Thank you to Yalena for getting us sorted. [Sort of sorted. Sort of.] Now that we've arrived in New Tokyo and we're stuck inside for a little while, I think we should talk about some new changes that we're facing. I can't be the only one.

But first: a good number of us are here unwillingly, but we have to wait until we're fully prepped before we can go anywhere. Heading outside in these temperatures while unprepared could cost you your life. We all hate being trapped somewhere. I think that's pretty well-established. We also hate having to do anything or be anywhere when we didn't ask for that to happen. At least it doesn't seem like we were drugged, though it wouldn't hurt for Katelin and I to take some blood samples to confirm that. We'll have to store them until we get back.

As for the changes in your lives: have you noticed any? For instance, apparently I'm a lab tech at Giles Bell. I tried to set myself up for a new internship there that I could get easily, but I got ... elevated. Or hired beyond that? I'm not sure what the right terminology is here. Has anyone else noticed this? Or had it happen to them? I got permissions to take leaves from both of my jobs. And no, I'm really not prepared to work as a lab tech. I don't even know the first thing about setting up gels.

As a bit of a personal request ... does anyone think we can make pancakes in the small kitchen here? I have a craving for them. I've not really had cakes of the "pancake" variety before, but I want them now. And if you think we can, can you make them?

[This last bit is Loki's fault.]

[the first thing everyone gets on the network feed is a set of two pictures, several minutes apart from one another: one and two are somewhat blurry. there doesn't seem to be any context, other than it's been posted by @prom.argentum. soon enough, text appears, however.]

alright sup hi hello everyone, i’m not expecting anyone to be able to do anything cuz let's be real: i am doomed to be stuck in here forever but i just wanna be able to record the last few minutes of life that i have in this world

these vents are so spooky and also i am highly claustrophobic and i don't think this shaking is an indication of anything good

ugh

hey @deimos.fighter
it was your turn to go into the vents

wh y

have i been forsakesdfsFHSGhdgn

[no one can see this, but he sure turned left and fell... further down the vent. his screams can probably be heard if you're aboard one of the underground trains...]

[two minutes later, this picture gets introduced.]

hello?? ok i think i landed on like.. some uncharted vent territory
NOW i'm recording this so that the public can know that dennis told me to go left and that led me straight dOWN AN OPEN SHAFT, THANKS A LOT, DENNIS

[silence]

uh... i think i just saw a cockroach the size of my hand
??? i'm gonna throw up

@deimos.fighter
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[ Jughead's neural implant will never be as good as his typewriter, but for now it's enough to say what he wants to say. true to form, it comes out a lot longer than not: ]

Hey, I'm Jughead. Yeah, that's my real name. I'm not taking questions on that. I've got a few things I want to talk about. Consider it long overdue, so buckle up.

Back home, I was a journalist. The place I come from is a small town called Riverdale, also ironically known as "the town with pep." On the outside it looked like a regular place with regular people going about their days, thinking that they're safe. Maybe it is, in a sense. I keep hearing stories of magic powers, traveling through dimensions and fighting in outer space. The kind of stuff that would put Tolkien to shame. In comparison, Riverdale is just a normal town with a few dark secrets: Drug rings, gangs, a serial killer run rampant, and a mob boss settling himself in like Dracula in London. It's that kind of corruption that put us on the underground map. So, when people needed to know the truth of what was happening, I exposed it--I printed it. I did what I could to get the word out.

I found a job doing the same thing here. Once a journalist, always a journalist. During the UNA kidnappings--or, attack, really--I took pictures, and I wrote a story going along with it. Then, I fought to get it published, not just for us--the people stuck here--but for New Amsterdam. They need to know what's happening to them in their own city. Anyone can take a good guess at what happened after that: My boss turned me down without a good reason why. There was a lot of "I need to keep my head down" and "it's good, but too bold" excuses that came down more as thinly veiled warnings. That can only mean one thing, and that was that a negative article about the UN was making people nervous. It's not surprising in a world where the Orwellian rule has already gotten their foothold that deep censorship is the consequence. The worst part of it all is that everyone seemed to know it and had already given up. The fight wasn't worth it to them.

I want to figure out the details as much as anyone else; I want to go home. Even though I've got a lot to go back to, we can't ignore what's going on here.

So, hear me out.

We've kept our heads down all this time, trying to stay beneath the radar. (Trying being stressed, here.) I want us to think about taking a different approach--like taking a step forward to say that we're here. It doesn't have to be everything about us, but maybe just a few things. Before everyone gets up and arms and thinks about the wild and crazy consequences that could happen, think about the other side of it: If this was happening in the world you come from, wouldn't you want to know? We've been detaching from Morningstar, we're making strides to make things our own, and we need people to help us. Yeah, we're going to get people who hate us, but we might be able to get a lot that will help us, too. We've all seen the shrines. It might be nice to be ruled by something that isn't fear.

[ he can't put a final tap on a key, but he can sit back where he's sitting with a huff and a hand through his hair. ]

[01 October 0700]

when we discover who the hel is behind all this damned nonsense i swear by the Norns and the fucking all father himself i'll rip out their spines and feed them their own entrails

slowly, one inch of bloody intestine at a time

As some of you may already know, discussion has been taking place in regards to moving to a new safehouse; I understand that this isn’t a small endeavor, yet it’s something that should be seriously considered in the wake of all that’s happened. And while losing a multitude of Morningstar contacts is a detriment in its own right, it makes sense to view this as a new opportunity for the displaced. To become autonomous, self-sufficient, and able to move in whatever direction we deem as best for ourselves and those who would join us in the future. To finally be able to rely on our chosen initiatives, instead of depending on the generosity of an outside group with their own causes, objectives, and priorities to tend to.

This wouldn’t be a complete severance from Morningstar. Gaby, El, and a few others will still be willing to assist us when they can, and what previous resources left behind in the city will be available for us to use. It would be more akin to a partnership, with the understanding to give aid to the other when reasonably needed. Quid pro quo.

I’m not here to make these decisions for us, only to open the floor to discussion and to provide information so we can decide if and how we want to proceed. El’s given us a shortlist of unoccupied sites that are best suited for setting up a new safehouse. I’ve summarized them very briefly.

( BEEP BOOP a tiny cut )

All of these locations have an underground space which would house the core of the safehouse. What exists above is not only a front, but will have to act as a means of financially sustaining ourselves to keep supplies stocked, facilities running, and to afford basic upkeep. Which means that we’d be running a business on top of everything else, and should consider which will be the most viable as venture; which also means that we’ll need capital to get started, several people willing to devote their time and energy to this project, and reliable individuals who can work as actual employees once things are up and running.

Needless to say, I’m willing to commit the time and effort necessary to see it through to the end. But this is a large project that won’t get off the ground unless we compile resources and ideas together — and the earlier, the better.

[Please discuss!!]

((OOC; This is an open post for everyone to discuss matters about the future safehouse! Markus won’t necessarily be responding to each tag-in.))

[ usually there's a bit more of an easy tone to him, but the mood the last few days has been exhausting. it's a win for them on some levels, but also a loss—it certainly feels more like a loss. ]

Well, it's certainly been a week. While it's still fresh in our minds, I'd like to pose a few questions as we collectively recover from the last mission, directly from experience. Some of us, if not most, came in head-to-head with the United Nations Army. I'd like to know what everyone picked up from their close encounters.

Thus:
Were there any details noticed that stuck out? Oddities in behavior? Perhaps abilities used and tidbits returned in certain unexpected results? Fill in your own question here, etc. etc.

There were enough hints put together that their methods of organization weren't exactly "normal." While I've got a few of my own theories, but I'd quite like to hear everyone else's thoughts on this whole dealy. This may lead elsewhere, depending on just how far the rabbit hole takes us. There are still some Morningstar agents out there, taken from their homes and families, as well as a disgruntled and unsure UN.

To make things clear: I've decided to pose these questions to compile our experiences. We'd be best to have an idea of what we're dealing with in the future and where they can dealt with as the situation calls. As our circumstances currently sit, I doubt this will be our first and last run-in with the UN authorities, by nature of our own existences. I refuse to give them satisfaction of anything close to winning.

If you like authentic Chinese food, respond.
If not, our business is concluded and I have nothing to say to you at this time.

[ There's a pause here, let it be inferred that Jake is staring disbelievingly at Hei for starting this series of messages off this way. ]

let me do us all a favor and interject here before this guy can slam us any further down the rabbit hole because this isnt how we agreed to vet people. weve done a little reading up so we can skip intros from you guys, but ill start this off saying im sergei, 1 of 2 men you guys had a fun debate over a little while back

You even type too much.

this here is tak

Without watering my own thoughts down with pointless introductions, I will add this:
Whether killing us in police custody was the right or wrong thing to push for, it doesn't matter.
Decisions were made to threaten us over a very public network and you'll all learn that this was a mistake.
Our information, as well as our services, will not be extended to you in the future.
I may rethink this if I'm given appropriate restaurant recommendations, but in the effort of full disclosure...
It's very doubtful.

great sticking to your guns there tak. point either way is it was a pretty fun read, not many better ways to get to know a community than reading their public discourse surrounding the incarceration of two guys when they have zero info. i like that balls to the wall approach of kill first, never ask questions later. reminds me of old coworkers. anyway if resnik, sky, alucard, kaldur'ahm, rider, grayson, argentum, rammsteiner, odinson, fighter, and kogane ever wanna do business, give a shout. im not as into threats.

Or getting to the heart of the matter quickly.
In any case, this offer extends to those who attempted to assist me during the festival.
Your patience may be rewarded.

[ These come as a slew of texts from both implants, one after another, clogging the network with a bunch of bullshit. Replies will come from both Hei and Jake. ]

There are a lot of things I can say here. I can chastise all of us for how discussions went before. But that's not important. People are in danger, and they're people who have helped us. I haven't made it a secret that I think Morningstar doesn't deserve devotion from us. The thing is, there's a difference between devotion and helping out someone who's helped you. It's time for us to do the latter. My issues don't mean anything. We know Morningstar can do good work.

So, let's talk. Let's plan. We should all do it in the same place.

I want to lay some ground rules.

1. Even if we've been asked to use the weapons only to stun any assailants, a number of us know it's not that simple. So, let's skip the morality talk about whether or not that's okay. Sorry, Gaby. I actually trust most people won't go in guns blazing. [She actually wouldn't if there weren't "civilians" involved. She's still not sure she does now, but that's unimportant. White lies have a place here.] Self-defense is a thing. Let's all trust one another.

2. I have a lot of questions about this. We all do. But we have a limited time to pull this off. Let's try to focus on what we can do and then figure out the rest later. If you think you can get answers now that can help us? Bring it forward. Make a new reply to draw eyes to it.

3. I figure we have two separate directions we can go, but we need all hands on deck. If you're not comfortable handling a gun, take the address for the safehouses and get them set up.

4. Nothing "funny" about these rules. Which means the first thing you're all going to say is ... about my rules. Get it out of your system.

[There is a lot more to say, a lot more to add, but Clarke knows that it likely isn't her place to talk about it. Plus, some of these people are adults, even if they don't act like it. Maybe they won't make a joke about her rules.

... But she bets they will.]

edit: Daisy set up a useful map for everyone. Keep it updated as best as you can.

[ooc: this is the previously discussed and set up IC planning post for the event! Clarke won't be replying to everyone.]

My name is Hafid al Ghul.

For those of you who are new here, I will do my best to bring you up to speed with the current situation. You have been kidnapped, modified both technologically and perhaps genetically, and left stranded in an alternate future. There may be people from your world or worlds adjacent to yours here. I recommend you brush up on multiverse theory to save everyone the effort of explaining it.

You've been given new abilities. They may mirror the ones you had before if you had them before or they may be entirely alien. I can offer a space in which to refine these abilities. In addition to that, if you touch another displaced person you'll trigger an empathy bond. Using your abilities and activating this will also trigger a glow in your chest - we do not know the origin of this glow yet. If there is additional hardware in your chest, it's below or in the bone.

While your power mastery is up to you, I can teach combat. I'm looking for any additional instructors willing to put in the time to ensure all among us have a basic grasp of self-defense. Date for first lesson is still pending, let me know if interested. Expect to work. I will not be babying you. Do not expect other people to carry your weight for you.