[Lyon's face comes over the bracelet looking uncharacteristically embarrassed this time.  It takes her a few moments to clear her mind and really think of what she wants to say, but when she does speak it's in a slow, calm, and measured voice that she's probably forcing herself pretty hard to adopt.]

It has recently come to my attention that I may have given some of you the wrong idea about the relationship I have with Freyjadour Falenas.  Having found this out, I feel I owe it to those of you who know one or both of us - and more importantly, to Frey himself - to clear up the potential misunderstanding.  The two of us are not, and never have been, romantically involved with one another.  He's a very important friend that I've known since I was young, and we grew up side by side.  We're really more like brother and sister than anything, and while it's true that we trust each other implicitly and would do almost anything for each other, we simply aren't on that level of intimacy.  I apologize if the way I talk about him has been confusing or if it's given anyone a false impression of what things are like between us.

[Yeah, that was eight kinds of awkward, wasn't it.  Lyon isn't sure if she should add anything else, so there's a few moments of hesitation here while she considers that.]

...That's all I have to say.

[A feed starts up that's completely black, but what the strangest thing my be is that the user that it comes up as is "???". There's no name attached.

However, about 30 seconds in, tiny streaks of light begin running through the darkness, but they're probably too small to tell that they're made up of 0s and 1s. The little lights continuing moving up and down the screen, and they're soon joined with words, sounds, and other visuals:]


( Cut for length & mention of gore/death. )

((ooc: ???'s been hit with a "broadcast mind" curse, so basically all his thoughts going to be up for viewing. (How ironic, huh?) However, most of these thoughts don't belong to him since they're general thoughts of Travelers & Natives that he's overheard with Telepathy and is reflecting on. Sorry for the messiness! I wanted to emphasize the fact that his thoughts are very muddled and all over the place. Cut is actually a link redirect to the entry on ???'s journal. For some reason the post doesn't want to stay under a cut. :\

Also, if you want a thought from your character included so that they can react that they've had their mind read at some point, just PM me & I'll add it in. Thoughts & memories that ??? may have overheard must be from AFTER the Darkness/when ??? obtained lv 3, unless it's something your character had reflected on past that point.))

[Instead of the normal happy go lucky Finnick, the device activates to a more somber one. He is fiddling with a piece of cloth that looks so wrinkled he must have used it for knot tying practice. His eyes have a far away look before he shakes his head, forcing himself to come out of what he was trying to say. He gives a slight uneasy smile. There is a reason that this is filtered from Katniss and Annie particularly.]

So. I have a really good question for you all today.

Let me start off by saying that there are several really hard headed girls from my world here. I need some advice on how to deal with a problem where talking doesn't seem to work with either of them.

[He sits back and pinches the bridge of his nose.]

One girl is too eager to fight, and the other wants me to stay out of the fighting. But, I can't, and I can't communicate that to her. I'm going to do what I can to stay safe, but it's not something that we can see eye to eye on.

How do you deal with that? This is one of the hardest situations I think I've faced. Ever.

[And that's saying something since he's from such a messed up world.]

[For once, Sora is using the text function only. Between the worsened symptoms and his lack of energy, he wouldn't be able to handle a voice or a video post.]

Don't worry! Everything will be okay. We'll pull through. We always do!

[He's honestly trying to raise people's spirits. Whether it works or not is up to them, but he feels he has to do something. Raise morale in some way even if it's through something as small as this.]

We made it this far, right? There's no way this will stop us.

This is probably overdue but if you're listening to this, Sora and Riku, I should probably apologize that I was late shouldn't I? This goes for anyone of my friends back home! I'll promise to make it up during my time here.

In the meantime, I would like to ask, what do you like do What do you like to do during your spare time here? I arrived here a couple of days ago it's definitely a lot different from what I'm use to back home! I might need to start a new hobby!

[There was a bit of a pause before Kairi started smirking a bit]

...Maybe I should learn how to start kissing people here.

Sora? Riku... I know you're here. If you can hear this, let me know, okay?

[It seems someone has figured out the bracelet's functions very quickly.]

I tried to leave, but it's too foggy... I can't see anything. I was told to go to Sigyn house, but until I can go outside, I think I'm stuck here.

If anyone else is with me here in this castle, I guess we could meet up and keep each other company while the weather's bad? There are a lot of names on this list on the bracelet, so some of you must be here, too, right? My name is Kairi. I don't really understand what's going on here, but until I figure it out... It's nice to meet all of you!

[ Here's a face that hasn't been seen often lately although if the way she seems to be staring intently off screen isn't a hint that she's been busy with other matters, her words are sure to clue her audience in. She pauses in what she's doing for a second to look at her bracelet, smiling warmly. ]

Hey, everyone! I know it's been a while since I've talked to any of you. [ A small, awkward giggle rings from her like she's been caught red-handed. She casts her eyes away, even as she continues to talk. ] I guess my new job's kept me busier than I expected.. -There! [ A book briefly makes its appearance in her free hand as she slots it into the shelf next to her. Kairi's attention then returns to the viewer, sheepish. ] You guys sure read a lot of books!

Anyway, I was thinking... Has anyone ever done murals before? I mean if you haven't, that's perfectly fine! I was just thinking that maybe it would be something to make the city feel a bit more like home. I found some paint and brushes earlier this week, but- [ Another laugh as she tilts her head and threads a hand through her hair. ] -I'm not sure if it'll be enough if a lot of people decide to do this, so! If anyone has anymore to offer or even if you just bring a brush for yourself, that would really help!

[ There's a pause as she scrunches her nose in thought. ] I'm thinking around the hospital might be a good place to start, but if you have any other ideas of where we could paint them, I'd be happy to hear them!

( ooc: Kairi's had this idea in her head ever since speaking to Enma (Pssst. Your fault~ ;D) and now she'd really love to set something up to go all out with this! I'm thinking I'll be posting a log tomorrow (to which I will edit a link into this post, so look out for it~ =B) for shenanigans be it paint fights, INTENSE ARTING, hurpa-durp-we-fail doodling, WRECKING HAVOC ON HARD WORK ('Wait- Was that mustache there before...?'), and more!

As a side note, if anyone wants to continue any prior threads with me, you are more than welcome to give me a heads up at my Ping!Box. I know I've been sparse here lately and I might have missed or lost the notifs. @@; And for that, I do apologize! )

[Oh, hello, video.  And a very disgruntled vampire glaring at the screen.  Don't take it personally, he's just mad at everything right now.]

What the bloody hell is this?

[He means the terribly feminine friendship bracelet that's been slapped on his wrist, but, you know, everything else too.  It's not really the bracelet that's annoying him, it's just being kidnapped and ending up in this place when he had things to do.]

'Laughter and tears', what a load of bollocks. What's next, relying on the power of love to conquer all?

[He snorts.]

Like that'll do anything.

[Enma stares at the bracelet for a good, long while. He looks uncertain, tense, nervous, like he's trying to muster up the will to say something but hasn't come up with much yet. You wouldn't be able to tell from the way he absently fidgets with the cuffs of his jacket and picks at a bandage on the back of his hand, but he's been doing a lot of thinking lately. He's been here for three weeks, knows he needs to get home, knows he has things to do, and he can't shake the feeling of complete helplessness. He hates it. Can't bear it, and underneath all the nervous energy is frustration and anger that just needs a bit more agitation before it boils over.

He wants to ask if anyone's gone home yet, or has thought of a way to leave, or has figured out more about what the gods want from them, but instead all he manages to say is:]

Wonder if they'll let us leave if we just paint the walls for them....

[It takes a short moment for him to get the sense that what he just said was insufferably dumb, and he nervously claps one hand over his face, slaps at his bracelet, and switches the feed off]

[Getting around is so annoying now. Midna basically hasn't left her own district much, trying to figure out different means of travel since flying isn't a thing anymore. Dammit Link, why couldn't you just have been in the same House? No one would mind, right?]

[In other words SHE IS BORED OUT OF HER SKULL]

[And people watching from this bench doesn't help much.]

So many people just coming out of the woodwork now, it's troublesome keeping track of all of you. I wonder if there's a list somewhere.

[At least reading material is something. And it helps her keep an eye on things.]

Hey! Mutt! Been busy playing hero again? Come here and entertain me.

[Sorry Link. She needs some way of distinguishing you from the pack and that name bothers you the most.]

[Some people have no respect for a good night's sleep.

Those up at the early hours of the morning just might be treated to a boy calling out for friends, "Reeku" or "Kairee" atop rooftops around the city. Sora's first impulse, naturally, is to search for his friends.

Sora's second impulse, between attempts to disrupt local sleeping schedules, is to explore. It's a new world, and despite the minor inconvenience of being kidnapped by Norse gods he never knew existed, he's rather optimistic about finding a way out. This is totally a temporary stopover. It always is. His travels throughout the day take him from district to district, from the Hospital, to the Arena, to Gefion Park. Luckily, his last leg of the journey takes him to the Carnival in the evening, where local ghosts are quite helpful in helping him puzzle out the functions of the bracelet(when they're not trying to scare the marbles out of him).

Sorry, Asgard. Sora's very first broadcast of the evening has a spooky start! It zooms in on the face of a gaunt, pale-faced ghoul. The ghostly image only persists until Sora's much healthier complexion squeezes into the picture beside it.]

Whooaa... it's working!

[Sora turns to the ghost, unfazed by its unearthly appearance.] And this is gonna help me find Riku and Kairi?

[An affirmative moan from the ghoul, mostly an incoherent murmur as it retreats from the foreground. Unfortunately, the ghoul hovers eerily above Sora's head, peering down at the viewer for the duration message. Only slightly unnerving.]

Well, if anybody out there's listening, I'm Sora. I'm trying to find my two friends. One's named Kairi. She's got red hair, she's about this tall and probably the friendliest person you'll ever meet. Then there's Riku! He's got messy white hair just like this guy. [Sora jerks a thumb at his ghostly friend.] Riku can be kind of grumpy sometimes, but he's a really good guy once you get to know 'em.

If you see them, let me know right away, okay?

[He very nearly finishes the message, but then he remembers! There's a burning question reserved for his housemates in Freya. Unfortunately, his attempt to send it exclusively to the Freya House ends in failure. All of Asgard is posed the question:]

// Failed Private to Freya Housemates \\

By the way... Have any of you guys tried using your powers yet?

[The feed ends with him looking a little sheepish, maybe even a little flustered.]

[ooc: Feel free to  tell that kid yelling on your rooftop at all hours of the morning to pipe down, or to run into him at the Carnival.]

[He knows he hasn't spoken to anyone in a while. The fact is--]

[He couldn't bring himself to. Not with Sora's abrupt disappearance, not after Kovu made his departure as well. His memories are a mess; whilst half of him thinks he shouldn't be noticed, the other just doesn't know how. Both sides don't.]

[But now, he feels like he actually has something of merit to say. And that's why Roxas is sitting there, looking increasingly uncomfortable about being under the camera's view.]

So I got a job with one of the local smiths. [A small pause. How is this even useful to know?] And he said I could put my pay into the materials for... something from back home.

[A small scrap of paper is held up, revealing a not so horrific drawing, though it really doesn't do any justice to the real thing.]

It can't be exactly like it was back home, but it's better than nothing.

[Another, slight pause. Roxas doesn't look down, so much as he doesn't particularly look like he's feeling at all. Blank hesitation.]

And he said if others were interested, we could look at designing blades from other worlds-- for a price.

So...tell me if you are.









That's it.

[it does take a little while and the receiving of a shiny new rune from a pompous snowman before he figures out how his bracelet functions, and even that is kind of stretching it. still, he has an important question to ask, and as far as he knows, he's somehow managed to pop into a world he's already familiar with. this can't be a new world; he hasn't even unlocked the path to any new worlds in quite a while.]

[after a few resounding thumps until he's sure he has the bracelet working, a voice that might be familiar to some-- but not sneezing and coughing, gross, Vanitas-- suddenly pipes up. there is snow here. might have been The Land of Dragons if it weren't for the snowman. that... only leaves one possible option!]

Does anybody know the way to Santa's workshop from the giant snowman?

[without Donald's magic and the accompanying festive hat, Sora will stick out like a sore thumb. so much for that "blending in with the worlds he visits" rule. nothing else he can do but appeal to the locals for directions-- and he's never met a mean elf, after all.]

[The video clicks on not to a view of a person, but a window. Outside the window is snow, snow, and more snow... and what appears to be a moving snowman outside. Those with the proper knowledge might recognize it as the snowman from Sigyn's district.]

...Is that supposed to happen? [It comes from off-screen. She does her best to keep sight of the snowman until it disappears from view.] Has anyone been here long enough to know? [At that point, the camera goes still for a few moments, then begins to move again as she steps over to the door and, after a moment of hesitance, opens it. When she does, the snowman is right there, and it startles her enough for to drop the bracelet, effectively shutting off the feed.]

[A little while later, there's a text message added.]

I think it's okay. He seemed nice.

[The video clicks on, showing Riku looking rather unimpressed and leaning against a stony wall. For anyone in the area can see him or that can recognize it, it's the bank he's leaning against in Heimdall's district. He's been out exploring a little bit here and there, mostly keeping to himself though.]

So it's been almost a week since people started arriving here. Doesn't seem like there were a lot of people before we came here, aside from the locals, and gods of course.

[He sounds a little skeptical and cynical at gods. Call him jaded, but Riku doesn't like being used as a tool for higher or better beings of power anymore.]

It might be too early to tell, but has anyone noticed a difference in the city yet?

[A pause and he looks almost contemplative and pained for a moment, but it quickly disappears.]

Since we seem to be on the topic of finding people, I'm looking for two. A boy named Sora and a girl, Kairi. If you know where they are, just tell them Riku's looking for them.


((ooc: just as a note, tags might be a little slow until tomorrow. Sorry in advance))

[She's a small, skinny, almost sickly-looking girl with dark hair pulled back into a high ponytail, wearing a rather odd dress (far left) that looks a good deal like a uniform. After a soft sigh, she speaks.]

I... guess this is it.

Hello, everyone... I was wondering if any of you had met anyone named Takashi Waku, Daiichi Yamura, or Masaru Kodaka? I can give descriptions if you need them.

And, um... [Her body straightening up and her expression becoming solemn.] ... as long as I have to be here, I'll do my best. I hope you all will, too.

Oh, c'mon--

[At first there's static. Give it a second, Sonic's just trying to-- there we go!

The feed starts up with a lovely close-up of Sonic himself, looking all smug. Yes, folks, you're looking at a blue, anthropomorphic hedgehog who looks... nothing like a hedgehog! Go figure.]

Okay, now that I've got this bracelet thing workin', yo! [He does a quick thumbs-up.]

Looks like we're in here for the long haul. Either that, or is this one messed up dream. I'm leanin' towards us being stuck, 'cause there's no way I'd have dreams without my speed. Not gonna ask about powers, since it's pretty obvious that we all lost 'em. What I do wanna know is how many of you guys aren't human. Or, heck, how many of ya used to be somethin' else before you came here. Already bumped into some ponies.

As for me, I'm still one way past cool hedgehog, and proud of it. Name's Sonic. Leader of the Freedom Fighters, hero of Mobius, and the coolest dude you'll ever meet. And before I came here? The fastest thing on two feet-- no, even better, on the whole planet! And now I'm hangin' out in Thor house. Seems like a pretty cool dude.

[He smiiirks, crossing his arms and leaning up against a wall. With all that out of the way, there's one big concern. ...sorta.]

And one more thing: Who's in the mood for some chili dogs? Can't bring life and color to this place on an empty stomach!