So it is true. Calenders and watches are completely useless -- as it stands that is common knowledge in this world. Curious, isn't it? Is it on purpose we are not allowed to tell time? Even the days almost seem to blur together. What other reason would time and seasons not exist?

 [Xander's on your bracelets Asgard - and he's got company! Jumping in out of the frame as she tries to reach the shiny screen that he constantly moves out of her reach is a border collie puppy. He grins happily before leaning down to pick her up with his non-bracelet hand and she proceeds to try to lick and paw at the hologram screen. Enjoy the view.]

Hi there - Ass guard people - hey if any of you still need proof that we're dealing with pervs just check out that name [Arthur, he's talking to you~] - I got a little hot tip for you all! See Will here - well - I guess she's all you see and not that well - [he laughs as he scratches the top of the dog's head, between her ears. She looks up and starts licking his hand] cute, isn't she? You can't have her, she's mine, but she's got a lot of friends looking for homes at Alison's Pet Shop over at Freya. 

Think about it. Dogs are awesome chick magnets and far as I know none of them breaths fire. 

[The network is greeted by Dirk Strider with his back to the lake in Gefion Park. He crosses his arms over his chest and shakes his head.] Man, no. We've seen nothing but, water for a long ass time. I'm keeping my feet firmly on the terra firma until I grow sick of it.

Come on it's just a boat ride! It'll be fun! [Roxy comes into view behind him, pulling a face as if to say "oh man he's being no fun again."] Diiiiiiirk....

[Dirk sighs. His lack of 'fun' is what got him into a lot of messes.] I still haven't shaken off the ducks that are looking for more handouts.

[He looks down at the birds still looking up hopefully at him.] I go into their domain and we'll never come back out.

Then embrace your new role as duck overlord and get on this boat with me! C'mon, you're the one that wants to go on that trip to water world anyway. Why's that better than this?

It isn't. The sea trip has to be done. We need to know why that place is sealed from people of this world, but not from others. Which sounds like a trap-- fine. Bring out the boat. [A pause.]


Do you even know how to row?

[Letting out a small cheer, she motions for him to follow her.] That's part of the fun? [No, she does not.]

[This is going to end well.] You know I don't either, right?

It's a learning experience! Now smile for the camera, this is going into the imaginary photo album!

What? [Now he looks puzzled. Wait.] ...the bracelet is on, isn't it.

[ooc: Joint post by Dirk and Roxy. They'll both answer any comments.]

[ The person on the feed today isn't actually Austin O'Brien- it's a much shorter person, a redheaded girl. Guess who decided to practically jack another person's bracelet (you can see her holding his arm at the bottom of the screen...). Oh well, at least Asahi seems in a good mood, a wide grin on her face. ]

Yo, everyone! There's a real good friend of mine looking to make some new friends, so everyone make sure to talk to him, okay! [ She turns the camera so O'Brien is in view instead, looking...as uncomfortable and taken by surprise as anybody who's met him will have probably seen him. By the way, she just decided he should make friends, this was not a decision on anyone's but her part. ]

Asahi, what-

I know he seems sort of serious and maybe even like a party pooper, but he's actually a pretty good person! And he eats chips just like us normal people, believe it or not!

[ Not as if O'Brien's helping that cause, though. He's shifted to looking pretty deadpan again, turning to the screen ] I never told her to do this.

...Well, good luck with making friends! [ It seems more aimed at O'Brien, but then she's.. already running off...

O'Brien just sighs, looks at the feed, and turns it off. Asahi come on... ]

[ ooc: This is Asahi/integrous, this is O'Brien. She's already run off, so you're just getting him, though! ]

[as ever, asgard, you only get to see half of ushahin's face on the video screen. behind him appears to be a shelf absolutely brimming with books]

While the influx of odd candies and lovely flowers has been quite intriguing, I would appreciate a moment of your time for a different distraction. I have recently come into possession of a bookshop, now called Darkhaven. It can be found in Loki, nearby the castle and hospital both. The books are priced quite reasonably, and if one is curious, I may have some other little baubles and gewgaws as well. There is space to read, as well, and those who care for the books are welcome to do so.

For those seeking employment, I am hoping to find two clerks. The ability to lift and carry the occasional heavy item is necessary, and those willing to travel to Utgard regularly or responsible enough to mind the shop on their own would be most welcome.

[more details about the bookstore can be foundhere.]

( with a little bit of skillful hacking, natasha has managed to make her text show up under 'anonymous'. seems like there are a few others in Asgard who also possess this skill and she was feeling a little left out. )

do you believe that honesty is the best policy? why or why not?
under which conditions is it .. acceptable to lie? does a white lie truly exist?
the more you elaborate, the better.

( don't get the wrong idea. she isn't re-evaluating her life choices. she's too old and too set in her ways to change now. her hands are stained with the blood of too many to ever truly wash them clean and there was only one way to get out of her business - she wasn't ready to die yet. but, Natasha was questioning her decision to keep her real line of work to herself. perhaps telling a select few in Asgard could be to her advantage... )

( settling herself on a bench in front of Loki house, she was enjoying the new spring weather, after a long day of applying for jobs in various bars. Angel had inspired her to try and find a place to work, too; preferably somewhere she could learn a lot without seeming like she was listening. bartending or waitressing seemed ideal.

an idle widow tended to get into trouble, after all. )

[The face of a young woman appears on screen, at first confused, but once the feed cuts in all the way she smiles proudly.]

Ah, hello! I think I've gotten this figured out now. It works kind of like recording spheres, right...?

Um, anyway, now that I've got it, my name is Yuna and I'd like to tell you a quick story, if you feel like listening.

[A warm smile.]

Actually, it has to do with everyone else's stories, too. You see, everyone is connected... and just when you think you might never have something to do with someone, you're actually intertwined!

I've been fortunate to meet so many people, and hear their stories. Now their stories are in my memory, so they're a part of my own.

Do you understand? Would you like to tell me your story?

[ It's been about five minutes since Conan's bracelet has gone off with the SOS alarm, alerting all bracelets in the city and opening up what basically amounts to an enormous conference call following the video.



Thor does not look happy.


Actually, he looks rumpled and a little fluffy, squinting unhappily at the video feed. Someone was trying to sleep!! ]

Okay. So. Button on the back of the bracelet and gem on top of the bracelet. Hold them both at once. Big SOS distress signal. Everyone hears it, so don't do it unless there's something actually wrong.

[ He is the grumpiest of gods when his naps are interrupted. ]

Any questions?

[ The video comes on, focusing on a tiny fairybull trussed up in festive holiday wear (probably made for a chihuahua) attempting to trot around in custom made sneakers. It's not going terribly well. He keeps kicking up and flapping around and attempting to land again, kicking his feet, and then flying again.

Tavros is trying not to laugh. ]

Well, you didn't like the snow, on your hooves. So, you're going to have to get used to it.

[ That moment of embarrassment captured, he spins the camera back around to face himself. ]

I actually had something to say, but, he started doing that and I thought that, I would share first. [ He grins wide, showing off all those teeth. ] I just wanted to know, how you celebrate this holiday. I understand that there are gifts, and red and white, and also, reds and greens, but how else do you do it?

Not that I, don't already know. But I thought that, it would be nice to hear from, actual humans, and not just stories.

[ The feed suddenly turns on, the screen showing a stack of books rather than a person at first. However, after some shifting the feed shows a girl with twintails flipping through a book. She seems a bit unimpressed by what she's looking at and she closes the book, eyes closed and shaking her head. ]

This library is impressive, but so far I haven't found anything on Asgard itself. Are they that embarrassed about its history and land? [ She shifts a bit, crossing her legs. ] Then again, I would be embarrassed too if I was a great god and had to depend on some teenagers and a few adults to save the world. They're probably not telling us something, too.

[ A pause to let her words sink in a bit. Plus socializing is hard. ]

.... My name is Rin Tohsaka, by the way. I'm in Odin with fire abilities. [ A shadow crosses her face, and a more grim expression is shown. After all, she just came from a burning castle after watching her previous servant die. It's like the gods are playing a joke in her. ] Before I go, if there's a Shirou Emiya or a woman going by the name Saber around, please do tell me.

[ With that, the feed shuts off. ]

((The feed starts out shaky, and we have Rose for a fleeting moment. ))

Anyone who's listening, we need a few hands over at Odin's bar. --Actually, make that a LOT of hands. ((She flicks the feed over to the bar, smoke spilling out of the windows.)) If you have water powers, ice powers, whatever powers I'm not sure I care at this point, or a willing hand you should get here stat. Dirk and I can't manage this alone.

((She flashes the camera around.)) If you can't figure out where we are from that, look for the smoke. [Dirk has in the meantime managed to undo the cap on a fire hydrant a bit away. But all they have are buckets to transfer the water. He flashes over to where Rose is making the video, appearing for the most part calm despite the situation.] A hose would be pretty fucking useful too.

Just think of it as Summer time in December.



((ooc; Fire fighting log over that way. Rose or Dirk could be responding in the post.))

((Audio;))
And there it is. The bitter wind that chills the very soul of this land. I admit, when I first arrived here I did not know if I should expect winter to come, but indeed it is here. I wonder if it will be anything like the winters back home? Of course, we'll all have our different experiences in winter, I'm sure.

I think it's only fair that I start getting to know a few people here better, perhaps an easy, foretelling question. Which of the seasons do you like best?

((Text;))
So, if I may inquire. How many of you would be interested in having a little Secret Santa going on? Or just a secret gift giving, if you're not familiar with the robust, jovial fellow in the red ensemble. I can organize it, I rather like these sort of endeavours.

All you would really need to do is drop a present off at my apartment. Odin 101. Make sure there's a note on it saying who it's for and where it needs to be delivered.
I'm no fortune teller: I can't just guess where the recipient lives.
A couple of weeks from now I'll deliver the presents myself. If there are a lot, I might need a hand, but we'll see.

Happy Holidays.

[Enough of this. The giants were skulking back home. The wounded that could be saved were being tended to already and beyond any sort of help she could care for. The buildings would be repaired eventually, and life was in theory starting to resume again, even if the dead were still dead. Things were as normal as they ever got in Asgard. Sam hated the idea of spending the next several days just sitting there, shocked that she was still alive and here. She wanted something to do.

So, she'd plopped herself on a bench in her backroom, and it looked like she was diluting some sort of red solution. Pausing, she reached up and cracked her neck, looking at the 'screen.']

Pinch of Sage has a special, going for the next three days. I've got some extra backstock on teas here, and a bit of extra Affadil leaves from my supplier. First ten each day to come in and ask get a free box of chamomile, and I'll have Affadil Tea brewing if you want to try a cup. [Did she have a wicked grin on her face as she said that? It might be because the stuff tasted beyond vile.]

In the meantime, we're open again. Outside of the anti-curse stuff [And the Poisons... but she didn't advertise that.], I'm going to be mostly out of potions for stamina and poultices for the next week at least before my next stock from Utgard gets in. Everything else is still in stock, and I'm doing some testing on what I'll just call the product I got a couple days ago. Might have some interesting results soon. Silver rune to anyone willing to clean up the debris and crap from the street in front of the shop. Oh... and if anyone wants lessons on protecting against Body Control, I'm offering free of charge. Call it a public service.

... and just, kind of a heads up if you knew Painwheel. She's been gone since before the fighting. I checked, but I figured a couple of you might want to know. Her spot at the counter's open if you want it. I've got a local kid running it most days, even if the punk's not exactly great with numbers yet.

[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.

leave it to me to lose my bracelet just days after getting it.
right?
hey asgard.
i guess some stuff is going on right now?
not really sure what but really this place keeps getting weirder all the time!

[He was native for quite a long time and wow, did he have no idea what was going on.]

i cant find jade, that is kind of concerning.
anyone know where she ran off to?

So, here's a question for anyone who might know the answer: What happens when all this is over? Let's pretend we win, and we're actually sent home - do we get dropped oh so conveniently back in the same spot considering we were so inconveniently taken, or do things change?

Since we've kind of done the world a favor in the end, I feel like we could ask for a favor in return, right?

[It's been a while since Xavier last addressed the network, and the time away seems to have done him some good. He's less pale, less frail, etc. So! What is a rebellious teenager to do when his life starts taking a healthy turn?]

Anyone wanna go get blitzed?