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Hello? Can everyone hear me? Connor, are you sure everyone can hear me? Positive? ... Alright.

[Konoha clears her throat rather loudly, holding her watch-thing very close to her mouth by the sound of things.]

Hello! This is Konoha... some of you know me, and some of you maybe don't yet, but um, I'm the... well in my world we say jinba but I'm the centaur. The... brown one? The girl one? Mikuni is the man, even if he looks beautiful!

And anyway, what I wanted to tell everyone was that... I can make food. I say "make" but I'm not really sure, it just... appears, so, I can... "summon" food? "Create" food. It's definitely not me, my world doesn't have stuff like this, but I guess the witch gave it to me and it is useful, so-

[A cough interrupts her, but she keeps going after a moment.]

I just thought everyone should know in case we end up somewhere like the metal world again. Or if you just want to eat something in particular we don't have here? I can't make things I don't know about... and it doesn't come cooked or anything, just for your information! Some people are... pretty sick and I want to help, so-

And also, apparently people have been posting really important things on this for a while now and I didn't see them, but I'll try to check better from now on, promise! Akira and Connor taught me some things, so. You can use this to contact me now!

So... thanks? Good... bye? Connor, which one is bet- oops.

[So it's become clear that things are going from annoying to worse for a lot of people. A nasty cold is one thing, but this doesn't show any signs of letting up. And at the back of Keith's mind, he's well aware of what the plague did to Struxta. So. Happy thoughts. He's so good at those.

Keith is still on his feet anyway, so far, and aside from the pallor to his skin and the dark shadows taking up permanent residence under his eyes giving them a haunted look -- so far he's okay. Ish. Very ish.]

People seem to be getting worse instead of better. And when you're sick, it's important to stay fed and hydrated. Especially hydrated. And it may start getting harder for some people to make it to the kitchen. So.

[Okay. Here's his point, he's getting to it.]

We're all we have to look out for each other here, right? Even if you're new and don't know anyone, we're all in this together.

I know a bunch of us are still on our feet, so if anyone needs help... don't be afraid to ask for it. Even if I can't do much, I can bring food and water around. Maybe someone else has other skills to offer too.

I guess that's what I'm posting this for. Who needs help? Who can help?

[A pause and he adds,]

Or... does anyone have any home remedies? My dad used to make me tomato soup, when I was little. Not chicken... he said tomato was better when you're sick. More vitamin C or something. I don't really remember...

[Almost wistful, which is probably testament to how ill he actually is that he's even talking about that sort of thing.]

Soooo how's everyone feeling?

[THIS MESSAGE HAS A PURPOSE HE SWEARS]

Serious question, by the way. I talked to Astoria as soon as we got back, and she was pretty worried about the way I. . . felt to her?

[GOD PUTTING IT THAT WAY SOUND WEIRD]

She said that I brought something back with me from Struxta. Something dark, evil, heavy. . . wrong? I don't know about you guys but absolutely none of that is confidence inspiring. Wonder why.

[AHA]

She also told me that the wilting plants around the temple aren't normal. "Everything here seems to be just here. Present, alive, blooming," is what she said, word for word. She's never seen anything here die before.

[. . .]

I don't really know what she's talking about, especially because I feel just fine. I don't think she does yet either, though I imagine she's going to investigate. Just be careful, all right? And if you notice anything off about yourself, let me or someone else know.






Because if we all came back possessed by space demons or infected by robot tuberculosis I'm gonna be pretty pissed.

[the video starts of as nothing but static and white noise, a few seconds of black and white chaos that seems like nothing. but then a voice, distant at first, cuts through]

-- ing on? Helloooooo. . .

[a few moments later an image flickers into view along with the audio, although it's grainy and of poor quality. but everyone can see Akira front and center! he seems to be somewhere dark, judging by the poor lighting, and he's seated on the ground with a metal wall (???) behind him]

Oh, perfect. Stay that way for about five minutes? Cool, thanks.

[is he talking to his watch? anyway]

Remember that underground Connor-san was talking about a few days ago? Fooooound it.

[he gives a two-fingered salute as to emphasize his point]

If anyone wants to come tunnel camping with me, I'd appreciate it. It'll be fun. Probably? Probably. Bring food and water though; I haven't eaten or drank anything all day. Maybe also bring tools and explosives and other things that can break through thick metal walls?

[he angles the camera to show the wall against which is sits. it looks pretty sturdy, and it's clear what he's asking in so many words: please break me out of here]

That'd be pretty cool, too.

[somehow, he manages to sound so extremely blase about, um. being trapped in underground tunnels?? he pauses for a moment, as though thinking, before he perks up to speak again]

Oh, right. This place is huge. Probably about as big as the city itself. I wasn't able to wander too far in, but once we manage to break down the entrance, I think we should gather up a bunch of teams to come explore it. If we dive far enough, maybe we'll find something interesting.

[there's a pause as the video feed glitches out for a second or two, Akira's face replaced by more static, more white noise. but eventually he returns, brows furrowed as he flicks at his watch like he's trying to make the damn thing work]

Let me know if you need directions. You'll know you've found the place if you see two people-- [Ryuji and Ann, probably] -- standing outside a giant metal wall yelling at me for getting stuck.

[and that's when the feed cuts out entirely]

((a network post for this here! I don't plan on posting a tunnel exploration log, BUT once Akira's free you can totally handwave and/or thread out your characters exploring the tunnels and finding what's inside that post c: have fun everyone!))

Hello, everyone! It's your favorite displaced idol, Rion Kugayama here, with a very important announcement!

[ Rion's sure going strong today, completely beaming and enthusiastic, like she's used to presenting herself to an audience (she is). ]

Aaaaand that message is that a shocking amount of you have no idea what an idol actually is. Or have the wrong idea entirely. So--!

Idols are performers, and they're a pretty big thing back home! It's largely about singing and dancing for the public, but there are times when acting or modeling are involved, too. We wear a lot of hats, but it's all important work, and if you think it sounds lame--

We'll have a nice little chat after this announcement, okay? ♥

Anyway, there's one more part that I need to mention, because while people perform for a lot of different reasons... true idols are there to bring dreams and hope to people. They're there to make the bad days a little brighter, and to make you smile.

[ Rion sobers for a moment, smile taking on a gentler slant. ]

I haven't really had a chance to talk to everyone after we got back from El Minha, so if you're feeling down or tired, just let me know. No better way to explain what an idol is than to demonstrate, right? I'd be happy to do my job and sing you a song, free of charge the first time around! You'll just have to excuse the whole lack of background music thing, since a certain Astoria-san didn't give me any place to charge my Xiphone...

[ SIGH. But! She's back to full energy again, flashing her invisible audience a wink. ]

That about sums it up! If you have any questions, you know where to find me! I look forward to having you all as fans one day!

[ humbleness, what's that. ]

Due to Chelseamod's ineptness with Dreamwidth communities, the tag post is now awkwardly floating around amongst your entries.

VIEW IT, IN ALL OF ITS GLORY.

[Keith spent a long time debating whether to bother with video for this or just go with text. But the truth is, for what he's aiming for, it's better to do this virtual-face to virtual-face. Or something. He's even done bothering with the frankly ridiculous mask. For now.

The video opens to a fairly normal looking teenager (aside from the fact that what's visible of him is definitely dressed in a skin-tight vaguely glowy futuristic space suit), hesitating a moment like he's still debating on how to begin.]

So. Uh.

[Good start, Keith. Solid.]

I guess all of us are stuck in the same boat whether we want to be or not. And apparently that boat is headed for some other world before we know it.

I'll be honest. I don't know if we can trust this Astoria as far as we can throw her. [And he knows she can hear this, but he's said as much to her face, so there's that.] But for now I guess I plan on going along to see how things play out. [Which after discussing with Shiro, he feels pretty okay about, as plans go.]

But... just waltzing into other worlds, and potentially meddling in them... that could go bad really quickly if someone makes an enemy of the wrong person. If that happens, it might not be a terrible idea to know what we've got on our side.

Not just magic either. Because... that's really new to me at least. But we all bring some experience or skills or knowledge or something to the table, right? If we're gonna be any sort of team, we may as well know our strengths. And what we might be lacking.

[Maybe? Keith is now wondering if it was a bad idea to give him a way to talk to so many people at once. But he's committed now, no help for it. So he'll even go first.]

I'm Keith. Uh... I guess I'm pretty good with a sword. Pretty good in anything that flies. And I'm mostly used to being in space, lately. But it does't sound like that'll be helpful in this El Minha place. Also apparently I can fly now. So... there's that.

Anyone else feel like sharing?


(( hit him up, hit each other up, threadjack as you like! ))

[What's shakin', fellow Circle members? Are y'all getting used to the temple? Raiding the kitchen? Checking out the forest? Venting some of that I've-been-kidnapped-by-an-interdimensional-witch-possibly-for-the-n'th-time steam in the sparring ring? Regardless, you are getting a brief video message:]

Hiii, everyone! I'm setting up a game in the big room next to the kitchen, so come play if you want!

[If you choose to investigate, you'll find that there's a collection of bottles, pencils, silverware, etc.-- anything Keiichi could get his hands on that's small, semi-pointed and that can theoretically spin-- laid out in the middle of the room. And, all around the room, there have been several questions written neatly in chalk on the stone walls. When Keiichi sees you, you'll get the spiel (or, if you're lucky enough that he's distracted, the "rules" are written higher up on one wall for anyone he missed).]

Oh! Hi! Did you want to play? It's an icebreaker game! You take one of the spinners-- I did the best I could, haha!-- and pair up with someone or get in a group, sit down and take turns spinning! Whatever question the spinner's pointing at, you answer! Or you could just all answer each question, it doesn't matter! The point is just to meet the other people we're going to be living with here and have fun! Oh! And, don't worry! I'm going to clean up all the chalk when everyone's done! Have fun, okay?!

( questions under the cut! )

[So! What'll it be, Circle? Do you grump at the mass text? Walk right on through? Actually sit down and play an icebreaker game with all these perfect strangers? (Intend to walk on through and then get roped into playing by the host?!?) Sneakily add some extra, more interesting questions to the wall while Keiichi's not looking? Up to you! Play in groups, play in pairs, refuse to play at all, DO AS YOU WILL. ALSO here's a RNG if you wanna go that way instead of picking questions yourself.]

[ there is a sudden sparking that emits from your magical watches and a hologram appears, showing a petit woman with dark hair. her eyes seem to hold a certain amount of mischief and light, and when she speaks, you listen. it's something about her; you are captivated by her presence, and you can't help but give her your attention. ]

Hello, hello, hello~! ♥

[ it's a trill of a voice, light and airy. ]

I know you've all just arrived~♥ but I wanted to introduce myself! To those who haven't met me, my name is Astoria! I know many of you are likely unhappy with being found here, and I understand. But the need is urgent, and dire, and I am in desperate need of your help, as is the universe in which we reside. There is much darkness, in this universe . . . plenty of worlds on the brink of collapse, or at the precipice of something great. It is my job -- our job -- to help where needed. Like superheroes, but a little less flashy!

[ she pauses. ]

No offense to the superheroes. -- but anyway! I want to let you know were we're going to go first.

[ she takes in a D E E P breath!! ]

There is a city, by the name of El Minha. It's beautiful, an oasis in the desert. There are many shops and stalls and the entire city is bustling, but El Minha is facing a difficult path. Transitions of power are hard, you know? And they have a new King, who is . . . probably nice, but the people there are suffering. Crime is at an all-time high, and King Kathashun can only do so much . . . if he's doing anything at all.

[ she brushes a loose piece of hair behind her ear, and astoria smiles a little. it is obvious, by now, that she's definitely bubbly and full of spirit, but she is deadly serious about her mission. ]

I truly believe that we have the ability to help those who need it most, and those people are in desperate need. So we're going to go there, explore, and talk to them! And maybe, just maybe, we can affect some good in this world, and change the tide for the better for these poor people.

[ she pauses. ]

So that's where we're going first! But before that, I'm here to greet you, to support you, and welcome you to my beautiful Temple. Please, please, please make yourselves at home! I'll be here if you have any questions. ♥

[ astoria pauses before lifting up a single finger, as if she's forgotten something important. ]

Oh, and please let me know if you find anything interesting or important or otherwise peculiar in the Temple! The Forest of the Fey is a magical place, and I'm keeping a careful eye on all of you explorers to make sure you don't get too lost, but my dear friends within the forest may like playing with you all, so be respectful of the wildlife! It may fight back. ♥

[ is she serious? the world may never know. ]