[Loras is sitting in a chair, polishing his sword, so his comes in and out of view, with each stroke of the cloth. If he looks tired, well...he has apparently spent a month as a grey nothing. He can only remember snatches, of simply feeling nothing, with no sense of himself.

It was disturbing situation, and if it had not been for one he had not considered a friend, he may have stayed like that for longer.

Letting out a breath, he finally stills his motions and looks at the small screen, giving a small, if but troubled, smile.]

It seems I have been gone for some time. I had heard of what occurred when one lost a bracelet, but to experience it...

[He shakes his head. It is not a feeling he wishes to repeat. He may not enjoy his life, these days, but to feel something is better than to feel nothing.]

Is it so common? I do not recall how I lost mine...

Also, if someone could inform me what has occurred in these past days. I would greatly appreciate it.

[Private text to Hermoine]

...thank you, for finding my bracelet. For helping them find me.

Perhaps I misjudged you.

Asgard. I hope you've not yet tired of what I'm told are "long-winded" speeches, as I've yet another for you on this bright morning.

[ He's trying to stay light-hearted, calm, but Arthur is angry and sick like all the rest; sick of this war and the trials it's brought them. ]

Recent affairs have caused a schism between the people of this city, in regards to both the Utgardian spy and the manner in which we would conduct ourselves, and it is in that space between each other that we find ourselves poisoned. Whether you think it justice or cruelty, there is blood in our streets and some of it is that of our own. We cannot afford to remain divided now; we cannot afford to grow so comfortable and complacent in this war that we find enemies in each other. The Giants win this war when they fill our veins with venom so that we might hold nothing but spite in our hearts. It is imperative now more than ever that we stand together - or not at all.

[ Getting to the point. Arthur straightens a bit, sparing only a moment for the people lost between now and the last time he made a very similar broadcast. ]

For those of you new to the city since the Battle of Ragnarok, I would introduce myself once again. I am Arthur Pendragon, King of Camelot, and I come before you today to remind you of that which we fight for: our homes, our futures, our lives. We fight for each other, and it is for each other that I would see this city united once more.

Shortly before that fated battle, I'd coordinated some of the finest and bravest men and women of this city into a body of defence, to stand guard at the frontlines between the Giants and the countless lives both within these walls and in the realms beyond them. Many of them have since departed from this world to the next, be it their own or the Otherworld, but as their sacrifices will not go forgotten, so too do their spirits remain. I see them daily in all of you, in your stubborn refusal to take these assaults lying down. We refuse to be beaten, and it is in this that I know we will win this war.

Stand with me again, my friends. Forget these petty quarrels that bring us closer to the brink; stand together, and show them we are not yet broken. If any of you would join me, I aim to revive the Guard in a meeting of the Round in three days' time. We have time now to prepare, so that we might stand ever stronger against the Giants. Let them know we are not to be underestimated again.

And to those of you not yet learned in the combative artes, the Citadel doors are always open to those willing to train hard and find their own strengths. We have courses available in a wide array of weaponry, as well as basic hand-to-hand combat for all ages and weights. There are also the Teachers' Council for learning the use of our god-given abilities and Aladdin's magic guild for learning of both Asgard's runic arrays and other magicks across the realms. Our options are countless, our strengths limitless.

We are far from defeated, Asgard. Do not forget: we have achieved the unthinkable, the impossible. Fates be damned. We will carry our destinies in our own hands and share this burden together. Joined as one, there is nothing that can stand in our way.

[ ooc; Holy crap is this long the important bits are all outlined in an OOC post over here. There's a reason I am called the loquacious one. ;; Links are not IC, just for OOC reference! ]

[Shirou hasn't really been sure what to do. He's wanted to help some of the sick, but settling in was also fairly important. Even if he would have rather helped, it probably would've helped more if he actually knew where everything was. So now that that was settled, he decided to check the network again and... welp.

All of those things that happened sure were a thing. He's not entirely sure what to think about it all. So instead of dwelling on that too much, he'll ask about what he wanted to do in the first place.]

If anyone still needs help, I'm willing to come by and help in any way that I can. I meant to do so before, but I was busy trying to get on my feet. Sorry about that.

[Hmm... what else?]

Just let me know what I can do, and where to find you, and I'll be sure to do so. Though, since I'm still getting used to everything, I might be a little slow. Sorry again.

[Yeah that sounds about right, really.

... but oh, he probably should mention his name. He forgot about that.]

... Ah, right. I'm Shirou Emiya, from Fuyuki City. If there's anyone else from there, it would be good to know. Thank you.

[aaand video off!]

[Kiritsugu is even more sleepy seeming than usual today. He's also in possession of a vase of flowers that seem to have burst into new growth, filling the glass with roots.]

This world continues to prove stranger than anticipated. Is the whole city really like [He gestures towards the flowers] this?

These gods seem so reckless...

[Well he sure has been gone awhile. His bracelet was returned to him in the wee hours of the morning, and he headed straight to see Irisviel. Leaving her behind for so long is something he can't quite forgive himself for, even if it wasn't intentional. But she always forgives him, and experiencing that lets him feel the warm sense of "love and family" that he cherishes.

It's later morning now and he's sitting in some fast food joint when he addresses the camera. He actually looks quite a bit less tired than usual -- the bright side to forgetting his "self" was that grey!Kiritsugu didn't keep himself up worrying about everything -- and his gentle smile is perhaps more cheerful than it tends to be.

This also might have something to do with the hamburger and milkshake he seems to think make a good breakfast.]

It seems I've missed quite a bit. Sorry to anyone who noticed I was gone, and thank you for your concern.

Ah, but to everyone else... If one wanted an in with our "divine" hosts, which would you recommend talking to? I guess you could also take it as "which god is your favorite" or something like that. Just curious who's made a good impression and who hasn't.

[Filtered to Iri, Archer, Rin, & Saber;]

I'd like to move out of the provided housing soon and I'd like Iri and Archer to come along, if you would. I expect Rin and Saber would follow if that happened, so I'll just invite you now. But we'll need income, so how many of you are working?

[/End Filter]


What are the best restaurants in town, in your opinion?

( Private )

[Audio]

[The voice that comes over the feed is soft, but if you've spoken to her enough, it is unmistakably Hibiki's. Considering she doesn't usually do voice posts, this is a little... odd.]

Does anybody... know what to do when you really, really miss somebody?

[It hasn’t been too long since the candy attack; and there’s still someone who has been deeply affected by it. The look of profound confusion that’s been gracing Aladdin’s face is a clear indicator of that. ]

The candies made people do a lot of really weird things. Some of it was nice like hugs and kisses, but the other stuff wasn’t so nice, like punching and pinching.

Those pinching candies made me realise something really big. There are a lot of guys in Asgard with really nice butts. [Clearly this is a true revelation for the ages and he can’t help but share his findings with everyone.]

One of the first people I pinched was Ms. Eve, she looked really gentle and pretty. Though she’s actually a mister; a really grumpy mister. He’s still pretty though, with a nice butt to match. You wouldn’t notice the difference if he let his hair down and had some makeup on!

Mr. Freyjadour too, he’s another guy that looks like a girl, so I shouldn't be surprised. At least I didn't need to check to see if he had boobs. He could have been hiding some but I'm pretty sure he wasn't...

Mr. Kiritsugu was a surprise, he was the oldest looking person I pinched. But his butt wasn’t saggy or anything gross. You wouldn’t really notice unless you saw him walking from the back. He has a grace to him like Mr. Ja’far, but that might not be a good thing.

Mr. Eyes is really slender and thin like he hasn't eaten in a while. You wouldn't think his butt would look nice but it is. Hmm... maybe all his fat goes down there.

Mr. Allen had the biggest butt of the bunch like two bubbles pressed together! He’s slender like Mr. Eyes, so maybe the same thing happened to his butt too.

Mr. Kaworu was the last person I got to, and by that time I just realised that all the butts I pinched were nice.

To think, I wouldn’t have noticed if it wasn’t for those candies! I’m not sure it was a good thing or not, but at least now I know. I’m not going to look again, but I wonder... if there are more guys like that?

[Are there more people out there that are part of the nice butt bro club? He really wants to ask why it happens, but then no one explained the whole does this man have big boobies to him either. ]

[the feed cuts in with red eyes staring intently and curiously close to the recording device as a woman’s voice comments, clearly speaking to herself:]

--and when the display shows that, it’s record--oh!

[the camera seems to shift and adjust as a white-haired woman leans back and away, surprise on her face before it falls into an embarrassed apologetic expression, a hand lifting to her mouth]

I’m sorry! I’m still learning about how to work this device. It’s not something I’m used to and I wasn’t expecting... ah, I should introduce myself, shouldn’t I? [she lowers her hand to smile a bit more politely, cheerfully] I’m Irisviel von Einzbern. It’s nice to meet you all--ah, although... I don’t quite know who all is watching this right now. But even if we hadn’t met, I hope that we can get to know each other and get along in the future. Oh, I’m with the House of Freya, if you’d like to meet! I’m free for the time being, though I hope to help in a shop or clinic somewhere in town soon, so please feel free to stop by anytime.

[she seems satisfied with this message and continues to smile for a moment before it fades a bit as she tilts her head. the camera seems to tilt and turn in different directions, the woman’s feet, different parts of her apartment, and then her face again appearing. once again, she wears an embarrassed but amused expression as she laughs a bit]

And, um. If you do come... if you could show me how to turn off the recording...? And maybe how to work the rest of it. It was a lot to learn all at once...!

What do you do for work when you need extra money?

[He asks quietly but confidently, without pause. Today he isn't as cheerful at the last time he made a post. He's still worn out, but somehow he looks even more exhausted than he did before. He's scruffy, and there's something about him that seems haunted and hollowed-out despite the mild-mannered calm in his voice.

He's pulling his coat on as he talks, and heading out from his room into the hall.]

What's given freely is good, but it doesn't count for luxuries, so--

[Once in the hall he stops, looking confused. He turns around to look at his door: number 307 in Sigyn's Welcome Hall.]

...It moved.

[The video begins with a shot of an upper hallway in Sigyn Welcome Hall. There are a few mutters as the user gets the screen the way he wants it, and the view is momentarily turned to catch his face. He’s 30-something, but despite his rather cheerful expression there’s a worn, almost haggard look to him that makes him seem older.]

Is it always this well-decorated or is this city really holding celebrations during a war? Either way, it’s a mixed blessing to have family here.

[He makes a sound somewhere between a sigh and a laugh, and turns the video to show the door of room 302. Without knocking, he opens it to reveal Archer seated on the bed, coffee mug in one hand, book in the other. He turns to shoot a glare at the door when it opens, and when he sees Kiritsugu with the camera on, he holds his book up to shield himself then sighs.]

What are you doing?

It’s only proper to introduce ourselves, Shirou.

[8| The exasperation is palpable. He’d prefer not to be called that, but it’s too late now. He begins to argue, then stops.]

The point of that being...?

[Kiritsugu’s voice is amused and patient -- the sort of voice a teacher uses to explain rules to a child.]

Because it’s good to be polite to your neighbors.

Then tell the nice people your name.

[There’s a gentle laugh in response, and Kiritsugu turns the camera back to himself for a moment.]

I’m Kiritsugu Emiya, and this-- [the camera goes back to Archer] is my son. [a beat] ...The timelines are quite a bit off.

[Archer sips his coffee, then sets his book, pages down, on the bed. It’s inevitable now -- he’s stuck speaking to people on this thing. Fine. Be that way. He smiles pleasantly, in a strained sort of way]

You can call me Archer. Charmed, I’m sure.

There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?

[Nevermind that he’s parent-talking at someone the same physical age as him. It just comes naturally. Kiritsugu turns the camera to face him again, and gives a brief nod in place of a bow.]

It’s nice to meet you.