[Hey, there's a face...that hasn't been seen for a while. Why haven't you been seen for a while, Asako?]

So... 'hem. To those who I haven't met before, hi, I'm Asako Minegishi, and I'm here to deliver a warning. If you go too deep into the ball pit, you're probably gonna drown.

And yes, I did find this out the hard way. Unfortunately. So...yeah, even if it's a lot of fun, be careful there, okay?

That's all~

[Click.]

I know nobody feels like a party, but it's important to keep spirits up.

The Tower is a sack of shit like always, but the bombings are out of the norm even for this place. It's about time the people of the Tower got together to discuss these developments or just hang out, like we used to.

Cafeteria at Noon, Thursday. Bring your friends. If we could get music down there, that'd be great.


[OOC: Copies of this message can be found in the mailbox if your character doesn't network instead, except for Sephiroth and Ganondorf.]

Demon seeks good summoner.

[Zett's calm when he makes this post, with a hint of a smile on his face.]

Experience with dealing with demons specifically a plus, but any type of spirit summoner will be considered. Mostly looking for someone who can match me in a fight and who I can feel good about entrusting my strength to. Also someone who won't lock me in a COMP all day. I've got family to see, you know?

To discuss in person, contact Zett Takajo, Baal Zebul, in the library.

[It's been decided that Zett's ultimately going to join up with Asako, but he'd like to talk to other summoners as well!]

[Losing Mami, who he viewed as an adopted daughter, last month had been hard, but Diarmuid had worked his way through his grief by focusing on the happy times they had spent together.  However, when three more people he is close to are sent home--two of which he cares for like his own children--those happy memories become a source of pain instead of a route passed the grief.

When he appears on the Network, Diarmuid looks more lost and empty than he has in a long time.]

Usually, when I address everyone, I am asking for help on a project that will benefit the whole Tower.  Today, I am asking for help on a more personal level.

How does one handle losing a child?  Not just one, but several over a short period of time?  Nothing I try seems to work, and I am...

[His voice trails off here, shaking and uncertain.  A short time later, the feed ends.]

( In our arms for a little while, in our hearts forever. )

*Enoch is holding a sheet of paper - thin plastic, really - in front of him.*

This is what started this, I'm sure you've all seen them now and know what I mean.

*He lets out a breath and lowers the paper.* And if the red-collared brute somewhere behind me doesn't see fit to attack me for this just yet, I'd like to say something. An apology. To our current administrator, for the trouble this could cause on his undeserving watch, but most importantly, to all of you. To everyone who was here at the beginning of last month.

*There's a pause while he takes a breath, steeling himself and preparing for possible attack. When he speaks, he doesn't look up at the screen, playing with the sheet of plastic in his hands.*

...I've had over seventy names in my lifetime, and I've somehow found myself with yet another alias in this tower, and I'm certain all of you have seen it. I am one who would call himself Pandora.

It was never my intent to bring harm to anyone, but if not for that incident, we would not have been able to find this, it was hidden in the glamours. I am so, so sorry for everything...true enough to my newest name, the demons must be released before we can find hope...

*He looks up at the camera again.* So let us find it together. Let us all stand strong. There is no need to be an enemy...no need to be an opponent to anyone. Ruana is a danger to us all, here and at home. Above and below.

*He glances back for sign of his retrieval unit...and warily turns back to the camera, allowing his feet to rest after the efforts to put up all those pieces of paper.*

[The feed shows a blonde girl, who has an injured right arm, staring at the screen with a bored look on her face.]

Hello there, it's been a while since I used this room. I guess I will introduce myself again.

[She gives a pause.]

I'm Lucy. Lucy Heartfilia. I'm currently unemployed here, and I don't know if there are any jobs that I can do here. It's ridiculous that we need to work in this kind of place. [Whining, whining.] Anyways, if anybody can contact me about the positions available, please make sure to find me?

*It's a recorded video. Enoch stands before the terminal. He eyes the screen before taking a breath and beginning to speak.*

Shall I tell you a tale, Animus?

In another world, there was a dark and foreboding tower with no name, ruled by seven Fallen Angels. Heaven sent a man to capture these rulers, but in the three hundred years this man searched for them, the Tower built its own story. Inside the Tower, people thrived, and enjoyed a life of luxury and abundance in beautiful, otherworldly lands. Each level was as its own world, and had beauty all its own. Even the land of cold steel and eternal lights was breathtaking in an eerie way. But all was not as wonderful as it seemed. The people lived luxurious lives surrounded by beauty and wonders, yes, but when they died, their souls did not ascend to Heaven. They were taken from their rightful course and sent to The Darkness, to sate the gluttony of the demon prince Belial. No one seemed to know this but Belial himself and a resident of the Tower named Ishtar. Ishtar heard the voice of God, and knew that the Fallen Angels were not to be trusted - she gathered followers. It meant severing their connection to the safe and the familiar, to spurn the luxury of trust and plenty and ease of life. It meant turning their rulers against them. But...

*Enoch pulls something from his pocket - something small. Those who look hard enough might be able to catch a faint green glow before he closes his fingers around it, and a strong female voice speaks.*

They became the Freemen. The Fallen Angels became angry and rebuked us. I knew then that God's Word was true.

*Enoch's fist lowers, and he continues.*

But the Freemen knew the truth. Ishtar died in battle against the children of the Fallen Angels, who were in such misery they ate one another to end their brothers' pain. But she left behind prophecies. Messages that outlived her, to aid the Freemen that had sworn to follow her. The prophecies promised Ishtar would return to save them, but until then, they had to work hard to survive when those who were as gods in the realm were against them. And then, when the time came, they surely would not stand by while the resurrected Ishtar fought alone.

That is the story of the Freemen, a story that I did not know of until my own intersected it. Do not forget, Animus, that there are always stories other than your own. Thank you for hearing me.

*The recording ends, showing Enoch sitting at the terminal, feed live to hear responses.*

I apologize for this in advance, but I feel like I'm having a hard time fitting in here.

I don't think I do enough to help everyone here. I can't save anyone. Half of my abilities don't work for me anymore.

I am a liability. Several people waste their time keeping me safe even though I have nothing to contribute.

I don't know what to do anymore. Even asking for advice like this is selfish of me, I know, but I can't think of anything else to do. I don't want to sit around and do nothing but it feels like that's all I've been doing, and whenever I turn to action, it just causes grief.

So, I need you to answer a question for me:

the pyramid on floor 92
or
the castle ruins on floor 73

which is the best for hide-and-seek?

And does anyone want to play said hide-and-seek with me?

Subtlety's not my strong suit.

What do you think of God? The gods, if you have more than one.

[Answers will come from this account, belzebul, or demonfly.]

What is strength to you, or what it is to be strong?

Alternatively, who is it that has right to rulership, or to command? Do you agree with the sentiment that those who are strong are superior and thus have greater rights than those who are weak?

And if that is the case: may the weak become strong?

[A boy in green peers at the camera closely, before drawing back a little.]

I'm going to guess that the world being destroyed isn't the angels' doing. For one thing, this isn't their style of decor, and for another thing, they wouldn't have spared me.

Has anyone seen two people about my age? Their names are Setsuna Kai and Mirai Kaname. They're very important to me, so please let me know if you've seen them. Oh, if you don't know their names, they're demon summoners, so that's another clue.

Honestly, I'd be happy to see any other demon right now, from a Jack Frost all the way up to Lucifer. ...Or maybe I'd be happy just to talk to anybody.

[He sighs, shakes his head, and turns off the camera.]