[The feed starts up to Maya... holding up what appears to be a really cute and cartoony doodle passingly resembling Dist]

[She looks Very Serious (this is gonna end well)]

Guys...This is important! This little guy [says the five foot nothing shrimp] is missing! He needs his walkies and three meals a day, and he likes to sit in the snow and whine for 'Jade', who I guess he used to follow around! If we don't find him soon, he might freeze or starve to death, so let me know if you've seen him!

Um, his name is Dist, but he likes to answer to Rose too [she shrugs and makes ‘weirdo’ motions] and sometimes he gets yappy, so just compliment him and he'll probably settle down. It's okay to muzzle him, I don't think he bites... but just let me or Jaime know if you've seen him, okay? He--

[And cue Jaime shuffling on into the room, a ratty old paperback tucked underneath one arm. He looks over at Maya quizzically before coming to stand behind her, peering over her shoulder at her picture. Slowly, as if he may not like the answer, he asks:] Maya? What are you doing?

[Maya regards Jaime Very Seriously] He's missing! I was going to put up pictures on milk cartons... but I couldn't find any.

[Jaime nods, looking unsurprised to hear his previous suspicions confirmed, then plucks the picture out of her hands.] He's a person, not a dog. You don't muzzle people. [Okay, you might have wanted to muzzle Dist, but his point stands. He addresses the feed now.] Don't bother with the search party - he's gone back home.

[Same difference! ] Huh? How do you know?

His name's off the network. I checked. Which is what you should do before trying to organize a search party. [He's not looking at the feed anymore, distracted as he is by Maya's drawing.] Hey, this isn't bad.

Thanks! Wait… so he went home after all? You’re sure? [She looks Deep in Thought About This… Almost like she’s about to say something profound...]

[Jaime looks a little curious as to where she’s going with this, but he gives her a one word reply anyhow.] Yup.

[So about that something profound] …Let’s go raid his room!

[Jaime looks momentarily pained, opens his mouth, then shuts it again.] Clean out his room,[he mutters as he reaches to turn off the feed, having evidently given up on impressing this fact to Maya.] It's called cleaning out his room.

[He’s totally going to raid Dist’s room with her. He just phrases it a little more politely.]

[OOC: Blue is Jaime and purple is Maya!]

( 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! )

( As desirable as hiding away in his room forever currently sounds, after over a week on the moon base, restlessness has hit Edgeworth hard. It is time to find answers to the questions that had been weighing heavily on his mind. Or, at least, the answer to one question in particular. )

It appears that much has changed since I was here last. ( He twitches slightly at that massive understatement, but reacquainting himself with his current situation had been troublesome, at best. ) I've kept myself abreast of recent events through the use of the network, but there is just one matter which I wish to enquire about further.

( He swallows, although his cravat obscures the nervous bobbing of his Adam's apple for the most part. Despite doing his best to keep his expression neutral, there is a decided tone of unease to his voice. )

If anyone knows anything regarding the whereabouts of my Shiba Inu, Pess, after ... my disappearance this past May, do let me know immediately.

I know this is a bit of a strange request, but... We kind of need a person to take care of our friend -- [A bright voice in the background interrupts Tsuzuki's feed, making him jump. "A babysitter!"]

Shhh Watari! He's going to be mad if he hears you. Anyway, he's sick and need someone to help look after him. Not long. Just until--

[An excited voice is heard in the background, once again. "Bon's a good kid! Just remember to let him rest and feed him three times a day. And don't feed him spicy food!"]

Yeah. He can't handle things like that. But anyway, if anyone can help us look after him for a day or two I'll try to pay you. Might take a while though.

Well hello there everyone. Welcome to the newer faces, how are you doing to both the new and old. In case you don't recognize this face or the hat, I'm Phoenix Wright, and I've got an announcement for you guys.

As of a few days ago, it seems like we've got a missing child on our hands. His name is Miles and he's about - oh - five feet eleven inches? I don't know how much he weighs, he's got grey hair and he was last seen wearing a red suit and a really intense cravat. He's... 24 years old, I think.

He hasn't been in his room and hasn't been coming in to work, either. His family is very worried about him. So.

[There is a few seconds' pause here, where Phoenix's rather playful expression sobers up. He keeps the smile, but he's definitely more serious now. A little sad, even.]

That is to say, it doesn't seem like Miles Edgeworth is here anymore. Haven't been able to reach his tablet or anything. I don't know if he'll come back like he did last time, but like last time, if you had any business with him I recommend contacting Miss Franziska von Karma. She might be able to help you out some.

[Another little silence. He's looking away from the camera. He mumbles some words like "They're all going somewhere." "How many is this now?" "I guess it's better they're not here, but." "It's starting to get kind of lonely." "I hope he's okay."

Then he turns back to the screen again, the first wide smile back on his face.]

Now, in case you don't know what he looks like! I drew a picture. I'm pretty confident in the likeness, if I do say so myself. I think the dog's still around...

I ain't exactly proud of how I handled stuff when I got here, but I gave it a lotta thought, and I think I've got everythin' figured out now.

[Toji takes on an important sounding tone.]

We're basically on our own here, living by ourselves, makin' our own food, doin' our own cleaning, payin' for our own stuff, right? So that basically makes us adults. Or at least we're bein' treated like it. And if we're bein' treated this way, we gotta live up to it. I got a job washin' dishes at a place, and I've been takin' a bunch of other odd jobs too. I can't act like a spoiled kid forever, so from now on I'm gonna pull my own weight around here.

So if anyone sees me mopin' around like a sadsack again, smack some sense into me!

Has there ever been a case where someone who has disappeared from Exsilium came back?

[ Brows furrowed, it might be too much to hope for that. ]

Nevertheless, if you have any unfinished business with Miles Edgeworth, you will now report directly to me.

[ Her voice was strained, trying hard to subdue her anger. She ends the feed there before her feelings get the best of her. People familiar with the police force's office set-up might be able to tell that Franziska took over Edgeworth's desk. ]

[ Kuroh’s been here for a couple months now. He’s kept careful tabs on the network and made a few new friends, learned a few new things. Chief among them: People often ask their fellow Transports a really personal or philosophical question over the tablets for no other reason than to pass the time.

So. To demonstrate his totally admirable social skills--and also due to a recent pang of homesickness--he’s going to prove that he can fit in here. ]

Good afternoon. This is Kuroh Yatogami. [ Well everyone already knows that since this isn’t anonymous, but for the sake of politeness. ] I wonder, how many of you here also had teachers back home who were very important to you? I mean the sort who were just as much your family as your instructors. [ Oh no, he’s starting to look nostalgic. ] Those who taught you everything you know and loved you unconditionally.

For me, that was Ichigen Miwa. [ And with that, his normally quiet voice becomes a lot more emotional and excited. And...he reaches into his jacket pocket. Suddenly in his hand is a peculiar voice recorder. ] The late Colorless King, the wisest and most fair master anyone could ask for, whose inspired words of wisdom guide me to this very day! [ With a small click, Kuroh presses a button, and... ]

Walk casually
Along the path you have chosen
The path to your dreams.
[ Exsilium, you’ve been treated to the soothing, poetic voice of a dead man. Sorry, was Kuroh expressing interest in other people’s teachers earlier? No more. His cheeks are a bit flushed and one can practically see the sparkles in the atmosphere. ] And there you have it! Not a day goes by when I don’t--

[ Oops, and then he bumps the tablet with his free hand, and the feed is cut off. And thank god because he was showing no signs of stopping. ]

[ ooc note: this is before he learns of Certain Castmates’ arrival. Shiro, the fanboy's probably in the apartment. ]

[Well, isn't this a face you haven't seen posting to the network for quite some time, Exsilium. What's this weirdo girl up to this time, you wonder, clicking on her video? Surely it's going to be some kind of ridiculous announcement where she's grinning widely and--]

[Well, actually, she looks kind of distressed. And kind of shaky. But that just might be the camera, because she's moving around pretty quickly and you can see landscape behind her. But distressed, definitely that]

Sis, it's not nice to scare people! Are you trying to make me old and grey like Nick?!!

[And she clears her throat, though it's clear her composure is going the longer she speaks]

Has anyone seen my sis? Her name is Mia Fey, and she's a lawyer, and she's this tall [She holds one hand hiiiigh up (no, Mia isn't a giant, Maya's just really short)] and she's got long brown hair and she's really pretty [With a certain two assets you can't miss] and she's really good at defending--! Oh wait, that last one isn't a description.

A-Anyway, I can't find her, she's not in her apartment, and her phone's not working, and I really need to make sure she's okay, so, please, if you've-- [And it seems like her leg caught on something, because--]

Aaaaaah!

[--Because she's tripping and faceplanting right into the ground, dropping the tablet in the process and ending the feed. Yep, she just tripped and fell in the middle of her post, WHAT A CHAMPION]

[OOC: Feel free to action tag if you want to run into Maya in the streets, running around ineffectively looking for Mia. Yep.]

The place sure gets quiet when there aren't any festivals going on, doesn't it?

[The man on the screen is a little bit tilted, probably from the placement of his tablet, and his grin is also crooked as usual. Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Phoenix leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees.]

At first I wondered why Valentine's Day was such a big deal here, but I think I liked that holiday too. I for one would like to know where they got all those toys from, though... but.

[He pauses, sitting straight again. He shrugs once, and that grin becomes a bit more of a grimace as he continues.]

For a place that loves its children so much that they'll throw festivals just for them, these people sure do like dragging those kids into their wars, don't they?

[Okay. He's been here less than two weeks, and this has started to happen already. He is fed up. Can he never escape this treatment?

[Behind him is a rather impressive pile of sweets and whatever useless toys the locals have managed to shove at him. And he looks distinctly annoyed at the lot of it.]

I know the locals can't see this, but allow me to point out something important. I. Am not. A child.

[Another irritated glance at his little hoarde.] If anyone actually wants any of this garbage, they're welcome to it.

What moron's in charge of the machine that's bringing in the new people.  It's like they decided to say the hell with trying to win this war, we're just going to keep throwing bodies at it till something works.

Anyway.  Back to normal, blah blah.  I'd apologize for what an asshole I grow up to be, but I can't really remember too much of what he did [ He's lying. ], so there's not much point.  Just be glad I'm back to my regular charming self.

[Filtered from Collette (as useless of a gesture as that may be) ]

But uh.  There's a reason for this besides the not-apology.  I don't exactly have anyone specific I can ask, because.  Well, because.  So I figured I'd just kinda throw it out there.

So, uh.  How does dating work?

I mean, I'm not a total social reject, I know how it works normally, but for like a specific girl.  And okay, the last date I went on back home didn't go too hot anyway.

[ He's just going to disconnect before he digs himself any deeper.  SMOOTH, JASON, REALLY SMOOTH. ]

So, uh...

Does anybody feel like talking? It doesn't matter about what.

I just really need the distraction.

I'm back.

[That was the coolest opening he could think of (or rather, the lamest of the coolest he decided on). It looks like the blue-suited lawyer is back to being a blue-beanied scruffy.]

That was a bit of an adventure wasn't it? I'm kind of embarrassed to remember it. How was it for anyone else?

Oh, and... [A pause. Then he clears his throat.] Aah, never mind. It really is a bad idea to let kids into something like this. But I guess Father's Day will be a little lonely from now on.

[to Maya, Mia, locked separately]
I think I owe you an explanation. Got some time for lunch?

[to Edgeworth, in the evening]
Do you have some time? I'll pay for tea, or coffee, or whatever you drink.

( INTROSPECTION. Warning: Less manpain than one might think )

I see everyone's quick to mope or make apologies. Excuse me if I refrain from joining your ranks this time, seeing as I came out of this with a few cute girls, free meals and a videogame—all things I didn't ask for, but I'm still not sharing. The game, maybe, if you ask nicely, but it's somewhat dated. So unless you can appreciate classics, don't even bother.

[ HI everyone did you miss this butt he's sure you did. ]

Oh, and here's your general PSA, directed at no one in particular, especially not the guys around the precinct: get into the habits of locking your tablets if you're just gonna leave 'em lying around. The next time I find one I'm gonna post the entirety of its porn folder to the network tagged with your name. And before you go, oh, that silly Adam Jensen, of course my porn folder is locked and hidden slash I'm an innocent virgin who doesn't even have a porn folder, honest--

Don't make the mistake of thinking that's gonna stop me.


[ Private to Samus ]

You free tonight?

All right. I think I get the general idea of what's going on. There's some sort of war going on, and a bunch of people got pulled in here to help fight it by... going back in time and fixing things to get rid of the enemy this place is fighting right now?

... I guess that makes sense.

(No it doesn't. This is unbelievable. It sounds good for a movie plot but it can't be real life. I never signed up for this...)

Anyway, this is like a webcam, right? I don't know how many people can actually see this, but -- er -- my name is Phoenix Wright. I'm a lawyer. [It totally matters here. It makes him slightly more comfortable now that that's out of his mouth. Yes! He is a lawyer, everyone. He scratches the back of his head for a second.]

Does anyone know a girl named Maya? She's about this tall [he steps back from the table he set the tablet on to demonstrate "really short"] and wears purple robes and her hair looks like this. [an interesting demonstration of a topknot.] If anyone knows her, please tell her I'm looking for her.

Or if you see this, Maya! Tell me where you are and I'll come get you!

(Please respond, Maya, please be able to figure out how to use this thing!)

I never thought I'd be here long enough to see Christmas! Even if that means it's been a while - but, that's not a bad thing either, right? Because we all got to meet here. Oh, not that - not to say that I don't miss everyone at home, either...! But still...

( still, ranka's all pleasure, enjoying her view of the snow and giving the tablet a bright smile. thoughts like that won't bog her down at the moment. )

...and getting to see real snow, too! It's amazing, right?

( ooc: also in case i didn't get to you on the gift meme, ranka's cr can all assume they got cards and earnestly made christmas presents from her. EVEN IF THEY'VE ONLY TALKED ONCE OR SO you can assume at least a card :) also crying i totally am getting back to those masq threads even if it'll be a bit late )

[ Bucky is outside, in some lonely corner of Exsilium. The weather's not right for it, though, and you can hear the wind running through the audio feed, catching static. ]

Last Christmas Eve, I didn't get the day off. So I spent a lot of it complaining that I didn't get the day off.

This year— it's weird, walking around on Christmas and not having everything tell you so. No one's ringing bells on the street or hanging wreaths on the door. I've… I've had a lotta Christmases, away from home. But not like this.

[ A pause. He has no idea where he's going or what made him say all of this. Gj, Bucky. ]

But it's still Christmas, right? And that's important.

Greetings, Exsilium. I am Miles Edgeworth and I have an announcement to make. In preparation for Thanksgiving, a silly American holiday where people gorge on turkey and celebrate historical inaccuracies by painting bald eagles with gravy, I have attempted to cook a simple but delicious mashed potatoes dish.

I have failed. It has been less than two hours since I stepped into the kitchen and I have already managed to soil my cravat, stain my vest and slightly singe my sleeves. It will take a lot of effort to rid the delicate embroideries on my vest with the potato bits that have gotten between the threads. It would take more effort to get rid of the stench of curdled milk, failure and shame that now permeates every corner of this kitchen.

I must now admit that I am not only a failure in the kitchen but also a failure as a man. I am a foolish fool who can not foolishly comprehend recipes so simple even a fool of the utmost foolishness can foolishly cook. I submit myself to your mockery, Exsilium. I deserve to be punished for my incompetence.

That is all.

[ Note: Franziska von Karma was here. Miles Edgeworth smells.

Franziska has hi-jacked her brother's communicator. She wrote this entire post. Expect tags from Franziska pretending to be Edgeworth, Edgeworth, and Franziska... probably. ]

[ He frowns once before speaking, running a hand through his hair. ]

Does anyone know of a good place to get a haircut, or else know how to do so well [ "well" being the operative word ] themselves? The price isn't an issue. [ any cost for beauty etc. ] Thank you.

[ He expects glowing recommendations okay. Or if you know how and are offering LISTS OF REFERENCES....nah probably not. Maybe.

But in any case, his hair's getting on the long side these days, even for him, bangs becoming an annoyance at his eyes; so it's about time he gets that fixed up. He'd just like to be sure before actually letting someone at his hair with a pair of scissors, even if he isn't Sternbild-famous here.]

The year 3312 is a bit far off from where I'm from. Just a bit over a thousand years. Considering I'm from Earth, the idea things would change from how I remember to now is a little...strange to think about.

Of course I know for a fact this Earth is different from my own, as I'm sure some of you also are aware, but indulge me a little despite that. Lets pretend for a second you can't be sure. Were we to return to the year you came from and as it turned out this world was in fact yours, knowing things would inevitably become this bad, how would you feel about it?

So Vanadi's hosting the big Masquerade Ball later this month, and that got me to thinking...

( Collette starts ticking things off on her fingers. )

There's no age limit, everyone's going to be wearing a mask and in costume, there's no supervision, and one of the most common questions out of new people showing up here is "where's the nearest bar," so it'll also have alcohol. Lots of it.

( Collette leans forward, chin resting on her interlaced hands, elbows on the table. She grins. )

This is so much better than Prom would ever be.

[The video feed is live, but the visibility is terrible. The tablet's owner sits in the near-dark, three stripes of red light where his face should be. Diego's spent much of his initial week in as much solitude as the circumstances allowed, an ear tuned to the chatter streaming over the network.

Best to test the temperature lest you burn your tongue on the first sip. That's what he always says.

But there's a matter that needs to be addressed, and urgently.

When he speaks, his voice is gruff, drawling:]

This world seems determined to serve up one cup of bitterness after another: monsters, mayhem, missions to the past.

[The red light flashes when it's briefly obscured by his knuckles and the handle of a mug as Diego puts it to his lips. The contents are choked down with a scowl that's barely readable in the low light. ]

I was happy to swallow every drop until I tasted this sewer water. They call it "coffee", I call it an abomination.

If there's a single tolerable bean in this city, I want it. Name your price.

[Minato has been here for all of three hours now, wandering about the safe part of the hold, quietly trying to piece together the information he'd gotten from that first tour. It had been mostly rushed, but he had managed to get an idea of where he was and what was going on. Both of these things were decidedly not good news.]

[He figures he'd better get to helping out with the monsters, wherever they were, but first, he wanted to try to get other takes on the situation, see where he'd be best off, maybe get someone to fight with. Or maybe just wait it out.]

[Nonetheless, have a blue-haired kid on the feed, looking far calmer than any normal teen in this situation has any right to be.]

Can't say I know entirely what's going on here, but I've been told enough. I'm guessing I'm the reinforcements.

So, what should I do and where should I go?

[Straight down to business. It might be a better idea for him to rest up a bit first, but getting right into the action meant that he didn't have to brood on everything and everyone he just lost by being taken away from home.]

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.

[The video starts up and you get a blonde with an upticked mouth looking at you.]

So everyone got these new tablets, but teaching us how to use them was just one step they weren't willing to take. I figure I could step in here and offer to teach the basics to anyone who was having a problem using theirs.

I'll be at the *insert random place here idk* for most of today, so if anyone wants to stop by for a lesson, I'll be there. [Grins a little wiser] I hope ya'll are good, attentive students so I don't regret this later.

[/feed ends]

[ After a long search, Takegami has found something he just wants to share with everyone. But instead of showing it to people, he is just going to play it. So enjoy a little piano music over the new netbooks.

Then he will sigh and the video is turned on. The room is disused and dusty, water stains on the walls and various plant life creeping inside. Maybe at one time the room had been full of artwork and elegant furnishings but now it was all crumbling, though a few pieces looked intact. ]

Ah, there. It's back in tune. Do you know how hard it is to tune such an instrument without the right tools? [ The camera swivels around so he can look at all you lovely people and smile. ]

The only question is how to it back to the City in one piece. I don't suppose any of you can help me, can you?

[OKAY. GONNA TRY AND BE AN ADULT HERE. You know, that thing Johnny is terrible at being? Yes. But he wants to be useful. Also, he's bored.]

Um, anyone need help with anythin'? Things are pretty wrecked, an' all things considered, I'm in okay shape after all that, so I can like... Clean stuff or lift stuff or whatever. I'm pretty strong, ya know.

[AWKWARD PAUSE GOES HERE. After looking unsure of what to say after a few moments, he pipes up again.]

So does shit like this happen often here? All-out battles an' attacks 'n' shit? Cuz if so, maybe we should start preparing for when they do find out we're still here.

Everyone breathing okay?

[One easygoing looking man grins into the camera. He just got his netbook after the bombing ordeal calmed down a bit and he's been fiddling with it all day! Now he knows how to use it and he's so proud of himself.]

Yes? Nice to meet you. The Initiative brought me in to help out this Resistance project of theirs, so I guess that makes us comrades? That's nice. You know what they say about friendship.

[What do they say about friendship, Nick? He has no clue.]

Anyway... I actually had a question. Is there anywhere around here I could find some playing cards? I was talking to someone down in the tunnels last week and thought game night might be a fun thing to do sometime. Maybe poker for some fun prizes? Haha.

[... He does not introduce himself. He thought it might make him mysterious, and it'll be a way to start a conversation later, right?]