[On screen today - Kanji's trying to look the smartest, coolest and calmest he's ever looked. It's definitely not perfect, though, but he starts...]

Hey.

I realised, yesterday... It's been a long time since I came here. And people here have done a lot for me. I know it wasn't, really, but it feels like it was just a coupla days ago a load of you helped me out when I was just a kid. It meant a lot to me.

So - I wanna pay folks back.

Do somethin' to help out that ain't just my job, you know? And what I can do is sew and fix things. Clothes are damn expensive at the moment. With the way things are, we've all gotta try and get by.

What I'm thinkin' of doing is runnin' some kinda - uh, workshop to show anyone who wants the basics of sewing things. How to fix buttons, how to fix basic holes and that sorta thing. I can do some'f the more complicated bits, too, if anyone wants.

So, anyone interested? Come by Everyday Sunshine later. If this works, an' nothing gets in the way, I might do a few more'a these. What d'you think?

[Anyone who does follow him up on his offer will find him setting up a couple of tables of sewing and craft equipment, and hoping for the best...]

- really piss me off!

[A young man glares at the camera as the recording begins, but if he's trying to intimidate anyone, the effect could use some work. For one thing, it's Yosuke - dishevelled hair, snow-dusted headphones and all. For another, there's a glazed look in his eyes that suggests he's having trouble concentrating on the screen.

He shakes a fist, which isn't really a gesture to strike fear into the heart of the Holy City either. The coldly gleaming dagger in the middle of it helps, though.]

What's wrong with all of us? Are we gonna let some crazy bitch in the window get away with calling us all sheep!? How can we be sheep? Sheep wouldn't just kill time giving, giving Kanji and everyone hotness ratings while there's honest-to-god psychopaths just strolling around town, straight up murdering people with vines and stuff in broad daylight for the hell of it, and... and...

[He falters for a second. Ugh, but he does have a point, he knows it! And woe betide the next garbled rumour that floats into his increasingly foggy mind to distract him from getting to it!]

I mean, what are the gods here doing at a time like this? She was right there! Do you think it's just this town we give a damn about!? Because if we - gah!

[Abruptly, the image blurs into a streak of white and dirt brown - and something else, something with a slightly darker metallic sheen than the knife Yosuke was brandishing a minute ago, passing close enough that it's possible to hear it whoosh by.

It may be a surprise that when the picture returns to Yosuke, it looks like he's still standing; he didn't even drop his knife. While his first attempt to whip round and point it at the off-screen culprit doesn't quite go in the direction he intended, the second one does.] Sagami!

[With another flash of the dagger in his hand, the recording ends. If only the brewing street brawl itself could be so easily brushed off...]

[Newish face on the network, though some should find it familiar. Ostensibly a younger boy talking, for those who don't know any better. Gun in her hand? Gun in her hand. Naoto seems a little hurried, but she's still trying to manage a formal tone. Still, there's a trace of panic she can't quite eliminate.]

My name is Naoto Shirogane, I'm with the City Patrol. This is important, so please, pay attention. It's exactly what some of us feared. Just a moment ago, I caught sight of an army approaching the Gate of Fog. Most of the force is comprised of...frost giants, I believe? [Guess who hasn't actually seen them before?] Eighty or ninety or so, one hundred at the most. There were at least ten larger ice creatures accompanying them, and they're equipped with two catapults. Some kind of strange lights were around them as well. I don't have any further details, and I apologize, but...

[She grips her pistol a little more tightly. This isn't something she was really ready for, but like hell is she going to back down.]

I'm in no position to give anyone orders, but we must begin coordinating. Now.

( [filtered to City Patrol] )

( [filtered to Investigation Team] )

So here's a question. How many of you've- No, I'm not going to start with that.

[ It's too depressing, and he'd rather try and stay as upbeat as he can. ]

What've you got waiting for you back home?

[ Oh, he knows sometimes there's no getting around the difficult things, and that's not his point. He doesn't believe in sugarcoating anything.

And now that he's said this, he's just realized he's been a bit one-note with his transmissions, since both of them have had to do with their homes. ]

It's just that I've been thinking, it puts this war we're supposed to be fighting into perspective. Thinking about the people and places I want to keep safe does that for me.

[ Alright, maybe he'll get laughed off the network for saying what's on his mind, and really, he's okay with that. He just had to put his thoughts somewhere, so he did. ]

[Video]

[Hibiki looks a bit different today. Where her hair is usually neatly tied in a side ponytail, it's instead rather mussed up, much like she'd not only just awoken, but also decided to blow dry it for good measure. Bunched up around her shoulders and covering her body entirely is her coverlet, which is... odd, given that it should be warming up these days. Her eyes look a little red, too - has she been crying again...?

For those who know her well and are especially sharp-eyed, it's apparent she's lost about a year or so of growth as well. That could only mean...]

H-hello. [Her voice is quiet, stammering. She's trying her best to smile, but it's clearly strained.] I... went home for the first time, but now it looks like I've come back. I guess something must have happened to my connection, but the gods were able to bring me here again.

[...And a good thing, too.]

...I got to see everybody for the first time in forever. I didn't get to finish everything I wanted, but--

[Her voice cuts off abruptly, and she tries again.]

--That just means I have to try my best here, too. To make sure they'll all be safe there.

[Even if... she probably won't be able to see them again, whether they win the war or not. She hurriedly uses the coverlet to dab at her eyes, still keeping it snug around her.]

U-umm... I'm not sure how long I was away yet. I remember a dream about a tree, but after that, I think I must have left, so...

[The last words come out rushed and jumbled just before she cuts the feed.]

If-someone-could-tell-me-what-happened-I'd-like-that-thank-you!

[Click.]

Good morning, Asgard.

[ It's a joke, see? Because he's been asleep for fifty days, just recently woken to dreams of the Mother burning and the whispers of the inevitable end. Odin's a clever one, pale and worn as he looks in his customary sharp suit. ]

It's a relief, if not a surprise, to see most of my city still standing. You've done well beside my son, and for that, you have my gratitude.

[ Such a proud Allpapa. But that's as lighthearted as this address gets. Buckle in, kiddos. ]

But I'm not here to waste time with formalities today. No more beating around the bush. No jokes, no tricks, no clever riddles. No more bullshit.

This is the end. I heard Her whispers while I slept, and I have Seen it as you all did last night. You shouldn't need me to tell you that this is a reality anymore. This is the end.

You have a choice. You weren't brought here to be our soldiers and fight as our army, but we can't afford to keep Asgard half in the battlefield and half behind closed doors for your comfort anymore. Still, we promised that we would never force your hand, so - a choice.

We don't have enough control over the spell that binds you here to pick and choose for this, it's all or nothing. If you want to stay and fight this war, we'll start the process of gearing this kingdom for its true purpose. But if you want to leave, to go home and be with what's left of your homes for whatever time remains, we'll shut the doors and see what the Fates decide for us.

[ A pause, as he considers. ]

I don't have a rousing speech for you. It's not my thing; you can talk to my colleagues if you need a group hug. But - I will say one thing.

We accepted the title of "god" not because we are all-seeing, all-powerful beings. You already know that we aren't. It's just a word given value by those that speak it, as is the nature of language. This is called the "Holy City" because it was created as a refuge for the lost beings that would've been left to die outside our walls. We are called "gods" because our citizens believe in us as their higher power for protection and guidance where otherwise there is none.

We're children of faith. And where Ragnarok has been set in stone since the beginning of time, we've pushed back against it because we have faith. You are the byproduct of that; we did the impossible to fight inevitability, and you are the proof of that. Which is to say -

[ An amused, tired shrug. ]

- who knows what the Hell we can do next?

[ Just before signing off, he'll add one more thing with a ping to Jo Harvelle and The Fourth Doctor in specific. ]

I want to speak with those of you that left the city recently. You know who you are.

[ OOC NOTES: Yay, Odin's awake again! This is the IC conclusion to May's events, and the IC discussion that will bring us into Arc 5. As was already decided in December via player poll, the city will be militarising to amount a counterattack against the Giants. This post is to discuss all that! The OOC rundown of what happens next is over here. Feel free to ask questions and let us know if you'd like a specific god to pop into any of your threads, as we'll all be hanging about! ]

Anna is -- [Gone. But that word, that single word is too hard to get out. To say aloud.] I can't find her. I've been searching for days now. I thought it might be just....temporary. A lot of people were disappearing before. It looks like everyone seems to be back now though? I don't suppose anyone else has seen her?

[Please. It's more pleading than anger. Though that's there too, brimming at the surface underneath the fear and sorrow at Anna being gone. Presumably back home. Back to a frozen Arendelle and being hit with Elsa's powers again. It's evident if she did have them here? It would be a heck of a storm given her current emotional state.]

If she is back home--I don't even really know if she's....you might have sent her to her death.

[The last more addressing the gods. Who or whatever has some sort of control over people coming and going from Asgard. It's softer, though colder in tone, betraying the anger before she turns off the feed on the bracelet.]

[It takes some pretty extreme circumstances to get Adachi rampagingly pissed off; the only time it had (that he knew of, at the very least), was when Yamano had pissed him off, and he gave that bitch what she deserved. Now this entire month had been an excuse to essentially piss in his bowl of rice, and there was nothing he could damn well do about it.]

[Except of course, rant where everyone could hear him. It probably wouldn't do him any good, but at least he'd feel better for a little bit.]

This place is... is just messed up!

It screws with my head for weeks, makes me forget the few people that I actually give a shit about, makes me see everything go to shit night after night, and then it's just, 'Oh well, this is how it's going to be, sucks to be you!'

Fuck that!

[He's shaking, and having trouble keeping the bracelet straight, so he pauses a moment to take it off.]

I didn't fucking ask to be dragged into this! I didn't want to forget Nanako-chan or Dojima-san or anything I fucking did back home! Now it's not supposed to fucking matter anyway, 'cause it's all gonna burn?!

[The bracelet suddenly went flying then, finally cutting out when it hits a wall.]

[No, he's not okay.]

[ Nine looks calm, and there's nothing in his expression to suggest that everything's not all as it seems. But either way, his attention's focused outward, on whoever might be listening or watching. ]

You lot, whoever's been here for awhile now: you've probably got little bits and pieces to remind you of home, right?

[ Whether it's bits of stuff that remind people of where they're from, or actual things from their worlds, it doesn't matter. The thing itself isn't important; it's the meaning assigned to it and what it symbolizes that is the thing. Although, sometimes, objects in themselves can be important.

But either way, the Doctor's going somewhere with this. Just give him a moment to get there. ]

And I'm guessing you've got memories of where you're from, things you've done, people you've talked to.

[ It's brief, but the Doctor's brow furrows for a second before smoothing itself out again, almost as if it never happened. ]

What if all of that started going away?

[ Yes, he's only just realized some of his memories have slipped, and it's not making him very happy. This is just sort of a temperature check to find out if others are being affected as well. ]

In light of everything that's been happening lately... [ Which is a weird outlook for her to have, but she's actually feeling mildly excited about this... If not for herself, but for Peeta's sake. Either way, she's in a decent mood for once. And she'd love to help lighten the mood... Also for once. ] Peeta and I are starting to plan our wedding. Something simple, nothing too lavish.

[ She takes a deep breath, because she wants to ask Effie, but she knows that Effie will try to make it into something far more grand than she's looking for. ] I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me look for a dress.

Private to Rue ;

I've heard some wedding traditions include a younger girl who drops flowers for the wedding party. Would you? [ There's something in her voice that cracks a little, and she's welled up with emotion for a moment... Because Rue, and flowers. ]

Private to Peeta ;

You aren't allowed to see the dress until the day of the ceremony. If I bring one home, you can't use the closet until it's covered up.

[Anyone in the general vicinity of the hospital in Sigyn - more precisely, the vicinity of the Everyday Sunshine building - might catch Kanji at work setting things up, organizing cute bits and pieces and generally making a nice looking display. It's been more than a week since his stall's been open, and he's making up for lost ground.
Not that he could help it. Going home can be a drag like that.

He sets a sign outside, decorated to the point of possible overkill, down to having a (drawn up, sadly) plushie pointing at it: Craft stall re-opening!

And to announce things a bit more, the video feed opens from inside the building, set up to take the stall in the best he can:]

Hey, everyone.

Just lettin' anyone who was lookin' for my craft stall this last - uh, is it a week? Two? I can't work it out... anyway, I'm up and running again. Yeah, I got pulled home for a bit. [Shrug.] Not like I could help it, right?

So... the cute stuff's ready to go again. And I'm doin' a 'first day back' sale. Come on over and get it!

While I'm here, though... have I missed anything?

[ Kaworu looks different today (and tomorrow). He is white and from his back several wings spurt out (if you look closely, they resemble a damselfly’s wings); it’s almost as if he’s surrounded by light, in a way. He is shirtless due to the wings and in the middle of his chest there is a red orb (his core). This would be called Kaworu’s angel form. Or at least, how he imagines it to be. In his hands, he is holding what it appears to be an embryo, encased in an amber-like substance - that is Adam. Kaworu received Adam some time ago, but he has kept it away for several reasons. Now that he is (temporarily) in his angel form, he couldn’t help but to reach for the embryo. ]

Angels desire to become one. It’s not love, not really. I do not love my children and siblings [ all 15 of them; yes, Kaworu has children ], just like I do not love Adam, my mother - but I still need them and wish to become one with them. It's a need humans don't understand. But becoming one isn't something only angels want. [ he smiles gently, red eyes turning to the embryo ]

Plato said that long ago, humans had two faces, two noses, two sets of ears, eyes, arms and legs. They were powerful, and the gods were threatened by them, so they decided to cut all the human beings in half. The humans were all divided in two; that’s how one became two, and it left a wound. After, the gods scattered them away, leaving them to find their missing half. That was the source of human’s desire to love each other. Love is born into every human being: it calls back the halves of their original nature together; it tries to make one out of two and heal the wound of human nature.

And so, when a person meets the half they are missing, the two are struck from their senses by love, by a sense of belonging to one another. To come together and melt together with the one they love, so that one person will emerge from two. ‘Love’ then became the name for the pursuit of wholeness, for the desire to be complete. That's what Plato said.

But what is love, to you? What do you call love, and why do you? What makes you say “I love this person”?


[ a pause ] Shinji-kun, I can’t leave the room, Tsuki and Zadkiel want to bite my wings. [ maybe that should be your priority right now, kaworu ]

[It's been so long since Ryoji's last appearance that his voice may sound unfamiliar. It's lacking the usual cheer to it as well, sounding tired and hoarse. Not only is the transition from gray to normal difficult on him, Ryoji has heard some things that have caused him mental strain, and now he's here to talk about them.]

This is Ryoji Mochizuki. I'm sorry, but I lost my bracelet for a while. I'm sorry to those of you I've worried. If anyone needs to meet up with me, I'll be waiting.

[He trails off with a heavy sigh.]

In the meantime, I hope you don't mind if I ask for answers. I'd like to know what happened recently, and how I can help. I'm seeing some damage... a-a lot of damage, so I can assume there was some sort of attack...

[His voice starts to break under the pressure of all his worry, and he clears his throat.]

Thank you for your help.

[ The video comes on and Hermione settles a few pieces of notepaper before she speak. ]

Hello, everyone. I know it's been a long time but I've finally finished writing up all my notes about Asgard and everyone's worlds. I know it doesn't quite cover all the worlds that have been introduced here but it's a start! If you'd like to add anything then, please, let me know as soon as you're able.

[ She smiles, softly, expression bright. She's very proud of herself, really, and more than glad that she's finally able to contribute something solid and real to Asgard. She's finally able to put all her research together and actually show it to her friends and acquaintances and, maybe, actually help them in the long run. ]

It's a digital file, so I think you should all be able to access it using your bracelets. If you have any problems then, please, let me know and I'll do whatever I can to help.

[ LINKED: Hermione's guide and notes on the City of Asgard. ]

Otherwise, how is everyone? Things have been quieter than usual, which I think is a good thing, so I hope that means well for you all. 

[ She pauses, pursing her lips, before she shakes her head and sighs just before the feed turns off. ]

[There's gotta be a better way to do this. There's just got to be. However he realizes that he's running out of time, especially with the appearance of certain people in the city of Asgard.

He doesn't bother to show his face. Instead he's setting up a text…somehow that seems much, much safer.]

Party's over, I'm afraid. Back to business.

Quick question for the masses:

A.) Would you consider yourself useful here?
B.) Why so? Or, I suppose, why not?
C.) Serious responses only.

[He's fully anticipating not-serious responses, but at least it gives him a bigger pool to work with.]

Additionally, you may very well know that Euridice Taverna's left the city which means that I'm short one business partner. I'm not precisely looking for a new partner, but perhaps a few new hires.

Serious inquiries only.

[ Ame is sitting in his bed; he is currently residing over Heimdall Welcome Hall, since Euri left and he preferred to leave because he misses her. ]

Before I came here, I lived in a forest since I was a full wolf then. But I'm not a full wolf, here. And I'm small and I can't hunt and I don't have fur, so it's cold, and ... [ he pauses. It's lonely, too.

As a wolf living in a forest, he can be with animals and it's fine, but in a city it's completely different. He also misses his mother and sister - Ame always thought as a wolf, he really wouldn't miss living a "human life", but in Asgard he is back to live a "human life" again, and it makes him miss what he left behind even more ]

I have to live in a house, and I don't know how to do that. The nug won't even come here. [ yup, Ame kept a nug as a "pet". ANYWAY. He is rambling a bit. What he means to ask is- ]

What do you do when you miss home?