This day has found me sad.

[ there is not much of an introduction today. Lucrezia Borgia, wrapped in a blanket in her bed, pale fingers flipping through a book which lies open in her lap. ]

What can be done to expel such?

[ Angel isn’t excited to be facing the camera - especially considering this is his first ever appearance on the network, he doesn’t look like he’s doing this for the potential shits and giggles. Though it’s… not as if he ever looks like he’s having that good of a time, facing the entire network with a painfully somber expression, it mostly looks like he’s been wrangled into this confession of his. ]

I’m not gonna beat around the bush, at this point there isn’t any reason to. We’ve all got memories we’re batting around, and none of them are the feel good family picture kind. Unless you managed to get the one where I saved a puppy, in which case-- [ -- you didn’t get the one where he’s nailing them to objects. probably a good thing. back to the serious topic at hand. ]

Anything else you get from me? Isn’t gonna be warm and fuzzy, and I already know that a few of you got the worst of it. My past used to be the kind of thing I bragged about and it isn’t anymore-- it’s not who I am now but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s still mine. It’s still who I was, and if you want to know more? I’d rather have you ask than let it sit in the back of your head like it does in mine.

[ He knows you guys are out there, he knows. And he’s not going to hunt you down because that just makes it a hell of a lot creepier. But he will fold his arms over his chest and look put off by his own existence. ]

I don’t want anyone’s forgiveness, that’s not why i’m asking you to listen. I’m not trying to make anyone understand the things that I did. But if you want an explanation? If you ended up with memories from someone they called Angelus, spending time in Europe killing more people than you could count- torturing the rest just because you wanted to? Maybe getting cursed with a soul? [ this face he’s making means that he really could go on for awhile. ]

Then those were more than likely mine, and if you want to avoid it, that’s fine. So do I. I’ve done everything I can to try and redeem myself, and I can tell you i’m not the same person I used to be. That doesn’t mean you have to believe it. But you should hear it from me instead of wondering if there’s one more monster on board the ship.

[rikku is literally sprawled out on one of the cargo shuttle wings, holding the comm above her face so that the shot is a little crooked but it isn't as if she cares right now. she is one grumpy al bhed.]

Look, I get that sometimes getting into someone else's head can make you feel all warm and fuzzy and you know, brings us closer and whatever, but seriously. Seriously. Memories are meant to be kept inside, private, unless you decide, "Hey, I'm gonna tell so-and-so about that time I did the thing with that guy in the place!"

Our brains aren't like some big screen that anyone can just flip on whenever they want so they can watch that time my cousin wore a swimsuit that made her look exponentially hotter than me and I was maybe a teensy bit jealous because okay, she doesn't usually wear things like that and it didn't seem fair at the time.

[she does not seem to notice that she's doing exactly what she just said she didn't appreciate]

And I don't wanna see anything in your guys' brains either, you know? It's just weird. Way too weird for me.

Seriously.

Causa latet, vis est notissima fontis.

[ and if lucrezia is bothered by -- well, everything, it doesn't show. if anything, she insists on a smile that is brilliant and light as she sits on her swing in the garden, feet bare and the edge of her dress painted green as if she were sitting on the grass before ]

The cause is hidden, but the result is known.

[ and how true that seems to be, isn't it Tranquility? the cause is always hidden and the result is always known; and a bit too late, at that. ]

But why wait until mine are known? I would play a game, Tranquility, and spoil my own surprises. A memory for a memory and a secret for a secret.

[ and who does not want a secret from a Borgia? ]

If I shall find a daring enough partner.

[ this device is still somewhat beyond her. but she can now speak through it without much difficulty, which is progress! hours of button-mashing are starting to pay off. even so, she is a little intimidated to possibly be addressing this entire ship.

so if she sounds like she's far away or just really quiet, that would explain why. ]

Uh, hello. [ she's off to a great start! ] I'm not sure just who can hear me, or if anyone can because I might be using this thing improperly.

But I wanted to ask-- [ no, not about the voices and the memories. ] has anyone seen a tall man, dark-haired and bearded, possibly swinging around an obscenely large greatsword?

That would be my brother, Garrett. Garrett Hawke. I was with him before I came here, and haven't seen him since.

Sorry this is both late and... not updated. For the new arrivals, the situation last month involved a solid month of being unable to get more than an hour or two of sleep at a time, so I very selfishly took the opportunity to sleep the entire day away after the jump.

Now that I'm caught up on blissful, wonderful rest, I'll update the timeline and add a couple new sections as soon as I can.

HELLO You're probably confused. Take some time to read this over. We do our best to keep it up to date, and it should answer most of your questions. THE RUNDOWN » What happened, where you are, what to do REFERENCE » Basic facts about the ship and solar system A TIMELINE OF EVENTS » This will take time to read thoroughly, but we strongly recommend it. FAQ » Please read this before asking a question on the network HEADCOUNT » Our current numbers SPACE TRAINING » If this is your first time aboard a space ship, please watch these helpful videos COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD » For all your wants and needs

[The camera cuts on to reveal a very displeased looking young woman who looks, for those who might recognize the features, like a rather curious mixture of one Han Solo and one Leia Organa.

She stares at the screen for a second, as though expecting it to do something else and, when it doesn't, she just sighs heavily and mutters something that probably isn't meant to be heard by young ears before looking back to the camera once more.]

For the record, this entire situation is a giant, steaming pile of bantha poodoo. [Please, ask what she means by that. Go ahead. Ask.]

If someone's programmed a ship to kidnap people, the least they can do is program it to kidnap the right people. Bringing me here without my brother? [A slight shake of her head and the slow twist of her features into a dangerous looking smirk.] That never ends well.

[There's a pause but, nope, she isn't about to explain what she means by that. Instead she gives a resigned sigh, her expression fades into one of reluctance, and she finally gets to her real point for all of this.]

And now that I have that off my chest, where can I help out around here? If I'm going to be stuck on this floating pile of space junk, I guess I should pull my weight. [Not to mention, this place is going to get old, fast, if she doesn't stay busy.]

[Connor's voice is soft and thoughtful. Actually, it sounds distinctly more like he's monologuing to himself than talking to his little glowing box. In fact, if he hadn't heard other voices coming out of it (and seen words on the glass front that disappeared when he touched it), monologuing would be exactly what he's doing, but he did hear voices so he suspects maybe his voice will come out of other glowing boxes somehow.

He's still pretty monotone, though.]

I find myself in need of a teacher. The...machines here are strange to me. Everything here is strange to me. In the absence of things familiar, I will need... allies-- [Not friends. Not yet, anyway.] --who are willing to help me.

[A brief silence and then:] There is a light on here. How is that made?

[ Perhaps it a bit too late for this sort of conversation, but Erik necessitates its need anyway; the Tranquility has nearly always been a bastion for acceptance and tolerance, and the idea was constantly perpetuated throughout his previous stay here, something that deeply unsettled him. He's in a deserted room, particularly one that Alex Summers might be familiar with from their training sessions long ago, but his reason for being there is more along the need for silence. ]

For those of you who remember my face, I can assure you, you're not mistaken. [ He pauses for a moment, because while it needs to be said, it still angers him that he's back here. ] The ship has brought me back since then. For those of you who don't, [ welllllll. ] I expect we'll be acquaintances soon enough. [ But not really. ] In the meantime, you can call me Magneto. [ Except the fifty billion people that still call him Erik. ]

No doubt all the lectures have made it clear that the ship is not, in any way, safe, and this is hardly any different. I won't speak on false pretenses that unity is what matters, but my issue at hand is this: if you are non-human of any sort, vampires, werewolves, mutants, what have you, I urge you to seek solidarity only among your own kind. It is our strengths that will allow us to survive, our own inherited abilities, and we must use these to secure the ship against its ongoing threats.

We must defend ourselves by striking out towards the enemy and to an equal degree, protect the sections of the ship we have acquired. While the Security team has this under control, the ship's size makes this difficult. [ Considering Erik is on SEC, this is just asking for double protection. ] Your offense is our best defense.

PRIVATE » Alex Summers [ All that he gets is a ping to notice this, because the location should be familiar to him: its where Alex and he had trained a while ago and there are some things better discussed in person than over these. ]

 [ He clears his throat. ]

Alistair here. I'm reporting that Shale's body was... irretrievable. [ A small, muttered "I guess". ] The black hole thingie that killed her is still there. So, unless you want to find it yourself, you're going to need a lot of padding and a lot of rope. [ He chuckles, not really that into it, before pausing. ] No, but seriously, don't do that. The black hole will suck you in and you will die.

The gist of it is basically what everybody else has mentioned before. Walking around alone is a bad idea. If the monsters don't get you, the black hole will.

And to everybody else that knew Shale... [ Right. This is the hardest part. But a good king knows how to lie through his teeth. ] She was a good soldier and a good friend. Whether she's by the Maker's side or she returned to The Stone, know that she's in a better place now.

[There's a burst of static before Bethany's face comes in, a deep frown on her face. She's obviously struggling with the device]

-estly couldn't make this thing any bloody easier to use? Come on, now...

Oh. Oh I think it's on.

[She takes a second to straighten up, a little, the confused look on her face readjusting to the cool professional mask she puts on while in Grey Warden mode.]

My name is Bethany, and I am a Grey Warden. If anyone is familiar with my order I would... greatly appreciate someone putting me in contact with them.

[She hesitates a moment, looking a little uncertain, before adding-]

...Thank you.

[aaand disconnect.]