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...]

[A few hours the transports start arriving in the new facility, someone interrupts the moving frenzy with this cheerful broadcast.]

I'm starting to think there's a lot these people don't tell us before we get ushered along to where they want us.

[Korra snorts, crossing her arms over her chest in a clear sign of agitation.]

Don't know if you guys knew this already, but that allowance they used to give us before? Not happening here. Looks like we're pretty much on our own for food and supplies. Anyone want to have a look around the area with me, see what we've got to work with here?

[She grumbles something like "could have told us this before we started moving, jerks".]

Oh yeah, if anyone needs to know how to keep warm in the snow, I can probably give a few tips, too.


(ooc: There is now an ooc post to sign up for the exploration!)

So how does death really work here? [It's a strange question to even be asking, but--]

I heard others died before. Here. Like dead dead. [Not that she's thinking about it, but the girl has predilections for. Well at least the reasons she has in the past aren't exactly here.]

Oh-- also anyone got any cigarettes for trade. I'd say I'd kill for some, but you know... [She wiggles her fingers before shutting the feed off.]

[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! )

Hello!

[when this video post starts, the focus is somewhere... around the top of her head. Colette's eyes widen as she notices that she's holding it too high, so the view suddenly jumps down (yep, she just over corrected). Nibbling on her lip a little, she tilts it higher again... perfect! Determined not to let the view vary she tries her best not to move it]

My name is Colette Brunel. I haven't talked to everyone like this yet, so... hello! It's really nice to meet you all.

I'm sorry to bother everyone like this, but I wanted to ask something. Even though we... don't live on Earth anymore [her gaze grows a mite somber as she talks about it] it still sounds like a very important world. A lot of people here come from Earth, and we're supposed to travel throughout Earth's history! I come from another world that is very different, so I would really like to learn more about Earth if I can.

And so... if anyone knows anything about Earth and has a little time to spare, I'd love to ask some questions! O-Or, if you would rather just tell me a few facts and not be asked any questions, that's okay too. Anything would be helpful.

[although, a thought strikes her] Ah! That doesn't mean that I don't want to talk to people if they're not from Earth. I'd like to hear about everyone's homes! They all sound really beautiful in their own way, and it would be nice to hear about many worlds.

[she pauses, and smiles sheepishly! She's not one to get shy, but she feels a little bad making requests like this when everyone is probably busy]

[ First the Captain, Hubert, and now Cheria... ]

Has... anyone seen Cheria?

[ The reluctance can be heard in her voice. Sophie might be already accepting that one of her dearest friends left. If she were still her, she would know. Even if she were blind, she could easily take notice a person's presence by the sound of their footsteps, scent... and while wandering around the moon base, she couldn't pick up Cheria's presence anywhere.

But just in case, she wants to double check. ]

She ran a relief organization here and was a part of one back home too. She has very pretty pink hair and I usually see her put ribbons in them. She's always so friendly and caring. And she would always look out for me. She's like a mother to me.

[ More like she is your mother now, Sophie! There's a faint smile while she fondly talks about her. She has to keep herself from going on and on about her. ]

I think... she might have left... but can everyone keep an eye out for her, just in case? Thank you.

[ It goes by quickly, but her smile falters just seconds before she ends the video feed. ]

[Kido is trying not to be agitated since a good leader shouldn't be but hey she's tired, things have sucked, the reports from the rescue mission really suck and yeah. So she finds some solace in her old role.

She taps her fingers against her leg, hair damp from one of those lovely short showers with a towel around her neck.]

Hey everyone. I've been thinking it'd be easier to figure out things if we were all together. You know, like a real meeting. What if we just pick a day and grab one of the VR rooms and try to figure this out. Everyone's been getting together the information they got from the rescue mission- [She frowns slightly. None of it sounded good.] -so we've got a better idea of what we're up against now.

[A beat.] I'm not in charge of everyone, but we need to be organized. [She gives a lopsided smile.] Some of you are better at it than others. If no one else will take up the lead, then I'll pick a day and spam everyone with it.

[She's kind of hoping someone else does though. Leading the Mekakushi Dan and leading a small army are pretty different things.]

I've seen a lot of you with good thoughts and ideas though so... let's keep this up.

[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.

[Feel lucky, Elliot's roommates. He's finally taking his complaining to the full network! =D

He's standing in one of the rooms, specifically his, but he doubts anyone can tell.]

I've had as much of this nonsense as I can stand! How are these ever supposed to be livable conditions?! The last place was bad enough, but I doubt any amount of possible improvements could ever make this place even come close to that! YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE REAL BEDS HERE!

[To make his point, he turns to focus on the shot on one of the bunk beds before going back to himself.]

Is there even a point in trying to do anything with this place?! The Initiative has made it more than obvious that their response to a real problem is to run like cowards!

I've been here for a while now, and I have to admit, it's not quite what I was expecting it to be like.

I see people talking about a lot of the same things they talked about on the Earth I'm familiar with. I even saw someone advertising for a talent show. Despite the circumstances, this seems to be something of a happy place.

I guess I was expecting people to be more focused on the task of saving this world from United Earth. After all, there's no telling how long we'll be able to hold out if they decide to get serious, is there?

[private to Sango]

Sango, I'd like to talk, if you're not busy. The truth is, there's something you should know about my offer.

( Private: Fenris )

[ Over the network, a quiet voice speaks up, getting louder and more excited as she progresses, only to slow down somberly towards the end. Merrill is somewhat reluctant to use the video feature this time, wondering if people will treat her better if they don't know she's an elf right away. Not that she's ashamed! It's just an experiment, right? ]

Hello, everybody! My name is Merrill, and it's so good to meet you. But oh, I suppose this isn't really the same as meeting, is it? I mean, you can't really bow or shake hands or see the way someone stands, or go places with them. But it's still a marvelous creation, this contraption! If we had such a thing on Thedas, I wonder how much more quickly everything would be taken care of! But then people might visit each other less, and that's no good.

[ Although if she fixes the Eluvian, won't that virtually be the same thing? Maybe that's why this thing fascinates her so. There might come a time when she has to take it apart. ]

Is that the case here? I hope not. It's much more fun to go to the market with an actual person, but then I guess this is better than a ball of twine! I do wish I had a ball of twine, though, to keep me from getting lost. Even with the map, it doesn't seem to help much, but fellow Transports have been very kind with directions. And speaking of, what I was hoping to ask is if anybody knows of a proper garden? I know of where there used to be one, but it's clearly been abandoned.

I am sure there are many plants of this world that could be revived and nurtured if we could create the proper environment, and I also have acquired some very interesting seeds and species from that ancient beach we all visited! Most of what I scavenged was lost in the trip, I'm so very embarrassed to admit, but not all of it! Beyond the barrier, you see, there was so much more than you can even imagine.

Here, even if it isn't bright and warm, I just think there must be something we lot can do to make this soil healthy again, even if it's just a small start. If there's really nothing to hunt, then I suppose we should rely more on what can grow from the ground, if we can only attempt as much. And imagine if we had actual flowers...and trees of grandeur and health!

This place is simply...too sad and too lonely, no matter where it is I step; Inside or out, it chills my feet and my bone.

[Toph is lounged back on her bed in pajamas, with her legs stretched out in front of her and towards the tablet camera. Her dirty feet are not only up on the sheets, but taking up about 30% of the video frame.]

With this place, it's either snoreville or total chaos. And it has been way too quiet lately.

I don't like it.

[she sighs and picks her ear with a pinky finger.]

Hey, anyone out there know anything about "Braille"?

[Good morning, Exsilium! Rin Asano is cold, wet, hungry and irate this rainy Monday morning. Read on to find out why!

In a voice of pure seethe:]

You know we have some absolutely crazy people running around here? Not on medicine or anything or kept track of, no, well just running around.

Well you know who the very worst of them is? His name’s Gin Ichimaru, he’s this snaky, venomous, pallid, scrawny guy with white hair, and he’s a public menace, I’m not even kidding.

He’s a public menace! [Restated for emphasis.] That’s why you should come down to the hold, right now, and you should come and find him and – OHHH MY GOD AHHH –

[The splashing of footsteps as Rin books it, heard only briefly before she mashes the “mute” button on her communicator.]

[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!]

W̷̴̨̜̥̗̟͚͇͕̹̗̻̝̯̠̺̰̼̏̽̋̆̃͆ͮͨͪͫ̋̊͋͒͂ͦͯ̓͟͡e͒ͩ̒ͤ̓̽̀ͭ̽̂͌́ͫ̓͋͑͏̸̵̝̹͖͓͈͔̥̬͙͍̟̜͓͎͢͜ ́̐́̐ͯͥ̓̿ͩ̽̏̽̒͏̵̱͚̥͈̱̣̼͇̟͘͜n̸ͣ̓ͨ̐͌̎ͥ̑͆͂ͥͪ̉̊͆̌ͤ͏̖̣̯͖͖͟͞o̸͉̮̲̩̗̺͕͕͓̠͎̤̤͓̭͙͚̺͖̒̇̄ͮ̏̀͠w̧͑͆̓̈́͂ͩ͑̈̂̍̀̎̿̓ͧͯͭ͒͏͇̘̱͇͉̩̘̝̳͔͎̦̠͎̱̫̝͈ ̫͕͚̱̥͕̰̟̏ͬͣ̊͢͡͝͞i̶̿ͫ̌̍̆̊̈́͑̉ͧ̒̑͏҉̩͉̯̣͓͉ͅn̶̴̝̬̩̥͔̹ͯ͊͛̏̂̑̒ͬ͊ͭ̈̊ͧͫͮͣ̊̀́͟͜ţ̷̟̺͔̠̫̭̦͉͈̱͑ͩ͗ͪ̈ͨͨͮ̏͐͗̒͆͌͊͐́̀͠ȩ̵͉̟̖̰͉̲̖̼̝̲̪̩͕̫͎̲͂ͬͪ́͒̽̌̎̿̚͢͢ṟ̭͙͖͍̰̼̻̬̱͍͈͉̞̋͌̈́̑̑̈́̓̈̽̀̀̈́́̿̾ͯ͘̕ͅr̵̨̞̭͔͇̖͖̳͎̝̮̲̎ͬ̃̑ͩ̕͡͡ṳ̴̙͚̯͚̮̉̽̔̅̎̒͡p̴̦̻̤̝̘͉̟͖̈́ͩ̏̆̊̇ͫͮͫͧͧͮͭ̐͒͜͟͢ͅt̉̎̈́ͪͥ̀̆ͪ̅͗͒̇̐͏̸͙̦̻̖̱̺̯̘̦̹̗̦̯̹̗͡͞ ̶͎̹̣̳̦̪͕̬̞̼̣̼̰͍̗͇̋ͤ̔̓̎̀́͡ͅt̸̨̛͈͎̗̙͈̄͒͌͌̄ͮͫ̎̔ͪ͒̎̓̂͒̎͝͞h̨͔̬͇̮̱̰̰̹͖̱̟̻͎̰̯̫̎̑̓ͨͬ̍̈͂͑͝͡ͅi̷ͧ̇̌͒̌͆̈̋̆ͯͬ̓ͮ͆̂͛̓̚͢͝҉̤̩̬̦̙̠̤̼̞̝̟͉̠͕͚̬̜͈s̷̴̶̶͋̍̍͒͏̫̥̤̮̙̺͙̼͖͉̖̱͉̰ͅ ̸̵̜͉̼̫̳̖͍͚̞̜̙̯̘ͨ̅̉̎̔̂̅̀̕b͓͓͖̬͍͈̲̥̒ͫ̍͛̕͜ͅŗ̛̖̼̆ͨ͛̑͌̈͐ͧ̔͌ͨͅo̠̘̦͍͈̩̺̩̞̘̼̩̮͍̰ͬ̓ͬͪ͑̄̆̏̇̓̍̈ͭ̏̔́̀̚a̵̢͙̲̦̤̻͙̠̜͖͎̤̰͓̩͈̹̮̔̽ͭ̃̄ͦ̏ͦ͐̀̒ͬ̂͛́͗ͪ͑̐ͅdͤ̀̓ͭͪ̍̾͂ͩ̃̔̌̄̂̏ͣ̚͏҉̯̩͍̙̠͖̫̟͓̘̬͎̞̣̰̲ç̟̳̳̥̽̓ͧͯͬ̆̈́̏̍̈͜͞a̸̴̢͙̙͖̠̠̯͕̞̭̤̣̳̤͖̪̻̮̋ͬ̾̇̾̏͌ͦ̓̾̐̒̽̍̒̉̀́s̷̵̙̤̫̹͑ͩͧ̓͒ͦ̍ͨ̓̚̚ţ̶̹̱̯̪̜̥̼̽ͭ͐͊ͭͬ͊ͤ̈̃̈ͦͬ͗ͨͣ͜͡ ̷̵̟̜̮̤͓͙̥ͬ̔̍̓ͥ̐̈̇͌̏t̵̷̲̳̜̺̖̲͙̠̙̳̔ͩ̆ͬͯͧ͘͘ǫ̢̗̳̪͕̥̮̣͌͌͒̈̐̅̔͒̅̾ͨ̉͝ ̴̸̺͍̣͔̩͉̗̻̖̭͙̦̟̪̣̂̍͆͋̾̈́̌ͮ͐̎̎̀̌͂ͪ̀ͪ̚b̡̫̠͔͉̝̣͓̞͙̝͍̣̖̜̦̈ͯ̆̂͒̃͗ͧ̉̿̆̚͢ŗ̥̗̥̻̬̝̞͕͖̖̼̬͙̬̼̫͈ͭ̏͌̋ͮ̒̇͋͌̿ͩ͟ͅi̮̰͙̖̰͉̰̠̜̯̖͙̺͙̱͔̦͛̆͊͑̆ͯͦ͢͜ͅn̶̴̶̜̞͔̲̹̣͈̱̬̈ͦ̏ͯ͜ģ̯̣͇͇̳̜̤̘͆̈́̇͂̆͒͗͜͞ ̨̹̲̘̤͙̼̫͚̞̪͎͕͆͛͑̄ͥ͑̐ͮͫ̓̀͢͞yͩͫͥͪͣ͐ͣ͛ͦ҉̵̳̭̯͇͍̻̭͕̭̼̹͇̘͞͝o̴͈͓̠͉ͤ̋̓̉̒̊̍͌̚͜u̸̶̬͕̤̞͚̦̘̞̪̯͕̜͍̝̘͔̱̞̣̾̍̉ͬͨͩ̅͆̿͊̒ͫ̆̋̾͆́̎͘͡ ̷̴̣͚͎̣̰͕̹̳̥̹̯̦̠ͫ̃̓̂̌̿̾͆͆ͣ̍̆ͥͦ͆̃̋͠ͅa̴̵̳̗̞͓̻̰̜͙͛̎̈̂̄ͧ̃͠ ̢̢̰̫̞̱ͫ͊̌͒̽͊̄̌̐̊ͩ̐̚͘͘f̴͇͈̭̥͈̯͓̤͔̯̔̿ͦ́̉ͤ̆ͧͦͧ̎͒ͦ͆͐̾͂͑̀̀͝r̡̭̳̯͈̘̗͖̹͙̺̭̭̗̠͆ͥͭ̓̓͂ͤ̐̒ͭ̎͌͊͐̊̽͒̚͘͞͞ȋ̴͍͇̼͍̖̻͓̺̗̙̯̺̦ͧ͒ͣ͋̈̾ͬ́̓ͪͧ͐̈́̚͞e̸̔̓̈̈̓ͪ̏ͮ̔ͬͬ̏̏͘͜҉̘͕͈͚̤̟̰ṅ̸̨̛̲͉̯̝̪̪̩̫̭̾̏͊̂͑́̍̀̊̐͊̈͌ͤ̂̚͟ͅd̛͑͂ͫ̽ͮ̎͗ͥ͆̃̄̍ͬ͒̋̇̓̉͏̨͓̬̭̣͍͈͟͟ľ̵̡̠̦͉̤̠͚̻̝̞̱͛̆͒̔̌̍̄̐̈́ͧ̾ͬ͂́́͝ͅy͑ͣ̋̍́ͮ̿̅ͭ̓ͭ͋̓͊ͩ̇̈̚҉̵̵̦̳͉͍̠͖̱̙͈̲͙͓̫͍͓̝͟͟ ̸̧̢̞̟͕͔̥͇̺͑̔ͫ̔̍ͦ̋̑͜m̷̉̿̆͛̏̈͆̈ͤ̊ͣ̍ͪ͐̽҉̴̮͔̠̟̥͚͉̥͝è̡͎̪͎̻ͧ͑̍ͧ̃͋ͤ̉̈̉̒̂ͪͤ̿͌̃̀͢͞s̵͎͇͓̼͙͙̰̭̲͖̯̯̳̠̦̮͇̗̐͌̌͂̽͆̃̊̇ͫ̈̓͊̋͘͠͝s̱̣̼̱͓̲̒̔ͪͯ͛̀͢ͅā̡̧͇͚̖̙ͫ̉̚g̛ͤ̊͒͐ͤ̊̈̉͘͏̷̨̟͚̪̖̪͙̲͖̪̜e̽̾̂͛̆̔̋̊ͨͧ̌̈́̈́̚҉҉̞̝̟͉̫̤̜͓̱̦̥̮ͅ ̡̧̖͔͔͙̖͍̪͖̥̣̯͉̖̿ͯ̅͋ͦ̈́ͫ̑̅ͅo̸̷͍͙͔̘̗̬̘̖̥̲̬̫͖͍̱̝̺̓̿́̿ͥͅͅf̞̩̬̙̼̙͔̞̯̭̘͒̿ͪ̋̀͘͢͝ ̶̢̗͕̳̰̬͑̏́̓́̉ͮ͗ͯͬ̑̃ͧ͂̈̊͋̂̚͝͞y̷̬̣̟̤̣̱̞̦̟ͪ͑ͬ̾̆̾́ͫͦͪ͌̽ͪ́͟ͅͅo̵͈̤̘̥̻̝͍̪̰̼ͯ͛̽ͨ̕͟͠ư̶̬̦͈̬̤̻̖̩̮̌͊͐̆ͣ̓̆̉̿ͦ̒̐ͩ͢ͅr͎̗̲͉͔͈͙̫̭͇͙͖̲ͣͦ̉̌̀͟ ͗̈̉ͤͣͬ̃ͪ̉͊̇ͥͩͮ̚͏̴̛̜̘͕̥̩͇͢͡t͌̈̇́ͧ̆ͥ̄̀ͤ̍̌ͬ̀ͬ̏͑ͦ̚͜͏̴͕͎͙̳͙͍͍̮̝͕͓̮ͅî̧̙̪͎͍̠̖̹̳̱͇̪͕̤̳̼͈͚̌̉ͦ̌̏̓͐̽̋̕͞m̶̅̅̊̾̍̊ͥ͗̓̊͏̺͖͎̯̞͠e̛̹̤̜̱̣̖͕̪̳̙̜͑ͧͤ͆͋̔͜͞ĺ̨̞̖͈͉ͦ̉̈̾ͨ͊ͩ̀̚͜y̵̶̻̺̣̟̭͙͉͍̻̱͓̟̾̇ͤ̆̋͌̾͜͠ ̷̡̺͕̙̝̜͉̳͓̃͋̑ͧ͘͘͘d̸̸̢͈͓̲̮̳̦̞̹̼͓͖͙̮͓̫͚ͪ̋͑̉́ͮ͒̒́ͭͭ̾͂̉̀̆̕ǫ̜̟͇̳̦̬͍̺̘̹̎̐͂̿ͧ͒̈́͟͢ͅo̩̠͎͉̙̮͈̫̺̞͖̺̝̦͉ͪͤ̽̅͆́͜͟m̸̴̵͔̦̝̳͉̳̥̪͔̗̖͈̮̤̔͆ͧ̄͛̏̍̍

Warning. Warning. As of 2100 hours, the island of Exsilium has been placed under complete and total quarantine. Any and all individuals caught attempting to leave the quarantine zone will be immediately executed. We repeat, any and all individuals caught attempting to leave the quarantine zone will be immediately executed.

O̵̓ͤ̀̾̌ͭ͒ͭ̔͑̑̔ͮ̈҉̸̙͖̩͚̻̪͔̤̙̙͙̥̻p̷̷̡̗͔̬̠͚͇̼̩̥̘͎̳̟̙͔̥̜̒́̐͛͞ͅȩ̴ͭ̅͑͋́͏̙̜̭͈̦̹͇̠̦̣̤͈̝̲͙͓̲̲ͅṛ̢̛͚̖̖̬̱͍͎̱͓̼̖ͧ̋ͧ̄ͯͣ̈́ͫ̆ͥ̒́̚ã̷̴̡͓̰͓̪̭̩̬̙̜ͧͦ̄̈́̋̚͞tͪ̈́͑ͫͤ̿ͫ͋ͭ͂̍̌̀̈̚͜͠͏͙̭̖̫̬͉͙̼͎̣̱͍̱i̴̝̟͍̣̥͉̙̦̖̩̼̭̞̩̜̥̥̓̒ͭͦ̒́̽̌͐ͨ̌ͨ͞͞͡ǫ̴̡̟͚̩̺̖͇̩̣̞̯͖̪̓̾͑͂ͭͭ̌̕͢n̡̼̟̺̉̌̎̍̊͊ͧ̆̀́ͅ ̷̛̮͉̦̞̜͒̒͑͆͑̑ͯͫ̕R̵̷̥͕̳̹̫̬̟̤͍̱̜͓̹̙̺͍̼͊̔̈ͮ̋ͫ͌̄̑̈́̀͢a̛͈̦̱͎̦̮͈͎̳̪͚̬͖̫͔ͪ̇͂̅ͦ̌ͥ̔ͨ̇͗͂͛̏͟t͑͗͋̓̀͋ͩ̇̒́̀ͩ̔̅̈́͂ͯ̿͌͝͠͏̷͍̣̪͍̩͈̣ͅs̢̛̲͓̣̝͓̱̖̩̖̻͎̠̮ͦ̄͑̔̊ͧ͛ͨ̄͗̎ͨ̚͘͞͠ ̢̞̤̥͓̺͍͔̩̻̦̪̙͔̺͓̦̭͎͈̊͆ͣͫ̓͂́͆̊̈́̇̀͘N̤̙̗̟̺̻̪͖̰̈́͗̏̿͌̾̄̈́̂́̀͘èͧ̉̉ͫ͂͏̴̠̤͈̞̙̪̲͡s̵̵̙͖̹̝̲͔̬̰ͩ̃́͗̊̅͘͢͠t̐̄͗͋͏҉̡̖̘̜͓̤̠̠̟́́ ̱̝͍̤̳͈̪̹̖̞̪̑͂ͤ̈́ͣ͐̏̾̾̋ͤ͛́̕͜į̤̼͓̬̳̗̙͖̻͇̯͍ͫͩ̋͊̈ͫ͑̐̒̐̕͘͞͝ͅn̷͕̘̜̭̙͇̤̤̰̭͓̂̾͆͛̋̽̊ͤ̃͗ͭ͗̚͟͢͞i̴̵̹͕͚̙̹̬͛́ͮ͋ͮ̉̌̍͛͘ṯ̥̦̝̮͉͉̤́͊̔̎̉̕͜i̵̢̯̳̞̮̬̳̍̅ͪ̄̈̃̓̏a̸̡̪̱͉̗̳̖͌̃̉̄̽͛ͦ̔̉̅̽ͣͅtͬ͆̽̑͗ͪͣͩ͊̿̒̋͛ͭ҉̪̻͇͚͕͓͇̮̦͓͓̀̕i̛ͬ́̒̏̈́̅̈͌͗͐ͪ̈ͣ͋̒͏͏͏̵̙̘̝̦͇͔̱̗͉̦̟̻̬n̶͎̝͚͈̝̤̻̺̘͍̫͔̭̋́͛͒̀̊̍̍̿̂ͭ͑ͦ͘g̓̓͊̆̓̽ͨ̒̒ͪͬ̋̚͢҉̷̰͙̞̣̩͖͠ ̶̢͙̥͚̩͊͌̿̋̆̓̑̓́͋͋̄͞i̸̧͋ͯ̂̾̄̎̇͛̋̑͘͟҉̥̤͔̼̖̟̜̼̘̺̟̖̳̠̖͍ṇ̴̶̢̩̩͔̟̝͎̼̜̟͉͙ͪ̆̿ͮ̓̓ͮ͝ ̸̮̺̰̥̣̯͖͍̣̰̰̯̜͙̟ͤͮ̓ͪ̓̈́̀̇́̐ͮ̈́͊ͥͬ̐͆͟7̷̡̡̋̇̆̉̓̌ͯ̒ͤ̈ͨͥͪ̿ͥ̈̌̽͏͍̼̰̩͔̯̝̪ͅ2̢̋̌͌̾ͨ̓̍̈̄ͪ̈ͫ͏̢̬͙̤̣̲̣̼̩̥̘͔̠̩̪̮͟͡ ̃̿̎̔̑̃̐̓ͪ͞͏̗̣̳͙̼̬̤̰̲͚sͮ͌̆̐̉̉͟͏͓̖̟͔̩̘̹̜́͠t̵̢̢͎̟̪̦͎̤͍̱̺̰̪͉̯̞̎ͪ͗ͪ̓͂̈́̓̇̂̈́̐͆̆ͯͭͤͥ͜͡a̵͙̞͇̮͆ͬͦ̎ͪ̅ͧ̊̐̈͝ń̵̢̧̩͖̯͖͙̺̥̱̾́̈ͭͯͭ̀̕ͅd̶̸̛̼̰̜̖̫̜̜͚̊̊̈͊̍̂̑̀ͭ͐͆̋ͩ̇ͫ͢ạ̢̪̩̟̾̊̈́͆͘͞r̴̹̺͙̻͕̙̈̆ͯ͋̅͌̄̃͐͑͗̓̒ͦ͆͊͐̓̚͘͝͞͡d̷̨̦̻̯̜̠̣͋̒̇͐͌̀́ͧ̽̓̓̈͊̔̅̉ͦ̚ ̸̲̤͍̘͎̲̖̝͙̜̦̘̥̟̝ͫ̏̑̿ͥ̐̽ͥ͋͠h͙̥͔̥̤̱̱̭̫̳̮̥͈ͯ͑͌̌̅͊͜͝ͅͅͅo̶̅ͥ̾ͫ͜҉̶̬̣̞̩̭̞̭̙͉͓̻̝͈̹͙̝͝ũ̅̓̋̋̉̉̉͋̐͌҉̵̡̬͔̞̞̯̕ͅr̵̪͔̫̞̱̟̼͐͒̂̽͋ͩͭ̆͒ͣ̾̇ͮ̽ͭ͐̎͐s̷̿̍͋͂̾̆̏͛̒͋̿̏̉̄̊ͩͦͤ̀̚͏̜͚̲̘̘͜
̴̴͈̫̝͈̟̥̜̳͉̖̘̝͕̤̠ͨͧͭͦͥ̐̿̄ͭ̊ͥ̚͡R̷̢̧̺͉̱̰̩̻̫̰̳̫͍͚͉̫̠̤̣͒ͣ̋ͨ́́̚ͅe͉͚̩̯̼̤̺̹̞̦̩͉̪͎̜̠̊͒̃ͥ̔̌ͩ̿̔͂̍̄͆́͢͢͞p̸̵͍̰͓̻̭͇̺̲̖̱̠͓̋̽͆ͩ͆ͦͩ̽ͤ͡eͦ̀̈́͌ͩ̍̒̀͢͝҉̼͈̞̣͙̣̜̟̙̣͕̻̤͔̥̗̺̼͟a̧͈͚̹̼͙̗͔̞͒͋̌͒̅͞ţ̨͑̀͑ͤͩͪͩͨͩͤͫ̑ͯ͌ͮ̎̀͏̗̳̥̲͟ͅ,̴̴̛͎͍̪̫̞̠̤͓͕͓͍̞̦͔̈̀̌͛ͨͮͭ̏̉̅̓̑́ ̢͕̖̼̠̯̠̯̪̖͇̮̠̜͙̣͉͕ͫ̒̇ͧ̔̐̊̐͛͢O̪̖̺͕̫̜̘̱͓͔̫̬̖͚̟̤̩ͨ͌͋͊̀̃̅̒͘͞͞ͅp̸̨͕̝̻̫̯͇͇͇̫̣͚̼̞͒͆͒͑ͣ͑̚͘ė̷͙͕̳̖̜ͫ͋̓ͧ̿̓̓̄̀́̎͐͊̈́͡ŗ̷̴͉̯͓̙̺̰͇͆̒̍̏͂ͪ̅̽̃̀͌̾̾̃ͩ̄ͤͤ́͠ā̶̛̄͋͂͐̃̽̈́͛͒͛ͮ͛̎͜͡͏͎̲̗̭͈͖̥̘̳͕̪͕ͅͅẗ̵̷͉̬̺̥̰̥̬͓̦̟̠̊̏͌̿ͭͬ̀͌̃̄̓ͮ̆̽͊̆͜͜͡ͅi̿̔ͯ̐͛̊ͯ͌ͬ҉̨̲̠͕̦̤̖̱̣̙͈̟̺̭̭̩̖̲̬̱o̙̜͔̣̘̐͛̓ͣ̈́͌͋͂̉͊͛̽͒̽̂ͭ̚͘͢n̠̳̥̘͚͔̥̥͖͈̦̳̺̗̮͓̅̍͌̊̊ͬ́͝ͅͅ ̨͓̺̼̭̱̹͕̟̙̺͐ͩ̿͒ͦ̇͑̉̎̿̉͐ͨ͂ͣ͒̔ͤ̆R̞̣̞̥̬͇̭͇ͥ̋̈̎̊̍̅ͯ̔̍̒͂̿̇́̚̕͡a̽ͬͮ̇ͤ͝͏̱͙̦̺̺̝̟̮͓̦̱̝tͯͫ̑҉͜͏̸͏̮̲̰̘͖̙̞͓̫͍͔̫̼̮s̸̶̄͋ͭ̊̏͏̨̳̩̭̙̥͕̝͝ ̘̩̟̤̙̖͚͇̖͈̯͔̝̯̟̮ͧ͌̈̆͛́̀̃͛ͣ̿̎͠͞N̛͓͚̘̙̭̻̭͊̄ͮ̄̄ͪ̆̓ͬ̽ͅę̵̴̦͖̞͕̬̰̟̳̫͚͓̳̱̩̺͑ͬͬ̓̿̿͊ͧ́̂ͣ͋ͨ͆̍ͣͭ̄ͅͅs̴̶̼͔̥͈̭̭̝̰̻̖͚͈͇ͣ͛̉̅͒͂̿̄̂̔ͨ̍̎̃͝͡ț̶̛͈̯͙͚̠͚̮͋̽ͪ̒͌ͮ̅ͥ͛̇̄ͧͦ͊̅ͩ̓̂̀̕͝ ̶̡̨̣͇̥̠̯̣͖̯̮̍ͬ̇͌ͤ̾̃͢͝į̴̨̥̪͕̥͈̼̙̱̬̪̝̌̾̽̊͋̽̎̀͟ͅn̓̎͗̍̈́̓̅ͪ͐̏̍̏ͧ҉̷̷̬̼͖̬͇̥̣̱͔̥͖̲̝̙̹̙̼̥͝ĩ͙̲̹̜̻ͤ̓ͧ͂ͨ̀̐ͨ̂ͨͦ͋̋͘͟͡͠t̴̴̷̹̳̘̘̥̟̲̮ͧ̇̈́̉̽̏̏̑ͬ́́̕i̶̷̴̺̠̬̳̝̟̪͙͙͚͎̣͙̥̘̫̝͓͍̋̈͒̑̾ͤͤ̿̌ͭ͒̄͛̐́̚a̧̛̺͓̭̥̞̫̩͇͔̟̻̘͓̒̐̅ͭ̽ͯ̄̐̉̆̔̓̅̈̈ͧ̇̾͆t̢̻͎̪͖̳̬̱͔͇̰̗̱ͣ͑̾̃͌͋ͧͫ̔̓̊̓ͫ͋̚͟ͅi̶̛̼̙̖̺̫̹͕̻̗͚̭̺̗̩̖̳̩̗͐̔ͪͬͩ̀̐̈́ͥ̚͠ͅň̴͔̗̭̫̠̗̫̲̤̮̹̺̭͈̬͖̰̠ͮ̎̓ͩg̔̂̍͗̑̿̑͊ͨ͌͒̌́͏̶̛̳͔̘̪͔̳̩͎̯̹̖̗̮ ̴̨̛̦͕̭̗̬̝̺̥̭͇͌̈̈̃ͥ͐̄̈́ͣ͂ͧͣ͟i̷̶̗͈̹̥̣͙͉̤̭͙̟͉̺͍̥͔̹͋̅ͩͫ͂̃ͣͫͬ͂̓ͭ̂̕͞ͅn̽̿ͮ͒̓̉͋͘͝͏̠͈͎͜ ̴̵̸̝͇̱̗͉̪̮͍̦͒̅̏̀͂̅̎̉̂͋̎͞͡ͅ7̶̢̟͇̰̱͎̳̟̋͋̒̆͛͊̔̃͐ͩ̅̄͐ͭ̓͜͜͢2̛̤̗̯̳͙̠͕̈́̊̐ͩ̈ͬ͘͘͞ ̧̨̘͉̰͚̹̣̻ͥ͊̔͆̋̄͂̈́̐͜ͅs̨͂̆ͣ̿ͮ̀͋ͦ̕͠͝҉̖̠̹̩t̡̨ͮ̈̃̐̔͛͆̅̑̏ͤ̓ͮͩ̊̽̀͢͏̧̗̤̹͙̻̖̘̱͔̯a̅̈́ͨ̏ͧͧ̃͒͆͊̽̌̈́̽̾ͥͤ̚̕͞͏̖̰͈̰͉̙̰ň̸̢̧͚̹̻̬͚͇̘̝̻ͣ̽ͪͦ͐̓̅̒̽͗́̅̉ͦͭ̏͌͠d̶̯͔̪͇̼̘̞̬̪̅͊̓̋͛̑̂̆ͨ͐͠a̷̹̤̬̲͖̠̮̹̝̝̘̣̖ͤ̈́͂ͧͮͫ̈͑̄ͦ͌̾̇̌͜͝r͖͈̻̥͙͍͉̗͍̠̖̠͕͔͓̋ͤ̔̆͌̍̇̆͢ͅd̸̷̜̣̝͚̺̤̣͎̱̻͇͉̻̗̦ͧ̾ͯ̀ͤ̓́̈̈́ͣ͑ͤ̀̌̇̾́͘͝ ̶̛̦̝͚̹͓̖̥͇ͭ̏̄̈ͯ͆̉̑ͨ͢͠͞ḧ̴̺̫͓̖̦̣͖̗̪͔͉̝̩̹͍̘̭̤̱́̑̉͛̒͐ͬ̾ͬ̀ͩ̔̍́̋̚̚͜͠ǫ̡̰̬͇͉̘̦͎̍̽̔̐ͪ̋ư̵̡̡͇̰͖̠̳̭̮̈́̓ͪͣ́ͥ̄͑̓̂͡r̵̢͕͚̦̘͙̙̤̟̪̞̤̓̿ͨ͊ͤ͌̐͆̈͂͛͗͋̈͞s̋͊ͫͩͥ̋͛̌͒̊̉̄͛҉̠͔͍̬̲̫͚͔͓̫̤̥̲̟͠ͅ

Stand-by until further notice.
̨̨̛̼̭̪̪̮̥̪̲̜̗̮̐̈̾͛̌͐ͭͤ̄͊ͭͪ̔́͗̆̆̚ͅ
̨̯͍̖̣͚͒ͪͣ̏ͮͣͥ͢͢͠͠Ĉ̶̙̮̬͉̣̰͉̱͚ͥ̄̀̌͒ͫ̓̉ͣ͗ͣ̚͡o̴̢̰̭͕̝͚̥̙̭̫͙̪̮̝̺ͤ̉ͮ̊̇́̔̓͌͒́̌̊͊͌̔͗ͤ̚͢ͅd͇̤̟͕͙̖̲̤̼̜̽ͪ͛ͤͫ̽̍̉́ͦ̾̎͘͢͞ͅę̸̱̙͈̫̰̣̭̬ͪ͒̍̎̉̒̋͋̐ͥͤͥ̒̆ͬ̀̕ ̴̟͉͚͇̠̻͓̲̯̩̆ͧ̓̑̈̈͒̚ͅ4̷̛̦͍̣̼͛͗͌̑ͭͪͫ́̌ͦͧ̔͠1̨̧̤̠͙̩͉̣ͫ̓̓̒ͥ̔̿͐ͦ͋̓ͮ̌̊̐̅6̷̠̰͓̥̟̗̪̼͎͚̪͖̫͖̘̌̄͊̔ͧ͆̊͑̌ͦ̀
̍ͮ̉ͣ̄̐̇̊ͦ͂ͬ̅ͭ͒̇͐́̚͏̴̨̛͉̞̤̥̜̜̠̫̬̣̝͡ͅR̡̛̙͉̗͖̦̳̹̼̗̘̦̺̠̱͈͇͎͔̱͐ͪͭ̍͗̃̄̎ͣ͋͛̑ͬ̒̂ͬ͆́̚ęͦͦ̽̔̏͒͢҉͇͉͍p̷͎̬͚͒͂ͧͣ͂̉̀e̡̲̣̝̩̣̒̓̽̒̕͝ͅa̵ͪͥͨ̎̓̈́̄͆͐ͯ̊̈́̚̚̚͜͠҉̱̤̯͖̬͎͕̯̟̲̙̜̰͚̯͇̳ţ̴̢̙̞̳͇̙̘̼̩̮̭̗̝̩͔͗̈́̊̽̽ͯ͢,̧͆̎ͧ͒҉̞͍͎͍ ̖͎͔̦̩̞̪̼͓ͨ̿̈̍̅͑͒̍̓̓ͤ̈͂̾̂͗͒͆́͢͟͠͞C̶̱͓̣̣̮͈̟͖͈̣͖̥͔͚͍̙͕̈́ͬ͑̅̽ͤ͗̍̓͗͢͢ͅo̷̢̪͕̞̬͈̮̼͈̹̯̟͍̭͇̙̱̦͚ͥ̍ͨ́ͨ̎ͧ̅̑̊ͫ́͘d̸̴̥̬̞̜̪͖̩̟̰̟̬͉̪͖̠̬̏ͦ̉ͥ͐̿ͦ̇ͪ͟ͅͅȩ̸̲͕̭͇̘̫͙̻̳̬̟̜̱̩̦͕͖͛̆̄̎̇ͦ̂͐ͥ̄̆ ̸̸̎̑ͨ̑̈̓ͬ̋͂ͩͬ̂̏̋̑̿҉̶̴̳͍̩͙̮̺̼̣̣̩̬̰̞̠̟͎̭̠4̪̮͓̮̜̙̩͉͖͙̓ͨ͗̓ͣ̈́ͯ̎ͣͭ̅͋̍̎ͨ̈́̏͝1̵̢ͪͯͦ͊͐̓̑͆̋̆̑ͫ͋̔̽ͭͮ͊͢͏̞̝̞̳̥̰̹̜̘͉͈͈6̠̼̬͍̻̤̫̭̩͖͕̮̹̪̟͇͌̆̉͆̽̎́͜͠
̡̛̳̱͇͕͔͖̟͖̭̯͙͑ͫ͐̈́ͪ̅
̥͈̬͈͓̹̰͙͕̤̮͇̳̥̙̇̎ͬ͆̓́̎ͪ͌ͫͫ͞ͅA̎̍͆̓̔̈̔̈́̏͒̐ͯͣ̀͗ͤ͂ͩ̚͝͏̩̤̠̹͓̤̮ļ̸ͨ̄̋̋̔́̓́͝҉̫̳̰͈̜͖̜͕͚͓̯l̛̛̰̼̥̳ͣ̐͛̏͆́̊̓̚ ̷̮̻̹̹͓̙͈̣̹̣͔̖̣̮̺ͯ́̋ͮ͐͘͟à̶̡̢͉͔̭̹̤̬͈̙̖̣̯̗͙̫͈̐̄̅͐͋̍̒̀̄̍̒̓͘t̨̂̈͒̃͘͏̮͔͇̰̟̤̗͖́ţ͒͋̐̒͐ͭ̅͋͗ͩ͏̷͓̖͍̼̝̺͚͝ͅe̸͓͚̝̻̘̞͚̙̼͈͇̰͂̋ͧ͒ͧͮ̋̌̂ͣ̋̉̋̔͛͊̔͂́̚͟͠m̵̶̵̧̳͓̦̲̮̒ͪ̇ͫ͂̍ͫ̄̄͑ͭͨ̓͒͠p̷̢̬̗̭̪̩̠̮̏̈́ͭ͂ͥͣ̔̒̑ͮ̽̂́ͪ͒ͮͯ͜͡͡t̵͇͙͔̥̬͙ͨ́̌͂͑͂͋͗͗ͮ͟s̸̨̠̟͉̹̲̾ͣ̉ͮ̉͒͑̍̌̍͗̿̀̚͝ ͣͦ̎́ͥ̏ͥ͑̎̾̇ͤ̃͂͌҉̣̣̝̗͍͈̙͈̩̩͍̙͔̕ͅţ̛̺̤̱̬̣̬͙̝̜͔̘̠̖̙͉̒͋̔̎̽̒̕͢͜o͐ͣ͊͋̊ͫ̉͜҉̸̵̬̟̖̟͓̥͇̫̻͚͞ͅ ̴̨̼̭̭̙͍͙̹̘̣̟͕̺̏̓̽͒ͮ̃͐͌ͧ̓ͣͩ̈́͒ͥ̇̀̀͟ĺ̶̙̟̥̱̣̞͚ͦ́ͬ̔̿̔̚̕͟e̷̶͙̯̜̣̩̭̦̯̭̱͓̖̝̣̪̗͍̙͚ͧ̈̿ͣͯͧͮ͂ͦͯͯͮͮ̐̾́̚͜a̸̵̧ͯ͐ͯͬ͐̿̽̉ͩ̔̀ͫͯ͏͙̜̘̺͖̯̗͉͈v̸̛̬̙͙͎̰ͤ̆̋̚͞e̴͖̹̝̤̬̲̔̎̐ͮͪ̀̕͝ͅͅ ̸̧̡̠͇̲͎̪̜̙̙̦͚̝͚̰͈̺̊̒͛̑͂̇E̛ͮ͐̍̇ͫͩͧ̌͆ͤ̚͟҉̸͕͔͖̘̰͟x̢̛̳̤̘̙̿ͯ͌ͩ̆̈̀̕͢ş͉̫̙̜̱̟̼̪͖̹̝̪̯̠̟ͨͧ̏ͧͣ͂̒͌͘i̡̛̜̲͉̠̥̣͚̰͔̖̩̘͕͖̰͗ͤͣ̃̎͒̐ͤͦ̍ͦ͆͆̒̂͌̒̔̀͠͝l̡̛̲͇̻̪̝͍̳͈͍̣̯̮̝̙̰̅̍̈̉͛ͭͤ̓̆́͐ͦ̿̄ͬ͊ͭͬ̇i̢̭͈̱͖͔͍͓̗̊ͬ̓ͦͧ̂ͥ͂ͮ͒̅ͨ͆̄̚̚̕͟ů̴̢̠̝̙͙̗̖̳̭̼̠̣̾̏͆͆̕͝͝m̧͉̟͎͓͖͔̤̮͇͈̦͈̭̻̟͈͉̻̑ͦ͆̐ͯ͌͛͆̋ͯ͌̒̄ͩ̒̉ͧ̌͝ ̶̨̦̦̬̼̠̮͔̥͚͚̩̳̖̩̯̭̩̒̔̓͒͒͒͌͝w̷̨̩̜̤̹̹̞̘̟̺̎͐́̒͑ỉ̵̸̷̢͙̱͈̰̫̯̫̪̮̼̇̎͆̎̒̐͐͠l̷̨̢͍͙̱̘̣̫͇̲̥̯̱̟̣̩̺͙̂͒̔ͥͮ́͗̔̓͑̊́͢l̴̶̛̻̼̻̮͕̟̻̠̬͉̞̤̹̻͚̞̘̣̝͗ͨͧ͒͑̄̚̕ ̡͙̥̖̩̘͓̻͓̜̠͍͕ͨ̈̅̑̎ͤ͒ͣͤ̓ͧͤ̍́b̸ͦͫ̈́ͫ̒ͪͩ̔͋͂̑̅̒ͨ̃͝҉̱̜͎̩̺̜͔͎̯̰̳̭́e̸̟̻̤̬̩̘̘̙̲͉͕ͩ͌ͬͬͬ̓ͧͫ͌ͬͮͪ̓͟͝͞ͅ ̸̶̹̭̜̙̤̲̳̹̝̹͕͒̓̎ͧ̏͗͗̇͂ͧ̑̐ͤ͂͒ͧ͘m̧̡̭͔̜̘̱̹̼̬ͨ̍͗ͩ̏̊̐́̈́͛̓ͥ͠ͅe̸̝̟͕̜̫̱͙͇̮̦͙͓̤̻͍̟̩̔͛̔ͦ̂̎̃̃t̸͑̊ͥͬ́҉̩͈͕͙̳̝̞̘̝͎̜̬̮̘͉̯̩̲ͅ ̷̢̝̲̰͇͇͓̙̹̖̻͍̥̜̭̹̗̯̜̀̉́̽͂͗͗̇͜w̵͇̠͓̗̻͎̟̬̺̠̻̲̿͆͋ͦ͗̓̈͢͝i̵̛͈̱̝̥͙̯̭̤̘̹̩͖͂̈̐͌̌ͬ͆ͤ̐̿͑͘ţ̒̌ͧ̾̊̐͏̣̤̝̭̞̣͕̮̫̠͇ḩ̵̢̤̙͖̭̩̺̰͈̫̺͍̼̬̯ͣͭ̾ͯͯ̌͂̈́ͦͮ̚͜ ͧ̎͐̊̊̊̓̉͒́ͯ҉̧͍̮͙̹̩̜͇̮̠̳̙̯̱͔͟͞͠ṣ̶̨̳͖̗̙͕͔͕͎̳͓̣̞̮̪̫͉̎ͯͬͦͭ̍̉ͤ̊̄̎̈́̅ͯͯ̓̑̂́ȅ̸̶̡̞̲̞̳͉̼͍͖̬̰̌ͮ̆ͥ̂͋͆ͮ̑̇̿̚̕͜v̡̛̤͙̪̙̫͙ͤͥ͒ͮ̃̔ͬ̇̕̕è̡̝͙̯͍̦͕̆͗͊̀ͤ̄̓ͩ̉̽̏͌̐ͩ̃̓͠ř̸̛̯̙̹͕̠̟̣̼̂̄͐͆̇̄ͅe̷̻̘͚̜͖̹̦͑ͬ̏ͮ̀ͨ͌̿̋̿ͬ͒ͭ̇̓̕ ̶̡̩̦͔̩͚͖͕̣̭̦̦ͯͥͧ͆͒̽͂͂̉̓̏ͧͭ͑̍̓̚͠p̵̞̙̜͕͉̫̤̻͖̜͈̹̜͖͔̗̥͛͌̑̓͑̈́̀́͢rͧ͗̈́͊̾̿ͦͧ̔ͧͯ̏̈́̌͐͞҉̷̴̸̘̼̝̳̲͉͖̜̼̮̯ḛ̢̥̲͔̩̤̮̱̪̻̪̟̤̌̏ͮ̑ͧ͛ͬͥ̌̆ͦ̓ͯͫ̏͢j̸̛͉͇̖͓͓̙̼̼̹̞̙̯̫͍̓̑ͭ̊͂ͬ̃ͬ̽ͣ͆̈̾̚ụ̡̰̖̻̣̰̤͉̞̩͊͌̏ͦ̇̎̍͘͟ͅd̍̈̄͗̇͢͜͏҉̤͖̘͈̦̩̭̯̤͔͎͈̳iͨ͋͌̐͊̓̒ͨ̎͗̉̏̆͑̈̚͝͏̴̛̳͇̳̟͚̻̣̫̀ć̟̠̭̲͚͍͈̹̳̜͈̝͊̐ͤ̏͆ͨ̃̉ͦ͒̓ͣ͒̂ͤ͘͜͟͟ẹ̡̛̻̖̟̲̝̼̻̄ͩͯ́̽̎͑̒̕͟

Unidentified contagions must not be allowed to spread beyond the borders of the island. Humbly submit to the greater good.

     - THE UNITED EARTH

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 ]

[ The video feed switches on to show a large number of stuffed animals lined up neatly across Sophie's bed. A stuffed rabbit sits on top of the pillow, further away from the rest. Those who were around during for Separation Awareness Day in February may recognize that these plushies came from the festival in February. Sophie can't be seen on screen, but she can be heard speaking. There might even be a quick glimpse of her long pigtails swaying around. ]

When my best friend Lara was sick, she couldn't get out of bed. I didn't want her to feel lonely when I left her house, so I brought her lots and lots of dolls. That way, she'd never feel lonely again. It made her really happy.

I was thinking... since I have lots of dolls left over from the festival a few months ago, I want to give them away to people who need the company or something to cheer them up.

Kaneis already took the dragon, Allen has the chicken, and I have the rabbit. Hmm. Kaneis named his Flarey, I think. [ ...Or was it Flamey? ] Allen and I named our dolls in memory of Tiger Festival. [ Their pet rabbit, Tiger Festival. Or more like only Sophie herself decided on that name. ]

So, if anyone wants one, come to Unit 103. If you can't come, let me know. I'll bring the dolls to you.

[ And finally, Sophie shows herself on screen, waving goodbye and ends the feed. ]

[The driest of dry dry tones.]

I'm in a poetic mood, I guess, which has me thinking of all these apt comparisons that could be made with the rain, and the deluge of newcomers, right on schedule. Welcome in all you lot. May I kindly wish you the best in not doing anything ridiculous here. Calm down, it could be much worse, you're going to be all right enough most likely, welcome to the war.

That's it for poetry.

I also have a question. Who's up for sharing with me? It's just a number. I'm curious how many people you know you have from your home around here. If you've been through other worlds on the way, how many people are here with you from those between-worlds?

Just curious.

A scorpion needs to cross a raging river but fears drowning. As he wonders what to do, a frog approaches. The scorpion asks, "Please, will you carry me across the river on your back?"

The frog replies fearfully, "No! You'll sting me!"

The scorpion promises he won't because if he did the frog would sink and he would drown. So the frog agrees and takes the scorpion across the river on his back. As they cross the deepest part of the river at the midway point the scorpion suddenly stings the frog with its tail.

The frog writhes in agony as the poison slowly paralyzes him. He screams, "What have you done? Why would you sting me after you told me you wouldn't?"

And the scorpion replies, "It's my nature." Both of them drown in the river.

[A pause.]

What do you make of it?

[Mahdi addresses the screen dressed in a red apron with his name embroidered on one side: a perhaps-obviously handmade gift from a friend. The apron and his face and bare arms are smudged with flour and a few streaks of chocolate.]

Um, does anyone want cookies? I made cookies.

[Around this time you may notice that pretty much every inch of the kitchen counter is covered with foil-wrapped paper plates.]

I made a few dozen.

And a pie. Maybe two pies.

Baking is how I vent stress sometimes, I guess, um...

I guarantee these cookies will make everyone feel a bit better! So let me know if you'd like a plate, I can drop it off with you. I'll probably be leaving some at the clinic too.


[OOC: Mahdi's cookies will, miraculously, give one a lingering sense of warmth and affection for a short time, due to his powers of emotional projection.]