[The perturbed expression on Nasuti's face is not something entirely foreign to the members of the community - especially not to Touma and Shuten...but still, this is a whole new breed of annoyance Nasuti is experiencing...one that rendered her utterly speechless.

She didn't know when--or how--she had woken up in Gellert's world--at least, that's what it had looked like, and he regarded it with the familiarity expected.

She wishes she could say that she handled it with the calm and grace that Gellert had, but she had a considerably long list of people she'd rather be bound to.]

I'm still not convinced that this isn't one of your spells gone wrong. [At last! She speaks! She folds her arms over her chest and glares off to the side.]

If you would all be so kind to help me with some book-keeping, I'd like to try to get a handle of everyone and their worlds, timeframes, and what peculiar characteristics that set your world apart from those of your fellow community mates.

If you could take a quick moment to fill out this survey, the more people who do it, the more useful the final product will be. Thanks in advance!

<br /><b>Name:</b><br /><b>Country/World:</b><br /><b>Time/Year:</b><br /><b>Defining Characteristics:</b><br /><b>Does anyone on the community share your reality?</b><br />

[It was hard for Nasuti to be horribly disappointed in the events of the past month. She hadn't experienced any viruses since when she arrived up until now, and these, while silly, seemed rather harmless.

Of course, it was easy to say that when you spent the entire week on a academic sabbatical. And what a shame, too! Not that Nasuti needed a harem when she had five teenage boys to take care of. She tried to appear sympathetic on the network, but it was hard to stifle her curiosity.]

So I guess the theory about the parties and the viruses was dashed, huh?

[Thoughtful pause.]

...because we had a party this month, didn't we?

[Nasuti is sitting out on her balcony, wrapped in a thick fleece blanket and holding a cup of tea. The steam is heavier than usual, though a sudden cloud of breath escaping Nasuti's mouth gives away the frigid temperature. The lighting is dim, as the sun is starting to set and stars are starting to make their entrance in the dusk sky.

The young woman has a thoughtful frown on her face as she stares out, her hair messed around her jawline and her bangs sticking to her forehead. Her fever broke earlier, but she still felt warm inside the stuffy and stale house she had been confined to for the last week or so.

She sighed through her nose, releasing a soft, tired hum before she sipped her tea and closed her eyes.]

...the time is coming soon, isn't it...[This is said to no one in particular though she looks over her shoulder, away from the camera on her video feed. She is glancing at something on the other side of the glass doors, muttering below her breath.] ...Shuten.

[It's a good thing Nasuti got that laptop for Christmas. Because she's stuck in bed. After all the excitement of the Winter Holiday, she apparently pushed herself too far, and her body has finally caught up with her.

She tried to tidy herself up a bit to be presentable for a video, but she was too tired to do any makeup, and her puffy, watery eyes were revolting at the sight of mascara. Instead she kept the lighting dim to obscure the heavy shadows under her eyes and the fly-aways that weren't smoothed out in her hair. The blinds all around the room were shut, and a single lamp on the bedside was on its lowest setting.

Nasuti sat up in her bed and spoke, but not with her usual clear and eloquent voice, but a raspy croak between labored breaths and occasional clearing of the throat.]

Hey guys, miss me? [Weak chuckle.] I've been fighting a bout of illness--nothing severe--but the medicine the doctor has me on keeps me down for the count.

[An affectionate smile appears, however tired it appears.] Touma. [Pause. How does she word this...] Is Shin back, yet? [She covers her mouth and coughs.] Not that it matters too much where we're concerned, I guess. But I worry that the community might fear the unknown.

[Ugh...she wish she could get a hold of him, come to think of it. She couldn't bear the thought of going downstairs. Not that she was all that hungry. But she should eat something.]

I saw that Kayura is here, too...[Nasuti reaches for her forehead and sighs.] I'm sorry, my thoughts aren't very coherent, are they?

I just wanted everyone [Shuten, really...Touma knew better.] that I'm still around. Just...not "all here." [Have some finger-quotes.]

[Nasuti seems to be in quite a bit of a rush these days! She switches on the video feed, but immediately goes back to straightening up her messy desk.]

For any of you who missed out on the Christmas Party--or anyone who still has a bit of festivity left in them, I'm opening up my home on New Year's Eve for a New Year's Party, and it'd be nice to see a bit of liveliness in this house again!

So if you see this - consider yourself invited! If anyone can offer world-hops over here, that'd be great, too!

Please feel free to respond with any questions here - don't feel like you need to bring anything. I'm really looking forward to meeting you all!

(OOC: This is the invite for the next event! A post will be up on Thursday at the latest. I wanted to give some time for Christmas peeps to keep on their threads without too much overlap. :3)

Merry Christmas to everyone on the community, and a happy Winter Solstice to those who have no idea what that means! ♥

I won't be around much today, but if you need me, I'll be lounging on the sofa, watching old movies and drinking some mulled cider with brandy that grandfather never used up.

New Year's Party Invite coming up soon!

Hello everyone!

As you've seen by now, Lucy and her family are holding Christmas festivities at their castle. A castle that must be so exotic!

I have offered to assist as a chaperone of sorts, and I was wondering if one or two other adults would be willing to help me make sure things go smoothly?

And as a side, New Year's Eve will be hosted at my late grandfather's estate, more details to come!

[Nasuti is, as usual, at her computer desk. Her hair is falling a little over the sides of her face, and her eyes are closed, her forehead knit beneath her thinly-whisped bangs.]

If I could just--[She pauses, and pinches the bridge of her nose. She holds her breath for a moment, and releases it with a sigh.]

Does anyone here have access to voice-recognition technology? It's a little early in my time to have it, but I figure that someone's future has to have it. [She looks into the camera, expression desperate.] Right?!

If you do...please, PLEASE tell me you have some sort of device to spare. I'll pay you back in whatever way I can! [Nasuti sounds a little more...terse than usual.]

[Nasuti is leaning on her desk, her chin propped up in her hand as she lightly taps a finger on the side of her cheek. She is looking up in thought, not once ever making eye-contact with the video feed.]

So apparently ones involvement in this community is not necessarily something done by choice. Therefore, if you encounter someone you wish to act towards, you may not be amounted any time for deliberation.

[Nasuti rolls her shoulders, sitting back in her computer chair with a dejected sigh.]

I hate being rushed into things. But with this new piece of information, I may not be left with much choice.

...with all the world-hopping and time-travel this community offers, there's really not a way to 'buy' more time, is there?

[Nasuti reaches forward, bring a cup of tea into view. She sips it, her nose wrinkling as she does.] Ugh. It's cold. [She sips it anyway.]

I suppose I have a choice. It's just not one I wish to made without careful consideration.

[Nasuti smiles apologetically.] I'm sorry everyone, for cluttering this community with my thoughts and troubles. I hope you'll give me the opportunity to make it up to you.

I was going to simply reach out to Shin, since he's Mister Culinary Wonder, but why not open it up to the rest of the community?

I'm beginning to realize that a lot of food I am capable of making is too...rich for the Japanese palate. Even omrice, a popular modern Japanese dish inspired by French and Portuguese cooking, may be a little...awkward for certain persons of more traditional tastes.

Would anyone be able to suggest some recipes for more traditional dishes? And while you're at it, what are you favorite meals to make for yourself, or to have someone else make for you?

[Nasuti is dressed in a black kimono, her hair tied up and twisted above her head. She has a comb, shaped like pink cluster of cherry blossoms fasted to the side of her head. Rather than her daily subtle make-up, she has a darker brown eye-shadow brushed on her lids, a spatter of blush on the apples of her cheeks, and a layer of pink gloss over her lips. In place of her stylish modern earrings there is a timeless pair of pearls instead.]

Tonight is my grandfather's funeral. Well, "officially," anyway. My father is the eldest son in the family, but unfortunately work prevents him from coming to Japan. My mother was sent to assist in his stead.

....

[Nasuti casts her eyes down for a moment and pauses before speaking again. But as she does, she doesn't look back up.]

While I have observed many Japanese traditions in my time here, this is my first Japanese funeral. I tried to do some research on it - [She looks back up to the camera.] That's what you saw me doing the other night. I was looking into what needed to be done so my mother wouldn't have too much trouble during an already difficult time.

[Nasuti's bangs are swept to the side, rather than falling on her forehead. A strand falls into her eyes, and she instinctively pulls it back under her hair.]

You wouldn't believe how expensive funerals are here. More than weddings, it seems! [A strained laugh.] It was even more due to...well...trying to get grandfather to look presentable. It'll cost about 4 million yen, once everything's said and done.

[Nasuti can't let herself pause too much. She knew this time was coming, but she was the only one who knows the true circumstance of her grandfather's death.]

Everyone thinks it was a heart attack. There's no trace of Naaza's p...[Nasuti chokes on the last word, bringing a hand to her mouth to cover the sob that unexpectedly bubbled up from her throat. She wills her eyes to stay open, though her eyes were clearly glistening over the feed. She reaches across with her free hand, and shuts her eyes. A trail of tears spill over her cheeks moments before the feed is cut off.]

[Nasuti seems to be a regular fixture on the network, isn't she? Hopefully she's not getting on your nerves. She's just an inquisitive young lady. Humor her?]

So I heard that some of you have decided to test fate when it comes to the lives of those you know. That's none of my business, really, but I do really want to know...

For those of you that have spared someone a deadly fate, how did it affect your world's history? Did the thing they died for end a different way?

...I guess what I'm wondering...has saving anyone's life caused...negative repercussions?

So, the more I hear about these 'world hops' from those of you in the community, the more my curiosity is piqued.

I am both interested and apprehensive at the opportunities such a capability would provide. I don't think I have to explain the potential for great things, but I do have several concerns, and wonder if any of you could provide me with your own personal experiences.

For one, does it have any side-effects on you as a being? Does it compromise the immune system in any way? Are you left in your time and place and simply copied to the other world? Do you merge back together upon return?

Has anyone had negative reactions to these world hops?

Does time stop while you are away? Or does it continue to pass while you are in the world you are visiting? Does your presence affect reality in the other world in any way? What if you were to do something history-altering while you are there?

It seems awfully dangerous. I'm not sure...I'm not sure if I should participate.

I suppose I should also ask...what are some of the more positive experiences you have had with these world hops?

I apologize to those who sat through my accidental video the other evening. I was not aware that it was going, nor was I aware that there was a network connecting all of us.

I suppose a year ago I would have been surprised by this phenomenon, but there is little that surprises me these days.

[She pauses and casts her eyes to the side for a moment, frowning softly. There was little, yes, but there were still surprises, weren't they? She was still trying to determine if this latest one was pleasant or cruel.]

Anyway. I am Nasuti Yagyu, grand-daughter to Professor Yagyu of Sengoku University. He was a renowned scholar of romantic Japanese literature and culture. I have moved to Tokyo recently from France in order to intern under him and eventually get my degree here.

...that...is coming along swimmingly, now.

I apologize that my introduction isn't all that exciting. I look forward to all I can learn from you all, and please do not hesitate to come to me should you have any questions about--well, Japan, I suppose?

[The video shakily opens to a webcam framing the face of a young half-Japanese, half-Caucasian woman in her late teens. She seems to be vacantly staring through the screen, and the sound of typing keys can be faintly heard somewhere off-screen.]

[There is silence as the girl pauses, and she looks to the side and leans out of the shot, soon returning with a cup of tea brought to her lips. One hand is holding the cup, while the other can be heard typing still.]

[She lowers the cup and swallows, licking her lips as her eyes dart from one side of the screen to the other. She seems to be doing a mix of reading and typing. She has a tired expression, and her green eyes are rimmed with puffy red lids.]

[The typing stops, and she brings her hand up to her temple, scratching her fingers against her scalp thoughtfully as she sighs.]

The words are starting to blur together.

[She stands up from the desk, the camera remains stationary as it blurs and re-focuses on her hips. She sets her cup of tea down on the desk and turns to face the full-pane glass doors leading out to the balcony behind her. She walks towards the balcony until she's out of the shot.]