[Lancer sat out in the middle of one of the streets of the Industrial District, one hand holding his mirror as the other held a carrot, which a grey-coated stallion with glowing red eyes was eating out of his hand. He didn't seem to really notice the horse biting close to his fingers as he spoke.]

I'm lackin' in terms of entertainment as of late. As interestin' as the game is, I miss huntin' in deep forests. I'm not sure if it's just kids playin', but I bet there're good games around, sport or not. Know any?

[A black horse suddenly shifted in front of the mirror, reaching over to try and get the rest of the carrot, one red eye passing in view before Lancer moved the mirror away.]

...If you two can't share, I'm dismissin' you. You don't need to eat.

[The horses ignored him, suddenly butting heads and making deep snorting noises just before Lancer overturned and hit the floor, his mirror falling aside.]

Shit! I told you two--! [Just in view of the mirror, the grey and black horse butted heads and raised their hooves, beginning to fight. Lancer glowered up at them, muttering.]

Shouldn't have summoned you idiots...

[Voice]

( introspection )

Hey, everyone, throw some products at me. Even just random things you're seeing at the marketplace, and I'll see if I can give you retail value.

[as approved here Because yes, he does have a new scheme in mind. Ever since he saw a certain broadcast program in a store window and figured out how to get it on his compact mirror's it's been bubbling. So he sounds disproportionately pleased as he asks this]

Aside from that though, in terms of foreigners, I've got a survey. How old are you, and what species are you?

[...Okay so doing all this work makes him bored. Sue him]

So. Not all of you know me. In fact I think that most of you don't. [Her voice is brisk; if the Speaker's death or what she's about to say is affecting her, she's not showing it.] I'm Police Chief A'aladash Kadra, one of the dreaded locals, and the reason you get my charming face instead of Xiuh is because today's news is under my jurisdiction.

We've received reports-- or rather I've received reports-- that there's a force moving on Darstone. They'll be here, at the outside, in a few days. We have some city defense forces, and the police, but I thought I'd give you all an opportunity to live up to your purpose here instead of just being dead weight.

[Oh, is she betraying her mixed feelings on the newcomers? Whoops. Usually she tries to play at being more political than that. She really must be stressed.]

So who wants to volunteer to play city defense with me? I'm not going to egg sit you, so if you can't hold your own, don't bother applying.

... Thank you.

'Two months. Almost two months since I first came here and unlike the last time I found myself trapped in another world--sort of--this isn't the case of a handful of things being different. Everything is. We're stuck underground to avoid a plague, humans are in the minority, and even the one person here I know from home is completely different. He's been stuck in an alternate world for way longer than I've ever been and seems to have mellowed out to a certain degree because of it.

Is it strange I'm starting to not be shocked my boss is a giant frog? And that I've been getting used to having to keep a work schedule and saving up to pay rent and buy groceries? These are things I rarely had to help with back home and it definitely gives me more appreciation for the things my parents did. I guess it is true what they say: you don't know what you're missing until you wake up one day and it's gone.'

[Text]

Hey. How do you guys deal with the homesickness?

Um, hello everyone.

For those of you who don't know me, I'm Xiuhtonal, the Public Relations manager here. But that's not really why I'm talking to all of you now.

[She fidgets slightly, obviously nervous about something.] It's actually about Lorris, the current Speaker. He... Seems to have gotten a little bit sick. I'm sure it's not the fever! But still, there is cause to worry... He's currently in quarantine at the hospital, so please keep him in your thoughts everyone. Or your prayers, if you do that sort of thing.

Um. Yes. That is all. Thank you for listening!

::Whereas the last two posts made to the network have clearly been accidental, this one is quite deliberate. Although Nicholas feels positively ridiculous speaking to a mirror, the fact remains that it seems to be the easiest method of contacting multiple people at once. Which should increase his chances of reaching either a government official, or someone who can get him in contact with such.::

Although I lack familiarity with the local laws, I feel it is worth mentioning that, according to the penal code where I'm from, kidnapping and false imprisonment is considered illegal. Barring any mitigating factors -of which there are few- those responsible for this are looking at some very hefty consequences as soon as I return home.

Especially as I am a police officer.

In fact, it's entirely possible this could be considered a declaration of war.

For those of you who are not complicit with this ill-thought scheme, has anyone figured out how to leave without becoming a co-conspirator? I would rather like to return home as soon as possible. I left a considerable amount of paperwork behind that needs to be completed soon.

::Yeah, he is just about as fun as a barrel of monkeys, isn't he?::

[And here's another new face, but unlike the last one, this one appears to be reading the screen, just unaware that the video feed is already running. LOW TECH ISLANDS ARE LOW TECH,K.]

Help... with what?



I better find out what's going on here, first.

[The view suddenly shifts to the ceiling of his room-- apparently our young antihero expects to leave his mirror behind. There's a soft chirp off-screen, though, and a very colorful blur.]


Heh. Of course. I won't leave you behind.