[ He's got a handle on what's going on. At least, as much as most new people do. Hey, and for his effort, he's starting to learn how the people speak over the network... or at the very least, how to feel people out for how they act.

So an anonymous question will pop up on the network: ]

Does justice mean anything to you?

And if you answered yes,
How far are you willing to go to see it through?

--
[ Action/House Loki ]

[ Yuri's taken over the living room slightly, one giant wolflike dog stretched across one of the sofas entirely. He's experimented with the television and after about an hour, he's got a movie rolling of the standard action-with-a-twist fare.

It's not a movie without food, though. There's a tray of pizza bagels (thank goodness some instructions are easy to figure out) on a coffee table.

He's practicing his telekinesis by tossing an occasional bagel to Repede by levitating it and tossing-- at least, Repede's good at catching. ]

Excuse me.

[The voice is somewhat quiet, apologetic and soft-spoken. That should be the first sign he's changed; that is not a normal tone of voice for this man to take. It had happened once before, though not for very long, and it ended up leaving him in an even worse temper than he had previously. It seems the gods decided to try again and to perhaps not ruin the holiday season for anyone who tries to deal with him on a regular basis.]

I apologize for the disturbance, but I wish to request some information. In an...effort to better understand the people of this land.

[An awkward pause, as if something just occured to him.] Of course, you are under no obligation to answer me; please don't feel as if you must.

I have seen people here mention certain festivals and holidays taking place around the winter season. Considering the...recent decorations, they seem to be commonplace no matter the other differences in a person's homeland.

We have similar myths and legends where I come from, though I had not taken part in any sort of celebration. [Silvites are too clinical to celebrate something as frivolous as winter solstice, but that's neither here nor there.]

If you should consent to answer, then please tell me; what do you celebrate in your land? Is there any particular history associated with it?

It could be anything; not...just winter festivals. I merely want a basis for comparison.

[He says that with an air of finality. There's a bodily shift and a far-away sigh as it goes silent, all before it abruptly turns back on and another statement is added in a hurried sort of breathlessness, as if he just remembered to add something important.]

Thank you. For your time, I mean. I know you are not required to listen to me.

[And done.]

((OOC: Tags will be coming from aetos))

[The best thing she could do at this moment was brace herself against a wall, somewhere in the Thor district. The bandage around her leg isn't working very well, as blood is very well evident along the bandage of her thigh. So she breathes.]

... Create color. Yeah, right.

[She applies more pressure to her leg, hoping that helps, no matter how painful it is.]

I don't have time for that shit. Find someone else, I've got better things to do with my time. What are you going to do with me? Mow me down with your goats? I think not.

[ Much like Arthur before her, Mithian sits, holding her crown in her hands, fingers tracing along the textured gold. She looks as though she's trying to make some sort of decision. After a moment, she lets out a sigh before turning to the camera.]

There are many of us from different worlds and here, we are one and the same, titles and names hardly matter in a place such as this, in a battle like this one. I ask, what is the point of holding on a symbol of something that holds little value here? Priorities have changed and what was important is no longer as important as survival, as helping others to survive, and win this war so that we may all go home.

[ She pauses for another moment before she sets the crown aside, fingers lingering for a moment.] I wonder if anyone could tell me where the nearest market is. [ Because she's going to sell that crown. Yep.]

Hello. [ Kaworu's voice is gentle and soft, as usual ] I have a question. What sort of job you had back home and what kind of job do you have now. If you ever had any. If not, what did you do?

I would like to find a way to occupy my time, though I suppose I need money for many of the things I enjoy doing. [ playing music ]

[ now, time for some Kaworism. He sets the filters because there is one person who would hate to hear the next question ]


[ FILTERED AWAY FROM IKARI SHINJI ]

Instrumentality Project. In Instrumentality, the flaws in every living being would be complemented by the strengths in others, thus erasing the insecurities in people's hearts. No one would ever perish, no one would ever leave, and everyone would understand everyone.

No insecurities in people's hearts, no hatred and no confusion. Your mind would be at peace. True Paradise.

In Instrumentality Project, you’d have to lose one thing and one thing only, which is what brings you so much pain: individuality. All souls would be gathered and united as one. This would create an existence where nobody existed singularly, but merely as part of the whole.

[ so ]

Would you accept it? Would you prefer eternal happiness or your individuality?

There's something I've been thinking about for a while now. I want to build an airship. I've been here a few months now, and it feels strange being stuck on one island for so long, especially an island as big as this one.

So, I was wondering if anyone had experience with building ships? Or just mechanics in general, and would know how to make some of the parts? I'm sure there are schematics in the library, though Vyse and Enrique would know that better than me. The main thing I'm worried about is what sort of fuel it would run on, since there don't seem to be any moonstones in Asgard.

Oh, right! Aoto said that the airships in his world were probably very different to the ones I'm thinking of, so I drew a picture of one!

( OOC cut for crappy artwork )

If you help out, we might make you part of our crew! Vyse is the captain, before anyone tries to claim that one.

[Today Asgard you'll see a young man inside the library with various stacks of books surrounding him on your screens with him appearing to be skimming one of the books in his hand. Seems the bracelet also decides to turn itself on while he was having some deep thoughts going on.]

So many books in this library and yet I've not found one that tells me how to leave this world. [There's a sigh that follows while he's continuing skimming the pages of his current book, maybe this will be the one.] My circumstance currently is quite particular in itself as well. One moment I'm at Mount Kazai in Yafutoma, now I'm in this strange world that I'm fairly certain isn't apart of Arcadia. I do wonder if I'll be able to find some type of passage in one of these books that explains how exactly I was brought here.

[He then sets down the book he was reading and closes it promptly, nope not this one either. His head then turns up to look at the ceiling.] I can't stay in this world knowing my friends are back at home needing my help. Vyse, Aika, Fina... I promise I'll find a way back to Arcadia and we'll finish our mission together. I won't abandon that duty with the possibility of the Armada getting their hands on the crystals or...my mother. [He sighs yet again and picks up another book to continue his research.]

[ooc: Enrique has no idea the bracelet is on, feel free to stun him via voice or video.]

Hello Travelers,

In your opinion, what's the best type of illusion?

((ooc: WOOOOOH, ??? is officially LEVEL 3 for Telepathy! This is as close to a personal celebration post as it can get since he's a paranoid brat who doesn't like to talk about personal things. Unless he's tired.

Dorm internet's still crappy. Pardon the slow-ness.))

[Unlike in previous video posts, there are no bandages on Maya's right shoulder, no sling, and her nodachi isn't in the bag she usually keeps it in. No, the beautiful sword with the swirling dragon about the sheath is resting on her shoulder as she stands before the Freya Welcome House.]

I know it's been a couple weeks since I started at the Citadel, but allow me to introduce myself. I'm Natsume Maya, and I'm one of the Citadel's instructors. I teach the sword and meditation techniques. Unlike the other sword instructors, my specialty is the Japanese style of sword. For those of you from non-Earth worlds, if the sword's blade is single-edged and has a curve to it, I can teach it. I offer lessons three times a week for sword, twice a week for meditation. If you're interested, come to the Citadel and sign up.

Now, the Citadel has a code for chivalrous behavior always within it and while taking classes there. If chivalry isn't your thing and you still want to learn, contact me privately. I do give lessons of a less than chivalrous nature on my own time, but understand that they are not easy.

On another note, my fellow Freya members, I would like to start a little house camaraderie here in the form of a martial arts club. If you are a member of Freya and know martial arts, come down to the common room. [She gives a cocky smirk.] The best fighters don't always end up in Thor.

[It doesn’t take a genius to realize one has been gone for several months. That’s one of the first thing Legault figures out when he meets with the maid, gets his house assignment, everything. All for the second time. Things have changed, so clearly he’s been home and back...without remembering ever leaving. Oh, well. He was never against being in Asgard in the first place, that hasn’t changed. So today, there’s one new assassin skulking about and making observations from the shadows. Or is there? He’s not going to make himself known until he finally makes it back to his new house, Hel. It’s certainly a departure from Freya. And once he’s settled in, he’ll be giving the network a good once-over.

Ah, it’s been so long since he’s done this. Of course, he’s completely smooth when he addresses the town at large, smirking just like always.]

[Filtered to Euridice Taverna]

How lucky for me! There’s still someone familiar around for me to talk to. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? For you, at least.

[End Filter]

[For the others, though, he’ll be acting just a little. He’s confused, can’t you see?]

It’s been a long while since I’ve felt the need to address the network. Several months, in fact, but I’ve been a very busy fellow. I suppose I’m not a very familiar face for many, but I’m Legault, for those who might have forgotten me. Now that we’ve got that out of the way...

[He stops, acting as if he’s trying to pick the right words to say something.]

Is it unusual to suddenly change houses? It seems I’m a happy resident of Hel now. How depressing. And after all that time I spent in Freya...maybe I just wasn’t the right candidate. Maybe I’ll never know why, but it’s interesting to think about, though, isn’t it?

[And he’ll linger for just a second longer before cutting the feed.]

[ooc; heads up! legault’s been gone for months icly, he’s just trolling. also this is backdated to day 113 because of the event. hopefully, that’s not a problem! c:]

[Thankfully Annie's awaken back in her own body. She's still very much unnerved by the experience of being trapped in a man's body for a days on end. It's truly not an experience she wants to remember.

She hadn't even been able to function enough to contact Finnick and let him know what was going on. She hadn't wanted him to see her like that. Someone not herself.

She's wandered to the lake, and is pacing back and forth on the water's edge, her eyebrows drawn together as she shakes her head.]

You all said this place was better! They never turned me into a man at the Capitol! How's this place better? [She might be just a little angry on top of unnerved. She'd believed this place was better. Had truly believed it.] Lies. This is not better.

[It's not a look that's very common on the face of the young man that appears once the video feed turns on. There's something sharper about the way he looks, his jaw is set into stern line on his face, that makes expression seem somehow...off, considering who it looked like. Of course "looked like" being the key term here.

Under normal circumstances he'd throw a fit, demand to know what has happened, demand that this dark magic be undone at once, but...

He's been here a long time and even someone as resistant to change as he is learns he can't just shout impotently into the void forever. So instead he just stares rigidly at the camera before speaking. Vyse's voice comes out, of course, but, like everything else, it's sharper than before. Colder, almost biting.]

I suppose it does no good requesting to know what has been done. The intent is obvious.

Vyse. Respond.

[For all intents and purposes, he remains surprisingly civil, especially considering his usual dealings with people. Resigned, even.]

[As the video feed starts, you can see the beautiful white towers of stately Gladsheim Palace before Aika comes into view, leaning on the fence that separates the castle from the rest of the city. She has a cunning smile on her face, as if she's formulating a plan.]

So, this castle. It's supposed to be impenetrable, right? But has anyone actually tried to get back in? If so, what did you do, and why do you think it didn't work?

( Filtered to Vyse )




((OOC: And with this, I'm back from my admittedly short hiatus.))

[She paused on the video before speaking, looking uncommonly serious for someone usually so full of laughter, drawing a slow breath in. Trying to find words that were... discreet, not completely applicable to her. She was, at times, capable of such things.

There has been just the one thing on her mind, for all she was trying to remake her friendship with Bess. A quiet niggling, but it was more then that, it was a deep seated anxiety, and for once, it showed. Before it had been a case of out of sight, out of mind. But now? Now it was different.]

Tell me... has anyone every had someone appear that they... they came from the same place, so to speak? And... if they were bound in some way...

[she chewed on her lip for a second.]

... would you still be expected to honour that bond? Even in your heart you did not want to, and you were loathe to be in that persons presence even a little? 

[she didn't hate her husband, necessarily, but she knew, it was a mistake for her to ever be around him. Nor could she forgive him, and she was just starting to enjoy herself here.] 

[Some of you may recognize this voice, and some of you may not. Ramirez didn't often lend himself to actually speaking to people unless the circumstances were particularly dire. Or annoying.

But chances are, even if you know what he sounds like, you are still not quite going to recognize the voice that comes through the woodwork to this bracelet. The voice is the same, but the tone is completely different; there's a sort of warmth to it he never had before, a strange sort of soft-spoken tenderness that would put any young child at ease.

It's the sort of voice you might expect from a very kind older brother.]

I've had access to a multitude of books, but it was never anything of this magnitude. [There's something in his voice that's filled with awe, a very quiet and vibrant sort of joy.]

Upper City had several libraries of note, but even those were paltry compared to this. The vast scope and variation of your geographic charts is something that cannot be duplicated in one area.

[It's like the adult male version of sounding like a kid in a candy store. Really. You can bet he has several books laid open in front on the table next to him. After the intial gushing over this library though, he seems to catch himself.]

But I beg your pardon. From what I gather, it sounds as though it's possible I might be here a while.

It's not the most ideal of circumstances, but...[His voice trails off into an uncomfortable, thoughtful silence.]

...It sounds as though I have little choice but to assist this world in its time of need. I assure you, I will do what's needed.

My name is Ramirez; it's a pleasure to meet you.

((ooc: Unfortunately, Ramirez has found himself subject to the whims of the gods, possibly in a last-ditch attempt to make him socialize more without pissing everyone off. He has mentally regressed 7 years, from 24 to 17. And as you can tell from this post, the difference in demeanor from those seven years is a very, very big one.

Replies will be coming from aetos.))

[Ramirez isn't much for video posts, or really anything related to the subject of social interaction. He prefers to stay in the background, gather his information from a more passive standpoint.

This, however, is a special occasion, and the video feed clicks on to show a very young-looking boy with a very well-honed sense of anger about him, if that angry frown on his face has anything to say about it. He almost seems to be trying to set the bracelet on fire by the sheer force of his glare.

He's not particularly expecting any actual answers beyond yet another trick of the gods, but damn it, he's pissed.]

Someone better have an explanation.

[...It sounds much less intimidating when the voice in question is not a deep bass baritone but rather the high, androgynous voice of a boy who has not quite reached puberty yet.]