[ Regarding Jason's recent post and the, sad and pathetic, attempts he has seen to yet again beg Jason to cooperate with them, Ganondorf reacts. After all, he has not accepted to assist the foolish masses last months only to see them ruin everything they accomplished. ]

I see a number amongst you are still trying to beg Jason for his favors. Still trying to convince him to work alongside us. Clinging onto the hope that everyone can live together and work without any ill thoughts. This is all very beautiful in theory.

However as a matter of fact, you are only building more illusions on top of those that make this tower what it is. Jason does not desire to work with you. All he wants is to use all of you as test subjects for as long as he can. If anything, he will exploit your naivete to reach his ends and make the tower he dreams of a reality.

Of course, in certain situation people will work together. Yet, Jason appears to be under the impression we broke his precious tower-- Which indeed happened. He will never accept to work with any of you. If he does, he will only be deceiving you to reach the aforementioned purpose.

You have to accept the fact he is an enemy and will have to be defeated. Not everyone can be swayed away by your optimistic and delusional speech. This is a reality that you have to accept if you truly desire to survive.

What happens in this tower is not some sort of fairy tales for children. There are no higher beings guiding your every steps and ensuring you victory at the end of the road. This is not a story written by a benevolent author who will it to give everyone what they want in the end. There are no Gods who will save you.

And even if all of this were nothing more than a story, believe me when I say those writing it would have proven to be particularly cruel and sadistic people by your standards.

( Text - Filtered to the Evil Alliance )

Does anyone else kind of want to stay here instead of go home? If there was a way to make it safe to live here, would anyone else stay?

--ridiculous. I suppose you'd just let them get away with it. [Jason's voice crackles over the network, catching him mid-conversation. His anger is obvious.]

It's my month and I get to do what I want. [Zo sounds childishly petulant.]

Your month but my collar checkups. We're lucky we've at least trained some of them in learned helplessness or who knows how much worse it could have been! [Jason's anger only increases--he obviously doesn't know he's being recorded and broadcast.] And you know the rules.

Yes, but Riki already-- [Zo's petulance increases, but Jason cuts him off sharply.]

Riki's concerns aren't mine. They've interfered with my business, I'll punish them.

[Zo's tone darkens--still childishly angry, but there's an edge to it.] You know I have to approve whatever you're gonna do.

[Jason sighs, but his tone softens a little. It's difficult to tell why with just audio to go on, though.] I realize that. I'm hardly going to request experiment time; it's my turn next month anyway. All I want from you is--

[The feed cuts out.]

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

[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...'

[She's been reading without commenting so far, but she sees disharmony and can't resist prying at that gap a little bit more.]

So a mass protest? It will probably fail, we will probably all die, anyone who joins in without knowing that is a bigger idiot than the one who started it.

But so what? We only have a year left, we have no plans, we don't even know how to prevent these people from turning us into mindless monsters, or drones, or whatever they wish to do to us next. Never mind working out a way to defeat them all and restore our own worlds and our own bodies and our souls and walk out of here alive.

It sounds like the ending to a rubbish children's tale.

So what if we don't know Ruana's true power? She has proven that she is loathe to destroy our souls. And what are our bodies but wireframe and illusion, death doesn't matter here and crying about dying doesn't help anyone.

It doesn't matter if we fight or don't fight. Nothing is going to change, they will still hold all the power, we will still be puppets with no free will. But we still have choices, and if the choices are fight or not fight, even when fighting means dying, then so be it.

If that means we are split then so be it, because in a year we will all be dead, and there is no use in harmony or friendship.

Nothing we do matters anymore so with that in mind.

Let chaos rule.

[Ryoji switches the feed on with a small smile. He has cheered up significantly after talking to a few people and making a few friends (or at least, people he thinks are friends). He still is nervous about what he has to say, but he tries not to let that show.]

Hi everyone. It's a little late, so I don't know if anyone is still around, but I couldn't wait any longer. So many things have happened lately... which is probably why I haven't had a chance to talk to you all, but...

[He swallows, then takes on a more serious tone. He's determined to help people, though he doesn't know that he's actually doing more harm than good.]

I was in a group of people who went down the elevator again earlier this month. We were looking for a control room and an exit from the tower. It was dangerous, and... most of us didn't make it out alive.

[He feels guilty, not because he was killed, but because others on that team did. He finds a lot of them strange and he isn't sure whether he can trust everyone, but he still blames himself for not being a better leader.

He shakes his head and continues on.]

The point is, I have information. If anyone wants to know anything, just ask.

[He doesn't have any idea that he received this information through working with a group led by the one man who likely caused the most trouble in the tower this month. He may need a bit of enlightening about that.]

[The feed clicks on. Hunched over the terminal is a haggard, shivering man in a Nazi uniform with snow still dusting his body, who's glaring at the camera as if he's trying to burn a hole through whoever is watching. He's silent for a moment, just breathing heavily, until he finally speaks in a voice that's as gravelly and uneven as a cobblestone road.]

...That's it. [His German accent is thicker than ever, as if he's not even trying to speak properly anymore. He sounds strangely serene underneath it all, eerily so.] I've had it. I can't take it anymore. I don't want to live here-

[He cuts himself off sharply after his voice rises in volume, and he draws in a ragged breath, shutting his eyes. A violent shudder runs through his body, and a strap of leather slides down his shoulder as a result. He shrugs it back up, and the glinting metal of a large gun can be seen behind his back.]

...I don't. You are all- [A look crosses his face like he's just thought of a funny joke. He gives a chuckle, and the sound is light and airy, but it's weak, too.] You're all laughing, aren't you? You're laughing- [He slams his fists down on the terminal, all traces of good humor gone from his face and his tone.] -und you're happy that I am suffering like this! Well, I'll give you all another reason to hate me, ja?

[He straightens up, and for a moment, a pained expression crosses his face. He puts a hand to his head, mutters:] Shut up, shut up!

[And then he tugs his gun off its strap and over his shoulder. To those who are familiar with WWII-era weaponry, it's an MP 40 sub-machine gun, and Richtofen's holding it with a vice grip. He gives the camera a lopsided grin, then shouts at the terminal, at the viewer.]

Why don't you all try to give me one reason why I shouldn't knock on every door in this hallway und blow the brains out of whoever answers? Hmm? Come on, I know you have it in you! Convince me, heroes. [He spits out that last word like it's poison.

Speaking up again, his voice is bitter. There's an almost mournful edge to it.] Give me a reason to try und be a good person.

[And then he leans against the terminal again, eyes darting to and fro over the screen, gripping the gun tightly in his trembling hands.]


((ooc: Richtofen is at one of the terminals on the 2nd dormitory level. action replies are welcomed! just beware that an action reply also puts you at risk of being attacked by Richtofen. he has no supernatural abilities, but he has a knife and an itchy trigger finger.

warning - replies may include violence, dark subject matter, and possibly suicide if Richtofen isn't calmed down. as always, he has a permissions post that you can use to let me know what you are and aren't okay with, or you can just let me know in your tag.))

[So Nesir has been avoiding people for the most part, annoyed at the grief for Dax, angry at the fact her soul was trapped, but she's also going crazy with nerves about her part in the infiltration in a few days and she has a question she's been thinking about since she met Kuwabara.

She doesn't even have to pretend to look pale and worried]

Hello, my name do be Nesir Aeser and I do be having something to talk about. I do be aware that there do many people from many worlds here and we all do be different and having different strengths and weaknesses. But lately I did be coming across a worrying weakness and was wondering how many people did be sharing it.

Apparently there do be people who can no be fighting women. I do no be knowing if this do be some kind of curse, or just something in a different world that do be a problem. But I am sure I do no be needing to explain how people with this weakness are going to be in more danger than the rest of us, considering everything..

[As in: Ruana is a woman, Nesir actually doesn't care about most people, and is just interested in this concept, but it should be enough to worry others.] I do no be knowing if there would be a way to lift the curse, but I do be offering my help to anyone with similar problems who do be wanting to be overcoming this.

The network comes on painfully--the terminals crackle with energy like there was some sort of wild power surge going through the Tower. Every terminal turns on at once. The display is broken at first, but slowly it stabilizes, the display just behind Zo's shoulder. White-hot energy pulses from him--it looks like he’s forced the display on somehow. Monitors flicker in and out of view in the room; it seems to be some sort of control center composed of floating screens and input devices. The room is large, making it hard to see the ends from the display, but aside from Zo there are two others in the room.

Riki looks a bit worse for wear and, as opposed to his usual stoic demeanor, has an expression approaching furious. Most of Zo's energy seems concentrated around him like a barrier, and the monitors whirl around behind RIki now, following some sort of unspoken command. The world shifts abruptly, providing a different angle on the confusing situation.

The laughter that echoes around the chamber is deep, dark and somehow primordial. There’s another figure looking exactly like Riki, but the features are twisted, the indifferent disposition morphed into a terrible smirk. From his hand a wave of dark energy smashes into the room, sending whatever was still standing flying over.

"Come now! Is this the best defense system this place has to offer to one of its grand administrators? Cowering behind a child? Well, I do suppose considering everything about this world, it should not be the least bit surprising."

He took another step.

"So tell me, how did your little ants enjoy their trip into the central throne?"

The various scattered objects freeze in place as Riki draws in his screens; the screens seem to be made of the air itself, or something similar, and he alters and pulls at them as easily as if they were tied to him by a thousand strings. "Not your business," he growls. Another swipe of his screens and the objects morph, shifting into swords that fly at the false Riki. "Stop wearing my face."

Zo shrinks back against the wall. His barriers don’t fall, but he obviously doesn't enjoy the violence taking place.

"Not my business? I am darkness that makes up the Collective Unconsciousness! My primary sources of power, the three poisons that make up life, Anger, Ignorance and Vengeance are ripe in this world!"

Nyarlathotep raises his other hand and catches the swords, looking almost bored.

"Humans are strange...I came here because of the despair that fills every orifice of this tower...the desire for all of you to put an end to this, and now you would try to whisk me away?"

The swords melt into a puddle of metal on the floor, and suddenly he is besides Zo, trying to violently push him away.

Zo shrieks, clearly terrified, but his barriers cover him as they cover Riki, and they crackle with raw energy in their owner’s defense. Riki alters something on his screens and the metal rises up, forming itself into some sort of great mercurial beast that lunges at Nyarlathotep. "Leave the kid out've it, you attacked me first."

"Hahaha! What’s this? Feeling sentimental about another?" Nyarlathotep had barely even flinched from touching the other. "But is not your personal interest simply tied to the tower itself? I suppose even a monkey will brand its tools when backed in a corner..."

At his turn, the giant creature is lit aflame, crying out as the fire causes the skin to bubble, crack and expand. Soon it has enlarged into strands of burned mercury before a slap from the other Riki makes it fall into dust.

"Ha ha ha! Do you not know where the term, 'mad as a hatter' comes from? I've given humanity much fun with that element!"

At his turn, he summons forth a demon, as it moves forward, casting a spell in an attempt to poison both of the tower residents.

Zo flinches at the monster, but steps forward nonetheless--or rather leaps in a burst of childish energy. "Stop--stop it! Stop it!"

The screen turns white and crackles--it’s barely possible to make out the figures, let alone what’s going on, but whatever Zo's done tears the demon into six or seven pieces. Then the light gets brighter--there’s a different sort of crackle. It sounds like the monitor itself is breaking, because it is. The screen warps and fills with static before the video cuts out completely.

They can hear the battle still going on, however, Nyarlathotep speaking for one final time.

"Hmph! Regardless of how much you struggle, the end will be the same! Just like the worlds of the disembodied souls you siphon into recycled bodies over and over, this one will also meet its end! Now the question is, how much are you willing to risk?"

Another explosion cracks apart what sound remains. The feed cuts out.

[It's taken Dark Pit a while to find the network, and even longer to give enough of a damn to put something up.]

[It's not exactly a priority in anachronistic Greco-Romanland okay.]

most people are born with names right

what about people who aren't

how do they get names

or at least ones that don't suck

and if you weren't born with a name or a purpose and you found your own but you can't do it here

what the hell are you supposed to do

[He'll find something... but it's been gnawing at him lately.]

[Marty looks visibly upset, frowning and sort of linefacing.]

Uh hey... has anyone seen Doc Brown around? He's sort of disappeared, and his name isn't on our room anymore.

I'm really hoping he hasn't gone home.

What the hell is THIS?!

[Gilbert shoves a nutrition bar at the camera.]

I didn't mention it right away because I thought this would just be a substitute till more food came in, but three days of whatever the hell this is? This is ridiculous! This isn't even enough to fill me up! I bet that I could eat 20 of these and still be hungry! And if this keeps up, which it probably will, I might as well try that! Who wants a good-old-fashioned nutrition bar eating contest, huh?!

But I'm not here to challenge you guys to an eating contest, or at least not of nutrition bars. No, I've got a better idea! How about we all go to the restaurant and order something delicious? We can all work together to help each other get the necessary items, and then we can get together and have a feast! Doesn't that sound great? I bet it does! Anything is better than these so-called nutrition bars. Let me know if you guys want in on the Great Food Escapade of 2012!

Good evening everyone. I need to apologize to a few people, and since I haven't been able to run into them, hopefully they'll be able to see this text.

Nesir: I do admit that I was in the wrong when I killed you. It was this darn costume. It's been messing with me, and for those first couple of days, I didn't realize that it was the costume controlling me. I am sorry. However, I am also willing to bargain. I have eighteen pieces of candy on me right now. I am willing to exchange these with you for the belongings you stole from me especially Similar to The Sky. That book is precious to me and I want it back.

Kidou: I'm terribly, terribly sorry for what I said and did to you. You were under your costume's influence too, and I said and did some horribly cruel things to you. I hope you can forgive me. If there's anything I can help you with, please, let me know.

Ganondorf/Ganondork: I do apologize for trying to kill you, but know that I am someone! I am Tohko Amano, the book girl, and no matter how much power you have, your love and knowledge of books shall never exceed mine!

Romeo: I apologize for ripping out your heart. That was the costume again, and I am truly sorry. However, I think you owe me an apology too, as you also attacked me for no reason at all.

Also, since this month has been rather rough, I will be whipping up some cakes and other sweets for people to eat on the 31st! Anyone is allowed to come, eat, and cheer up. However, there are some rules. No killing each other and no making a mess. Also, no alcohol, if you were planning on bringing that in somehow.