h'okay. so. here's the critpost.

anyway, how am i doing? good? bad? could be better, could be worse? i'd be happy to hear ANYTHING you have to say about what i should work on or improve upon (or stop altogether)! please try to keep it constructive; flames will not be tolerated, but constructive comments would be absolutely amazing. comments are screened, anon is on, IP logging should be off. thanks in advance! ♥

[contact info!]
name: naru
email: hippiemusic AT gmail.com
aim: virtualresonance
journal: patchouli
other characters: edward elric, holden (scientist)

drop me a line here if you can't get in touch with me, if you need/want me for plotting, questions or anything.

[sound of a door opening, and footsteps, and then-- STOP. WTF. SO MANY PEOPLE?!]

J-jeez...not this again--! What the heck?!

[...okay, no, how about we try a different approach here. Ahem.]

Well. With millions of new people, there's only one thing to do, right? Welcome to Discedo, guys. My name is Umi! This place is kinda disorienting, and dangerous to boot...so just ask if you need a hand, okay?

...Here's hoping I'm not gonna regret this.

((ooc: commentlogs/actionspam welcome and encouraged for anyone wandering the streets! anything goes, bother the hell out of her! ♥ also will be posting for ed tomorrow, since i'm still tagging everything like a madman too xD

edit: ...fhgjs oh my god, this is the most amazing post ever. EVER. OH MY hdfjghjkjs thank you so much guys this is absolutely incredible ♥))

( private//hackable )

November already...at this rate, it'll be Christmas before we know it. I wonder if those guys have anything planned...it can't be as humiliating as last year, right? There's no way.

Or maybe we can beat 'em to it and plan something ourselves.

Anyway, it looks like we're back in business with the training stuff at the High School. And it looks like this place is bringing in a lot of new people at once, so: hi everyone! We have morning training sessions every day at the High School. Swordfighting, martial arts, medidation... Sounds like we've even got someone teaching staff, too. They're really helpful, so stop by the High School if you're interested in checking it out. If you don't know how to get there, let me know! I'm pretty good at playing tour guide, too.

... Hey--

((ooc: yeah, we'll pretend this post isn't a million years late ;; strikes are deleted text))

[the audio clicks on and at first it's kind of muffled; a few short knocks can be heard]

Hey, Ryou, I understand if you're sick or something, but if you're just slacking off--

[a door creaks open, and a very...very long silence follows]

They didn't-- ...they wouldn't--

[another short pause, and there's a click as Umi pushes the record button; the rest of the transmission is clear and not muffled]

Does anyone know-- [...sob] Has anyone seen Haseo? He's gotta be...

[...]

[Her voice shakes a bit, but she speaks almost urgently] ...I'm gonna go look for him.

[The video feed begins; Umi's looking at the camera through a dark blue half mask. She smiles a little, and then pulls it away from her face.]

That time of year again, huh? Happy Halloween, everyone! The masks are a lot better than the costumes from last year. [...] Hey, I know we aren't gonna do anything special at the Lights tonight, but I made some treats in case anyone stops by. That makes it sound almost like trick-or-treating or something like that...

Anyway, I'm just gonna cross my fingers and hope that this is all the Scientists are gonna do for a holiday like this.

[a pause; she puts the mask back on]

...Oh, that's right. Hey, guys! Just because Zuko's in the hospital doesn't mean we're skipping out on training and sparring in the mornings, y'know. Prydain, Haseo and I are kinda filling in until he's better -- and anyone else that wants to help, too! Boy, we could really use it. So anyone that's interested in training a little with martial arts, self-defense, swordfighting, that kind of thing: we're in the High School gym every morning!

[...] It's kinda weird that they only celebrate Earth holidays around here, isn't it?

[the post begins to the sound of rustling.] Ngh-- wha? ...Well, here's this thing, but where am I? [...] Wait-- the hospital? You've gotta be kidding me!

[she's quiet for a minute, and there's some more rustling as she sits up; then a few clicks can be heard as she skims posts on the network]

Boy, you people sure talk a lot for just a few hours-- ...Hold on a second-- what the heck? That date's not right, is it?! It's supposed to be Monday, there's no way--

[and NOW she remembers what happened] Four days...really. That...

... THAT JERK--! [And she jumps out of bed, all ready to give him a piece of her mind. Obviously this is a bad plan, because she groans and can be heard stumbling back. There's a pause, and then a small sigh]

Hey, so...I should probably say thanks to whoever brought me here. I might've been in big trouble otherwise. I haven't missed too much, have I? [...] This...stupid city. It just never ends...!

[The video feed clicks on to the sound of silence. Umi can be seen, lying down, eyes closed...at first it just looks like she's sleeping -- she definitely doesn't seem to have any injuries, at least. But she's oddly calm and motionless, except for the occasional, subtle movement of breathing.

She's also not inside, at the Gohl house. In fact it looks like she's out in the street, on the ground, although it's hard to make out any defining details. Her sword is nearby.

This video transmits for another few minutes, and nothing changes: the silence and stillness remain, and she doesn't move at all, except to breathe. Even that is small motions. After a while, the video times out, and the transmission ends.]

((ooc: it's all gilgamesh's fault. 8| she'll be unconscious until saturday-ish due to this life-draining stuff, so obviously no replies! but if anyone wants to take her to the hospital or to gohl house, i'd be eternally grateful! ♥))

[The sound of footsteps; Umi's left the hospital. There's a small, hesitant noise every so often as she begins to speak, tries to find something...but can't. After a moment, the footsteps stop; she's back at the Gohl house. Another pause, brief, and then a very, very small laugh as she finally gets a look at what Usopp did.]

...It looks good, Usopp. Big improvement!

So-- [...God, anything she could say would just be fail right now, wouldn't it.] We're back. Guess I'm a little late saying it, huh...

[...] Is everyone all right? Was it really because of the chips? I can refill some of the water supplies now, and if there's anything else I can do... [A little sigh.] I've felt so useless this whole time--

( Locked to Gohl house )

( Locked to Sakon )

( Locked to Zoro )

[A few footsteps can be heard, echoing a little]

A subway...again. At least we're not stuck down here this time, but still... [...] Wait a second, what's that light?

[some soft rustling can be heard]

This thing again, huh? You really do turn on at the weirdest times, y'know. ...Anyway, there's a subway out here! We're all fine so far, though. It's all fine. Just creepy. Really...really creepy. It reminds me of last year, kinda... Here-- hopefully this'll show up.

[There's a pause, and the feed switches to video: the picture is shaky as she holds the communicator, and the room is very, very dim, but looks like a small subway station terminal; after a minute of this it switches back to audio]

If it doesn't, Pence brought a camera!

[...] Hey, how's everyone back in the city?

((ooc: commentlog option for anyone else in the group! uh, i think they're in the subway by now at least? xD if not, this is future-dated!))

It seems like they've been taking a lot of people back that've been here for a while, doesn't it?... Kinda makes you think, maybe there's some kind of...I don't know, time limit on how long they'll keep us here. Or something like that. I wonder--

[...]

Anyway. Come to think of it, Haseo, Prydain and I are all going, aren't we? ...Sorry, Iroh. At least morning training will be a little quieter for a week, huh? Anyway, we should be leaving soon! I think I have everything ready, but... I'll take another look.

Oh, right! If anyone needs water tanks filled one last time, let me know right now and I can do that, okay? I know it's kinda tough right now, since Demyx left, so I want to help.

A year and a half, and I can count the times I've been out of the city on one hand...I guess this place can make a person kinda lazy, despite everything.

[a short pause]

( Locked to Zoro )

((ooc: backdated to BEFORE prydain's group leaves the city because apparently i'm a doof xD;))

All right -- full recovery! Thanks to Chopper's genius doctoring, of course.

[she takes a deep breath, sounding a little sheepish]

Okay, I thought it was a cold...but apparently I messed up my shoulder. Talk about something I don't plan to do ever again. I'll be more careful from now on. Definitely. As much as I like sleep, I think if I never get stuck in bed for that long again, it'll be too soon.

[...] I've got a lot of energy to burn off, too...does anyone want to spar, maybe?

I'll be back at work and morning training starting tomorrow, by the way. Since some of us are leaving the city in a little over a week, I expect everyone to work hard! Better start getting supplies ready too, huh?

[EDIT; added later, text]

That's right! I heard that Demyx left. It's kinda weird...he was here even longer than I was. Anyway, I've been responsible for Gohl's water supply for a while, and if I can help with any of the other buildings, let me know! It's probably pretty tough for everyone right now, with a sudden change like that.

((ooc: strikes are deleted text))

[The device clicks on to reveal a room in the Gohl rowhouse: curtains are still drawn over the windows, although it allows a little dim light into the room, enough to see a still figure in bed. Soft breathing can be heard but nothing else for a little while. Then, a muffled voice, slurred a bit by sleep:]

Lake monster sushi...Fuu, that sounds kinda creepy. I can't even make sushi, can you? [...] H-hey, there's a limit to 'traditional,' you kno-- ...huh? What's that light?

[Umi sits up and leans in close to the communicator -- her hair's disheveled and her cheeks are flushed]

Oh...this thing again. You never quit, do you? [...] Looks like I'm gonna miss training today. Work, too, I guess. Sorry, but I don't really-- ...Anyway, I'll be back at it tomorrow. Promise! So...

[a pause. she sighs, obviously fatigued, and clicks the video off]

((discedo being, well, discedo, umi's got an infection and fever from the wound she got fighting the redeads |D;))

Zombies. For crying out loud...! This city just doesn't quit! Hey! Is everyone okay?! Gohl's holding up fine, I'm just keeping these weirdos away from the front of the house. They're getting almost too close for comfort.

[An earsplitting screech can be heard; the device clatters to the ground.] --noise is really-- nngh! ...Huh?! I can't move-- ...What IS this?!

[There's a long pause. A few deep, haunting groans can be heard from the ReDeads, as well as slow, heavy, steady footsteps. When Umi speaks again, her voice sounds quiet and strained, like she's struggling]

...So that's how it works with you slowpokes, huh? I get it...you freeze someone and then take your own time attacking.

You guys are the worst. I won't-- I can't--

[she takes a slow, deep breath, and her voice seems stronger]

...There's no way I'm gonna lose to you creeps!

Ice blades!!

[The audio begins to the sound of a few buttons clicking. Umi's mostly thinking out loud, quietly; she doesn't seem to notice it's recording.] So that's how this frequency stuff works, right?...I think I got it.

[There's a pause; her voice sounds shaky when she speaks again]

--Both of them...?

[She's quiet for a moment, and the feed switches to text]

How could they
...That's not fair, Discedo

[...]

I wonder...how they decide who leaves the city.

I hate this place...!!

((ooc: strikes are deleted text, not visible))

[Footsteps can be heard, followed by: BZZZZZZZT, and a sharp cry.]

Ouch! ...Huh?! Wait a second, I KNOW it hasn't been that long-- [bzzt!] Hey! Cut that out!

Jeez...what's with this thing? St▒▒░▓▒▓░▒ting so weird...

[...] ▓░░ Anyway, I'm heading to th░▓▒▒░▒ to pick up a few things, so--▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

[there's nothing but static for a few minutes; then the footsteps can be heard again, a little slower]

...Okay, I KNOW it doesn't take this long to get there. ...Don't tell me I'm lost. This is like some kinda bad joke! But-- [...] What the heck is ▓░▓▒▒▓n around-- [she stops abruptly, and is quiet for a minute] ...Hello? Is someone there? ...Hey! Show yourself!

[the feed dissolves into static again, and then times out]

[well well, been a while hasn't it? BZZZZZZZZZZZZT!]

ACK--! Okay, what in the-- Oh, this stupid thing. That one HURT, you know!

[a little sigh]

It hasn't even been that long, has it?...fine, fine. [...] Well, it's stopped snowing, but it's still cold...and now it's September! Maybe we really ARE gonna miss out on summer, but hopefully the snow will start melting now, at least. We've got exploring to do, after all!

[...]

So...all this quiet's kinda creepy, isn't it?

[there's a pause, and then she clicks the transmission off]

[the recording begins with the sound of quiet sniffling]

So they really do...show things like that.

It's just-- ...So this is what you saw. [alone. suffering by yourself. because I couldn't see it sob tiny sister] ...It's almost cruel, isn't it?

[there's a lengthy pause, and then a sigh]

Jeez...what's it gonna take to get rid of these things, anyway? The last time I tried to touch them, they shocked me. This is almost too much...

[...]

[she fumbles with the communicator for a moment, until she manages to:]

( Locked away from Sanji and Zoro )

((ooc: let's just say this is backdated to before the event ends ;; she saw the same thing as hikaru, but was more prepared for it. also, all responses to the locked part will automatically be under the same lock, just to avoid confusion ♥))

I can't BELIEVE this... Like we really needed more ways for people to end up sick around here! They say curiosity killed the cat, I guess, but...ugh. I can't believe it...I didn't think anything in the world could taste that bad...

I hate to waste anything around here, but these things have gotta go! Hikaru, guys, don't eat them!

((umi's removing the cookies of doom from gohl, but if anyone in the house wants to subject themselves to pain and possibly trauma, feel free to say she missed a few xD))

Boy, has it been a long week...I don't even know where to start. [a small, thoughtful pause] ...Well, first off, thanks everyone for helping out with the party last week. And thanks for coming, everyone! It was a big success.

Two weeks and it's still snowy... Hey-- we had some weird weather last year, too, does anyone remember that? Back then, it rained for a month straight...but at least it was warm.

[...]

It looks like we're getting a lot of new people again, too. Welcome, guys! ...Jeez, welcoming people to a place like this... I'm Umi, and if anyone's interested, I help teach martial arts and fighting techniques in the gym every morning. It comes in handy around here, if you haven't met any of our not-so-friendly neighbors yet.

( Locked to Iroh )

( Locked to Hikaru )

...This time it's Zoro that's gone. Jeez, Scientists, you really can't just give it a rest, can you?