[Altaïr is dressed in normal, 'modern' clothes when he appears, making a rare occasion of addressing his fellow Travelers directly. Because he isn't wearing a hood, it's that much easier to see the annoyed and slightly perplexed expression on his face.]

I would like to know what this is doing here.

[At that, the view tilts to show this statue from the mid-chest up.

It's actually a fairly good likeness.]

Is this a joke?

[No one said gifts from home had to be from the time Travelers came from.]

If you could take anything... well... any one thing from here back home... something that isn't a memory or a person. What would you bring back home with you? If you would bring back anything at all, I suppose.

I've just been thinking, now with Thiazi... gone [She doesn't really want to say dead.] that things feel like we're far more likely to be getting close to the end of things. It's a terribly serious thing to talk about, which is why I suppose such a serious question...

[She tries to brighten herself up, offering a smile, though it is half-hearted.]

It doesn't have to be, though! I'm sure... well, perhaps it's best to think of something fun and lovely instead.

It is winter again. We had the wonderful festival last time. Perhaps we should do something smaller but something like it? [She wasn't sure that anyone would be in such a mood for a thing, but maybe so?]

It seems I missed quite a bit of excitement in my absence. The city is certainly a much brighter place now, so I trust that everything went well in the fighting.

Regardless, I think I am returned for the foreseeable future now. If there are those who wish to regale tales of the battlefield I would be glad to hear of them, someone should write an account down and I would not mind the work.

[Ignoring the fact that he's now technically dead? Of course Giovanni is. He doesn't want to bring the mood down after all.]

So.

[ He's eating popcorn. If there's an angry way to eat popcorn, Loki's managing it right now. Munch munch munch. ]

You guys know I'm a fan of riddles. Here's one: what's the difference between a lobster with big boobs and a Greyhound station? [ The most careful deadpan. Munch munch. ] Too easy? All right, I've got a harder one for you: how does a Giant with elemental magic perform spiritual magic?

[ A beat. A handful of popcorn. Prolonged eye-contact. ]

Nothing? Man, rough crowd. Don't worry, I'll give you this one: she doesn't. She gets a god to do it for her.

[ Okay, fuck the popcorn. He throws the whole bucket over his shoulder and sits forward. ]

See, turns out when everyone else was having that fun family reunion down in Ginnungagap, Thiazi wasn't actually just sitting naked on her throne and cackling to herself as she is wont to do. Naw, she was studying the magic dear old Dad used to shove my mom's soul into the doll that started the whole party. The gods were too busy fighting over some snot-nosed brats to realise that Tyr's soul never returned to the land like it was supposed to.

[ Hence the recent excursions and general confusion. He shouldn't've ditched his popcorn, now he has nothing to angrily chew but the inside of his cheek. ]

Thiazi's been attacking us in ways that shouldn't be possible, aren't, because her magic isn't written that way. Took us awhile to figure it out, but seems like you guys do pretty well as the Bossman's eyes. There's no magic down there 'cos someone took it, and it ain't in Muspellheim 'cos it's hanging out down south, and Thiazi's more powerful than she should be 'cos she's using my dad's soul, same way she was planning to use Freyr's and the rest of us once she'd taken us down.

[ He wiggles his fingers theatrically and confetti falls in front of the camera with the word 'Surprise!' written on it. So dramatic ! ]

Luckily for us, most of you guys are the heroic sort that love rescuing damsels in distress, and the rest of you just like dicking people over. So - how's a trip back to Mimisbrunnr sound? If there's a way to draw Tyr's soul back out of Thiazi, she'll be weakened and we'll have one more edge over her crazy ass. Train's heading out tomorrow if you're interested!

[ A pause, and he summons his popcorn back to him to resume eating it from ... off ... the floor Loki you could've just summoned new popcorn why ... ]

I like to think I've been pretty good to you guys, so I'm gonna ask you for a personal favour. [ He sobers, as much as Loki is able to do so when he's this mad. ] Help me kill this bitch. Doing this will get us one step closer, and I cannot fucking wait to see her head roll.

[ That's all he's got. Loki, out! ]

[ OOC NOTES: This is the metaplot information for Dude, Where's My Soul? You didn't think the title was just a shitty reference, did you? The log is already up here! Enjoy! ]

[Alastair is sitting on a roof, looking out at the city. He has a couple of blades next to him. It looks like he might have been in the process of sharpening them when he took a break.]

The change of seasons here is pretty dramatic, isn't it? One moment we still have green, the next...

[He nods out to the suddenly awe-inspiring fall colors of the trees.]

Did it happen like this before? I'm ashamed to say I didn't notice if it did, I was... [He wets his lips and ducks his head a moment,] ...preoccupied. [Preoccupied with being corrupted. Oops.

He lifts his head and smiles.]

Regardless, it's lovely, even if it's a bit sudden. Back home... [A distant sort of look comes over his face as he remembers.] Back home it was always very slow. There was never any one day you could say "now is the end of summer," because when things were Balanced, or at least close to it, it was a slow transition from one season to the next. Maybe our seasons were longer, it's hard to tell.

[He sighs deeply and is quiet for a long moment, then smiles again.]

There's beauty in the world, everywhere. Sometimes it's hard to find it, but every now and then you have to stop and look around and remind yourself why you're fighting.

[His grin turns sheepish and he shakes his head.]

It may seem silly, and believe me, I sound a little ridiculous to myself sometimes, but do me a favor and take a moment out of your day to just appreciate the beauty around you, and remember the beauty of home.

[ when the video turns on, it features susan looking a wee bit frayed around the edges - slightly tired, though nothing particularly alarming. she's smiling, nonetheless. ] I never thought growing anything can be particularly tiresome. [ normally one will have time on one's side, after all. here, with it depending on one's own energy and willingness... it's completely different.

...oh, wait, she had a purpose to addressing the city. ] I was wondering, though. Considering we all have different powers, what happened to you the moment you first tried it? Or how did you even attempt to find out what you're newly capable of? I do hope you'll indulge my curiosity.

( filtered to the Pevensies )

[someone seems to be up someplace high; a roof, if you're clever enough to guess. Crouched on that roof is Yusuf, freshly awoken from having been stuck amongst the gray natives. He's more than glad to be really awake again, and greets the strange communicating device with a wave of his left hand--

--few should be able to tell except the particularly observant, very few--but that casual and almost instantaneous flash of his hand is remarkable only because his ring finger is bent down.

But who cares about that? A handsome Turk is smiling at the network and he's already speaking--]

This city... [He shakes his head.] It is very remarkable, but... I never thought blending into a crowd would be so boring, eh?

Let us say that perhaps my desire to bring color to this place has been renewed. Where might I find some honest work? [and by h o n e s t he means "work that pays."]

[ooc: those in Heimdall District, feel free to run into him on the streets or ogle at him sitting on a rooftop. C: ]

[A bearded man who seems to be in his mid-forties fiddles and taps the bracelet, appearing--if nothing else--bewildered and bemused by this strange device. He is, honestly, but wouldn't anyone? Panic will do him no good at all!

This man is dark-skinned and, to anyone from Earth, appears to speak with a particular accent--from the near East; a Turk, dressed somewhat colorfully over what skilled eyes would see as protective armor--and he's armed as well. At the moment though, he may as well look harmless.

Yusuf rubs at his chin, tapping a finger against his jaw.]

I hope this is not a magnificent ruse of some kind, but I was not aware this is where I would walk-- No, no, vakitsiz oten horozun basini keserler, eh? Important matters first--the rest will happen in time.

If what I am told is true, this message can be heard by others as well. Perhaps an answer would serve to put my mind at ease? [Because the grin on his face says he's really trying, but if this turns out not to be true he will feel pretty foolish in the end. Nothing ventured nothing gained though.]

I am afraid visiting a city of gods is beyond my past experiences, and trust me, I have seen many strange things in my lifetime. Unfortunately, I have little to offer in materials in exchange for information. If I may intrude upon the graces of any generous travelers I promise I will offer good conversation in return.

[Yusuf nods and waves an idle hand.] Bir elin nesi var, iki elin sesi var.

[And after more fiddling, off goes the transmission.]