[The video clicks on with Harry sitting in a seat in his office. The office itself seems a bit sparse, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that Harry looks agitated. He's pleased that Voldemort has slipped up enough, but it means he's careless; it means it will be difficult to stop him from hurting others. The fact that he's been outed the way he has been means that the individual who did so doesn't look much better.

Not that Harry's against things being carved into his skin. It's a dark thought, though, and one he's not acting on.]

Hello, everyone.

[A simple beginning, but he soon continues, as if he's reading a slightly prepared speech:]

I'm here to tell you about Tom Marvolo Riddle. He also goes by "Lord Voldemort" on this network, and had my bracelet not come off during the recent battles, I would have warned you all about him sooner. I apologise for that. It was a mistake on my part. I meant to do it sooner, even, but I worried that it would bring people greater harm. I ... er, I'm really sorry for that, too. [He settles into his seat.] He's someone who's very dangerous. Back home, I defeated him, but "defeating" someone is not always the easiest of tasks, you see. He's someone who fears death, and Asgard chose to hand him exactly what he wanted all along: immortality. Only at the same time, it stripped him of his power. So, he doesn't much care about that. He wants it both ways, and he came very close to achieving it back home.

[Harry isn't going to explain that part, though.]

What's important is that Voldemort is not to be trusted. He hurt a friend of mine, and that's why I decided to do this as quickly as possible. I don't even know who else he has hurt. I know about his life. He started as an orphan, and even as a little boy, he tortured people and scared them just because he could. He saw power as a means of opening up the world to him. But that wasn't all. See, he's someone who feels like he's entitled to what belongs to him. Answers, objects, and little things like that. He obsesses, he chooses "equals," and he doesn't care about anyone or anything. He has no real love for his "followers," also known as Death Eaters, and he uses them.

Well, actually, he's rather quite incapable of love.

He's young now, but he won't stop hurting people until he dies. He is very clever, and he would be a useful ally to Asgard if only because it would help him go home. After all, he has a future left for him where he kills a great number of people. Including my parents. [He pauses, gaze steady.]

He will seek means to become powerful. Tom's very fond of that, and he's already sought some of them here. My recommendation is that if you are helping him, you stop. You don't try to make him better. He doesn't want to be better. He doesn't want to love, and he can't. Don't see him as someone who can help you in a pinch. He sees power as a means of manipulating others. He gains followers so that they can die in his place.

I can and will answer any questions you have about him. My only request is that you call him Tom Riddle. He doesn't deserve to be known as "Lord Voldemort." He should be known as who he really is. He's ashamed of who he is, and where he came from. He's lived his life trying to be somebody else, but he will always be a boy with the same roots available to him.

[He stops speaking momentarily, looking somewhat weary. That was a lot.]

I will add one more thing. He's not more important than the war efforts or saving Asgard. I imagine he would rather like to be, but I think we should remember that we have more important things to worry about than him. Avoid him, disable him at all costs, but do not let him be more important. He is prone to hurting nearly everyone here, and he will do it if the opportunity presents itself. But he is not Thiazi, nor is he the grey sickness. And he'd agree, I think, but I guess not enough to keep others from finding him out.

I think we should all thank him for being so open about that. That makes our ability to overlook him much easier.

[Harry looks as if he's ready to cut the transmission, but he realizes one final thing.]

Er ... and I'm sorry to everyone he's hurt. Or anyone he will send Barty Crouch Jr. to hurt. The two of them are dangerous. While I say they're unimportant in light of the war efforts, that doesn't mean I don't ... I mean, I do care. A lot. If you'd like to talk about it, please let me know.

Right, that's all.

[edit, made about five minutes later]

[Most of the edit is is a link to a video where Tom Riddle is standing in his bedroom. The video lasts long enough to get a good view of his face.]

This is his face.

[And in case Asgard wasn't sick of all the Christmas sweaters, the feed clicks back on to a slightly familiar sight - the Guardians' apartment above the ice rink. The place looks like it's seen better days - papers scattered and craft supplies littering the area in some direction or another. The Guardians themselves are sitting around their couch. Jack, in true monkey fashion as always, is somehow balancing himself on the back of the couch. A large man dressed in red is sitting in the center of the seats - looking oddly proud of himself as he fiddles with the screen some more. He's also sporting a nice shoulder decoration - a certain tiny Sandy sleeping away without any sign of moving at all. At the man's side, Jamie is sitting with his brand new sweater and bouncing a little on his seat with his one-eyed stuffed rabbit. A lady's voice (Tooth's) can be heard in the distance of the other room - chattering on to herself about something involving spreadsheets or another. The man finally quits moving the damn thing and turns to Jack and Sandy's direction.] You see! No problems! I can set up videos without help!

[Jack arches an eyebrow, trying to play the "not impressed" card, but he's obviously amused. Let's see how long it takes him to spam North with emoticons in the future... right now it's time to get all Guardian up.] I'll tell the kids to draw you a gold star later. Can we get this going? There's snow outside waiting to be thrown at people's faces.

[Jamie looks over at the visible Guardians with excitement. He tugs on North's sleeve urgently.] Tell them! Tell them!

Bah! Snow will wait for few more minutes! This is great news! [North chuckles a bit and pats Jamie on the head before finally focusing on the screen in front of him. The jolly old man is containing his excitement about as bad as Jamie at this point.] We are celebrating Christmas at Asgard this year!! [Wait wait. Hold it North. How about actually explaining first?]

[Jack glares at North. Did he just seriously say snow can wait? This is a sin. A tragedy. And he's ready to tell him exactly what an offense that was, but Jamie jumps in before he can even open his mouth. Literally, he jumps in by jumping up to stand on the couch.] It's not just Christmas! We're going to celebrate all of the winter holidays!

But! Christmas comes first. [Yes, North can't help adding that it. They all may have decided to celebrate all the winter holidays but nothing is stopping the man from being absurdly proud of his own. Still Jamie's outburst finally reminds North why they're here so he's straightening up in his seat (Sandy may have rolled a little at the movement). Guardian time ladies and gentlemen.] Explanations are in order. We have all been stranded here for some time - some more than others. However!

( NOT AN IC CUT FOR CHRISTMAS INFORMATION )

[Good morning, Asgardians!

You are treated to one [1] Effie Trinket, sitting on her bed in the Freyr welcome hall. She has snow dusting the sleeves of her extraordinarily hideous Christmas sweater dress that seems to be lighting up in odd colors.

She does not look amused. In fact, Effie looks like she needs to have a glass of wine in hand. And, offscreen, she probably does.]

I do hope everyone is enjoying the spontaneous blizzard this world has set upon us. Going from jungle temperatures to blistering cold -- I would have thought only a Gamemaker would be capable of such a thing at the push of a button, but everyone could stand to be proven wrong every now and again.

[The good Escort sighs, heavily, before she indeed raises a glass of wine to her lips -- but Effie pauses and manages to summon a smile.

She is still ignoring the sweater, and the first person to mention it will get a tongue lashing so fierce that only Katniss Everdeen has experienced one similar.]

That being said, is there a reputable designer in this city? Or even a moderately reputable one. I'm afraid the only thing my power is "good for" is pulling sets of earrings out of a piece of paper.

[PUBLIC POST - ADDRESSED TO ALL]
[The feed opens in another Sigyn room. There's a tall teenager with greyish hair and he looks calmly at the camera, giving a small bow in greeting.]

Hello.

[Since he's got a few things to send in private, why not go for broke and address the entire population. Projects are buzzing in his mind.]

I'm Souji Seta, and in house Sigyn. While I haven't been here for long, if anyone has questions regarding the city, I've been studying maps and locations whenever I've had free time. [His head is in the books when he's got a minute off, he kinda needs to keep his mind off things that's how he rolls.]

I've been thinking about what has happened recently, and while I was able to find information about the gods made by someone else, I don't see any guides to the city itself. The stores and services some of you own that could be useful to add as well.

Whenever we have new people coming here - along with Loki's, having a guide could give them a better understanding of what's happening and the history so far. [And in easier terms, sorry Loki.]

By pooling our resources together, I believe we can truly make something impressive. [Sorry, protags gotta protag.] As I've said, I've only been here for a short time myself, but I know some of you have been here since the first day. I would appreciate it greatly if you could share your knowledge with us.

I'll spearhead the information collecting myself, so simply leave me a message with what you know or businesses you have and their open and closing hours, and I'll work on a document we could easily pass around.

[He smiles.]

Thank you.

I'll try to come here once in a while and give you all updated information on how it's going so far. If anyone wants to help me with this, I'd be glad to have your help.

---

( PUBLIC POST, BUT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED TO THE DOCTORS -- ALL OF THEM )

--

( PRIVATE POST TO THE INVESTIGATION TEAM )

---

( PRIVATE POST TO THE IT, SEES AND THE RYOJI )

Hello Asgard! [have a smiling Elizabeth!] Um, for those who don't know me - my name is Elizabeth. First off, to those I met in the mirror world... thank you. I'm truly grateful for your help & I hope you're all okay.

Secondly, I - I have a question--er, more of a request actually. [she pulls her ponytail over her shoulder & plays with her hair absently while looking into the feed.]

I would like to learn how to cook. If there is anyone willing to teach, I would really appreciate it! [the girl's never cooked a day in her life thanks to living in that damn tower & now that she has a reason to do it & the freedom to do so, she is eager to learn.]

Unfortunately I'm starting from scratch. I don't have any experience, even with the basics... [said with a light blush & a sheepish smile.] But I promise I'm a quick learner. [that she can promise.]

[Why hello Asgard, seems to me you're being treated to a familiar face. Well, mostly familiar. Been here a few times, as he's managed to gather, but still new. Different.

From what people might be able to tell from the surrounding scenery, he's in Odin at the moment, outside the library and simply sitting on what's either a low wall or a bench of some sort. Or perhaps even a bit of broken off something from the quake.]

Rrrriiiiiight. Asgard... [He's staring at a place just above the recording bit of this neat ol' "magic" bracelet they've all been given, just sort of mulling over the word, turning it over both in his mind and in his mouth.] Asgard, Asgard, Aaaasgard. You know, general preconception of Asgard's all... vikings and swirling mists, big pointy helmets, furs, great halls and towering mountains.

[He glances towards the heart of the recording, one eyebrow up and the other cocked down as he scratches at a sideburn.]

Never heard Asgard and inter-dimensional kidnapping in the same sentence before. Love to hear theories from people who've been here a while. Experience can be even better than books sometimes.

[Not that he hasn't already heard and researched some of these theories since arriving here, but. You know. Good way to meet people and to hear personal opinions on this place at the same time. And, you know, to effectively ignore the fact that he really should be thinking more about how he's Doctor number 98279384729384 to show up in this place.

Oh, and as an afterthought-] Also taking that earthquakes aren't common around here, are they?

[By some miracle of being better prepared for nonsense because she just took a trip to the land of nonsense not two hours ago poking at buttons incessantly and almost breaking her watch before spotting someone in the hallways operating it and copying them nature, Sif has managed to turn on the recording. But 75% of the population might regret it, when they're treated to the angriest look ever.] Loki.

[You know how some people can communicate with one word things like I was gone for two hours, and you left Asgard go to the dumps, what the hell is wrong with you? Yes.] Am I to believe that in the blink of an eye you have brought so much destruction onto Asgard that we are forced to not only ask for reinforcements, but force them? What trick is this?

Show yourself, and face the consequences of your choices, as a good King would. [There is a pause.] Or is this to be my punishment... [Let's talk about traitors to the Throne, shall we? Aha mhm. Nope.] If this is the result of your reign, then all the fewer reasons to regret my choice.

[One more pause. Hold on. Wait for it. Wait. For. I-] That note was stupid.

[ooc; AND hello.]

[Behold, Asgard! This time, Jack's video isn't being recorded on a roof - it's inside of the Guardian's apartment above the ice rink. He is sitting on the couch with his legs crossed, metal staff lying across his lap, but he isn't the one doing the recording. Judging by the snickering coming from behind the screen, Jamie is their cameraman today.]

You know, for a bunch of people who got dragged to a new world by a bunch of Norse gods, were given new powers, asked to fight ice giants-- [He's counting with his fingers as he speaks.] --and get cursed more often than not, you guys sure are waaaay too skeptical for your own good.

[Sandy, looking somewhat sleepy, is perched on the arm of the couch, his sketchpad open in his lap. He lazily sketches things that aren't visible from the camera, looking as though he's only halfway listening with vague amusement to the spirit next to him. Tooth is sitting on the back of the couch, between them, her wings fluttering slightly. She looks rather amused at the whole thing. ]

Jack, that's not fair, just because some things are real doesn't mean they're going to believe anything they hear.

[Jack, being the mature spirit he is, just... pouts at her a little bit.] Do they have to flip out though? I'm started to get offended! [He turns to the camera again, sounding completely serious about this. Mark the calendar, folks.] Soooo, PSA time, everyone. All the stories you've heard when you were kids? Real. Every single of us - we exist. Get over it already.

( ooc cut for OMG WHEN DID THIS GET SO LONG )

[Arya's at the Bank of Dvalin, she'd gone in to take out what small amount of money she had here with the intention of getting a present for a friend, but when she went to make the withdrawal, there had been something else waiting there for her. A golden helm, shaped with the horns of a bull. Arya's unsure why someone would leave her such a thoughtful gift, or why they didn't give it to her themselves rather than put it in the bank for her, but she looks absolutely delighted with it.

Sat on the steps outside the bank, she stuffs the fistful of runes she's withdrawn into her pocket, and turns the helmet over in her hands. It's a little big for her, obviously made for an adult, but she's sure she could have it modified. Besides, the next thing she needed to do now that she had the money for the gauntlets and anklets she wanted to get for Sophie was find someone who could make them; she could have the helmet altered at the same time.

She switches on the video on the bracelet, her face still full of excitement at the gift.]

Is there anyone here who's an armorer, or a blacksmith?


((OOC: Arya doesn't know that the helmet belonged to Loki, or that this means that he's gone from the city. Feel free to deliver the news to her, she needs some more Starkpain in her life))

[See Road.

See Road eating a lollipop.

See Road eating a lollipop while perched on a churning washing machine.

See Road eating a lollipop while perched on a churning washing machine that is starting to very quickly overflow with frothy bubbles.

... most people would probably spend their first post blathering on about additional weird powers, or the lack thereof, or about how they may or may not have better things to do at home that they would rather be doing than whatever it is they are doing here.

Road is not most people.

And there are more important matters at hand, anyway. Such as:]

I want a new maid. Preferably one that isn't a stupid box.

[As well as:]

-- and a new dress. This one is wrinkled.

[Ladies and gentleman, Road Kamelot has entered the building.]




It's also advised that the residents of Hel should... probably watch their footing, lest they want to end up sprawling into the floor. But she isn't going to say that. Perhaps she'll get a show out of it.]

[[Residents of Hel, if you are passing by the laundry room and would like to nearly break your neck traversing soapy floors, or something, I am totally welcome to actionlogging!]]

//Filtered away from Jacob//

I need pet suggestions that aren't 'cat' or 'dog.' Preferably not 'horse,' either.

[Because, to be honest, it's been more than a century since he had anything resembling a pet himself and it was a horse. Somehow, he doubts a horse would fit in Jacob's room, though.]

[Through quite a bit of trial and error and button pushing, Robin has managed to access the video feed.

He can be seen with a piece of wood in his hands that he is using to create a bow. It looks rather rough, but he is confident enough in his bow-crafting abilities that it will work by the time he has finished with it.

He has only recently arrived in Asgard, but the main question on his mind right now has less to do with wars, the gods, or being taken away from everything he knows. No, he considers this question of extreme importance, and that is why he is addressing the network.]

Tell me, is there an archery range to be found around here?

[Because Robin Hood's skills are too great to be allowed to fall into disuse.]

A | VIDEO, DAY 160

[ Alisa opens the feed with a face devoid of emotion. ]

Good afternoon.

All functions except user interface, data storage and retrieval are inaccessible at the moment. Cause of inaccessibility is currently unknown. Earlier attempted troubleshooting resulted in failure. May I request for a check-up?

Thank you.

B | ACTION, DAY 161

[ LOOKING FOR A JOB!!! Alisa is going from shop to shop, begging people to take her in while holding their "wanted" flyers. However, she's always causing trouble, such as accidentally freaking people out with her head, her head falling off, hitting equipment too strongly with her metal arms and legs... People will often find doors closing on Alisa quite literally. ]

I apologize, it will never happen again--

[ Bam. ]

C | VIDEO, DAY 161

[ Afraid of rejection, she looks a little meek when she asks this. ]

To whom must I speak to regarding the city's militia? I would like to assist in the upcoming war. I, too, can fight.

[ Thor looks comfortable, reclined as he is and picking his teeth with what looks suspiciously like a thin, pointed bone. ]

So, some of you have been here for quite a while, haven't you?

[ He leans forward, smile lopsided and lazily smug. ]

There should be a tournament - a real knock-down, drag-out brawl, I think. Those Olympics left me a little wanting. [ He flashes his eyebrows at the camera. ] There weren't nearly enough punches thrown, How about we get to fixing that?

Ugh--figures she'd leave the moment I moved out, that stupid... [ YIFEI 8||| ] Very funny, Gods. Loving it, really.

Alright, listen up all you psychos and weirdos and anyone else near it--Hel is my territory so back off. I got rid of Amionmom or whatever the fuck his name was, lived through Anemone and Venom an' my psycho honking neighbour Termites and I will fucking outlast all of you so don't even try. Got it??

Hel. Mine.

Mine.

Just because Yifei's gone doesn't mean it gets to belong to any of you assholes.


[ ooc; OR ELSE >8((((( yes. Kaz is technically moved out now but THAT DOESN'T MATTER ]

Action
[Now Hiccup's been surprisingly quiet since he got pulled into this mess. Nothing's exploded, nothing's been destroyed...his father and Gobber would be so proud.

Or rather, they would have been so proud. There's such a thing as "speaking too soon".

The story starts a couple weeks ago, when Hiccup discovers a forge run by a nice, old native man, who lets him use the facilities in exchange for some labour. Molten steel, razor-sharp blades, lots of time to himself...what could possibly go wrong? As Gobber might say.

The answer is "a lot," as it turns out. If travelers and natives alike weren't warned off in the wee hours of the morning, when a certain viking can be seen lugging a largish metal-and-wood contraption through the city, they're certainly discovering this now. Once people have recovered from the shock of being pelted with what appears to be a lot of balled up parchment, they might notice the projectiles are being launched from some part of the wall around the city, and that the parchment does actually contain a message. It goes something like this:

"Have you seen this dragon?" Under the somewhat vague message is a clear, bold sketch of a dragon.

How curious.]

Video
[Some ten minutes later, a very contrite, sheepish Hiccup addresses the city.]

Sorry about the ahm...volley of parchment. It wasn't supposed to do that. I should probably fix that...

Anyway, since I'm already here, could someone let me know if they see him? His name's Toothless. I've been all over the place looking for him, but I thought asking wouldn't hurt either. Oh, and what are the chances he's outside of the city?

[A short, awkward silence.]

Yep, that's it. Thanks. And...sorry again.

[It takes Bruce awhile to reorient himself. He knows he's been here before, but how he got here again- that's kind of vague. Shouldn't he not have been waking up in that room again? It doesn't make sense. Bruce doesn't really like things that don't make sense. And he's got to come to the bottom of this somehow.

That's the only reason he's willing to do a video post, at all. Force of habit of staying hidden and all that.]

So uh, I thought we were supposed to go through the whole "Welcome to Asgard, enjoy your stay, here are complementary bath towels and magic powers" routine once. Not that I don't, you know, appreciate the refresher course, I'm just wondering how long you have to be gone or what you have to do to merit remedial instruction. It's not like I broke anything…

[Oh boy. Nervous laughter here. Bruce does not look comfortable, and he kind of shifts his weight around, licks his lips, glances away and then back before he continues.]

Is there anybody I could talk to that like, remembers me, or the name Bruce at all, and what went down before I think I mysteriously vanished. I mean, if that's what I did do, that would be…great…to fill in those blanks sometime. 'Cause right now I'm kind of not sure what I missed, obviously, or what happened to my stuff. It wasn't a lot of stuff but it was still my stuff, and I was kind of attached to my spare pants.

[ 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

[It's video when the feed starts up. There's a shock of white hair and bright red eyes peering out from behind a certificate-like piece of paper that she's holding up to the bracelet's camera. Along the bottom it's been signed twice: once in the Asgardian script everybody learns upon arrival, and another time in a language that will be pretty, but a lot less familiar. Both look surprisingly elegant - who knew Euri had good penmanship??]

Here it is, a stupid formality. [Then she quickly switches back over to audio.]

Back home we'd just follow a logical moral code - I dedicate myself to the appropriate acquisition and usage of materials blah blah blah let my ancestors and the god whose domain I utilize rot out my insides and return me to the lands from which we were born should I disgrace them - instead of having to go through useless tests and paperwork to get access to magical plants. I guess this is better than nothing, though.

[After all that her voice turns very, very dry.] It means after this sleeping recipe is finished I can start working on turning you all into frogs like a proper Witch. [That's for you Senji!!]

[Filtered to Draco]
Want to start working on some real magic?