[Welcome to Jon's face. It's not a particularly happy face. In fact, it looks pretty sour at the moment. He really hates having to use the bracelet, but he has a very important announcement to make.]

This is a message to the gods that have stolen us and brought us here.

[He has no actual knowledge of who the gods are or if they even care about their charges, but as they seem to have more of a hand in the affairs of others than his own gods, he'll see if a direct approach works.]

During the... incident which had your blasted magic working ill against those you gave it to, my brother wound up losing his hand. Due to your ineptitude and this unwanted sorcery, he has a stump where a perfectly fine hand was before. What sort of gods give people powers they don't ask for? It's bad enough you've brought children here, but you seem not to care about the ill effects of your war on those that are hale enough here to fight it.

[The sour look is directed more intensely at the screen now.]

I insist you fix it. I've gone to your temples and asked for this, but as it's seemed to fall on deaf ears, perhaps you need it shouted in your face.

Fix my brother or you'll have me to deal with and Asgard's gods will join him in missing body parts.

[Caw caw, motherfucker.]

... So this is what they mean when they say no good deed goes unpunished.

[ Aether sounds peeved, for the lack of better word. To leave the city on a mission meant to help the war effort, only to inadvertently end up leaving the front lines, is as frustrating as it possibly can be. ]

Is there anyone involved in handling this ordeal who I can speak to? I was out on a mission and need as much information as possible. The exact method of attack, the compound used, the names of those who suffered through it. Everything.

[ Beat. ]

And to everyone else... is there anything someone needs done right now? Housekeeping jobs. Sparring partners. City guides for the newcomers. Anything. I could use a job to busy myself with.

[ The video feed opens with a shaky picture as the user seems to be actively moving around. On top of it, there are smudges on the bracelet. It looks like whipped cream. When he focuses the image, the Karu on the other end looks... sleepy. And like he's been cooking, but by cooking of course that means MAKING A BIG MESS, YES. ]

Can any of you... draw or paint? And! Do any of you take commissions?

Actually, even a growth user who has five minutes to spare would be great too. I can pay if it ends up being a... large commission.

((ooc: tags will come in a little bit as i'm entertaining a friend right now, but if not tonight then before/throughout classes tomorrow!))

[This has certainly been a fun and eventful week for the bitty. Now that things have calmed down for the moment, he can tell everyone the good news.]

Hello everyone! I had such a great time with Miss Freya the other day. There was so much yummy food and it was so much fun!
[Thankfully he didn't turn into a little piggy during dinner. Wouldn't want to offend the nice goddess lady.]

Hopefully we can go out to dinner again but  with everything going on, she might be busy. Next time, I see her I'll ask her out again!

Thanks to her, now I don't have to worry too much about the protection for that part of the guild.

Oh yes, speaking of the guild I have a small announcement to make. For all guild members there will be no meeting this month. I have found a way to use a new type of magic in this world but it's slow going and takes quite a bit of research.
I'd love to get some help with this from any members and travelers want to learn about this magic, with the research.

For that I'm opening up the second and third floor of the guild up. The second floor, you can't really do too much since the workshop will not be usable. But the alchemy lab and the power practice room are open. The third floor is just the library all the book are texts about magic so everyone free to look around.

[Now that the important things are out of the way. He still needed one more thing he might as well ask.]

There also something else that I need to ask everyone. The nice beautiful ladies at the bathhouse invited me to a party at Sky’s Prize. Would anyone like to come with me?

[ Hello, Asgard. How d'you do. It's been a while since Brendan (that hair-hatted Pokemon trainer, you know) last looked at the network, but it'll soon be evident why.

Wait for it... ]

hey
this sounds funny, but i think there's a word for it...
for missing your mom and your father,
and your other relatives too if you happen to have any
hmmm

do you know what it's called
?

[ And a short while after, though it pains him to say: ]

i think i might need a new pair of shoes

[Caterina is looking at you carefully, Asgard. Searchingly. Seriously.]

So we're finally talking about war now, are we? Va bene, tell me. How many of you have actually seen war?

[She's dead serious right now. War is nothing to chat lightly about. She knows.]

[ It is late evening when Aether's bracelet comes to life. Judging by the poor lightning, he must be outdoors; a careful eye will notice the outlines of a massive building behind the tall man's shoulder, although only frequent visitors to the Thor district will recognize it as the Arena. There is a dull sound of whetstone scraping against steel, although the camera's angle makes it hard to see the source.

Instead, it focuses on Aether's face. His expression is a smile, peaceful and a little distant, and his eyes are as blank as ever. When he speaks, his voice carries a thoughtful hum to it. His mood seems to be good, but that doesn't keep him from acting a little guarded. ]

I must say, I am impressed. It usually takes people months to adjust to heavy changes in their bodies, but it looks like most of you took to new forms without a single issue. 'Tis comforting. It means that whatever our hosts do, we can still be prepared.

[ A sigh, and he looks up at the camera. ]

Being prepared is what I would like to speak about. I have an offer for those of you who don't feel as safe as you would like to.

I am... [ He pauses for a moment, as if changing his mind about what to say halfway through the sentence. ] ...in service of the House of Sigyn, but I happen to be no good with their chosen craft. I am, however, good enough with a blade to know the art of wielding one with mercy.

I'm here to make an offer. For a token price, I shall teach anyone who asks how to defend themselves with a tool of their choice. It doesn't have to be something normally used as a weapon. In fact, it would be best if you brought me something you carry often enough to keep you safe at all times.

If you're interested, reach me here or seek me in the arena. I can be found there at all times of the day.

That's fine. You took my senses, just about every horrible thing about my kind except for one thing. I'll accept that. But being able to heal would have been nice. I'll take this lump on my body as an answer to my question if I ever was out of line. I hope that answers the question why I chose to never reside with a roof above my head.

Which one of you did it. Which one of you struck me? And why?

The only damn thing I recall last was another like me in a similar situation. At best.

I feel as if I must speak to a certain prince.

[ooc; after this, which was basically Regina's demonic side getting the better of her. She doesn't remember it because of past traumas in her childhood, so.]

[ooc: Backdated to July 25th!]

[It should've been like any other day. Sheryl would wake up in her bedroom, take a shower and get ready to face another day in Asgard. She was getting better at finding her way around the city but that won't mean squat this morning. She's making her way into the bathroom to get ready for the day and the face that greets her in the mirror is one that she doesn't know.

Maybe she's dreaming? Sheryl takes a moment to pinch herself.]

Ow!

[Okay, definitely not dreaming as she glares at the face in the mirror. This is not happening. She is not being taken advantage of by the Gods of Asgard and they are most certainly going to hear all about this debacle come hell or high water. Even the bracelet on her wrist is different and upon closer inspection of the face in the mirror, she's become decidedly male as she screams before activating the bracelet to speak her mind.]



I suppose that this is one of those curses that I've seen people talking about on this network. Is this supposed to be some sort of joke? If so, I regret to inform the Gods of Asgard that I am not laughing and am far from amused. Don't you people have better things to do than to do whatever you've done to me this morning?

Just who am I supposed to be exactly? This is not where I went to sleep last night and whoever happens to look like my usual self at the moment if you do anything unsavory to my body there won't be enough buildings in Asgard to protect you by the time I get finished with you.

[ Hello, Asgard! Today, your resident Tokage is looking pretty pleased and...well, using the video function. ]

Hey there, everyone! I'm just letting you know that I'm now offering to teach all of you here! So if you're looking to help a nice girl out by paying for some cooking lessons, just let me know. After all, everyone needs food, and I'm being awfully nice by being willing to help you out.

[The video starts with Diva staring at the camera with a frown, looking like there is something Very Important that she has to tell all of you. But if you manage to catch a glimpse at the pile of books next to her, you'll be able to guess that, no, that's not the case. They're all about vampires, both stories like TwiNightlight and more "serious" books about the supernatural.]

Ugh, so I've been in the library all day, because you know, it's been a long time since I've read anything about vampires... And you know, I apparently forgot a lot because this is all stupid!

[She picks up a random book and kind of shoves it into the camera, though her blue eyes peek over the top with her brow furrowed as she speaks. It's titled The Complete Book of Vampires]

Like, ways to kill them, I always knew that was stupid, but really? Sunlight, fire, holy water, garlic, crucifixes... And I mean, getting staked in the heart? [huffs] That's just rude!

[Diva sets the book down again, sitting back with her arms crossed. That said, one of the things she listed would kill her as a Chiropteran, but... Better to make people believe otherwise.] I mean, I know people think they're just things in stories, but still. And some of the things they can do are stupid too. Sparkling in the sunlight especially...

So, if that's what they're like in just stories, I'm curious. If you have vampires, you know, people that drink blood, where you come from, what are they like? At least Chiropterans don't have any weird things like this. Or I guess even things just in stories, since there's no way I'm reading any more of these stupid books.

[You know those all nighters that seem like a great idea? But then they just aren't? This little peachy-blonde looks like he's pulled a few of those in succession. His hair is tousled and his eyes are just a shadow of how bright and alert they usually are. From the looks of things, he's just sitting on a bench in Asgard's garden.]

I've heard about some of the -- ah, campers, I guess -- coming back with severe burns. And there's talk now of hostile fire creatures.

[He closes his eyes and hesitates, as if he's drifting off a bit. He forcibly corrects his posture.]

I always carry this kind of thing, but I want to know if any of you want to stock up on handmade bandages. They're re-usable and more durable than typical store purchases! [He's trying to sound cheerful about these, but it only sorta works.] They're well made, I worked with fabric quite a bit before ending up here. [It's subtle, but there's a touch of bitterness about the whole "here you are, away from everything you've ever known!"]

Let me know. I just thought since I've been making them anyway since the wounded returned...

[He smiles, but it's a little lopsided at this point. The feed shakes and cuts.]

( IC Summary of the Camping Event. )

Conclusions.
- Either we were sent to hostile territory or encountered a hostile scouting party in Asgard territory; either way we can assume that preparations for war are being made among the Fire Giants.
- We were not armed for battle. Those of us who do carry weapons found them removed. This fact is not consistent with the gods of Asgard's statements about how seriously they wish us to take this war -- unless it was their hope that deaths or injuries sustained among us might lead us to take their word.
- Baldr caused the camping trip to teach us a lesson about complaining in much the same way he wanted to teach us not to ask about our orginal abilities. The other gods distanced themselves from his actions but did not prevent them.
- I am tired and going to sleep.

((ooc: feel free to use this post to visit Conan at the hospital -- he will be spending a couple of days there. Also please feel free to time-skip as necessary! I am not sure how around I will be, so apologies if I am slow/stupid/all the usual disclaimers.))

Is this thing recording?

[ She pondered out loud while she leaned herself closer to get a better look at the video camera which was attached to the monitor. Once she took noticed of the solid green light under the camera’s lens, Mix pulled herself away from the camera and sat back into a chair.  ]

I’ve only been here for a couple of days and I’m still not entirely sure what exactly is going on. But from I did gather we were sent here to bring back color into this world?

[ She did think the whole idea of bring joy to this place seem rather tedious, but she knew she was in no position to complain or to make a snarky comment about it. This strange place was now her new home and she had no choice but to obey the rules and to  make the best out of it, even if she would give anything to return back to Vega and back to a more familiar environment.

Make the best of it, huh?

Maybe she was brought here for a reason. Maybe that reason was to bring back regulations and order. Perhaps she could suggest a few rules, starting with things that she personally found a bit troubling and even tasteless. ]

I don’t see how that could even be possible unless we install a few new rules.

[ Here it comes. . . ]

I find the current housing situation inappropriate! The houses should be sorted by sex, this way; there will no mingling between the two. Co-ed housing is certainly not a way to bring joy and happiness!  And I'm sure I'm not the only person here that feels this way.  It’ll only pollute and worsen this horrible place even more! 

[Audio today! She has no reason to use video, unless someone really wants a look at the glass slipper she received at the Lux opening.]

I know this is a pointless question, but I was wondering if anyone had magic in their world that's casted by singing? Well - singing and thought, but it's the singing that's important! And I don't mean just speaking normally, that's stupid and barbaric. I mean actual melodies that create magic.

[She's still skeptical about Rapunzel's idea, but it couldn't hurt. Besides, it would be kind of interesting if other nonhumans could cast magic in that way.]

There's something else too, and this is really important! Does anyone know the meaning of receiving a glass shoe? It's a high heel and it looks expensive, but I only got one.... Not very practical, right? [She sounds a little unsure since she thinks she has a vague idea, but she's still very confused.] But I'd still really appreciate any help with this!

... Oh, and does anyone know what 'heaven' is?

I remembered what I was going to ask before everything here went crazy.

[She's sitting on her bed with her knees drawn up to her chest, a cloak thrown over them as a sort of blanket.]

Do you think birthdays count here? I mean, we don't really know the exact date, but you can guess by seasons. I know my birthday would've gone by if winter is just ending. But if time is frozen back home, does that mean that we're sort of frozen here too? Will people my age keep growing? Should I consider myself fourteen now, or will I be thirteen fore - until this is all over?

It's not the most important question, I know. But I'm just curious to know what other people think.

[ Live from Asgard's 'Great Library' this evening, a set of bookshelves taking up the majority of the background behind her, is a familiar, serious-looking face-- albeit one that's been lying pretty low outside her job at the hospital for the last little while. Despite the rather close set of the 'camera,' it's fairly obvious where she is... although for some reason she appears to be standing rather than sitting, and keeps glancing off and down at something she must be following some kind of directions off of.

Actually, she... seems to be wrapping her hands, using a long, dark red something, her slim fingers flashing into frame occasionally as she calmly addresses her bracelet- ]

How many of you are familiar with sparring, without the use of weapons?

[ ... Was it mentioned she was in the library during this? Yes? Well, hopefully she isn't bothering anyone too much, then. Eventually, she does take her leave of the place, heading over to where she fits in better instead: the arena, where she can be found frowning and outright attacking some hapless punching bag late into the night.

Perhaps someone forgot to tell her you're supposed to take it easy and primp the day before a party?? ]

[ Things have really changed since she got here.

She still remembers Keine's words - about trusting the gods who have done them no real ill - and feels very naïve, and wonders what the other is thinking now.

Her face is very grave as she turns on the video to address the whole city. What she's about to say might get her in trouble with their unkind patrons, but she's ceased to care. ]

... it's become clear to me -- and, I think, to many of us -- that the gods of Asgard are not our friends, and they can't be trusted. They're willing to hurt us, bully us, and even kill us just to get what they want, and they'll do it over and over. They said as much to me themselves. In fact ... I hate to say it, but I think we need to consider them our enemies, and plan accordingly.

[ She shuts her eyes for a moment, in deep and troubled thought. But she is calm, and unafraid. She opens them again, and there is steel in every aspect of her. ]

To be honest, I'm not too sure what that means. It's a big task to undertake, and possibly a dangerous one. But I think what we can do is try to be ready for anything. That means working on our powers, on self-defense, and possibly even a warning system. Maybe a designated safe-house for anyone who can't fight. I'm open to ideas.

... thank you for your time.

[ added several minutes later: ]

One last thing. I am aware that saying these things might make me a target for the gods, if they're willing to go that far to punish us. But I wouldn't wish that on anyone else. Please, even if you agree with my belief that they are our enemies - think twice before admitting as much.

( Private to: Sora, Riku, Naminé, Roxas, and Ven )

I'd like to speak to all of you. Soon, and in person. You especially, Ven, Riku. But I expect all of you to come. No buts, and no backing out of it.

[ Is she upset? ... yes. All this death has been too much. ]

Tomorrow, in front of Odin.

[ here is a perplexed young lady (who is loath to even interact with people) asking for help, in a voice much less gruff than her last two appearances on the network.

even more incredible is the sudden sound of tiny, canine yips in the background. ]

What the fuck do dogs even like to do when they're not eating or sleeping? --h-hey, stop, I don't understand what you want!

[ Aether isn't usually the kind to post on the network. Talking to others and offering help is one thing, but putting himself out there feels like being given too much attention. Attention is something he's never been very good at handling; he would try to avoid it this time, as well, but the events of the last month made him wonder.

It's best to get any doubts out of the way before they start interfering with his duties. ]

I've heard plenty of people question the gods who brought us here, the purpose we were given and the way we are supposed to fulfill it. It's understandable. Nobody wants to fulfill a role they didn't audition for. In my case, though, my concern is that the role I was given is terribly miscast.

[ This is when the video feed comes on. Aether - a man in his mid-twenties with cerulean hair and eyes - raises a sheathed sword to show the camera. ]

When I arrived, they told me I belong in Sygin; the house of healers and those who aid others. But the only thing I truly excel at is... [ He unsheathes the sword by only a couple inches, revealing a thin blade that suspiciously lacks a sharpened edge. ] ...this. I've been trying to find another duty for this house, but there's little I can come up with.

So... what gives?