[A clearing of the throat, and a certain moth man dressed in a bright purple suit comes on camera, looking unamused as always.]

So, they say that you can judge people by what they like, right? I mean, if you like reading big long tedious books in your spare time, people will tend to think that you're big long and tedious when it comes to conversations. Or, if you like action movies and things with large explosions in them, people might think you're an adrenaline junkie and more likely to jump into a reckless situation. Or if you like really trashy romance novels, you don't actually have a life and stay at home all day because nobody will ever go out with you. Stuff like that, you get the idea.

So, I thought, why not ask people what they think about a certain thing I actually know a little bit about?

Insects.

[Yes, he's being serious. Nick gives the camera a level look.]

Tell me what insects you like, and I'll then judge what kind of person you are based on that. Yes, I'll count spiders in with that one. And if you don't like bugs all that much, you can just tell me which ones you don't like, and I'll judge that too. Think of this as a survey, of sorts.

...

If you have no idea what insects are, then I wonder what in the name of Sam Hill is going on with your world, because it must be the apocalypse over there or everything is messed up, that's all I can say.

[Anyone who says they hates butterflies is automatically getting a punch in the face from him, just saying.]

[ There are a few seconds of silence, as Nina stares awkwardly at the screen. How does she even respond to what happened? What an awfully embarrassing week. ]

Um... As I'm sure many of you noticed, what happened last week was a curse. [ There's a slight grimace. ] Nick and I... We aren't a couple.

To anyone who thought differently, sorry for the confusion. And to all of you who tried to help, thanks.

[ There isn't much else to say. She fights a sigh, feeling increasingly annoyed by the gods' antics. ]

[ ooc: Aftermath of Nick and Nina's love curse! :) ]

[It's the Candle Cavern again, and here's Pyro with a message for you all. But this time, he doesn't look disdainful or angry - in fact, he looks somewhat uneasy, like he's standing on a precipice with toes curled around the edge and only one step away from changing everything.]

I know what you all think of me. I'm used to it.

[The beginning of a challenge? No, his voice softens to match his expression.]

But everyone faces a choice at least once in their lives where there's no other answer but doing the right thing. And yeah, even I can do that.

[And now he stares out earnestly, almost vulnerably.]

Euri... will you marry me?

[More out of character confessions! Is it another curse, or is this one for real? Break out the popcorn, folks. It'll be fun either way.]

Ac-chem.

[A slight clearing of the throat, and...oh, it's this jerk of a mothman in the purple suit and sunglasses, staring at the camera with a rather bashful expression.]

Asgard, I have something to confess. Something that has been on my mind for quite a while now.

[A pause, a deep breath, and then:]

I'm...in love.

No, really, I know most of you are probably scoffing right now, but I am! And you know who with? Do you know which lovely lady has captured my heart forever?

[Nick actually lets out a happy sigh- honestly, is this the same guy who was insulting everyone who breathed in his vicinity for the last two months?]

The perfect woman by the name of Nina Fortner, that's who. Yes...her bright eyes shine so fondly upon me, her blonde hair must be made from the feathers of an angel and the way she accepts me for who I am...[He glances away with a dreamy smile, seemingly lost in his own daydreams, before seemingly noticing that he's on camera and addressing it again.]

I know, I know, you might be saying "But Nick, she's a human! You hate humans! What are you doing with her??" [He frowns.] Well, this is different! She's the one for me, better than any Moth that I have ever met, and anyone who even dares to put a finger on her will have to face me first, okay? Don't test me.

[And then back to a lovesick look again.]

Oh Nina...will you accept this love of mine and be with me, forever? You're the only one for me, you know...

[Somebody come over and try to slap sense into his mind?]


[ooc: Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, and as we all know, February's the month of love! That's why the gods have decided to curse Nick and Nina (imhome). They've been arguing and annoying each other a little too much, so it's time for a change. For a few days, they'll be cursed into suddenly being in love with each other, despite all logic and reason, and may or may not be quoting lines from Twilight Nightlight here and there...]

[The first thing that Euri's bracelet is recording is the CRUNCH CRUNCH of snow under her boots. She and Dog are out exploring all of Gefion Park today, curious to see how the snow changes the area surrounding her home.]

The snow is pretty nice! It's a lot more than we'd get back home in Fuggum.

Oh - but I had a question. There's a couple of people here who are royalty, right? How does that work, anyway? How do they get castles? Is it different in every world? The humans back home have royalty, and stories about princes and kings being chivalrous and slaying dragons and rescuing damsels in distress. I think if you marry someone royal you become royal, but I don't really know the details.

So! How does royalty work for everyone else?

[She and Dog will be out wandering all over Gefion for a while, so feel free to run into her in person!]

[Just an average afternoon in Asgard, and the feed video is tilted at an awkward angle to reveal a certain someone's room. That certain someone is Kuroneko, dressed in her usual black Lolita dress, her headband adorned by roses. You only see her back as she stares out the window, petting what seems to be a black furball.]

Soon, they will know of my--A-Alice, what are you--

[The black furball is indeed a cat, and it manages to scramble out of her arms and back to her bed. The cat that Yozora had left on her doorstep still never listened to her. Perhaps the cat didn't respond to what Kuroneko renamed her, but no matter. Kuroneko keeps going with her...game. She spreads her arms out wide, still facing out the window like a queen on a balcony.]

Huhuhu. Go forth, my minion, and gather your kin. All according to my plan. Once this first step is done, Asgard will kneel to our forces of despair!

Beep, beep. Beep, beep. Click.

[She grabs her cell phone from her pocket and speaks into it, even if there's no one on the other end.]

Yes? Is that so...My my, what a conundrum. We all knew the gods had wished to conspire against our plans in the first place. No matter, I'll take care of it. I have a most cunning plan, after all--[GASP] No way! They've recruited Shikkoku into their ranks? Well, well. This may turn out to be more interesting than I thought it would be. Our victory shall be all the more sweeter.

[She raises her free hand up, almost posing.]

Especially as I, Kuroneko, the Fallen Saint of Senyou, will use this bracelet to--

[Wait..she doesn't have the bracelet. Kuroneko starts to search frantically around the room, looking for that goddamn bracelet. Eventually, you see her surprised face close to the screen.]



A-ah...I...

...

D-don't you dare pay any attention to this!

[As quickly as she blurts that out, the feed suddenly clicks off.]

[That's a very ill-tempered expression this new arrival is wearing. He's got a zippo lighter in one hand, and he glares down at the dancing flame for a moment before looking back up at the camera.]

You know what's bullshit, Asgard?

[He holds his hand over the flame just long enough to leave an ugly welt, then shows his palm to the camera; although the process is slow, the blistered red skin is visibly starting to heal.]

This, right here, is bullshit. I'm not Logan. Who the hell would want to be Logan. My name is Pyro, because I manipulate fire. I don't care who these "gods" are, or what they want, or why they did it - you don't mess with a mutant's ability. Give me back what's rightfully mine, what I was born with, and maybe there won't be any trouble.

[Totally unaware that he's just made the least original first post ever, he ends his side of the feed and waits for responses.]

[There's a very, very tall man on your video today, Asgard. A man in a bright purple suit, and sunglasses even though there's no sun to be seen, what with the oncoming winter weather.]

Yeah, so I don't do this often, the posting thing, I mean, but I felt like something needed to be said.

[And he holds up his clasped hands, opening them slightly- inside them is a colorless butterfly, flapping it's wings feebly.]

Since it's pretty much a given we are going to be stuck here for a while long, possibly forever because life hates us, I've figured I ought to do something with my time about the insect population, considering winter's coming and all.

That's right, insects. Because at least these things are way more deserving of my help than humans are. So, here's the deal! I'm going to be creating one of those...what are they called, butterfly houses? And you bring me any butterflies or moths you have hanging around your place. Consider it a nice little donation to the cause, alright? And I don't know, I'll do something like not insult you for 24 hours. That's a pretty good deal, take advantage of it.

[A pause as he frowns at the camera.]

However...if you bring me any dead butterflies or moths, I'll seriously punch you in the face. They have to be alive. Don't test me, okay?

...

And if anyone actually knows how to create a butterfly house in the first place, that would be kind of helpful too.

[It's roughly noon. The armies are staring each other down across a field of mud and gravel and blood. It's clear that Asgard and their allies are heavily battered down, suffering from heavy losses and damaged morale. It feels like today is the last day. It seems like there's no chance that anything but the end of the world could come today.

Then a video feed starts on the network, surveying the view from a high vantage point. Freyr isn't on screen, but he's close enough to speak and be heard clearly. But even if he weren't close he'd still be heard. There's a convenient little spell projecting his voice all across his side of the battlefield and through the city itself. It's a stern voice, tense and short instead of the gentle, patient attitude he usually shows.]

Sound the retreat. Get all living things within the city walls. Abandon that which cannot be swiftly carried. Now.

[The video continues in silence while his orders are spread through the forces and followed. It takes little more than ten minutes to move everyone inside at an ordered dash. Supply wagons and tents are left in the field and people and animals are removed until all that remains is ghost town of a camp. Small groups of enemies that try to chase are quickly and efficiently deterred by fire from the flying ship, and eventually all are safe inside.

He wants this recorded. It's more than just to be sure his announcement is heard -- he wants to be sure no one forgets how close they were and how important this battle was. His ship maneuvers to the center of the field, and he takes a graceful leap to the ground just yards from the enemy front lines. At that point, he begins to glow.]

...Do not doubt that all of you would have died this day. This is not a game. It's not a trick. Everyone and everything you love is and has been riding on this. I'm sure, even now, that the war will not end. You will all have to continue to fight, and for that you have my sincerest apologies. You also have my sincerest faith. I have never seen hearts so strong as those who stand for what they believe in when they are so far from home. Whether you hate us or not that remains true. I am sure you will triumph in the end.

Thus, I am honored to have observed true beauty in all of you. Thank you and good luck.

[His voice wavers by the time he's done. He'd like to be emotional, but showing fear and regret won't help anyone and so he holds it in.

It's a distant angle, but the video might just catch a hint of a solemn smile. Then, with a flash like a bomb the view goes white and then blinks out. After that anyone looking out past the gates will see a wide, shallow scar on the land, stretching from just feet away from the city walls to what used to be a point three quarters of the way into the enemy army. In that place, nothing remains but rock-solid round covered in a layer of fine white dust. Not even a bit of metal or a single plant mars that flat surface. For a moment anyone in Freyr house will have their powers flicker off, then back on within a few seconds.

But the enemy is decimated, and shows no signs of coming close again.]


[ooc note: That's it for actual plot events! The enemy army will stay at a distance the rest of this IC day (tonight and tomorrow), and will leave in the morning (Nov 16). There will be another NPC post on the 17th, but other than that from this point on is just cleanup. Characters who died will return on the 17th! Thank you for playing!

Oh and P.S. you can get comments from the other gods, so do feel free to respond to this post to talk to them or just to talk to each other. Threadjacking is A+! It is a free-for-all in this post, even for quick action threads.]

[The feed comes on to show Roxy, brushing past a mass of overgrown plants and stopping once she is in a clear enough space.]

Heads up, I found Jade and Sollux, a few people had asked me about her at least, so check in with me.

[There's a short pause]

Actually, anyone that's friends with me come check in here, don't make me drag my exhausted ass around this place looking for you all.

Thanks.

[well, this guy sounds new. ...and irritable.]

Ssssoooo, I get that this is all some crazy magical bullshit adventure or whatever

But there's kind of a forest everywhere.

And I'm pretty sure it wasn't here this morning.

And I really don't want to have to deal with this shit right now.

[a long-suffering sigh, followed up by an awkward pause...]

So, uh... I know this is just asking to get my ass kicked, but anyone wanna help a blind guy find a bar around here? ...You do have those in magical bullshit land, right?

Good afternoon, everyone.

[ Yep, another audio message from Hanako. The video confidence she had in the past was short-lived, considering all that stuff that happened afterwards. At least she sounds way less worn out than the last time. Her sleep schedule returned to normal thanks to Euri's charm. ]

Firstly, I want to thank all the people who took part in the replanting of the park. Your contribution was extremely helpful... hopefully we can keep going like this, in case there will be other attacks that will cause damage to the city.

Secondly... considering what we have gone through for the past month, I was thinking that it should be time for another traveller-based event like the Festival we successfully hosted. However, I would like to do something different this time, possibly something we never did before. The problem is, I am out of ideas as of now, so I wondered if any of you could have suggestions that might help us organize something. Like always, any kind of material or supportive help is very appreciated. If someone already decided on something, I would like to support it as well, so please let me know.

[ Okay. With that out of the way... onto another set of business. ]

( FOR THE NIGHTLIGHT CLUB CREW AND ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN JOINING! )

This is all I had to say. Thank you for your time, as always.

[ There is a click noise, as she cuts the audio communication down. ]

______________

((OOC: For the future writers, here's the pastebin with all the altered names of most characters to avoid fourthwalling. Needless to say, this is going to be the worst hideous thing I'm ever going to do.

Also, for those who wondered why I haven't made a log for that "replanting of the park" little plot, I decided to handwave it since I also had another plot to take care of, so we can assume that the people who accepted to help have gone there and planted things with Hanako /o/ ))

Alright. Here's the deal.

[Nick's looking a bit more serious today, probably because that whole illness thing shook him up, though he would be loath enough to admit it. Being so helpless and watching people die around him- really, it's not like he cared, but the fact that he couldn't be in control while what was clearly an attack on the city was quite the horrible feeling indeed.

[But enough about that. He's making this post for quite a different reason. He hasn't figured out this filter thing yet, so he has to do the next best thing.]

I'm going to do a little poll right now. You see, I realized that when I got here that I wasn't the only inhuman species roaming around the place. So, here's the thing I want you to do for me- if you're not human, respond to me and tell me what you are and what's the deal behind your species, because I'm curious. Maybe there's something similar out there to what I am, I don't know.

...That being said, if you're homo sapien, human, whatever you call yourselves nowadays...don't bother answering. I've had enough of your kind enough in my life, alright? Get lost.

No, really.


[ooc: Nick is just trying to do a poll of how many inhuman species there are in Asgard, but feel free to have your human character comment too! Just because Nick is a jerk doesn't mean that I don't want all the CR for him. Open to all! :Ib]

Ugh--figures she'd leave the moment I moved out, that stupid... [ YIFEI 8||| ] Very funny, Gods. Loving it, really.

Alright, listen up all you psychos and weirdos and anyone else near it--Hel is my territory so back off. I got rid of Amionmom or whatever the fuck his name was, lived through Anemone and Venom an' my psycho honking neighbour Termites and I will fucking outlast all of you so don't even try. Got it??

Hel. Mine.

Mine.

Just because Yifei's gone doesn't mean it gets to belong to any of you assholes.


[ ooc; OR ELSE >8((((( yes. Kaz is technically moved out now but THAT DOESN'T MATTER ]

Wow. The longer I stay in this place the longer I realize how absolutely mind-numbingly idiotic it is.

[Hey, Asgardians. Say hi to the jerk on the other end of the camera, who is dressed in a very bright purple suit and seems completely unimpressed by anything that's around him at the moment.]

Really, all this talk about "other worlds" and such...what, I'm supposed to just take that at face value? No scientific explanations or anything? Really, I thought that somebody might've come up with some really confusing quantum equation that explains how they just nabbed us all from wherever we come from without disrupting the time continuum or something, but all I've gotten is just "magic".

Not that magic doesn't exist or anything, because it does in certain other forms where I come from, but I've never seen anything like this.

[And then he lets out a scoff.]

Also, anyone mind telling me about these so-called "gods" of ours? Personally, I find it hard to believe that we're just supposed to blindly follow these people without any evidence of what they can do. Okay, sure, they can bypass all scientific laws and give us powers to use, but that doesn't make them gods. Where's the omniscience, the omnipotence, the whole "we're all-powerful and can smite anyone we wish" sort of thing? All I'm just seeing is talk and fear that they might not win some stupid war to save our worlds, and frankly, I'm not impressed.

Not one bit.

Also, one more quick question- which one of you actually knows what a Moth is? And no, I'm not talking about the fuzzy little insect that flaps around lights and such.

...That's not what I am.

[Caterina is looking at you carefully, Asgard. Searchingly. Seriously.]

So we're finally talking about war now, are we? Va bene, tell me. How many of you have actually seen war?

[She's dead serious right now. War is nothing to chat lightly about. She knows.]