soul_campaign | April 8 afternoon

["Good afternoon," would be the normal start to a post like this, but there's nothing particularly good about today's afternoon despite the picture-perfect weather. Live from Shibusen's Death Room comes a video feed of Azusa and a worried-looking Marie. It's angled oddly, as if the camera's somewhere slightly above their heads - it also gives a wider view of the central platform and the room beyond, with half a dozen green and black screens, monitors propped up on rickety stands and showing what appears to be gibberish, at first glance.

Azusa squints at one of the screens, which is currently showing scrolling lines of code, and jabs at it with a finger, freezing the lines in place. She then blinks up at the camera, finally, and there's a fleeting glimpse of bloodshot eyes before she tilts her head, and the usual trick of the light causes her glasses to go opaque.]

Levels of madness all over North America and Canada have begun to decrease. It’s not an even reduction, as there are still some stubborn pockets of greater concentration, but what we’re seeing now is a direct consequence of the third madness wavelength emitter being destroyed, and the extermination of six high-level kishin eggs that were deployed in the early hours of April third--as decoys to throw our forces into confusion while infiltration of the Nocturne Bazaar was being carried out--

[Here she stops, as if something had gotten stuck in her throat. It won’t be visible to anyone, except maybe to those who’ve spent the most time with her and have gotten to know her well--she’s pissed that the witches managed to sneak past her eyesight. And there’s something else, as she stares at the camera recording her announcement: a hard, displeased glint in her gaze, as if she’s saying, we kicked ass, did you know? No, you’re all too busy whining about our incompetence to notice.]

--If the situation continues to improve as such, we may begin lifting travel restrictions outside of Death City. It would be good experience for everyone to experience firsthand what conditions are like elsewhere. [Azusa looks almost darkly amused now, and there’s a sarcastic edge to the arch of her eyebrows. But thankfully, before she can say anything nastier--]

Well, ah...a little good news - you can go see the world!

[Marie cuts in quickly. She’s known Asuza long enough to know it’s probably for the best that Asuza doesn’t finish whatever she was about to say, there. It’s been difficult for everyone lately. She attempts to smile reassuringly, but there’s still some lingering worry. ]

If you’re going to leave Death City, you should make sure you’re not traveling alone - groups would be best. If you’re prone to Madness, try to bring someone with you who isn’t for balance.

[Positive as Marie tries to be - a beacon of light amongst the darkness - she can only conceal her own worries and sorrows so much.]

Unfortunately, although everyone did very well in the attack, not everyone survived. I’d like to ask that everyone take a moment of silence to remember people who bravely fought. We lost a great number of people including several guests. Please keep them in your thoughts, and please remember that if it wasn’t for all of you working together with Shibusen that many others would have died.

[But wait, there’s more. Azusa, looking rather disgruntled by Marie’s interruption, opens her mouth as if to add something--an exact casualty count, and the number of witches and witch familiars killed, maybe a general admonishment about guests who prefer to engage in lazy sophistry instead of actually going out there to fight, but another glance at Marie silences her. Maybe she’s realized how much that report would sound like the unfeeling kill count statistics screen of a video game.

Or maybe she’s just wary of getting punched in the face again.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[As one of the non-participants in the last fight, she'd be grateful to Marie if she knew what Azusa was going to say.]

If we were to attempt to leave the city, what do you 8elieve we should expect?

It varies. Kishin eggs can be found nearly anywhere in the world. The strongest ones are more likely to be found in really densely populated areas, especially if Madness is high there.

I see.
Outside of the kinshin eggs, madness and witches, is there anything else?

I would recommend checking the upcoming weather conditions for the area you're planning on traveling to, just to make sure you're not going to arrive during a tropical storm or something.

[A nice tropical country is where she'd like to be, right now. But she'll do her job. She's not lazy about the important things.]

Most of North America and Canada should be safe by the end of the week.

That seems surprisingly specific.

At least some good came out of the situation.

..What happened to the Witch?

I...think that's going to be announced later today. I'd have to check to be sure.

Is there a list of names of all casualties to give them a proper burial or some way to remember them?

[He's careful to say "all casualties" because, like it or hate it, they need to work together if they want to survive and the first way to integrate is to stop separating one another. The locals who died were no less important than any guests, likely sacrificing themselves so some of those guests could live.]

Edited 2012-11-20 17:31 (UTC)

[It's a kind offer, and Marie blinks for a moment.]

We could get a list to you, if you like.

I'd appreciate it. Thank you.

[He's not the religious type but it seems depressing for those people to give their lives without being properly honored for doing so.]

We should be able to fund a memorial service for everyone...if you wouldn't mind helping to organize it?

[Six is a bit surprised at that.]

I wouldn't mind helping, but I don't have any experience organizing anything other than troop movements and paperwork.

We could use whatever help you're able to offer. Shibusen is going to have its hands full with reconstruction efforts.

Then I'll do all I can.

Thank you. We appreciate the help.

[He simply nods his head to accept her gratitude.]

[As one of the ones who did fight for the people of Death City, Sheena's a little pissed at the attitude that she's catching on the screen.]

Will there be some sort of service for those who gave their lives for the others here?

Or should we all just go on a trip as a way to remember them?

[Yeah, she can be snarky and bitchy, too.]

A service is being organized. Would you be willing to volunteer some time in helping to organize it? Shibusen will pay for it, but our focus is going to be caring for the injured and repairing the city.

Sure. I don't mind volunteering.

[She can't work thanks to her injuries, so she's got a lot of time on her hands.]

As expected of any war.

[There's a little jadedness to Genesis' tone. He's seen it all before. And, unlike some others, he doesn't really think much of monuments and memorials. It isn't his biggest concern. And he is sure that others can fuss over that.]

How far would we be able to travel when the restrictions are lifted?

We can provide a color-coded map showing what zones are restricted and which ones aren't.

That would be good. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Miss Azuza, Keroro and I fought this strange thing when we went to the Bazaar and it wasn't a Kishin Egg or a familiar. Do you know what it was?

April 8 afternoon | video

[text]

[Video]

[text]

[Video]

[Video]

[text]

[video]

[video]

[Video // Locked to Azusa and Marie]

[Video // Locked]

[Video // Locked]

[Video // Locked]

[Video // Locked]

[Video // Locked]

[Video // Locked]

[Video // Locked]

[Video // Locked]

[Audio] Private to both.

[Audio] Sorry for the delay!

[Audio] No Problem!

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[ video ]