All right, I think I've finally found my way around this thing. And what better way to use it than broadcasting what I have so far of my newest work? I usually have Varric give my friend-fiction a quick read before I share it with anyone else, but I think this snippet is particularly fantastic. It's dedicated to a certain new sparring partner I ran into.

Settle down, everyone, Aunty Isabela's got a story for you all.

( Not explicit BUT NOT FOR GENERAL AUDIENCES EITHER. )

[The face that pops up on the screen is clearly in need of at least a small shave -- he's gotten lazy in the middle of the tundra. Of course, as soon as he turns on the feed he seems to be having second thoughts about doing so.

Probably should've been a little more discreet about what he's asking to keep certain people from fussing. That's almost the exact thing someone might hear in their head when they catch his awkward pause on camera before he jumps right into...whatever it is he's going to say.]

So. Hey. Good day for freezing your ass off, isn't it?

[There's a series of deep playful barks that occur off screen. Focusing on the backdrop of the flat, one might spot a flash or two of black and white dashing away as Nate moves aside for his new companions. The camera focuses back on him pretty quickly, which is about the point that Nate decides he's going to ask a different question.]

Most of you don't know me, and I don't know most of you. Or maybe you do know me. I've apparently been around the bend here once or twice before. But let's forget about that and talk about venison. Game-y sort of meat, right? I'm sure deer is being declared an endangered species in these parts by now even with that in mind -- so if you're looking to turn some over I'm your man.

Name's Drake. And hey, if you have other food stores you're looking to get rid of, talk to me. Between you, me, and the wall I'm not quite ready to dive head first into the snow.

[Which is a lie, but nobody has to know that.]

[ Roslyn is behind the camera again, face stern, Vennett & Lowell seated just behind her. She’s looking as calm and professional as she can, though traces of exhaustion are seeping through regardless of her best efforts. ]

I’m going to make this as brief as possible. We do not have laws governing the actions undertaken recently by people currently in custody. While hopefully there will shortly be a fuller code of conduct, we cannot apply it retroactively. I do not have the resources to keep anyone locked up indefinitely, nor can I provide a fair trial, and it would be morally suspect to do either in the current environment.

I believe there is a solution to this, one that several others agree with, including Lowell Orwin and Vennett here with me, both of whom were held hostage by these people and have a fair amount of insight into their mindset. However, given that you will all have to live with it as well, I’m going to bring this solution to general consensus.

Under this arrangement, as a first part all current prisoners will be released into the custody of someone who will agree to monitor their actions and ensure that they are not able to plan anything further. These parole officers will either be volunteers from the general population or police officers if necessary, and all will be very carefully vetted. If it is necessary we will ask them to submit to a brief telepathic scan.

The second part of this arrangement would be undertaking a set amount of missions under the supervision of Orwin and Vennett with the goal of putting forth effort into our return to Earth. I am assured that they will be doing real work that will benefit us all.

This is the solution that I and others hope will work best for everyone involved, as well as free up resources to continue working towards getting off of this base and setting up an actual system of leadership.

While Jesse Pinkman was not a member of this, as he has given back all powers taken he would be released under the same conditions.

This is being presented to you all as, essentially, a poll. That is the first option. The second option is ‘other’, and if that is your answer I must insist you provide a fully thought through and careful plan that does not simply consist of ‘strand them somewhere’ or ‘airlock them’. Should enough support be shown for a provided 'other' plan over parole, it will be considered as an option. 

Thank you all for your time. I hope this will be resolved very shortly.

[ And cut. ]


[ ooc: this is an ic poll of the population! you may vote once with each character you have in game. roslyn and others are available for question answering and so forth. ]

[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. )

( private filter to ─ nathan drake, chloe frazer, charlie cutter, victor sullivan )

We're all alright, aren't we?

( /end filter )

[ God she's tired, it is obvious in her voice and the very fact she hasn't much to say. But some things just need to be said, right? Even if they are nothing but words and words can't bring back the dead, nor can they bring back an entire world. ]

To the residents of that world, I am sorry for your loss. [ Sorry there was nothing anyone could have done to stop it. ]

[For Henry, the past month has been rougher than any other in recent memory. Confessing to the only person in this wretched place he is comfortable calling a friend that she'd been keeping intimate company with a vampire was more emotionally trying than he expected. But that paled in comparison to a week spent living--finding himself with a pulse for the first time in four and a quarter centuries--and then having it taken away again.]

Surely I'm not the only one who'd rather our personal timelines never sorted themselves out.

[The video clicks on and the view sways sickeningly for a moment. The small light on the camera does very little to penetrate the darkness of the catacombs under the city. Once it focuses on the man holding the tablet, the light only succeeds in making him look oddly pale and drawn.]

I need medical attention. Sooner rather than later would be nice--

[So maybe it's not just the camera making him look like shit. Charlie shifts, which cues a snarled string of expletives and a jostled camera.]

--or just a hand out of these bloody catacombs. I think my leg's busted.

[ This is kind of a long-shot but seeing as Wolf's never gone off on his own for more than a night or two at a time, it's probably best to check the network first before going out to look for him one more time ]

Anyone seen a white wolf around lately? He answers to 'Wolf'.

[Drake's never cared much for technology, so it's no surprise that the feed starts abruptly and with a loud thud at an odd angle displaying the right horrific mess that has become his room.

Remember that time we all got sent into medieval Russia? Yeah, you might find some familiar weapons around along with some trinkets. Drake's standing with his back facing the camera, his trusty sketchbook in his back pocket, hands on his hips, looking around.

Quite unceremoniously, he shoves things around and they sort of crash into the walls.

Which causes a Mongol Bow and a scimitar he had set up to come crashing down.]

Crap.

((ooc: roommates and neighbors feel free to notice the destruction he's causing, if not, carry on))

I preferred the old books better. [This thing is being folded every which way, because they just had to make this thing harder to use.] At least you knew where you stood with them. The old books never changed; they might never have been easy to use, but they you knew what you were supposed to do with them.

[Is he talking about the book, still? Maybe, maybe not.] With all this talk of the Initiative and the United Earth issues, there's been something that's come up several times. Something I would be worried about, and so should others.

Traitors. Those who turned away from the goal right when their colleagues needed them most. Or the ones who never came to help in the first place, though they said they would. Traitors also includes liars. Yes. Liars. The ones who never tell the truth, especially when the truth could be the information you needed the most.

[He's getting exasperated with this new book.] I wonder, how did everyone else treat liars back home? In Ferelden, we had several ways of punishing those that had committed crimes against the crown, or those who'd lied and were caught. Some of them seemed rather harsh, but if someone who steals loses a finger, why not have the liar lose something as well? Something they value, something close to them, so that they can be hurt as much as they have hurt those around them.

So, how should we treat those liars, here? If we find traitors, what do we do with them? A mock execution, whipping, leaving them bound and gagged in a small room? Killing them would just be too merciful for what they've done, wouldn't it? [He pauses.]

Andraste's foul breath, this new book is more difficult then the other! [Okay, he's done with this book thing. With a yell, he throws it across the room.]

[Video]

It seems we've got quite a few people who are getting bored around here. Well, the lower parts of the Labs crumbled and fell into the catacombs thanks to the shaking from the bombs, which means two things.

One, that we can easily get back into the Hold itself without being seen, though I'd still stay away from windows and doors and by no means go outside.

And two... that there's now a giant freakin' hole in the ground that's going to have to be fixed eventually. I'm looking for volunteers to help in bracing and stonefoam work, as most of my, ah... colleagues are content in their role as supervisors. [Read: THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THE WORK.] Experience isn't necessary, they just need some people willing to put in little work.

[EDIT: Log is up here if anyone wants to run with this. Feel free to tag around!]

[Private, to Tony]

Hey, Stark. Now that we're on an impromptu spelunking expedition with no where to go, maybe I can get a better look at that suit of yours. Can't promise cookies, but I'll buy you a beer after we get out of here.

[Alright, so this entire deal? Sounds like a load for crap. In fact, Drake is pretty sure this really is a load of crap. As if being chased halfway across the world wasn't enough, he had to arrive to this place and get bombed less than a day later.

Way to arrive in style, Drake.

At first all that can be heard is a loud snap and a crackle over the feed.]

Hey, ev---one okay?

[He grunts in frustration. Fantastic. Tech from the future and still static. Guess some things never do change, huh?]

St--pid thing. Sully? Chloe? St--- in --- piece?

[a soft crackle as the tablet is set down, then--]

Welcome to the Initiative. Enjoy this bomb.

Really, what kind of greeting is this?

[--a pause --]

Anyone know if these tunnels will really hold up or are we going to get buried alive?