[Early in the morning--perhaps one or two--there's a series of violent explosions that seem to originate in the residential elevator shaft. The elevator itself plummets--anyone unlucky enough to be inside is killed either by the explosion or the fall, although they won't be able to recall which due to apparent unconsciousness.

Jason sends this message not long after the explosions quiet down.]

WHAT have you lot done this time? Are you trying to crack the Tower in half? HOW did you even get explosives? Do you know what you've just DONE? This is going to be a mess. It's your own fault, but given I'm on babysitting duties, I'm going to do my best to fix this as quickly as possible. It'll still take a week or so, though.

Until then--well, maybe you should figure out which of your revolutionaries had THIS bright idea and give them a talking to, because pretty soon you're all going to find out what that explosion broke.

(There will be no NPC response to this post.)

[Aleph looks remarkably pleased.]

So, does anyone know if their homes have non-religious marriages and wedding ceremonies? My girlfriend April - fiancee April now - proposed to me, and... well, we're both from post-apocalyptic worlds, hers doesn't have much in the way of traditions and mine had people who would gut you for trying to pervert a holy ceremony. I've never actually attended a wedding, either, so any help here would be nice.

Also nutrition bars are a terrible substitute for cake. At least I'm sure there's no connection between nutrition bars and Him.

I hope you all have a great day, Animus.

I need some assistance with acquiring a set of fighting fans - they'll only be used for defense and monster-fighting when the administration feels the need to take away our powers. I'd like a set of metal ones with either sharpened edges or hidden blades.

I've been told by Diarmuid Ua Duibhne that I should speak to a Thorin Oakenshield about this? I'm not sure where I'd get the metal, but I trust both of you on this one.

There's...something else.

[And she takes a deep breath.]

People with violet collars are quite possibly in for some trouble, because unless something happened after I -

[The long pause is probably telling. Yes, she died.]

- I failed to stop him from taking it, there's a tank of your collar fluid in Sephiroth's hands. It's probably fairly obvious what I mean by 'failed'. Considering he's not above either mind control or killing other people, I don't really think I have to say a lot more.

( filtered to the Investigation Team, Commander Shepard, and Diarmuid Ua Duibhne )

( private to Ryoji Mochizuki )

I'm no good at speeches. Louis is far better at them than I am - but with him gone I feel that it's my duty to pick up his slack.

[It still stings a little to speak of his disappearance, but Aleph has had worse pains.]

Not because I need to intimidate the administrators. Not because I need to curse them. They know already what their crimes are. But everyone trapped in this tower needs to hear this right now.

Every tyrant falls. Every regime is overthrown, every cruel fist is shaken off. No matter how powerful, how old, or how deeply entrenched.

You know how many of us there are, and our numbers continue to grow. And with every new captive comes a new hope for freedom. Among us are those stronger than you can imagine, those wiser than you can dream of, those skilled beyond belief - those who may not have the power to escape on their own, but will risk everything together to bring down those who would seek to torture us.

With so many of us who are so strong, freedom is an inevitability.

Greetings.

[ As is usual for Data, his message is simultaneously sent in both video and text formats. ]

There has been a weeding recently and in one week is an event known as "Saint Valentine's Day", a holiday associated with romantic love. It is an occasion in which lovers express their love for each other in a special manner, most often depending on their culture and past.

But what is love? How would you define that feeling? I have been told about love before, but it is a most... complicated emotion and no explanation I have heard truly conveyed an understanding of the feeling.

This is not a good way to go about waking up after a crazy night.

[Dante was perched in his new bed rubbing his head and trying to make sense of the letter that had been left beside him. He gave himself a glance and just groaned: tight white body suits just weren't very fitting. I mean, look at his junk! It doesn't leave much for the imagination... not that he cared.]

All right, guys. Very funny. Is this supposed to be a joke because I totally fell for it. My head hurts, I feel a little woozy, and this jumpsuit is cutting all circulation to where I really need it. Who the hell even picked this out? Why did you choose white? It's going to give someone a rash, you can't walk with this thing on...

[He mumbled a few more things before lunging a few times in the suit. Yep. All that squeaky sure was funny.]

So let me guess, was I drunk and that's why you bastards decided to drag me here? I better be wearing something underneath this suit. You don't touch another man's junk unless you're going to go all the way with him...

I tried writing down what the sun felt like in case I forgot again. Tried, at least.

Could you tell me a little about your worlds, if you don't mind sharing?

This message is directed to anyone that considers themselves a citizen of England or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

I would appreciate status reports from you lot, if you don't terribly mind.

[ ooc | england is affected by the event. here for full details. ]

[Something was off about the tower today.

For starters, there seemed to be far more people prowling about than Haldir last remembered. Over the years, there's been a steady decline of new arrivals here to Animus. Much of the friends he once knew were either dead or dying. Not many races could out live the Firstborns of Ilúvatar. The Elves, for better or for worse, have been cursed with longevity. Most of Haldir's kind are truly immortal in a sense. Many Elves never aged at all, including the march warden.

So this would explain why he seems so baffled as of why there's so many lurking about here. Has the Administrators found other worlds to ravage? Perhaps. He always doubted that they were doing more good than harm.]

How uncommon. There hasn't been this many newcomers since the old days.

[A slight frown settles upon his lips. Just why is there so many people here? It's so...sudden.]

I bid thee welcome! We seldom see so many newcomers; for it has been thousands of years, but we welcome all. If you're in need of aid, do not hesitate to ask. There's many amongst us who would be glad to assist you.

[Forcing himself to rid himself of his frown, Haldir actually smiles somewhat, though it's an awkward one.]

I can assure you that no harm shall come to you here. Just be certain to stay away from the floors above. That is where the danger lies.

[ Someone who hasn't been around in a few months is back! On the consoles is a very confused princess whose looking more distressed by something other than being here. Amalia has no idea she's been gone as long as she has been. ]

Can someone please tell me what's going on? I went to 2-19 and I was told that it's not my room. I don't understand, did we get new assignments this week?

So, I have a quick announcement to do.

For people who know Aleph, it's his birthday tomorrow. His first one to be exact, so a 'happy birthday' to him tomorrow or anything like that would be awesome.

That's all.

This is my first new year's day, now that I think about it. People make resolutions around this time of year, right? What are yours?

[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.]

[April looks both very cheerful and a bit... woobly when the feed clicks on. And her voice sounds a bit slurred when she speaks, almost as if she was a bit drunk]

Captain Jack, I finished that rum you wanted me to make! I couldn't leave it for years like the recipe said though, but a few days worked! It's in the cafeteria for whenever you want some!

… Oh, and since I made a lot of it, anyone else can help themselves to some of it, if they want! It's been a while since I made alcohol, but it still tastes pretty good.

[Welp, that explains why she's a bit drunk.

But just like she said, there are two large bowls of rum in the cafeteria. April is already drinking through the stuff and the Bullfairy she adopted can be seen wobbling around by her feet and making low, hiccuping sounds, having apparently drank some of the rum too.]

[ Hello Animus, have the King of Evil appear on your terminal's screen today. As usual, he's not looking very happy, but at least his tone is calm and not threatening. ]

I see everything is going back to normal around these parts... In spite of what the one in charge of this place did to the tower, to her four lapdogs and to us. A shame really.

[ He shakes his head. Yes yes, he's outright accusing Ruana to be directly responsible for the whale attack. But on to the important part. ]

Anyway, are there any in this tower particularly skilled with the use of computers or machines? If yes I would very much like to speak with you. It is for a matter of utter importance.

[April looks a lot more happier than she did the last time she made a post on the network, though instead she just seems very hesitant about something. And people may notice that she has a Bullfairy being held in her arms for some reason...]

Ah, um... I-I'm just wondering if anyone would be willing to give me combat lessons, m-mainly with sword fighting or just hand-to-hand combat. I promise I will pay you back in some way and... I, um, a-appreciate any help...

[She glances away for a moment, awkwardly clearing her throat, before she remembers something.]

O-oh, and Amalia, I'm still up for giving you those tech lessons if you still want them. And if anyone else would want tech lessons, I would be glad to help. Or, um, if you want any tech made, I can help with that too... Well, when the workshop is repaired.

[There's a slightly pause after that, almost as if she was gonna say something else, but she seems to change her mind.]

A question.

Let us humor our captors and say that they are telling us the truth that our worlds are destroyed. Let us then assume we have only two places we can be: we might stay here, in this Tower for however long that may last or we might attempt to break out.

The Tower, while a cage, offers a sense of security. There are constant meals and general protection from what lies outside it's walls. We are, however, at the beck and call of the people who run the Tower and their whims. Yet with them you could say it's the devil you know, and know that their torment and cruelty would be as consistent as the stability they offer.

So assume a means of leaving this is found and we might venture out, and that what is outside is in fact inhabitable. But what we venture out into is a vast unknown and the only information we do have is that creatures like the ones who invaded here - and many more of them - roam the outside world. It would be a harsh, dangerous world. But also one with possibilities that could not be explored here. With freedom not to be found between these walls.

So given the choice if the chance of going home is out of the question, what do you choose: stability or freedom?