When You’re Lost “Here”

[The frequency comes alive with a loud crack and a pop of static as the communicator is thrown against a far wall, made evident by the clatter that follows as it falls down onto the floor.]

Dammit... [Another person he couldn't save, coupled with a tragedy that hit way too close to home for comfort.]

DAMMIT!!

[Soul can be heard breathing heavily in the wake of his own shout, followed by an unsettling silence up until the recording times out.]

[[ooc Angst. It's what's for dinner. I apologize in advance for waking anyone up with this post. Backdated to whenever the fight with Tir ended.]]

Now that the chaos is finally over, and Shinigami-sama help me if it isn't...

Maybe someone can kindly explain to me what the hell else I missed after I disappeared from this place in those two weeks.

Good news first.

( Private to the gang from Death City; Hackable )

( Private; Hackable )

Yet another one gone... Take care, Liz. Your sister probably needs to have you with her there more than here anyway.

So... I guess I'm doing some part-time work over at the Northern Lights. Heh. At least now it's official.
Oi. Black☆Star and Tsubaki, you should really try to stop by this place sometime. Most of The food here isn't half bad.

Otherwise, uh... there hasn't been a whole lot to talk about. Not that there ever really is, but... Maka hasn't been around the apartment all that much when I've been home. Probably busy with her book club stuff. Chrona's been playing out in the snow, and Kid is just minding his own as usual. Not so sure about Maka's old man. But then nobody cares to hear about him, so it doesn't really matter either way.

I stopped by the bar a few days ago to listen to Float perform. Not a bad sound.

[A few footsteps can be heard, slow and shuffling. Then a door closes and Soul breathes out a sigh of relief. ... Click.]

[Text]

Public Service Announcement
If you kiss Maka Albarn, then she'll make you regret it for the rest of your life. Thank you, and have a nice day.

[Click.]

[Voice]

Heh. Just a few more days until Christmas, huh? ...Ah. Sorry, Demyx. I guess it's Discomas here. That still sounds kind of uncool though.

It kind of reminds me of home. Shibusen used to hold these big parties on Christmas Eve. But it was always such a stuffy, formal affair, so I'll be more than happy to do without donning the suit and tie for once. Still... It's a shame though. It sounds like it would have been a good time for me to keep my word to a friend. Sorry that we couldn't have that dance after all, Maria. I'm sure that she is happier to be back home anyway. Away from all this mistletoe and crappy-looking trees. ... Mn. Damn. I wonder if there's still time to-

[Filtered from the Death City gang (Maka, Chrona, Death the Kid and Death Scythe); Hackable]

Oi. Is there anything worth savaging around for in the city for throwing together a few Christmas gifts for the girls and Kid? ...and I guess the old man too. I don't think that we've ever really spent the holiday together quite like this, so... I might as well try to do something to make it seem a little cooler. ...What kinds of things do girls even like anyway?

Back to the old grind again.

Che. Why is it that during times like these when I'm singled out as a Weapon, trouble seems to be easier to find? Not cool at all.

Anyway... I had my moment. ...I'd be more worried if Maka disappeared from Shibusen, and not this trash heap. But since that's not the case, I'm going to continue doing what I set out to do before: I'm going to try to find my way back home.
Tell me that's impossible or that I'm dreaming, and I'll just be the one to tell you whose given up. It's not like I'm trying to drag anyone else behind me.

( Private to Bulma; Hackable )

So... It looks like I'll need to take some time to sharpen my edge a little.

Oi. I know that the chance to spar has been thrown our here before, but I wouldn't mind the chance right now. Don't want to get too rusty before things start to get worse again.

( Private to Shinji; Hackable )

He wasn't still in pieces, and I so guess someone got to him before the Poes or any of the other monsters had the chance...

[The sound of a piece of fabric being shuffled can be heard, as Soul goes to slide carefully off the bed.] ... Ouch! [He lands onto one knee with a painful grunt.] I'm think that I'm sick of this already.

... If you're listening to this transmission, Giriko, I'll make sure-... we'll make sure to pack you back ten times over.

[Filtered from Giriko; Hackable]

There's not much to say about that guy, but the rest of you still need to know that Giriko is trouble.

He's just like me, but we're not the same. Our powers are the only similarity between us. Otherwise, Giriko's just a nut job working under a bigger enemy in our own world, Arachne. She wanted to help spread fear and madness in our own world, and as one of her right-hand men, I don't have any doubts that he wouldn't mind taking a stab at trying something like that here in Discedo if he gets the chance.

Stay on your toes around him.

[/]

[[ooc Entry backdated to shortly after the fight between Giriko and Maka and Soul because I'm a fail-mun who was (and possibly is still) feeling burned out before.]]

I can't believe this...

The sense of deja vu that I'm starting to get from all this is almost enough to give me a headache. ...My only hope is that it doesn't end up with me getting my life shortened again. The first cut was bad enough, and I've still got plenty of nightmares left to remind me of that. [Muttered] Why did I even have to think about that witch again...

Testament, do you remember that favor I asked you to do for me someday? How do you feel like taking me up on it soon. I need to work off some steam.

Maka, it's a spar. If it's cool with him, then come with us and make sure those gloves are still in good condition.

We might as well make sure we're in good shape before we try checking out the hospital... Not sure if we'll find what we're looking for there or not, but it's better than leaving things the way that they are. Especially now.
Bulma, keep your head up for an incoming project. We might be asking for a miracle with this one, depending on what we can find and how many pieces it's in.

Oi, and if anyone sees that Minato guy roaming around, then try to get him to slow down before he ends up killing himself. ...I'll pick up where he left off, if that's what it will take.

Oi, are you sure about this?

... Fine. Don't say anything if you don't want to, still...

[...]

[Deep breath] All right. Then watch and learn how a real cool man bobs for apples!

[The splashing of water follows, along with some mild gurgling. Less than a minute passes, and there's another loud splash and a deep breath of air.]

[Crunch.] Whew... Kaaa! That's cold! [He starts laughing, before taking another audible bite out of something. Likely one of the apples he grabbed with his teeth.]

Hmm. Not bad. Thanks for the apple. Uh... Would you mind if I took a few back for my friends, or are you going to make me do that all over again?

[...]

It looks like I'm still standing too, so that's always a good thing. More power to you for not poisoning me or something.

[[ooc Oh, right! Backdated to the evening of Oct. 30^th, if it influences where the scientists and their goodies will be situated at all.]]

All right. Though I am going to keep fighting the fierce temptation of asking who happened to jinx things for the rest of us, I'm sincerely having my doubts over things being that convenient for anyone in this place.

Instead, I wouldn't mind having the facts laid out for the rest of us. Especially seeing as how the conversations going on over this network are all over the place.

All right. So what can anyone tell me about what was going on with the sky the other day? I thought that I was just seeing things before, but does it coincide with when things started to go buggy with everyone's chips at all?

Second, it's becoming painfully obvious that this is a case of the "haves" versus the "have nots." It sounds like most of the ones who are chipped here are pretty harmless, but it's still the unchipped ones that we might need to worry about more.
My powers still aren't working. Is it the same for everyone else? If so, then we might be able to rest a little easier. But... a person doesn't need any special powers to be able to do some damage, if they care enough to do so.

I'm just saying that we've got no reason to let up just yet. Plenty of reasons to stay on our toes for at least a little awhile longer.

Oi, Dr. Stein... You're still yourself, aren't you? How many of the other doctors are still unaffected by all this? It might be good to know.

Anyway, I think that's all I've got for now. Patty, if you're still out there, then Kid and I are waiting over by the Northern Lights. Maka, Chrona, it might be best if you guys just sit this one out for now. Trust me on this one, okay?

... Still no good, huh?
Oi. Didn't the scientists get what they needed? Then, what's the hold up? I still can't transform. Che. This sucks...

At least I can breath again... Thanks for bringing some of that tea over to the apartment, Yamamoto. It was a help. Though it can't be very easy to put something like that together, huh?

Maybe I'll try to drag a few of the others along with me by the time that opening ceremony comes along as a show of my thanks. I'm sure that I'm not the only one that is starting to feel the cabin fever around here.

Speaking of... If anyone is out in the city, then I'd like to ask some of you to keep an eye out for some new arrivals for me.
One of them is Chrona. Some of you might remember seeing her around before. Come on, Ace. The least you and the others can do is try to make up your damn minds. Hn... Short, pinkish hair, skinny as a rail and dressed in black. Dunno if Ragnarok would be with her now or not... At lot of things seemed different than before. Hm. Maka, I heard that you were out looking for her. Any luck yet?

The other is Death the Kid. It sounds like he decided to show his face around here again. Funny, because I thought the lack of stupid symmetry here would have sent him crawling back to Shibusen for good. ...Anyway, he's a bit of a standout and a freak. Primmed and pressed shinigami dressed in a black suit. His hair is black too and has three white stripes that go across it on one side. Just, uh... don't emphasis on that too much to his face. Maybe you can help him find his Weapon too, while you're at it.

[He yawns] Not sure what happened before with that earthquake from before... but I hope it isn't a sign of things to come. Otherwise, I'll be pretty pissed off if this week just becomes the calm before the storm. Very uncool.

[There is a pause, and then Soul starts humming along to the melody of a song. The sound of music playing through a set of headphones can be overheard before the transmission cuts out.]

[♪ We'll show you / Can't handle us / So cool, baby scandalous ♫]

[[ooc Note: Chrona is referred to as a girl this time around to fit with what Soul would know (or at least remember) from canon. Uh... sorry if it sounds awkward compared to before. Also, he got a MP3 player from the scientists, so feel free to rag on him for his taste in music.]]