[Feel lucky that he's making a public and not anonymous post of any sort. He just wants the person responsible for the shadows and things coming with them to know he's on to their little game.]

It appears as though we have some rather skilled pranksters in this Tower. I commend your efforts, but don't you find it a bit foolish? Perhaps the culprit or culprits need to use more discrimination in selecting their victims.

Or are such things merely common practice here?

[It's roughly mid-afternoon when Rick is revived--the first floor dorms will be alerted to his presence as he bursts out of 1-16 and runs to the bathrooms, then dry-heaves for an alarming amount of time.]

[He's not taken his death well. To be fair, it's not just dying that's troubling him. The administrators have removed the monster from his mind, but they didn't remove the memories of when it possessed him; he might not recall the exact words he used, or the motivations he had, but the pained expressions of those he targeted remain, and they are agonizing. If only Enoch had killed him for good! If only he never had to look at them again!]

[Of course the Tower won't go easy on him there. Dragging his feet, disheveled and shuddering with occasional sobs, Rick staggers to a terminal while the words are still fresh in his head and bashes out a quick notice: ]

This is Patrick Dawn. Some of you might have met me over the past few days...I need to let you know that the person you met wasn't me.

I'm a shapeshifter--I can take the forms of other creatures if I find them...in a certain condition. I had an idea to try and bond with a monster this way, and...well, it worked...but I couldn't control it. The monsters aren't what they appear to be. I'm not quite sure what they are, exactly...Please, if you have abilities similar to mine, don't follow my lead. For the amount of pain and suffering I've put everyone through, it's not worth it.

For the people that I encountered...I can't even begin to express how sorry I am. I would ask for your forgiveness, but this whole thing was my fault--I don't deserve your sympathies. If there's any possible way for me to make up for the horrible things I've said and done, I will be more than willing to follow through...but I also understand if that's an impossible request. I would take everything back if I could, but...I can't, so...I need to learn to live with my mistakes.

I know it's not enough...I'm so sorry.

[Rick immediately abandons the terminal after he posts to go hide in his room. He'll reply to people, but only after a few hours of collecting his thoughts again.]

[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.)

you know what today is? international cat day

you know what you should all celebrate? international cat day

also maybe no one else cares, but looks like katsuya's gone. I'll be holding try-outs for Lambda-sama's personal patissiere in the cafeteria tomorrow

[She's actually much more upset about this than it looks.]

I am Sephiroth.

[Though which Sephiroth is it? The ID number attached to the post reads S1297993 rather than S1727002, for those who know there are two Sephiroths, are familiar with those numbers, and take the time to notice. Then again, the tone of the post may also be a hint.]

I have been researching the monsters in the Tower. I am curious as to why they are treated so differently than we are, although they likely come from other worlds as well. They have no collars, and they roam freely. They are not wire constructs containing souls, as we are. They were not altered during the glamour failure. They appeared as normal. Many of them are absent during the day. Where do they go? What is their nature? Why are they here?

If you have any ideas or theories, I would be interested in hearing them.

Also, I have noticed that there is a discrepancy in my memories. If there is anyone capable of reading or altering memories, please contact me.

Thank you.

[The feed cuts on to a frantic-looking Nazi who's struggling to smile.]

Look. No, okay, look, ja? [He holds his hands up to the camera in a "calm down" motion.] There are three posts about that silly collar thing. Talk in those. Let us do something else now, okay?

[He lifts up a book.]

We are going to read some stories, then we may discuss them. That is fun und unrelated, right? Here, I will begin.

[He clears his throat.]

'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...'

[Those who have been here quite a long time will recall that Lina went back home around November - however, going by her expression and the way she's acting, it doesn't seem like it's been that long. She may have a tendency toward burying her emotions, but she's not good enough to hide what would go along with eight months of solitude.]

Well, it's about time I got back here! I swear, another day back there, and I would have screamed.

[Well, she did after the first few days, but she's not gonna broadcast that in the least. She sighs, then folds her arms.]

So what'd I miss while I was gone?

[So Rabbit has come to a sobering conclusion.]

So. We ain't re-re-real.

[This only means one thing]

Nuthin' here is real.

[And further more]

So I don't gotta act like it is real.

[Which is why he is boldly and uncaringly standing in front of a terminal. Stark. Naked.]

I can do whatever I want. S'all fa-fake anyway. Who's gonna stop me?

Hmm... food in the cafeteria is poisoned... ✩

[ He looks more amused than worried. Actually, he thinks that's pretty funny. He claps his hands, and grins. ] Has anyone here gotten sick? You've all earned enough of my love for a favor. Can you describe your symptoms to me? ✩

I promise, I'll be gentle. [ Hagire, after all, was a doctor. A surgeon and a medical researcher, granted, but it counts. While supplies and tools here were limited, and while it's entirely possible the food is poisoned with plants he knows nothing about, he could at least try to narrow down what the food was contaminated with. It's not like he didn't have a vested interest in this. He had to eat, too. ]

( Private to Shiro/Wretched Egg )

[Well well... this man seems rather amused as soon as he comes on to the video feed. He's smirking, a rather sadistic smile on his face, and there's simply one thing he wishes to address.]

....I return it seems, residents of the tower. How long was I gone for? I wonder I wonder...

[Aah but he can't contain his sanity for long, oh no! He's far too excited to be back.]

Come... I beg of you... let me hear it, let me see it, what kinds of screams will you all make, what kinds of struggles will you go through in this tower...?! I've missed it, oohh how I've missed seeing all of this! Ihihihuhahahah....! Do not disappoint me....!

[in other words, hello this wonderful being is back and ready for some fun.]

...One simple question however.... has anyone seen her....? I need to know- where is she, my master, the one that has accepted me... Beatrice? Do not keep me from her.

[The feed turns on to a young boy, sitting with his feet up on the desk in front of the terminal. He's leaning back in his chair, and his attention is away from the camera, at the knife he was spinning on his pointer finger.]

Hey, is the food here always so flowery? I had to eat peasant slop because it was the only thing appealing on the menu... there should be some steak here.... Ah! Sushi.

They should have sushi here, though it won't be any good if it isn't made by that Yamamoto guy... oh well, sushi is sushi, I suppose. It's far better than that disgusting... oh what do they call it.... warm cereal? Or was it oats in a meal? Hmm...

Well, whatever.

[He finally turns his attention to the feed, with a big grin on his face.]

My name is Belphegor~ Though please, ca--- [Before he can finish his sentence, the knife he had lost interest in fell off his finger onto the ground, making a slightly loud clank.]

Oh.

[He leans over his chair to stare at it.]

It fell.

[He stares at it for a few more seconds before stretching, and he places his arms behind his head, no longer interested in the knife on the floor.]

Anyway, call me Bel! I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, everyone.

By the way, what's with this metal thing around my neck? It won't come off, no matter how much I cut away at it!

It's not right to treat a Prince like a dog, you know. You could be beheaded for such an act!

[Suddenly, he leans forward very close to the screen with a very serious expression.]

Or worse.

[His mouth spreads into that big, sadistic grin again.]

Ushishishi~!

[Then the feed cuts there.]

[Someone is feeling lonely and depressed and just... oh just about every flavor of 'not good' in the book that a robot can feel. If he had a stomach it would be in knots right now.

It's... been an unpleasant time here. The damage on his face is clear enough, with the one blue eye constantly flickering out. He gives his head a sharp rap and it flickers back on again, but there's no smile into the terminal right now.

He just wants to try and cheer himself up]

H-hey. Does anyone he-he-here wanna song? I gotta few s-s-songs if ya wanna hear 'em.

[No accordion, none of the songs he wanted to sing needed it anyway. He was kind of taking Legolas's advice and doing what he likes to do anyway.]

It's a re-re-real sweet one. Nuthin' t-too loud 'r nuthin.

[He hums a few bars, before going into the piece, the tune just a little bit more mournful than usual.]

...

I-i-if ya want any other s-songs, I got more. Wou-wouldn't mind s-singin' 'em fer someone if they wanna hear it.

[The face on the camera is tired, the look in Diarmuid's eyes making it clear that the source of his weariness isn't physical, but mental and emotional as it so often has been since he arrived here.]

Has anyone see my brother?  Ah...you probaly know him better as Lancer.  I know he is still in the tower because his belongings are here and his name is still on the door, but I cannot find him anywhere and I have looked.  Those who know my skills know quickly I can do that.

I am worried because I just remembered something he said to Jason a while back.  He said he would volunteer for his next experiement and since this is Jason's month in charge and so many others have gone missing, I fear for what that means for him.

If anyone has seen him in the last few days, will you please let me know?

[Diarmuid pauses a moment, suddenly looking a lot more uneasy.]

Also, I want to apologize to all the people who were affected by my curse about week ago or got caught up in everything that was going on.  For those who don't know, I carry a curse that forces the women who see my face to fall in love with me.  It has been mostly inactive in this place but for some reason during the end of March and the beginning of April it flared back to life affecting both men and women.  Unfortunately, I have never been able to tell when it is active and when it is not so far too many people were affected before I knew what was going on.

I...do not know why this happened.  It has gone inactive again and I think by this time all those affected should have had the effects wear off.  If not, take the knowledge that your strange feelings are caused by something outside of you and focus on that...

[Suddenly, he turns away from the screen as if someone has tugged on his arm, which they have.  When he speaks his voice is quieter and directed at whoever is standing just off camera.]

Tony, just a moment, okay?  I will play with you then.

[Diarmuid turns back to the camera, quiet for a moment as if he is collecting his thoughts and then continues where he left off.]

Focusing on the fact that your feelings are not your own will help you overcome the effects sooner.  It is not something that worked that well during my first life, but there is a very strong pattern of it working here...

[There is a sudden scuffling behind Diarmuid and he is yanked away from the camera.  The scuffling continues as his voice drifts back toward the terminal.]

Tony!  Tony wait!  I'm not done...

Gah!  Does anyone know how to stop an alien abduction?



==============================

(OOC: Diarmuid's responses will come a few hours later when he has given Tony the attention that the little gray alien seems to want so badly.)

Aha, 'Jason month?' ✩

[ Hagire claps his hands. Somehow, he sounds excited about the prospect. ]

What should I expect? Will someone lose a limb? I always did wonder, where did he earn his medical degree? The last time I saw love like that... well... an egg hatched.

In another world, he could have replaced the brat and his pet surgeon. ✩