...Should have known it wouldn't last.

Sparky, Elena. You two are still here right?

[...]

Pumpkin everything all month, huh? Never did like pumpkin as a kid. Is there a way to minimize the taste? Stuff makes me want to vomit.

Did you ever make a promise, but circumstances make it impossible for you to fulfil it?

[On a lighter note...]

Did anyone try the pumpkin soda yet? How was it?

[ When the feed manages to turn on, the face of a very angry Maya Fey appears on the screen. However, her face is way too close to the screen. She may know what a computer is, but that doesn't necessarily mean that she knows how to use the terminal well.

When she speaks, she's pretty loud. And not pleased at all. Sure, she may be new, but the reason why she's pissed isn't only because of the tower... ]

I can't believe it! Some weird voice tells me that the world is destroyed, and just when I was going to get some food... there weren't any burgers!

This is some sort of bad joke, right? Because I'm going to get to the bottom of this!

[ And just as suddenly, the feed manages to turn off with a huff and some angry stomping. ]

[The feed flickers later on in the morning in midst of the creeping fog settling within the lower levels (for now) of the tower before a clear voice speaks through. Despite the growing difficulty to see through it, he seems to have no trouble?]

Everyone, stay calm and listen. If my hunch is right, this fog is different from the kind that lingers outside this tower and if that's the case, there are some things you should know about it. You see... this fog is similar to the fog in a world I know.

For those who can't read well, I'll read it aloud... but the basics will be here in text.

[He pauses before speaking again, having only stopped to compose himself.]

( MOTHER OF GOD ALL THIS SHADOW SELF INFO... )
[He pauses again before nodding to the screen.]

If any of you need any help for however long this lasts, the Investigation Team will be going around helping to tame any berserk Shadows that manifest. You'll be able to tell us apart from others because we don't have problems seeing through it for one reason or another.... usually special glasses.

[lol whut? ...For some reason, it looks like he's serious. He grows even more serious after this last pause and he filters the feed to his team and the others who know the power of Persona.]

( Filtered to Persona Users + People from their worlds )
This is going to bring back a lot of memories...

(With new atrocious typing to better fit her personality!)

Filter!fail to Maya, Jun, and Miyabi:

lei ho! we shuld get 2gether n have a slumber party soon! maybe 1 of the empy rooms on the 5th floor?? we can make snacks n stay up rly late playin games!!!

dont let undie boss know tho, he's a PERVERT!!! n tatsuya won't want to so no point in askin i guess

let me know if u want 2! baaibaai

--lisa

[Suffice it to say that Katsuya was not pleased to be in this situation. He'd changed back into the normal clothes, avoided being attacked on the trip down the stairs, and settled into the first place he could contact a large group of the other people captured here.

He checked the previous entries and became even less pleased when he realized that his brother was here as well.]

I'll be brief. My name is Katsuya Suou, and I have just arrived in this tower. Is there anyone leading those captured here in an organized effort who I could speak to?

And one more thing: Tatsuya, I need to talk to you as soon as possible. Actually, I wouldn't mind speaking to any of his friends from this place.

Thank you.

[The feed turns on and look it's everyone's favorite narcissist, Eikichi Mishina.]

HOOOOOOOOO! Goooood morning, my little torre! I, the beautiful, amazing, talented Michel would like to make an announcement!

Today is July 27th, which means that it is Tachan's birthday!

And what a lucky man he is to have friends like me but especially me who has decided to prepare a little song for him! That's right kittens, as a reminder that now he's become even older at nineteen and shall continue to age each passing year. And what a celebration it will be! You, the tower, shall bare witness to this celebration as Michel takes the center stage, inspired by a popular song from our world.

I give you....Tatsuya's Vie de Loco!

[Oh my god Eikichi why are you bringing out a small musical tape and griming evilly and pressing play, the world does not need this...]

He's into track and field, hot bikes and and motorcycles.
I feel a premonition that guy's not as good as Michel.
He's into new sensations, new kicks in the candle light.
He's got a new addiction for every day and night.

He'll glare at you so hard you'll go dancing in the rain.
He'll make you live his crazy life but he's always such a pain
like a bullet to your brain. Come On!

Upside, inside out he's livin la vida loca
He'll push and pull you down, livin la vida loca
His hair is shit brown and his eyes the color mocha
He will wear you out livin la vida loca Come On!
Livin la vida loca, Come on!
He's livin la vida loca---

[While Eikichi is "singing", the sound of footsteps can faintly be heard to the right of the camera. They come closer and closer with each passing second, so it sounds less like walking and more like full blown running.

As soon as Eikichi is halfway through the song, the mystery person finally speaks. Or yells.]


YOU SON OF A-


WHAT THE F--




[Before crashing into him, a hand slamming onto the keyboard, cutting off the video feed.

It was a bit of a blur, but it looked like the birthday boy in question.

Happy birthday!!]

[When Kakine woke up and received his letter, the situation struck him as an annoying change of pace, but at this point, not very surprising. His first thought was to go looking for a place to connect to the network, and the terminals were easy for him to find. Business as usual...]

Well, this is a pain in the ass. So, is this a bullshit plot by Academy City's higher ups, another prank courtesy of Asgard's supposed gods, or what?

[He's deadpan and dead serious. It has to be one of those things.]

Ahh it seems we have some new members amongst us! Well hello kittens, Michel knows that this place isn't exactly a beautiful concert hall, but despite everything, we are trying to put a little joy in our lives! Tomorrow there will be a party celebrating not only the radiant Maya Amano, but all those who have had birthdays for the past few months.

You are all invited, of course! It would not be a party otherwise. And if you did not see my post last time - in which case, how shameful to have missed my visage, but regardless, there is also blind dates organized so that you may meet new friends and mingle with others. This is nor purely romantic of course, but who knows what might come out of that toss of fate...

Therefore, I give to you the list of names that have signed up so far!

[If you continue to read, you realize he has listed off the entire list of anyone who was signed up for a blind date, by themselves or otherwise.]

Now, now don't forget the rules; if you signed up, you cannot back out! Oh no, that would be wrong and of such terrible spirits! And if you were not signed up, then...that is how the apple falls from the tree, I'm afraid! Think of it this way; if someone deemed you important enough to sign you up, you must be important to someone! And that, my los residentes de la torre is in the spirit of tomorrow's party!

Speaking of which, there will be lovely little flower corsages' for those who wish to bestow it upon their date tomorrow found near the entrance. No, no you don't have to thank me...but rather my fellow bandmate, Jun Kurosu who was kind enough to assemble them. Do not worry yourselves silly either - this is not a requirement, but if you wish to capture your date's heart, one would think you should use all the chances presented to you, hmmm?

[Alright Kanji, you've told Yu once that you weren't afraid of what you were anymore and this is the perfect time to prove it. Prove it your a man. A man with amazing sewing skills and a party that is coming up fast and might have a few people who require your aid that you'd gladly share. So do it. Do it now.

When the feed opens, there is Kanji, scratching the back of his neck.]

Hey uhh...this is Kanji Tatsumi.

S-some of you might know me already but...look if you guys need someone to help you with your outfits for that party...I can do that. I'm...real good with sewing. If you need an outfit I can try to make one for you out of the materials we have, but there ain't much. Best deal is that I can also take your old stuff and patch it up, or use that material to make something else.

And if you got a problem with a guy bein' able to do that...that ain't my problem, alright? Take it or leave it - I don't care.

[He starts to say something else, but stops and just closes it down. That should be enough, right?]

[Good afternoon, Tower. Eikichi is standing in front of the terminal's camera, grinning from ear to ear and looking quite proud of himself. In fact you might say he looks unusually energized.]

HOOOOOOOOOOO!

Is this thing on...okay it is.

Inhabitants of this stone tower! I, the beautiful, amazing, great, quick-thinking Michel have a proposition for next week. As it so happens that it was the birthday of someone special two days ago, I realized she needs a proper celebration! And considering there hasn't been a good party around here lately, the solution is simple; a proper birthday bash, not just for our bella dama who will be our guest of honor, but also for anyone who hasn't had a proper birthday for the past months.

And as exceptional as he is, Michel can't do this alone! I can help with the decorations and the music, but I know the tower is filled with considerable talent! Chefs! Decorators! Even a few musicians who might have slipped from Michel's grasp when he didn't notice you...reveal yourselves to me so that we may make this the best bash ever!

And...turn that frown upside down! Michel isn't going to stand for it any longer!

Times have been hard and difficult, that's true, but if we don't get a little joy in our lives, we'll just like this place drag us down with it. I'll have none of that and neither should you! As a certain someone I admire would say, 'Let's Positive Thinking!'

So go on, find a mirror, look at yourself and say "I look great today!".

Don't worry I'll be waiting.

[He crosses his arms with a smirk plastered on his face and waits for a full eight seconds before continuing.]

Now that you're all energized and ready to do this...there's more!

It's not just a birthday party and way to cheer everyone up, if you can, bring that lovely lady or the handsome guy! Come as a couple as there will be a competition to crown the lord and lady of the evening! And don't worry, Michel's a very fair man. As much as he knows he's the only true king around, he'll let someone else enjoy it for that night.

So put on your best!

Oh, no date you say? That's not a problem! Do the words Blind Date have any meaning to you? Send me your name -- don't worry Michel won't share -- and he'll set you up with all the others who don't have one. Considering our beautiful chica population lower, you may end up with another guy! But don't worry, a date doesn't mean you need to kiss at all...who knows, you might end up with a new friend! Michel's certain everyone will have a good time regardless! And who knows...you might find true love and you'll have me to be thankful for!

....I know, I know, how can someone like me exist? Sometimes I wonder that too.

So, who's with me?!

[Look at that grin. Look at that face. Look at all this wild energy. Surely it must stir something within you for that...right to fight for your party...]

[As private as Eikichi can make it to the rest of the team members minus Maya]

Jun, you're in charge of making her a proper birthday bouquet. Miyabi, you want to make her a cake? Tatsuya, Lisa...help me find her some presents? If we have to make 'em I don't care.

And everyone's coming to the music room with me! I've been inspired to write her a birthday song and I'll need everyone's help!

[OH GODS WHYYYY NO EIKICHI NOOOO...]

[[OOC - Blind Date Signups are Here]]

Well now, it seems people have flooded back into this place. It seems there was a large percentage of people taken.

In any case, a discussion I had a while ago brought up a question I wanted to ask.

[Even if it was less of a discussion and more bristling at each other. Whatever.]

It's obvious enough that something translates for us - for example I'm typing this in Japanese but someone else might see it in German or English or... I don't know, something like Aramaic.

I'm curious what language everyone is speaking in, and if you speak more than one language. Call it a professional curiosity.

I-Is this thing on?

[The screen shows Tara, looking more than a little confused and lost as she fiddles around with the settings on the terminal. Those of who you know her might be able to tell that she's different in appearance. Gone is most of the softness to her body. Now, muscles can be seen on her arms, as her shaking hands move over the terminal's settings. Her face is leaner, more angled, less round. Even so, she still looks healthy. She's lost weight, since being voted out and dropped back into the tower. But she hasn't starved. She's taken care of herself.

She also looks like she's been crying. Even now, Tara takes a swipe at her eyes as though chasing away the last few tears.]

It's...is it usual for people to be just...gone? To just...go away and, a-and not be here anymore?

...does anyone know what happens to them? I mean...our worlds, th-they're gone, right? So...if they're not here...w-where are they?

[But she knows. She knows in her heart what's happened. And so Tara plunges on, onto new concerns, onto new friends, onto new life and new problems that she might just be able to do something about. Tara wipes at her eyes, sniffles a bit more, and then forces herself to look back up at the camera.]

Well...it looks like the food's back, a-and the power, and...I've seen some people that, th-that I thought were in the pods with us. Guess that means it's over, right? That's...th-that's good. That's s-something.

Are you all okay? Everyone? Being back here, and all. I mean...I-I can't do a lot, with healing. But I can do some. I know a potion. Trust me. I-It helps. So, i-if you're still not feeling great...give me a call.

...I'm okay. [Some of you will know that this is directed very deliberately at you.] I mean, I'm tired, but...I-I'm okay.

( Cut for length and Tara making plans for future )

...th-thank you.

((ooc: Holy frack, sorry for the TL;DR. But these were all the points weighing heavily on Tara's mind, and I thought it made sense for her to get them all out of the way at once. I'll be making a proper log post in a couple of days, in case anyone would prefer to catch her there.))

For first impressions to a place I have seen far worse although that has not been common.

[It's hard to imagine that a voice so young could possess such a dull indignation while speaking. For someone who has been tested on mercilessly for a month and altered both physically and mentally during that time he sounds far more annoyed and tested than truly angry.]

To build a prison one doesn't require just physical walls, but mental ones as well. A prisoner only learns to see a prison as a cage and not just a building only after that prisoner has been broken, like how a caged bird doesn't know how to truly use their wings because they've been clipped. But the difference is that the prisoner must clip his own wings. You can be held down but your ability to fly cannot be stripped unless you surrender it.

You are not prisoners until you allow yourself to believe you are.

Although something interesting did come out of "test" we endured. Many of us seem to be from different worlds. Some don't even seem to be human. I come from a world were there are many creatures as well. I have quite a curiosity in the worlds everyone else comes from, and the creatures that live there.

Ah. It's also come to my attention that there are many people here from my world. If they would be so kind, I would like to speak with them.

[Hey, other supernatural entities and demons from the SMT/Persona-verse. That means you as far as Lucifer is concerned.]

[OOC: I still need to put up a permissions post proper for him, but one small thing about Lucifer. He does have a supernatural sense that allows him to tell what others are if they're some form of supernatural/powerful entity. For beings not from his canon (at the very least) this is regulated to only getting a basic idea of what they are (god/demon/grim reaper/ect.) and not anything about WHO they are beyond that. If this is okay with you/too invasive and you play one of those characters please tell me in the header of your comment.]

[For one who could take on so many forms like Nyarlathotep, he preferred speaking only through either voice or text. Using video would show only one of his many faces and that hardly was the correct experience one should have when dealing with him. And so, this is how he'll address the residents of the Tower.]

Although the world has ended, we were never given an explanation of how, were we? I wonder. I'm sure you all have your own ideas on how it came to that. So, then. Who would like to begin? Let's make this a group discussion.