I need some advice on the best refractory material that can withstand extremely high temperatures and a near immediate cooldown. It has to cool white. And I need someone who can work scrimshaw on it without risking cracking or compromising the integrity. Thanks.

[Short and sweet as always.]

[Meanwhile, Smoker locks a message to Namur, Rip, Grell, and even Marco, though he basically hopes the Phoenix ignores it.]

I need to meet with you during Portgas' work hours. It's not an emergency, nothing's wrong, but it is important. Send me times, or stop by the shop, but not alone.

[he's just biking along, in Genessia at the moment, though he plans to hit everywhere eventually. Hooked to his bike is an ice cream cooler and a cheery little tune follows him]

It looks like school is out for the Summer. Time for rest and relaxation. [a sigh] The problem with too much free time is not having enough things to fill it. It makes me miss paperwork.

[he stops as he's swamped by a bunch of kids and doles out ice cream accordingly]

Does anyone have plans? Challenges? Something interesting to do? [he's a bit restless these days and he doesn't know why] Should I buy a houseboat? [he misses the sea. Though it's not like he can afford one] Mah... maybe the bike is fine.

Who: Smoker + friends. HE HAS FRIENDS. BE SHOCKED. (see tags)
What: Drinking and meeting each other
When: April 20th
Where: Holy Diver
Notes Language (Smoker), flirting, a lot of drinking, dumb decisions, Gale poledancing. It's a good night.

( It was a church that had been converted into a nightclub... )

(Video)

[The feed kicks on to the image of a young woman in a uniform. Though when the audio begins, there is a booming feedback that makes her flinch and create a greater distance between herself and this device.]

Apologies for that... My name is Natalia, and in the interest of saving time... Where's a good place to get a drink so I can process all that's happened to me thus far?

-----------

(Action)


[While she wanders around Genessia city, the wayward captain follows a map and taking in her surroundings, trying to figure out exactly where she is. She makes the mistake of passing by an electronic store, where the feedback from her surgical implant and the radios in the store create a booming noise that force her to create a distance again and get away from that shop.]

Of all the times for my tricorder to stop working... I need to get to Nova City and make necessary adjustments.

[It's a big enough nuisance that Natalia flags down a random passerby.]

Excuse me! Sorry to bother you, but can you point me in the direction of Nova City, please? I need to go there for medical reasons.

((OOC note: Natalia is Starfleet, but let's call her uniform a disguise due to the software used to design her lacks any Star Trek themes))

Is there a law against killing parrots?

[Parrots, not pirates... for once. And if there is such a law... THE LAW IS WRONG!!!!]

[In the background, a newly hatched parrot happily (and LOUDLY) chirps despite the cage and blanket thrown over it:]

Smoker's in love with pirates! And he always lets them go! Or makes out with them!

[Smoker twitches. Violently. And his two roommates, too tall to properly stand in the apartment appear VERY VERY busy with pretending they don't notice a god damn thing. It's been one hell of a 24 hours.]

Tell me there's a better way of shutting them up...

He's in luuuuuuurve! But he's gonna cuck himself! AGAIN!

[Kuzan just... SIGHS.]

[While Smoker appears to be all but dying.] I don't even know where it learned these words.... It just hatched!

He doesn't care about rank or promotions or money, but that doesn't cure his addictions to--

SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

[Slams the comm off. FOR NOW.]

The egg thing? Again? Come on, Genessia, come up with something new.

[Gale appeared on the feed, dressed up in his Hangar Queen uniform. Standing behind the bar of said club, he was waving purple colored smoke out of his face with a bemused look on his face. The hat of his uniform was slightly displaced, as it was dangling off one of Gale's newly acquired bunny ears.]

Be careful with the eggs. This shit was pulled last year and had some nasty effects that came with 'em. My last roommate went blind and got caught in an accident after she came in contact with one. I'm just gonna hope that's its deviance just stays on the 'cute' side of things this time. Kindly report any serious side effects to the Guardians if they come up, but if earections stay up for more than four hours, that's not my problem.

[He glances over his shoulder, watching a white direwolf chase out a particularly troublesome patron before he looks back at the feed like that was a normal occurrence. Maybe he should take her to Holy Diver instead...]

Oh. Any performers out there familiar with "Japanese" style of entertainment? Askin' for a friend.

[He actually was too. He doesn't know Japan or its traditions if he tripped over them. Troy and Ayame were the ones that taught him what little he does know.

The feed seems to end there for a little while, but later it turns back on. Now Gale was laying on the club's employee lounge couch, the direwolf curled up on the floor beside him.]

What're you supposed to do with shit that belonged to people that aren't here anymore? I've got half a mind to pack the animals and leave that place behind.

[He has rooms now that he doesn't want to touch. What's the point of paying for a damn penthouse if you refuse to touch certain rooms?]

[It's been about one month since his last glorified monologue. Time for another! Everyone cares about this.]

GREETINGS, GENESSIANS! I'M THE GREAT PAPYRUS, AND I'VE SOME VERY GOOD AND DISTURBING NEWS TO ANNOUNCE!

FIRST! SOON I WILL BE OUT OF THE TERRIBLE APARTMENTS YOU START IN! BECAUSE I'LL BE EVICTED! IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED TO A COOLER SKELETON. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SHARE A ROOM WITH A MASTER CHEF? I WOULD DO ALL THE COOKING! AND PAY HALF THE RENT, IF YOU REALLY WANTED. IT WILL BE LIKE A SLEEPOVER EVERY DAY! ALL I ASK IS THAT THERE'S ROOM ENOUGH TO HANG OUT WITH OTHER PEOPLE TOO. YOU CAN'T KEEP ME ALL TO YOURSELF, EVEN THOUGH I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO!! OH, AND BEDTIME STORIES EVERY NIGHT ARE ALSO PREFERRED.

AND DON'T FORGET, SPLITTING RENT SAVES COSTS! THAT WILL LET YOU AFFORD INCREDIBLY GREAT THINGS, LIKE CARS. AWESOME AUTOMOBILES. CHARIOTS OF COOLNESS. WHEELS FOR REALS.

BECAUSE CARS, I'VE FOUND, ARE ACTUALLY VERY EXPENSIVE.

[Just please don't be as lazy as his last roommate. Even if Sans did pay all the rent.]

SECOND, I AM, IN FACT, A CHEF! SO NICE IT'S WORTH SAYING TWICE!! THAT MEANS YOU CAN FIND ME IN EVERGLADE NEAR OR AT ONE OF THE SUBARCHWAYS FOR THE BEST PASTA IN THE WORLD, WITH A BOOTH GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY TORCHWOOD!! IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A JOB, LOOK NO FURTHER. AS YOU CAN TELL BY MYSELF, THEY EMPLOY ONLY THE BEST!! AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY PASTA, WE MIGHT FIGHT!

BECAUSE THAT HAPPENED. A GHOST, WHO I REMIND YOU IS NOT CORPOREAL, SAID THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT! I SAID THAT'S COMPLETELY, UTTERLY, BUTTERLY IMPOSSIBLE!! BECAUSE I MADE IT!! ANYWAY, I GOT THE CALCIUM KICKED OUT OF ME.

[Not a flattering admission from a royal guard hopeful. He recovers quickly.]

BECAUSE THEY CHEATED!!! I LOOKED HIGH AND LOW, BUT TRY AS I MIGHT, I COULDN'T FIND THEIR SOUL. I ASKED THEM WHERE IT WAS, WHICH JUST MADE HIM ANGRIER. WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY THIRD POINT.

NOT HAVING YOUR SOUL IS REALLY FREAKING WEIRD!! IF IT'S NOT IN YOUR BODY I'M PRETTY SURE YOU'LL...DIE???
DID THEY MISPLACE IT? IS THERE A LOST-AND-FOUND FOR SOULS??

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! HE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE!! TURNS OUT NOT HAVING A SOUL IS A VERY COMMON AILMENT. I CHECKED LOTS OF CUSTOMERS AND...NOTHING!! WHERE DID THEY ALL GO?! ARE THE GUARDIANS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS??

ANYWAY, PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR LOST SOULS. I CAN'T SHOW YOU HOW STRONG I AM WITHOUT ONE!! NYEH HEH HEH!

How fascinating.

[Genessia's newest angel is levitating their device in front of them - as they levitate over the Genessia Commonspace building. Their robes are in simple earth tones, and their armour in white and muted gold. There is no face beneath their hood, though it moves as if there were as they watch the device. They hold a large scroll under one arm.]

[But what stands out most of all are their wings: a pair of pauldrons float above their shoulders, from which tendrils of blue-white light shift and sway.]

[After a moment of observation, they continue to speak. Their voice is slow and steady. If a little monotone.]

Greetings. I am Itherael, Aspect of Fate, and Archangel of the High Heavens. It is my understanding that this device allows me to access a communication network for others who have been brought here. Whatever force did this to us must indeed be powerful to have breached Heaven. Has their purpose in these abductions been determined yet?

Also...[Itherael holds up the wad of cash given to new arrivals.] I do not require money, food, or lodgings. If employment is required to attain these things, then I do not require employment.

((OOC: Long story short, Itherael will respond to they/them or he/him pronouns.))

[Winry turned on the feed and was currently surrounded by books on robotics as well as some medical journals. She figured that if her off time if she didn't have anything job related to do she would learn other things. The downside was she found she didn't really have much of a social life. She figured she should really change that since her only close friend was currently Eliot.]

I have a question. Does anyone here find it hard to want to form and gain connections here because of the possibility of them going home?

[he appears, lounging in a chair much to small for him. Those who know may realize it's Smoker's place.]

Well... [he rests his chin against one hand] Hmm. [he rests his head against the other]

I'm... [he shakes his head] No. Never mind. It seems some time has passed so it doesn't matter.

Genessia... So...

Once again...

Well...

Any young women seeking company? [just asking]

[Sabo has been here before. He remembers the strange, somewhat rude awakening, and as soon as he rubs the sleep from his eyes, he moves to stand and stretch, sighing. Why is he here again? There has to be a good reason for this; at least, he truly hopes so, considering the moment he was swept from his own world. The Reverie was about to begin, after all, and he had a purpose there.

Hopefully the rest of the Revolutionary Army will be okay without him.

He fumbles with the device he'd found upon waking, trying to recall exactly how it worked from before. It's not like a Snail, it's a bit more complicated than that, so he finds himself hitting certain buttons without realizing before actually starting a recording. Then, and only then, does he smile and wave into the camera:]

Hello! I'm pretty sure I've been here before, but I know that a lot of you probably won't remember me. So, I'll introduce myself briefly once again. My name is Sabo. I'm going to need work and a place to live... sooner rather than later, obviously.

I have skills in various different fields, but I'd most likely fit well in an office or management setting. Let me know if you have an opening, please.

[It's a lovely picture perfect day in Fayren. It's bright, sunny and warm. There's not a single cloud within those crystal blue eyes and this quaint little town is bustling with life. However, something ominous lurks here within this scenic town, something small and colorful. The pint size menace is none other than a beautiful rainbow colored moth that has made its way to Fayren.

The little moth zips its way in between the market stalls, eventually landing on a piece of lumber that caught its eye. While the moth itself doesn't look out of the ordinary, some might able to see the faint red aura that surrounds the little menace. There's a reason why the local fowls won't mess with this colorful visitor and it might have something to do with a particular vampire.]

So who's going to be my first victim? [Augustine cackles as he peeks around. Yes, this bastard transmuted into a "moth" for today's shenanigans. Consider it a late "April Fool's" joke on his part.] I don't see anyone I recognize...Oh!

[The moth flutters its colorful wings once someone comes near. It hops off the lumber and lands right on the person's hair. They might be able to feel something akin to a feather light tap against the back of their temple but nothing else. The moth settles there for a moment, idly playing with the uneven strands before suddenly speaking directly to their mind---]

BOO!

(There is no reason for what she has to say to be private, however it is a bit personal, so she chooses to phrase it in another language.)

Avy jorrāelan, Rhaegar.

(Valyrian is their native tongue, after all, so perhaps the sentiment holds more meaning this way. Daenerys beams, bright and sweet, after announcing her feelings before she addresses everyone else.)

How many soldiers would you say we have between the cities? How many are from other worlds and how many are native? Should the cities be attacked, are there plans to raise the defenses?

I haven't seen many walls or weapons for that matter.

(She should probably explain her line of thinking.)

I come from a world that is unsettled and violent. If this world is able to bring my brother and myself here, I worry others might arrive too. Others that have no desire for peace.

[It's really really dark out at night, but Smoker can be seen at an undisclosed location outdoors (possibly near you!) stacking rocks. Yes, stacking rocks. And occasionally throwing a few balls to the side and dog or wolf snouts peeking into view to bring back the balls before Smoker throws them again.]

What's more important in the alcohol you get? Strength, taste, or familiarity?

[Nope, that's it. He's not a talkative man. What'd you expect?]

[Ace is sitting and staring, brows furrowed a little. This whole situation has really gotten him frustrated. He went from either dying, or being damn close to it, to this. And while he's absolutely fine with not having his life ended, there's no amount of questions that are unanswered and he's worried for the people left behind. He really did screw up, there was so much he could have done differently, so much trouble he could have saved for those who had to suffer because of his choices and convictions. He's not even sure that his attempt to save his brother worked, and he's not certain he can handle not knowing if those left behind will be okay or not.

It's easier to live without regrets when death is actually the end and you don't have to experience any further consequences.

And now, he's got this second chance but it's overwhelming somehow. He's not going to take for granted a round two at life, but where to go from here when everything is so new and different is exhausting to think about. And somehow exciting too. He's got an idea of what he needs to do, but he's still a little in shock about the whole situation.

After about a minute, he realizes that he's been filming himself, and actually decides to speak.]

Okay, so I'm-[Ace stops mid-sentence, and his head rolls back at an awkward angle. And he starts to snore, while the camera just keeps recording. This goes on for quite a while, unfortunately. And then as suddenly as he passed out, he jerks upright again and blinks. It's a confusing day as is, and narcolepsy doesn't help with that.] Damn. Happened again. Anyway, I'm Ace. If you've got any good information that might help a guy out, I might make it worth your while. [He probably won't.]

[anonymous text] Hollow Comfort

a question
by now many of you have realized your situation
and where we are and what this place is
so to those that have embraced this world:
what do you find worthy of your time?
how do you find meaning in this nothingness?
how can you say that helping someone is worth anything?
when they might not be here next week
right now i don't see the point in anything
and would like a different perspective

[video] When the Piper Seeks his Fee...

[Vaggie looks up on the camera as she sits on a bench in Everglade looking morose as usual. Beside her are a set of boxes and bags, and she seems to be peering soberly at the camera.]

Well, it finally happened. Those little red bills they gave me are finally down to the last few. And as charming as it is to sleep out in a back alley or under a newspaper in the park, I don't really find that all that appealing.

So, uh...

...yeah, I'm asking for a job. Not asking for much, but it does have to pay. I've done some bookkeeping stuff in the past, and maybe a few odd jobs here and there. Its not exactly like I have references. But if you have something or have heard of someone that is hiring, help a girl out? Thanks.

Oh, and if that job is Torchwood -- I'm not interested.

[TBFH: Smoker is kind of having a blast. Driving around in his motorcycle looking for snow monsters and "advertising" his business with the sidecar full of dogs (well 3, but gdi) and then just getting to beat them up like pirates? YEAH THAT IS AS CLOSE TO SMOKER'S IDEA OF FUN AS IT GETS! And now that they're officially in the 12 days of Christmas, he's even wearing a Santa hat. Yes.]

Yo, if anyone needs a safe lift, or a rescue, just gimme a call. Doesn't matter which city you're in. Honestly this whole thing is kind of fun for me. Honestly.

[It's weird for him to have fun, okay?]

[But then the monsters catch on... and turn him into a snowman. Please help :\ This is why one should NOT CARRY SEASTONE WHEN THAT IS YOUR WEAKNESS. He'd say "lesson learned" and all that shit, but tbfh? He learned nothing and will keep doing this forever, because fuck you snow monsters, he'll just kick you.]

[Also. His dogs suck. They're just sort of uselessly barking and calling attention to the embarrassment. COULD YOU NOT PUPPERS? PLEASE??? Fuck.]