Equius tapped at the device, grunting sourly. It wasn't that the dream was that disturbing, really. They'd known Alternia was destroyed when they'd ended up on the asteroid in the first place. There was nothing left for the two of them to weep over, and a highborn troll wasn't about to weep for the loss of the cultural heart of their people. Oh, he might bemoan it, but it was simply something to rebuild and make greater than ever, ignoring the whole small matter of the loss of the last egg of the mother grub... But all that was water under the proverbial bridge at this point.

He was irritated more than anything else. The nightmare had been a reminder of what had already happened, though something felt bigger about it. Had he seen other worlds die in the process? Was there the implication that all of the planets of the vast empire had been destroyed, all at once? It wasn't as if that hadn't been at least a remote possibility of the game, or was it? Ugh, he was getting a headache.

"Nepeta," he growled, looking over and not realizing that he'd sent the message to everyone on the network instead of just the few trolls that were present. "Are you certain that they will know anything to help comprehend the vision? It isn't exactly like that fool Ampora ever bothered to know anything worthwhile. Feferi, perhaps, but she hasn't been present for long..."

"I don't know!" Nepeta said, uncharacteristically subdued for her. "At the furry least purrhaps if they saw something similar then maybe we can make more sense of it together."

It wasn't even really the destruction of their own world that had gotten to her - she'd been through that once and had accepted it by now. But the reminder that even this place, their new home, might not be permanent, was very hard to take. She went over to her moirail and sat by him, leaning against his side. "We've got a better chance of making it if we're all working on it together, I think, right?" She sounded more hopeful than certain.

((ooc: responses may come from either or both of them!))

[Hey, Asgard. Have you ever had to hear a terrified feral six-year-old throwing a tantrum?

Unfortunately, you're about to.

For Lilly, forgetting Asgard memories had been disquieting-- it felt funny, and it was always confusing when they suddenly came rocketing back to her. But now she's periodically forgetting Mama and her sister, and that? Is just not acceptable.]

Mama! No! Victoria! Mama, Mama, Mama, Victoria, Mama!

MAMA!

[There's the sound of small palms slapping the ground in frustration.]

Stop now! Help! Come-- come back!

[She smacks at her bracelet display, and the feed ends there.]

[ Today, Sollux comes on with a friend. Not just any friend, but a fuzzy purple bee perched on his finger. Even by alien bee standards, it's pretty big-- a queen bee. He looks actually happy for once. Savor this rare moment. The bee, however, seems agitated, not unlike all the other animals lately... ]

Hey RX, look what I found. I guess you're not guilty of complete bee genocide. I don't know how the shit she survived, maybe she found somewhere warm? Don't know, don't care. This is fucking awesome, and my bees are fucking awesome. Alternia bees: 1. Regular bees: 0.

But, uh, does this mean anything to anyone?

[ He holds up a piece of paper that reads:

`QpD BaS WATQF CsqarS GAVQ T`Q `UqArG GsqQT`arS WFsrS PArSQF

...in careful but still awful handwriting. ]

I even wrote it down twice to make sure it wasn't wrong, fuck if I know where she got it from.

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 fighting ended yesterday, but Lilly's still being cautious-- because while there are certain ways in which she's surprisingly fearless, loud noises and explosions are definitely not something she's used to. She'd spent a good deal of the battle hiding under her bed as much as possible, and hadn't left Freya since she'd met up with Nepeta.

Right now, she's lying on the floor in front of her bracelet display, regarding it seriously.]

Boom.

[Dafuq was that, guys. Luckily for her, her district isn't dealing with the worst of the aftermath, but still.]

Awwwl done?

[Nepeta and Lilly are standing out in front of Freya's Welcome Hall, looking a bit tired out but - in Nepeta's case at least - very satisfied at a job well done.

There are crudely-drawn posters stuck not-quite-straight on the walls behind them, some of them depicting a blond little girl and the others a woman with masses of dark hair.

They've just finished sticking them in front of not only their god house, but every single one in Asgard, along with placing them on random walls along the way, so it's very likely that some Travelers have already run across them.

Yes, it took a while.]

Ahem. Attention efurrybody purrlease! This is really impurrtant!

These are Lilly's Mama and her sister Victoria.

[She points at the posters behind them.]

We don't know if they're here and we don't think they are yet, but if anyone sees them or meets them if they arrive, let them know Lilly is waiting for them! She'll be here at Freya house, okay?

Thank you!

((ooc: responses may come from either or both of them!))

[Nepeta stands behind a brightly decorated stall in one of the main areas of Freyr, looking bright and chipper and even more excited than usual.

"Black and Blue" is the name announced across the front of the stall, with lots of not-completely-professionally drawn pictures of the services offered at Equius’ and her shop.

She has a smile on her face as she cheerfully accosts passers-by, offering them a tray of cupcakes, and she seems to have enlisted Aurthour to do the same, while Pounce carries an open bag of sweets in her mouth to draw people in.

Nepeta and Pounce both have a cute black and blue ribbon tied above one ear, and Aurthour seems to have acquired the same as a bowtie. Oh! And it looks like a certain glowering moirail of Nepeta’s has been talked into wearing the same as he presides behind the stall.]

Come visit us at Black and Blue! The best service station in Asgard!

[The only one, actually, but shh. She’s having too much fun with this.]

[Fiona is sitting at home, on her bed, hair tied back in a loose pony tail. She's wearing a simple T-shirt. Altogether, she looks casual, comfortable and like a real go-getter! What a coincidence, what with that being her intention and all.]

Hey! This is Sigyn house. [She moves the camera around, so it gets a good view of her room: clean, neat, organized.] I'm sick of living here anymore. But I need you [she points directly into the camera] to help me out.

I have enough saved up to rent out a place, but I need roommates. I'd prefer an actual house, but I'm good with apartments and condos, whatever. Anything that doesn't have those giant rats crawling around outside-- have you seen 'em? Pink, with the huge ears?-- in the walls is basically great.

I'm clean- [she lets the camera get a good look at the neat and orderly room around her again] and sane. You won't even have to see me too much, I work most of the day as a secretary. I don't have any infectious diseases, and I can mix drinks. Call me. Fiona Gallagher, Sigyn house.

[Still cheery, she waves at the camera, if a little... can waves be sarcastic? If so, this one was. And then, affecting a slightly more serious tone and posture, she says:] On a totally unrelated note, does anybody around here know anything about exorcisms, or demonic possession, that sort of thing? This is on school business, don't worry, my head's not gonna start spinning around. Gimme a head's up if you have any experience in that area; I might have a job for you. Just, y'know, contact me over the network, and watch out for any real big flights of stairs.

[The video coming through at the moment seems to be coming from somewhere in the Freyr welcome hall, going by the colours. Kanji's staying inside in the cool, dammit, where he can get something to drink easily.

However, he's got other reasons to be sweating, right now. How about some nerves? He can't quite believe he's doing this.
Still, if that mirror world'd told him anything, it was a reminder about being true to himself, so... here goes nothing.]

Uh - so, hey, everyone.

We've all been through a whole lot over the past few days. And we could kinda use a break from it… so… Figured I'd do somethin' to cheer folks up. I was doin' a couple already, so...

[In a bit of a rush-] I'm makin' these.

[Kanji reaches down out of camera-shot, and picks up an absolutely adorable knitted plushie. A grey kitten with a flower on its collar, to be precise.]

If anyone wants one... they're gonna be one hundred percent custom designs. Whatever you want, I can make, pretty much. That's hand-make. More complicated ones are gonna cost more and I'm gonna need to spend longer working out the patterns on them, but I can still do just about anything.

So who's up for the cutest crap that this city's ever seen?

[The feed comes on accidentally, one of the last 'hiccups' in the network before Loki is back to full health. Equius is staring to the side in what looks like a gas station, a rumbling growl coming out of his throat. He seems to be trying to make sounds over and over again.]

Le... le... le...

Language of love indeed. It sounds like idiotic cluck-beast babble.

[He growled, shaking his head and looked up at the door, scratching at the door when it opened. There was a dingling sound from a bell above the doorway and he leaned forward, a hand on top of the bowl of free fire-hot candies he'd set out on an 'impish' whim.]

Ah, Nepeta... good. [ahem] [ahem] [AHEM]

Voulez vous avec moi se swoi...

[His small, cat-like moirail comes bouncing in, the candy-bowl getting a pointed look before her attention swerves back to Equius.]

Ooh, are you still purracticing that? Try it again!

[He nodded and grunted, handing her a candy that was not tricked to be overly spicy.]

Of course. I see no reason not to attempt to broaden my horizons, and if I am to express romantic intentions then my moirail is the most appropriate to do so with.

[ahem] Voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir?

[It is really, really, unbelievably creepy to see Equius trying this hard to offer a french leer to the words, especially with the way his lips quivered and his broken, snaggled teeth seemed to quiver. The feed crackled and cut off right about then.

No, he has no clue what he's just asked her to do.]

(OOC: This color is Equius and This is Nepeta)

[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!

[Behold, it's a young, snaggle-toothed, gray-skinned guy in a black and blue tank-top wearing shades past sunset, one of his horns broken already. A few of you know him as the creepy afficianado of all things vaguely related to towels and archery. It's debatable whether or not he's particularly well-suited for either of these things, if we're being honest.

However, at the moment, there's grease smudges over his face and hands as he's wiping them off on a filthy looking towel. In the distance, a mewing sound that's vaguely humanoid can be heard.]

Yes, yes. I will inform the collective troglodytes and unwashed masses of this venture. Yes, that is a completely appropriate way to refer to them. They do not bathe nearly often enough and most of them do not have nearly enough towels.

[He sighs and grunts, half aware that he is already broadcasting and starting to sweat. He mops his forehead with the towel.

...

This just gets more grease smudges on him.]

As my employee Nepeta reminds me, it is wise to advertise the availability of new resources to some who might require them. I am Equius Zahhak, and this is Black and Blue. With the rise of such vehicular monstrosities as some of you claim to be accustomed to, I have familiarized myself with their inner-workings and the needs of the compressed detritus in liquified form that they require. [Pro Tip: He means gas.]

For all of your fuel and vehicular repair needs come to Black and Blue, where we will affix the necessary elements. Improvements and modifications are available on request, so long as I can get the parts. This world is incredibly back-water in terms of technologies, after all.

...

And Nepeta reminds me to say that there is plenty of ... candy in the front desk while you are waiting. She assures me it is delicious... repeatedly.

Come. I command it.

[When the video comes on, Finnick pops onto camera as he smiles. He's outside walking around in what looks like the park, just enjoying moving around.]

I have a few questions for you all. The biggest one is, what type of weapons are used in your world, and are they suitable for a place like this?

Call it a curiosity.

[Looking thoughtful, he humms for a second.]

Other than that, anyone want to come and keep me company in the park? I promise it'll be fun. The more, the merrier.

Ach, a wee bit flimsy, isn't it?

[ To his credit, the blond dwarf manages to not eye the video as though he expected it to burst into a coil of snakes. You never know, it could turn him into a newt. Not that his shorter stature is immediately apparent, being seated and all. He clears his throat when it becomes apparent that the video is recording, leaning back with a proud bearing, and nods regally to the video... The noble-- nay, majestic effect, however, is rather diminished by the ever-present smirk tugging at his lips. ]

Ah...

Fíli, at your service.

To be called upon by the gods themselves is an honor without measure... though they are none that I've ever heard of. But whatever differences that exist between us matter not in this. Not when so much hangs in the balance.

[ As the speech carries on, he becomes increasingly impassioned, raising a clenched fist before him. ]

And so, let it be known that when this world needed aid, the line of Durin answered, and united, we will bring new life to this land!

[ His fist slams down on the table emphatically, and he clamps down on the urge to grin, trying to maintain some semblance of austere dignity with little success. He can't help it this is so awesome you guys.

A pause, and his brows knit together as he hesitates. ]

There is... one small matter that remains, however. I've yet to find my brother, Kíli. If someone were to direct me to him, you would have my gratitude.

[ Not that he's worried about that dumb baby or anything. Newp. With one more final nod, he ends the video. ]

[ ooc: Kili, of course, has yet to be intro'd ICly into the game here. Fili is only going under the assumption that his brother is in Asgard because, well, brothers. ]