cashlin: <user name=sweetfarthing site=insanejournal.com> (I ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ʜᴏʟᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ғᴏʀᴇᴠᴇʀ)
[personal profile] cashlin
[In the midst of all of this pseudo-zombie terror, paranoia, and rioting, one woman alone remains firm, standing strong in the face of madness to remember the real universal importance of ALASTAIR's mission here--]

Well, ain't this an exciting Loverpalooza! Orrrr... almost Loverpalooza, I dunno what day it is anymore. I think the people on this planet call it somethin' else, too.

[--and it is definitely not this chick.

Lilith, rather, is perched on top of a dumpster in an empty alleyway with her legs folded, a paper grocery bag full of the spoils of looting in her lap. The crowds of Woodhurst, still in total uproar, are far from gone: the blare of horns honking, glass shattering, and men and women yelling unintelligibly just up the street is completely audible in the feed, but the woman doesn't seem to be paying them much mind at all. Not when she's grabbed her loot and made off unscathed.

Idly, Lilith rummages through her bag.
] I didn't even get any chocolate! What a load of crap. [Instead, she's opting for a bottle of pills. Lilith presses the heel of her palm into the childproof cap and continues speaking as if somebody's car alarm didn't just yelp into life off-screen.]

Anyways, what're your plans, team? Ice cream and bad chick flicks at home? Fancy dinner, if anybody's still running the restaurants around here? A romantic evening punching rioters in the teeth with that special someone? Provided they make it out of this whole ordeal alive, that is. I know my date would've, but hey, he's not even on assignment here, so I'm shit out of luck. Open, you little bastard.

[With a soft noise of plastic clicking against itself (and a little 'ha!' from Lilith), there it is: painkillers are open. Lilith pops an ibuprofen and hops off the dumpster just as the sound of all the chaos grows steadily louder and louder.]

I dunno about you guys, but all this infection nonsense is giving me a real headache. So, hey: entertain me. I still gotta get home, or find a shop nobody's hit up for snacks yet.

[Just as Lilith's beginning to turn a shimmering blue-purple and translucent, she grins wide for the camera and cuts the feed.]
pummelling: <user name=yevon> (85)
[personal profile] pummelling
[The magitek's pulled back far enough to feature not one, but two members of Audentes... or, rather, one of them striving vainly to nudge his teammate out of the feed. It's the tail end of the struggle, though, and Kung Jin is fighting a losing battle. It takes half a second for Asher Millstone to shove his way into view, taking up half of the screen and speaking up before Jin can truly get a word in.

The law student looks more excited than ever when he starts speaking, and even lifts his arms above his head in a “raise the roof” sort of gesture.
]

It’s time to get wiggity wiggity whack, yo!

Don't. [He nearly slaps a hand over his friend's mouth, but reconsiders, elbowing him back instead.] So, Audentes. Since we're almost all set to leave on our next assignment, it's come to our attention that not everyone here is from a world that people like Asher or I consider "modern day".

Whoa, you? Wait a minute. Last I checked, there was nothing normal about you, man. People in your world, like, rip dudes’ spines out through their mouths and crap!

[After he says this, Asher immediately turns from Jin back to the camera, and waves his hands emphatically in its general direction.]

Don’t try that.

[Jin casts a dubious glance at Asher and moves right along in spite of all the interruptions.]

Even if you look the part, you’ve still got to play the part, too. If you're looking for any advice or tips to blend in properly on-planet, we’re pretty much experts-- so let us know if you need a hand.

[The paler of the two pops up right behind him, leaning on the other’s shoulder.]

That’s right, baby! We’ll teach you how to be 90s.
hedonistic: (pic#10639133)
[personal profile] hedonistic
if anyone can tell me how to get videogames or proper internet on this thing i will do a dare of ur choice and let u record the results for posterity/blackmail/whatever u want

in the meantime i've got way too much time to kill so let's play would you rather

for those of you poor souls who've never known the glory of the internet, it goes like this: someone posts two things (the more ridic the better) and people respond with their decision on which they'd rather do and then come up with their own two things

it ends up with us all judging each other's life and choices and nobody lives happily ever after (◡‿◡✿)

i'll start with something appropriate to our upcoming ~mission~

would you rather...
be eaten by a zombie, or burnt at the stake?
assent: (140)
[personal profile] assent
[ Really, she had hoped to get her thoughts out about this sooner, but there are things she wants to Address and get people to think about now that it seems like a new year is upon them. It makes sense after the Christmas/Yule w/e celebrations that had taken place. For any that may know her though, she definitely seems very upbeat today. ]

Good day, everyone. [ It's the first time she's actually addressed the magitek like this though, which is why she tries to keep as formal as possible from the get go. ] My name is Sonia Nevermind, some of you may know me, others may not -- if that is the case, it is a pleasure to meet you now.

I was wondering... is it common for people of your worlds to make New Years Resolutions? This is where you make promises or goals for yourself for the new year.

For me, this year I hope to get stronger, so I may protect those I care about. I wish to learn more about medicine, to ensure that those with healing skills are not tiring themselves out. [ She's ticking these off with her fingers as she goes. ] I wish... to be more honest, about past instances that were beyond my control... but I feel are important to share with friends. I wish to spend more time with others, and learn more about the different cultures and languages we have within our team. If you were to consider this now... what would you choose?

Also, as we have been in good spirits recently, I also hoped we may try to get to know one another better with a game? There is one called "2 truths 1 lie", I believe, where we share two pieces of information that are "real" along with one piece of information that is a lie. As I understand, this is a hella good game to bond. For example: "I can speak 30 languages." "I have got a sister." "I can pilot a helicopter." Which one is incorrect?


[ ooc: re: the 2 truths 1 lie thing please feel free to threadjack etc as well as she does mean for it to happen so people can get to know each other [smh] ]
winces: (( ninety ))
[personal profile] winces
[ it's been a long and grueling week of hard work, naive hope, and a desperate need for distraction — but finally, finally, olivia has some good news to share. ]

Good... Hello, all. [ she'd forgotten to check what time it was before beginning this. oops. ] Sorry to bother, but I thought some of you might like to know —

It's possible.

[ exhaustion hangs heavy on her every word, and it is perhaps the true reason she has not opted to do a video this time. but she does not want to worry the rest over something inconsequential, in the long run, because energy can always be regained later. innocent lives, on the other hand, cannot. ]

There is a way to save them, the Deemers. I-It's a very... slim chance. [ she's careful to say this from the get-go, mindful of urahara's own gentle but firm reminders as she worked tirelessly these past few days. ] And it won't... bring them back to what they'd been before this... They actually won't remember anything at all. [ a faint pause, after her voice turns a little low, regretful. perhaps if she'd tried harder— ]

But! [ no no, let's focus on the good here. on that hope. ] It is possible to heal the damage to their minds. We managed to save someone.

[ of the few urahara had managed to keep alive after the extraction, only one among them responded to her fervent healing. ]

He's... doing well. Adjusting. [ despite it all, a part of her wonders if it had been the right thing to do. if his struggles from hereon in would make it all for naught... ]

Um. If you were gifted with the highest level of ALASTAIR's healing magic, or have any advanced healing of your own to spare, and you'd like to help... please contact me. It's... not easy. But it's manageable. [ for it is quite taxing for just one to take on all their own, as haise has been quick to remind her, but she's even more hesitant to lump that burden on someone else. ]

And if you've managed to extract a Taraxa successfully, or you have a Deemer with you... please let us know, too. Thank you.

( ooc; TLDR olivia's max healing alastair abilities makes it possible to save a deemer, post-extraction. she was able to attempt this on some deemers urahara procured his collection of taraxa from. however, it has a very low success rate, on top of the already very low success rate of an extraction, and it leaves the deemer with essentially a blank slate. but!! still!! something???! gently whispers i'm so sorry for only realizing this could be a thing now )
dishearten: \ (29)
[personal profile] dishearten
( this post has been a long time coming. he's needed time to digest the news of the fate of the deemer, and that's even without a heart. it's uncomfortable to be faced with a legion of those that suffered as he had, only worse. by all intents and appearances, there was nothing left of them now.

does that make him lucky? that a part of him still remains, however dismantled from being controlled for decades?

lucky or not, it gives him perspective. a lot of perspective. and for better or worse, he feels the need to share it, in the hopes the rest of the team might understand a little better.
)

By now I'm sure all of us know the condition of the Demeers. That they are being manipulated and controlled by a force outside themselves. All information we have indicates that there is nothing left to them after the Taxara infiltrate, their personality wiped and their body lost as a vessel for the means of another.

( he grimaces, unable to quite look the team in the eye as he continues. )

I hope that most of you do not know what it feels like, to not be in control of yourself. It is not a feeling I'd wish on anyone, because I've lived it. I was enslaved for longer than I lived freely. When I was young and foolish— ( some of Audentes can remember that man, thanks to the time shenanigans back in Oska. the Huntsman, full of heart, but full of anger too. ) —I made a promise I ultimately refused to keep. And I paid for it, when an evil queen stole my heart and used it to control me.

( he's outing himself, as the man Sieglinde is trying to help. Graham himself is starting to realize that is too much weight for her to carry; he'll have to broaden his search. but not now, not when there's more important tasks at hand. )

She made me steal. She made me hurt. She made me kill. She made me... do whatever would please her. And I could not resist, nor escape, though it didn't stop me from trying. I have been in the place of these people, for longer than most of you have lived. If it is true, that there's nothing of them left after these creatures took them over, then they are lucky to not have to witness their hands doing the work of another. But even if they are not, believe me when I say living as a slave to the hatred of someone else is a fate worse than death.

If we cannot save them, we owe it to them to bring them to rest.

( it's a negative perspective, and he knows it. but if he were in their place, and he has been in their place... he knows what he would want. )
heavyhitter: (i told u about chili dogs bro)
[personal profile] heavyhitter
hey guys guess what: blankets!!! me and TF to the fucking rescue, we rustled up like 40 of these bad boys
super cozy, some nice patterns. one of them has a robot wolf on it
it was also all entirely legal

they're ALMOST free, all you gotta do is tell me a story then come get one (i'm by those spiky ass fat plants that bleed if you knock them over)

also since i have 40 and there's more than 40 of us, i guess also pick someone to get cozy with
pummelling: <user name=castanicatheart site=tumblr.com> (72)
[personal profile] pummelling
[With the chaos of the fire over and the smoke cleared (literally and figuratively, really), Jin's settled into hanging around the Audentes campsite. He's helping teammates set up and maintain their camps, aiding townspeople in rebuilding, eavesdropping on all of your gossip, brainstorming wildly on how to deal with the Yeerks Taraxa, the like.

He's got a way more important thing to share with the 'net today, though.
]

Um.

[Jin's sitting somewhere in the camp in front of someone's tent, looking a little sheepish-- and holding a mess of dark, unruly hair out of his face.

Help.
]

Can I borrow a hair tie? None of the ones the Qorral sell are strong enough. [pause.] I've still got a lot of the ALASTAIR stipend, I'll pay you back with something from the trading post-- I just need something.

[#thickhairproblems]
forcevisions: (who quit too late)
[personal profile] forcevisions
[ Everyone's camping. That's fun, isn't it? Well, before people get ahead of themselves, there's some more news that's waiting. Following Keith and Rey's conversation—and Keith being set right about their shared misconceptions thanks to some clarifications from ALASTAIR—they've finally regrouped enough for … this. If you've ever wondered how good Keith is at sharing information, it's probably along the lines of "not good."

So, this should be good, basically. (At least he has Rey to back him up.)

The two of them are sitting side by side on the outskirts of camp so that they can make their announcement undisturbed. Keith's sporting a warmer jacket and Rey was all but swallowed in the hood of her ALASTAIR uniform, which fit ill now in the light of the doubts that the holodisc shed on them.

After a beat of them … sitting there, Keith awkwardly clears his throat in what sounds like an ineffectual manner: ]


Uh, hey. We have something to tell you all today. [ A beat. Another beat. He glances toward Rey, as if he suddenly feels like she's the one who should talk.

While Rey clearly doesn’t appreciate the hand-off, her shoulders rustling as she composes herself, she can’t deny the responsibility. She directs her gaze towards him for a moment, wrestling with something, before she relents. ]


I made a mistake. [ It seems the simplest place to start when most of them had seen precisely what happened with the Reverend. ] We need to make sure that none of you repeat it. When I killed … [ She can’t muster that admission, not properly, not in this context. So she starts again. ] When the Reverend died, something came out of him. Some kind of parasite.

[ Right, he knows Rey's body language enough to realize where he should probably help. If if were anyone else, that might not be the case, but somehow, they've become friends. It's an odd thing for him, and when she finishes speaking, he preps himself. All right, he can do this. He can do this. ]

The parasite is called the Taraxa. I didn't get a chance to look at a holodisc I found until after the fighting war over, and um, I'm sorry for not coming forward sooner. We wanted to check back with ALASTAIR first. [ He pauses here, but briefly. ]

Anyway, the Taraxa are supposed to be a peaceful group now. They've worked with ALASTAIR via some temporary hosts as spies, but obviously, none of us would call the Deemers peaceful. Rey and I don't know what happened, or if these are some … special branch that decided to go rogue. I don't know. But I think we've got a bigger mess to deal with here than just the mines and mining. [ He offers Rey a brief glance. Keith can't even begin to guess what the Deemers are really doing. He can't. But between the fires and disappearances, he figures they can't just ignore this. ]

They’re also supposed to have hosts that they build instead of steal, but that’s obviously not the case. It’s possible but dangerous to communicate with them because they follow a hivemind they consider their Mother, which is red instead of ... [ Grimly, she raises the dessicated carcass of the beige slug she’d evinced from the Reverend’s corpse. It seemed an odd thing, now, to hold onto it like some kind of trophy, but she hadn’t been ready to let it go, as if holding onto the horror of what she had done. ] Though there’s no clear way to tell when you’re dealing with a Mother while she’s in a host, as far as I can tell.

Until we know more, travel in pairs, and try to avoid lethal force; the Deemers aren’t acting of their own free will.


Or … their hosts aren't, anyway. I guess it's really the same thing, huh? Most importantly, if you have a way of scanning people's brains, let us know. It wasn't clear in the file how to stop them exactly, but heat and salt seem like our best bets. Uh, death and decapitation work, too, but I think we're gonna try to avoid that from now on.

[ Sulky silence quieted Rey, on that note, and she ended the transmission abruptly. ]

[ ooc; if it isn't clear, Rey and Keith. ]
daimeinashi: (pic#9047018)
[personal profile] daimeinashi
i can provide assistance with starting campfires, should anyone be in need