[Bruce comes on the network rarely, but makes an exception on this particularly dark night. He considers, comes very close to asking is everyone out there holding up all right? They're living in interesting times. There's no shame in asking for help. They should all be taking care of themselves and each other.

He's a little maudlin tonight, to be perfectly honest. But he recognizes the tendency, and asks instead;]

Does your world have limericks? I've got a prize here for the best, another for the silliest, and another for the rudest. Let's have 'em, Asgard.

I thought I would leave this a few days so things had a chance to get back to normal, but I have a few questions I'd like to ask. Some people have made the observation that the little- flying things, what were they, ice fairies? That their bites had unusual effects for some who were exposed to them.

I'm curious about the properties of their venom, if that's what was happening. If you experienced unusual symptoms during the last invasion, and you'd be comfortable discussing the onset, nature, and duration of your experiences, I would truly appreciate it.

[He's curious for a few reasons. First, if this was a venom, he wants to check in on these people and make sure they haven't all gone off and quietly died in their apartments (this is far too morbid to say out loud on the network. Second, if it wasn't venom, if there's enough range in the symptoms or if any of them seem magical, then it may have been a curse, and it is worth knowing if a curse can be transmitted by animal bite, even if that animal is magical. Third, if it was a curse and there are people out there who experienced it without having been bitten, then they may have a huge problem here, since Thiazi has history of infecting city dwellers. If something like last time is beginning, he wants to begin collecting data now, before everyone goes crazy and starts killing each other. Again.

None of this shows in his expression, which is all gentle-medical-professional.]

Thank you for your time.

[It's immediately clear that Ryan looks and feels like death warmed over. He's exhausted, pale to the point of looking almost ill, disheveled-- and there's none of the usual expressiveness in his weary face, no interest as he looks at the feed. No light in his eyes.

He pushes his hair out of his face, exhales; his tone is just as lackluster as his expression, utterly worn out.]

So. Guess we're hitting that point, yeah? You saw the message yesterday. It's not the only one, and I get the feeling neither of these is going to be the last. It's all starting to roll downhill. Unravel. Fall apart. Pick your overdone metaphor, it means the same damn thing.

[He stops there for a moment, with a brief false start before he shakes his head and continues on.] And what I want to know is- what are we even accomplishing, here? What are we doing-- we get told we're changing destiny, we're going to save the worlds, but you can see what's happening now. Maybe we delayed it but this is what happens when you try to fight what's meant to be, when you try to push at what wants to happen. It pushes back at you. It lets you know you can try all you damn well want, but it's going to have its way in the end. I mean, what-- it was supposed to be this war ending it, wasn't it? That final battle? We changed that. The Big One hasn't really gone down but just look at this, things are ending no matter what we do.

All of this, all of the shit we've done, it's a dam. That's all. It's holding the flood back as well as it can but it's still raining, isn't it? It's not going to stop raining. And eventually it's going to overflow no matter how high we keep building, because we can only do so much and this is bigger and more persistent than any of us are. We're just pulling the bandage off slowly and it's only going to hurt worse for that in the end.

[This time, the pause is longer. Ryan leans back away from the screen, the back of his chair propping him up, and just eyes the feed for a few moments; when he carries on again, there's finally something more to his voice, something hurt and angry and broken that rises while he speaks 'til it's near feverish.]

So what do we do now. Are we going to acknowledge it's not going to work, or are we going to keep at this while worlds shrivel up one by one? Are we going to keep pretending we're doing anything at all until not a single fucking person here has a home to save anymore? And what about us, what about the people who've already lost everything--

[It's there that his breath hitches, catching in his throat, and the anger floods out of him all at once. He almost visibly deflates, exhaling one more shaky breath, his voice small.]

What are we supposed to do now? Tell me that. What do we do now.

Things are a little calmer now.

[Bruce murmurs. He doesn't like to go onto the network, but feels like he has to say this.]

Has anyone got a few minutes to run some things over with me? Resources, defenses, what's actually- got to be done, I guess? Because something gives me the feeling like this is about to get bad again very quickly. I don't know what to do to make the situation feel less helpless.

[It's very, very late at night, but anxiety has him; he isn't sleeping. Maybe it being the very witching hour is part of what erodes his self-consciousness enough for him to add;]

I wish I could go back to plain and simple atheism. I mean, self-control is never easy to maintain, but it's sure a lot harder in the face of... you know. Actual massive cosmic power. We had Yggdrasil back home, but it- it was different. I understood the math of that Yggdrasil. This place is just-

[Cutting off with a laugh at his self-indulgence.]

Anyways. Anyone else up?

Okay, time to lighten the mood.

[Because after all this shit that's happened, she needs to smile. She needs something, anything, to take her mind off all of this and for a second, remember that being alive is good, and right.

And maybe to remember a simpler time.]

I've got this book of puns, right? Well, back in the day, it kinda used to be my thing. And I figure you guys could use this. Or groan, whatever.

Here goes.

A clown held the door open for me the other day.
I thought it was a nice jester.

The butcher backed up into the meat grinder.
He got a little behind in his work.

Yesterday I accidentally swallowed some food coloring.
The doctor says I'm okay, but I feel like I've dyed a little inside.

Pffft.

The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

[That one actually makes her laugh out loud.]

[The Tony that greets the network with a sly smirk, one that doesn't quite reach his eyes, isn't the same man that left Asgard a few days ago. Noticeably, he has a hair cut and a few new bruises.. He's also dressed in a way that is not suspicious at all.]

So did anyone actually explain to the gods that it's very rude to send someone home just so they could watch their mansion get blown up? Oh, and don't forget the terrorist who kidnapped my girlfriend. It's just not kosher. You could at least warn a guy. I've got a heart condition, you know.

I'm assuming that these trips back to our worlds are a common occurrence then?

[At least he knows for certain that he didn't actually die in that wormhole. But it isn't as comforting of an idea as Tony originally thought it would be.]

I'm also assuming I haven't missed much. At least it looks like you guys didn't trash the place again--you can't honestly expect me to believe it was an earthquake last time.

OOC: Thanks for the patience while I took care of family things! I'll be replying to these ASAP.

[Fiona is sitting at home, on her bed, hair tied back in a loose pony tail. She's wearing a simple T-shirt. Altogether, she looks casual, comfortable and like a real go-getter! What a coincidence, what with that being her intention and all.]

Hey! This is Sigyn house. [She moves the camera around, so it gets a good view of her room: clean, neat, organized.] I'm sick of living here anymore. But I need you [she points directly into the camera] to help me out.

I have enough saved up to rent out a place, but I need roommates. I'd prefer an actual house, but I'm good with apartments and condos, whatever. Anything that doesn't have those giant rats crawling around outside-- have you seen 'em? Pink, with the huge ears?-- in the walls is basically great.

I'm clean- [she lets the camera get a good look at the neat and orderly room around her again] and sane. You won't even have to see me too much, I work most of the day as a secretary. I don't have any infectious diseases, and I can mix drinks. Call me. Fiona Gallagher, Sigyn house.

[Still cheery, she waves at the camera, if a little... can waves be sarcastic? If so, this one was. And then, affecting a slightly more serious tone and posture, she says:] On a totally unrelated note, does anybody around here know anything about exorcisms, or demonic possession, that sort of thing? This is on school business, don't worry, my head's not gonna start spinning around. Gimme a head's up if you have any experience in that area; I might have a job for you. Just, y'know, contact me over the network, and watch out for any real big flights of stairs.

[The feed opens in a Sigyn park, before it pans up. The bracelet appears to be Souji's, and Ellie is sitting close by on a bench, wearing a strange plant-like clothing. Sandy is using her as a pillow. There is a No Voldemort / Tom Riddle allowed sign painted next to everything.

Souji waves as the screen, with a half-grin, looking much more serious than usual. Despite the preparations, he's not usually the one doing the first introductions in a group, Yosuke usually did. There's so much to speak about too...]

Hello. [That's a good way to start right?] My name is Souji Seta. This is Ellie-kun and Sandy-san... [He points to them and pans the view a little before returning to him.] ...we're from house Sigyn.

( The message in full (Public to everyone BUT You-Know-Who, get your lackeys to find this for you. )

( Private to the Sigyn House (both Growth and Healers) )

[OOC Note; Just to be sure, this post happens after it is decided to go and help out.]

[ There's a few seconds of awkward silence as Bobby starts the feed and scratches the back of his neck. ]

Uh, hey. Bobby here. It's been a while. And it looks like I missed... a lot. Including the tacky sweater thing. [ Which is probably for the best, at least on that count. ]

Sorry I was gone. Lost my bracelet again. I've been caught up, I think, but lemme know if I'm needed anywhere.

Oh. [ A pause. ] And happy holidays to everyone.

[ Someone's been a bit AWOL for the past few days. Not that it's uncommon for this particular blonde to keep a low-profile from time to time, but this is a bit different. To not have seen her recently, especially with the shit storm that had become of her friends? You'd think something like that would have Rose neck-deep in it. Especially when it came to telling off ('helping/calming down') the Doctor(s).

Regardless, she's here now, looking a lot younger than she has in months. Actually, she just looks younger in general. A good handful of years younger. She looks a bit cross, too, brows pulled down to pinch over heavy amounts of mascara. It's not much to note, but a select few residents might recognize a rather specific set of clothes she's got on. ]

Yeah alright, it was funny for the first five minutes; you can send me back now. London. England, Earth. Not Asgard. --This can't seriously be Asgard, can it?

[ Focus, Rose. But more to the point, and to herself; ] Doctor, you'd better be here.


[ ooc; Rose has been cursed back to her season 2 self, and will be stuck as such for about a week or so. And obviously, all memories of Asgard and it's inhabitants have been wiped until she snaps back to normal. Have fun with a much more antagonistic/optimistic/pre-soul-crushed-dimension-hopping-Rose. ]

[The video clicks on with Harry sitting in a seat in his office. The office itself seems a bit sparse, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that Harry looks agitated. He's pleased that Voldemort has slipped up enough, but it means he's careless; it means it will be difficult to stop him from hurting others. The fact that he's been outed the way he has been means that the individual who did so doesn't look much better.

Not that Harry's against things being carved into his skin. It's a dark thought, though, and one he's not acting on.]

Hello, everyone.

[A simple beginning, but he soon continues, as if he's reading a slightly prepared speech:]

I'm here to tell you about Tom Marvolo Riddle. He also goes by "Lord Voldemort" on this network, and had my bracelet not come off during the recent battles, I would have warned you all about him sooner. I apologise for that. It was a mistake on my part. I meant to do it sooner, even, but I worried that it would bring people greater harm. I ... er, I'm really sorry for that, too. [He settles into his seat.] He's someone who's very dangerous. Back home, I defeated him, but "defeating" someone is not always the easiest of tasks, you see. He's someone who fears death, and Asgard chose to hand him exactly what he wanted all along: immortality. Only at the same time, it stripped him of his power. So, he doesn't much care about that. He wants it both ways, and he came very close to achieving it back home.

[Harry isn't going to explain that part, though.]

What's important is that Voldemort is not to be trusted. He hurt a friend of mine, and that's why I decided to do this as quickly as possible. I don't even know who else he has hurt. I know about his life. He started as an orphan, and even as a little boy, he tortured people and scared them just because he could. He saw power as a means of opening up the world to him. But that wasn't all. See, he's someone who feels like he's entitled to what belongs to him. Answers, objects, and little things like that. He obsesses, he chooses "equals," and he doesn't care about anyone or anything. He has no real love for his "followers," also known as Death Eaters, and he uses them.

Well, actually, he's rather quite incapable of love.

He's young now, but he won't stop hurting people until he dies. He is very clever, and he would be a useful ally to Asgard if only because it would help him go home. After all, he has a future left for him where he kills a great number of people. Including my parents. [He pauses, gaze steady.]

He will seek means to become powerful. Tom's very fond of that, and he's already sought some of them here. My recommendation is that if you are helping him, you stop. You don't try to make him better. He doesn't want to be better. He doesn't want to love, and he can't. Don't see him as someone who can help you in a pinch. He sees power as a means of manipulating others. He gains followers so that they can die in his place.

I can and will answer any questions you have about him. My only request is that you call him Tom Riddle. He doesn't deserve to be known as "Lord Voldemort." He should be known as who he really is. He's ashamed of who he is, and where he came from. He's lived his life trying to be somebody else, but he will always be a boy with the same roots available to him.

[He stops speaking momentarily, looking somewhat weary. That was a lot.]

I will add one more thing. He's not more important than the war efforts or saving Asgard. I imagine he would rather like to be, but I think we should remember that we have more important things to worry about than him. Avoid him, disable him at all costs, but do not let him be more important. He is prone to hurting nearly everyone here, and he will do it if the opportunity presents itself. But he is not Thiazi, nor is he the grey sickness. And he'd agree, I think, but I guess not enough to keep others from finding him out.

I think we should all thank him for being so open about that. That makes our ability to overlook him much easier.

[Harry looks as if he's ready to cut the transmission, but he realizes one final thing.]

Er ... and I'm sorry to everyone he's hurt. Or anyone he will send Barty Crouch Jr. to hurt. The two of them are dangerous. While I say they're unimportant in light of the war efforts, that doesn't mean I don't ... I mean, I do care. A lot. If you'd like to talk about it, please let me know.

Right, that's all.

[edit, made about five minutes later]

[Most of the edit is is a link to a video where Tom Riddle is standing in his bedroom. The video lasts long enough to get a good view of his face.]

This is his face.

This post is addressed to those of you who were within the other world with me.

[And it's later than he wanted it to be, but the death had taken its' toll on him, and besides, there had been a great deal to consider. A very real, very loud part of him had wanted not to have to do this. To forget it all, to put the last six years of hell utterly behind him. However, he feels responsible;]

I've been here a few months, but I see now that I've been complacent. When I arrived, like the rest of you I found that my powers were gone. For me, that was a relief.

I don't remember hurting any of you down there, but my memories during a transformation aren't always the clearest. If any of you recall the green... thing, or were harmed by it in any way, please let me know. I'd like to make reparations in any way I can.

To the rest of you, whatever keeps the transformations from occurring is working again now that I'm... I suppose you could say up on the surface, or returned to this specific dimensional point. But since it's clear I can't rely on that to be true all the time, I think I have a duty to warn you. In the right conditions I'm a bomb waiting to go off, and in the event that something like this happens again, I'm probably going to be getting as far away from the you all as possible. Please don't come near me if you see me, and please don't try to stop me.

I'm sorry.

[With a small, composed smile, he disconnects the feed.]

[Severus turns on the video feed, adjusts the angle a little - he's in one of the rooms in The Great Library - and clasps his hands together in front of him on the table. He has meticulously prepared himself for this announcement, right down to a list of points that he's written out that he wants to address. The list is laid out in front of him on the desk. It occurs to him to make the video filtered from the Dark Lord's prying eyes; he is not, however, addressing anything of a personal nature, and he knows the Dark Lord would find out the details of the school regardless.]

As some of you may recall, I made an announcement not too long ago concerning a proposal to establish a structured education system for the youth of Asgard. Due to… certain recent events [and by "certain events", he means being visited by the Gentlemen, not that he has any interest in discussing that matter], I experienced some setbacks in terms of organising things in a timely manner, hence the delay in my getting back to you all. However. A number of people expressed interest as a result of my last announcement and so I've decided to pursue with my proposal. The details I've worked out thus far are as followed:

[He pauses to glance down at the list. Just as he does so, a tall emu idly plods past behind him. It stops just short of disappearing from the video's field of vision; it cranes it long neck to preen its downy feathers.]

( Cut for length: in which Snape talks about the school itself )

( In which Snape talks about needing teachers )

( In which Snape talks about donations to help fund the school )

[[OOC:
1. This is the ooc info post about the school! Please leave your character's name if they want to be a student at the school!
2. The ooc post I made about the school in which you can ask questions!
3. Unless specifically requested, all teacher interviews and peer observations will be handwaved, as I simply won't have time to role-play all of them; unless you want to consider your interaction with Snape in this post to be the interview, of course! More information on this here!
4. …I think that's everything. c:
5. OH. Unless threads are marked as private, or unless someone specifically says they don't want to be threadjacked, feel free to threadjack in this post!!]]

[Good morning, Asgard. There's a cheerful warlock wearing a dopey sort of grin on your bracelet screen.]

Since Arthur's already had his time to talk about the Citadel, I guess it's my turn. After what happened with the Gentlemen attacking, and the SOS message a couple days ago, it's not a bad time to remind everyone that the Medic Corps are still around. If you want to help with the war effort but aren't a fighter yourself, we could always use more healers willing to go onto the field and help the wounded. The hospital's a good place to work if being a physician is something you'd like to do, too.

I've just finished packing some more of the medicine kits. [He holds his own kit up to the screen as an example.] If you want one, or if you need to restock yours, just go to the hospital and ask for Merlin.

Right--speaking of the hospital. I've been talking to Jack, and we're going to be redecorating the hospital. Most of the walls and rooms are white, it's hard to believe any patient would recover while looking at something so painfully bare. We could use the help brightening the place up. Paint, portraits, trinkets--anything you've got that you that you want to contribute, I'm sure we'll find some place to put it. Or Jack's little ducklings will if we older folks can't. [Merlin grins, picturing the Guardian surrounded by the native and traveler children.]

Send all of that over to the hospital if you want, or [the half teasing, half sly expression on his face indicates the second option is the better one] you can come and help us decorate in a few days. There's enough of you good at creating and the like that it shouldn't be a problem, right?

[Was that a challenge you just heard? Nah, probably your imagination. Merlin beams, practically radiating cheer and innocence.] Great, so I'll see you all there!

[ Crickets do awkward night gigs, babies exercise vocals on planes, long nails make sweet, passionate love with blackboards — and Thor inflicts horror on the ears by repeatedly smashing his bracelet with a large metal object. At some point, presumably because the hammer-of-doom-meets-hapless-accessory action gets very old, very fast, Mjölnir is set aside to reveal its mumbling owner. ]

...the field-drummer does better work.

[ Louder now: ]

To all who hear: shed weapons where you have taken them, lower flags where they've been raised. Call back your armies and free your captives. I carry the word of Asgard's king.

[ A pause, then slowly... ]

There is no war - no threat - no enemy. You have known lies and sorcery. Asgard is at peace.

[ And just in case you missed it: another lovely BAM to mark the hammer-bracelet romance. ]

You have the sworn say of Thor, son to Odin and bound arm to Mjölnir: Asgard is at peace.

[A video begins to broadcast on the network, revealing a rather unsure looking teenager drssed in a school uniform. He arrived earlier in the day and seems to be currently sitting outside Odin's Welcome Hall, going by the scenery behind him.]

Uh.. hello.

[Another awkward pause follows, as he is unsure what else to say. Once he does speak up though, the whole post comes out as rather cynical sounding.]

My name's Will, nice to meet you. Though I guess I'm not really meeting you because I'm pretty sure none of this is actually real...?

I mean everyone knows that "Asgard" isn't actually a real place. Come on. And people can't really have magical fire powers, you know. Plus me, being here to encourage emotions in people? To "Make friends and have fun"?

[That last part, quoted from Loki's guide, comes off as rather sarcastic. Making friends and not being a complete social failure is easier said than done.]

Also, if I really was beamed up to some alternate fantasy land, I'm pretty sure I would be given a better explanation than that guide which looks like it was drawn by a child?

[A sigh. This is going terribly and he still doesn't know what to think.]

Can I borrow someone's phone? Because if this is just a weird dream caused by exam stress, which I think it is, then I want to call for a pizza to be delivered by, I don't know, a Charlotte Hinchliff that actually likes me. And if it is real, then I want to call my Mum and tell her I've been kidnapped.

[Ender is ragged, eyes still red and throat still sore, and stomach still tight as if he might be sick at any moment. Which are among many reasons why he opts for text] 

I have read the letter issued to me upon arrival. I am not trained for this type of mission. But if I have been selected then I have questions

[The use of the bracelet has proven to be extremely basic. Even the beginner levels at Ground School had more complex devices to train with than these. Back then they had had things that did more than record and emit messages. These bracelets were phones, essentially. Antiquated phones.]

Gods and Giants --- are these your army names? [He's taking mental notes as he asks. Houses had been mentioned. This could be some more fantastical form of Salamander, Dragon, and Leopard Armies, but as of yet he hasn't seen any uniforms or anything he can recognize as proper training or battle facilities.]

Or are the individual God houses your divisions? How are battles arranged?

[This place seems more like the game on his desktop interface than the battleschool, with things named after giants and gods, and castle structures.

He rubs at his forehead against the start of an ache at his temple before typing another]

Where can I find a commander?

[Severus is still trying to figure out the bracelet on his wrist. An orange apple in one hand while he studies the bracelet - he'd come across the tree of bizarre orange apples just outside his bedroom window; he'd been most dubious about the phrase Fruit Of Chance inscribed in the tree's trunk but hunger had driven him to pluck an apple from the tree - he takes a crunchy bite and idly pokes the bracelet with his pinkie as he starts to chew.

And suddenly, he spits the bite of apple out of his mouth. He does so with a sound of repulsion, followed by a hitched gag. It tastes like rotten fish! Never in his life has he ever tasted something so disgusting. Not even that rotten egg flavoured Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean he ate in Sixth Year tasted as bad as this does.]

Blasted--!

[What he doesn't realise is that when he poked his bracelet, he accidentally switched the audio on. So, everyone who happens to be tuning in right now will hear Severus coughing and grunting in disgust.]

[Isaac is broadcasting from inside of a pretty wrecked looking place. The shelves around him are still in some form of disarray, water damage is soaked into the walls, and there are various animal cages laying on the ground with different sorts of pets in them- sluggish lizards in one, sneezy rats in another... all in all, the sight is kind of depressing, even if there are obvious attempts to clean it up.

He sighs.]

Right. I was hoping to not have to do this, but I think that the animals will get sick if we keep them here for much longer. Can you guys foster some of these while we're getting the store rebuilt? We can give you all the stuff you need to take care of 'em.

Oh. And- we're broke. Like, really broke. [Having over a week of no income, plus repairs, plus having to use product to keep the animals alive will do that to you.]

So... [Isaac sighs.] There are those apple things that give you money, right? Would anyone be willing to share some?