Dear residents!!! I have wonderful news for those of you who find me absolutely irritating!!!

I have been advised to be quiet in order to stop being so very annoying.

So from this day forward, I will no longer speak a single word!!!

 I'm very sorry for bothering everyone with this useless questioning, but I was wondering... does this realm of the gods have a time period as it relates to years? I wanted to know what year it was... because depending on what year it is here, we could celebrate the zodiac animal of that year!

Once we find out the year and the animal, I was thinking maybe Ayame's could have a special discount for a little bit! Bring in the new year's animal, and you get a half of discount! If it's the year of the Ram, you could bring in one of these cute sheep, and then you get half off! Or a pig, or a rat, or a dog! And maybe we can make the dresses styled to the animal! I'd love a kimono with little monkey paws on them, I think that would be very cute!

[Awww, this is the happiest he's been in a while. Who wants to ruin it by pointing out several illogical facts? And if you'd like action, he can be seen sweeping outside of Ayame's dress shop.]

[ Regina is pretty quiet when she first makes her broadcast. Her high-pitched voice is hoarser than usual, and in her hands she clutches some crumpled papers. ]

She was gonna make me a dress...

[ A pathetic sniffle. Aside from being upset, Regina also seems to have caught a cold due to the terrible weather. She presents the sketches to the camera for all to see: they show the rough design for a flashy circus costume. ]

These belonged to Sora Naegino! She left them to me because she's gone home. Lots of people are leaving or confused or sad right now, and that's no good. Don't you agree with me? Huh? [ She giggles, although it's a more melancholy, restrained giggle than normal. ]

Though there's a bunch of new guys coming in, so! Hi everyone! [ She smiles sweetly, but then breaks out into a coughing fit. Thankfully, she recovers like a pro. ] Oops, I don't want to make you get sick already! If you need help or a new friend though, just call me.

[ She dials down her cloying cutesyness for the next part. ] I hope Miss Freya is okay. You know, I always liked her. But does this mean that we're going to have to go fight again? I knew we would eventually, but I didn't think it'd be so soon...

[ This is interrupted by the most adorable/ridiculous/adoradiculous sneeze ever: ]

Pah...pah-CHOOey! [ And the feed is turned off. ]

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?

 [Here's a rare occurrence - Ritsu using the bracelet on purpose! And looking cheerful! He is standing in front of the former Ayame's shop...]

Hello, everyone. I'm sorry to have bothered you, but I have a small announcement to make. Myself, Sora Naegino, and Haseo Nakai have decided to keep open Ayame Sohma's Boutique. The three of us are looking for clothing designers and those who can sew, so we can continue keeping Ayame's dream alive.

[So far, so good! Only one apology, and he's being sweet and heartfelt. Could this be a day where Ritsu doesn't make an idiot out of himself?]

Ayami-nii always believed in the beauty of... Men's fantasies!

[Nnnope.]

We will strive to be the number one supplies of men's dresses! And women's too! If you like attire such as mine - 

[Yes, he's wearing a dress again.]

Then we will be the store for you!

[ Despite staying out of the way during most of the fighting - as much as possible, anyways - Shion hasn’t been procrastinating, no way. Amongst various things that could be important, she’s been debating on what to do about someone. The someone she currently happens to be in the same room with. So all of Asgard is blessed with her delightful face today, and with some other kid’s head as well. ]

Ah, hello everyone! [ You remember her? OF COURSE YOU DO. She’s waving towards Satoshi, smiling cheerfully. And then nudging him in the ribs. ] Say hello!

[ For his own part, Satoshi had managed to stay away from the fighting too... mostly at Shion’s insistence. It’d been hard to ignore at times, but he knew there probably wasn’t much he could anyways. Better to leave that sort of stuff to people better suited for it, right? ]

Oh... um... hello! [ He smiles weakly as he rubs his ribs, glancing back at Shion. ] You never told me what this was about... [ Or that she’d be recording it, whatever it was. ]

Ahh, about that... I’m going to introduce you to the rest of the city! [ Because he needs friends. ] So please, tell us all your name, age and special skill! [ Wait, can she take that back... As much as she likes him... ] Go on!

Well... my name is Satoshi Houjou, and I’m 16. My special skill is... [ Does he even have a special skill? He seems to go into deep thought for a while, unable to really come up with anything. Yeah, this is pretty tough. Sorry, Shion. ]

...Let’s leave that up to our viewers. [ She turns back to the screen and nods. ] If you have any suggestions as to what his skill could be, please let me know. It’s more dire than I expected.

Is it really that bad...? I can come up with something, I just need more time! [ A lot more. ]

A-anyways, please treat him kindly! [ She’s going to use this opportunity to warn him away from everyone she deems unworthy... And if they don’t treat him nicely, she’ll wait until they’re asleep and... ] Satoshi-kun, is there anything you want to add?

Not really. I’d be glad if I could meet any of Shion’s friends though. Things have been kind of... crazy lately, so it’s nice that things are finally getting back to normal. [ Relatively speaking, anyway. ] I hope we all get along!

Don’t worry, I’m sure you will. [ With that, she flicks the feed off. Friend request him, Asgard. ]

[ green is shion, blue is satoshi! since she's introducing him to everyone, tags will go CHARACTER, SHION, SATOSHI, etc. it might break off a bit later on, after the introductory stage and such. ]

[It's roughly noon. The armies are staring each other down across a field of mud and gravel and blood. It's clear that Asgard and their allies are heavily battered down, suffering from heavy losses and damaged morale. It feels like today is the last day. It seems like there's no chance that anything but the end of the world could come today.

Then a video feed starts on the network, surveying the view from a high vantage point. Freyr isn't on screen, but he's close enough to speak and be heard clearly. But even if he weren't close he'd still be heard. There's a convenient little spell projecting his voice all across his side of the battlefield and through the city itself. It's a stern voice, tense and short instead of the gentle, patient attitude he usually shows.]

Sound the retreat. Get all living things within the city walls. Abandon that which cannot be swiftly carried. Now.

[The video continues in silence while his orders are spread through the forces and followed. It takes little more than ten minutes to move everyone inside at an ordered dash. Supply wagons and tents are left in the field and people and animals are removed until all that remains is ghost town of a camp. Small groups of enemies that try to chase are quickly and efficiently deterred by fire from the flying ship, and eventually all are safe inside.

He wants this recorded. It's more than just to be sure his announcement is heard -- he wants to be sure no one forgets how close they were and how important this battle was. His ship maneuvers to the center of the field, and he takes a graceful leap to the ground just yards from the enemy front lines. At that point, he begins to glow.]

...Do not doubt that all of you would have died this day. This is not a game. It's not a trick. Everyone and everything you love is and has been riding on this. I'm sure, even now, that the war will not end. You will all have to continue to fight, and for that you have my sincerest apologies. You also have my sincerest faith. I have never seen hearts so strong as those who stand for what they believe in when they are so far from home. Whether you hate us or not that remains true. I am sure you will triumph in the end.

Thus, I am honored to have observed true beauty in all of you. Thank you and good luck.

[His voice wavers by the time he's done. He'd like to be emotional, but showing fear and regret won't help anyone and so he holds it in.

It's a distant angle, but the video might just catch a hint of a solemn smile. Then, with a flash like a bomb the view goes white and then blinks out. After that anyone looking out past the gates will see a wide, shallow scar on the land, stretching from just feet away from the city walls to what used to be a point three quarters of the way into the enemy army. In that place, nothing remains but rock-solid round covered in a layer of fine white dust. Not even a bit of metal or a single plant mars that flat surface. For a moment anyone in Freyr house will have their powers flicker off, then back on within a few seconds.

But the enemy is decimated, and shows no signs of coming close again.]


[ooc note: That's it for actual plot events! The enemy army will stay at a distance the rest of this IC day (tonight and tomorrow), and will leave in the morning (Nov 16). There will be another NPC post on the 17th, but other than that from this point on is just cleanup. Characters who died will return on the 17th! Thank you for playing!

Oh and P.S. you can get comments from the other gods, so do feel free to respond to this post to talk to them or just to talk to each other. Threadjacking is A+! It is a free-for-all in this post, even for quick action threads.]

[ Okay. Time for me to face facts. This isn't a dream. Well, it might be some sort of magic shared coma dream--maybe Rena finally clonked me too hard; it'd explain Satoshi running around.

... ... ...No, that is pretty stupid.

Well. Time to make a first impression. ]

PEOPLE OF ASGARD, LISTEN! FELLOW MEMBERS OF HEIMDALL, LEND ME YOUR EARS!

I am here to introduce myself! It's only customary for us all stuck together in this place to come to know one another, so I will with this hand take center stage for the time I am entitled to!

[ At this point he stands atop his bed, stands straight, and POINTS with fervor at nothing. ]

This figure before you--this man standing before you!--is none other than--

[ He LEAPS from the bed and lands on the ground, spins, and POINTS with even more fervor at an equal amount of nothing. ]

--the one-and-only Keiichi!

[ Pause.

Then he laughs, falling back onto the bed.

Haha, that'd be pretty cool! But an over-the-top introduction like that isn't my style, so I'll go with something normal, even if it was fun to play out. Good thing I don't have a roommate! Now, I'll just get this thing working and give a toned down--

Wait. Is...This doesn't mean--

He leans in very, very, very closely to the translucent screen. ]

( SUSPENSEFUL CUT )

[Between Mary being very, very missing and everything he knows she's keeping from him, John's stressed as hell. And when John gets stressed, he likes to drink to cope.

And when John drinks, he stops being the nice, helpful guy he usually is.]

We don't have to fight their damn war, you know.

[Yeah, kinda like that.]

These goddamn gods yanked us here and they expect us to fight and die in some war we've got no stake in? Oh, where have I heard that before?

[There's another pause as he takes another drink of...whatever this stuff is. It's good. It's strong.]

This isn't our fight. Fuck them.

[ He doesn't really have this whole bracelet thing down yet, but at least he manages to switch the feed on and you're all greeted by the blond's smiling face. From the looks of it, he's balancing on one foot, swaying every few seconds while the recording's going on. Congrats, you get a free mini amateur show instead of having to go all the way to the circus. ]

Hi everyone! For those I haven't met my name is Momiji Souma, its very nice to meet you! I have a question, do you want to hear it? Sehr gut! Does anyone play instruments? I'm going to try playing something on one foot like this-- [ The bracelet is angled down to give a brief glance at his feet, with one being lifted a bit higher and pointed outwards to the side. ]

I bet if you're really talented and practice a lot you can pull it off. You all should try it too! It'll be really fun!

[It's a device that hasn't been on in a while. Tohru's face shows, cheerful as ever since the screen is on.]

First I lost my bracelet, then I went home for a time. I didn't even get to thank the person that found it for me, but thank you, unknown person, for returning my bracelet.

I hope I wasn't gone too long? Is everyone well?

But why did they send me home? Was it because I was careless and lost my bracelet? Could it be, maybe, I wasn't being helpful enough? [She looks a little panicked for a moment.] I'm sure there are plenty of things I could've done that I wasn't doing. If there's anything anyone needs help with, let me know. I would gladly like to do more this time around and take on my fair share of the work here. I, Honda Tohru, will do my best this time around!

 I'M SO SORRY, KYO-KUN! I'LL END YOUR MISERY RIGHT NOW!

[Ritsu, kimono version, is standing on a window still, after having pushed open the windows. Wait a minute... he's not really going to...]

I'LL END THE MISERY OF EVERYONE WHO EVER HAD TO ASSOCIATE WITH ME! I'M SO SORRRYYYYYYYYY!

[He is! He's going to jump! He jumps!

... and lands flat on his face on the grass. Helps that he had this breakdown on the first floor.]

 [Ritsu, today in women's garb, has decided to be of some 'help' today. He's standing outside the Sigyn house, and holding a white sign with black bold lettering. It reads "Male".

He's also purposely left the bracelet on, so others can see this. He smiles cheerfully, and hums a little. He thinks this is the best way to let people know he is, in fact, a guy.]

 [Ritsu, being the fail that he is, hasn't realized he's left the video on his bracelet on. So, whether you're there or not, you get to see him walk out of Sigyn House - in "men's" attire, no less! - ready to explore this place on his own!

... And then chicken out and run back inside, slamming the door.

... And then, after a minute, boldly getting over his fear, opening the door, and stepping out again!

... And then chicken out again and run back inside.

This keeps happening. Enjoy the show?]

[ The video feed turns on to show a purple-haired teenager in Freyr's house. The feed turning on causes the girl on the screen to jump slightly, as if she's startled. ]

Oh! Oh, it's working. [ Deep breath, Ellen. Okay. Okay. You got this.

She smiles nervously for a moment, holding up a paper in her hands. She seems to have clenched her hands and wrinkled the paper, but she makes her best attempt to smooth it.

And then, in a tone that makes it obvious that she's reading right off of the paper, she begins to speak. ]

Hello everyone. My name is Ellen Kurokawa. I'm a fairy from Major Land, though I lived in Minor Land and then Earth before arriving here. I love music and making new friends, though I don't really know much about making friends. I hope I can be friends with all of you.

[ She lowers the paper, looking nervous. Did she do well there? Did she do everything right this time?

She gives a bow to the camera. ]

Thank you! [ And, after a second to figure out what to press, the feed turned off.

Yes, she just did a self-introduction. To the network. Like on the first day of school.

Welp. ]

 [Ritsu has finally gotten the hang of this device, and the nerve to speak up.]

I'm sorry for being so terribly rude and not introducing myself further. There seems to have been a mistaken, and I was brought here, to.... well... I suppose everyone knows by now, but I was wondering if there was a way to let the gods know they picked the wrong Ritsu, or the wrong Sohma, or the wrong Ritsu Sohma. 

I'm sorry for bothering you all with my question, but I figure the sooner I am gone, the less of a burden I'll be on you all.