[ bright and early, splayed on the network feed in somewhat old-timey poster fashion: ]

IMMEDIATE HELP WANTED

with the

Refurbishment and Construction

of

Shelters and Outposts

for purposes including but not limited to

Accommodation, Assembly, Defense, Medical Aid, Technical Support, Supply Reserves, Agriculture

and other prospective services to Transports and other associates.

All forms of assistance and input welcome and encouraged

including but not limited to technical aid, general labor, delivery and supply, security, liaison with third parties, and crew support.

Inquire in this post for further details.

----

( video version, within the same post )

(( OOC: APOLOGIES FOR THE SLOWDOWN IN REPLIES I'll get to everyone's as soon as I can ))

So, uh. Hypothetical question.

[ Time travel wasn't exactly his field of expertise back in his time (or perhaps his world), so he's hoping to find someone who does know what they're talking about. ]

Say I go back to the early twenty-first century. What are the odds of finding something from my world, that the Initiative apparently knew enough about to give me this?

[ He holds up his xenothium-infused dagger that he received from them... how long ago was it? It felt like a year, but hell if he was keeping track. It was a jagged-edged dagger with a red blade, that seemed to glow in the dark. There was also an X-shaped marking on the grip, just about where the center of the palm of his hand would be. This thing here was the reason why he didn't need the raw xenothium ore to power his suit. ]

'Course, I don't know if they got the chemical compound from this world, or mine. It's not exactly easy, or safe, to make. But if I could get my hands on the materials needed to create the stuff, it might be useful. And not just to me.

Oh, and uh. Merry Christmas I guess.

[ Since he's actually asking for something for someone else, he needs to at least try to sound nice about it. ]

[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!)

[Oh look, everyone. It's your favorite person, here to screech at you again. He's looking a little disheveled- and there are rings around his eyes like someone was crying and didn't use waterproof mascara oops.]

THESE FOOLS IN THIS INITIATIVE CLAIM THEY CANNOT HELP ME! JADE IS GONE, I ONLY ASKED HE BE RETURNED AT ONCE!!!!!!!

I DEMAND THE PARTS TO CREATE A MACHINE! IF JADE CANNOT BE RETURNED TO ME, I WILL REPLICATE HIM!!!!

YOU'LL ALL FINALLY SEE THE TRUE DEPTH OF MY GENIUS!

This is probably going to sound really weird, especially with all that's happened. But...

[She laughs a little, turning her gaze to the side slightly.]

Does anyone feel like being here has changed them for the better? You know, even if it's just one or two small things that have changed.

H-Hey, um... [ A bit nervous, like always. ] If there's really a Halloween party coming up... does anyone know where I can find a costume? Or can anyone make one? I'll give you half of my rations for a week if you can!

[ To be honest, he doesn't even know who, or what he's dress up as. Everything that comes to mind brings up some pretty bad memories. Anything that has to do with a skull reminds him too much of Deus Ex Machina, gas masks remind him of Takao Hiyama, and he's sure as heck not going as some kind of superhero, not after Yomotsu. ]

So, uh... thanks.

[ And the feed ends. ]

[ When the feed turns on, there's a poorly-shaven and generally scruffy guy in a labcoat peering critically into the lens. He might not look familiar, but when he speaks, Transports who have been around for a while may recognize the voice. ]

This thing on? Hey, looks like we're broadcasting. I'm a genius, as usual.

[ The view shifts as he tucks whatever is broadcasting into the front pocket of his shirt, showing a hallway within the Hold. His voice drifts in from off-screen: ] We got the best of the best having a powwow in here. You know, the fate of all of Exsilium, and stuff like that. They're gonna tell you guys when they're done, but I say we pick up the pace a little. We're on a tight schedule, you know? [ The view strides forward as he makes for a closed door. ] Just our little secret, alright? I'm not even supposed to be on your fancy network — like they could ever actually kick me off.

[ His voice drops with the last part as he pushes open the door. Inside are ten Initiative employees, and Saul and Medusa, seated at a table and looking terse. Someone shoots a frown toward our loyal broadcaster, who mutters an apology for his bladder and slides into the only empty seat. ]

( Cut for length and a transcript! Sort of. A prose transcript, because who really wants to read the word-for-word. )

[ The talk winds down, and someone near Saul and Medusa mutters to them, something along the lines of, I don't envy your job, telling everyone. Saul, already pissed and definitely having been on the "no" side of the voting, lunges for the guy — but is restrained by Medusa's hair. The view shifts again as the broadcaster lifts the camera from his pocket, turns it around to grin weakly into it. ]

Done and done, pals. It was the pen all along! Ha, told you I was a genius, noooo one feels like listening to poor old Sponde…

[ There's a quick raising of angry voices, but the feed ends and cuts them off. ]

[[ooc; Saul, Medusa, anyone else in DITR, and possibly the NPC will be responding to questions here, but also feel free to use this as a general IC discussion space!]]

[ the video opens on a table, spread with long cards, most of them face-down. the one showing is xvi, the tower. the camera pans out, a little jittery, to show physis sitting at her card table, turned to the side in agitation. blue is knelt on the floor beside her, glancing up at her with concern.

it was almost like it's all happening again, but this time she can't be quiet about it. she doesn't know the initiative as well, she can't really trust their efficiency in the face of something like this. the mu were always mobile, the moment they knew their location was compromised, they would find another one. that wasn't the case in exsilium, and the warning was necessary. ]

To those who don't know me, my name is Physis. I have the [ gift? not hardly. ] ability of foresight, clairvoyance.

We've made ourselves known, acted openly against our enemy, and they are preparing to make a retaliation. We are to be an example of how they retain their power, I have seen it.

Does anyone know what the Black Code entails?

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.

[ the tablet is sat in Elizabeth's lap, she hasn't worked out really how it works beyond hitting buttons until something seemed to happen. Which she's frowning so at it then far too pleased with herself when it seems to do what she wants it to. ]

How on earth do they make the little images move -- ? [ but it is no real, matter. She's learning to just accept the fact she doesn't understand how half this stuff works ] I've a few questions that I cannot ascertain simply from watching if I may be so bold... [ she licks her lips briefly before continuing. ] ... where does one find material to make clothes from? As I've yet to make sense of the items I find here made already, but the clothes I arrived in are... not fitting for most daily activities. [ It had only one layer of clothing and... no. No that seems wrong and strange and not at all decent. ]

As well as... [ she lent her head on her hand as she hummed. Making requests is strange, there ought to be people swarming about her, accompanying her wherever she went but now there isn't and its so odd to ask. ] Would I be able to request someone to take a walk about the city with me? Someone who is familiar with the times, so to speak, as I find myself unable to make sense of very much of it. England was a very different place to me, and I cannot make heads nor tails of her now. I do not ever recall her raining so much. [ and she smiles very briefly. ]

My thanks for your time.

[ ooc: my mistake, this should read as coming from Victoria Guildford. forgot to add it in, all my apologies for the confusion. ]

( Open action, cut for length. )


[Later, his voice tight and restrained:]

So who else is aware that we seem to have a problem literally lurking in the shadows? In any event, I haven’t had a proper spar in some time, if anyone properly skilled for it is so inclined. [AKA: he needs to get some aggression out.

[And after a moment, an addendum:] Not you, Ichimaru.


[[OOC: Yep, it's them runeblade demons again.]]

[Mahdi is once again in the kitchen, wearing his red apron and looking particularly flour-dusted and frazzled. He seems slightly wobbly - probably hasn't slept.]

Hey everyone! I made a bunch cookies and I'm just about to drop them to the clinic.

[He sweeps the tablet over to look at each plate of cookies as he describes them:]

Lemon shortbread will give you calm, safe feelings.

Chocolate espresso shortbread will make you feel more cheerful and energized - plus there's coffee in it! [tiny cheer:] Yay coffee!

Um, these are semi-magical cookies, I guess you could say. The effects will vary by person but I'd say... hmmm, the effects last a few hours, half a day at most.

If anyone else is feeling bad or weird, this should help. I've made several dozen, so if you're near the clinic please stop by and take some. Also, um, be careful with your soul. It's actually pretty important. If someone tries to talk you into giving it up, don't listen to them. Just sayin'.

[Mahdi turns the tablet back around to record himself, and smiles brightly.]

That's all!

[But the look fades into something more troubled and he seems to be looking at something in the distance. He absently fiddles with a wisp of his hair, pushing it into his mouth briefly as he thinks.] Forgetting something... oh!

Ashraf, I need to talk to you when you have a sec. If you're at the clinic I'll just stop in.

[Someone still doesn't know how privacy filters work.]


[OOC: Mahdi is responding to the shadow demons. His cookies could be a potential way to avoid the feelings of negativity they bring.]

[The feed clicks on to a very somber-looking Rita. She opens her mouth to say something, but shakes her head, remaining silent for several more seconds. Eventually, she sighs and starts:]

I'm... not that good with stuff like this. I've been avoiding people for the last few weeks because I didn't want to deal with it, and I know now's not really a good time, what with all the new people. But... there's no way around it now.

[She looks right at the camera, and if you're looking closely, it's like her eyes are... out of focus. Is something wrong?]

I can't really see anymore, after I got too close to a bomb few weeks back. Anything really close, I can work with - I can still use this thing, at least. But anything much further than that, it gets blurry real quick, and at distances it's like nothing stands still. So... I'm pretty much useless for what I'm good at, right now. I'm not really... coping with it very well, and I'm trying to figure out what the hell I'll be good for like this. Maybe research, I guess, or spellwork. But I don't think I can fight like this. Before anyone asks, I tried glasses; they almost worked for a minute or three, until I got a horrible headache I couldn't function through. So that's a thing. Uh... so, I guess I'm looking for work that doesn't require me to actually be able to function.

[A long moment passes, the girl having a look of being totally lost for a second, before Rita throws up her hands, reaching to stop the video feed.]

I don't even know why I did this. Dammit.

[Unlike the norm, Shiki appears on screen wearing his glasses. Holding his comm with one hand and fixing his glasses with the other by shifting his index finger against the bridge, Shiki opens his mouth to speak and is cut off by rushing air. Moving aside, he narrowly steps aside as a segment of the darkened street he's standing nearby is obliterated by a scythe made of wind. The clean slash in the ground is exposed only after the dust clears, a bit easier to notice despite the drizzle of the unending storm above.]

Jeez, what bad timing. [This is Shiki's only comment as he drops his communicator, the wind picking up as windows begin to shatter and parts of the brick walls around them come undone in the air. Out comes Shiki's knife and in one curt gesture, he slashes the air and the wind dies down instantly.

Unabated, Kagura, riding her summoned feather hangs in the air in plain sight of the camera, swiping her fan nonchalantly without a single word. Bladed winds come down from the sky and they disappear with swipes of Shiki's knife, before he turns over the blade and it shifts, turning into a full length katana.

The two exchange a little silence as if trying to reach each other and the feed cuts off in the next instant as Kagura's next attack destroys Shiki's comm.]

(OOC: Shiki's communicator was destroyed in this post and he'll be getting a new one sometime in the evening. His replies will be dated later in the day! Otherwise, feel free to action in! The fighting will be done with both parties in quite a bit of pain.)

[someone is not happy. Takegami is sitting in a small pub, the netbook propped up against the chipped and stained wall, his back against the small clusters of natives. he doesn't seem too concerned about attack - mainly because the natives are studiously ignoring his presence just like he was ignoring them. a hot temper and a nasty left hook often bought him this kind of response these days. he takes a sip of some clear liquor and speaks in Japanese.]

Hijō ni ōku no atarashī kao, hijō ni ōku no atarashī koe wa, sorera no memori kara fēdo mae ni itte irudarou koto?

[he drains off the glass and takes out a small cigar, twirling it around in his fingers while staring at a spot on the wall before switching to English.]

So... More newcomers to this worn world, and less of them that may have fought in wars. I wonder why the Initiative cannot find more true fighters than youths and civilians. It is not like it can be too hard to find the right sort. Just point their machine at a military base I would think. Welcome all the same, perhaps some of you may be what they truly need.

However, I do have to ask if any of you may know how to restore a piano. It seems that the United Earth decided that music is not welcomed here. Also, if there are questions concerning this place, I have been here for longer than most and I can answer questions that many of you may have.



[ooc; just hover the mouse over the fail Japanese for a translation!]

[Kousuke appears on the screen, covered in dust and sweat and blood. If you look closely, you can see the trails his tears have left in it. But he gives a wan smile anyway. Anyone who's seen his real smile could tell what a pale imitation this one is.]

Uh... Hey, hey everybody. I'm Kousuke Nitoh. I, uh. I'm calling you on my way back from the outskirts of town. I gotta tell you something important...

[He sighs heavily, leaning up against the wall of a half-ruined building.]

There's a monster in town, a Phantom. It, uh, well, the easiest way for me to explain it is that it... killed Haruto.

[He looks immediately despondent, having said those words. He quietly repeats it.]

Haruto's dead. The Phantom stole his body, and it's walking around lookin' like him. So if you see him, don't talk to him. Phantoms usually don't kill people, other than the ones they're inside... But he'll try to feed off your despair.

[He starts walking again, looking around awkwardly.]

It's my responsibility to kill him. I gotta do this. But if anyone could help me keep people back while I fight him, or like... Just help me out. I have to deal the final blow, though. My life kind of depends on it.

Testing, testing... Is this thing on? ALFRED?

[ Despite the sound of rain mostly being filtered out of the audio, there comes a slightly-computerized male voice with none of the background interference. As if it's speaking from inside the microphone. ] We're transmitting.

Positive?

Positive.

All right, and now... [ Video! Here's a young woman with some bright red hair tamped down by the wet rain falling all over her as she walks down the street. She does have a rain jacket on with the hood up, but that never really helps completely. She's wearing a frameless visor over her eyes, but even with that, she may look pretty familiar to some of the Transports here, though her "user name" identifies her as 4d 69 73 68 61 20 48 75 6e 74. ] Voi la! Are we in business?

Not only that, but it's booming.

Great. Okay, now to finally have a point to this instead of just futzing with my new toy. What's the current progress? I mean, sure, all these links to history and general info is great, but there isn't a whole lot of talk on how far we are now, what's left to go, how coordinated the actual effort is... Basically, how much shit is this Initiative still in and how much do we "Transports" have to keep digging?

... also. [ She flips the notepad around to momentarily show the street that she's on, heading toward the apartments. ] Am I going the right way?

Whoever cares, Jake and Kriem are gone.

[May be a little tiny bit bitter about that. She was actually becoming somewhat attached--they actually cared, even though she pushed them away. Annoying, yes, but they seemed to understand her motives better than anyone else here, and they were her allies. She had needed those, had the time come for action. Not to mention her house had been ruined, so she was stuck with her new roommates, whom she'd been avoiding. She wasn't up for dealing with people at the moment, and especially since it just reminded her that her old allies were long gone. She would miss them. Even if they were idiotic in her mind.]

I'm Kagura, if you're new. Don't bother me. I don't want 'friends'. 

As if those even exist, anyways.

[The video feed opens on an alien teenager who some of you may never have seen before, dressed all in red and grinning widely. Most notably, though, she is wearing two eye patches, one over each eye. She gets right down to business.]

Is this working? Yes? It beeped, so I think so. Okay.

People of the internet, I have a quick question. [She points to the eyepatches.] On a scale of one to ten, how silly do these look?

[The video cuts on to show a large man with long black hair leaning FAR too close to the camera, squinting as he tries to figure out the strange device. He can deal with his Deth-iPhone but this? This shit is fucking confusing]

Is this thing on? I don’t think this is on. What. How is this even supposed to… I don’t think this is working. [There are a few beeps as he hits a few buttons] Hellooooo? Is this even on? I don’t know how this fucking thing works. This is… [mutters] Stupid fucking tablet

[He sighs heavily, the breath seems to go on forever before he hits another button]

What does that blinking light mean? Is it… oh. It’s on.

[He clears his throat. He’s got some Very Important things to say after all]

Hi this is Nathan. [pause] Nathan Explosion. [pause] From Dethklok. [He pauses, waiting for people to react the way they normally do. You know. Scream. Cry. Kill themselves. Chicks ripping off their clothes and throwing themselves at him. The usual.

When that doesn't happen he squints at it again]

No really is this thing even fucking on?

[Video, possibly accidental]

... So that's what mortality feels like...

[Action]

*Pidonus, to be direct, is being exceptionally depressed right now. If she's not moping around her apartment (or, for those who know of it, the extradimensional space she uses), she's walking aimlessly all over Exsilium - mostly urban areas - trying to get in a better mood.

It doesn't help that lately, she's been thinking a lot about not just her mortality, but her morality - something she hadn't really considered in several years. What was Chaotic Evil, really? What was right, as far as such a word even applied to someone - something - like her?

She didn't even know anymore. And that left her walking around, not sure what to think.

It's very likely that in her funk, she'll bump into people quite a bit. Bother her?*

[The last few minutes of the fighting on Elmer's world involved someone literally dragging a semi-conscious Barney out of a crashed UE tank and back through the portal, after a piece of rubble from an explosion clipped him on the side of the head and knocked him half unconscious. It's a mystery why he chose video for this, as the left half of his face is basically one big mess of bruise and scab, his eyes are blood-shot, and he generally looks like hell.]

Hey, uh, I don't exactly remember who it was, but thanks for dragging me back through the portal back there. Just because they can bring us back from the dead doesn't mean I'm wild about throwing my life away.

[He winces, reaches off screen and gingerly plants a giant ice pack on the injured side of his face.]

Sort of related to that, important thought:

UE pretty clearly just followed us to that world. Almost like they did it just to spite us. They KNOW what we're doing here. Seems to me it's only a matter of time before they just show up here and smash us into raspberry jam. Do we have some sort of secret weapon no one told me about that'll stop them?

[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.

[ For someone that is a bit bruised and battered, he seems to be in a rather good mood. His attitude might be from the rather ample actress dabbing at a cut on his forehead or maybe the bottle of whiskey he's sipping from. Whatever the case, Takegami salutes the camera with the bottle. ]

A toast for those of us that had decided to remodel the apartment complex. Let us hope that we will get something with a touch more color in their new design, mm?

[ Destruction? Injuries? Possible death? What's that to him? He's got whiskey! ]

I have been told that if some of you need a temporary place to stay, there is room enough in the theater's warehouse. Mind, you can't light fires in there but it is out of the rain and there are plenty of blankets to go around.

... You're kidding, right? After all that, the Initiative can't pay it's electric bill?

[ A dim, red light is all that's illuminating the room. Red X usually has his bedroom locked up tight, mostly due to hazardous material and stuff that he stole from all over the city, but he didn't stop to think of not broadcasting this one from his room in his rage. He noticed the smell, too. At least, while his mask was off. It's been on since then. That's right - he hasn't taken it off since this whole mess started, except to eat and drink. ]

So, what is it, sabotaged breakers, generator failing, someone spill coffee all over the big red button? This has gone on so long that it's now officially inconvenient enough for me to want to fix it myself.

[ ... of course, it's not that simple, is it? Not that he knows. But like hell he's sleeping in these conditions. ]

 [Kagura had decided to come to the Initiative. This time, of course, not to try and take it over, but to train. She'd felt odd ever since she was out by that strange boy. And, being the stubborn woman she was, would not admit to being sick. She'd just fight it off. Her body could regenerate. It always had. It always would as long as Naraku still had her heart.

After successfully getting the annoying trainer to leave her be, the place was hers. She closed her eyes for a second, overcome by nausea, but opened them with overwhelming resolve to stay upright, flicking her wrist to hit the target with a wind blade. Just one more....this time, she used her whole arm, creating a tornado.

It  disappeared right away as she dropped to her knees, clutching her stomach. She felt like retching up it's contents, but she couldn't do that now. Not here. She forced herself to stand, the camera left on the floor, as she wobbled her way to the door. One can assume that thud a few seconds later is her collapse.]

((OOC: So yeah. Radiation. It sucks. Feel free to come find her!))

[The video feed is almost painful to look at. It's fragmented, and disorienting. Someone hasn't fixed the lens they cracked a while back, apparently.

But at least the video is short? For once, Yosuke's not chatty. He gets right to the point.]

I'm in ten-oh-five. My name is Yosuke. I...can a doctor come here? The clinic is far. I can pay.

[And then for good measure:]

Please?

[The kid isn't bleeding, and aside from being damp and dirty -very dirty, he must have just come back from a hike- doesn't appear to be in bad shape. But he does sound sincere about the request.]

(Ooc note! He's back from his hike tonight guys, and if you were in on the log go on and do your own things. It's that time. I sent out charts so you know what to do!

Anyone else? It's not contagious, don't worry.)

[There's a new face on the video feed here, and that is the face of a somewhat troubled young man. He's not looking at the camera at the moment, instead looking around his surroundings with a thoughtful expression.]

This world has been through a lot, too...

[Without a single word of explanation on what he's meant, Yuusei turns to the camera to address any possible viewers directly.]

If there's a conflict, I'd like to help resolve it, even if it's in a world other than my own. These methods, however...

[He makes a pause, frowning and looking down a bit. "War" or "changing the past"... Even for him, it's hard to tell which of those he dislikes more; it's probably a little bit of both that makes him feel this anxious.

The duelist lifts his head, speaking up once again.]

... If possible, I'd like to speak with people who have been in this place for a while already. I have a few questions I'd appreciate answers to.

Thank you in advance.

[The feed comes on showing Takegami sitting in the middle of lit candles, some of which were throwing off odd colors instead of the normal yellow glow. He is smoking a little cigar, and seems to be in a mellow state of mind, especially since he is dressed casually - ie, tank tops and loose jeans - and the only jewelry he's wearing are his rings.]

So many new voices appearing over the netbook; I do suppose it is that time of the month for this place. I wonder if the machine that brought us all here is trying to find a new hero for their cause or if it just enjoys to cause confusion in us all? That would suggest it has a sense of humor, but from what I hear, that would be a terrible thing, no?

[He doesn't care if it is or isn't. He takes a drag of his smoke and holds it up to eye level, examining his little cigar before exhaling slowly.]

There are so few of us from the first and second waves of Transports. The Initiative has gotten better with bringing people in, but they still need to understand us just as we need to understand them. They are confused and scared; we are confused and scared. You would think that in this confusion there would be a touch understanding, do you not?

[Another pause, this time Takegami leans forward to pick a piece of stone off of the table next to him, holding it out like a talisman. The image is worn by time, the cravings almost gone, but he seems to know what was there.]

Domine dirige nos... In all this time, London has always been itself. I think that being we are here, we should remember the history of this place and all our homes when it comes to rebellions, and use the lessons from them. We are a force just as much as any to be found here. We just need to stop complaining and realize this.

➔ INITIATIVE ANNOUNCEMENT

A woman identifying as Kagura has been apprehended for violence and is being held within the Hold. If there are any who know her or are willing to attempt pacifying her, you will be escorted to her temporary confinement.

[ That's all for the public and immediately visible announcement! But anyone tech-savvy might find a second message, threaded through the coding of this one: ]

seriously, come pick her up? please?? like we don't have enough going on with ue interference and the ai being a smartass, jeez

[The displayed name reads 'Billy Cranston', but the face isn't his. Billy's trying to act as Lady Celebrían would, he really is! He sits up straight, his long hair awkwardly twisted into a loose and messy braid. He hopes that doesn't harm her hair. And he's especially grateful that the lady isn't the makeup type---he'd messed that up for one friend already. But his arms are crossed and there's an odd expression of disappointment on his face. Still, he waves, one hand making a graceful arc in the air.]

By my calculations, we've almost reached the estimated time that the personality displacement will be reversed. And...you know, it's funny. This isn't the first time I've been through this.

I asked one of my best friends to help me test a new invention that was supposed to allow thought-sharing once, but a missing wire resulted in this same effect. We were only switched for one day, and of course we wouldn't deliberately sabotage each other, but even then we made so many mistakes and tarnished each other's reputations so severely that we ended up nearly destroying our friendship. That was painful enough! I can't believe how many would do that intentionally.

Anyway, I've been doing my best to recreate my old device as a backup should the Initiative's efforts fail. If anyone has experience with something similar, can you help? I'll be in my garage on the west side.

[Arthur Pendragon, prince of Camelot, is wearing a very wrinkled version of his usual shirt, and someone has done up the laces crookedly.

actually, he looks a general mess. he's clearly made the effort to appear slightly presentable--his hair has been recently smoothed down with some water, though not as flat as it usually might lay--but his shirt looks like it was trampled beneath a horse's hooves and the room that he's in is a little hazy with smoke from some old fire. or hopefully it wasn't an actual fire, because it was meant to be dinner.

but he's here to make an official announcement, and so he's composed himself as best as he can--all slightly rumpled clothing and bad hair and smudges on his face aside--and he stares grimly into the camera. this is a dare to anyone to comment, to make any smart remark.]

I must speak with the witch Morgana. She can deliver herself, but I do not expect her to come when she is called upon. If there is any of this city that knows her location, send word to me, and you will be rewarded.

[he's not learned how to send messages privately, so here it is, curt clipped, and that might be all there is to it, but then he glances away, his face tightening into a small glare.]

I would speak, too, with anyone that can be counted honest enough to make a delivery. Your reward will be a smaller sum, but your service will be counted valuable.

[without Merlin, what choice does he have? the smoke seems somewhat thicker in the room now, and it's a good thing you can't smell over the devices, because it would smell strongly of burnt food now. Arthur spares the air an irritated glance and now, finally, he reaches to flip off the video before this gets any worse.]



[[ any roommates, feel free to notice the smoke/horrible smells/et cetera! ]]

Anyone else feeling a little restless around here? I can't be the only one.

If anyone's interested in training or hand-to-hand combat, let me know.

[The video that comes on is nearly a profile view of Isaac, instead of his usual open smiles. The light is also poor, but it seems like he's outside somewhere. There's a quiet curse in another language (Yurok) and then he gives a wan smile. The way he hesitates over the beginning is awkward, like he's making things up as he goes.]

I thought it would be a good idea to tell people. I've discovered a predator out in the borderlands. Ambush-style, and it strikes like a snake. It's... I have no idea what it is, but it has too many legs and--

[Instead of continuing that Isaac just turns the camera and the dawn light picks up a large animal, very dead. Too many legs is an apt description, and it looks like it might be an unholy cross between a badger and an exceptionally mean-looking weasel, with very long claws. He directs the camera away quickly, but those with an eye for detail will be able to pick up that the creature looks like it got into a nasty fight and was badly mauled.]

Just a warning for people who travel outside the city, I guess.

[With that he seems to end the feed, but he's really just setting the filter he'd been trying to in the first place. The filter is naturally very easy to hack.]

[Filtered to Clinic Staff and Healers]

[He faces the camera directly this time, and the side of his face he was hiding looks bloodied.]

I don't think I even need to say it? Treating myself would take the flexibility of a contortionist even if I did have enough supplies. It's not directly life-threatening, but bleeding steadily from some of the lacerations, and I'm going to need a lot of stitches. I can put together something temporary but that will be worse in the long run. The quicker this is taken care of, the better.

Which brings me to the real problem. I'm out in the borderlands right now and I have no idea if anyone has any faster transportation than walking. Ideas?

[He really ends the feed then, but not before giving the viewers a flash of bare, bloody shoulder.]

((ooc: The network portion of this log here in which Isaac intrudes on a predator's territory, leaves food out, and is generally a cocky dumbass about his own safety. Then pays the price for it. Action is welcome there or in this post!))

On my world, we have something similar to Valentine's Day, but it goes on for a few weeks. So I know that I'm late for Valentine's, but I'm not too late for that holiday!

And I know that...well...maybe this isn't really the time to be doing silly things like celebrating holidays...but I don't think there's any harm in it. Everything has been quiet lately. And I have all the candy anyway, so...

[And here comes a list of names: Anduin Wrynn, Jaina Proudmoore, Taicea, Jesse Pinkman, Painwheel, Demyx, Koltira, Nana, Raven, Collette.]

I don't know where everyone lives, so...tell me! Or come see me! Happy Valentine's!

[ooc: This is Med'an's list of people who are getting candy (except for Jaina, who gets a charm bracelet). We can commentlog this, or he can drop things into mailboxes! Let me know if I've missed anyone (Med'an loves to have friends, don't be shy)!]

[It's a theater - anyone could see that because of the amount of ropes, pulleys and backdrops all hanging around the place. Of course there were also the actors themselves, half out of costumes and makeup, lounging around the piano and various bits of furniture. The netbook was set up in such a way that it caught most of the people around, including a rather amused Takegami sitting at the piano it self. He was also not as fancy dressed as normal - longish hair curling around his face, arms bared and jewelry glinting on wrists and fingers.

One of the actors - a woman with wild hair and wilder face paint - leans in close to him and in a serious sing-song tone, starts talking.]

Seems a down right shame.

[Takkegami laughs and plays a couple chords.]

Shame?

What a nice, plump frame.

Frame?

Business needs a lift. Debts need to be erased. Seems a down right shame, with meat being as it is, what it is, if you get it?

Ah!

Good. You've got it.

[Takegami laughs yet again, and starts playing a version of this song, accompanied by the actor and he himself singing Todd's parts. Once done, he leans in to the netbook and blows a kiss at the watching public before turning it off.]

[ 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. ]