The following rumors are going around as NPC gossip. Your characters are welcome to hear them. The rumors may be true or false, and the subject of the rumor is randomly selected from the taken list. If a character shares the same first name with another character, we will not specify which one it is.

This week's rumors are:

1. Lydia and Gale are in a torrid love affair and plan to unite the cities of Nova City and Everglade if they both win through political marriage.

2. Have you heard about Remilia? She lost all of her powers in a bet with a zombie dragon.

3. I can't believe that Phibrizzo believes ghosts should be exorcised and he's running for Everglade's candidate?!???

4. Qubine is accepting bribes from local nobles to put protecting on their areas more than the peasants.

5. Holy heckin gosh, what do you mean Azura thinks those with magic are superior to those without and should be treated as such?

6. Satou is running for Guardian in Genessia City, but the fact is, she's secretly being mind-controlled by a slime monster in the Genessian Sewers to do its bidding!

7. Katsuki killed the real Santa Claus. That's why we have this weird version...

8. While Gale has his love affair with Lydia, his running mate Ayame is in a sticky situation of her own... do we really want someone with huge debts over home shopping network purchases running for Guardian?

9. Bulla's name sounds so much like bully because she hangs out around the Nova Academy's elementary school area and bullies kids into handing over their lunch money.

10. Smoker is running an underground railroad for pirates, all while disguising himself as hating them! What a way to try to cover up his true allegiance!

NOTE: THIS IS NOT A VISIBLE POST TO CHARACTERS. IT IS JUST WHAT THEY MAY HEAR GOING AROUND AS CHATTER AROUND THE CITIES.

[Action]
[Ken has been in...stranger situations, it’s true. Recently, even. But waking up in a fancy coffin--he knows that’s probably not actually what it is, but it sure as hell seemed like it--with a pretty necklace, money, and what looks like a really fancy phone was really high on the weird-shit-o-meter.

He can’t say he likes it. He kinda prefers to know what’s going on, being confused makes him angry.

First, he finds a place to sit--back to the wall, so no one can sneak up on him from behind, but in full view of the other weird pods--and slowly reads the pamphlet. And rereads it. And fiddles with the phone, watching information stream by. He thinks about responding to a few of them, but decides against it for now, instead tucking it and the money into one of the pockets of his vest.

So, straight from the Wedding From Hell, into...whatever this is. Fine. At least no one’s shooting at him. That’s an improvement.

As he leaves, he actually watches the hologram--all the way through, beginning to end--before grabbing a map and heading to the address indicated on the key. If he bumps into anyone on the way, he's polite, but will try to extract himself from the conversation as soon as possible.]

[Video]
Okay, so. Kinda used to using phones to talk to one person, but we’ll open the floor to discussion, whatever. I read the pamphlet, watched the grumpy hologram lady talk--twice even, I went back out--and this is just...supposed to be a thing?

Yes I know there’s a website, but that doesn’t make any sense either.

[He shakes his head, shaggy hair flopping around in his eyes.]

So, uh, if I’m expected to do introductions, hi, I’m Ken. Nice to be abduction-buddies with you.

[Unless you’re Schuldig, then you can die in a fire for all he cares.]

Also, since I'm not exactly eager to stay in a tiny box...any leads on a job would be great. I've been a florist for a while, if that's an option. Yeah, I know I don't look it, no comments like that.

[We're just. Not going to mention all the murder for hire.]

 [Welp, there sure are a lot of interesting rumors filtering through public conversation. It would be easy to let them run their course and watch everything spiral into chaos, but alas. He likes a whole one (1) of the affected candidates.]

Hm~! We've sure got a lot of exciting candidates for Guardian, or whatever it is, this season! Accepting bribes sounds pretty normal, and who isn't in debt with the shopping channel, so you two have my vote! And I for one think that a ruler in Everglade without powers would be pretty neat. 

What about everyone else? You heard any interesting rumors lately? I'd love to know. Voting is super important and all~. Oh, and if any killjoy candidates want to deny the rumors... I guess that's fine too. Just make it fun.

Except the Santa Claus killer. That's just bad. No vote for you.

[Qubine could only sigh as he hears the whispers of certain people who like to talk shit. He's been hesitant to announce his own campaign to the world, but after running twice before, he's learned that mingling with the people is one of the keys. So he begins his feed.]

Greetings, everyone. I am Qubine, a dragon from Sornieth, and a candidate for Guardianship of Fayren. I was hatched in the Southern Icefield, but I've lived most of my life in the Viridian Labyrinth. I lived with the Filia Clan, founded by Grim and Usha, until the clan became crippled by a devastating plague. I then raised a new clan of my own, in order to save the Filia Clan from said plague. The clan I raised became known as the Kalma Clan.

If anyone has any questions about me, you can ask now, or wait until the City Guardian debates, which should take place later this month. In the meantime, I would like to clarify one thing:

There is nothing that anyone can "bribe" me with that I would want or need. In fact, I find the people's dependence on money to be rather astounding at times. All of Fayren will be protected under my wing. If I don't get to protect it as the City Guardian, then I will simply protect it as me. If there's a threat that endangers Fayren, especially on a larger scale, then I'll be there to fight.

...Thank you.

[He makes a bow with his head before ending the feed.]

[At long last, the temperature has dropped far enough that Anastasia can freely and safely roam outside without the ruby circlet or any kind of cover in the forms of hoods or parasols.

Could it really be such a surprise that Anastasia can be found lightly dressed for this weather? She can be found in various parks, playing in the snow with her Pokemon, mainly Sylveon and Glaceon. In such parks where there is plenty of snow, whether natural or produced with her magic or Glaceon's power, she is building a Snowglaceon.

The Fresh Snow Pokemon itself barks in protest at the absurd depiction of its likeness.

When she sees someone passing by, she waves to them.]

Excuse me? I'm sorry to bother you, but can you help me with a tiny project? I promise it won't take long.