[Alice smiles as she adjusts the stuffed rabbit in her arms. She's in much higher spirits with the flower festival having gone on and just general good weather and flowers.]

How do you do? [She starts.]

I've been thinking about this quite a bit, and I thought, since it's so difficult to tell what day it is because the calendar here is different! Well, because of that, that means you can't have a birthday party! [Horror of horrors!] So I've devised the absolutely perfectly answer to this!

Unbirthday parties! [Yes, people, for Alice this is a thing.] Now! Unbirthday parties are held on every day your birthday isn't! But since we can no longer tell, I think people should pick a day they wish to have their unbirthday and that can be their unbirthday so long as they're in Asgard! [She shifts her rabbit from one arm to the other.]

Would anyone else like to celebrate an unbirthday! Because I've the perfect idea for one!

A tea party! There's a distinct lack of those here, and that simply shan't do! So I would like to hold one near the field of flowers! An outdoor tea party sounds rather lovely, wouldn't you agree?

[this time around, seth is clearly human! thankfully. he grins sheepishly at the camera for a second before shaking his head, a distinctly doglike gesture. some things linger.]

Heeeey. So... I'm human again! Thankfully! [a cheerful thumbs-up. god, is he glad to have thumbs.] Uh, I just wanted to say thanks to everybody who looked out for me when I was a big wolf. And sorry that I couldn't explain it...

[his communication skills were a little limited.]

So, uh, yeah! I guess everybody knows what tɫó•kᵂali look like now. Maybe that answers some questions about whether I technically count as a werewolf.

[oh, but saying the name reminds him. seth's expression slips a little for a second, but it's gone as quickly as it comes.]

Anyway. Yeah, just checking in.


[ FILTERED: Edward Cullen, Bella Swan ]

[a new, private feed. in this one seth looks almost ashamed.]

I know what you're thinking. It's—it was a curse. I can't... I really can't phase here, I promise. The gods just like to play games sometimes. [he knows it sounds like a weak excuse, but there's nothing seth can do about that.] Ask anyone, they'll tell you that curses happen all the time.

—Besides, I mean—if I was going to lie to you about whether I could phase, why would I broadcast it on the network? [right? that's logical. hopefully edward will understand.]

[There's a pause before she speaks. She had been floundering on whether or not to make the post anonymous, but then figured, what did she have to hide? Still, the subject was rather awkward, so she does her best to put on a bright voice to hide her feelings.]

Hello, fellow Asgardians, Oswin Oswald here.

You know the tradition of people going on the network and asking deep and personal questions to everyone? And how said question tend to relate back to they asker because they're really trying to find out more about their situation?

...Nothing here that's breaking that tradition. Sorry mates, but I really have to get this figured out. Been driving me mad the past few months.

Basically what I want to know is... was anyone else dead before they woke up in Asgard? Not dying, but dead. Gone into the light, left the world and maybe even blown to bits. But then suddenly, woken up in Asgard, alive and recruited into their rather desperate army with everything intact.

Just can't help but wonder, what's going to happen to us after the war. The gods promised us a reward but can they really bring back dead people in other worlds? Seems like we might get stiffed in the end.

...Blimey, that was depressing wasn't it. Promise I'll be much cheerier next time and post something nice and fluffy about baking and cookies or something like that. No personal questions, just fun. I swear it.

[Alice looks at the screen and then claps her hand in joy.]

Oh I've done it! Oh how wonderfully splendid! [Alice examines the screen very closely.] Curiouser and curiouser! [She mumbled to herself.] I've not ever seen anything like it before! And to think, all I did was press the jewel! I've never known any sort of bracelet to do such a thing before. Or... well anything like this before. It's like a mirror! Oh but! The most curious mirror I've ever seen. Perhaps mirror is not correct... Now if it isn't a mirror, what would I call it. A window doesn't seem right though I can touch it like one. [She hmmed softly before pulling back.]

Now let's see! [She touches the screen and watches as it follows her around.] So many little squares and sorts! Whatever do they do? [Alice was unaware she had started recording her actions, instead trying to understand the bracelet. Lessons by gray people were all well and good when little girls actually listened to them. She pressed another button on the screen.] Look at all the names! [She whispers as she just reads everything. She moves to try and look under the touchscreen but said screen just follows her movement.] And there were all those people on it before... how do I get back to the little people in the boxes?

How peculiar! I do so wonder what this all does. [She tilts her head.] Now, if I were to press this-

[She cuts her feed.]

[ guess who's back? now with a canon update. holmes looks far scrawnier than he used to. his hair longer now, than it used to be. he seems more - unkempt than he was last time. Aged a little and underfed. A black bruise decorating the area below his eye. ]

You all must be quite elated at the promise of my return.

A tourney is a bit excessive.

[When the feed starts, there's Inara sitting on her couch, nursing a cup of tea. She looks a little washed out, tired even, but such is the effect of having been gray for however long she'd been. She is slowly getting more color in her cheeks, so for that, she is most grateful.

She lowers the cup and offers a small smile.]

Nǐmén hǎo. Seems many are coming back from unexpected... uncoloring. [She frowns slightly because that just does not even sound right. But, it's what had happened to many.]

I'm not entirely certain how long I was not myself, but it would be nice to know what I've missed in my absence. Perhaps someone would be kind enough to fill me in?

[Filtered to Malcolm Reynolds and Simon Tam]

I hope the two of you are well and staying out of trouble. Perhaps we could all meet up, maybe for dinner?

((OOC: hover over the Chinese for translation :D ))

[Greetings, Asgard. Are you ready for this devastatingly beautiful vampire? Well, he's looking fairly haggard at the moment, actually, now that he's apparently capable of - and in dire need of - resting like a human, among other things. It's clearly difficult for him to think through the exhaustion from the way he's concentrating so intently on the letter in his hands, reading it for the umpteenth time while still barely absorbing any of what's written on it. He begins to mutter to himself, the words coming out more quickly than what might be deemed normal.]

Why would any god choose me... How can I... They can't possibly ensure my happiness. They couldn't... They wouldn't. But no, that's not at all what I-

[The bracelet catches his eye and he leans in closer to inspect it, trying to recall its purpose when he's startled to realize it's on, relief that his monologue was interrupted before he said too much washing over his features before he schools them.]

I'm sorry about this, if anyone's out there watching - I've just...arrived. [That should explain his new-found technical incompetence, if nothing else. He hesitates for a long moment before seeming to lose an argument with himself, continuing on as if certain that someone were watching.]

I'm loathe to ask for such a large favor right off the bat, but given the circumstances, would anyone be willing to escort me to - [It takes a few seconds to locate the right paper.] - Freya House? I'm told I have a room there and I'm...not myself at the moment, I'm not sure I'd find it before nightfall.

[a.k.a. "Please help me before I collapse in the middle of the street." He seems to think better of something.]

I would find some way to repay you at a later date, of course.

[ Today's video finds two faces (familiar to some) sat beside each other at the corner of the kitchen table in the New Camelot household, Arthur's hands folded comfortably across the wooden surface. He's done this a million times before, though it's been awhile since his last formal address. ]

Travellers to Asgard - friends, allies, and strangers alike - a good day to you all. It has been some time since we first stepped foot on Asgard's soil, and given the recent ... changes, in population, I feel an introduction may be in order. [ A smile, cordial. ] I am Arthur Pendragon, King of Camelot, and to my right is my idiot manservant -

[Merlin leans in toward the screen, temporarily blocking Arthur from sight.] Friend. He meant to say "friend."

[ And Arthur shoves him right back into place with a hand to his face, still smiling. ] - my completely imbecilic and utterly useless manservant, Merlin. Recent times have found us in a rare period of relative peace within the city walls, giving us time enough to find our bearings and breathe a moment's tranquility.

[Arthur gets a jab to his side for his troubles, Merlin smiling all the while.] That's why we thought this might be a good time for us to hold a tournament. Well, two, actually. One for magic and one for non-magical combat. According to Arthur, the knights back in Camelot would use the tournaments to hone their abilities and keep their senses sharp - I think it's all just an excuse to bash each other around - when they aren't waging war. And, well, since we'll be expected to fight when the Giants recover...we could probably use the practice.

[ Arthur inhales deeply through his nose, shaking his head just a little, smile gone tight. He mutters something about 'should've written a damn script' before knocking Merlin's knee with his own beneath the table and grinning charitably once more. ]

Which makes it my distinct pleasure to announce the Tournament of Worlds, your opportunity to stand amongst your peers and let your abilities shine to their fullest. The tourney will commence on Day Two-Hundred and Nineteen; you have until the day beforehand to register your name for combat. Further information can be found attached at the end of this message.

Oh! And-- [He'll just be nudging Arthur out of the way again, thank you very much.] There'll be a festival of sorts outside the Arena the day before the tournament starts. The Natives are going to be setting up some booths again, and you're all welcome to join in, too.

[ ffs this time, Arthur's just going to grab Merlin's head and shove it under his arm, driving his knuckle into his scalp while grinning at the feed. ] So! Give us your best, Asgard. We hope to see the whole lot of you there.

[ And somewhere amidst Merlin's flailing and Arthur's noogeying, the bracelet gets knocked off the table to show their feet kicking at each other until they both fall out of their seats, still wrestling with each other, and the feed ends. ]

attachments: tourney.doc; tourney2.doc

[ ooc; yay, tourney announcement! mod post is here, and sign-ups are at the linked posts. blue is Merlin, responses may come from either or both of us as we're available. cheers! ♥ ]

Okay, I'm all for Norse mythology and stuff, but really? This isn't LARPing gone wrong or something, is it?

[Because that would suck. Also she'd kill Alice for letting her get anywhere near it. Or if this is a joke. Because then she'll resurrect the girl and kill her again. Vampire vs human status notwithstanding.]
_____

[[ EDIT later on in the day. ]]
Since a lot of people don't know what LARPing is, it's an Acronym.

Live
Action
Role
Play.

[Today, you're getting a new face on the network, Asgard. A teenage girl, no older than eighteen, one who clearly doesn't put much effort into style or glamor; amongst many things, her hair is somewhat in disarray, as a result of the number of times she's run her hands through it. There's a hesitation before she speaks.]

I guess someone has the power to make the rain disappear.

[... No, Bella. Just stop while you're ahead. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

She continues after a pause.]

So they were pretty vague on the whole... power thing when I got here. [Another pause; it's obvious that public speaking isn't her forte] I was wondering if there was some sort of library. Or anywhere I could find more information.

[She almost leaves it at that, but then changes her mind right at the last second. As awkward as this is, she figures she should introduce herself. Once is better than over and over, right?]

I'm Bella, by the way. Bella Swan.

So the gods are mentioning war again. [ Or did about eleven days ago, but she's been thinking ] They mention war, we're supposed to help them.

[ She has a point here, and her point is something she's wondered almost since she's arrived - and hasn't done a thing about ] We have powers for this war, so has anyone actually used them?

[ She figures that people have, some have mentioned it before, but exactly how many? And what if you've never wanted it, or been interested in using it? In 'training' it? ] And what's happened?

[ And there's one reason why she hasn't wanted to use hers: they're supposed to grow. Telepathy is a pain in the butt as it is, just from the little she can use hers. But if it grows? She doesn't really want that. Knowing thoughts is not a good thing ]