D361, morning [mass video]

[windbreak]

[The name attached to this post is "Naoto Shirogane", but Naoto's is definitely not the only face to greet the camera as it switches on, let alone the one initially taking up most of the picture - although "greet" implies some sort of presence and purposefulness, both of which seem to be lacking in the taller young man currently looking over at somebody just out of frame.]

- sense, doesn't it? We don't know if anyone's going to believe a bunch of high-schoolers even if we're all saying the same thing, but a detective's another story. So...

[He looks down at the bracelet, brow furrowing a little, pointer finger at the ready, and... does a pretty dramatic double take.]

Huh? It started recording already?

Whether we're believed or not isn't our concern. We can simply give out the information we have and nothing else. [Those who choose to listen to it or not... that's up to them.

But since the feed is on her attention is drawn away from Yosuke's floundering.]

I want to make it clear that although we are familiar with these particular events they are by no means the exact same. However I've theorized they could be quite similar so I implore everyone to listen to what we have to say.

Yeah, dammit! You listen to- uh. [The young man to interrupt this time goes a bit red, and lets her talk on.]

Subtle, Kanji... [But Yosuke backs off too as he mutters it, leaving the picture slightly less crowded.]

You heard the guy. Better listen to the lady or you'll have one scary punk coming after you! [Rise doesn't try to jump into the screen like the others, but her voice is more than recognizable.]

Gah! Rise...

[Naoto sighs a bit at the ruckus from her friends but continues once they've settled down a bit.]

I'm not certain what the alternate universe is precisely the important thing to note is that there is a possible means of escaping. If you haven't already encountered then you might. Secrets, lies and repressed feelings particularly pertaining to yourself seem to surface more readily in the alternate world. Although difficult to hear and even more difficult to face if you can do so you'll be set free and return to the real Asgard like you'd never left.

It sounds easy in theory but in practice is quite a hurdle since it requires accepted the... darker parts of ourselves whether we like them or not. I implore everyone to keep this mind if they're taken to that alternate world. By accepting everything you're faced with about yourself you can escape.

[There's a brief pause, after a fashion.]

Wow, Naoto, good going. I think you just lost the entire audience. [Yosuke's attempt to jostle his way back into the video isn't a careful one, and half of him ends up still cut off by the edge of the frame. Oblivious, he clears his throat.] Just listen! I know you've all got other stuff to worry about, and I know she makes it sound sterile, but trust us, it's not. The important thing is, if you fall in there too - whatever you do, whatever you end up hearing - don't say "you're not me". Okay? Okay.

Oh, and if anyone's seen... Eh, never mind. [Before anyone can correct him, he reaches down and switches Naoto's recording off.]

[ooc: replies and possibly threadjacks may be from any combination of Yosuke, Kanji, Rise and Naoto!]

Comments

[brainiest]

Sorry that - it's an emu, don't worry about it.

[ Professor Snape had disappeared and someone had to look after Steven, despite the fact that he really didn't seem to like her. Someone had to otherwise the poor bird would be alone. ]

I'm not sceptical, I promise you. I just - what kind of honesty are you thinking of? Do you have an example?

[windbreak]

Uh huh. [An emu. Sure. He... tries not to stare.

But he does end up scratching his head.] What kind of...? I dunno about an example - it's different for everyone. But it's more than just being honest, you know? More than... [He waves a hand vaguely.] Like, anyone can accidentally blurt out a load of crap and then go "yeah, that sure is stuff I didn't want to say", but that isn't the same as really owning it. Facing it, whatever. That's not enough to bust you out of there. You gotta take a step back and see it for what it is.

[brainiest]

[ She nods, taking it in and thinking it over, pursing her lips and waving a hand to her side absently - not now, Steven. ]

So you could admit something that you're not comfortable with, but until you completely accept it you'd be stuck?

[windbreak]

Pretty much. I mean, if some part of you wasn't already admitting it, it wouldn't be so uncomfortable, right? You wouldn't care about keeping it buried. Or... something like that. Kinda tough putting it into words...

[He trails off, a shade more awkwardly even than usual.]

...I think your bird wants you.

[brainiest]

A... A secret, then. Something you know, but don't want anyone else to know, even the whole of yourself. I think I understand.

[ She hesitates before she turns back to the bird and shakes her head, trying to give him a weak little smile. ]

He's not mine, he belongs to a friend - well, almost friend. [ No, that's not right... Oh well. ] I'm trying to take care of him until he gets back.

[windbreak]

So... you've got a lot of time on your hands? [He shoots an uncertain glance in the emu's direction - it can't peck him or anything through one of these, can it?] I guess that's cool... But yeah, that kind of secret, exactly. The kind you don't want to see. In psychology I heard they call it a Shadow, but maybe that doesn't tell you much on its own.

[He shrugs. Then again, he thinks, he adopted a bear once. He's probably in no position to judge. Even if, jeez, it's hard to imagine what kind of friend could dump a pet on someone and take a vacation at a time like this.

...Hold on.]

Hey, by "gets back", you don't mean...?

[brainiest]

At the moment, yes? [ Hermione follows the look back to Steven who's - well. He's strutting around rather nervously, not looking entirely comfortable. ] I'll be picking up a few things soon but I felt awful that he was just left by himself with no one to look after him.

[ Offering him a soft smile, she nods. ]

It's enough - a shadow is something that's a part of us that we can't always see and, sometimes, it gives us a fright, doesn't it? It seems fitting.

[ She tilts her head before she nods. ]

I think they've gone... There. Wherever there is.

[windbreak]

[He breathes in sharply. Man, you'd think guessing right would be a bit more satisfying.] I see...

[What does he even say to that, though? It's not like any platitudes he could come up with would be honestly reassuring under the circumstances, and beyond those, he's about as lost as the emu.]

Well, uh, that's why we wanted to get the word out! So if people aren't gonna stop falling in, at least some of them can go in prepared. [He pauses.] Wish we could've figured it out a little sooner, though.

[brainiest]

I think that getting the message out now is the best anyone could have hoped for. Some of us might even be used to having to deal with things as quickly as that anyway - but any and all information is really worthwhile. It's good of you to share it.

[ Steven skwarks and Hermione sighs, shaking her head, hissing; 'I know! He'll be back soon.'.

When she turns back, she offers a weak smile, looking a little sheepish. ]

It's better late than never and if any more of us do get pulled in we can, hopefully, pass the information around.

[windbreak]

Heh... Yeah, that was the idea. Here's hoping.

[He hardly looks less sheepish - but if this girl thinks this whole song and dance was worthwhile, that's almost a compliment, isn't it? He'll take it. The broadcast wasn't solely his idea either, but dammit, he'll still take it.]

Truth is... there's one of our other friends, too. He's not the kind of guy to just brush people off, but we've been trying to get a hold of him since we made it back, and nothing. So... [Awkwardly, he rubs the side of his neck. Whether he's genuinely angling for any clues she might coincidentally be able to offer or just felt the need to blurt it out, even he isn't sure.] Well, I dunno, it kind of brings it home.

[brainiest]

I definitely understand that. It - It must be hard, but if there's anything I can do...

[ She hesitates. She doesn't know Yosuke at all, but she wants to offer a friendly hand - she's always been particularly kind and here, in Asgard, it pays to be even kinder. None of them want to be in this situation. ]

If I somehow end up there I will make sure I pass the message on. I'm sure your friend is doing whatever he can to help, too, especially if he's not the kind of person to just ignore others.

[windbreak]

[He seems to brighten up. Even if it's an empty offer, it's reassuring in its own way.] Oh yeah, that's right - even if he did fall in, he already knows all of this, more or less. I guess that's one thing we don't need to worry about. Besides, he never...

[He trails off.]

Just, if you see him on this side instead, yell at him for his partner, okay? His name's Souji Seta. Pretty tall dude, grey bowlcut, hard to miss. And not the kind of guy who's thoughtless enough to go around dumping ostriches on people, either, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's what happened to him. [He winks.]

[brainiest]

Then we should have a little hope that he'll be able to help people. He's a good person, isn't he? I can't imagine anyone that fell in not wanting to help one another - except for a few people, but they're not exactly the rule.

[ She lets him off his little trailing, offering him a soft smile as she nods. ]

I'll keep an eye out for him - even if he is dumping animals on other people I will make sure to pass your message along. Luckily, Steven should be able to go home soon. I think he misses Professor Snape.

[windbreak]

Mm? Oh, yeah, probably. [He seems distracted all of a sudden, and it isn't just the topic of Souji.] ...You must be the kind of girl who's really into animals, huh?

[brainiest]

Something like that. I had a cat back at home that I adopted, in fact.

[windbreak]

Still, cats to giant birds is kind of a jump. Does that make you the dedicated type, too?

[Yes, it took this long for him to fully realise that he's talking to a girl.]

[brainiest]

Something like that? Determined might be a better word - insufferably so, if you ask my friends.

[ ... A+ Job there Yosuke how you gonna get social links at this rate ]

[windbreak]

Aww, I'm sure it can't be that bad! Especially if you're going this far just to help them out, right? I know one or two people like that...

[brainiest]

They do appreciate it, true. [ She smiles softly. ] It's incredibly sweet, sometimes.

[windbreak]

Heh. [She isn't really smiling at him now, but what the hell, he'll take that too.] Well, let's just do our best until they all get back!

[brainiest]

Yes! [ She brightens and then she is smiling at him. ] We'll find a way to help, right?

[windbreak]

That's the spirit! Somehow. ...I'll pass on the giant birds, though.

[It's... not looking at him again, is it?]

[brainiest]

I wouldn't worry! Steven is a unique case, aren't you?

[ It makes a sad noise and Hermione reaches out, cooing softly. ]

Shh, hey. He'll be back soon.

[windbreak]

Heh, you've practically adopted it already.

[He's about to leave things there, since it's probably about time to try giving Souji another call. But as he moves to shut it off, on impulse -]

Um...! But I know animals can be a pain, so if you need a hand, let me know, okay?

[brainiest]

Oh, no, I don't think so. He'd go back to his partner the second he get back, I'm sure of it.

[ But she smiles, brightly, nodding her head. ]

I will, thank you. It was really nice to meet you.