[Anonymous Video]

[The feed begins, and there isn't a soul in sight. Rather, it appears to be someone's room, but given that there is a bright pink cloth spread over the bedding that certainly doesn't match up with Freya's House colors, it would be difficult to determine anything from that.

However, the bedspread isn't the real eye catcher; in the middle of this is an ancient journal, and it's on these pages that the camera zooms. Much of the text is blacked out, but certain phrases and words do stand out.]

████████████ series of tall mountains and deep canyon near the kingdom of Svartalfheim.

Unfortunately, the Earth Giants no longer exist within that place - or indeed, anywhere in Yggdrasil. ███████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████ the fall of Laufey █████████████████████████████████ the end of the Earth Giants. What choice did we have? █████████████ was unnatural. ██████████████████████████ wrong.

There was no other option. We had to abandon the survivors. ████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████

[After focusing on this page for a good few minutes - plenty enough time to read through what text is visible - the feed will end only to be followed shortly by...]

[Anonymous Text]

I received something interesting over the holidays. It's a pity that little battle took up so much time, but now that we have done our part, I thought it would be a good time to bring this up.

It seems the gods haven't been entirely transparent with us, now have they? Based on the other books found in the library, this is most likely referring to someplace called Ginnungagap. You can look it up if you want, but good luck. The gods have blacked out anything important. Or at least... most of what was important.

I can't be the only one curious about this, can I?

[The feed opens in a Sigyn park, before it pans up. The bracelet appears to be Souji's, and Ellie is sitting close by on a bench, wearing a strange plant-like clothing. Sandy is using her as a pillow. There is a No Voldemort / Tom Riddle allowed sign painted next to everything.

Souji waves as the screen, with a half-grin, looking much more serious than usual. Despite the preparations, he's not usually the one doing the first introductions in a group, Yosuke usually did. There's so much to speak about too...]

Hello. [That's a good way to start right?] My name is Souji Seta. This is Ellie-kun and Sandy-san... [He points to them and pans the view a little before returning to him.] ...we're from house Sigyn.

( The message in full (Public to everyone BUT You-Know-Who, get your lackeys to find this for you. )

( Private to the Sigyn House (both Growth and Healers) )

[OOC Note; Just to be sure, this post happens after it is decided to go and help out.]

[And in case Asgard wasn't sick of all the Christmas sweaters, the feed clicks back on to a slightly familiar sight - the Guardians' apartment above the ice rink. The place looks like it's seen better days - papers scattered and craft supplies littering the area in some direction or another. The Guardians themselves are sitting around their couch. Jack, in true monkey fashion as always, is somehow balancing himself on the back of the couch. A large man dressed in red is sitting in the center of the seats - looking oddly proud of himself as he fiddles with the screen some more. He's also sporting a nice shoulder decoration - a certain tiny Sandy sleeping away without any sign of moving at all. At the man's side, Jamie is sitting with his brand new sweater and bouncing a little on his seat with his one-eyed stuffed rabbit. A lady's voice (Tooth's) can be heard in the distance of the other room - chattering on to herself about something involving spreadsheets or another. The man finally quits moving the damn thing and turns to Jack and Sandy's direction.] You see! No problems! I can set up videos without help!

[Jack arches an eyebrow, trying to play the "not impressed" card, but he's obviously amused. Let's see how long it takes him to spam North with emoticons in the future... right now it's time to get all Guardian up.] I'll tell the kids to draw you a gold star later. Can we get this going? There's snow outside waiting to be thrown at people's faces.

[Jamie looks over at the visible Guardians with excitement. He tugs on North's sleeve urgently.] Tell them! Tell them!

Bah! Snow will wait for few more minutes! This is great news! [North chuckles a bit and pats Jamie on the head before finally focusing on the screen in front of him. The jolly old man is containing his excitement about as bad as Jamie at this point.] We are celebrating Christmas at Asgard this year!! [Wait wait. Hold it North. How about actually explaining first?]

[Jack glares at North. Did he just seriously say snow can wait? This is a sin. A tragedy. And he's ready to tell him exactly what an offense that was, but Jamie jumps in before he can even open his mouth. Literally, he jumps in by jumping up to stand on the couch.] It's not just Christmas! We're going to celebrate all of the winter holidays!

But! Christmas comes first. [Yes, North can't help adding that it. They all may have decided to celebrate all the winter holidays but nothing is stopping the man from being absurdly proud of his own. Still Jamie's outburst finally reminds North why they're here so he's straightening up in his seat (Sandy may have rolled a little at the movement). Guardian time ladies and gentlemen.] Explanations are in order. We have all been stranded here for some time - some more than others. However!

( NOT AN IC CUT FOR CHRISTMAS INFORMATION )

-- fucking around, damnit!

[ Yes, Joel is not happy. In fact, he's turning on the bracelet because he isn't happy. It's a video and Joel looks about ready to go out and do something a lot of people might regret, considering he's put the bracelet down and he has a smaller sized shotgun in his hand.

Meanwhile.

Tess is there off to the side. She understands where he's coming from, she said it herself that if anyone fucks with one of theirs--they will wreak havoc. In this case, they're both ready to do just that. It's like Robert all over again only this time Joel's the one out for blood, not her.

Leaning against a low table with her arms crossed over her chest she tilts her head, watching on, noticing the changes in him. Tess is ready to argue with him over the network, argue that they should shit out first like who this guy is, what he's capable of, the damage he could cause in return, but what good will that do? That will just show this bastard Voldemort that they aren't serious. That they're weak.

She can be heard sighing off-camera, rubbing her fingers into her temple as he carries on. ]

I ain't messin' around here. You listen and you listen good.

[ He leans close to the camera, eyes dark and expression hard, hand tightening around the gun. ]

Voldemort, right? Yeah, you listen to me. You come near my girl again and I will give you another goddamn taste. [ Remember how a gun felt, Voldemort? Expect a repeat. ] And I'll keep doin' it until you get the message, you hear? And if that ain't enough of a warning...

[ Joel disappears from view and when he pops up again he might be holding a knife now. Oops? ]

I'll write it on your skin.

Hello! My name is Remus Lupin; I've been here for a while, but this is my first time posting here, so, er, hello. I've a few questions, if you don't mind answering:

Firstly, how many of you aren't human originally? Vampires, werewolves, succubi, veela, angels, et cetera. And if you are, how did coming to Asgard change you, in terms of your physiology?

Secondly! How many of you come from worlds that have time travel? And if so, what are their rules regarding changing things around via time? How many of you have met people from your significant past or future?

Obviously, I'll respect everyone's privacy; if you respond privately, I absolutely will not tell anyone what you've written-- which, I know you don't know me, but my word seems to be one of the few things I have left in Asgard.

Thank you very much for your contribution.

[Private to: H. Potter, J. Potter, L. Potter, H. Granger, S. Black, D. Malfoy, A. Dumbledore, and S. Snape:]

As the post implies, my own lycanthropy has been cured; I'm entirely human now. So you all know. Severus, I don't think there's much of a reason to keep me out of teaching at your school any longer. Do you have anyone teaching classic literature?

[ Effie said to make himself presentable, so here he is, freshly showered and clean. So fresh, in fact, that his hair is still wet and dripping onto the same shirt he was wearing yesterday ( possibly the day before that too, but who's keeping count? Not Haymitch! ). He smiles, so very pleasantly. ]

A dear friend of mine told me to announce my presence and make some new friends, and I thought to myself, now, Haymitch, that is a great idea. We've all been kidnapped to fight the same war with our feelings, maybe I should make some friends.

[ He spreads his arms wide with a warm grin. ]

So what do you say, gang? Hug it out before we all die bloody?

[ There's an indignant screech from somewhere offscreen, and Effie shouts; ]

Haymitch!

[ To which, he just laughs and holds up his hands in surrender while she comes and slaps off the feed before he can do anything else horrible. ]

[ ooc; so friends wow what a cheerful. check out this here opt-out post if you'd like to avoid spoilers for Mockingjay and/or avoid the more fun ( read as: terrible ) parts of THG universe! ]

For those of you who interacted with Puck in the mirror world (white-haired, floating, mischief maker, magic, spells via rhymes):

It was enjoyable while it lasted. However, now that we are back in the real Asgard, do not expect to see him again. Details may or may not be provided depended on questions asked, if you wish.

[yes he knows this sounds creepy. but he's covering all his bases the best way he can: sweeping things under the rug and not giving straight answers. Owen's settling back into needless secrecy and he does not want to get out of that routine.

also, like hell he's telling all of you all the details. lol nope.]

Have a good day.

[Private to Demona]
Remember what we agreed about secrets.

[aka 'please don't out him of the magical closet, buddy.']

[It's prudent to use voice and not video when you're not 100% on what you're dealing with. The War Doctor has found his way to the Heimdall lodgings, now it's time to play with the device.]

I suppose this is the point where I'm meant to ask where I am. And I doubt it's the first time you've heard that one. So good time of day to you Asguardians. By this point you probably have some welcome parties set up, so feel free to let them send their information to me on these devices. It would be prudent and helpful of course. I already know where I am, but it never hurts to hear a different point of view on it.

That or you could leave me to just wander around. Wouldn't be the first time. Or the last.

I guess it's obligatory to ask where the exit is? It's not stated on the map I was given. I don't really have time to be doing this in a place I'm not needed in.

[Behold, Asgard! This time, Jack's video isn't being recorded on a roof - it's inside of the Guardian's apartment above the ice rink. He is sitting on the couch with his legs crossed, metal staff lying across his lap, but he isn't the one doing the recording. Judging by the snickering coming from behind the screen, Jamie is their cameraman today.]

You know, for a bunch of people who got dragged to a new world by a bunch of Norse gods, were given new powers, asked to fight ice giants-- [He's counting with his fingers as he speaks.] --and get cursed more often than not, you guys sure are waaaay too skeptical for your own good.

[Sandy, looking somewhat sleepy, is perched on the arm of the couch, his sketchpad open in his lap. He lazily sketches things that aren't visible from the camera, looking as though he's only halfway listening with vague amusement to the spirit next to him. Tooth is sitting on the back of the couch, between them, her wings fluttering slightly. She looks rather amused at the whole thing. ]

Jack, that's not fair, just because some things are real doesn't mean they're going to believe anything they hear.

[Jack, being the mature spirit he is, just... pouts at her a little bit.] Do they have to flip out though? I'm started to get offended! [He turns to the camera again, sounding completely serious about this. Mark the calendar, folks.] Soooo, PSA time, everyone. All the stories you've heard when you were kids? Real. Every single of us - we exist. Get over it already.

( ooc cut for OMG WHEN DID THIS GET SO LONG )

[Severus turns on the video feed, adjusts the angle a little - he's in one of the rooms in The Great Library - and clasps his hands together in front of him on the table. He has meticulously prepared himself for this announcement, right down to a list of points that he's written out that he wants to address. The list is laid out in front of him on the desk. It occurs to him to make the video filtered from the Dark Lord's prying eyes; he is not, however, addressing anything of a personal nature, and he knows the Dark Lord would find out the details of the school regardless.]

As some of you may recall, I made an announcement not too long ago concerning a proposal to establish a structured education system for the youth of Asgard. Due to… certain recent events [and by "certain events", he means being visited by the Gentlemen, not that he has any interest in discussing that matter], I experienced some setbacks in terms of organising things in a timely manner, hence the delay in my getting back to you all. However. A number of people expressed interest as a result of my last announcement and so I've decided to pursue with my proposal. The details I've worked out thus far are as followed:

[He pauses to glance down at the list. Just as he does so, a tall emu idly plods past behind him. It stops just short of disappearing from the video's field of vision; it cranes it long neck to preen its downy feathers.]

( Cut for length: in which Snape talks about the school itself )

( In which Snape talks about needing teachers )

( In which Snape talks about donations to help fund the school )

[[OOC:
1. This is the ooc info post about the school! Please leave your character's name if they want to be a student at the school!
2. The ooc post I made about the school in which you can ask questions!
3. Unless specifically requested, all teacher interviews and peer observations will be handwaved, as I simply won't have time to role-play all of them; unless you want to consider your interaction with Snape in this post to be the interview, of course! More information on this here!
4. …I think that's everything. c:
5. OH. Unless threads are marked as private, or unless someone specifically says they don't want to be threadjacked, feel free to threadjack in this post!!]]

[ Crickets do awkward night gigs, babies exercise vocals on planes, long nails make sweet, passionate love with blackboards — and Thor inflicts horror on the ears by repeatedly smashing his bracelet with a large metal object. At some point, presumably because the hammer-of-doom-meets-hapless-accessory action gets very old, very fast, Mjölnir is set aside to reveal its mumbling owner. ]

...the field-drummer does better work.

[ Louder now: ]

To all who hear: shed weapons where you have taken them, lower flags where they've been raised. Call back your armies and free your captives. I carry the word of Asgard's king.

[ A pause, then slowly... ]

There is no war - no threat - no enemy. You have known lies and sorcery. Asgard is at peace.

[ And just in case you missed it: another lovely BAM to mark the hammer-bracelet romance. ]

You have the sworn say of Thor, son to Odin and bound arm to Mjölnir: Asgard is at peace.

[ The video starts begins with the frowning face of a teenage girl with perked dog ears atop her head. ]

Okay, first of all! Everyone who is new, hi! My name is Jade, and welcome to Asgard, and make sure to let someone know if you need something! I can be helpful - I've been here practically forever now.

Secondly, I am going to need everyone to stop dying, thank you very much.

Thirdly - and this one kind of goes back to the second point, here - if you don't know how to use a weapon, you need to learn how to use a weapon. [ The frown on her face grows a little more severe. ] We are at war, and we can't always rely on our powers! Because some of them kind of suck - no offense, Harry - and when we're attacked, they're not gonna care if you're able to make a giant fireball or if you can just float half a foot off the ground.

[ Her expression is very decidedly stubborn. ]

I can teach you how to shoot a gun. I want to teach you how to shoot a gun! If you can't fight? Please let me teach you how to shoot a gun so you don't die, okay? Between here and home I've died like four times [ five, she's just unaware of that last one right now ] and I am getting sort of sick of it. Let me help!

Or at least let someone.

[ Jade leans forward, as if to end the video, before she wrinkles her nose and adds - ]

Also there's no pie at the Highwind today because my baker is being a butthead. Sorry Stiles. Take it up with Ryan!

[ The feed opens up as video, to begin with. Of course, neither Buffy nor Giles can actually speak. The whole city is affected by this. But, luckily for the city, this is something these two Sunnydale natives have seen, dealt with, and destroyed before. Buffy already has an incredibly impatient and exasperated sort of worry written all over her face, lines therefrom aging her far beyond what her actual age is.

Giles is focused, all business-- he’s fumbling with a pen and paper, frowning, eyes away from the camera. When he looks up, he’s scrawled a message with a poorly-drawn monster very seriously drawn in beside it.

THESE MONSTERS ARE CALLED THE GENTLEMEN

Buffy’s shoulders rise and fall similar to a sigh, and she taps Giles on the shoulder before yoinking the pen away from him and scribbling something else.

AND THEY WANT TO MAKE YOU VERY, VERY DEAD

She’s not sorry for interrupting though she expects she’ll be scolded for it later.

Giles just watches as she writes, impatient behind the glasses, and takes up his paper again: THEY NEED SEVEN HEARTS -- complete with little Valentine’s-cute hearts jotted below the words, to make it really clear.

THEY COME AT NIGHT -- Giles taps these words for emphasis, raising his eyebrows at the camera like he’s trying to hold someone’s attention. This is a warning: nightfall isn’t safe. If his words didn’t make it obvious enough, the emphatic gestures Buffy makes in the background, like pretending to knock on a door, then opening it, then making an ‘x’ over her chest followed by what appears to be the ripping out of her own heart, ought to help.

Giles taps his throat, now, as he holds up the next line: A HUMAN SCREAM CAN KILL THEM Buffy snatches the paper away and scribbles ONLY in front of "a human scream".


THEY STEAL VOICES -- Giles is drawing again, another wonky Gentleman-doodle with a small cube in its hands -- AND LOCK THEM IN A BOX

Buffy, again, impatiently takes the paper and scritches a doodle of a wooden box that looks like what an older music box casing might look like. Or a jewelry box. It’s small, rectangular, and simple. Something not indicative of evil.

FIND IT AND DESTROY IT

Buffy makes a fist and smashes it into the flat of her other palm. Then she takes the paper and pen again and scrawls one last message.]

DO NOT ANSWER THE DOOR FOR ANYONE
DO NOT GO OUT AFTER DARK
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FIGHT THEM
ONLY LOOK FOR THE BOX IN THE DAYTIME
AND STAY ALIVE.

[ Then the feed ends. ]

[Guess who just figured out how her bracelet works??? She's really upset that she was too busy having fun and partying to notice that she had Skype on this.]

Hi, everyone! It's me, Brittany S. Pierce. [She waves.]

I found out that everyone here is from the future. [No... she's dead serious.] So, I think it's about time you all started to read me my fortune. I want only the good stuff.

[She thinks about it.]

Like... if we're all robots, like Artie, or if there are people living on the moon -- not Mars -- because, I already know that people live there.

So, just tell me what it's like and then, when I go back home, I'll get rich like all time travelers do.

[ Hello Asgard. Today you will finally see the blue lady with red hair. It's the first time Demona is showing her face to the network (she often prefers audio for obvious reasons, but at this point she no longer cares).

She is sitting atop of a tree, wings spread and tail wrapped around a branch. ]

Things have been busy around here.

[ she shrugs ]

In any case, I wish to try this ability the gods have given me. Body control, since I'm not able to control shadows. Any volunteer?

[ When the feed clicks on, there is a face tilted very close to the feed, peering in too close to make sure it's working. He pulls back with a bright grin and shouts over his shoulder. ]

Mimir, Mimir! Look what Little Loki made, isn't this great? Come say hello to our Travellers!

[ Another man - Mimir - gives a soft huff offscreen before coming over and sitting beside the first. His expression is much more calm and composed, but he still effects a polite enough smile while the other slips away from the screen. ]

Hello, Travellers. Please forgive Honir's excitement. It's been a very long time since either of us have been to our home here in Asgard, and- [ - Mimir stops with a startled ah as hands appear over his head, snapping a pair of cat ears across his hair. Honir pops his head over Mimir's shoulder, wearing his own pair of mouse ears. ]

Now we're a pair, see?

Honir ...

I want to see you dressed up too, Asgard! [ His excitement dims just a little to something more somber, but still sweet. ] We know things have been hard lately, and I'm sorry we weren't here to help. So for the next few days, we're going to honour you guys as the heroes you are with a festival in the castle courtyard. Come shake off the Ice Queen's nasty influence with a bit of fun with us tomorrow!

[ Mimir starts to speak again, just as Honir grins cheekily and lifts his hand to scritch behind the furry cat ears. With a resigned sigh that is only about sixty percent authentic, he concludes: ]

We look forward to seeing all of you out there.

[ OOC: This is the IC kick-off to the October festival! Details on the event can be found here and the log will go up on the 8th! ]

[There's silence for a long moment before Alice can find her voice.]

There's a good deal of b-blood.

[She takes a deep breath, her voice shook on that last word.]

So...

[So taking a page out of Jack and the Tardis' book, there's a clinking.]

Marigold and I are going to paint and clean up the graffiti a-and everything. [She almost said blood again but refrained. She doesn't know what else to do. She doesn't know how else to help except in a way she knows best.]

Would... anyone else like to help? I-If not that's perfectly fine.

[A sigh is heard at the "other side", and almost immediately afterwards the screen shows the face of a young woman with light blue hair who shyly nods at the bracelet "projecting" her image to whoever is using the network. Behind her it's easy to see... well, quite a mess: blood, dirt, disorder, graffiti on the walls, and many other things that are unpleasant in the eyes.

It takes her a bit to speak, and when she does, it's with a rather soft voice.]

I'm sorry. I don't know all the details of what took place, but... had I known that something like this would happen in Asgard, I wouldn't have left...

[She pauses again and smiles weakly, trying to calm down. It won't be good if she starts crying on screen, they surely have had enough of tears and sadness.]

My name is Ninian, I'm a healer, and if there's something I can do to help any of you, please tell me... I can be found at Sigyn House. And if we have spoken previously, contact me as well, I want to know how are you holding up now...

[She rarely speaks this much, and it likely shows.] ... Thanks for your understanding.