Those of you who know April Sinclair may want to know that she has left the tower. I searched the graveyard and found her tombstone today.

-Aleph Sinclair

[Those who want to console Aleph in person can find him in one corner of the third floor library. He's looking pretty miserable.]

[Good day tower, have a very bored-looking Asagi in her red training uniform and her jacket, rocking back on two legs of a chair in front of a terminal.]

Now that shit's not facing imminent explosion- you know what I don't appreciate? Dying.

[She kicks back, throwing her feet up and leaning back in her chair to stare at the ceiling.]

I mean, the once back home wasn't really all that unexpected, even if I didn't think it'd actually happen at the time.

[She starts tossing a bracelet that's similar to the ones on her wrists up and down with one hand, heaving a sigh.]

But when people make it so that I have to go and put forth all the effort I can with these things, it's kind of inevitable. One big downside to 'em, I guess you could say. But you know what's not inevitable?

[She catches the bracelet with a finger, twirls it around almost boredly.]

Dumbass escalations of force where it's completely unnecessary. Especially in regards to shit that was your fault to begin with. But I mean hey, I guess as long as you get off on fucking with people that way, that kind of thing isn't really a problem, huh? Except really, it kind of is. And I'd appreciate it if it'd fucking stop?

Like seriously.

Get a hobby or something.

Cause I hear about one more stupid 'revenge' fight and I swear I'll rig this whole place to go nuclear.

[And she tosses the bracelet at the terminal to shut it off.]

I remembered! I remembered everything!

The shrine, the forests, the mansion by the lake, everything! And it was all dead!

[Wriggle falls back from the terminal with a sigh, having pushed her face nearly right to the screen while yelling her epiphany. With her upper half in full view you can see that she's wearing the hat of a certain gatekeeper and a pink scarf is wrapped around her neck]

You know I never thought I'd be happy to be back here but... No, happy isn't the right word. What was it? Relieved? Content? No! Argh, I can't think of it this is so frustrating! I don't know how I feel. I don't like it here but I don't wanna spend any more time in a Gensokyo that isn't Gensokyo.

[She runs her hands through her hair and looks away from the screen. Absentmindedly she starts to pull and fidget with her collar as she thinks about what to say next. If she carries on like that all that's going to come out is incoherent yelling but when she speaks again her voice is a notch quieter]

Hey... Um, listen. I know that even when I was here before there was stuff happening that was really beyond me. There are some people that know a lot, right?

[Again she pauses, swallowing her fear before finally asking]

Is there any way to make everything go back to the way it was? I know that's a lot to ask. I mean, to fix so many buildings and revive so many people and plants and insects... Even if there's no way to turn everything back to normal is there at least a way to start things growing again? Even if everyone I knew is really dead for good, if we can start again, make new friends, I think that'll be enough...

[For such a little youkai she's had a lot on her mind but when she's finally said her piece she feels a little better. Resting her chin in her hands she regards the screen with a somewhat distant expression]

So what happened when I was away? Something must have, I'm not sure how long I was gone but it felt like a long time. Is there anyone I used to know still here?

Oh yeah, and whoever left that scarf in my mailbox thanks a lot. It's a lot colder than I remember it.

[It's been a while since Yukiko has been in the Tower at all - three months, give or take a bit. It shows in her face when she appears on the video feed; this isn't the face of a surprised newcomer. It's the face of someone who has explored enough to know that while she was gone, a lot of her friends have left. Her voice is just a bit shaky when she speaks.]

...hello, Tower. This is Yukiko Amagi. I was here, before, and now I'm back. I think it's been about three months. It's kind of hard to tell time when it passes on a dead world. One day blends into another after a while.

[She pauses, briefly, taking a deep breath.]

I know that there were people from the Japanese town of Inaba here before. They were my friends. I also tried sending them a message. I - I know that they're all gone. The message said 'user not found' for all of them, and so I went down to the graveyard to doublecheck. They're definitely gone.

I'll be okay, though. I know they're gone now, but I can be strong enough for all of them. I know I'm back here for a reason, and that reason must be to make sure they're saved, in the end. Really saved, not just 'saved' as in pulled here again.

...so. What did I miss while I was gone?

So. That month certainly happened. As usual I'll be the contrary fool who points out that leaping directly for Jason's throat was foolish and hastily conceived. I hope at least some of you understand that outright murdering the one person that makes our own deaths a minor inconvenience would be ill-advised at best. When next this opportunity presents itself, I advise that quick planning should lead to a less half-baked idea.

[Deadpan as ever (or perhaps even more so), Waver appeared today in much better shape than he had been the previous month, though for some reason he was currently lacking the usual sunglasses. If not for the frown set deeply on his face and disapproving tone, one might dare think he might have been in a good mood.]

Now that that's been said--and without touching upon specifics--I'd like to hear how everyone else is faring at the moment. [It would be stupid to outright say HEY GUYS HOW'D THE COLLAR EXPERIMENT GO FOR YOU ALL, so Waver elected to be vague.]

If anyone should care to answer that, I have quite a lot of work to do- [He idly held up a number of sheets of what appeared to be parchment, the topmost one having runic writing on it.] -so I will most likely be found on floor twenty-seven in a half hour or so. [And for the next few days without a break, probably.]

[There followed a short pause, after which the severity in the cold and British accented speech lessened slightly.]

...My disapproval of the methods aside, congratulations. Ill-advised or not, you did accomplish something. Don't allow yourselves to think this a failure.

Hello, tower! The Principality of Sealand here, smallest nation in the world! I hope everyone is okay! I have a few things I was wondering about and I'd be grateful if you could help me at all.

The first thing is about weapons! Does anybody have a spare sword? One that'd be a good size for me? See, my friend Aleph said he'll teach me to sword fight, but I'll need a sword that's my size first. Me and Aleph tried to get one from an Orc monster, but it... didn't work out very good. Um. [Aleph died, but Sealand doesn't really want to talk about that.] So, we're still looking, and would appreciate any spares on offer! If not, does anyone know anything about making swords? Like, uh-- blacksmith stuff. I'll be at the workshop later, if anyone would be willing to help! I'd really appreciate it a lot!

Ah, and thing number two! Does anyone here play football? Wouldn't it be really cool to have a football team here?! I think we should make one. Sealand has a really great football team, so I'm practically an expert at it. I think it could be good fun!

Okay, that's all! Thank you for listening.


( Action option - Workshop )

[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. )

Ugh, hi, I guess they found me again. If anyone's wondering, being alone in a destroyed world might just be worse than the tower, but it's a tough call.

So, what did I miss?

[Feel free to action it up and find Waver in person too! Aside from at the computers he's likely to be found in the cafeteria, media room and library.]

Last month, I posted to the Network asking for those who would be willing teach others how to fight--both with and without powers--to contact me. Many of you were willing to share your talents with those who needed them, and I thank you very much for that.

[Diarmuid smiles and bows his head for a moment before continuing.]

However, aside from a few people who I have already helped find teachers, I haven't really heard from anyone who would like to take advantage of the skills that have been offered. I understand that many of you have probably already found teachers amongst those who you know. For those who still might be looking, I thought that I would post a list of those who offered their services so you can take advantage of them should you ever wish to.

I will warn you, though, that most of these people are battle-hardened warriors and do not pull their punches. If you take them up on their offers, please be prepared to work your hardest. They will expect no less and those who you are fighting for deserve no less.

Here is the list. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Since I know most of the people on the list, if you are unsure who you should contact, I will be glad to direct you to a teacher.

( Teacher List )

If anyone would like to be added to the list, please feel free to let me know. Also, let me know if you would like the information listed by your names altered in anyway or wish to be removed from the list.  This list isn't a static thing by any means.

On a sadder note, for any of you who knew Mami Tomoe, it has come to my attention that she has been sent home. I know she was close to many people. She left me a cookie recipe and since Riki has given us such a good selection of food this month, I can think of no better way to honor her memory than to bake some of the sweets she made so well. Anyone who would like to join me is welcome, though, I cannot guarantee my cookies will be anywhere near as good as the ones she made.  I--

[For a moment it seems like Diarmuid will continue, but after a few seconds, he just shakes his head and ends the feed.]


----

(OOC: If anyone would like to meet up with Diarmuid in the kitchen to try making those cookies, feel free to tag your response with Action, Kitchen and cooking shenanigans can be had!)

[It hurt. Everything hurt. Existing alone ached and burned through what Labrys could only describe as her 'heart'. She'd been in a daze since dying to those shadows that whispered such horrible things--things that still echoed and bounced around in her head. Labrys heard the voices of her friends and sisters saying such cruel, hateful things and it hurt more than she could measure.]

[She wanted to forget. Forget like she'd forgotten before, when she had constructed the illusion of a human body and another life--a better life, just like any other student.]

[Exhausted, she dropped into a chair on floor ninety-six and leaned on the table in front of her, head resting on folded arms. Eventually, Labrys forgot why she'd been so tired and distraught in the first place.]

[...Then she forgot what she'd been doing the past few weeks.]

[After a while she forgot a great deal more, not the least of which being why she'd sat down in the first place. Was this not an inefficient use of time? Logic processors indicated this was not the Kirijo laboratory. Advisable course of action: find information. Standing, the robot girl somewhat stiffly walked until she encountered a terminal.]

[Her face was largely passive and expressionless, voice still holding its accent but utterly devoid of its usual life or energy.]

My sensors are indicatin' an unknown environment. Ain't sure if this is a new method of testin' capabilities. Unit number 031, requestin' and awaitin' orders.

[Oh, shit.]

[This message flickers onto the network late at night, once Waver's had a chance to both check his mail and read the book delivered to him.]

Who the hell left that in my mailbox.

I am not playing games. I am not remotely pleased. If I ever find out who you are, I'm going to throttle you. And if it was an administrator, I'll do much worse than that.

[Waver didn't linger on the network for very long after posting; he eventually stormed off carrying the book in question and wearing a disturbingly calm expression.]

[action; floor fifty-five]

[Why was there an incinerator here and could it possibly come to life and kill him? Who cared? Certainly not the Clock Tower's favorite professor. Who, by the way, to be slowly coming apart from 'tranquil fury' to just plain fury as he threw his newly received book into the incinerator as hard as he could.]

Fucking tower. [He reached up to something at the level of his collarbone--a pendant hidden under his shirt, apparently. Satisfied it was still there, the magus lowered his hand and turned sharply to head back to the dorm floors.]

With all that has happened in the last few weeks and how angry Jason is, it shouldn't be surprising he's already making changes to how things work around here. There is really no way to know what he will do next. All we can do is prepare for the worst and hope for the best as foolish as hoping for anything here might seem. We may be limited in what we can do to prepare, but there is one thing I have noticed we can be working on. We all know how easy it is for any of the Administrators to turn off our powers. It can happen in the blink of an eye and without any kind of warning. And power loss is not limited to just when the Administrators wish it anymore. In addition to that and the floors that cancel out powers, ever since the initial systems' failure, it has become clear that even though systems are back up, they are far from stable. While there are some in the Tower who are as skilled fighting without their powers are they are with, there are a great many who rely too heavily on something they can lose so suddenly and completely.

There have been many people who have tried to set up training classes here in the past. I knew too briefly two of them, Hei and Tear Grants. Both of them are gone from the Tower now, but I would not like to see their hard work die just because they have been sent away. This is especially important right now since things will likely get worse around here before we can make them better.

I would like to ask anyone who is willing to help teach people non-magical ways of fighting and first aid to please contact me. As a great many people also rely on magical weapons they might lose without their special abilities, I would also request the aid of all who would be willing to help make non-magical weapons for those who need them. The weapons do not need to be pretty, only functional.

Finally, I would ask anyone interesting in learning how to fight without special abilities or would like to get a non-magical weapon to act as a back up for their magical weapons, to please contact me. I don't know how quickly I will be able to get the weapons together--that will depend on how much help I get. However, as I am one who is able to fight with or without my special abilities, I can start setting up training classes right away for any who are interested.

Thank you all for your assistance in this matter. I have always believed that the stronger we make each of us, the stronger we will be overall, and the more likely we will be to find the Truth we all are so desperately looking for.


Private Video Locked To: Shion (savedbyasong ), Xion (attheclocktower ), Akemi Homura (rewindingly ), and Kirika Yuumura (carrythesin ).

( Fulfilling a Last Request )

Private Video Locked To: Waver Velvet (fionnuisce )

( Wedding Worries... )

[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 )