[The fact that Odin is seated at a broad desk, hands folded in front of him, should clue in that this is a "formal" post. He doesn't come out much, so he expects everyone will pay attention. He addresses the camera with calm confidence, and speaks with little emotion.]

With the recent chaos, I'm sure you're all looking for some answers. This is what we have for you. Pay close attention, because I won't repeat it for the slow crowd.

If you hadn't already picked up on it, we are at war. Ragnarok is a prophecy made when this world, which we call Yggdrasil, was born. One day, the Giants and the Gods will fight, and the destruction will ruin the world. It will be frozen, and thawed to grow anew. This doesn't just affect us. All of your worlds are children of this one, and they'll all have to start over from nothing as well. No exceptions, no "buts" or "whys".

Some of you don't believe this. That's fine. You're still here, so you can just be concerned with your immediate safety. We've managed to source that last disaster to Muspellheim and the Fire Giants. If you don't want it to keep happening until you're all dead, you'll step up and prepare for a real battle. Thanks to your efforts, you have a whole city of reasonable people to make an army to back you, and we actually have a chance of not being destroyed.

Now, you're probably also confused about the recent arrivals. They are an army from Alfheim, and they've come to declare their allegiance for the coming war. They'll be helping us rebuild what was destroyed in the city, so you'd do well not to hinder them or harass them.

You can have whatever opinions about us that you want. You can disbelieve and whine all you want. But at the end of the day, it's your asses you're saving, so it'd be wiser to quit bitching about being uncomfortable and start working together to make sure you're not dead. Make sure you have a home to go back to when it's over.

I'm not going to stick around and argue with the lot of you, either. Maybe some of my colleagues enjoy chatting ethics with you, but I don't. So consider this all you're getting unless they're kind enough to step in. You know what you need to know. It's do or die. That's it.

How anyone thinks... transporting or switching someone's mind and placing it into another body is humorous is beyond me.

It makes me wonder -- what is truly defined as normal in this world? Perhaps someone can humor me with an actual answer.

[Muttered off to the side, she makes a comment of "Wonderland".]

[ A loud, short, and sudden shriek breaks the opening silence. She was kneeling at the lip of a tub when she made the mistake of glancing in the mirror because now her neck aches (she slept in the goddamn bath) and she is in Diva's body.

And her balance is so completely fouled with eleven less pounds of hair that she falls forward immediately upon standing and smashes her brand new nose into the porcelain. ]

...eech. [ But what she does following the initial panic and expletive is a bit more clever, even as it plays more like a strip show taking itself too seriously. She stands, whips Diva's hair around a bit, and after feeling herself up from head to toe (and back again twice), confides in the tap: ] Is this what everyone's head feels like? It's so...cold. And light. And my voice is so hi—

[ Which is about when she notices the renegade bracelet recording. Though instead of freaking out or scrambling to end the message or even reacting at all to any of this weirdness she simply bites a lip. Rapunzel is only good under pressure because she always expects the worst anyway. ] I'm sorry. It seems like I only make recordings when I need something. I mean, I didn't make this one on purpose. But I am going to ask for something while I'm here so it's... sort of leading up to the demand-making part in the end anyway and - well - aha. Okay.

Does... anyone maybe want to find some Y. pestis-free blood for a fourth shopping list scavenger hunt? Maybe? Heh.

[ replies will come from cambiante! ]

[the video starts off and shows the trainer here looking a little pale, the black dragon finally at his side but looking more tensed than usual. ]

I don't even remember ever losing my bracelet, which means it must have been..

[after he died.. oh, right, the bracelet]

So death is not only inevitable here but also not the end? The Gods must really value our lives then. Considering the camping trip- I wouldn't have thought so before.

[after removing his hat he ruffles his hair a bit which only makes him look more exhausted]

Anything new happen? To those that went along the camping.. what happened after?

[he looks like he wants to say more but.. he apparently decides against it.]

Um, hi everyone...

[This is far from the strident, angry voice that spoke last time she was on the network. Nakama sounds nervous, almost fearful, and there are bright spots of red on each cheek as she speaks.]

So, um, some of my friends know that I wanted to get into designing more seriously, and I've been working on some sketches, but I finally found one that looked okay and decided to give it a try.

[She sets the bracelet down on her desk and backs up, revealing a dark pink dress which she's paired with a single string of pearls for the sake of display.]

What do you think? Does it look alright? Rarity, Kanaya, I'd especially like to hear from you, but anyone else who can suggest any improvements or anything is more than welcome. I need constructive criticism to get better, right?

Um... thanks. In advance. 'Bye.

[And the feed shuts off.]

Where I come from, most cultures have their own takes on the otherwordly, the supernatural. As shown in this entry, many of you are familiar with the lore of your world and even have had your own encounters with them.

Let me ask you this, to supplement the previous question: What creatures or supernatural beings of your world are generally portrayed in a negative light? Of those, do any have a particular fascination with blood?

Discuss as you will.


[Video Filtered to the Forensics Unit a short while later:]
Ladies, gents, I hope you're in the mood for work. We have another body.

[When the video starts up, you can see a very tired-looking Kate Beckett sitting in a hospital bed. She's rubbing the bridge of her nose for a moment before she remembers that she turned on her bracelet and looks up, giving a small, tired smile.]

Not gonna lie, I honestly have no idea how this happened. But I must have lost my bracelet... [She shakes her head.] You weren't kidding Sam, that was seriously... yeah. Not fun.

If you guys tried to reach me in the past...week? Was I seriously gone a week? Anyway, if you tried to reach me and I didn't pick up...that's the reason. I'm sorry if I made any plans or anything. I really have no idea how I could have been so stupid.

[Kate sighs, rubbing her temple and trying to calm a raging headache she's had since she woke up. Right. The video.]

Conan, I'm sorry about disappearing like that. Especially with all I left you guys at the Forensics Unit...

I'm in Room 212 if you need me. I don't know when the nurses here will let me go. They seem to be really enthusiastic about my state of being, but it's not like I was shot or anything. [Even she cringes at how poor of taste that comment was.]

I'll be answering all the messages in my inbox shortly. Sorry about that guys, but I’m back now.



[filtered | private to castle]

Hey… [She’s not even going to try and look any less tired than she is. That whole mask she had up during the network video is gone. Kate doesn’t have to pretend with Castle, and boy is she tired.]

I’m…sorry. I didn’t…I know I- I didn’t mean to disappear like that. I don’t even remember taking it off, I swear. Just… I’m fine. Now. At least, I feel okay.

[She’s going to thread her fingers through her hair, pulling it back off her face.]

And if you could bring some, you know, real food…yeah. See you when you get here.

( IC Summary of the Camping Event. )

Conclusions.
- Either we were sent to hostile territory or encountered a hostile scouting party in Asgard territory; either way we can assume that preparations for war are being made among the Fire Giants.
- We were not armed for battle. Those of us who do carry weapons found them removed. This fact is not consistent with the gods of Asgard's statements about how seriously they wish us to take this war -- unless it was their hope that deaths or injuries sustained among us might lead us to take their word.
- Baldr caused the camping trip to teach us a lesson about complaining in much the same way he wanted to teach us not to ask about our orginal abilities. The other gods distanced themselves from his actions but did not prevent them.
- I am tired and going to sleep.

((ooc: feel free to use this post to visit Conan at the hospital -- he will be spending a couple of days there. Also please feel free to time-skip as necessary! I am not sure how around I will be, so apologies if I am slow/stupid/all the usual disclaimers.))

[Bruce deliberates long and hard about whether or not he ought to stick to text or use the video function. On the one hand, if there’s somebody here he knows, this could be a distinct advantage. Tony, maybe, or Steve. There’s no reason to assume they wouldn’t be here, since it’s Asgard, and that’s Thor’s home. At the very least Thor should be around? But there’s also Loki. And realistically, being brought here without an explanation doesn’t bode anything good, because Thor never said anything about there being any kind of trouble- actually would he even tell them? Bruce isn’t sure- and his dad hadn’t exactly been so helpful at explaining just what’s going on.

In the end, he decides if there’s anybody out there he doesn’t want knowing he’s here (Loki), the risk is probably less than the potential benefit for finding the people he knows and sort of was teammates with briefly.]

So, uh, must have missed the memo about intergalactic spontaneous space travel. [There’s a soft huff that would be a chuckle from anybody else, and his lick his lips nervously.] I thought needing help usually involved asking for it, but, uh, I guess that’s not the case anymore. Usually we would call that kidnapping, you know, taking people places against their will. [Another soft laugh, although this one sounds bitter, not really nervous, cynical and irritated underneath the seeming calm of it.] What if I say no, I don’t want any part of this, huh, are you going to persuade me? Force me to participate? Because I'm not really sure that's going to work out.

[And then the mildly serious moment is broken up with another nervous grin.] Anyway, I'm, uh, not sure what use I'd be in fixing your flooding problem anyway.

I don't understand why everyone is freaked out. I mean, we'll have to put off the plant-gathering expedition outside the gate until the flood clears up but otherwise this is great! It's water! Everywhere! And not even a drop to drink.

[ All right that was a bad joke. But she's distracted, splashing around as she makes her way through the city on what looks like a plank using her non-braceleted hand as an oar. Normal broadcasts are obviously never happening. ] So— Right! Okay. This doesn't actually have anything to do with the water but I was wondering...

DOES ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE FOLLOWING?
- Interpretive dance
- Explosives
- Guitars (electric or otherwise but preferable electric because electric guitars are basically amazing)
- Okay ANY instruments really
- Ballet
- Flying trapeze
- Toothpaste
- Paper cuts

That last one is EXTREMELY EXTREMELY important. Because you can't go snorkeling with a potentially fatal injury. [ You can't go snorkeling in twelve inches of water anyway... ]

Oh, and PS? I'd really like to thank everyone who was involved in the birthday party for me and Nakama. I wouldn't have wanted to turn eighteen any other way and... the presents were all amazing. So— Really. Thank you.

— cazzo, be careful!

[ good morning, asgard. claudia is looking... not as lovely as she, usually, does: plainly dressed, jeans and t-shirt. someone has introduced her to the wonders of (pink) rain boots, though, so she doesn't look particularly wet, at least. her makeup is plain, too, and nevermind the irritated air about her. it's not the flood — well, it is in as much the flood has forced her from her brother's side. so it isn't irritated so much as livid and sick with worry; she hides it well. but her surroundings look better, despite the circumstances: fine walls and the beginnings of even finer details. the women, fully-fleshed and -colored natives, look equally fine, too. one woman is standing on a table, her wide skirt held close, while another woman looks exasperated. too far to hear their conversation. someone is moving another table behind them. ]

I require hands — strong hands, whether you have been blessed by Thor or not. I will be damned if this flood makes my money wasted, e I would appreciate help in some heavy lifting. I promise the building is sound: you have no worries of safety. And you will be compensated for your trouble, of course. But hurry, per favore. [ most of that sentence is said in a sigh. ] There is only so much water damage that can be had before things aren't worth saving. [ another sigh. ] Grazie mille.

[ the feed remains for several seconds, only as a charming view of flood water and rain boots and claudia's voice, as she begins moving. someone is very testy, today. "what part of 'careful' do you not understand!" "sorry, ma —" ]

[ He had found the anonymity option, and he intended to use it. What was the point of having a name to your post, to your reply? That was truly yours? Even if there was no Net, and this was all different... change never comes easily. Still the same old you.

Here's hoping. ]

Eh?? Hello?

If this works like a forum as advertised...!

[ There's a long break. He collects his thoughts and continues. ]

This bracelet is very... unique. I would also use that same word to describe Asgard as a whole, but now I think 'impressionable' would be more accurate.

( ;ﾟДﾟ) There's another word too, but I don't really want to make anybody angry.

Oh! Is anyone here from Ikebukuro? I know it's a little hopeful to assume that I'll personally know anyone currently in Asgard who claims they are from there. Still, it can't hurt to ask.

Honestly, I believe the only intent I should have right now is finding familiar faces, despite my doubt. So, I have another question!

Um.

Is there no Internet?

[He doesn't mind being anonymous - not when he sees names like 'Sherlock Holmes' and 'John Watson' floating around. Twice. Asgard was busy, busy, busy. And only one of him, oh deaaaaaar. Those odds seemed fair. But he'd either be making any announcements private from them, or anonymously.

Until he got bored, at least. Let's see how long that lasts.]

Isn't this place just charming. I can see why you all like it so much. Really.

[Even with the voice distortion - his sarcasm should be apparent.]

One thing I can say about the natives, the honesty is astoundingly appreciated.

At last the outsides match the insides! Dull, monotonous, ordinary, every single one a carbon copy. Not even trying to paint a personality on top of those pathetic blank faces. No ambition! I like it!

[Just who is this jerk?]

I saw a lot of people objecting pretty strongly to the idea of forced physical affection, and it still happened. I guess that shows how much our opinion matters in the end.

[Yeah, she's still a little bitter, even if that event led to her relationship with Roxas. She heard Hanako's reply to Heimdall's post, and all the pain and anger vibrating through her voice, and it's set her off all over again.]

For future reference, gods: we don't like being forced to do anything. Not die or be stabbed, and not sing or hug people, either. Remember the opt-in events? They were better. Even if I was angry about the scavenger hunt after a war had been announced, it was better.

We're doing our best here. You don't have to force things along by removing our free will. You never know what will upset someone, and upset captives don't lead to the best situations. [Is that a threat against the ruling powers? Someone really has changed since she arrived here.] So if you're honestly asking for opinions, here's one: don't take away our free will again.

[And she briskly cuts the feed.]

[ turning to the network isn't his first response to finding himself here, and as such, when the video is turned on, loki looks remarkably comfortable, despite the fact that his clothing — black and green, with a touch of gold — is looking somewhat worse for wear. his expression holds a touch of amusement (in truth, in place of entertainment, it's born of bitterness and irritation and disdain), and he takes a moment to simply eye the feed before speaking. ]

I admit, I had expected more pomp and circumstance. [ he doesn't bother specifying just what he'd expected more pomp and circumstance regarding, and the corners of his lips twitch into a slight smile — there's a touch too much guile and it's a tad too sharp-edged to truly be friendly, but there's a hint of private amusement nonetheless. he briefly runs his thumb along his lower lip before continuing. ] Asgard, the realm eternal needing the help of mortals to stay— [ a beat, and a breath that's almost a laugh. ] —well, eternal. [ 'mortals' is uttered with a mixture of disbelief and distaste; asgard may no longer be home, but if it was going to fall, he, at least, would rather not watch its fate be in the hands of something so miserably pathetic. and he, the whatever that was claiming to be him, was merely acting party to the all-father's whims and desires and rule.

a pitiful imitation.

something resembling pity (feigned) flits across loki's features for a moment, and he hesitates (deliberate) before continuing. ]

I truly hope something terrible has not befallen the All-Father; he ought to have power beyond imagining, and yet here he is, using it only to bring forth waifs and strays of the realms and the universe, to have them save his world whilst he can do naught but watch. Please, do tell me: how has saving Asgard gone for you so far? Have the gods been gracious and kind to their subjects, or are you all merely toys for their amusement? The house of Odin, such as it is, is not known for truth.

[ loki's attention shifts away from the feed for a moment, and he looks upwards, appearing to study the ceiling for a moment. ]

Or for care and attention. [ what all-father would invite loki to play the role of saviour, after all? the entire situation is laughable. ] Good Heimdall must be losing his touch.

[A device that is obviously crafted by magic would of course be difficult to manage. Uther would refuse to use it if only it wasn’t the only form of decent communication he has decided he probably has by now. But he is quite furious, and his expression hardly hides it.]

The contents of the letter and the [unacceptable] words of the maid would best be a trick and it would be in the perpetrator’s best interest to step forward. Magic is no joking matter and if I find that it has been used I will personally hunt down its user.

[He pauses, seems to reconsider.]

I know it’s been used. This reeks of magic and I, King of Camelot, have sworn to not stand for it. I know there is a sorcerer out there and if anyone holds any information about it and I discover that it has been kept from me, you will be charged with treason and executed along with the sorcerer.

This spell will come undone and I will not rest until it has.

[For one time only, Sollux is going to do a video post. Why? Because he got the good genes, man. The genes for being at least 6'2", and the genes for having horns that got decently tall (unlike some people), and the genes for massive fangs and oh, what's that? The genes for- fuck yes- broad shoulders. Even if he hasn't really grown into much more muscle than he did at his younger age, this is still a massive improvement. He's gotten taller, his hair has gotten fluffier, and all is right with the world except he's still an unpowered disaster.

And he is loving it.]

I don't thee what everyone'th complaining about. Honethtly thitth ith like the firtht time they've managed to get thomething right. Can I thtay like thith? Can I?