[For a moment, the recording seems completely silent. Maybe someone accidentally activated the Vine before walking away?

But no. Anyone paying close attention might pick up on the sound of panicked breathing.]

W... Wh... Wh... [The owner of the voice is obviously having a hard time, and stutters a few more times before she's able to actually spit anything out.] W-W-Where... am I...? This place... I don't...

[A dream. It has to be a dream. But no... she pinched herself, and it definitely hurt. So it was real? But how did she get here? A million questions were running through her mind - already reeling - and just kept adding to her panic.]

L... Lilly...?

[please answer please answer please answer]

[she's just hanging out right now. thinking. she's not looking at the video when it comes on]

There's no way to contact the outside world, yeah? I just would like to wish my sisters a happy Christmas. I hope they are alright... Not that I'm worried about them, or anything. They're strong, like me!

...But still.

[ America is standing in front of the large mistletoe in the orchard. ]

Have you guys seen this? And that sign over there? [ She points to the sign that says, "A surprise will come if all the berries fall!" ]

How do you think they fall? I tried throwing a baseball at it, but it didn't work. [ She frowns. ] I want to see a surprise, so someone help me out here!

[[Mistletoe threads are OK because America wouldn't notice she's standing under one anyway, so just tell me!]]

[The video begins with a woman hovering over a portable machine. Built within a silver suicase, it somewhat resembles this. It hums and beeps at her touch. The screen glows a dark blue colour. Two long, black cables hang out the side. The woman mother hens the device like a fussy parent, checking every last nook and cranny of the case so that those watching can clearly see. Finally, she hits a button and it whirrs to sleep, and she closes the lid.

Her pale blue eye meets the mirror, and she gives it a fierce, accusatory glare. Her hair grey, her cheeks thin, an eye missing, and her body close to starving, she looks like a woman who could have been very beautiful at one point in her life but time has stolen it away.]

Consider yourselves damn lucky there isn't a single scratch on it!

[But there isn't a single mechanical device anywhere! How is she going to charge the generator battery?!]

"Together, we will build-" what a farce! Is this a test? Do you doubt me?! I demand to know the meaning behind these theatrics!

[Like some terrible demon she raises her skeletally thin arms in a powerful gesture. She shouts:]

I am the Living Reaper! I have other clients to attend to - so which of you sent for me?! If you keep me waiting any longer, I promise I will not show you mercy!

[For once Gavril, now known far and wide as the garden's resident zombie man-eater, is neither covered in blood nor chomping on some poor living soul. Today's feed merely shows here sitting beneath a tree and contemplating things in as a thorough manner as one whose primary goals in life are money, sex, and violence can muster. She seems annoyed with whatever thoughts lay upon her mind and seems to have no problem yelling out her frustration for no one but the birds and other small wild life going about their day within her general proximity.]

I swear, every fucking time I get close to anybody they up and disappear for no goddamn reason. It's like the queen-bitch is personally trying to prevent me from getting laid. You know, whatever, I'll get some eventually. You can only keep me down for so long!


[Free of some of her frustration, Gavril moves on to her real reason for this broadcast.]

Anyway, any of you girlies watching listen up. I guess I went a little over board with killing those monsters last week and now I got more meat on my hands then I know what to do with. This gave me an idea though, why don't we grill this shit up and have ourselves a good ol' fashioned BBQ! I'm thinking of makin this an 18+ affair. Nothing against you kiddies but us adults need some time to play to, ya know? If you guys got any questions or suggestions leave em here, I probably won't listen. But, you never know!

[ The Crone appears through the mirror, looking less displeased. ]

Well, well. It seems you've fulfilled your end of the deal, and now it's my turn.

But before that, as it appears the Healer has not closed the gate, but merely sealed it, I have some conditions. You are free to wander in The Hollow, but do not disturb the citizens. They will ignore you so long as you aren't bothersome. And, ah yes, feel free to take whatever pearls you come across in the ocean. There's plenty.

[ She shifts. ]

Now, rather than rambling on, why don't you all ask me what you want to know about The Gardens? I may not know everything, but it's certainly more than you do.

[As she speaks over the vine, Yuki sounds as docile and shy as always. Though an air of curiosity tinges each and every word that emerges from her pale lips.]

H...hello everyone. I just had something bothering me I was hoping someone could help me with. Well, back when I first came here Miss Signum told me she knew a version of me that was here awhile ago. That and this other Yuki was a very different person then I am. What I want to know is if anyone else remembers the "other" Yuki. I don't know why, but this has been bugging me for awhile now.

[The Queen stood at the very center of the gardens, surrounded by orchard on every side. With a smile gracing her face, she walks slowly over to the nearest tree, and touches the bark. She runs her hand up and down its rough surface, almost wistfully. And then, with only the slightest of hesitation, she leans in and kisses the tree.]

[The change begins with the lowest branches, and then quickly spreads up the rest of the tree: the leaves changing color, turning red, yellow, orange, gold. In a matter of seconds, the change is complete.]

[It quickly spreads to the trees around it, and then spread from each of those to the next, a rippling wave of gold paint spreading across the Garden's canvas. And then, as the transformation completes, the leaves begin to fall to earth, one at a time. Only then does the Queen turn to address the Vine.]

Welcome to autumn, my dears! Thanks to each and every one of you for making the Girl's fair such a rousing success. It was so much fun, I think I'll do something similar for every changing of the seasons! Speaking of, I'm rather new at these, so please bear with me while I work out all the kinks.

So long for now, dearies!

[Xion's soft voice is softer than usual, subdued with thoughtfulness and a little bit of sorrow.]

I just...had a question. I know some people disappear, and some never show up at all. But does anyone else know someone who's been here several times, and forgotten each time they come back?

[France is scowling at the mirror in an admittedly not very charming manner, obviously upset about something.] How long was it this time? Three weeks! I swear I was by that river for less than half an hour, this is ridiculous! I demand compensation! I mean, reaibbit!

[She pauses, eyes wide. Cautiously, she opens her mouth to start talking again.] Riiibbit! [France slaps her hand over her mouth. After a moment of silence, she clears her throat and tries again.] As- As I was saying- croaaaak!

[France's short, panicked scream is muffled by her own hand as it finally occurs to her that maybe she should just quit while she's ahead...]


[ooc; Yay, I'm off hiatus! France was trapped in the wild places for the past few weeks and a wild card is affecting her now. Obviously, it's making her croak like a frog instead of talking! It can be (temporarily) cured by a kiss, but how she's going to find that out, I don't know....

Also I still have a lot of homework so if I'm a bit slow later in the evening that's why!]

[Jessica is on her bed, penned in by various notes and scribblings on looseleaf.]

OK, trying to figure this stuff out again... If anyone's got experience in the... [she waves her arms] stupid magic bullshit... well, um, I'd really appreciate your feedback here.

Anyway, I was thinking about the, um... whole dream thing a while back. And how it was happening at the same time as those crappy flowers... I know coincidence is not necessarily causality, but it seems like an interesting link to follow, with the dream thing and the thing with the cracks and the fact that the things made you fall asleep.

Kind of a shame they all got exterminated. I mean, we might've found something out if we had a sample or something.

[Should one be paying just the right amount of attention, a flash of pale blonde hair of someone hard at work could be seen in the background, just melting into a patch of sunlight against the trees in the brilliant afternoon behind Prussia. She stands there, hands on hips, grin stretching her lips, and eyes shining proudly.]

Listen up, ladies and-- ladies, I suppose. While you've all been going around befriending animals and building cute houses and tending flowerbeds, I'll have you know that my great self had been aware of a very important fact! One of our very own here has the ability to break us out of this infernally adorable cage! And since you've all been liking it a tad too much here, not making enough effort to leave, I suppose I'll be the first to step out into freedom right after that crafty witch England.

I'm not usually this generous, and I can't really force you to pay attention, but I can gloat all the same.

[OOC: Replies through the vine! Although characters could be there in person to hear her prattle all that out.]

[it did not take her a long time to get used to the vine and mirror communication, really. she has played with things like this before in her own house... the mirror shows her upper body, a young woman with bright green eyes and dirty blond hair falling over her shoulders just slightly curled at the end. she looks more annoyed than surprised, at the moment, gently waving the letter she received upon arrival]

So. Does this thing really work? Or am I having a wild dream again?