Um — hello. [ there's a brief pause as the feed begins, not entirely certain of what to address foremost. ] My name is Serah Farron. I think.... I've been here before, but I don't remember any of it.

[ if the network is anything to go by, she had appeared here once before. hello deja vu. the peculiarity of it strikes her for a moment, but she'll contemplate it later. ]

The maid was helpful, but it's still so strange, having something so precious wiped like that. I wonder why they wouldn't want us to remember... [ though, all things considered, she's accustomed to oddity now. she hesitates in her musing — directed more to herself than the network — but is quick to speak again, more assured and pointed in tone. ]

I'm looking for a moogle. He's... [ she makes a hand movement to demonstrate. ] about this big and resembles... a toy, I guess. [ a stuffed animal, if you will. ] I wouldn't want to lose my good luck charm, you know?

[ she brightens with the last sentence, though she still appears to be slightly pensive. ]

There was also someone I was traveling with, but it looks like we've been separated. [ because mog is obviously the priority here... ] I'm looking for a boy named Noel, if anyone has spoken to him. I don't think he could have gone too far. [ hopefully.... but she pauses, as if she wants to ask something else, but inevitably decides against it. ]

Thank you. I'd appreciate any time or help you could spare.

[ today in heimdall district, one (1) noel kreiss can be found (unsuccessfully) searching for artefacts-- in other words, running around like a headless chicken looking in strange places while questioning the natives who walk past him. his video feed on the network clicks on to the last few seconds of the hunt, with only a facepalm to show for his troubles. ]

Ooookay, talking to these guys isn't really getting me anywhere. I'm guessing it's the same for everyone else-- probably has something to with the whole "grey and emotionless" thing. Just a theory. [ there's something of a scoff attached to that statement. ] So humour me: just what do we know about this place? Has anyone been here for longer than the rest?

[ a pause, and then he continues anyway. no harm in asking. ]

I'm mostly looking for inconsistencies: things that don't seem to belong, even somewhere as weird as this. [ without mog, he has to resort to asking the old fashioned way. ] If you see anything that seems to fit that description, let me know. It'll probably be obvious, so don't strain yourself looking too hard.

( Action | Sigyn House )

[Well, something's definitely not right. In fact, something's very wrong here. Very wrong indeed.

Anyone who resides at the Sigyn house might feel a slight disturbance in the Force air. The structure itself may even literally shake a little as huge booted feet storm up the walkway and onto the porch, although... as soon as Snow gets there, he halts in his stride, simply pulling open the door and entering. He's been there before, after all, it's not like he's new to the place. He doesn't need to be an intruder, even with his heart pounding the way it is.

You see, he's lost something very important to him. Something that was once in this house. And he's not going to believe it until he's questioned every person in his path, left no stone un-turned... you get the point.]

--

( Video | Later that evening... )

[Once Snow's recording starts, there's the glimpse of a bed beneath him, a few haphazard things scattered on the floor. Obviously, it's his bedroom. And he's slumped a little, gloved fingers idly toying with something shining and translucent he's holding in the opposite hand.]

Hey.

[He's not looking at the camera at all, gaze focused instead on that very bauble he's holding onto. The thing's cupped in his big hands like it's something fragile and living that could be easily broken to pieces in his strong grasp, or snuffed out, like a flame.]

Just thought I'd let you guys know. I dunno when she left or where she's gonna go now, but Serah's gone.

[And he leaves it at that, reaching to click off the feed, not once meeting the video with his eyes.]

[today, members of Freya may notice a young boy in the entrance area of the welcome hall. he's just come in from an excursion outside—that had ended prematurely, thanks to the recent commotion with the fairies. luckily, he gotten back inside before any real damage could be done; there are some traces of frost in his hair, but it easily blends with his white hair. after a few moments of just standing around and trying to catch his breath, he looks around as he tries to take in his surroundings. he then brings himself over to one of the chairs, soon settling down with a heavy sigh.

as he tinkers with his bracelet for the first time, he stops to wonder if it's really all right to just... he's a bit wary as he addresses the network, but he figures... since this is supposedly a new world, completely different from the one he had come from, there should be no harm in sharing his identity, right? ... even though it can't be seen in the video feed from this angle (and wouldn't really mean anything to anyone anyway), he still fidgets with the bandana over his left wrist, making sure it's covering the mark on his skin. he's tougher now. he can do this.]

Um... hi there. My name is Hope Estheim. I guess it's already kind of obvious, but I'm new here. I'm looking for a few people—their names are Lightning, Snow, Vanille, Fang, and Sazh. If you've heard of or seen any of them, please let me know. It's important that I find them as soon as I can... if they're here, that is.

In the meantime... whatever's going on right now isn't normal around here, is it? I don't have any problem with snow or the cold, but I don't really want to get attacked every time I tried to go outside, especially when I can't do anything about it.

[he pauses for a bit after that; there's obviously more he wants to ask—just what is this place, after all, and why exactly were they brought here—but he needs to stay focused on finding his friends for now. those other things can wait. he sighs one more time, but he's got a brave face on; he then gives one last acknowledging nod.]

...Right. Guess it's no use worrying about that right now. In any case, thanks in advance.

[VIDEO]

So that's how it goes, huh?

[That may be a somewhat unamused Australian crossing her arms and staring back at the bracelet she's got. Fang's not too pleased. She was just fighting Orphan with the rest of the team, only to suddenly be brought here, unannounced.]

Much as I love bein' brought in t'save worlds as the next person, you'd think gods would get the message when we were tryin' to get rid o'the Fal'Cie back home. [She cocks her eyebrow at this.] 'Course, far as I know, these ones'll want to kill off humanity too, for their own reasons.

[A sigh, and she thinks for a moment before saying anything.]

Don't have what I used to, either. I guess y'could call these guys "gracious" since they let me keep my spear, but anythin' else? Can't feel it.

[At that, Fang gestures to the spear [[bottom right]] on her back.]

Anyone mind tellin' me a way out? I can't stay, 'm needed back home.

[ACTION]

[Don't mind the tall woman walking along the halls and inspecting things. It's kind of like Cocoon here, only really gray and kind of primitive. Not as primitive as Oerba, but she's pretty used to the shiny things by now. So feel free to bug her, if you'd like. She doesn't bite... much.]

... The rumor about what happens if you lose your bracelet is true. Don't do it.

[ Yeah, so, guess who's found herself 'lost' for the last who even knows how long-- along with everyone else from her world, no less? Perhaps the four of them taking their bracelets off all at once wasn't such a great idea...?

Lightning looks exhausted and unusually unsettled, running a hand through her pale hair. She could definitely use a shower over here. And a nap. Whatever she was doing while lost in the faceless crowds? It must not have been sleeping, that's for sure. She's trying not to think about it too much, though- the idea of being one of those anonymous drone-people is a little disquieting, to put it lightly. Yet... at least now they really know.

She pauses, narrowed eyes on the 'camera,' but if she had any intention of saying more, it goes unfulfilled- in what's apparently becoming a habit, the video just ends right there unless anyone replies. It's then she switches right to attempting to call each member of her little family here in turn to make sure they're all 'back' and still alright.

....

And then... well... things get complicated.

Those in Heimdall House are in for an unpleasant surprise, for those close enough to Lightning's room on the seventh floor to hear the crash that sounds out from there some time after her return 'home.' Same goes for anyone who's anywhere between there and the common areas as she rumbles her way down the stairs--

In full, feathery armor, even, and looking somewhere between angry and confused in the process. After all, it's not every day you roll out of bed almost an entirely different person than who you went to sleep as....

OOC: Since Lightning's been updated to Final Fantasy XIII-2, if you'd like to opt out of even the vaguest mention of spoilers, please tell me here! ]

[ there's certainly been a lot of grumbling about cupcakes recently, and Takane has... words.

... She also has an apron, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, and a mango in her hand that she's concentrating on peeling. Yes, dear audience, she may be addressing you, but the mango has her attention. ]

A solicitous greeting, current inhabitants of this plane. May your expeditions both in the realms of culinary and culture venture forth with favorable results.

[ peeeeeeel. ]

I had hoped you would reach an understanding by your own merit, but I will offer you this thought.

Would you, perhaps, care to ponder what the salvation of a world and the baking of exquisite treats share?

((OOC: Work in fifteen, so tags will come tonight! Also making mango cupcakes, awwyeah. She'll happily welcome taste-testers.))

Ah— hello...? I'm not really sure how many people can hear this... (She sounds a little awkward, unsure of how to address this mystery mass of listeners.)

My name's Serah. Serah Farron. I'm a little lost... or confused, I guess. I stayed and listened to the maid for a while, but there are still so many things that just don't add up, you know? I mean, if this isn't Cocoon, then are we on Pulse? And the gods - they sound a lot like fal'Cie, but... something's off. I'd appreciate any information you could give me.

(There's a brief pause, and her voice sounds distant and heavy for a short moment.) I wonder how long it's been...?

Mm, anyway, I thought I'd put more stock in what you all had to say. We're all in the same boat, after all.

(Alas, another thoughtful pause, not so brief as the first.) This might be a long shot, but has anyone met someone by the name of Lightning? Or Snow?

Alright--this has been bothering me for a while now.

I don't know what the hell kind of messed-up worlds most of you come from--an' I don't really care either--but in what kind of fucked up world is it normal where everyone and their haggy old mom is a freak of nature???

All you people with your rainbow hair and your eyes-on-acid or whatever the fuck you've done to them! You are all freaks. What the hell is wrong with all of you? I mean I'm a fuckin' freak and I still think you guys are freaks! That pretty much makes you all like...three times as fucked up. And you all act like it's normal--! Even when you're wearing a freakin' garden party bonanza for hair or look like you had someone shoot paint into your eyes.

Let me just tell you now: hair the color of the fucking rainbow an' all it's inbred cousins isn't normal.

But does anyone think it's weird?? Nope! You all just show up from J-pan with name likes "Mantaro Yuckimushi" or whatever the fuck they are. "Impossible-to-pronounce-ibamumamu". Anyway, you show up and act like all the freaks with hair and eyes as fucked up as yours are totally normal. Which means you're brain damaged or your world is just as fucked up as you are.

Where I come from? Only old people have white hair. Magical...sparkling, whatever-the-fuck eyes only come on the things that look like people, but who actually just eat other people. Like demons or vampires or...I don't know. Mutant frogs.

So congrats! You guys must have won the fuckin' freak show lottery or something because now you get to live in a city full of people just as messed-up as yourselves! Because when even the non-humans think you guys are freaks, something has gone seriously wrong. And humans were pretty fucking weird to begin with.


...Actually yeah, I guess if you already ain't human then it's a different story. Like if you're one of those Termites or a fairy or goose or whatever...well you're already abnormal so this shit doesn't really matter.


[ ooc; KAZ IS THE WORST AT MULTICULTURALISM I'M SORRY sjkdfgdsjkgsjk i love all animu characters no matter what acid trip their eyes and hair are on I promise ;; also termite = MSPA TROLLS sob ]

[ Tidus is wagging his wrist, suggestive that he smarted it somehow. After muttering something about a stupid bracelet, he glances at the screen with small surprise and seems to forget all about bruise forming on his wrist joint, a result from hitting his bracelet against a table until it worked. ]

O-oh, hey! Hey! Has anyone seen my old man—err, I mean Jecht? I've been looking everywhere, and I haven't seen a sign of him!

[ Evidently, there's a PB&J sandwich sitting nearby. He takes a generous bite out of it and talks with his mouth full. ]

Y'know, I ha' a fee'ing tha'—[ swallow ]—I'm not where I was supposed to go. I mean, I've never heard of a place called Asgard before. And who is this Thor guy, anyway? I don't recall ever pledging my allegiance to him. I swear, if this turns into another Yevon situation, I'll… I'll show 'im!

[ He sighs and takes another bite of his sandwich. He doesn't even know what his options are. With a headache forming, he ends his train of thought prematurely and scratches the back of his neck. Then, he seems to address the screen more personally. ]

Look, Dad, if you're around here… well, I'm not in a hurry, I guess, but I want to say a few words to you now that everything's settled. And you being here also means I'm in the right place, which I feel isn't the case. Or who knows, really? So anyways, just say something or come find me, if you're there.

And to everyone else? The name's Tidus! I'm from... [ shrug ] Zanarkand!

[ Finished. He pops the last of his sandwich in his mouth. ]

[Having gotten over the initial freak-out upon arriving, (her quick recovery was possibly due to the fact that she has her guitar with her here...!) her expression when the feed begins is something of a forced smile, being a little unsure about all of this...]

Hello, everyone...! [... but as she speaks, she seems to regain some confidence and enthusiasm. It's just like talking to a whole crowd of strangers during her gigs in school, after all!]

I'm Yui Hirasawa! I am going to be nineteen this year, and I've just graduated from high school! [why does this sound so much like a self-introduction in class...] My hobbies are playing Giita over here, [she brings her Cherry Sunburst Gibson Les Paul up for everyone to see~] eating sweets, and bumming around! [... did she just say 'bumming around' was her hobby?!]

So um...! How are we supposed to bring color and life to this place?

The population seems to have suddenly increased recently, and I do not mean of the locals. [There's a hint of curiosity as well as slight concern in his voice when that's said. It looks to him that these Gods are getting more outside help and he almost has to wonder if it's really justifiable to bring in more people for their assumed cause. He understands the whole "strength in numbers" approach but when more than half of them don't understand what it is they need to do, it's just a little frustrating.]

Though it's rather pointless, I apologize for those of you that are new and expecting explanations on how to return home from those of us that have been here longer. The only real key to that seems to be our task of returning color and life to this world. The first wave of newcomers may only offer so many answers, though at least this might make it a little easier for a larger group approach at understanding our situation better.

But, I have a question, for anyone that is willing to answer it. It's hardly mandatory. We've all basically been assigned as "heroes" of this land, to assist the Gods and locals in a troubled and difficult time. If you were actually given the choice to say yes or no to their plea, what would be your response? [Just before he's about to end his question there, he decides to tack on a little something extra.] --not just in this case. Would you ever choose to be some kind of hero?

[To anyone who met the other Lightning, this one might be a surprise. She's wearing torn and bloody clothing. She's also still covered in her own blood, though any signs of actual injury is gone.]

I thought I made it clear the last time..

I'm done doing another God's, or Gods, bidding.

[Been there, done that. Ended up dead because Cosmos refused to do anything productive. Died for the sake of others surviving the supposed next Cycle of the Conflict. Got herself killed for the sake of hoping the next Cycle ends the Conflict. For Good.]

Guess they didn't get the memo. Tch.

[She shakes her head before glancing at her bracelet.]

Does anyone here know if... Kain, Yuna, Laguna, Vaan or Tifa are here? [If she's here, they had to be here, too. Right? Right?]

[HEY EVERYONE, LOOK AT THIS DUMB GUY!

No seriously, have an image of the biggest loser you'll probably ever meet (and quite literally too), leaning back in a chair that seems almost too small to hold his bulky frame. He lifts a large, practically ape-like hand in a greeting wave once he can see the bracelet's view is focused on him, somewhere over the table in front of him and right beside his huge, boot-covered feet – where they're propped up against the table's edge, of course.]

Heeeey everyone! So I don't wanna be here any more than the rest of you do, I'm pretty sure, but... have you guys tried the food here?

[The sentence is barely finished before he's cramming one of the exotic delicacies before him into his mouth. It should be plainly obvious to the audience what it is.

A peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich.]

Mmmm! We don't have stuff like this— [He pauses to swallow there. Yep, he was talking with his mouth full.] —where I come from. What was this called again?

[In the background, a very audible sigh can be heard – along with what, rather than an answer to his question, sounds a lot more like, "Stop that... you're going to break the chair." The voice is obviously female, but it sounds... well, bored. Nonchalant. Like this is par for the course.

It pretty much is.

Blondie here just chuckles merrily and starts chewing on another sandwich.]

I've got this, Sis. No need for the lecture. ... Aaanyway, so uh... my name's Snow. Snow Villiers. [The way he pronounces his last name sounds more like "Vill-ee-ahz". He pauses to let out a satisfied belch and then starts leaning even further back in his chair again as he talks, looking quite the image of the oversized little boy that he is.] —So yeah! You guys need me for anything, just say the word! Doesn't matter where I am, I'll be there as fast as I can. That's what a hero's for, after all.

[He grins crookedly and flashes the camera a wink. However, that's when there's a shift of movement – a slender, gloved hand that's most definitely not his, which abruptly catches hold of the back of the chair when he's not looking and— in the next moment, one of the man's heavy black boots is flying across the camera as he tumbles backwards. Cue the crash and the distinct sound of flailing.]

—Who-o-oa!

[And then Snow's grinning sheepishly as he hauls himself to his feet again, letting out a short laugh and rubbing the back of his head.] Well! Guess I shouldn't have been leanin' back like that.

[Yep... he's entirely oblivious to his "unseen" attacker.]


( OOC: Anyone in House Heimdal is welcome to bother them in person, too! :3 )