"It loves though it dies."

Before we get too much into the Christmas spirit, I have to point out that it is, in fact, already Hanukkah. Most of us don't celebrate it - in fact, there many not actually be any Jews on this community, I haven't encountered one - but as a country I have an obligation to provide for all of my people.

( Cut for pictures. )

This is traditionally the part where I ask a question. What religions are there on your world, and what do you think of the ones you don't celebrate?

I should really learn how to just automatically lock things from Camelot...

Does anyone celebrate Yule? What is Christmas and Hanukkah?

( not cut ic, cut for large but work safe image )

For Sale: One Orlesian Bard.

She: sings, dances, spouts religious nonsense, cooks, and cleans.

Goes by the name: Leliana.

Starting price: Negotiable. I only wish her to be off my world. You can do what you wish.

I can't believe it! I found a clearly magical journal, that writes in itself and even has pictures, and I couldn't pawn it off on a single person! All of them just said it looked like a fake even though it's CLEARLY not, or that it looked boring even though it's CLEARLY more interesting than anything else in this backwater town!

Is this that 'not being able to get rid of it' I read about? I don't know what a computer or a cell phone is, but this thing doesn't want to leave. I can't drop it on the ground for someone else to deal with - I have to get at least some profit out of it, right?

So I guess this means hello. I'm Heather.

[See Pearl. See Pearl leaning back from switching her webcam on and waving at the camera with a bright, slightly nervous smile on her face.]

Hello, community! I can't believe it's almost Christmas again, can you? Mystic Maya's started getting us all to decorate the manor already, and it started snowing up here in Kurain village the other night. It hasn't been much yet, but I just know that we're going to have lots by the time Christmas comes!

But! [And she starts to look a little bashful here, playing with a strand of her hair] Um, what I wanted to show you was a song I've been teaching myself. Because one of the best parts of Christmas is all the songs you sing, right? And this year I've been trying to teach myself one in a different language! It's been difficult to get all of the words right, but, um... well, I'll just show you!

[And so she clears her throat and launches into the Italian version of Silent Night. It's quite badly pronounced, and her voice wavers on some of the notes from nerves, but it's clear enough. She makes it through the first verse before stopping with an embarrassed smile.]

So, that's it! I know I'm not very good yet, but maybe by Christmas it'll be okay! Oh, and while I'm here, I want to ask something! [She props her chin up in her hands, still looking a little embarrassed] What's your favourite Christmas song?

Oh yes, if anyone's curious, our suspect didn't pan out too well the other night. It turns out he was kidnapping young girls, but not to chop into little pieces. He was only auctioning them off whole or an organ at a time. Lucrative, despicable - but not what we were looking for, precisely.

In any case, it was fortuitous that we caught him in the act. I'm sure he'll be hanged once all the formalities are dealt with.

On the plus side, we are quite certain we know whom the next victim will be. Hopefully we can save this one.

And for those who were ever so concerned last time, this time the disguise will not involve any corsetry, boning, removal of ribs, or other possible damage to my young master's precious body.

[ there is now the perfect view of a child in using the stove. Prime parenting right there! He seems to know what he's doing though for the most part. He's standing on his toes and stirring something in a pot then adding some spice to it.

It continues on like that for a minute until the kid goes over to what's recording and picks it up. He turns it over a few times then looks directly at it, frowning in confusion ] Did you switch the cookbook on me, Dudley?

[ some yelling can be heard in the background in reply to the question. He sighs, puts the it down, and goes back over to the stove trying to figure out what comes next ]

[The video's fuzzy at first, but you do eventually see what looks like a mostly-abandoned bar area. I say mostly-abandoned because there's a bed sitting at the far end, and some of the bottles sitting on the counter has different-colored liquid in it. So someone's definitely living there.

The camera focuses a bit more, to a young Japanese man wearing black and with a strange pendant around his neck. He leans forward, staring at the camera for a moment before he smiles]

Well, this is definitely different. I'm fairly sure that I didn't get a laptop anytime soon... unless it's a gift from some secret admirer. [He chuckles a bit before a female voice pipes up-]

Zero, this isn't a laughing matter. What if someone planted this here?

Silva, you worry too much. Besides, don't you think we would've noticed? [He straightens, shaking his head slightly, his smile dwindling down to a mere smirk, though he's still fairly amused]

Though I do have to ask about the ducks … personally, I'm the kind of guy that prefers wolves. Though I suppose that ducks can be cute, too.

So, computer-chan, what do you have in store for us?

(Actually, ooc note before I forget - that girl that talked? Is actually Rei's pendant - buuuut he's probably going to wave it off as someone else in the room. Not that he'd really get in trouble for telling, but it's still considered a big no-no.)

Okay, what the fuck is this place? Some kind of nancy site for people that like cute animals? Give me a break.

Somebody tell me how to get the hell off of this thing. I got that nerd Jewfro to email me my next Spanish essay and I need to print it out. I figure Mr. Schuester’s too obsessed with all his namby-pamby ~Glee Club~ to notice if me and Azimio use the same one.

Which reminds me, I’ve got to go hit up 7-11 and pick up some grape slushies. I’m hoping that I can nail Hummel the Homo and the fat chick he’s always poncing around with. Saw him wearing some sort of cape in the cafeteria during lunch hour. I threw a plate of tater tots at him, but I figure a nice slushie facial will make him throw that garbage back in his closet for good.

[The first thing apparent in the video is the ever-present thrum of heavy machinery in the background. The video itself is focused on a man in a red uniform, seated at a desk and hard at work with a pile of paperwork. He mutters to himself once or twice, glances up - presumably to check the time - and looks back down at his work. It's quickly followed by a double take, when he realizes that his work computer has been taken over by... something about ducks?]

What in the...? Computer, close window. [A pause, as he waits for the computer to execute the command.] Computer? Close window. [Another pause, and then he realizes that it's got a video feed running.] Oh, for the love o'... Alright, now, it's got tae be you lads down in computer tech doin' this. Very funny. Now give me my computer back. I'm tryin' tae work here.

[For a few moments the sound of someone typing is the only thing heard. After a moment though, a webcam turns on to show a green haired boy staring intently at the screen. He blinks after a moment and resume typing. Another pause and notices the camera recording. A small tap, and...it’s still on?

Well...one more try. Still on.]

[And then popping on-screen behind the first boy is a second, with somewhat messy red-orange hair. And this one some at the community might recognize.] Hey Ferb, whatcha got there? [Beat. Then a broad smile.] Oh hey! I remember this place! [And he turns from the computer to nudge the first boy, still smiling broadly.] You remember me telling you all about it, right?

[He looks back at the screen before nodding in recognition. The duck part seems familiar.]

Great! [And he’s looking back at the screen too, with a wave.] Hey guys! It’s me, Phineas. I was wondering where the connection to this place had gotten off to. [And he giggles, then grins.] So what have you guys been up to lately? [Blink.] Oh! And it’s good to meet anyone new, too. I’m Phineas, and that’s Ferb. [A gesture towards the green-haired boy.]

[Well that explains what the webpage is, but not so much how it wound up over his blueprints. “Just how did this end up on the computer in the first place?”. His face remains impassive though as he looks over at his brother.]

I’unno. It’s always been like that. [Wait, he understood that unchanging blank look? He must have, because now he’s smiling, again.] Don’t worry, it’ll be great! You’ll see.

((ooc: so! any comments will be answer by either brother (maybe both!) and all in video as well.
Have Fun!))