[The Vine's mirror-like screens show a certain girl with a very, very frustrated look upon her face.]

Can someone here please explain how to get these infuriating--

[A few small birds flutter down and place an ever-so-pretty band of flowers atop Azula's head. She responds by grabbing the flowers, throwing them to the ground, and directing her attention to the birds.]

I have already told you that I do not want flowers in my hair. Go...Go eat some grubs or whatever it is feathered forest pests do!

[After the birds flutter away, she sighs, collects herself, and returns her attention to the Vine.]

As I was saying: It seems the birds here have taken a...liking to me and I would like to know if anyone has any ideas as to why or, better yet, suggestions as to how to get them to stop. I casually mention one thing about being a princess around a few animals and they start to swarm m--

[As if on queue, several more tiny birds flutter down and place another ever-so-very-very-very-pretty wreath of flowers atop the princess's head. Without making any other movements, Azula grabs the flowers from atop her head, holds them in front of herself, and makes them disappear in a flash of bright blue fire and smoke.]

Why, yes. Charbroiled bird does sound delicious. Time to make dinner.

[The birds were already fluttering away, but Azula turns and waves a hand above her head--a stream of blue fire chases behind the birds, but disappears before actually coming into contact with them.]

 I can't believe I haven't thought of this before! I feel so dumb!

[Since parting ways with Sora, Konoka's actually been doing a bit of research. What Yukari said about her pactio during the wishing session had her thinking--mainly, why she hadn't put two and two together yet. She's at the computers. It appears that in such a while, she's found the wonders of the Romance page. She seems slightly edgy and annoyed by this fact, though.]

...so what is it like, for  a girl to fall in love with  a girl? Really, I wish there was more to draw from than a simple internet page and a bunch of poems! I wanna see romance! I want to make it happen! Maybe it's the key to making this world grow! Maybe the power of love could be a literal power! Wouldn't that be romantic?

[She dropped to a whisper.]

Is this what Secchan wanted... for me?

[At some point, she will be distracted by the glory that is Robot Unicorn Attack. Better move fast.]

[Mirrors around the Garden come to life all at once, featuring a little girl with a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face. She giggles mischeviously.] Yay, I escaped my bed time!

[As she takes a better look around, her face falls deathly serious in that way only small children can achieve. After a moment, she whines.] You guys! This place is boring! You've had sooo much time to make it fun! Look, just get some dirt from the wild places and make a wish. [Huffing.] Grownups have no imagination.

It's a good thing you have me around. I made all those boring stupid houses are much better! Try making stuff like that from now on, okay?

[Beaming.] Have fun!

[OOC: The Necessities have settled down! Characters will now find nine fixed places for their needs. ...Only they've all turned into giant playhouses, big LEGO houses, and vast bouncy castles.]

Really? Ooh, that would be wonderful, but are you certain --?

[ Giselle's voice sounds somewhat distant, as though she's not speaking to the Vine, but to someone else beside her. Someone very short. Muffled squeaking can be heard. ]

Well, all right then!

[ Her voice is clearer now, speaking directly into the Vine. ]

The bunnies, little darlings that they are, told me that we can...make things? They're not terribly clear on it, they say that it's outside the Garden, and...I didn't think we were supposed to go out there? I tried once and a wolf showed up and growled -- then he apologized for startling me and turned out to be very nice actually, and he had a lovely baritone as we sang a duet about traffic safety, but it was a bit frightening at the time!

I did mention it to the cats, but they just asked me if I wouldn't rather go play a few rounds of that unicorn game with the rainbows and the beautiful music. Which would be such fun, but first I must be certain that there are enough cups for -- er, I mean, I find this subject fascinating in a purely hypothetical sense, and would like to know more about it in case I should ever have need of it!

So if, say, someone -- a hypothetical someone -- might hypothetically happen to be interested in creating something, would any of you kind souls have some advice that might, hypothetically, help them to do so? Hypothetically, of course!

[The gardens has a new resident this morning a rather glassy eyed young girl with purple hair and wearing what appears to be a school uniform of sorts. She is milling about the landscape with no clear goal or purpose, simply observing the world around her and starring into space with an intensity one would not normally associate simply looking at plant life. Her monotone, almost, robotic voice eventually sounds alongside its video counterpart, spewing forth mysterious speech for all to hear.]

Data analysis suggests this dimension exists on a different plane of then that of the Earth. This also implies my phsyical form has gone through some kind of dimensional shift and, further, that my connection with the Integrated Thought Entity has been severed. Further analysis is needed to confirm these conclusions and then form a plan of action to return the point of origin...

[Ever since the winter's blizzard had ended, Nero had been at work on a rather large model. She began with shaping it via clay, making a 10' x 10' model of the lake. She, however, proceeded to add a bridge, an island, and this structure upon that island, all in rather painstaking detail. Then, after using magic sand to construct a massive oven to bake her creation, she set out to painting it. The process has consumed all of her time.]

[When she's finally done, with the magic sand she erects her creation in the real world, down to nearly every detail. It is almost exactly how she wanted.]

[She was thrilled, until (after crossing the bridge) she realized it was not a building, but a solid structure, like a wall.] Augh!

[Taking more sand, she had to construct each room and workshop one at a time.]

((Feel free to bother Nero during the creation process of her model, during the correction process of her reshaping and creating the rooms inside, or after she is finally done, but please specify in the subject line.))

[There's some hesitation to see if the Vine is working as its supposed to, and then Japan clears her throat a little before speaking.]

I've been rather quiet since I've arrived here, haven't I? Ah... for those of you I haven't met yet, allow me to introduce myself. I am Japan. I came here quite some time ago, but I've been busy...

Ah, you see..! I'm quite skilled with creating things. I have been trying my very best to see what sorts of things I could put together in order to return us home, but I am not sure if a place like this really has anything. ...I have also been attempting methods like clutching a very important item and chanting while waiting for a transformation sequence, and spinning to see if I have gained any powers--!

However, nothing seems to work. So while I continue to ponder this... I'd be very happy to meet you.

[ooc: WOO went on an unofficial slowatus thing of sorts. I haven't been tagging around, but I hope to now!]

[Upon awaking, Romana had been lead to the vine, walking in a daze as if she was sleepwalking. This was all a dream right?

But after fiddling with the vine, she finds herself surprised when a small mirror appears. In her shock she mumbles to herself, lips pursed in annoyance] Cats that give letters, plants that that can be used as phones... why do I get the feeling that that puttana Inghilterra's behind all this. Definitely witchcraft after all.

[Scowls slightly, poking the vine hard enough to make the mirror shake slightly, before drawing her arm back quickly as if the plant will hit her back. Nothing happens, yet, so she settles for frowning, arms crossed, clearing her throat and speaking]

Right. So does anyone whose human, and actually meant to speak want to explain this? I feel like I'm going mad, trying to have a conversation with something that has paws.

And what the fuck are we supposed to building? I have enough to do as is, I don't need some do it yourself project as well.

((ooc: ahh sorry her intro post is so late, I just got lazy over the Chrissie break orz. But never fear, I am here!))

...this isn't so bad.

[Have a rare moment where Santana doesn't sound royally pissed off. You can find her gazing at the sky from the orchard, if you want.]

[Larry starts up her video, looking... really, really happy with herself.]

Alright everyone! I think it's time I get to work on a few things, and I'm looking for a little help. As we so recently saw, this place can get legitimately dangerous - and no one knows how it'll happen next time if it happens again.

To that end, I think we need to make sure the people who never had a reason to learn how to survive stuff like this know what to do. I'm gonna keep working on being able to reliably make more guns, and finding anyone interested in helping me out with that or anyone who wants to learn how to shoot. We need people who can teach some kind of self-defense techniques, and people who know a thing or two about running away.

Right now, I'm just looking for people willing to help teach others. Feel free to tell me you're interested in learning if you can't teach though!

The mirror opens up on a partially-buried machine - the unfinished ANIMa Creche, for those who remember it.

Anna dusts the snow off of it and runs a diagnostic, frowning.

Fortunately, at the end of it, she nods. Lucky her, it still works, mostly - most of the bugs are things becoming physically disconnected, which she fixes.

She then takes a small jar of what appears to be sand from her pocket and -

Ah. It is sand, from the wild places. Because she spills it around herself in a circle, resulting in a small barracks springing up around her and, more importantly, the device.

It's layout is roughly hexagonal. The final part is a large door - she unbars it, exits, and dusts off her hands.

Then notices the mirror, looks around furtively, then sighs. "Just thought I'd check up on Creche Alpha, make sure it was safe," she says to the Mirror.

I need a better budget for this...

On the next exciting episode of "Etna's Mysterious Garden!"

Our heroes have survived a sudden, nightmarish onset of winter, whose details shall no longer be spoken of!

*A giant photo of a censor block*

However, just as they begin to progress into the mysterious Wilds, something goes horribly, terribly wrong!

*A photo of several random Gardens attendees, dressed like men to the point of being reverse traps. Feel free to assume your character's one of them, or not. How'd she get this photo?!*

A strange spell drains feminity from the heroes, sapping ratings and ruining our mainstream appeal!

How will we regain our fanservice?! And what has caused this terrible fluctuation that could kick us out of our prime time slot?!

Find out, on the next exciting episode of "Etna's Mysterious Garden!"

(OOC: For those of you not in the know, Etna's very short on fourth wall. And does this all the time in her canon, and every crossover she's been in so far.)

[Having found a nice place to stay, Hiling begins to settle in. She finds it quite a relief that the threat is over, but she's still on her guard. Not knowing anyone around here, she isn't sure who can be trusted, but she intends to find out as soon as possible. Gaining allies is another goal she has in mind. The last thing she wants is to be caught alone next time something happens.

Reclining on her couch, she activates the vine and smiles into the mirror. She still wears her green flight suit and her helmet sits nearby on a glass table.]

So I suppose we're safe, for now anyway. It wasn't very nice taking me here in the middle of all that. I wonder if it was some sort of test... or a game. Actually, that's not such a bad idea. Anybody up for a game?

I heard him this morning. [A soft voice, full of reverence and close to tears.] Thought I was fucking dreaming, but he didn't stop his squawking until I was sure. [She gives one of those humorless laughs that's people give when they're trying not cry, breathless and embarrassed.] Shit. Am I grown woman, or what, I can handle being by myself. [Her breath hitches, there go the waterworks.] Shit. I missed his voice. I missed all their voices.

[Paderau's current crying location is this small altar she built in the woods, for those more inclined to action.]

[ - ACTION - ]

[Being a battle robot from a war/meteor/alien-torn future Earth, Lamia never has a chance to experience certain common things most would take for granted: such as trees. And squirrels. Running into animals wasn't very commonplace in THE FUTURE, especially for one who spends all her time at military bases in-between blowing things up.

...And, no, certain talking magical subterranean cats didn't count as normal animals.

So, curiosity piqued, Lamia has been trying to familiarize herself with and learn about the nature that was so alien to her but once totally normal to Earth. This begins with idly sitting by and watching the animals, but she eventually gets up to attempt to pet them; of course, being jittery forest creatures, they scurry away before she can touch them. After this happens two or three times, she sighs, crosses her arms, and leans against a tree--accidentally activating the Vine in the process.]

[ - VOICE - ]

Animals are known to have senses and instincts superior to a human's. I wonder if they can tell?

[After, she'll be going back to trying to inspect the squirrels, cats, and other ordinary animals. Feel free to comment via voice or action. Also note: Lamia's voice is identical to Signum's (brustriese), so castmates or anyone familiar enough to recognize Signum's voice feel free to mistake them.]

[A cheerful woman, dressed in lavish royal blue robes, is grinning on camera]

Why, hello everyone. Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Iono Mito Archeline. My interests include various maidenly amusments, tea time, flirtatious chit chat, and you. <3 Yes. you, whoever you may be. You see, I know without a doubt each and every one of you is special and beautiful, and I want to know you better.

So, please, won't you be my sobame?

[ there's a young woman on the mirror, though she doesn't seem to be paying any particular heed to it. When she speaks, she gesticulates with her hands, fingers knitting together, palms coming together and breaking apart, but never looks directly at the mirror. With the last of the snow melting in the Garden around her, she appears to be quite cold, considering the fact that's she's already changed back into her own clothing and has the collar bundled up to just beneath her chin ]

This is preposterous. Utterly preposterous. Of all the ridiculous situations I could've wandered into— it's absurd! I don't even have an explanation for any of this. It completely defies any semblance of logic, and...

[ a pause. She reaches up, as if to adjust the glasses that aren't there ] Well, whatever the reason behind all of this, let me assure you that I happen to be acquainted with several excellent lawyers.

Also, I— while I'm not familiar with how abductions and the like work, I'm certain I'd be able to at least feign some measure of cooperation, if somebody were to return my glasses to me. I seem to have... misplaced them.

Not as though there had been any doubt, but it seems Team Princess has successfully managed to not freeze to death. Congratulations, Estelle, and I apologize for setting the sleeping bag on fire.

And to a lesser extent everything else I had set on fire.

But, in the end, we were warm and safe, and that's all that matters, right?

Now, on a more serious note, has anyone figured out just what those noisy friends of ours were? I doubt this will be the last time we see them. For that matter, any ideas as to where they are now?

[This queen, clad in black and gold, stares at the mirror and gives it her most judgmental look possible. The sheer amount of disdain here could probably melt steel if applied appropriately. Like, in a laser maybe. Still, she's not pleased.]

You piece of trash who calls herself queen. What right do you have bringing myself here? I have no wish for your disgusting invites or anything to do with you. Show yourself so this queen can properly sentence and execute you like the dog you are.

Tch. And the rest of you? I have no wish for your thanks when this fool is destroyed. Consider yourself lucky that this queen has even decided to grace you with your life.