§ 005.

[symmachy]

[since bruce left, someone has been neglectful of her feeding schedule. this has probably been a mistake. no--this has definitely been a mistake.

she's sitting on some roof, legs dangling off the ledge. some monster behind her is wheezing, gurgling in its own blood. there's a claymore sticking out of its body, and from how close the hilt is to its skin, it's safe to assume that the blade is stuck into the concrete of the building, pinning the creature to the roof. scathach seems completely unconcerned with its obvious state of suffering.

it isn't raining right now, but she has clearly been in it since her clothes and hair are sticking to her. and is it you, or does her skin look a little too pale and as if it's been stretched over her skull a little too tight? no, it isn't just you.]

It's funny. [a beat passes before she recalls that she should probably explain what is funny.] There's never before been a prison that was able to hold me.

[these words feel so familiar, though she can't place why. memories from the place before here swirl around, indistinct, full of faces without names. it's frustrating.]

Ten thousand years, and not one until this place. [a longer pause. she turns to reach behind her with her free hand, grabs the hilt of the sword and with a fluid movement, yanks it out of the monster. it yelps, she gives an almost careless stab at its throat. silence. there isn't a speck of blood on her after she withdraws her blade again. there's the slightest frown on her face.]

I changed my mind. It isn't funny.

[sword and comm still in her hands, she slides off the building towards the ground, however many storeys below her. the feed cuts as she falls. don't worry, she'll land. she just doesn't want you to see it because she's a sulky drama queen.]

[Video]

[itsatrep]

[There was a news item today about a knockout gas attack on AGI Tower. That's the first thing that inspires the post.]

Ooh, if I'm not careful, I might get gassed to death at work.

What's so bad about working for AGI anyway?

[The second is the chance to ask a question that he knows will piss people off.]

002 - In which Howl opens for business.

[likepaleglass]

[There's that man again on the screen. That one you can almost smell through the electronics, though that's a complete impossibility. (Lavender today, by the way.) The apartment behind him, obviously Newcomer-standard, is in the beginnings of what will become a fine shambles, dirty dishes piled high in the sink, a banana peel draped elegantly over the edge of a garbage pail, and everywhere books -- books upon books and scraps of metal and odds and ends that aren't even quite identifiable. In the midst of it, Howl is impeccably clean and groomed as always, with not even a wrinkle.]

An introduction seems in order. I am the Wizard Howl Pendragon, conjuror and constructor of magical artifacts, creator of curses, cantrips, and charms from the large to the small in scale. Need to win a duel or your worst enemy's hair to fall out? Find me. In need of your one-bedroom flat to become a 5-bedroom palatable estate? Call upon me. Fees are negotiable.

[A release of breath, and he nudges back his hair.] I usually rely on word of mouth, but considering the circumstances, it seems I am my primary advertiser.

[A pause.]

I'd also like to know more about this Core -- and its record. The library hasn't been as helpful as I would like.

[ Video / Filtered away from Fattie Hattie ]

[ella_of_frell]

[ When the NV flips on it's to show an image of Ella curled up on a couch with several books on her lap. A book other than the NV that is. Keen observers may catch sight of the titles, all relating to law. Apparently she's also given up on making heads or tails of its contents (it all gave her a dizzying headache *sob*) and was inclined to seek help from elsewhere. Like the network. ]

I've been here a little over a week, and I think I've gotten the hang of a lot of the things here. Again - since I've apparently been here before. But that's neither here nor there. I'm actually curious if anyone out there can give me a quick run down of the basic laws in this era.

Back home if there was a problem of this nature you could just request an audience with the King and Queen, and they would deliberate on the case there. Here it's different - and, to be honest, I'm not following all of ... this. [ She punctuates that by flumping the book nearest her closed. ]

I wish Slannen were here. [ Law Elf would help her ;.;! ]

Actually when I think about it, that's.. probably pretty vague, isn't it. Just... law. Specifically I'd like some information on the labor laws in this place-- if there are any.

[ A pause. ]

Speaking of labor, some good news - I had an employment opportunity before I was pulled away from this place, and my employer was kind enough to offer me that job back. So those are two job opportunities to consider, between Chuck and Phibrizzo. [ She may just take both, depending on how expensive it is living here. ]

... someone showed me how to make these entries so that certain people don't see them, so I hope I did it properly... Anyway, I've pretty much been given the basic run through of welcomes here. Stay inside at night, avoid the companies, that sort of thing. Anything I'm missing?

[ Cuz if she didn't, her sneaky hiding from Hattieness may be in jeopardy. After a restless moment, she addresses the network again. ]

Hitsugaya, if you have a moment, there's something I wanted to ask you about -- in person.