Asgard.

[ so maybe Regina Mills has only one greeting up her sleeve when she is out of patience.

( and she is always so here, it would seem ). ]

Two matters. Firstly, the man you might have known as captain Hook,

[ she literally rolls her eyes at the name ]

Has been -- sent back by the Gods to continue his endless pursuit of vengeance and alcohol.

[ and she's annoyed about it, clearly. ]

Secondly, if the latest happenings taught us anything is that the Gods can vouch for our safety, perhaps; but that we also much vouch for our own. Natural disaster, war or any time of emergency would lead to a death toll unless there would be clear instructions of how to behave in such time and the order will be kept. I ask you this, there is no ruler to this city, no council and no mayor which explains the chaos and the panic and the blatant lack of order that came with the flood. With the lack of those, do you truly think we can vouch for our own safety? I don't suggest appointing one person to such a task I simply think that a council or a group that would work to make sure instructions would be given to everyone in Asgard, Natives and Travelers, to make sure everyone know what to do and where to go and what not to in time of battles, floods, earthquakes and fire.

I know we can't prepare for everything; but clear instructions and drills will help the people not to panic and after the flood, I think it'll be best if we all draw our conclusions as any community of mostly civilized people.

[ From behind Daenerys an obscured view of the refugee camps can be seen. There's a calm and collected expression on her face, her back straight. ]

Recovery efforts are continuing, and so I must ask for a short moment of your time. [ A pause, and she continues, a slip of urgency and command underneath her tone. ]

Dr. Leonard McCoy will be overseeing a check-in clinic for our incoming refugees, to be located near their camps. Its purpose will be to see to the ill and the injured - to assess our arrivals and be sure that they receive proper treatment before entering the city.

For this we have need of volunteers, able bodies. Those with medical knowledge or the power of healing will be needed for determining what level of care each patient requires, as well as administering that care. We also ask for those with the power of damage drain and other supportive powers, as well as those with skill for keeping order and records that shall be needed to run the clinic. Answer me here and we will find a place for you. [ One that will likely take up the next few days, if they are willing. ]

Should you have medical supplies to spare, we will gladly make use of them.

For those unable to offer assistance, I only ask that you help spread this message to the rest of the city. [ Any and all natives, those that may have entered the city already without seeking assistance, and any natives that might be willing to help. ]

To this message I have attached another - a document written by Dr. McCoy, explaining the dangers posed in the aftermath of this flood. We urge you to read it and take whatever precautions necessary to avoid the spread of disease, as is commonplace in these conditions.

Any questions may be directed toward this message.

[ Attached is a text document with said instructions. ]

( OOC: The original ooc post for the check-in clinic can be found here here, feel free to use this IC one as your sign-up! A log has been set up here for any and all volunteers to participate in. Replies may also come from Bones sufferably. Thanks everyone! )

So who wants to try some cake samples and tell me which ones tastes the best.

[The video shows a variety of squares on little plates: chocolate and lemon and red velvet. Most have just a pearly white icing, but a few have candied flower petals, or colorful little sugar bubbles.]

It's spring, and there's already been talk of one wedding, so I figured I'd better up my game.

[Peeta's quiet for a moment, but there's an embarrassed little smile on his lips, and something in his eyes that suggests he has more to say.]

That reminds me, I might've joked with a few of you that I'm married. I'm actually not - not really. But all I could think about while I was baking is what kind of cake she'd want at her real wedding.

I've watched this girl my entire life, and I can't even guess which one she'd choose. But then I realized that I could find out. And I could give it to her too.

[Private to Katniss]

So...what do you think? We could do it for real here.

( the video begins with doctor mccoy, sitting at a desk in his room in sigyn. he looks particularly business-like, hair combed and expression serious, hands folded in front of him. before he speaks, he clears his throat—it’s almost as if he’s still a little uncomfortable to be addressing so many people at once, but that’s the only sign of it. )

Figure it’s best to get this out of the way while we’ve got the time. ( before another disaster or attack happens, he means. ) I like having a frame of reference—makes it easier to deal with people, and treat ‘em too, when you have to. I know we’re all working off the same magical system, here, but it’s better to account for specifics all the same.

That being said, here’s a list. Fill it out if you want, don’t bother telling me why not if you don’t want to. You can be as specific, or as vague, as you want, or leave out questions entirely if they bother you. If it makes you feel better, you can secure it and have my word as a doctor that I’ll keep it confidential.

( attached is this text form: )

name:
age:
species:
location prior to asgard: planet, city, country, realm, etc.
is your world more familiar with magic, technology/science, or both?:
which power did you receive in asgard?:
did you have any skills, powers or abilities that you lost once here?:
are conditions here generally better, worse, or the same as your prior location?:

That’s about all. Not much else to do on a rainy day, is there.

( ooc / a textbox, for convenience: <tt><big><b>name:</b> <b>age:</b> <b>species:</b> <b>location prior to asgard:</b> planet, city, country, realm, etc. <b>is your world more familiar with magic, technology/science, or both?:</b> <b>which power did you receive in asgard?:</b> <b>did you have any skills, powers or abilities that you lost once here?:</b> <b>are conditions here generally better, worse, or the same as your prior location?:</b></tt> )

[ The feed opens on the face of a rather pretty young woman. ] Good day, fellow Travelers. If you do not mind, I have a few inquiries to make, if you do not mind.

First, I must ask about the work available here. [ It seems rather unfair to her after being dragged here and forced to help with this war, the gods will not give them whatever they desire to make them happy. She suspects the inability to leave Asgard is why people aren't vocal about this injustice. Better to just accept it, and not waste your breath. ] What jobs are available? Are certain experiences required in order to get one? [ She can't think that most of her skills would be needed here, but her nervousness doesn't show. ]

Second, I would like to practice my power, to be prepared in case of- certain events. [ Her eyes flick down at the ground at the moment. ] I have the healing power, and have not done much [read: anything] with it. Help would be much appreciated.

[ A final smile, and then the feed clicks off. ]

[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!))

[The voice is quiet, uncertain even as Elsa tries to remain confident. Not quite demanding, but more curious and anxious about things she had heard from home. About the fjord. About Anna.....]

I was wondering. How time seems so....strange here. I don't remember some of the things others from home have told me about. I'm not quite sure how that works, what to make of it exactly. I only know that if there is some way to use that, to change what happens, I'd do anything to. To keep Anna safe. Though I am not sure if that would be possible. Do we remember Asgard at all once we leave and return home to be able to use that information? Or do we forget it and simply continue to make all the same mistakes, even after having been told about them here? I am told some people are taken home and brought back, so surely this is something we can answer?

If anyone can help, I'd be grateful for it.

[The feed opens with Sansa looking really happy.]

Hello... I would just like to thank Scott McCall for letting me take home of his beautiful dogs, you are very kind.

[Video blurs a bit as if her arm was moving, and in fact it is, because this precious puppy wearing a collar in Stark colors is tugging at her arm. She grabs the dog with her free arm and finally makes the video focus again.]

This is Princess and I promised Scott I'd take good care of her. Is she not beautiful? [She lets go a bit of the puppy and pets her lovingly.] I'm just so happy to have her.

So once more, thank you, Scott. [Sansa will always be there if you need her help.]

[ there's not as much anonymity in an audio post as arya would like, but the text function has proven to be too troublesome for her to want to bother with for more than a minute or two. it's better than nothing, at least. ]

Do we have to stay in the houses? The ones with all the other people in our... [ thistotallyfeelslikeblasphemyorsomething ] "God houses"? Or are there other options?

[ she'd really rather live alone if she's honest, but failing that being a little closer to her family here won't hurt. that's all far too open to admit out loud though, so there's a few minutes of near silence - broken only by her quiet breathing and a little rustling as she fidgets in her seat - before she finally adds something: ]

....That's it. Bye.

[ and another silence follows before the feed finally cuts. technology is hard okay? ]

[Where love might bring about sorrow, it also welcomes joy. The note hits a little close to home for him, because as glad as he is that his family is here, as glad as he is for Jon living right across the hall from him, there's still that sliver of doubt, of guilt, and that sliver's been enough to keep him up at nights, wondering if he should tell them, what he should say.

Love, he supposes, brings about both joy and sorrow, and makes fools out of kings easily enough (if not corpses). We follow our hearts wherever they take us--but right now, the only thing his heart is leading him into is more confusion and not enough sleep. He's not sure if using the network is going to help, but he has to at least try.

So, after filtering the feed away from Catelyn Stark, Jon Snow and Joffrey Baratheon (because he's just not in the mood to deal with Joffrey of all people right now nope), it opens on a very serious-looking Robb. Somebody didn't eat the chocolates. Or probably sleep that well last night, but he's no stranger to sleepless nights.]

I've two questions to ask of you, Asgard.

Say something terrible [ie a certain wedding] happened to you and your family, or someone you cared deeply about, before you came here. If they came here somehow and they didn't remember that, or they were too far away to hear any news of it quickly enough, what would you say to them? Would you even tell them, or would you keep their fates a secret from them until they do remember?

[Not that he'll take any advice telling him to keep their fates a secret. He owes his family truth about what happened, or what will happen, in some cases. They deserve to know that, at least.

He just doesn't know when and how to do it.

The rest of the video's unfiltered, and about a lighter subject matter than the first question:]

I've heard tell of something called Valentine's Day. [Look, he works at a cafe, and they've been stringing up paper hearts for the past few days to hook in Travellers. He has some very rudimentary knowledge of it.] As far as I know, it's a day set aside for those you care for. I would ask, what would you do for them for the day?

[ Oh look, it's the not-'Asgardian'!Asgardian! And he holds his hand up, palm outward in silent greetings. ]

Friends, newcomers - [ ...and Malekith... ] - well met. I shall keep brief: we have faced war. And we have had our dead and our wounded to show for the victory.

[ And now, he turns slightly more somber. ]

I do not ask whether you fight for this land or its people, for your pleasure or your lives alone. Whatever your reasons, we do not die here. In this, I think, we all agree. Yet...

[ He has the grace to look sheepish. ]

...apologies, but many of you walk as if targets. You know nothing of battle, and the gifts given to you in this land do not serve. The meager war crafts would be of help to you: shield bearing, the handling of sword and hammer. I do not speak of great ability, but enough that you can bide yourselves the time to run.

[ Firmer, now. ]

So: those who wish to learn, give say of what weapon might suit you. Those who know of battle and wish to teach it, name your skill and offer service. And those who once held sorcery alike to the one gained here, volunteer counsel of how to improve it.

For my part, I wield the hammer. I lack in patience, but do not scold unfairly. What knowledge I have is yours to take.

[ Is the part where he riles half of Asgard done with? OH THANK EVERYTHING, time to offend the other half. ]

Past every man's care, we can seek to defend the city. Who here runs inventory? Have we cannons? Rams? Horses? If anyone wishes to learn, or organize legions - you have my aid in this. There lies opportunity. Another is with our fellows, the grey ones. A frail-bearded man wrote that we do not give them thought or time. Perhaps he is wise, and there is more to be done in alliance.

[ And then he stares at the camera for a long moment of rather stupid blinking, before dissolving into laughter, because - ]

That... was not brief.


[ ooc: woah, tl;dr. iiif you'd like to get involved, just have your character volunteer to teach their faito skills, and I'll have Thor send some/all of the characters who want to pick up said skills their way o/ . ]

[Anyone who spends any time at all with Nepeta should have noticed her absence the past day or so. She'd been just about everywhere hunting for easter eggs for a while, skipping about with two great baskets, one on each arm, and apparently throwing herself completely into this fun new game.

And then she just didn't show up any more.

Until now.]

My Pounce! Look, look everybody! It's my Pounce! She found me again!

[The feed shows a delighted Nepeta and a great white double-mouthed cat purring loudly and nuzzling all over her charge.

Yes, this is indeed why the small kittytroll hasn't been around. She's been busy cuddling her lusus, and has been for a while judging by the white hair covering her hat and coat.]

Oh, oh, this is the best day efur!

Under different circumstances, if I was in Eire, I am certain by the air and the temperature, there would be preparations for Beltane or what my people called it -- Calan Mai. The first day of summer. It's unfortunate, really, I remember in my youth it was one of my favorite festivals. And it is one of the few times in the year we would travel to Ynys Môn, the holy island for it.

But I suppose I can stand another Beltane without Nimue-- my Nimue. Perhaps one day I will be able to return to Ynys Môn for it and my people will now be able to practice our festival peacefully. Much more peacefully than the years before. You see, the druids, bards, and ovates cannot celebrate it so openly as centuries before. Give or take in a few decades, we will be able to come out of hiding and be free to own devices as we are here.

It is a bit ironic, isn't it? To be able to celebrate my faith more open while I am restricted as much as a human.

Whom do you live for, what do you live for?

[ in other words ] Why do you live?



[ and for those who don't wish to answer philosophical questions, Kaworu has another one ]

I have another question. I am currently taking care of a male adult cat, however, it seems he is rather untamed. [ actually, the cat is really mean and bites everyone for the heck of it. ] Because I never interacted with animals before arriving here, I'm not sure what to do in this situation, especially because of the way the animal acts towards the others that live inside the house.

Would anyone help me?

 What insult to the republic, its consul kidnapped by foreign gods. Surely blessed Venus would be displeased to find her own lineage so unceremoniously disrupted and disrespected. [A pause as jade eyes, cold as glass and sharp in their disdain, regard his surroundings in displeasure] Barbarity. 

No true Roman would bow to a god from beyond the Rhine, and nor shall I. [He moves to stand] But if I am expected to remain here, as it seems is the intention of these ...gods... then I should like to know if there is a library. A library or a forum should suffice, so long as lectures are held or scrolls are to be found. 

[If he can not begin his machinations for Brutus and Cassius, at least he can bide his time with arming his mind to the task. 

He then gives pause, straightening with pale brow furrowed, as if a thought has suddenly alighted upon his shoulder and distracted him momentarily from his great task of empire.]

Ah. I suppose it would be best I introduced myself...I am Gaius Octavian Caesar. Consul of Rome. 

[The screen flickers on, revealing a young man who looks more than a bit annoyed, and above all else, exhausted. His golden eyes search the screen as if it will show him something back, but…nothing.]

Some stranger told me that this allows me to speak somehow to others here, trapped with me.

[A hand slides through curly blond hair, and he purses his lips, as if he’s unsure what to say. There is rage behind his eyes, his jaw setting. He controls his anger though--what good would it do, now? To yell at a screen that shows things to people he does not know.

Rage does not bring things back. He‘s learning that every day; so he‘ll bury the hurt down, let it simmer, and take a lesson from his sister; swallow the emotion and present a more reasoned face.]

I know not what this place is, or why I was deemed to be brought here. To be taken from Kings Landing in my sleep, that is a great sorcery indeed.

I like it even less that we've been provided magic. There is no good that can come from it--only death and destruction.

[The same sort of magic that could kill a King with shadows. The fact that he has a gift now, as well...it troubles him. But first--his thoughts need to be focused, on the one thing that matters, now. The thing he has left.]

If those who have taken me are listening, hear this. I am Ser Loras of the House Tyrell; if you have my sister, Margaery, return her from whence she came. My life will be forfeit if you do.

[He has pride, but his sister matters most. He shall swallow what he must to gain her freedom if she is here at all.]

And to those who are captives, as well...

...any assistance would be appreciated.

This place is quite beyond me, I am afraid to admit.