[ As soon as the transporter is back up, Feferi comes back from her mission and after getting caught up on things, is not very happy. She's been given the run down, she's skimmed all the posts and comments. Even her fins are all puffed out, it's that serious. Even though most of the known mutineers have been captured now, she still feels the need to say her own piece.

Sollux is somewhere in the background making faces and being generally disgruntled. ]

So, the next time anyone wants to try and take over, maybe they should stop and think it through a little more! Maybe don't strand people on missions, or try to think about those of us do not have anywhere to go back to except being dead, or worse! Try to think about everyone else's worlds that need protecting!

If you really want change, you should try helping us! The Department of Initiative-Transport Relations exists for a reason, and when we opened, I asked everyone for their thoughts, and barely got any. Why didn't you come to us?

[ So this is nothing that hasn't been said before, but... hey, she was stranded and she's mad. ]

I really hope you're happy now, because we are right back where we started! And I am going to go right back to what I was doing, except now we have even more work to do and I do not even know who I can trust to not want to ruin the one good thing some people have here.

[ She looks like she wants to say something witty or cutting to end her commentary, but she comes up with nothing and ends the feed with a little huff, before hitting the off button. ]

Okay first off, before y'all start yelling at me, I been assured that we got plenty of supplies for this and I ain't cutting into our rations. Everybody's been doing a good job going on missions and bringing us stuff, so thanks for that. You guys are awesome.

So most of you know what I'm gonna say next: it's almost time to bake cookies. New guys, the deal is that we usually do this every month. It's a little something to help new arrivals feel better about being stuck here. We get together, we bake cookies, and then we pass 'em out on the first of the month and talk for a while with anybody who's got questions or needs a shoulder to cry on or whatever. It's just a nice thing we try to do.

Last month sucked but we're picking it back up again now, so anybody who wants to help out, we'll be having ourselves a little Halloween party in the cafeteria and baking all night. It's fun. You don't gotta be no master chef or nothing, I'll help you out.

And speaking of that, too - I heard some people ain't been eating right 'cause they don't know how to cook. That's messed up, yo. Don't stay quiet about something like that, okay. Ask for help. Nobody wants you starving and getting sick up here. If you can't cook for yourself, just come and find me. I'll make you something. You won't be bothering me 'cause I'm bored outta my mind anyway. I'm in 144 right now, so you can stop by or leave a message. Jesse Pinkman. It says right there on your screen.

Aight, I'm done.

The loss of resurrection opportunities makes this situation much more dire than it appeared at first. Before, I would have suggested this as a time for being as recklessly proactive as possible, but now it seems like the opposite is a better idea.

If anyone is considering heading into the past, I would strongly advise against it unless you're aiming for absolutely critical resources. Until we have a better handle on our next step, every expedition runs the risk of losing us precious teammates who we have no way of getting back.

Of course, I'm not any sort of commander, so this is just advice, not orders.

[When Thereth turns on the camera, it's a little bit too close to her large face. A nose and a mouth is all that can be seen. She moves it further back, then leans further back, to get herself more properly into frame. Her face is more calm than it has been in a while, although there is something subdued about her smile. But at least she's smiling, right? It seems that her mission did help her out.]

Hello, Exsilium. The past...month or so...was somewhat difficult for me. I am feeling better now, but I apologize for any terseness on my part.

But I did think of a conversation topic for you.

[She hesitates, but then goes through with it, smiling sadly.]

What do you like least about yourself?

[When the video clicks on, it shows half of the inside of a bag, and the rest of a blue dress-covered hip bumping into the tablet, which is most likely what set the video on in the first place. There's quiet breathing, and the sound of a door being pushed bodily open, and then the quiet thud of boots-covered feet moving across a floor.]

[A whirl of light, and the bag is set down against a chair in on of the apartments, showing off the living room, and the skirt again, before the skirt moves away to reveal its owner, Elizabeth, turning a slow circle as she examined the apartment. She dressed in a long blue skirt and white corset, her dark hair a bit longer than when she first arrived, and with her rifle strapped to her back. She has a small black and white kitten in her hands, and after a moment she sets the little animal down and sighs.]

Hello?

[A pause, listening for a response, and then she turns back to her things...only to hesitate when she looks at her bag, noticing the little recording light on her tablet, most likely. She pauses to swing her weapon off her back and rest it against the wall, then strides back over, the little kitten bounding after her, and scoops the device up, presumably intent on shutting it off. But at the last moment she stops, considering the little machine thoughtfully for a moment.]

Well I suppose I've been putting this off long enough.

[She settles down on the couch next to her bag, silently staring at the tablet for a moment before she speaks.]

Hello. I am...Elizabeth. I've spoken to a number of you on here before but I've never bothered to send out a transmission of my own...honestly I wasn't sure what I should talk about.

[She hesitates as the little kitten bounds up onto the couch and into her lap, and she can't help but smile before her attention turns back to the tablet.]

I'm still not sure, exactly. I suppose a bit about myself. I am from a city called Columbia, in 1912 by the roman calendar. It was a city in the sky, which is apparently nearly unique even amongst the variety of places we've all been drawn from. And no, I can't really explain how it hovered, I never really managed to get quite that far into Doctor Lutece's work before I was...

Well, anyway. It floated in the sky. It was quite beautiful...And I always wanted to escape it, but looking out at this city, I do miss it. Everything is so brown here.

[Another pause, biting her lip as she tries to figure out something else important to say. Or at least interesting.]

...I don't suppose all of you could tell me where you're from?

[Mamamoo has been in an unfortunately bad mood for a while. In fact, she's not really been in the apartment much for a while either. But today she actually looks a bit better - perhaps even relieved.]

I have been given a mission by the Initiative, so I will be out of contact for a few days. When I return, I will come back to the apartment. Perhaps we can do something fun together then.

Be good.

[After near radio silence for more than a month, Thereth is suddenly posing a question to the network. Her voice is sharper than normal, harsh and direct instead of gentle and obtuse. The faint ambient noises around her suggest that she is outside, rather than in her apartment.]

If the Initiative is capable of time travel, then do they know our futures? Do they know their future? Is this all destined to succeed, or are they attempting to change what results in a failure?

[The device is handled roughly for a moment before it turns off with a sharp click.]

[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?

[ Like most people, Feferi is a little worn out by recent events and it show, but she gives the network her usual smile. ]

Sooo, not too long ago there was an announcement about a new group here in Exsilium that is working with transports and the Initiative, and I am helping them! So now seems like as good a time as any to ask a few questions, while a lot of people are thinking about stuff anyway. Your answers are totally secret, unless you want to add something.

( POLL ATTACHED )

[ She looks like she might go to turn the feed off, but then continues. ]

And also I want to say... just as me now, I know that some of you are very mad! You or someone you care about got hurt, or worse, or you could have been, and that is scary! And some of you are mad that the Initiative forced you here, even if you would have been okay with coming to save your world.

But the way I see it, they only just now got the ability to come to other people's worlds, and even then that is because of all the help we have been, with missions! So it is not like they could have asked if they wanted to, and now you have the chance to do something about the UE, that you would not even have known about until it is too late.

So try to look at the positive side of things! You are here, and you might not like it, but now you know what is at stake and you have a chance to make it right!

[Guess who's been sleeping for the last 24 hours since the crash. Ricasthix looks bleary and irritable.]

The network hasn't been this chaotic since the bombing runs, and your shouting is starting to give me a headache. Just what is going on out there? Some kind of accident at the Hold?

[Private to Sonic, unrelated to all of that.]

Incidentally, I tried actually tracing the results of our incident with the monk and the shaved ham. It may put a damper on the mirth of the situation.

Curious?

Hey, how many of you have considered celebrating your birthday if it comes around while you're stuck here?

[A brief pause before she begins speaking again.]

See, I was thinking about how when we leave here, we return to the point in time we were taken from in our world. [And also her own birthday, considering certain things involving her situation back home are directly tied to her age.] I guess I was just wondering what other people think about it. Do you think it's worth it, to keep stuff like that in mind, if when all of this is said and done you're just going to be sent back to how you were?

[Another pause, followed by a very soft "heh."]

I guess that sounds pessimistic of me, huh? Don't worry, it's just something I'm curious about!

➔ 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

[Action]

[CRUNCH.]

Oops.

[STOMP.]

Uh, sorry.

[BumpCRASH.]

That... wasn't expensive was it?

[Sonic hadn't been handling walking in Thereth's hooves too well. Used to being nimble and quick, he's now quite a bit bigger and something of a cow in a china shop wherever he... well, she... went. She's been stumbling, falling, knocking stuff off tables, hitting her horns on doorways, and accidentally stepping on things ever since they came back.]

Hopefully your stuff has survived his adaptational clumsiness, but maybe not.

[Video]

Hey. It's Sonic. Sonic the, uh... Tauren? Anyone else havin' trouble literally fitting in after this body-switch stuff?

Oh and hey... Anyone have an idea where my body went?

Man, that sounds weird.

[ It's one of the apartments given to the Transports, although it would be hard to see considering the low lights and the heavy drapes over the windows. The only brightness in the room is that cast off by the tablet's screen and the end of a cigarette. In the glow, Sho's skin looks far too pale and his blue eyes almost having a reflective sheen to them. ]

Is it usual for people to disappear without a word? Just curious.

And whoever's assigned to room 808, don't move the blinds. I'd hate to die a lingering death of getting too much sunlight.

[The screen flickers on to show Utena sitting on the foot of her bed. Said bed is unusually rumpled, and she looks bleary-eyed and tired. Her hair is disheveled too, but when she turns to the camera, she manages a sleepy grin. It's only a little forced.]

Uh, hi, to everyone who's been here, and all the new people. I think this is around the time new people show up, is that right? For everyone who doesn't know me, I'm Utena Tenjou. I'm fifteen years old...I think. [She rubs the back of her neck, and sheepishly adds:] My birthday's gone by since I got here, but I'm not sure if that counts. It's good to meet you all.

[Her voice sobers some, and she slows down.]

Ah, I wanted to thank everyone who helped me and Himemiya out a few weeks ago. It means a lot. I wasn't really myself then, so...sorry for any trouble. [It almost looks as if she'll stop the message there, but she continues after an overlong pause:]

Say, I was wondering, well, when I was, ah...well anyway. I noticed there's a lot of buildings around here that are run-down. That big greenhouse in the city looks pretty bad, and I thought maybe a bunch of us could get together and help clean it up a little. Y'know, get all the glass fixed, and plant flowers. Where I'm from, there's gardens everywhere, so I miss it a little.

[Her gaze drops. She looks off to the side, and then starts a little, as if suddenly remembering something:] Oh! And to everyone I asked about sports the last time, there's a way we can play without finding a field. I asked around, and that VR machine'll make any kind of field or court we want. That's great, huh? I wanna host a game soon. Maybe we can have something like that once a week. It gets dull around here.

Mm, that's all. [She rests her hand against her mouth, looks and sounds thoughtful. Mumbled:] If anyone's interested in a game or in helping with the greenhouse, you can find me around anywhere, but I stay in room 705.

I had one last question. Does anyone know how to cook? I wanna learn. There's not a lot of instant stuff to eat here, and I'm not so good at cooking from scratch yet...

[After a while:] Hey, Nanami-kun. Are you still here?

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.

[Okay, that annoying kid with the bunny rabbit or whatever it was is back. He looks a bit more serious this time, and determined. He spends a good amount of time adjusting the video angle, trying to capture the image of a bird that seems to be staring at him like he's the strangest thing it's ever seen.

Bird in focus, the kid hops up onto a low hanging branch of the tree, causing the camera to give a dizzy whirl and the bird to, predictably, startle away.]

Damn it! ...birds out here, but not many...kind of a rodent, and...earlier video.

[Yep, he's still attempting to send video footage of wildlife back to you guys. And surprise, he's still too far out of range, even up the stupid tree. Whoops.]

(Ooc note: mod okayed this one time double posting obnoxiousness. Yes you can -and probably should- tell Yosuke to shut up and knock it off. Kids these days, huh? ETA This post is in response to this conversation, which I should have said right away. Sorry guys, 2am brain.)

[As usual, Galadriel appears on the tablet looking like a queen about to address her people. Taking things far too seriously? Maybe.]

I realize that there has been no shortage of apologies share since the rather unfortunate...disruptions of time. Nonetheless, I feel obliged to offer my own, along with an explanation. I was born as Artanis and for a great many years that is what I was called. There was no deceit intended in any recent introductions, I assure you. It has been long since I have been called by that name, however. Most now know me as the Lady Galadriel and I would prefer to be addressed as such. I regret any confusion this may have caused.

( Private to Arthur Pendragon and Guinevere )

( Private to Elissa Cousland )

( Private to Celebr�an )

Ever seen an eight-year-old blue antropomorphic hedgehog?

YOU HAVE NOW.

Somehow when no one was looking time caught up with the blue blur, and now there's a pudgy blue puggle zipping around the apartment complex in a patter of heavy footfalls, getting into things, playing feverishly with his smartphone, babbling in excitable kid-speak to everyone he meets no matter how friendly or scary, sliding down the banisters to the staircase, perching on things, and generally doing anything he can to not be BORED.

So, where does he find you?

[Sonic is grinning like a loon, and covered in critters. A sparrow is resting on his top spike, a kitten on his nonexistent shoulder, and squirrel at the crook of his arm. The stone courtyard is behind him, dingy snow gathered in corners. Sonic and his companions stand out in technicolor by comparison.]

Hey guys! Heheh... check this out! We've got some new friends! Isn't this cool? Kinda reminds me of home! Heh, hey, that tickles!

[He shifts and scratches at a spike where the sparrow had been trying to preen him. Instead of flying it only bounces with the motion with a confused chirp.]

Who woul'da thought this place so bleak would have these little guys hiding in it?

[EDIT: Video, later]



Guys? What... what's going on here?

[There's something strange and awful in Sonic's expression now. He clasps a bite-mark on his arm, and looks behind him at the tiny bodies littering the stone pavement, pale and lifeless. The same that were once using him as a perch and companion not a day ago.]

I don't get it! They're so sick all of a sudden! They're just wasting away. N-no matter what I do, they won't move to eat or anything. It's... almost like they WANT to die...

[The video feed flips on, focusing (after a few seconds of jostling around) on Galadriel, sitting on the steps of the Initiative Hold, her sheathed sword beside her. Having just finished training, she’s attired appropriately, wearing a simple dress and with her hair braided and wound about her head- displaying those pointed ears quite prominently for those who might have missed them before.]

I grow weary of the constant grey here. It is overlong since I have heard a running stream or seen the sunlight filtered through the forest canopy.

Tell me, those of you who have journeyed outside this city: does greenery yet remain in this world? It would do my heart well even to hear of it.

[There is not much that outright startles Utena nowadays — she's fairly accustomed to the unusual and bizarre (and more importantly, used to rationalizing it), but the weeks since her arrival in this place have been a trial by fire, so to speak.

But she's adjusted, the best she can, and so when her comm device video flickers on, she looks to be in good spirits, all things considered. That is, if her viewers can actually see her. The video appears to be moving erratically. Often, Utena dips out of sight, only to be seen again. It's at an odd angle too, as if the device has been set on the ground, and is tilted slightly to the side.

It probably has a lot to do with the fact that she's doing lunges. In her assigned room. It's not a lot of space, but apparently she's making due. She stops long enough to address her (assumed) audience.]

Hi, everyone. [The device is lifted, and for a moment there's nothing but flashes of bright pink hair before her face appears — friendly, but a little tired.] I've met some of you already, but I haven't said hello on this thing yet. There's a lot of people listening to this, right? Um, I guess not everyone's "people," though, so maybe that's not the right word. Is it rude to say "people" then? If there's a better word, I want to know it. [She frowns, befuddled. Interspecies communication is a new thing for her, obviously.] My name's Tenjou Utena — er, Utena Tenjou. That's the order most of you would say it in. I'm from Japan; is anyone else from there? Or...er...Earth? I've been here for weeks now, and I'm still sorta getting used to this place. Those monsters from before...I've never seen anything like that.

[She looks troubled and shifts into a contemplative silence, but something else comes to mind that makes her brighten up.] I'm pretty glad it's over. Say, is there anything to do around here besides training? Does anyone play a sport?

[A sigh. She stretches an arm behind her head.] I could really go for a basketball game...or baseball.

[This is the first time Yue's even bothered to begin messing with this thing since her arrival. Her roommates in 405 likely notice a few things - one, they have a new roommate and two, that roommate must enjoy a lot of food. Seriously, there seems to always be food leftover near the stove. It's all neatly put up and most of it involves dumplings somehow.

This is one night when she's returned from training. And when the video pops up, it's...

Well, it's a bear. A panda, to be exact, with bright green eyes and long, slightly damp hair. The rest of her fur looks like it's trying to decide if it wants to fluff out or not. There's a slight accent to her voice as she talks.]

Let's see, let's see... ah, there, working!

[That brightens her up. There's the slightest of accents to her voice as she speaks.]

Much more efficent than letters. We should really have these back home, it would save so much time. And travel! I can't count the number of people who send me here or there or over there with a letter. A letter! What are the mailboxes for then!

[Huffpuff, she still can't get over that. It's not very efficient. Not that the Wandering Isle had the best postal system ever.

Whatever. She waves it off quickly to add:]

I'm Yue Hua. If you're hungry, stop and see me sometime. I'm usually training but I can always stop for a snack.

[Or five.]

Out of curiosity, do we know what our last jaunt through time accomplished? In theory these tasks in the past are supposed to be changing the present, are they not? Yet everything seems more or less the same as far as I can tell. Still this crummy island versus the rest of the world.

I don't mind helping in this fight, but if our tasks are as pointless as they seem, I shall grow weary of them quickly.

Well, that was something of an adventure! Between the Russians, the newest arrivals, and our monstrous friends, why there's been quite a few things to keep track of. An awful lot of people. One of which in particular I seem to have misplaced... I don't suppose anyone has seen Bela lately? Bela Talbot?

[ A pause, as if he's actually listening for a reply. Or maybe just asking a completely rhetorical question and taking a moment to gather himself afterward. ]

Well, it was always difficult to keep her in just one place. Not like Sierra, Annalise, and Adamo, three natives caught by the UE bombs, near a month ago now. I would say they were entirely too — too stationary. That old woman in the market, too— with the jerky stand? She always claimed it was dog meat, but I really had to wonder. But she always had a kind word for anyone who stopped to chat, didn't she? I found a bit of her stand some time ago, but no sign of her. Maggie, she told me her name was...

My apologies, to anyone who knew any of those caught in disaster. At least we've managed to turn this latest one back to the status quo, mm? We have that much.

[ Another pause, and this one comes with a slow breath out. So... that's awkward. But! He can make it better. When he speaks again, he sounds just as cheerful as he had at the beginning. ]

You know, for all their flukes and faults, I would say there's one thing the Initiative is truly bad at. They can throw our lot into a room with food set out, but that's not any sort of party. So I propose we arrange one ourselves! We've the musicians for it, don't we? The cooks, surely! The tailors, seamstresses? We certainly have the headcount for it, by now!

Any opinions, mm? I'm thinking, perhaps, a masquerade. A ball! We kitrites excel at the organization of them, you know. I would be pleased to offer my services to a properly interested crowd! Have I any takers?

[As the screen flicks on the Tenth Doctor gives a mock grimace, rubbing the side of his neck as if unsure about something.] So, a big war? Really? I'm not too sure on that one. Guess that depends on the dimension? Though if they'd been around all this time I'm sure someone would have noticed... Oh right, of course- silly me. I got distracted.

[Not that the Doctor looks very sorry or concerned about it as he gives the screen a wave.]

Hullo everyone. I'm the Doctor and I guess I'm the newest guest in your little community. I have everything I need apparently, my housekey, a netbook, good things. I wouldn't mind my sonic screwdriver but that is a bone of contention I'm not going to get into for a while. At least five minutes anyway. Can't seem to find it....

I'm the Doctor. Just the Doctor before anyone asks. Aaaaaand yep. That's about it. I'm not really good at blogging. Nice little communications system this place has going though! Wouldn't mind a look at that, though that would require my sonic screwdriver.

[At that the Doctor pauses, looking at his wrist.]

Okay I lied, that was two minutes tops. Law of averages says that if I'm here, there'll be people I know here. So speak up or forever hold your peace! Or just say hello later on, that's alright too I guess..... hm. Right then. Time to have a look around this place, take a look at what's going on with my own two eyes. Alons-y!

[There's another pause as the Doctor reaches into his pocket, pulling out his sonic screwdriver and grinning at it.]

Ah there you are. No longer a bone of contention now!

[Hello, Exsilium, have a sudden video of a slightly damp young woman fiddling with the netbook before she's able to get a good grip on it. If anyone was paying attention, they might have noticed her other hand holding the handles of some shopping bags. Judging by the background, it appears she's out and about in the city in, of course, the usual rain, though today's seems to be rather light in comparison.]

Okay, I'll say right off the bat that I know this sounds pretty lame or whatever, but I need to ask where I can find some stuff to decorate the apartments. Interior stuff like... I don't know a plant? Something to make it less boring.

[She sighs, adjusting the netbook as she walks and ducks under an awning.]

If I'm going to be stuck here, then I at least want to make things more livable. Hell, I'll settle for inhabited. Those places are so sleek and white, it's almost creepy, even with repairs going on.

[Kallen leans against the wall and sets her bags down.]

On a less domestic note, would anyone be up for some training later? It definitely goes better with company.

[On the network pops up a rather unhappy face. Frankly put, it appears annoyed. Dressed in full hero get up, Karina frowns at the screen while studying it briefly. Everything looks like it's working like it's supposed to. Good, time to speak up.]

So this thing does work. A functioning whatever this is is the least these guys can do after dragging us into some strange world. It looks like such a complete dump, too. Upstairs is understandable, but making this underground place appear more like a livable space and less like something right out of a horror movie shouldn't be too much to ask for. [Then she sighs and mutters, more to herself than anything.] Seriously, who designed this place? Tiger?

[Only someone like that guy would have this lame of a style. It's all run down and crappy and everything.Maybe desperate times meant downgrading design, but come on. Kidnapping her is one thing; kidnapping her to a place this ugly is another.

Oh well, complaining can come later. More important things need to be done right now.]

My name is Blue Rose. I'm a hero from the city of Sternbild. If anyone has heard of this place or of someone from it, I'd appreciate being contacted as soon as possible. If any of the other heroes are here, that goes doubly for you guys.

[That last part sounds a bit high and mighty. As it should be. Those guys have to contact her asap so she could be sure they're okay. Especially Tiger. Who knows how much damage he's caused by now if he's here all alone.]

I also have a couple questions. What exactly is this 'Initiative', anyway, and [Her expression shifts into a sour, slightly confused one as she holds up a light blue towel with a cute, little, winking tiger on it.] how is a towel supposed to be a weapon?

[ This teal haired lady is looking pretty worn-down. She's obviously not been sleeping much-- or maybe she's just looking a little pale and weary. But who isn't down here, right?

...
In any case she gives the network a tired frown before clearing her throat and speaking up. ]

It occurs to me that the Initiative has been providing water and food for us, but there might still be concern of how clean it might be, considering what's been happening up above.

[ Oh god. Okay.... coming out with this is very hard for her, and she hesitates. She shakes her head and continues on, expression more focused. ]

I believe I can help put at least that worry to rest. It is... a natural ability of mine to purify waters. If the Initiative will allow it, I can maintain the quality of the supply they keep for both the Transports and their citizens. It would be a very simple procedure for me to preform. [ Yeah like... literally just touching it. ]

I do have one other announcement, and this is for a friend of mine who's in a poor state. Please, this is very important to his health: does anyone here have anything that could simulate sunlight? I've been searching around the catacombs and I've had no luck in finding something to help him.

It's- well, I believe for him it works rather like photosynthesis.

[A full week down there in the catacombs? Sonic's not claustrophobic, but he IS boredom-intolerant. A full week in the oppressive dark and murmured silence is making him crazy. He has to do something to wile away the time. So what does he do?]

YAHOOOOOO!

[He's riding the underwater cistern currents on a board he attached a rope to! Those in camps near the ancient waterway's edges can watch him as he zooms past, rushing up and down hills, around eddies and whirlpools, and rocketing out of spouts into the open air. All the while pulling spins, flips and tricks. It looks like fun, but are the shots he'll need in the end really worth it?]

[Video]

[Sonic's cheerful as usual, and lounging on a chair as he speaks into the camera, one purple-lined sneaker crossed into view over his knee.]

Hey guys! Remember when I said I was gonna check with the Initiative to see if they were interested in fixing up the environment retroactively n' stuff? Well guess what? They like the idea! Now all I need are some volunteers! They're lookin' for a pretty wide pool of abilities, so don't be shy! I know some of you wanna see real animals here again, and not just ones too cool to be classified like me. [He jerks a thumb at himself.]

((This is a more official sign-up thread for green-themed missions. I'll post the log requests for anyone that's interested in a team mission over the weekend.

EDIT: Mission request post is here!))

Welcome to Exsilium. There is much to discuss.

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

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

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

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

What causes you unhappiness here?


[OH RIGHT THE VOLUNTARY ACTION:

because where is this girl broadcasting from?

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

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

[When the feed clicks on, it's pretty obvious that Mystique has been mulling over things for a little while. The first thing she says follows her chewing on her lip for a moment or two.]

For those of you who might care, Loki's gone.

[She doubts many people care, but it's a useful thing to know for those people -- keeping lists.]

I've been thinking of getting a job here to pass the time, and I heard there might be someone looking to start up a bakery. Is that -- true?

[Because seriously, she's getting bored -- and she'd be able to gather a lot of information from the chit-chat that happened at the counter, right? It's a win-win situation.]

[It was dark and the video barely made out Ico’s face but the moonlight caught on his horns, making him easy to distinguish. He looked over his shoulder and breathed in but before he could say anything, he was struck from above.

The feed tumbled until the netbook landed on the floor, now showing only the night sky. The screen crackled with static. Ico screamed, his voice distorted by the malfunctioning device. As the sounds of struggling continued, his screaming intensified. Suddenly, the screen was flooded with a bright white light. The light flowed into the streets, turning part of the city into day. The video cut off and the light disappeared.]

{OOC: Backdated to the night of the attack. Action is locked. IC replies are delayed until Ico recovers and repairs or replaces his netbook.}

[ Arthur clears his throat with a loud ahem before he sets in. ]

I'm looking for a man. He could easily be mistaken for a boy with his twig-like figure, and perhaps even a lady for how pale and dainty he appears.

He answers to a sundry set of things 'Servant', 'Dunce', 'Useless dolt', but more often than not 'Merlin' is the popular title.

Places you may choose to look first would include any taverns or pubs about, as he has the nasty habit of wasting his workday away nose deep in a pint of ale. Sometimes he can even go missing for days, weeks at a time. It's dreadful, really. It's painful to watch. And sad. Tearing his family and friends apart, and it really doesn't help he has no social skills to speak of, so getting said friends back will be a task hard won.

[ Ahem, back on track. Right. ]

Should you see him or catch wind of his likely unbathed and alcohol drenched state, please inform him, his liege's boots require his attendance, and should he take a second longer than needed, said boots may be coming to impact with his backside.

Thank you kindly.

[Video]

[EXTREEM CLOSEUP OF HEDJEHAWG FAIZ GUYZ oh god, there's no denying he's excited about something--]

Hey guys! I got a really good idea the other day! Yanno how Exsilium is kind of, uh... well... [He looks thoughtful, pretending to asses things.] ...Dirty? Underforested? Missing a whole lot of animals? Well why don't we FIX that?

C'mon, this is the future right?? Why don't we make, like, old-timey looking solar cells and swap it out for the first gas engine? Or slip some tech in the past for domed cities that isolate the pollution and recycle it or somethin'! I'm open to ideas! We're trying to use that time travel to make this place better for everyone, right? Well then why don't we do that?

So, anyone want in on this?

[Video]

I have seen some impressive things since arriving here, I will admit. This video device alone is amazing in how it changes my research, and these weapons are definitely clever.

However, I've noticed a distinct lack of treasure. There's no gold coins, no jewels, no grimoires of ancient lore or magic, no hidden stashes of magic armor. At least none that I've found.

How am I supposed to build a proper horde if all the money I can find is these little slips of paper or pieces of...I guess it's called "plastic." There's no sense of weight to it at all!

[Action]

Ricasthix has chosen his new lair's location very carefully and has tried to be sneaky about it. However dragons are not without their weaknesses. First of all, it is hard to be sneaky when you're forty feet long and get around mostly by flying. Secondly, a dragon's greatest flaw is underestimating non-dragons. Any other transports that are fast enough on their feet, or just generally clever enough, can probably track his movements back to a cave on a small mountain/large hill a few miles beyond the city limits.

Who wants to explore a dragon's lair?