[Cue Samantha in her lab over at Pinch of Sage. It's messier than usual, which is saying something. She's not known for being the most organized of workers on the planet. There's a few broken pieces of equipment and one of the lockboxes looks like someone's tried to break into it unsuccessfully. They tried pretty damned hard, but somebody'd put runic locks and worse on the thing to boot so it wasn't getting opened. A bunch of cabinets have been broken into behind her though.

She's muttering something and hollers an unintelligible statement up to the front. Something less intelligible can be heard and she nods, turning to the feed and growling.]

Someone around here is either really stupid, or ballsy. Pinch got broken into, and dumbass swiped a few of my experimental vials, along with a bit of the stock. So, whichever of you morons is on a revenge kick, good luck to you. However, just something you lot should know for future reference. I'm getting runic golems for security, and warding this place to hell and back. The next damned fool who tries to break into my lab's going to be more likely to blow himself to kingdom come than get anything.

[Her hand brushes over and starts to clean up something when she brings it back with a start, a small cut dripping blood and something that looks kind of green. For a second, her eyes widen and she looks nervous.]

Ohway uckfay emay. Atwhay ethay ellhay idday Iway ustjay ouchtay?

[... oh, that one. Just look at Sam's face. She's thrilled to death right now.]

(OOC: Feel free to reply. Sam is, however, currently subject to one of her own poisons for the duration of the post, which means she's speaking Pig Latin! If you don't want to deal with me using a Pig-Latin translator for all replies, note this in your reply header, I'll skip it and you can assume she's hard to understand.)

Well whatta you know, death comes with an option A and an option B apparently! Weighing the options, if I had to make a choice between Asgard or isolation it's no contest...and, hey, I've heard good things about Asgard...according to Scáthach.

[In spite of being brought here against his will, Lancer looks about as cool as any cucumber...of course his existence has afforded him very little in the way of free will, so he doesn't have much to complain about.]

It's not exactly what I pictured when I was a brat, but if I could color this place with my influence then I could definitely live here! [Whether that's cause for concern or not remains to be seen.] The only down-tick to this whole ordeal would have to be the power loss...there's really no way to get 'em back, eh? Even Runes, what about those? This is Asgard and I was a master of Runic magic, you'd think that'd translate.

[He'll give a mock derisive snort.]

Guess I can live with it as long as this place is well stocked with booze....but I do have a couple of questions. It's possible to be in the House of One God while liking another without offending the God who...I guess...brought you here, right? I'm not in the mood for a shit storm, but that Loki guy, he's a real pip. [Lancer waves a hand dismissively, that was just a cast off question.] No...no...what I really want to know is this--could anyone qualify for this place, or is there some kind of selection process that they have set in motion?

[It's amazing how one's relaxed, laid-back demeanor could so quickly change into something more ominous and creepy, but Lancer pulls it off...and red eyes are pretty unsettling anyway, but it's the forced grin on his face that's the real problem.]

I'm Lancer by the way, common courtesy if I plan on pumping this place for information.

Many try to look at smaller and smaller things, such as microorganisms, cells, atoms. Many also try to look further and further away, into the dark sky, the stars and the planets. And they also try to look back in time, when there was nothing, when you were still growing.

Maybe most have forgotten to look at something that is neither the smallest nor the largest, it's here and existing now. Yourself.

If you could stand outside yourself, be it from the past or the present, would you even recognize yourself, and if you did, would you know yourself? What would you say to yourself? What would you learn from yourself? What would you really like to see?


[ and if people don't wish to engage in a philosophical question, Kaworu has another one much simpler ]

I'm also looking for different tea blends. What would it be your favorite?

[Asgard has been good to him. It gave him Sasuke for starters, and already things are-- sort of edging back to how he thinks they should be.

Of course, there are a few things bothering him.

What better way to hash them out than to declare his feelings to the entire world?]

So these powers suck? I mean, how Sasuke gets to control people's bodies while I'm like--

[He can't say it. Energy Transfer sucks.]

Yeah, well I wanna have a word with a bunch of people and see how I'm supposed to change 'em. That girl that can heal now - she did it.

AND! [Look, it must be important, he's pointing at the feed there.]

There's gotta be a place that sells ramen around here. Anyone wanna go?

[Cue the Hel House Kitchens. Someone was visiting home and saw a certain placard. And, unlike others who might be wanting to keep their family recipes a little secret, Sam was in a sharing mood. Finding out about Conan and Kate had done few favors for her mood, and so she'd wanted to destress a bit. The problems of the murders weren't going to solve themselves, and she was better off out of them.

A cooking competition? That was a perfect way. One look at the table and its abilities to produce almost anything she desired that wasn't magical and she'd made a noise that had quite possibly terrified someone on the first floor. Right now, she was cubing meat that looked dark red with bright white marbling. There were a whole collection of spices beside her, and she had a concentrating look on her face.]

Not that different from brewing potions. So I don't know if any of you've noticed those plaques in the kitchens, but they're doing another of these competitions. Cooking this time.

No, I'm not asking for help. But, [She added the meat into a stew pot and set it on the burner to begin to simmer. As she stirred, she took out a very small bottle and added a pair of drops before mixing in a packet of powder that looked very red and yellow. One cough and she nodded in temporary satisfaction.] if any of you want to try some good home cooking, I'm doing some testers today while I see just what these tables can do.

...you don't mind spice do you?

[...you don't want to eat what she's making.]

Why would someone choose to go grey?

[filtered away from Lavi]

_{[Almost right after Lavi's post, Ruca makes his own. The boy sounds more nervous than always and he's whispering.]}

Um... M-my name is Ruca and... please, don't tell Lavi anything. Or tell him it's pointless to look for me. That I just... vanished, anything!...

_{[There's a silence for a while, then he sighs.]}

...I really need to keep my voice down...

<sub>[Somebody help him.

He is currently hiding in the hospital. If anybody wishes to find him there, feel free to try to talk to him. And startle him.]</sub>

I've started singing again. Nothing serious, it's just a couple of nights a week at this little jazz lounge in Freyr, but it's nice to be start doing something so familiar again. And I don't want to get rusty.

So - I don't know - if anyone ever wants to drop by the address is here. [She's switching over to text briefly to type out the lounge's location, then it's back to audio!] It's got some pretty good food and drinks, so it's worth checking out!

[And then her tone turns slightly more awkward, because this is kind of a personal subject.] Oh, and does anyone know if there's anything that's sort of like... books that explain how to write? Stories, I mean. Fake things that are completely one hundred percent not true. I've never done it before, so I don't know if there are specific rules or what.

[What? It's a totally benign request and has nothing to do with a desire to try writing romance-y things about people she may or may not know.]

[Filtered away from John Allerdyce]

Hey, what kinds of things should a person expect if she happened to be going on a date with someone and it involved burgers? What should I even wear...?

[The rarest of occasions has happened it seems. Kirino, not realizing at all, had tossed her bracelet somewhere in the room, what appears to be on the floor no less, and the feed accidentally turned on. Something has been bothering her for the last little while, something that has suddenly jumped up on her and there's no hiding it anymore. She misses him, more than anything she wants him around, she wants to hear his stupid voice, she just wants him back.

Call her childish, like she cares, she'll do anything to see her brother again.

The video catches her sitting in her room, leaning against a wall in there and she brings the back of her hand up to her face, covering her mouth as she stifles a cough. She's gotten herself sick over it, physically ill and mentally drained. This happened in America too when she went to visit for a few months at that training camp, she became sick from just missing her brother and wasn't able to compete properly. After he came to get her, she became better right away but now....]

....I hate him. [No she doesn't, he's her precious brother and she loves him more than anything. She shakes her head, a muffled sob now against that hand of hers as she tries to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths and trying not to become hysterical. When she opened her eyes again she spotted the bracelet, her eyes widening and she quickly grabbed it, turning it off.

A little while later she wrote something however.]

do you miss anyone from back home?

[Well, it's been a while since this face has been on the network visibly. Someone's been keeping a very low profile since her last 'episode,' but after the trip south it feels a little pointless to keep up the charade. So, here the red-head sits.

She's behind the counter of Pinch of Sage on a stool, leaning forward and looking at the screen. The stock behind her looks mostly like the usual. Garlic, sage and a collection of herbs hang there. She's sipping something that, from the look on her face is just god-awful. Setting it to the side, she taps the counter. On it is a small egg carton with what look like lightly colored eggs with paper wrapped at the top and a few small bottles.]

Alright, so we're back from the trip down south to get intel. I'm going to let other people who know how to organize crap that needs to get organized handle the sharing of information. In the meantime, a few orders of business.

One, [Another tap at the counter.], We're still open over here at Pinch of Sage. You need herbal cures, there's my place and Euri's, and we offer medicines of pretty much any variety you can get in Asgard. Don't be shy coming in. My staff's a lot more friendly than I am.

I've got new alchemical stock in, and there's been a change of policy. We're in a war, and you need whatever weapons you can get. So, I'm going to come out and say it. I specialize in poison-making using the magic herbs. It's not as good as your powers, so don't bank on it, but some days you don't have enough juice, and you take what you can get. Ask, and I'll tell you what it does. It's available, and I'm not going for a big profit on it, but that doesn't make it cheap. We're not responsible for what stupid crap you do with it. You start screwing each other over with poisons, that's on your head. You use 'em on me, it's definitely your head.

These little eggs [She lifted one gently] are new. Draco, I've had some luck with the inhalants. They're old japanese style egg bombs. Toss 'em at someone and they'll burst a bit of powder that, when they breathe it in, it'll mess 'em up for a little bit. Not long, since it can't have much potency, but every second counts sometimes. Draco, you, Euri or Hermione can stop by and I'll give you the run-down on what I found.

[Setting the egg down and put her hands up under her chin. Her face had a distasteful quirk to it.]

Two, For those of you bothered by the last time you saw me, I've taken some steps to help them make sure it doesn't happen again... hopefully. I'm branded, magically. I don't know who's got the stone that tracks me, and I don't want to ever know. Don't ask around and don't tell me. If I get loose again, they can find me a lot faster and put me down before it goes haywire again.

We're going to stop this one way or another. I'd apologize, and in fact I will if you got hurt and I haven't already, but words are cheap. I'm sick of hurting people. Anyone helping keep me under control needs to get ahold of me, you know where to find me.

[She sighed and took another sip from her cup, wincing and coughing. God, she hated the stuff.]

Three, I'm not the only person out there that's ever had problems going crazy. Werewolves in some worlds have that problem. Vampires sometimes have bloodlust. Lots of folks out there struggle with another side of them, in their world and sometimes here too. I've been thinking about this a lot. Look, if you guys want help, I don't know, dealing with the feeling you're not always in control of your actions the way you want to be, stop by. We can talk. I might try setting up a ... I guess you'd call it a support group or something. All anonymous. No names, no sharing with others. Just, somewhere you can talk. Might help.

Moshi moshi? Is this thing on-- ah! There we go, hello!

Hello Asgard! Can I ask a question? What's your view of fashion? What made you choose your clothes? Why do you wear what you wear?

[ The video screen is flipped from upside down to right side up as the teal haired girl fiddles around with the controls. She nods as she glances into the screen, smiling. ]

Oh! Let me show you what I'm wearing so you don't feel too uncomfortable with telling me what you wear!

[ She's wearing a little something that looks like this, and pans the angle down a little so you can get a good view of her clothing. It wouldn't be fair of her if she asked a question and didn't tell you her opinions, right? If she wasn't huddled up in her room in the welcoming halls with blankets, she would be freezing her butt off, even if she wasn't human. ]

I hope I'm not asking too much... but, where might I be able to find some more clothes? Something more.. winterlike? Maybe some shoes, too?

 [He stands, looking away from his viewers. He is uncomfortable to be here, does not understand the purpose of why he has been brought, but knows more than he did before thanks to his ... House mate. At least that is something. Taking a breath he speaks. It took him long enough to figure this out, he shouldn't waste his breath.]

Hello. I am told that you are called Asgard. This is a network, is it not? Communicative magic. I have seen such things before, though not on a large scale as it operates here.

[He pauses, deliberating, choosing his next words carefully. Atem is always careful.]

Though I already know the consequences of taking the bracelet off I still have so many questions ... I want to know many things, like what I am supposed to do here. I was already told that it is my choice, but this world is new to me and I would like second and third opinions. As I have found back home it is always best to receive such opinions with grace and dignity. It is why any good king does not rule alone and upon his own power. 

[He crosses his arm over his chest..]

I just do not like to take action without being informed. 

[Blondie over here is sitting in a chair, twirling a rose in his hand.]

A bit preoccupied I have been with trying to learn more about this place. Of course, I still have much to learn, what with the recent events that have transpired, but I'm sure it won't be of any hindrance of things that will come up in the near future.

But that's not why I'm making this. I feel this may be a little more personal, but with the way things are, does that really matter at this point?

[He placed the rose down, his eyes shifting to the bracelet on his wrist.]

"Resolve". That word has been stuck in my mind for quite some time. What exactly does your "resolve" involve? Is it one to be admired, or is it one that is grotesque and horrifying? I've been told that mine has been rather admirable, yet to others, it might seem reckless and rather terrifying. However, I achieved my "resolve" a while back, making me rather...content.

...what is your resolve? [The rose finds it way back to his hand, as he plucks a petal from it.] I want to see if I can admire it.

[Euri takes a deep breath when the feed starts. This seems a little weird, asking everyone on the network instead of hunting down the people she already knows, but this might be the better option.

She hopes.]

I bet some of you have already noticed the gods sent Crow - Senji home. For those of you that didn't know him he was amazing and really, really great. And the best fighter here ever. He could kick anyone's ass!

So... before he left he was training me to be a better fighter. Now that he's gone I need a new trainer, because I definitely don't want to just stop. There's a certain bastard obsessed with fire whose ass I still need to kick, and there's the war to worry about.

I can pay runes! Or I guess if anyone really wants, potions or charms or herbs - stuff I prepare for the store. I can cook, too. Mostly. So if there's anyone who can fight and is interested let me know!

[ it’s late morning when the video comes up and you are able to see Kaworu clinging to the bracelet.

He is in bed, face flushed, sweaty, hair clinging to his face because of it, and he looks like he is dying. He is wrapped around a duvet and he is clearly sick. For the first time, actually. ]

Allen…

I’m cold and my body hurts.

[ he coughs for a moment and shifts in bed a bit, shivering from the fever ] what is…? What should I do? [ KICKED PUPPY LOOK IS A GO. And no, he has never been sick, he has no idea what this is. ]


[ ooc: this was meant to be private to Allen, but Kaworu didn’t hit the right settings, so you all get the chance to look at an angel with the flu ]

[A yawn can be heard as the blonde-haired boy stared blankly into the bracelet, rotating it around as it was on his wrist. Well, looks like the thing is working properly, might as well address something.]

I'll never be able to get over how something like this, and such a place, can exist. One cannot doubt what life can throw at someone such as myself, and instead, I take it with open arms. With that out of the way, I think it's only formal to address who I am. Some of you know who I am already, but at this point, it seems irrelevant.

[This was a lot easier then he expected, alas, Giorno cannot help, but smirk at the ease of this. He needs something like this for Passione, but seeing as how that's not possible at the moment...]

Giorno Giovanna. Now then, unto the reason for making this...

It seems that after a little chat with someone I recently met here, it came to my attention that I need to...socialize. [The side of his mouth budged at the mention of that word. Jeez, this really is awkward.] And these bracelets seem to help out a lot in that matter. However, if you want to converse, feel free. If not, be on your way, I don't have time to waste on you. [He says this, a stare that pierces the soul.] ...did I sound harsh?

[ So. A lot of her close friends have been sent home. And the thing is, she never really had many friends back home. There were a few she was very close to — ones she cared for greatly. But being in Asgard for six months now (oocly one year . . .) has had a large effect on her. She had grown to accept these people as very good friends.

And even if she knew that it was possible that they'd disappear — and possibly reappear with no memories — it was still a shock as one after another, they left. And they all had friends here too — she felt terrible for those like her as well.

The girl on the screen gives a small grin, attempting to look cheerful. It probably fails. She couldn't distract herself enough with the other Hinamizawans, so here she is.]

...Aha...!! They should let us have farewell parties for the people who leave. Or at least a proper good-bye! [ What she would give to at least say thank you to those she met. She'd ask the people related to them to pass on messages, but she knows how this all works now. ] ...I'm sorry if someone you knew left.

Heh, that makes me realise how long I've been here. [ She actually knew perfectly how long she's been here — she keeps records of everything, but she prefers to act like this. Also. It's been like three months since she's properly trolled anyone!! ]

Some people have been here a little longer than me, but not many of those people are still around. [ Which is depressing in itself. ] Who's even left?

Oh — [ At this moment, the cat she was left by Yozora pops it's head up from the bottom of the screen and proceeds to climb onto her boobs awkwardly. Say hi to Melons in front of her own melons... ] Hey--!!