[The thing is, Annie's done this more than once. Waking up and knowing, somehow, that he's gone. It hasn't gotten any easier, but there are no hysterics when she turns on her bracelet. No tears, no raging at the unfairness of it all, only a weary sort of resignation.]

Finnick Odair is... I don't think he's here anymore. I can't find him anywhere, and he isn't in the contact list, so. I thought those who knew him should be told.

So listen up, people.

[ The friendliest address ever is brought to you by Johanna Mason, who looks a damn sight better than she did on arrival.

...Or, well. She's not bleeding any more, at any rate.

She offers a tight lipped smile that looks more like a grimace than anything else. She's not the friendliest person in the world, okay? ]

As much as I'm loving the holiday, getting out of practice has literally never boded well for me. I'm after some training partners, sparring, whatever - you just need to be good. [ She pauses for a moment before grinning slightly, actually a little amused. ] Really good. Anyway, takers, people who can point in the right direction, et cetera et cetera, let me know.

[ And with a brief wave that looks more like a salute than anything else, Johanna's out. ]

[ to the video comes the albino boy with the huge smile. He is in his room, which is covered in photographs of several people (some are gone from Asgard), and on the shelves, every single present he has received is there totally untouched and kept safe (no, he doesn't use the presents). The ceiling of his bedroom is black and it has the Asgardian sky, the moon and the stars painted on it. There are also awful lot of mistletoes hanging around. ]

Hello Asgard, I am Kaworu Nagisa. [ he has no idea how these things go, so he will just keep talking ] I do not understand people for I am essentially different from you. Every day I learn something about you, and it’s fascinating, but I still feel it’s not enough. We are far too different, you and I. So I ask a lot, about everything I can because I wish to know you, to understand you, to comprehend you. I love you, after all. [ he does. He really, REALLY, does. ]

But I was told one isn’t so quick to talk about themselves without the other doing the same. Conversations should not be one sided. [ but to be honest, Kaworu finds that to be untrue because he has talked and got to know about many without ever giving any sort of information back ] So I wish to try something else.

Let’s talk. Just talk. I will talk about myself too, unless you would rather just talk about you. [ he doesn’t mind! He prefers to focus on others rather than himself, after all ]

How was your day? How are you? What has made you laugh, lately, and what has made you angry? [ oh, he remembers something! ] What kind of gifts you received from the Gods?

[Right. Remus wrinkles his nose, looking slightly put out, as he regards the camera.]

I, er, happened to get some particular novels for Christmas that I don't want. If anyone's interested, by all means, they're free. Er-- they're, ah, romance novels.

[Quite graphic ones, too.]

Of the, um, supernatural variety. So. Help yourselves! I'm over in Thor's district now; we're the house with all the red paint.

[This month has been a steaming sack of shit for Sam Winchester and it's beginning to show -- he's pale, has bags underneath his eyes, and looks like he hasn't slept in days. His home is intact, but he knows some other buildings in Asgard aren't, and Sam is beginning to develop a powerful migraine right in the base of his skull that he wants to attempt removing with a hacksaw.

Normally, Sam has a lot of patience for this kind of stuff -- panic and disarray is kind of the Winchesters' deal. But right now all Sam wants to do is lock his door and ignore everyone plus their mother, because right now, the closest people to him have done nothing but lie to his face about how everything is fine and dandy when in reality, Sam is falling apart at the seams.

Still, Sam has a point to prove -- and when he speaks, it's careful and calm, though a far cry from the normal gentle tone he carries when speaking to the panicked population of Asgard during times like these. He's overtired to the point of blind exhaustion and certainly doesn't have the strength to go around saving babies from burning buildings, but even though his entire life has crumbled to pieces, he's still a hunter.

People still need saving.]

Everyone who's injured needs to head the hospital -- and the able-bodied need to rally together and try to get to the people trapped in the collapsed buildings. The Citadel is a good place to get together, I think -- how about anyone willing to help out meet there? Bring water. The healers don't need to deal with heat stroke on top of everything else.

[Sam pauses for a few moments before drawing in a steady breath, releasing it slowly.]

Stay safe.

( [Filtered to Team Merlinatural // Private // Unhackable] )

[Like usual, when Finnick turns on the feed he is anywhere else but the Panem House. He seems to be walking slowly, taking care to fix his eyes on the feed, but avoid stepping into other people. His eyes flick occasionally away from the bracelet to make sure that is accomplished.]

Hey everyone, despite everything that's been happening lately, I just wanted to say to those that I met at the Masquerade you really made my night. You know who you are.

[His voice lowers suggestively, as he also gives a small wink to the camera.]

Also, if anyone else needs some help rebuilding any of the damage still around, if there is any, or an extra employee I'd be more than happy to help out.

[Finnick can't help but grin as he shrugs his shoulders.]

For those of you that find yourself lucky or unlucky enough to just be arriving, my name is Finnick Odair if you need anything I can help point you in the right direction.

[There's a startled cry from somewhere off to Finnick's left, where a young woman stands and stares at him with an expression equal parts shock, anger, and tentative hope. Her hands clench into tight fists like she's restraining herself -- from reaching for him or from slapping him, even Annie isn't sure.]

You can't be! You're not, what kind of sick game…

[It doesn't take but a second, for the smile to slide off of Finnick's face, the usual carefree look replaced with a slack jaw and wide eyes.]

...Annie....?

You're not real!

[The anger is sliding rapidly into despair and denial, because this just isn't fair. Hasn't she grieved enough? She glares at him and tries to hold onto that indignation.]

You're a… a hallucination, or a ghost, something. Go away!

[Forgetting that the network is on for the moment, Finnick freezes his eyes on her as the color drains from his face. In an instant he's reaching out for her walking forward.]

Don't say that-

[Annie darts backwards a few steps, out of his reach. One hand presses against her mouth to stifle a sob.]

It's been almost a year! There's no way you're him, they never could find -- I couldn't even take him home!

[The camera shakes as he takes quick steps forward. The camera is obscured and audio muffled as he wraps his arms around her.]

I'm here...I'm alive.

[There is another muffled noise as the post disconnects.]


[OOC: Answers will come after Finnick calms down Annie and explains things to her about Asgard.]

[ The tone in her voice can only be described as empty. Her face is splotchy and red; it's easy to see that she may have been crying at one point, but she isn't any longer. She sounds and looks hollow, all over. ]

Gale Hawthorne's gone.

[ That's it. That's all she says. Because it's all she can say. ]

[ Katniss's voice is more raspy than usual, and she sounds hoarse and... Well. Sick. She's burning up with fever, which isn't obvious by her voice but... She's been hit pretty hard by whatever it is that's making the residents of the city sick. ]

... Can someone -- [ She coughs, muffled as she attempts to dampen it against her fist. ] -- Make sure things are running smoothly at Safehouse? I don't think I'm going to make it over there today at all -- [ She stops again, gasping roughly and going into a deeper coughing fit. ]

-- And medicine. I need medicine.

Um! [Maybe it's weird that Rue looks so surprised when the bracelet turns on, since she was the one who turned it on in the first place. But it just turns out she's nervous and not really as ready to start as she'd thought. Oops. Might as well get it over with.]

Everybody's back now. From Thrym--Thrymahigh. [She frowns. That's how you say it, right?]

In District 11, we have songs for a lot of things. There's one we're supposed to sing to welcome a Victor home. They teach it to us really early, but I haven't sang it before because...because... [Well, the other Panem kids would guess right the reason right away. District 11 isn't exactly known for their chances in the Games, and the last District 11 Victors won years before Rue was born.]

I don't want to sing that song right now. [There's a stubborn set to her mouth.] I'm going to sing a new one that I wrote because the fighting here isn't like the fighting in the Games. Asgard has a bunch of Districts like Panem does, but we're all fighting together, not against each other. It's...different. Better.

[Now Rue just looks a little embarrassed at speaking up like this and rushes on to finish.] So...we're going to sing for you now.

[By "we" she means her mockingjays as well, which becomes obvious when she adjusts the bracelet's screen to include the birds perched around her. Rue's singing starts off soft, but gains strength along the way, especially when the mockingjays join in and pick up her tune. As people listen to her sing, her Bardic Influence will kick in and draw up feelings of loss, bittersweet victory, the coziness of returning home to friends and family, and also the relief at loved ones being safe.

She finishes with a beam, pleased that her little performance went without a hitch.]

Welcome back, everybody!

[He is making it short, if it just feels bittersweet, he can't help that. Getting close had it's drawbacks.]

I'll be staying in a room at the Roadhouse if you guys need me outside of work.

[That's it, an admission of his new housing wrapped in something practical. Because, feelings were hard...]

[ derek's done this before, he's found himself in this world, gone through the whole shit that is asgard, and had finally gone home... only to come back here again. powerless once more, it's a familiar feeling which makes it all the more unsettling, all the more wrong. the place is much the same too, as he's slowly starting to remember it, and it's not leaving him a happy camper.

he sighs dramatically, every word laced with judgement. ]

Your gods must still be losing the war, Asgard. [ for him to be back. ] Nothing surprising there.

[ and no, he's not going to ask who's still here because he really doesn't care. ]

[When the video comes on, it's a close up of sea green eyes and a tan forehead. The eyes blink a few times, as the video pulls back and Finnick Odair stares at the camera. His brows knit as a tan finger pokes at the screen and then he finally gives a small sheepish grin, that quickly turns into his normal smile.]

Well, I guess this means I'm back! Did you miss me?

[Yeah, he's back all right, and already he's sitting up and preparing to leave where he is.]

Don't tell me everyone I know got sent home...

Citizens of Asgard. I come bearing only grave news this day. What I believe to be a spy, lurking in our very midst.

[ The camera pans over to a bound and gagged individual that some may in fact recognize from the tail end of the Utgard excursion. ]

He has aroused the suspicions of many with his peculiar behavior. The natives themselves have been able to confirm he is not one of them, as he has tried claiming.

Presently, he can be found in the custody of myself and Sir Gwaine. I wish to seek the council of everyone before we reach the city proper as it is a matter which undeniably concerns the safety of us all.

But as for myself, I would vote for execution to follow his questioning. I have seen firsthand what may happen with prisoners during war. They conspire to escape and wreak further havoc, squandering mercy and endangering good men.

(ooc: edited in-character to clarify.

don't forget about the poll going on. if you've already voted but your character's opinion has been swayed in this post then simply update your vote!)

[ he feels like he was home and back here again in the blink of an eye. it's a little jarring, to say the least. but none of that shows. he hides his frazzled side well. one thing that he can't hide though is just how exhausted he is. not physically, no. but mentally, emotionally. being in the capitol - trapped, no less - and having to deal with... well, with everything. it's tiring. not that he really had the time to deal with any of that while he was home. he was there just long enough to get a clear reminder of where he was and what awaited him when he went back for good, though.

that's why there's also a hint of relief. or maybe it's more like a lot of relief and just a hint of exhaustion by comparison. well whatever the ratio, he can't hide, either, just how glad he is to be back here again ]

I don't understand what the point of sending me back to Panem was if I was just going to be brought right back here again. That is what happened, isn't it? I went home and came back?

[ he's almost afraid to ask, but ]

Was I the only one? From Panem to be sent back there, I mean.

[ 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! ]

[Annie doesn't look very happy when the feed starts, she's sitting in her room, looking around with barely concealed anger.]

I know that Finnick wouldn't have wanted to me to be angry, that he'd urge me to try and look at things positively... [She shakes her head.] It doesn't seem like any time has passed here, but I know I was home. I know the things that happened to me back there... It wasn't a dream.

( Filtered to the Panem Kids] )

[Filtered to everyone but Katniss Everdeen... he forgot to include Finnick, Rue or Annie, so they can see this...]

Does any one know if the God's can erase memories? [He has a few that if he got rid of them, maybe he could fix the mess his life has become, at least someone.]

[End filter]

I am working at the Cafe, but a part time job would help, I'm a hardworker and fast learner.

[Sam has actually been back in Asgard for a few hours. It's taken him that much to wander around and get his bearings -- and, as such, he has found himself in the library, where he spent much of his time when he was first here.

He figures it's a good place for people to know and find him, should anyone want to talk to him.

-- or something.

He offers his bracelet a warm, but tired smile -- kind of like he's just run a marathon without more than a few pauses to catch his breath. Still, Sam seems to be in good spirits, and it shows in his tone.]

Anyone volunteering information?

[We'll see who is still here and who isn't.]

( action babble. )


//video//

... I don't think I left, but I remember things from home. Things I didn't remember before. But for those of you who knew Peeta... I know where he is now. I know what happened to him. He's alive. It's not good, but he's alive.

[ As if anyone cares, or remembers him like she does. Hopefully someone is keeping hope alive, by remembering their dandelion in spring for Peeta's sake, just like she's trying to. But they have him now. ]