Entries tagged with † cassandra cain

Entry tags:

001 ➲ video.

[The terminal comes to life and before it a newcomer sits, leaning back slightly in the chair that he found before it. His eyes are on the bottom of the screen, looking through options that are available and then he realises that yes--he's did get that right, he's seen harder things to navigate. There is a look of relief that passes over his features as he leans slightly forward and while he certainly does not seem annoyed at the situation, there is hint of confusion in those purple eyes; perhaps perplexed, if not mildly amused.] I've seen some crazy things throughout the years--and trust me, living underwater has it's advantages in that department but a giant turtle that deals with you hanging around and populating it's shell?

Now that's patience. I've been told by a reliable source that turtles can have quite an attitude on them, but so I'm assuming that it's not taken a swipe to try to clear all you off as I think the setting would be a little different. More apocalyptic aftermath than street party festival from what I'm seeing.

[He's heard the speech, he's seen the locals and if anything he can feel the tension but the figure is that this could be something obvious, considering they bring complete strangers out of nowhere and throw them into the locals lives. Biting down on his lower lip for a moment in thought though, he is quiet for a moment before returning his attention to the viewer, and when he does there is an attempt at a smile; a teasing lilt to his voice.] Maybe he enjoys the celebration though--now that's not something you expect to see waking up from well--what was supposed to be a permanent sleep, I imagine. And speaking of that, this whole in-between idea. I thought purgatory was supposed to be boring. Doesn't seem to be the case here. I suppose it's best to ask here--since apparently it's the Emperor's business but, maybe you can tell me.

[A pause.]

What are the chances of seeing someone you thought that well, you might have never seen again? Death is the issue, I suppose but since apparently they can bring people from it, do they tend to do that regularly around these parts?

Entry tags:

video.

[ THIS IS THE GROUCHIEST TINY FACE right now. shino is so damn unimpressed with like everything. for a few moments, he seems to be poking and prodding at the console, frowning intensely. eventually, though, he sits back, fingers of one hand toying with the cross at his throat. on his shoulder is a large black crow with startlingly wide, cranky-looking eyes. ]

.. People can really hear me?

[ on his shoulder, murasame croaks, wings spreading as he turns his head to glance down at the camera. ]

Shino! It's magic!

[ shino reaches up to close his hand around the crow's beak, scowl intensifying. ]

You say that like you're not used to it. [ he clears his throat, forcing his expression into something a little more pleasant. ] Anyway, I'm Shino and I'm lost, obviously, and need to go home. I'm looking for a tall, skinny guy with blue eyes named Sousuke. He'll have a mark on the nape of his neck that looks like this! [ he pulls his right sleeve up, revealing a small red mark like a peony. ]

And Sou, if you can hear me-- you're a jerk for not finding me sooner!

Entry tags:

Voice;

Forgive my candid speech, but a situation was recently brought to my attention. While I feel the content may be upsetting to some, it can not go unaddressed.

There is, to the best of my knowledge, no contingency plan should the turtle sicken further. Nor in the case that the situation with the Kedan grows intolerable. In either case, if we are away from land, which seems likely, there is nowhere for anyone to go. We would be, in effect, marooned.

What we need is a proper ship, or ideally, a fleet, to support the population in the instance that the turtle is no longer inhabitable. Am I correct in assuming that no one has begun this undertaking? As we are currently experiencing a time of plenty, it seems foolish to delay beginning any longer.

Entry tags:

(video) one.

[ it's a residence-- and one belonging to either a botanist or someone who's just really terrible at taking care of their plants. visible in the background, off to the side, is a series of clay pots all in a row, each filled with exactly one sad plant. there's a wide variety of species in the collection, yet one thing between them remains constant: the black rot that's been consuming flora everywhere on the turtle. apparently someone's been doing his homework.

the speaker shifts in his seat just a tad, just enough to block out the sight behind him with the huge thing (hat??) on his head. he's an unfamiliar face on the network (who could forget an appearance like that?) but judging from the set-up he's got, he's been here quite some time. his is a pleasant, if sharp-featured face-- one made for smiles like the one plastered on right now. ]

All this work and nothing to show for it but a few sorry-looking shoots more withered than I am. [ a little sigh. ] Well! I suppose that's what I get for attempting to cure a symptom rather than its cause.

[ he leans back so he can gesture vaguely behind him, at the experiments set up. ]

I can claim a great deal of experience with plants, doctoring, and the doctoring of plants-- but I'm afraid that this illness eludes me. Surely there're a few more green-thumbed or scientifically-minded individuals among us: perhaps if we combine our efforts, we can get to the... [ and there really is no preventing the self-indulgent little smile here-- ] ...Root of the problem.

Entry tags:

7. [Video]

[His hair is messed up in a way that doesn't suggest he's just been lazy or just woke up from a nap. There's a small cut on his bottom lip that looks more than a day old, but it isn't and he looks pissed off in general.]

This is getting ridiculous. So I went to my job like usual, right? Course, I gotta pay digs, but I get the boot. Something about looking bad because of what I am.

Add on to that, the fact I can take a little bit more of a beating means the game's on and all your buddies are invited for a round of, Punch the Foreigner in the Face.. Not that it lasted long or anything but, damn it, they caught me off guard.

So are we planning on doing anything about this? Actually, has anything been said about it by them? Y'know Evandau and the Emperor, not like they'll do anything, right?

I'm fine and everything, but there's obviously others talking about the same things happening that aren't at as much of an advantage?

[He licks at the lip and then huffs out a sigh, leaning back in his chair.]

Anyone got a job on the go that I could take off your hands?

Entry tags:

1 ◉ video + backdated yesterday

[Witness one black eye, two splinted fingers, several exciting bruises, various superficial cuts. There's a big old nick in his leg, too, but nobody gets to see that because Guy's sitting down. Lounging, even.]

[Dramatic entrance. He's making one. Or a dramatic second entrance, anyway.]

I gotta ask if that's how all newcomers are treated. That whole song-and-dance about In Between? Not that I ain't heard weirder, I've heard weirder. But it's up there.

There oughta be something more than a hayride, though. Where's the feasting? Where's the celebration of my glorious arrival? I gotta tell you, I am not impressed.

Entry tags:

video

[When the video turns on, Lyall is doing up one of his cuffs, his expression rather more sour than usual. He quickly drops his hand when he sees that the camera has turned on already.]

Is anyone keeping track of the places where our kedan friends have devolved into open hostilities? Are there any particularly risky neighbourhoods? I was just forced to ruin a nice set of clothes to escape a particularly rude group. I liked that waistcoat, and I don't suppose I'll be able to replace it any time soon with supplies being what they are. What a pity.

At least I saved my hat.

[Indeed, people who were in the Fire Sector earlier may have seen a small wolf (or possibly a large fox) running through the streets with a bowler hat in its mouth.]

Entry tags:

Video

[Cass gives the console a little wave. Her smile is light, but a little uncertain. She doesn't make entries like this often; she doesn't like the spotlight, the focus on the words she's speaking.

But this could be important.]

So, um. Some of you know I - went to the mines. In the mountains. Got back yesterday.

Didn't...find much. Carts, that they used. [The smile fades.] And...bodies. That were just...left there. [She'd considered bringing them back, even if she had to do it one at a time, but she didn't know if that would be...disrespectful.]

Looked like - they fell, usually. Didn't see any, um. Foul play.

[A beat.]

That's it. ...What - did I miss?

video; one little time lord jumping on the bed

[ It's bright outside, as a disheveled man, looking a fair bit mad with his bow-tie askew, addresses the console cheerfully. ] Helloooo, citizens of the Tu Vishan! This is your captain speaking. Not really, but I do like the thought of being a captain, at some point. [ He winks. ]

I'm new, obviously, and it seems I'm not alone in that, so hello, fellow news, and good day, dearest olds — though I suppose whether the day is good or bad or simply so-so is entirely subjective. [ He sticks out his tongue briefly. ] Still, it tastes like an awfully good day, if you ask me, which you didn't; but it's a bit late to protest as I've already told you.

Anyway, I'm curious about some things, so let's skip pleasantries and go straight to queries, if you're so inclined. [ He holds up one finger. ] Thing one: where and when are you lot from? An approximation is fine. And don't worry about confusing me if it's complicated or timey-wimey shenanigans are involved. I happen to be rather quick on the uptake.

[ Two fingers up, like a peace sign. ] Thing two: flatmates. [ said as if it is the newest, most delicious word to ever be spoken. ] Apparently, I'll be lodging in WO-2B, so if you're also lodging in WO-2B, I am led to believe that makes us mates of the flat variety. In other words, lodgers, roomies, neighbors. etc. Which means we really ought to get together and chat a bit, maybe eat crisps, talk about girls — standard flatmate stuff. Yeaaaah. Flatmate stuff. Love a good flatmate, I do.

[ Three fingers and a grin so wide, it nearly splits his face. ] Thing three: great, big, sexy, blue box. I'm looking for her, and she's probably looking for me. Tangentially related, large-nosed Roman and shout-y ginger. May or may not be with the box; most definitely with each other. Probably kissing. [ kissing noises go here. ]

Oh, I'm the Doctor, by the by. Lovely to meet you all.

Entry tags:

001 | audio

[Voice only. Temeraire has noticed the distinct lack of dragons on his trip to his apartment and is a little hesitant about revealing himself, especially when the streets are clearly not built for draconic use and a great many people have reacted badly to dragons in his world. Not that it makes much difference: his voice has a strange resonant quality to it and is, despite his best efforts to conceal it, clearly nonhuman. His words are obviously rehearsed; after the kedan left, he was very careful to practice using the console again and again until he was certain he could get it right without looking like a bumbling foreigner. It is a curious machine, and how can one be sure one is really being heard when one is only speaking to a box, but what choice does he have?]

It is not precisely that I mind being brought here. The kedan have already told me that time has stopped, in England, so I suppose that is all right, if I do not need to worry about Lien or Napoleon suddenly deciding to attack. And it is very kind of them to give me money, and an apartment, although it is not quite so nice as the pavilions in China.

It is only that I wish I had been asked if I should like to come to a new land first, and to be shrunk to the size of a hatchling—

[Pause. Oh dear, humans don't say that, do they. Well, there's nothing for it now. Temeraire forges on bravely:]

—or, if they could not have asked, they might have at least explained after I arrived, instead of telling me that it is the Emperor’s business. I have had quite enough of Emperors; and I do not see that this one has any right to keep anything from me, especially if it is to do with my being here. It does not seem at all fair to me that I should be brought here quite against my will, and without my captain or any of my friends—

[At the mention of his captain the carefully rehearsed tone slowly crumbles away, and there is a short pause before the words tumble out:]

Pray tell me if you have seen a man, reasonably tall, British, with hair rather like the color of gold, tied back; he would be wearing a green coat, and answer to William Laurence, and if you see him please let him know that Temeraire is here, and is looking for him, and can be found at FI-3B.

[Another pause, and then the feed is cut.]

Entry tags:

[Video]

_{[Marceline slips into a chair in view of the console's lens with a tiny smile and an amused expression lingering in her eyes.]}

I guess the only thing that really surprises me is the relative abundance of humans around here.

Hey. I'm Marceline. I'm new here. Are any of you guys on this network musicians, and if so, do you need a bass player? I feel like jamming.

_{[She gives a relaxed shrug, with her smile going more full]}

Or whatever. I'm easy, I could go in for pretty much anything. What's there to do on a turtle, anyway?

Entry tags:

001 | Video

[Hello everyone, have an unimpressed looking girl...in a bright yellow hazmat suit?]

Sooooo...Asianish fantasyworld, huh? Yeah, because that hasn't been done before. At least this seems to be a real place and not some offensive land of the stereotypical created for the amusement of the ignorant American masses. Because, seriously? Wow, whoever writes all that crap has to be some sort of nasty fetishist or something. No, sir, I will not be your precious yamato nadeshiko waifu nor am I a seductive kunoichi, so get lost.

[She lets out a disgusted sigh.]

Guess I was about due for this kind of thing to happen to me. Can't be a superhero without weird stuff like time travel and alternate universes and dying only to come back to life later...

Does anyone know who among us "foreigners" has been here the longest? Totally okay with all the room I've got to myself around here, but that's not enough to buy my approval when it comes to the idea of staying.

Entry tags:

001 ➹ video

[He's been here for a day already. And he's fairly sure this isn't Earth anymore, or some trap set by one of their villains. It's too complex.

Well, Connor. Time to ask for help.

His hood shrouds most of his face, but the band around his eyes is unmistakably green, his voice is quiet and reserved. For the people who know him, there's no doubt that it's Connor Hawke.]

Hello, this is Green Arrow.

[A pause. His father's title is heavy.]

They're telling me I'm probably be dead, and I'm in a space between life and death. I guess I hit my head one too many times. If anyone knows who I am, I'd really appreciate it if you could tell me I'm not actually dead. Or I haven't gone crazy.

Thank you. Green Arrow out.

Entry tags:

002 || Video

[There is a cowboy on the network. No really. He has a cowboy hat and everything.]

Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, for all that means here. Won't waste time saying anything but hello to our newest. Got a job offer for whoever's interested. I'm sure by now we've all had our fuss over the Emperor's verbal spanking - yes? No? Want to throw a few more things? It'll do us all a world of good, no doubt.

[He sighs.] Talked to the folks upstairs and got permission to put together a temporary task force until the shell's repaired. Looking for those willing to work in teams and in shifts to keep our own clear of the damaged areas. I'd prefer none of us find out what the inside of a palace prison looks like, because for some reason I doubt it'll be so luxurious as the word 'palace' might suggest.

[A pause, like he's gauging his audience.] The creature we're all getting a piggy-back from is hurt. These people want to heal it, and they can only do that if we stay out of their way. Maybe we don't want to be here, maybe we weren't asked to come here, but the animal wasn't the one that done it and it shouldn't be the one that pays.

If you think you'd like to earn a little money and help protect something the person who rules this place likely values more than her own life, speak up. Even if you don't want to, think of it this way - you do this now, maybe you earn yourself a little favor down the road. If you think this is a terrible idea, well, too damn bad. You're welcome to try and play in the sewage sandbox, and I will happily see to it that you get dragged out by your ears and put in time out for being the children she seems to think we are.

Now who wants to hold hands with our neighbors and see what happens if we actually do as we're asked? Because I'll be frank, I'm a bit curious.

[Oh right. One other thing.]

The pasty kid she snapped at. Anybody know where I can find him?

Entry tags:

[Video] 01

[Dean didn't pay much attention to what the Kedan told him when they dropped him off, but the console was pretty easy to figure out. The number of transmissions flying back and forth made things a little easier. He's ignored most of them. When Dean finally pipes up over the network, he looks tired and sounds less confrontational and more along the lines of vaguely annoyed, like this is a speech he's had to give a dozen times before that nobody has listened to before and one he doesn't expect anyone to listen to now.]

Okay, you six-fingered, four-eyed, however many toed freaks, let's just get one thing straight and everybody gets along. I get what you told me. I don't like it, but I get it. I also know if there's a way here, there's a way back, and I'm gonna find it. You should know that if whatever dragged me here dragged my brother in here with me, I will end all of you. Capiche? Good.

[Message delivered. Yeah, he could have used the voice only setting, but those things already know what he looks like so what's the point?]

video;

[The video opens on the Emperor, who is writing at a desk. She looks... composed, but with that hard-edged irritation in her that so many foreigners have come to know and either hate or be frustrated by. She sets her pen down and looks up. She is Not Here For This Bullshit, but children must be minded and the foreigners are little else, as far as she's concerned.]

As some of you may know, we were recently attacked by the undead. Despite your admirable efforts in turning away the enemy, some individuals who cannot seem to think beyond the end of their fists and considerable over-compensatory strength caused structural damage across the turtle shell. This damage caused significant collapse in ancient sewer systems.

My architects are working to repair the areas. Stay away from them. And no you may not help. Anyone caught in the area will be arrested and incarcerated for an indefinite amount of time.

If you've nothing useful to say, remain silent. My time is precious.

[video || cafe post || action?]

[Reid hates technology. No, he really, genuinely does. Computers don't move fast enough to keep up with him, and he has a long-established love of hard copies where literature is concerned. But the fact of the matter is, there are very few books here. So here he is, seated at a console, half a dozen of the local books he could find stacked beside him and several empty coffee cups as well. Recently, he's taken to drinking green tea, but a lapse in that particular habit seems appropriate considering his surroundings.]

You know, the terminology relating to a meta or 'multiverse' was originally coined by William James, a philosopher and psychologist in the late nineteen hundreds. His paper, titled 'Is Life Worth Living?' was published in the 1985 October Edition of the International Journal of Ethics. He postulated that, with the decline of social religion all 'visible' nature (that is to say, everything we see and experience) is in and of itself a 'moral' multiverse as opposed to being a moral 'universe'. He was referring to the visible nature of the world - good existing alongside evil, with every imaginable shade in between. Each nuance of the world then became in and of itself a 'multiverse' in James' ideal.

The neologism didn't actually enter into common vernacular until much later and under a drastically different context, but the concept of other worlds or parallel universes - what we today call a 'multiverse' - has actually been around for centuries, generally tied to religious philosophies of the time. Muslim theologian al-Ghazālī believed that it was not only possible but highly probable. His extrapolation was that that Earth was the best of all possible worlds and that humans occupied it as a form of divine right, stating that 'there is in possibility nothing more wondrous than what is'.

[a brief pause, because... he's generally not used to speaking so long without interruption.]

Essentially, the concept of a 'life, death or dreaming' state faintly echoes several Buddhist or Hindu philosophies, though equally suggestive of liminality. The continual repetition of that 'life/death/dreaming' theme represents a trinity; three is often considered a holy number in any number of doctrines. Three also represents the body (life), the soul (death) and the spirit (dreaming). And then, the fact that there are five districts also reinforces the ties to numerology. If you go by the numerical value of the Hebrew letter 'He' or 'five' it symbolizes the universal life, the breath of man, the air, the spirit and the soul.

Oh-- right, liminality. Liminality was another word coined in the same philosophical era as William James' 'multiverse' by Arnold Vann Gennep in his 1908 paper Rites de Passage. It's from the Latin līmen which means 'threshold' and it's a word used to describe the transitionary phase during a ritualistic transformation, during which the participant's own identity is considered to be void until the process is complete and the individual can be reborn. It's almost a contract – during this process you forsake your identity, your sense of self, your titles and earthly possessions all for the sake of a form of theoretical transcendental enlightenment. It's this fluidity of self that enables change and dissolution of old habits or customs to make way for the new. It's not limited to an individual, either; it can be applied to groups of people – such as a graduating highschool class – or to societies and cultures as a whole and I believe it's what we're technically undergoing now.

Liminality is considered a tripartite structure, and each segment of that structure is as follows: preliminal rites, or rites of separation. This stage involves a metaphorical 'death' undergone by the initiand. They're essentially forced to leave something behind by breaking away from previous practices and routines, or by, say, coming to Keeliai.

The liminal rites – or transitionary rites – involve the creation of a sort of... tabula rasa, a blank slate, through the removal of limits and forms previously taken for granted. There are two primary characteristics to this stage of the rite, first: the rite 'must follow a strictly prescribed sequence, where everybody knows what to do and how'. Because this rite is a fundamental deconstruction of the self and self-held values, it's meant quite literally to mirror the act of walking over a threshold between two worlds.

The postliminal rites, or 'rites of incorporation' are the third and final sequence. During this stage, the initiand is re-incorporated into society, essentially born again as a 'new' being.

[CRICKETS. CRICKETS ARE CHIRPING IN THE BACKGROUND, REID. He awkwardly clears his throat.]

All... right so... um, hi. I'm Doctor Spencer Reid. Any questions...?

[for those of you who didn't turn the console off ten seconds into his impromptu lecture??

ooc; also: a permissions post.]

Entry tags:

→ audio; encrypted 100%; anonymous

[The voice that comes over the network is female and American, but lacking any particular accent beyond that, and her voice is even when she speaks. Those who've met Batgirl before might recognize it, but it's distinctly not Steph.

The message is sent to the members list. And her Bruce, because he'd just hack it anyway.]

Hi, this is Batgirl, or Spoiler, since I introduced myself to a few of you that way. I think most of you have met me by now; for those who haven't, I'm one of those vigilante types you've likely seen running around and if you need character references I'll put you in contact with someone who can confirm that I'm one of the good guys.

I know this method of contacting people probably seems a little strange, but I have a proposition to make, and this was the simplest way to talk to a lot of you at once.

I'm sure everyone's familiar with the concept of a team of superheroes, especially since a lot of you are from worlds with vigilantes, and I've talked to some of you about this already but the recent events during the dive made me realize I need to push my schedule forward a bit. The Emperor clearly has no interest in sharing information with us, so we can't be prepared for whatever threats are going to come our way, but I'm hoping if we get organised, start working together and figuring out how to operate in a crisis, we won't be caught so off guard again.

I've secured us a base of operations, as it were, in the Earth Sector, near the centre of the city. [a map is attached] If you're seeing this message, then you're welcome to use it regardless of whether you want to be officially on a team or not, it's a safe space for us all as much as it's a headquarters. Originally I'd wanted this to be more focused on training and sharing expertise, but again, after the last couple of weeks I'm sure we can agree working on strategies might be useful. Still, there's equipment available to use, and I've got a few particular training sessions in mind once we get set up, but until then everyone's free to use the space however they want.

There's a lot more info I can give, but I'd like to be able to do that in person rather than over the network, so for now I'll leave the floor open to questions and set a tentative date for a first official meeting at the headquarters this time next week, unless anyone can't attend then for whatever reason.

Before anyone replies, I'll let you know that I've set up two encryptions on this message which you should be able to see when you go to reply, the first of which is a private line between the console I'm on, and each person's individual console, and the second is a filter that will allow a message to be seen by everyone I've invited. If you'd like to contact me directly for whatever reason, you should use the first one, but if you're comfortable letting the group see, use the filter option.

Thank you for your time.

[[OOC: Specify in the subject line whether your character is using the private or group filter encryption please!]]

Private to Annabeth:

Your friends from home are welcome to join us. I didn't include them in the filter since they don't know me, and aren't likely to trust the whole superhero thing the same way some of the other kids I haven't met are. Figured I'd let you be the judge of whether they should come or not.

Entry tags:

01st Strike | Audio

[Ever since arriving, Bruce has spent the better part his time here trying to decide how best to handle this situation. He's long since shed his costume and put it away on the lower floor of his suite. Best not to put that on for a while. After, he combed through the suite (yes in his underwear) and tried his radio with no success.

That's when he spots the console.

When Bruce activates the voice function on his console, he's putting away the Batman voice, in order to sound as innocuous as possible. He has no civilian clothes and he would really rather not have the Batman associated with him. It's bad enough the kedan saw him in costume. He needed to put some distance between himself and the suit as quickly as possible.]

My name is Bruce and it seems I've lost my shorts in the water. [Embarrassed laugh.] Would someone mind letting me know where I could find some clothes?

Entry tags:

001 || Video

[He doesn't have to do much to put on his playboy mask for this - he looks as haggard as he feels, eyes sunken and skin that particular kind of sallow that indicates a person is either going to pass out or throw up. The cocky grin he flashes the screen comes naturally, even if his mind is running five different directions. Mckenna, Diggle, the Count, the Bratva, the possibility of Thea's trial. A pause as he gathers himself, and he makes a show of that for the benefit of the act.] I have never actually partied myself into another universe before. First time for everything I guess.

[He throws a two-fingered salute and has to pause as the world follows his fingers into a tailspin.] Oliver Queen. I'm sure there are all kinds of questions I should be asking, but right now I have only one: where can I find some advil and a nice, greasy breakfast.