I've been here for almost six years now. Isn't anybody going to throw me a party?

[Takiko's face is oddly close, the camera (or magic book) could only be a foot away at most. So it's easy to see she's not looking her best. There's dirt and a few tiny cuts on her face, and her hair is lopsided- one side has a bun with a strand trailing from it while the other side is a simple tail. She looks exhausted.

After a second, she gives a small smile, but it doesn't reach her eyes.]

Hello. [She tries to smile more brightly.] I'm afraid I'm a little tied up today.

[The smile fades, leaving her looking depressed.] I've been finding out just how much people have done for me recently. So I wanted to say... [She looks down for a moment, blinking rapidly, but when she raises her face again here eyes are clear and sincere.] Thank you. Thank you for supporting me all this time.

[the video feed comes in dim and flickering, like the camera is snapping on and off or being covered by someone... turning... pages? The sound of rustling paper certainly indicates the latter.

There are glimpses of an elaborate ceiling high above in the gloom, domed and painted bright colours, perhaps a palace or a temple. Closer to the 'camera' is the face of a young woman with grey eyes and long ash brown hair, tied back in a ponytail. It definitely isn't Takiko, but the post seems to be coming from Takiko's journal...?

The young woman is frowning, her expression becoming more and more suspicious as she continues to flip through pages. She doesn't seem to care that the front of her sleeping robe is gaping open, revealing boobs and a heavy swath of bandages running diagonally across her chest and a — mark? tattoo? — of the Japanese symbol for 'woman', 女, just below her collarbone. Enjoy the show, ducks.

She's downright scowling by the time she reaches the end of the entries, muttering a quick curse and an 'Idiot girl' as she looks away and slams the book closed]




Oi, where is all of this coming from? Just who are you, and what are you saying to Takiko?

[the entry comes only minutes after the video feed, and handwriting is rough and angular, not at all like Takiko's usual elegant hand]

Oh god, I googled myself!

Why did I google myself?!

I have been looking at the community more now, and I wonder: does anybody travel? And if so, where have you visited? I ask because I have been a wanderer for about ten years now, and I have seen much of my country. I was curious about other countries and worlds.

Hello? Coooome on, work. You've done enough not wor...Oh. [Ellie, finally on camera, grins.] I've been tryin' to get this thing working since everything started.

So, uh, about the whole dying thing. [She laughs a bit nervously, possible with a tinge of guilt, and holds her arms out.] I didn't. It's kind of a lot to explain and I'm not really supposed to but I'm okay and I'm traveling with some people. They're cool, so...

Yeah, sorry about that, about worrying everybody but I'm glad I got to meet the people that came. It was pretty awesome, knowing there's places out there like that, where people take care of each other.

Does that happen a lot? Not the caring for people but meeting...friends, I guess? from other worlds? It'd kind of suck never really getting to see them.

Dear community,

I hope you are all well. We are about to travel again, this time to visit the augur who lives in a town not far from where we are. In this world, there are truly people who can divine the future or see beyond normal senses. Back in my own world, there were people who claimed they could do such things, but you never knew if they really could.

It's made me wonder- are prophecies and oracles common in your worlds, or do most people think of them as tricks? I think knowing that certain things will happen changes a lot of things.

Thank you,

Okuda Takiko

[Takiko appears to be fiddling with the camera, unaware that it's already on. Behind her are the sounds of arguing male voices. Exactly what they're saying isn't clear, but the occasional word or phrase like "jealous" or "pretty boy" makes it through. A woman's voice cuts in, but whether she's trying to end the argument or establishing a third side is impossible to tell.

The camera settles at last, and Takiko smiles wanly at it.] I don't suppose there's any chance I could visit someone for a bit? We haven't been played in a while, and things are a little...tense here.

[Somewhere off screen, there's a loud "Ow!"]

Dear book-people,

I believe I have found a way to escape my library. I'd like to thank you for all the advice you've given me...though I'm afraid my solution is fitting with this world, rather than the more active suggestions you have made.

It will involve the potential burning of a book.

Do you think that is alright? To destroy a work, no matter how vile, just for my own sanity?

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Marianne Zahm-
Under Assistant,
The Library
Chaos: 374 Order: 909

[At first there's only the sound of water lapping gently at wood, but it's soon joined by a woman singing. Her voice isn't the most practiced, but it has a pure quality, and becomes stronger as she continues to sing.]

Life is brief, maiden, fall in love
Before the crimson bloom
Fades from your lips
Before the tides of passion cool
For there may be no tomorrow

Life is brief, maiden, fall in love
Take my hand to the gondola
Press my burning cheek to your cheek
For no one will come here

Life is brief, maiden, fall in love
Like the gondola drifting on the waves
Place your tender hand on my shoulder
For no one will see us here

Life is brief, maiden, fall in love
Before your raven tresses fade
Before the flames in your heart flicker and die
For today will not return

[The video opens up in a hospital room. There's four girls, three of them in hospital beds. On one side of the room are a girl with blue hair and one with brown hair. On the other side is Setsuna, who's sitting by the bed of a blonde girl. Judging from the tarot cards Setsuna is laying out, she's in the middle of fortune telling. The blonde, Love, is looking at the cards very seriously.]

How is it? Did something change?

[Setsuna looks up from her cards and smiles.] It may be painful now, but you should work hard on both.

Really?

Yes.

Thanks, Setsuna! I feel full of energy now! [The other girls don't look as enthusiastic as Love, though. In fact, they look downright skeptical.]

Hey, Setsuna-san... Didn't you tell us to pick one over the other?

Why did our fortunes change so much?

[Setsuna turns to the other girls, still smiling.] Fortunes are fluid. They change over time. They don't remain the same forever.

Oh? It's like us.

Eh? [Setsuna turns back to Love, surprised.]

Sometimes we have fun, sometimes we feel sad. Sometimes we love each other, sometimes we don't. We're forever changing.

Ah... Right.

Okay! I'll eat a lot, regain my energy and work hard! [Love gives Setsuna a thumbs up.] Come watch the dance contest, Setsuna!

[Setsuna smiles.] Of course.

[With that, Setsuna says goodbye to the girls and leaves the room. Once the door is closed behind her, her smile is gone immediately, replaced by an annoyed frown.]

Hmph. Like I really care about that pointless contest. Honestly... [Setsuna starts walking, still oblivious to the fact that she's being recorded.] Such a foolish, naive girl. [She smirks.] Well, no matter. If she wants to tire herself out, that's fine with me.

[And on that ominous note, the video ends.]

[OOC Note: Red is Setsuna, pink is Love, blue is Miki and yellow is Inori.]

[ Lydia's updating idly from her father's study while she's looking up certain things about a certain stone that a certain butler happened to hand her after a certain stupid orange-haired twit dropped it while aguing with Lydia. ]

Say that I made a bet with someone over whether or not Edgar would try to kiss me as soon as he gets the chance? I'm fairly confident in my chances even if the stakes are pretty high, but what do you guys think? It was sort of heat of the moment when I made the bet, but I'm wondering if Edgar would or wouldn't do something like that..

[ After all, he was a gentleman and actually didn't peek at her at the waterpark. So now she's second thinking her bet... it's a little late now, but still. ]

Has anyone else ever made a bet in the heat of the moment like this that they're not quite sure about the more they think about it but it's too late to take back?

Hey... is it weird not to want focus on duty all the time? I just don't see the point of focusing on your job and ignoring the rest of my life, y'know? Dunno.

Maybe I just need a break or something.

I want everyone who was in that mall to report in their status, and the status of anyone else they know who was in the mall with them.

I'll start. Issei Ryudo and Diarmuid Ua Duibhne both confirmed as healthy and home.

[ The video opens up to Akiho wearing a certain pair of red glasses trying to look dramatic ]

"I have always followed my beliefs."

If a show can change the world then recreating it can do the same, that being said what sort of figures are held in the same light as a defender of justice? Gunvarrel is the best example but there are other things like mobile suits that people like as well!