[With the fighting giants just outside the city, the school burning down, the funeral showing the sheer number of those lost. She is holding the vorpal sword she created not so long ago in her lap.]

His majesty, King Arthur, was teaching me how to use the vorpal sword to protect myself. But now that he's gone, I'm without a good teacher.

Would someone please be so kind to teach me how to use a sword?

[Hello, Asgard. This is Riley here and she is sitting on the kitchen counter in the house she lives in with the rest of the people from her world. Currently, she's snacking on a cupcake, clearly enjoying her sweet treat.]

Okay so, I've been here a few days and I think it's time I introduced myself. I'm Riley and I come from Ellie's world. You know, fucked up zombie apocalypse with more squishy mushroom people and less rawr braaaaains. [Yes, she even made a scary face just for that. Okay, back on topic after a lick of frosting.]

So, some of you know my girl Ellie. Still, not the point of this.

Alright, I want you all to tell me your favorite alcoholic drink. Or drinks. I'll allow a top three if you're really too lame to pick one. And if you're too much of a pussy to have tasted alcohol then you should tell me your most embarrassing story instead.

Got it? Cool, give me the best you got.

[She'll just wait here.]

[ The feed opens onto the brilliant sun-yellow and cerulean-blue feathers of a macaw parrot. It stares into the feed, bobs its head a couple times, then squawks out: ]

Aye, aye sir! Any port in a storm!

[ Not too far behind the bird sits a certain Captain Jack Sparrow; they're both at a picnic bench, outside somewhere, the sun shining down from behind the clouds overhead. ]

Move, damn you! Shoo! Shoo!

[ Jack waves his hands, trying to scare it off. The bird flaps its wings, shuffles on its feet, but doesn't leave. Instead, it shakes its head and says: ]

Mum's the word!

[ And squawks again. The macaw dodges the pirate's next swipes, galloping a couple inches out of reach atop the table, then tilts its head sideways to stare at him. The pirate huffs at it, then scoots over so that the video is centered more on himself. He leans forward conspiratorially, as if to not include the bird in the conversation, both hands lifted to emphasize. ]

As I see it, and while I do appreciate any sort of well-intended indemnification for this involuntary sabbatical, I can name meself [ -- and well, mid-sentence, Jack will suddenly start to speak exactly like Miss Elizabeth Swann, prim-and-proper girl-voice and all -- ] quite a few things that would be more appropriate than a [ -- OOPS. Jack's eyes flash wide, and the pirate promptly makes this face in utter confusion.

There's a sudden blur of gold and blue and brown, then, and suddenly Jack is hatless as well. He springs up to his feet in the same instant and shouts: ]

HEY!

[ still, of course, entirely in Elizabeth's voice. But the bird has already made its escape up the branch of the nearest tree, Jack's hat in tow. The pirate curls a fist against his mouth, glancing quickly between the bird and the feed, then reaches over to switch off. ]

((OOC: Meet Mr. Cotton's Parrot, the nautical-catch-phrase-speaking parrot! Also, Jack stole stuff he shouldn't have, and so has been cursed with Elizabeth's voice and speech patterns.  Backdated to Day 418 because work and yes.))

[Having spent the night of the funeral at the Ice Rink with a sleepover, Alice was quite bright-eyed and chipper in the morning. And when she awoke to beautiful talking flowers? Why, it felt like home! Alice had been speaking with them all morning when she went home to her garden.

That wasn't of course why she was making her post. The funeral had got her to thinking about everything going on in Asgard. Marigold, her dragon was in her lap and seemed to be purring alongside some tiger lilies. Lady bell, her gryphon was napping not too far in the background.]

Shush now, please. [She said to the flowers first and they made soft noises of protest.] We'll continue our conversation in moment... [Alice assured them which seemed to placate most of the flowers.]

I know... a lot of people left not too long ago, not just that, but a lot of natives are getting hurt too. And now... with Mr. Odin asleep...

[Maybe she should have started this differently.]

What I mean to say is...

["Deep breaths," a poppy reached out with a leaf resting it on Alice's hand. Alice did just that.]

I should start over. What I'm trying to say is, with so many of us coming and going, and the gods always under attack alongside the rest of us, our allies in Vanaheim and Alfheim in the same situation, I thought, perhaps we should have allies who are a bit more...

Well... not a bit... who are quite a lot more terrifying.

Dragons, that is.

These dragons. [Here she held up a book from the grand library picturing one of the dragons of Yggdrasil to the bracelet.] This is a dragon of this world. And I've been studying what little there is written on them. They're incredibly intelligent and very powerful. Apparently, not too long ago, Surt and Thiazi had some as allies. I say had for a reason.

What if we could get them to become our allies? I'm sure if we made a convincing enough case, or plea, or... something they might join our side! Now, I know the books, and probably the gods, will even say that the dragons, the real ones and not ones we draw, are next to impossible to find.

That's why I propose a second idea! What if we drew dragons, dragons that looked exactly like the Yggdrasil dragons, same size and everything to go looking for the other dragons! With the way Yggdrasil is changing, nothing could survive better than a dragon! Plus, if it's another dragon, the real dragons will be easier to find! We could attach our messages to our drawn dragons and send them to every nook and cranny in Yggdrasil! One of them is bound to find at least one of them if we have enough!

And if nothing else, we'll have some very big, some very strong giant hand-drawn dragons on our side even if we can't get the real dragons to help us!

["You did very well, dear," the flowers all seemed to agree and Alice thanked them. She snapped her fingers, as if just remembering something]

OH! And I should mention, the flowers, they're harmless, talkative, but completely harmless! Or as harmless as most flowers actual are. They're very big on manners though, so please be polite to them. They're not fond of rudeness.



((OOC: SO! This is the official start of the Fierce Allies plot! The log for the making of the dragons will be in early April! Full details can be found here. You don't need to sign up if you want to participate, it's just a general idea of who might want to join in!))

[ Hello, Asgard, this is probably a very familiar face by now! Only-- Wait.

There's something wrong.

1. He's soaked. Not so much that he's dripping water (except for from his hair, a bit), but all the same. 2. He probably looks on the younger side. 3. The bow tie is gone and in its place there's a regular tie. What?

As he realises it's recording, a grin spreads on his face and he raises a hand to ... tap at the screen. Not that there's a screen you can tap, as such. ]

You know, thing about hologram screens is that you can't really tap them. Isn't that a shame?

Hello! This is a sort of network, yeah? I'm talking to people now? I hope so, because I have a very, very important question.

[ Clears throat.

Dramatic pause. And then he gets distracted because he has to burp regeneration energy. But he doesn't even react to it, and just continues. ]

Does anyone know where I can get an apple? Or happen to have an apple you can give to me? I really want an apple. Love an apple.

[ Doctor, out. ]

((OOC: The Eleventh Doctor has been cursed for one day! There's a catch-all log for it here with a scenario anyone can jump in, but it's also there if anyone would like to do something else. Feel free to prod me at Tossino, AIM @ thetossedone or through PM if there's anything you'd like to doooo.))

[ When you tune into the video, a kid with snow white hair is looking at the camera, greeting you with a happy smile. He may look a little tired, though. He'll probably deny it if you bring it up, though. ] Hello there! I don't think I've made anything onto this network yet. If I haven't met you yet, my name is Allen Walker. [ Allen nods, like his own kind of bow. Not being polite doesn't get you anywhere, does it? ]

I'm afraid I lost something recently. He's a friend of mine!

[ Hopefully there are no cats nearby. ]

He's a golden golem named Timcampy. He's basically a little ball with two big wings and a curly tail! [ That's how someone described to him, anyway. Golem's were kind of a Black Order. Was it still a Black Order thing for him if he wasn't technically there anymore? ]

Usually he just flies to wherever he wants to go once in a while, but I haven't seen him in a day or two and I just want to make sure he's okay...He has a habit of being eaten by cats.

Just wondering! Thanks!

[Despite the most recent events, Inara's offering a small smile as the feed starts. She's sitting on the settee in her room, her hands clasped together on her lap.]

I have been horribly remiss in regards to the network lately and for that I do apologize. I know there are many new faces in the city and I'd just like to introduce myself. I'm Inara Serra and having been here a while, I don't mind answering questions anyone might have.

[She'd welcome them to the city but finds that terribly rude.]

I know I cannot make this whole ordeal any better, but if anyone wishes for a few moments of quiet over tea, that is something I offer.

[She switches the feed to private.]

( Private to Clara Oswald & Alice Liddell )

[The boy who just activated the video function on his bracelet has absolutely no idea that he's done it. He doesn't seem to have much of a clue of anything he's doing or should be doing, really, judging by his expression.]

Fa... [He breaks off, because asking for his father like a lost child isn't actually what a De Noir should do in such a situation and his father would be the first to tell him that. Or just let him know with one look.] Wrolf?!

[Shouting for the giant dog lion doesn't come across as much braver, he realizes. So, squaring his shoulders he tries to fake some courage while really not feeling much other than confusion and fear. Where is he?]

What have you gotten us into now, Maria?

[The feed ends here, but when it starts again about a minute later, Robin is looking considerably more composed. At least he seems to be marginally less sure that talking to a bracelet is doing something other than making him look like he's lost his mind.]

Has anyone seen a girl? She may be riding on a unicorn.

[...he might still sound as if he's lost his mind, however.]

If your powers or anyone else’s backfired on you in the past week, go get yourself looked at by a professional. Even if you feel fine. Energy zapping and deconstructive injury could’ve left lasting effects, and you don’t want to wait until the next crisis to figure out if they have. Don’t be a martyr—be smart.

( he’s very huffy, as he says all of this. as if he doesn’t expect most people to take his advice, but knows he has to say it, anyway. in any case, he pauses briefly, before continuing. )

Now that shit’s calmed down a bit, I have a few questions. Answer if you want, don’t bother telling me why you don’t want to if that’s the case.

First is this—what year was it, before you got here, in your homeworld or universe?

( he has a suspicion about most of the answers he’ll get, but it’s worth knowing if anyone at all is from his end of the time stream. )

Second is more of a request. I’ve tried out three pubs in this place and none of them are worth writing home about. Recommend me a good one and I’ll be grateful.

( he doesn’t sound inclined to gratitude. )

I can’t see any active benefit to these powers, but if there’s something they’ve helped you with when nothing else would’ve, I’d like to hear about that, too.

…oh. And if anyone out there’s from Freya’s house, I have a particular question for you. Nothing serious, but I’d appreciate the time.

( he clears his throat, a little awkward. and then the post ends. )

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.]

[Shortly after his arrival, and orentation of sorts, Tarrant will quite simply get started the best way he knows how. The feed begins with the hatter standing in some odd place, and alley off somewhere looking around.]

Oh my, I knew that losing your muchness meant that you were muchier. But to go completely gray is quite mad. I should think that one would want to look their best even without their muchness. Though with such dull colors I should very much like to hat them with something more colorful.

And I should much like to have a hand at my trade again. I'll need my things should I be expected to hat so many people though. Tools, a pincushion, a measuring tape, thimbles of course, thread and needle, needle and thread, cloth, pins, cloth pins, scissors, mannequins, a tolliker, curling shakles, a hat guage and lettering machine of course. We'll need to hurry though, you see I simply mustn't keep Alice waiting very long. She's terribly busy you know know that the frabjous day is finally upon us.

Well, then, Shall it be a bonnet or a boater? Or something for the boduoir? Cloche, dunce hat, death cap, coif, snood, barboosh, pugree, yarmulke, cockle-hat, porkpie, tam-o'-shanter, billycock, bicorn, tricorn, bandeau, bongrace, fan-tail, nightcap, garibaldi, fez...