[ Rick is at the arena practicing his knife-throwing skills. He’s a good shot with his guns, yeah. And he’s alright with hand-to-hand and most close combat weapons. Unable to sleep the last few nights though, and he’s ended up here more often than not, trying to keep the image of Lori and all the unsteady emotions that that brings about at bay – trying not to think too much about the children he’s left back at home in a terrible situation – generally trying not to think about a lot of things.

After he finishes with the knives, he decides to practice this new shadow magic thing that this place has given him. He’d been working hard at it, building up his skills with it as much as he can. It isn’t always easy to focus enough to get it to do much of anything, especially on bad days like the last three when he's been thinking too much, his mind so scattered, emotions so raw. But as long as he’s trying, it makes him feel like he’s doing something productive.

In spite of how worn and tired he might look and out of his own curiosity, he flips on the video, wipes the sleeve of his shirt over his brow and poses a question. ]

Don’t guess anybody’s got any tips on gettin’ control of these powers they gave us. Aside from the obvious concentration.

[ The video starts begins with the frowning face of a teenage girl with perked dog ears atop her head. ]

Okay, first of all! Everyone who is new, hi! My name is Jade, and welcome to Asgard, and make sure to let someone know if you need something! I can be helpful - I've been here practically forever now.

Secondly, I am going to need everyone to stop dying, thank you very much.

Thirdly - and this one kind of goes back to the second point, here - if you don't know how to use a weapon, you need to learn how to use a weapon. [ The frown on her face grows a little more severe. ] We are at war, and we can't always rely on our powers! Because some of them kind of suck - no offense, Harry - and when we're attacked, they're not gonna care if you're able to make a giant fireball or if you can just float half a foot off the ground.

[ Her expression is very decidedly stubborn. ]

I can teach you how to shoot a gun. I want to teach you how to shoot a gun! If you can't fight? Please let me teach you how to shoot a gun so you don't die, okay? Between here and home I've died like four times [ five, she's just unaware of that last one right now ] and I am getting sort of sick of it. Let me help!

Or at least let someone.

[ Jade leans forward, as if to end the video, before she wrinkles her nose and adds - ]

Also there's no pie at the Highwind today because my baker is being a butthead. Sorry Stiles. Take it up with Ryan!