ooc: Just want to apologize for kind of dropping the ball all over the place in this game lately but my life has gotten insanely busy and I may have to drop some older stuff. There are threads I definitely intend to continue but I'm afraid the pace might be pretty glacial and if you get an ancient tag from me that you don't want to reply to I understand that perfectly. Now, on with the show!

[ Ghanima appears to be her usual calm and collected self, facial expression as enigmatically unreadable as ever. What she chooses to speak to the network about, however, might at least to some hint that she isn't entirely as comfortable in her own skin today as she seems. ]

The apples that give visions, I would like to ask those of you who have tasted them if you believe that what you see is an actual possible future?

[ Not the future because while Ghanima is no stranger to inevitability, she still believes that the future can change. In this case especially considering the fact that they are apparently fighting for the continued existence of all universes here. ]

I am also curious if there are any here who have entered into arranged marriages or similar agreements, if you feel as if that is something you would be comfortable with discussing.

[ And with a slight nod, she ends the video. ]

[about a minute after the sound of a thousand windows breaking, a video comes up on the network. the broadcaster is obviously moving up a darkened staircase, very quickly, before a door opens into the night air and there's a gasp]

What in the...hell.

[sophie is up on the roof of her apartment building in baldr, judging by the view of her bracelet, which shows her bare feet for a moment before she points it at the enormous dome of crackling ice where the castle should be]

I think the Ice Queen's revenge has come.

Is anyone hurt? If this is anything like the ice in Thrymheim, it will hurt you.

Hullo, Asgard. Are we all feeling better?

[ Really, he wants to know. Seems that way, but it never hurts to ask. ]

I'm John Watson, and I run the Yakuzen Clinic in Heimdall. I've been managing almost completely by myself for a while, but I think it's about time I get some assistance. Which means I'm looking for employees. A couple of secretaries first of all, and maybe another doctor or nurse or two. So if you're looking for work and think you're up for doing any of those, give me a call and we'll set up an interview... thing.

And I guess that's it. If anyone needs anything, just ask. But I might not be able to do anything if it's not medical wise.

How's everyone feeling?

[Pyro is covered in blood: mostly on his hands and up his arms, but there are sprays of it across his shirt and pants as well. Hard to say if it's someone else's or his, given his ability, but there are no tears or holes in his clothing. He wears a false smile, which drops as quickly as it appeared.]

Some of you got exactly what you deserved, and you know damn well who you are. But once the water's clean, there won't be any more trouble for now. The spy's done. [His hands flex and clench, as though he's still got some punching he'd like to do.] You're fucking welcome.

Guys? Anything you wanna add?

[Altair shakes his head and remains silent, but Thor does have something to add. He looks much in the same way as Pyro, though he doesn't take time by giving false pleasantries or greetings. He's mad and it shows, but there's something else that lingers in the depths of his hard gaze. ]

The threat is, indeed, gone. For now. However, it would be wise to assume this will likely not be the last of such an event. [ He shifts, frowning as he glances off screen for a moment. ] It would be wise to upkeep your guard as it is clear we shall have to take justice into our own hands.

[And with that, Pyro shuts off the feed with a glare. Time for the shitstorm.]

((ooc: this is going to be a huge, beautiful mess. tags could come from Altair, either of the Thors, Pyro, or any number of NPCs who decide to hop on. i'll likely turn off notifications and track any threads i get into for that reason, so if i seem to miss something, please PM me!))

Hey there sickies! No clue what's going around, but you guys sure are keeping it to yourselves! Which is kind of unfair of you, but that's okay because that means I can help.

And by 'help', I mean I'll put you out of your misery! Why suffer through a gross icky cold that you might die from anyway, when I can just kill you and fix the problem at it's, uh, source.

It'll be over so fast you'll barely get to savor the sweet, sweet release of death. And then you're off to a blissful few days until the gods get around to waking you up, good as new~

Just let me know, okay? If you're too sick to talk, just nod a couple times on video, and I'll come find you.

On a side note: what do you do with a room full of dead birds? Not a trick question, I really don't know!

[ This post appears on the evening of Day 290, minutes after the first Visitors begin to arrive. Thor is oddly harried, sharp. ]

This is a mistake, and we're working on fixing it. You lot showing up - surprise! Welcome to the city. Don't wander out of the gates, don't die, and enjoy the party until we can figure out a way to send you home.

You travelers - answer their questions, take care of them, whatever. We'll be setting up lodging in Folkvang -- [ He glances off screen, wrinkles his nose in distaste, and then looks back at the feed. ] -- and in my arena too, I guess, even though - [ pointedly, to off-camera: ] -- it's an arena, it's not meant for disaster lodging!

I'll answer what I can, but I'm busy, so Pyro, try not to get your panties in a twist about me being dodgy again. I've just got better things to do than chit-chat today.

[ Thor sighs, shrugs, and then dryly finishes: ]

Hope you're enjoying the fireworks.



[ OOC: Signaling the start of the festival/visitor's event! Fourth wallers and current players alike feel free to comment in here. Thor won't have time to converse for long, but please treat this as a network mingle post and hijack to your hearts' content!

Also, feel free to make fresh comments on this post for the duration of the event - they just don't have to happen on the evening of Day 290. Here is the party mingle log and visiting character directory. Happy playing, and we hope you enjoy your stay, visitors! ]

[This is another network post from the worst video personality imaginable. Kieran is on one of the fields at the arena, and there's several bags and a large pile of … something..? behind him. It could be easels or barricades or anything like that. He glances off camera for a moment, then speaks, and anyone who knows him will recognize that he's doing his 'I'm totally not scary' thing.]

We just got a big wake up call about powers not working outside the city. Not everyone can do hand to hand or blades but everyone should be able to fight.

I'm giving shooting lessons at the arena. One on one or small groups for now. You pay for your ammo, unless you want to practice resisting body control. Then it's on me.

[He says this as if it's a favor to you rather than the other way around, that he's a body controller looking for people to practice on. Kieran glances offscreen again, and the feed cuts out.

At least he doesn't waste words.]

[ Not an unusual sight, Arthur being melancholy. It's been all too common these past months. He might like to change that. ]

By Asgard's measures, I've been here over a year now - near two-hundred and thirty days, if I've kept count correctly. [ He has. ] In that time, I have witnessed ... a great many things. I've seen peasants turned Knight, Princes turned King, Kings laid to their eternal rest. I've watched my men come and go, some more than once with no recollection of their previous incarnations.

I've seen war ravage this land with no surety that any of us would see the light of another day. I've watched my friends die - some, more than once. More than twice. [ A pause. ] I've bid farewell to more friends than I care to count, all of whom returned to whatsoever awaits them in their realms without so much as a whisper. They will not remember us or our trials. They may never return. Like paying respects to a ghost.

[ He misses Conan. And Kate. Mary, Sora, Robb. Too many to count. More than he cares to count. He inhales. Exhales. ]

A dear friend once told me that you ought to eat ice cream with the ones you care about. He took me to a parlour in Freya on numerous occasions. [ Because he cared. Arthur had a brother, once. He breathes deep again, and tries for a small smile. ] You might find me there today, if you'd care. My treat - and I swear on my honour not to be maudlin all over you. It's a terribly unbecoming thing for a king.

[ Another pause, and he might've made this next bit private, but it sends a message to more than just one. ]

Merlin, I expect to find you there at some point or another in the day. [ Arthur Squishyface Pendragon. Do not be rude. ] If it please you.

[ Better. Sort of. He's trying! And he will be sitting at a table at said NPC ice cream parlour in Freya, contemplating what flavour he ought to try this time, if you'd like to stumble upon him or meet up with the lonely King! ]

[when the audio comes on, there's about a minute of nothing but ambient street noise--the sound of people on a sidewalk, snatches of conversation. once or twice there's the sound of an indrawn breath, like the preparation to speak, but it's not followed by any words. sophie had turned on her feed impulsively, and then realized that it was actually necessary to say something. finally, she decides:]

I'm feeling restless tonight. If anyone is up for a spar, I'll be at the Arena.

Video

[The video opens on a guy sitting by what looks like the lake in Gefion Park. He's got long dark hair and scars on his face, and doesn't seem to know what to do when there's something recording him. It's like talking to no one when you start a network conversation, that's strange! But he seems casual enough.]

I'm looking to talk to anyone with the "drawing" power I've heard about.

We'll be in the park in Baldr unless the weather turns to shit.

[Casual but brief, it seems.]

--

Action

[Should you be in the park or head there after seeing the message, Kieran is indeed sitting by the water with a skinny redhead. They seem to be discussing something written in the redhead's notebook.]

Alright, I need a couple of things from you guys.

[Isaac lazily ticks them off with his fingers.]

First thing's first, I'm guessing Asgard doesn't have a zoo. Any ideas where I can go to see live animals? I don't mean like kittens, I mean big cats, predators, stuff like that. I can hold my own against them if need be.

[Another finger.]

Secondly, I need a bike. A good one, not the crap in a corner store. If anyone's got one they're not using or knows where I can get one for cheap, let me know. [Or else he'll just steal one from some poor, unsuspecting native.]

And then finally, I want to run a few experiments with powers. See how they work when used together. I'm looking for body controllers, energy lenders, transferrers, and healers mostly. If you've got an offensive power and want to know how your powers can be affected by the passive powers, then let me know and we'll work something out.

I have no idea when the next fight is going to be, but I know that some of us were waaay under-prepared. Not all of our powers are very good for fighting at all.

If I offered to teach people how to use guns, would anyone be interested? I'm good with all kinds. I know they're not exactly magical, but a weapon is a weapon, and maybe that'll give us more of a chance.

( action; open to ash, kieran, and anyone else who might have reason to show up at tz's hive. )

Some time later, when she's awake and clearer minded, she decides there's no point in keeping it a secret and fumbles with her bracelet, clicking the video feed on.]

Greetings, everyone! [Her mouth twists in thought.] I am aware that many of us noticed the eggs that appeared--seemingly at random!--around the city, and were also aware that there was a collection block in which our findings could be placed. After participating in this strange hide and seek activity myself, I discovered the presence of another egg inside my block. [She pauses for dramatic effect.] While I initially assumed the instances were one in the same, I very quickly discovered that this was an erroneous assumption on my part! [Carefully, Terezi lifts the egg from her lap into the view of the camera.]

Behold: Not a mere egg, but the egg of my lusus! After conferring with others I have determined that this is far from an isolated event. Regardless of my initial misunderstanding I still have reason to believe that the two are related.

To other trolls here, I'd like to know if anyone else found their lusii appearing conveniently soon after engaging in this festive egg search. I am aware that Nepeta and Equius received their lusii, in addition to myself. Additionally, did any items randomly appear in your possession? Can we see if this event can be replicated? If so, it would be useful! If not... [She shrugs, lackadaisical, and plops her eggmom back into her lap. For a moment Terezi looks like she's about to terminate the feed, and then she sucks her teeth and pauses for a second.]

Also... uh. Would anyone happen to have any information on caring for dragon eggs?

[when the feed comes on, it’s focused on the very freckled face and curly ginger mop of a teenaged boy. he’s way too skinny, hollow-cheeked and bird-boned with shoulders that hold his shirt like a bent coathanger. he’s also leaning against someone else, but all that’s visible of this other person is a shoulder and a fall of long black hair. the redhead has an affable face, gawky and harmless, and a riot of curly red hair that reaches his shoulders]

There, I think I got this working.

My name’s Ash Trine, and I’m hoping that someone out there can help me out a bit. I’ve got two big questions.

So, where we come from, people have Talents, sort of like the god powers I’ve heard we all get here. But that’s not the only kind of magic there is. There’s magic everywhere, in everything, if you know how to see it and use it. And we do, but that doesn’t do a damn bit of good here.

[he sighs a little, settling more against his silent companion’s shoulder]

But I reckon if the gods are handing out Talents, there’s like as not some kind of ambient magic here, something else we can use. Spells, symbols, rituals, anything like that. And I need to know about that. There’s some stuff I need to do. So anybody who knows anything about it, I’d be much obliged if you’d share. Anything at all would help, I don’t mind having to figure out most of it myself if it comes to that. Just somewhere to start.

Second thing, I’m looking for a job. I’m pretty good with numbers, if anyone needs a bookkeeper, but it’d be even nicer if someone’s in need of a cook. Most of what I know how to make is savory, hearty kind of food--stews, roast and potatoes, shepherd’s pie, that sort of thing, but I’ve been told once or twice that I catch on pretty quick.

[there’s a snort from off camera, and ash turns to the person he’s leaning on]

Are you offering up an opinion, Kieran?

[the voice that answers is considerably lower than ash’s, with a distinct drawl and a definite tone of amusement]

No. I already said you ain’t poisoned us yet, what more d’you want?

[ash rolls his eyes]

Such a glowing recommendation. You’re sleeping on the floor.

[a puppy-huge tattooed hand reaches over from offscreen, knuckling ash’s chin]

The hell I am.

[the feed catches a second of a sweet smile turned at the man offscreen before ash remembers the video and shuts off the feed.]