Maybe this is a dumb question, and maybe there's something super obvious that I've missed -- it's possible! I know a lot of research has gone into houses and powers, and the reason that we're here, but... how much do we know about the gods?

I mean, I know everyone asks this, but I want to figure out how to make them answer us. Or maybe even figure out where they live. Has anyone had any luck talking to them when they haven't initiated contact? Or finding them, even?

They need our help, and I'm okay with helping, I think! I don't mind at all, not if they really need it. But if things like what happened a few days ago are going to keep happening, then I want to know more. I'm not very good when it comes to not knowing things!

[ It's a joke, or at least half of one, and her tone is still buoyantly enthusiastic. ]

Soooo, has anyone had any luck? [ And, in good humor: ] I'm kinda getting sick of being patient.

[At first Bianca wasn't sure if she was using the bracelet correctly. She was sure she followed the instructions but nothing is happening. After staring at it intensely for a couple of seconds, she figured it probably was working. If not, ...oh well]

Um...now that everything is over, I was hoping that maybe we can use something to make everyone happy! So I thought that we can play a game! I want to learn more about other people's worlds and in return, you get to know about mine!

One person says a word and the next person must say another word but the first letter must begin with whatever the last letter was! For example, if person one says "Psychic" the next person must say something that begins with the letter C. It could be anything ranging from Cat or Color or...something!

So I'll start off by saying Grass! Now you go!

[Pause] Um...if it's not too much trouble, I want to ask if there's anyone here who knows how to use a weapon...

[The device starts up with Finnick sitting on his couch, his cheeks filled with air and eyebrows knitted. It's almost as if he's nervous about something, but as he releases a slow breath through his teeth. He stands up looking uncharacteristically serious, pacing back and forth for a moment.]

So.

There's something I want to do, and it's not like I can't but I'm going to need a lot of help to do it.

I don't even know why I'm nervous...

[He continues to pace for a second, before he stops and just grins at the camera. It's like a light bulb has gone on in his head, and his brows raise up as his grin gets wider. He drops onto one knee.]

Annie Cresta! I love you! Will you marry me again?

[He winks at the camera and points at it.]

Hey. All you guys are invited. The more the merrier right?

[A video feed comes online in the late evening. Samantha is visible, sitting down in a somewhat gloomy, though homey room in a small building. It appears to be in one of the buildings that was spared the damage of the tornadoes. There's piles of bags and an assortment of herbs on all sides of her as she sits down on the desk, looking at the feed.

From the look on her face, and the only mild cuts still marring the edges of her features, she doesn't seem all that concerned with talking about the last few days' events. Other people can handle that.]

Ok, so... give it about a week for me to get everything set up in the shop, as long as all the stock comes through. Depends on deliveries. Anyway, I'm setting up shop here. "A Pinch of Sage" is in Loki District, not far from the Hospital over in the neighboring district. It's an apothecary and alchemist shop that specializes in herbal cures. Pharmaceuticals of any variety you're familiar with through the various clinics in town should be available, and privacy for clients is strictly protected.

I will be taking clients for serious meds by prescription only, but I will have plenty of over the counter herbal cures. In addition, there is something special for you folks. I've picked up a license to work with some of the local plants with magical properties. Don't expect the quantities to be high early on, but you can ask at the desk if you're interested. It's nothing to hold a candle to the powers we get, but they're definitely interesting, I promise. Cash up front for magical herbs. I'm sure you understand.

Just look for the sign out front. I won't be doing an 'opening ceremony' sale or anything like that. But I figured a few of you might be interested while things are getting set up.

[Hello bracelet: another ©Koizumi, Inc. network message production for you; as usual, he's smiling, well-coiffed, handsome, in generally good order, with a nice, plain background behind him, and then he starts up, as he has pretty much every time he's been on the network:]

Good evening, everyone. It seems we've once again escaped, not entirely unscathed, but more or less intact, from another occurrence, this one with certain unique features that have been mentioned before on the network.

First, of course, it appears to have its origins in the world of a Traveler. As we know, it was a quite exact enough replica for the Traveler in question to give us a policy prescription and taxonomy. This issue has provoked considerable dissent, as it can be explained in any of four ways: [points to a screen "in front" of him! apparently he's put up a little thing on the bracelet screen, reading:]

Internal ("Curse")
External ("Attack")
Traveler ("Conspiracy")
Unintentional ("Side Effect")

Which I'm sure are roughly intuitive; essentially, it is a matter of allocation of blame, whether on the gods, their enemies, one of us, or no one at all. I believe it's presently impossible to decide that question for certain. My instinct, however, is to believe that it is, in fact, an outside attack. One would find this a bafflingly counterproductive move on the part of the gods, as our enemies, according to them, don't generally resemble these creatures; and yet they have shown a certain amount of willingness to make seemingly counterproductive moves--perhaps because they are not a single directed intelligence but rather a plurality. Still, because of the nature of the event -- because of the way in which it inhibited "colorfulness", in particular -- I incline to think they are not involved.

One more reason I think this is that it potentially answers in part a rather interesting question. If Asgardian gods can bring Travelers, and they are beings on a level similar to their adversaries, as we've seen, why do the others not follow suit? In other words, why would these gods in particular have access to the "multiverse"? If this was indeed an attack, we should now suspect that the adversaries can access our worlds, or knowledge of our worlds, and as such, this particular issue is somewhat resolved.

I'd like to ask any of the gods that may be listening now to weigh in on this question, if they are indeed not responsible.

As a side note, some of you who have particularly developed your powers likely had a rather easy time in this event -- those with advanced fire magic, for example. May I ask for anyone whose powers have become very advanced to speak with me? [He pauses. A slightly strange expression comes over his face--a slight twitch of the eyebrows.] It's about consolidating that power, because many of the more stupid, paranoid--

[Whoa. He didn't mean to phrase it like that. What... -- Try again.]

That is, maybe I just want to think that these gods couldn't get one past my magnificent conspiracy watch skills--

[W...hat. Why is he saying such things... Suddenly he looks decidedly flustered.]

--In any case, that's all for now, then--[Hastily signing off...!

Better go walk this off, if possible. Action for Odin district is also available! He'll be wandering the district.]



[ooc: Midway through, Odin apparently got tired of his blathering and smacked a truth curse on him. He will be unusually honest for replies to this post. It will dismay him to say the least!]