[and here shows up nier's face.

surprise, it's still nier.]

Am I the only that's still myself?

[seriously this is the weirdest prank yet. the fact that he was spared is a small point in the gods' favor.]

Did the whole world turn grey and weird for everyone for a long while there, or was it just me?

[Or in other words, someone's just recovered from turning into a native for a few weeks, there. Excuse Nier while he's a bit on the groggy side, here.]

Are we even going to get the slightest reprieve, here? This is just getting insane!

[Who is this mysterious older gentleman?! Pretend all his icons have that... Gary Busey face...]

I feel like someone dropped a ton of bricks on me. Is this what I get for badmouthing the gods?

I want this song out of my head right now.

[This is the sound of a man's voice full of lots of angry. Like, deadly-angry. Killing urge isn't rising anymore, it's hit maximum.]

So help me, if whatever is making me think about this over and over again doesn't stop, I'm going to make your lives a living hell, gods or not!

[It's off-hand musing time, with your host, some emo guy!]

You know what I miss? The outdoors. Yes, I know, we can still go outside, but I miss fields as far as you can see, and trees, and hunting animals outside, instead of just a sea of grey. [Like he used to, sometimes, before the Shades went berserk on everyone.] And speaking of seas, I almost miss fishing, too. I lose my head to it, but it was a great way to pass the time... and some freshly-caught fish, there aren't many things more delicious when you fry that up.

[Ahh, memories. His expression is soft, thinking back to those halcyon days.]

And what of you all? What do you miss about home?

[All these deaths, the stabbings, the trickery, and the callous way the gods (well, mostly Baldr and a little Loki) have handled it seem to have left their mark on Nier lately. He's a bit on the angry side, and having convalesced thanks to Keine's helpful healing and the doctors making sure there's no lasting damage, and the unfortunate idea that there's a coming conflict between mortal and not just won't leave him.

Frankly, he thinks it's time to summon the troops.]

Question. How many of us 'Travelers' here have any combat experience to speak of?

[Huh. Waking up with a horrid fever after passing out the day while feeling woozy. That can't be a good thing. And his wound really, really doesn't feel too well. Maybe dressing it himself after getting fucking stabbed by his little sister a couple days before hadn't been the best of ideas.

He's kind of pale and sweaty on the screen. And feeling a little dizzy.]

I... need help.

Okay.

Someone is going to tell me how this thing works.

[Zoom! Enjoy that view of Nier's piercing peepers for a second there, because he's turning his camera around to point it the microwave oven in Heimdall's kitchen.]

There's no heat. It just shines a light on the food, and then it comes out hot. I've watched through this little window a hundred times, and there's still no sign of anything heating up the food.

[Seriously, he has. There's a pretty large pile of hot, warm, lukewarm, and cool chicken nuggets right beside him on the counter.]

What kind of magic is this? Is that light really so powerful? If so, why isn't this entire machine growing hot and melting down? It doesn't seem so sturdy to me.

—does this thing even- oh, there. That must mean it's working.

[A youth with a very serious face has appeared on the video feed. Look at those eyes, they're so deep, aren't they?]

This is not the afterlife I expected. I thought... I thought there may not have even been one for me. The Shade lied. Gods and goddesses, what is this place? What kind of madness have I been pulled into now?

[A small bit of hesitation. It's a long shot, but if he's supposed to be dead, then maybe the others...?]

Emil? Weiss? Are you guys here? ...Kainé... [No, she's supposed to be alive, unless that damned Shade really did lie about it all.] Do those names sound familiar to any of you people?