so please cease with your words. I cannot become a magical girl if the populace thinks of me as a fiendish nightmare who throws tantrums like a babe torn from his mother's breast!

[There's just a deadpan look as he wrestled the control back of the device with a sigh.]

Case in point.

[And with another shrug, he's going to just turn off the feed.]

((OOC: Both of them will be responding to you!))

—It's okay! We don't have to keep this stuff a secret.

[ THAT SURE IS A GLOVED HAND COVERING THE CAMERA but never fear, she figures it out after a moment and waves sheepishly. Exsilium, say hello to one half of your new magical girl duo. ]

Looks like there's been a bit of a problem, huh? Lucky for you guys, magical girl Sayaka is here to take care of everything! [ She holds her sword up with a grin, cape fluttering behind her. ] Just leave it to me! If anyone needs any help, I'll definitely be there straight away.

[A second later, another little magical girl face pops up. There's some fumbling around when she and Sayaka nudge shoulders and push together for room, and then she clears her throat and begins, nervously:]

If you say so...are all other magical girls this flashy?

[Mami-senpai had not mentioned it. She had also stressed the importance of keeping their magical girl personas a secret, but surely in this strange place, it wouldn't matter much, right? ...She hoped so.

Kyouko bows her head toward the camera politely, and speaks up a little louder.] Excuse me, everyone! I don't mean to be too forward, but...

[She straightens up a little, gets her game face on. She's holding a spear about twice her size, but it doesn't look like she's struggling to hold it.] We noticed there are a lot of kids around, and we want to help! So - please count on us! We'll help gather all of them up.

[A pause. She turns to Sayaka, and in a stage-whisper:] Did that sound cool enough?

You sounded fine! Geez, Kyouko, you worry too much.

[ ooc; tags will come from both in separate threads! edit: threadjacks are happening. feel free to action it up if you run into them anywhere in the hold, they will be all over. ]

--And here we are. What an intricate device it is, and its design is solidly made!

[ On the screen stands a young looking woman in regal red, bright garments. The device is placed at a distance so that the feed can transmit her entire body, and she looks vaguely amused. She gestures with her hand at the surrounding areas, and the slight smile on her face nearly drops entirely. ]

Yet this land I stand upon... Truly, how times have made this land that I once knew as Britannia to fall so low. It is a tragic sight, to think that it was once a part of my Empire, but I get the feeling that the world beyond the Moon Cell is exactly as how this place appears to be. Why, it does not feel as though I have left my own realm at all.

[ And at that, her eyes narrow and glisten with a sharp look. ]

But I know this is not the case. This... Initiative has torn me apart from my Master, and that is a sin I cannot forgive, despite how courteous they were to my presence and readily answering my queries. Hah! Then again, perhaps my situation is punishment for the sin of defeating a misguided Savior to leave the world as is. Yet I do not regret my actions one bit.

So tell me, those who came before, how goes this war that we are all unceremoniously made to participate in?

[ loading, loading, loading--

click. when the camera turns on, it shows a wall of lobby of the transports' housing, and Riku--that guy that's been gone for a couple of days, completely scarce--and he looks notably different. for one, his hair's cut, and two... he just carries himself differently.

he's up against the wall, looking to be pinning a long piece (and wide; it's almost as tall as him and spans a lot of the wall) of paper to it. a few things are already drawn; spherical shapes and some rectangles with landscapes drawn in them, with a name above them with some writing underneath.

and he seems to be talking to someone off-camera. ]

Stellaluna.

[ flapflapflap ]

You know... that fruit's fake.

[ flapflapflap SCREE 8(

to which he just laughs, and a large multicolored bat comes into frame, speeding straight at him. he's almost bowled over as the bat nuzzles against him, and he takes a moment to calm her down before moving over to the tablet, to find it's already recording. ]

Looks like it's finally on.

It's been a few months since I've been here, but it looks like it was just a few days here. [ he shakes his head, and runs a hand through his hair. ] Time travel...

A lot of people have friends, maybe even family here--but the number of worlds that're represented here is still huge.

So it'd do some good to start plotting out how many worlds there are between all of us, and anything from our homeworlds that might be worth something. I've already got the worlds I've been to drawn up here, and my homeworld, too. If you wanna add to it, it's down in the lobby of the housing building.

[a long delay in saying anything, just the sound of muted rustling and breath.]

I'm...sorry, I still don't know. How to make this thing talk only to certain people. [quieter, self-conscious:] I guess I'll find out...

[a beat. a breath.]

Anora? Alistair? May I see you? To talk. There's...a lot to say.

[For someone yanked from her home only a week ago, M'gann appears awfully calm on the feed. In fact, as she walks through the Hold, netbook floating in front of her, she can't help but seem a little underwhelmed. Transports viewing the video can see her in all of her green glory as she quietly explores the Hold, footsteps barely making noise.

Finally, somewhere between the classrooms and library, the martian stops and looks to the camera, curiosity getting the better of her.]

I understand what the library's for, but are the classrooms ever used? I haven't heard anything about sessions or studying since I arrived. [She pauses, considering something.] Did I just come at a bad time? The creatures only just left, after all.

[Waiting a few moments, something hits her. Well, it's more of a delayed realization.]

In any case, would someone please direct me to the nearest place to eat? It's almost lunch, and I missed breakfast...

((ooc; open to action, and maybe a breakfast buddy 8D))

 [There isn't even a knock at the door.]

[Homura enters her new living arrangements, courtesy of an Initiative she couldn't scrounge together enough energy to give a damn about, not even acknowledging either of the other tenants or their possessions. If her roommates see her, she doesn't acknowledge them in the slightest; still dressed in uniform, bow gripped tight in hand, all that she means to do is make sure the area is secure. She finds the unoccupied room and claims it, locking the door, and investigating it from every angle for hiding and escape spots. Satisfied, she resumes civilian form, and adjusts the bright red ribbon tied in her dark hair. Now sitting on the edge of the bed, she takes the tablet in both hands; first order of business, see what names are there.]

[Her eyes narrow; her lips thin.]

[To the community at large, she sends a simple message, just in voice, which sounds monotonous and sleepy.]

What did the Initiative not tell us in introduction that we should be aware of?

( Filtered to Sayaka, Kyouko, and Madoka )

Quick question.

What do you do if it's a lot closer to your birthday here than it was when you were back home?

Does it count or not?

(read: someone's birthday is on the 23rd!)

And... sorry for how I acted last time.

[LONG TIME NO POST. but hey, shiny new...typey-posty-devices. he must try. he must...fail to really get how this shit works.

the feed is sideways. a blink, a beat with an expression realizing oh hey it's doing a thing, and then a moment to quickly right the thing. this way. whew. okay.]

Ha, uh...Sorry. [sheepish.] I wasn't very good with the old one...and this one's stranger. [let him demonstrate by trying to fold one corner of it into view...but not really getting that far and just kind of. shaking the feed. oh well.]

Maybe it just takes getting used to... [by golly it only took months to feel comfortable with the old one what could go wrong with this.] I'll try not to do anything too strange or...press anything I don't recognize. [which is a lot.] I just wanted to make sure I could at least...hear from people again.

[a beat.

wait...]

I'm...being heard right now, right?

[Katniss is in one of the training rooms, looking sweaty and dishevelled. She's holding her bow as per usual, but this time it looks like she hasn't been using it to destroy public property or kill helpless animals. Behind her is a target; clustered in the centre of it and buried deep is about half her supply of arrows]

They took Peeta. [She stalks over to the target and starts wrenching her arrows out, one by one] He better be home. He better not be hurt. [The arrows go back into her quiver, one by one, until she's left with just the one. She stares down at it, twirling it absently through her fingers] Or else my next targets won't be inanimate.

[The last arrow slides home as she speaks. It's a marked change from the girl who's spent half her time in Exsilium swearing she won't fight or kill. The thing is, Katniss doesn't care what the Initiative does to her. But you don't take the boy with the bread away from the girl on fire. The only reason she's not attacking them now is because she's mostly certain Peeta was sent back home

Her jaw clenches.] And I want my other arrows back.

[ beep beep beep beep beep--

Riku's just hard at work typing on the new tablet. his face is the empitome of concentration--and then, as he moves the screen, the tablet boots up a holographic function. he jolts slightly as he looks at it, glares, and clicks out of it.

beep beep beep beep beep, moving--

it happens again. ]

Seriously?

[ Exit Window.

beep beep--

third time. Riku just stares right through the holographic window, then flickers his eyes up straight into the camera, noticing that it's... recording... ]

Couldn't they fix the recording problem?

[ ugh. ]

This could be United Earth spying. They could've just fixed the security on the old computers.

... [ now that he's recording and obviously broadcasting, though-- ]

Anyone having problems with their new stuff?

Welcome to Exsilium. There is much to discuss.

[recognize those words in that voice? Simmaeri's kind of an A+ mimic. she get your attention with that one? she likes to think so. we'll find out anyway.]

Discuss is to make understand, yes? [as far as she knows. the raised eyebrows seem to imply a need for confirmation. no rhetorical questions here!] I want a discuss. You help. There is much words to discuss.

[she leans forward a little, lifting her hands from her lap.] You speak words for you. Words for...[fingers settle near her collarbone; her eyebrows knit. she takes on a pained tone.] Why. I see...[her hand lifts, tracing from her temple down to her jaw, wearing a hurt expression.] No good face. I hear no good words. Much, no good.

[the next words she says are untranslatable, but laced with the desire to be understood:]

What causes you unhappiness here?


[OH RIGHT THE VOLUNTARY ACTION:

because where is this girl broadcasting from?

one of the stairwells at the apartment building, between the first and second floor. why not? who stays in their rooms, anyway?

feel free to not like. step on her computer on your way up/down the stairs.]

[The four-eyed alien on the screen is excitedly typing away on her laptop with two hands, and waving two more in excited ways. Because yes, she has four hands and she is making wild gestures to punctuate each and every word she says. She is not going to stop for anything.]

I can’t believe this! Humans are everywhere, this is the most amazingly perfect opportunity! I have been studying humans, of course, but my sample size has been very limited up until now!

Let me review my notes so far- [She taps a few times on her laptop to bring up said notes, rapidly reading over them a few times before she starts talking again]

Humans are a fairly low-tech pre-spaceflight species, not many of them have made it into space! Which is such a shame, they’re a very attractive species, even though they tend to be a bit hairy and don’t have enough eyes. But I haven’t let things like that get in my way before! [She laughs loudly, then continues]

What else, what else- I wish I had my original notes here, I really did! Oh yes- humans are remarkably stubborn, prone to irrationality...and quite a violent species, too, aren’t they? They certainly do love their wars! Only two sexes too, correct? Isn’t that a shame.

I believe that’s where my data ends! I need more, much more to fill out a proper database file. And if any are up for an examination....well, I am a doctor! I need to know how to treat all of you, don’t I?

Oh, I'm so excited to start working! Tell me where I'm needed, please?

[Here is a cheerfully smiling Mahdi. He's holding up an obnoxiously cute kitten planner and looking cheerful.]

Hi everyone. I've been thinking. If we're all going to be stuck here for a long time, I figured I should find out everyone's birthday and if they have a favorite meal or type of cake. If you'd please respond to this message with your name, birthday, and a little bit about you, I'd really appreciate it!

On that note, I was thinking. If people keep turning up, we should have some sort of monthly event so everyone can get to know each other, introduce ourselves and catch up and celebrate one another's birthdays. Like a potluck, maybe? There are too many people to do do this at my apartment, so I'd need to figure out a spot. What do you think?

Oh, by the way. I'm Mahdi. I like cats, singing, and cooking. My birthday is Valentine's Day!

( When the feed comes on, there’s an awkward sort of sways before it finds a solid place to sit and allow the camera a chance focus on its user. Madoka does not fully focuses on addressing the device at first, instead nervously thumbs at the folded piece of paper she holds in her hands. )

Hello! My name is Madoka Kaname, I haven’t had the chance to meet a lot of you but I hope that can change as time goes on. Today, um, I’m here about starting something that I think might be nice for some of us to do together! Especially now in the times between the missions and when… well, before something else strange might happen.

So, what I had thought of was starting, ( She trails off, fumbling to open the folded piece of paper. ) A cooking club!

( Holding the piece of paper to the camera, all can now see that it is a drawing of a girl (her, perhaps? the pink hair is something of a giveaway) in a rather elaborate pink and white dress holding a cake. The words ‘PLEASE CONSIDER THE COOKING CLUB’ written in large, neat letters underneath. )

There seems to be enough people that enjoy cooking or baking here, so I thought it would be fun to learn from one another. We represent a large number of worlds and cultures, so it’ll be nice to learn about each other while enjoying the foods that make us happy.

Thank you for listening and I hope you consider joining!

( AND ACTION for around the apartment building – maybe you’ve been stopped by this tiny, pink girl to offer you a flier, maybe you notice her taping it to the community bulletin board (… if there is one of those) or see her hustling around with her small stack of papers. )

[ the video feed flickers on, and a young man sits at a desk. On it, there's a paintbrush, a small canvas and a set of watercolors. None of them have been touched, but the young man's fingers keep flexing around the brush. ]

I'm...not sure why I'm here. [ he slowly clears his throat, staring not at the feed but at the brush ] My only guess is they saw something they liked on the footage. [ a finger twitches against the brush ] But...I am pretty sure I have other ideas this time.

[ he looks up ]

That person you saw in the Games and the interviews wasn't me. Not the me that I remember, anyway. So if that's what you were expecting, I apologize. I'm not here to fight. You don't want me fighting.

[ there's the sound of a sharp crack as the paintbrush snaps in half. It begins to reform itself ]

My name's Peeta Mellark, and I'm going to sit this one out.

Hi everyone, I have an important announcement, so please listen! I am look for someone and I think they went home but I want to be sure!

[ Feferi, who looks a little too excited for the context, holds up a crayon drawing so that it takes up the whole image. ]

( image cut )

This is Nik and he's really cute and he's also little. So that's why I want to make sure no one's seen him. When it comes to wigglers, you can never be too certain. Anyway, that's all. Thank you for your time!

[The feed clicks on. For a moment there's silence, just dead air, and then Rin laughs. It's short and shrill and cut off fast. Not a happy noise, even if there is amusement in it.]

... Oh my God. [Laughing again, marginally more stable this time.]

Well. This isn't so bad.

Hello! My name is Rin. Asano Rin, just Rin is fine. I guess I'm going to be fighting with all of you now? What's the deal with the weapons anyhow? How sentient are they?

I'd like to find someone to train me in swordwork if you don't mind. The trainer, that is. And someone who can teach me some field medicine, that would be good too. I don't know what I can do if you want payment but I'm all right with negotiating. What's a day like here anyway? When we're not training?

[She almost asks if anyone here recognizes her, and then catches her breath and doesn't. They'll come to her probably, when they hear her, if they're there. No need to broadcast everything.]

... Pleased to meet you all.