audio;

[emasculates]

[The voice that comes through is lightly accented (Pashtun, if anyone's familiar enough with Iranian languages to notice), hard-edged and not the least bit confused or disoriented.]

I require a gunsmith.

[saltwater's hell on assault rifles, guys.]

[Video]

[wallcrawler]

[Good morning, fellow Shellheads! This here's Pete, one of the newest arrivals, looking mildly distressed. Not so much because of the whole "hey welcome to an alternate dimension" thing, he's more or less over that. Sort of. Really, he's got more important matters to take care of.

Like getting back into a routine, and also maybe figure out what the heck is going on. He'd tried asking the kedan from the Metal Sector, but they were amazingly unhelpful and just a teensy bit rude, so he's managed to wander into a café in the Fire Sector after trying to get answers from the locals of other neighborhoods without success.]

Does anyone know if there's a school here, or at least a library of some kind? I've been trying to ask the locals a bit more about this place, but most of 'em aren't talking. They just keep saying "that's the Emperor's business" and pretend like I never asked a question in the first place.

So, considering how well that's been going, I figure asking anonymous strangers can't be much worse, right? Anything beats just getting stonewalled all day.

[video]

[nolimitation]

[ The woman in the video looks like hell - or, really, like she just spent a couple days unconscious in the hospital after being thrown through a windshield at 40mph. She's at least showered and changed into local clothes since she got here, but her hair's still wet, she's wrapped in a blanket, and she sounds exhausted when she starts talking. ]

Hello... to whoever's out there. Agent Olivia Dunham, with Fringe Division - not that that matters here, I suppose. I'm honestly not sure... what happened to me just before I got here. The people who pulled me out of the water told me this is between life and death, and maybe they're right, but...

[ The wry twist of her mouth suggests she doubts it. ]

Something happened. I feel like a truck ran over me, and I'm...[ Deep breath. Oh god she hates asking for help. ] If there's anyone out there who could bring me a cane, or some crutches... I'd really appreciate it.

[ And quickly moving on: ] Also, if there's anyone here familiar with Massive Dynamic or William Bell ... or any scientists out there used to dealing in the impossible... I'd like to speak to you as soon as possible. Thank you.

[ video ]

[notahawkingbird]

[ For a moment, the video appears to be stuck, as if in pause. The girl looking slightly askew of the camera is very still, and only the faint flutter of wind disturbing the bits of dark baby-hair sticking out from the top of her head indicates that the feed is, in fact, perfectly fine--

--and then, she snaps out of it, face gaining back it's animation and she blows her cheeks out, follows it up with a deep breath and nods. ]

So, uh.

Right.

[ Her hands come up in a sort of surrender, sort of awkward 'Hi, this is me' because wow this is weird, video calls when she is in her pajamas. Her salt-water-soaked-but-nevertheless-now-dry pajamas.

It is not comfortable. She doesn't mind Skyping with friends while dressed in her bedtime clothes, but wow, not like this.

She shakes her head, runs her fingers through her hair and huffs: ]

Okay let me start over.

[ The change is subtle, but the difference is huge. Shoulders straightened but not tense, she looks directly into the camera with purpose and suddenly it doesn't matter what she looks like. ]

Hello, my name is Katherine Bishop and I've just arrived in the city.

I've been appraised by the people who fished me out of the water on what little they seem to feel they can divulge, so you can consider this a shout-out to anyone who can supply me information that will give me a better idea of Turtle Land.

I haven't seen the city much, but I'm a keen observer and no stranger to tension in the atmosphere when I see it.

[ There's a brief and considering pause before she continues in a less blunt tone that leans more to negotiation. ] I have currently nothing to trade with or pay you by for the information and I know I don't really look like much at the moment, but I guarantee that I can offer you my resume and list of skillsets if you require all of that in writing.

[ A beat.] Also, if there is anyone from home out there who sees this, please drop me a message. I'm not even going to lie, guys. It would be awesome to see familiar faces right about now. [ There's a faint twitch of a smile at the corner of her mouth before she reaches over and the feed goes dark. ]

[001; video]

[earpiece]

[When the video feed clicks on, anyone paying attention will be treated to the image of a man who looks wildly uncomfortable. He's dressed in local clothes—his options were change into the garb generously offered or sit in the bloody, wet suit that just happened to be his favorite and is now instead draped across the back of his chair and probably ruined forever along with most of his other stuff—and is wearing an expression that's a curious mix of frustrated and tired and dazed. Like he knows what's going on, but can't quite believe it.

He rubs his face before speaking, shoulders rising and falling with an inaudible sigh. Without fully raising his gaze to meet the camera, he says:]

My name is Phil Coulson. I just—

[He hesitates, thinking. How is he supposed to approach this? "Hi, I just died, it's nice to meet you all here in this afterlife I wasn't expecting?" Bright blue eyes flicker toward the keyboard, then dart back up, this time focusing directly on the lens.]

I arrived here a little while ago.

[And there it is, the versatile, thin-lipped little smile that those who know him already know so well. This time, it's meant to convey something akin to appreciation toward those who helped him, but it looks a bit pained. He's not sure he can help that.

Because, you know, his back is killing him. Pun completely intended.]

Just thought I would say hello.

video;

[tasteforpoison]

[Time for a video post from yours truly.]

This may have been asked before but, what level of technology does everyone have where they're from? The more I've talked to people the more I've realized that where I'm from is...well, it's really far behind everyone else. Or at least it seems like it.

What sort of technology is normal in your world? Things that aren't powered by magic, that is.

[She is kinda sorta really curious, but anyone who answers had better be prepared to explain it in simple terms because no one has even discovered electricity yet in Ixia or Sitia. Heated baths? A luxury found only in the Commander's castle.

Y E P.]