[The Vine sure is easy to accidentally activate when you're not thinking about it, huh? And it's easy to get wrapped up in your own little world when playing an instrument. So here we have an accidental video of Mugi playing her keyboard. And, since she doesn't know anyone else is listening, she's doing something rare for her; singing. Her voice is rather soft, though, as is her playing. She doesn't want to startle or disrupt anyone]

76 keys nanajuurokunin no yousei
watashi no omoi o tsutaete...

onna no ko nara
daredemo kitto tsukaeru
orijinaru no mahou
watashi ni totte sore wa kenban...

akogaretachi wa tooku ni
namida wa nazeka soba ni
dakara kokoro wa yureru
sono subete o ima, kanademashou...

[she closes her eyes and sways to the music as she plays. The song is meant to be much louder and energetic, but tonight she's using it as a rather reflective and even a bit nostalgic piece]

((ooc: she's specifically singing Dear My Keys ~Kenban no Mahou~, which is one of her character songs. The whole song is translated in English in the video notes on that link. Here's the translation for those specific lines:
76 keys, 76 little elves
Express my feelings

When it comes to girls
I'm sure any one of them could do it
An original magic
That's the keyboard for me

The things I long for are far away
Tears somehow are close
So, my heart sways
Let's, now, put all of that to music))

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.

[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?

This is the strangest-- well one of the strangest things I've ever seen! I never thought I would see a megaphone sprout out of vine like this!

I wonder if... [she speaks softly to the vine, asking for some way to show herself to those who are listening]

[and then there's a bright smile of a young girl]

Oh! I guess everyone can see me now right? That's pretty amazing!

Ah! I forgot to introduce myself! My name is Minako Arisato. [she lifts up her hand in a polite greeting]. I am a bit confused though... [she rubs the back of her head sheepishly] How did we get here? I remember going to sleep and having a pretty weird dream-- Though I guess it wasn't a dream after all, seeing as how I'm here. I am worried though, considering what's been going on back home.

Maybe someone out there knows something more? I'd really appreciate the help!

[the mirror shows the figure of a young teenage girl, and she flinches back significantly, her arms clutched in a death-grip around what are most likely her possessions and a couple of scrolls. even for someone who's been thrust into a new world, she looks ridiculously frazzled, and is shivering in her shift.]

... The mirror actually came out? [hesitantly reaches out one of her hands and touches the mirror, eyes wide and looking lost in so many ways. her touch lingers as she feels the glass on her fingertips, and her gaze looks a smidgen more focused.] It feels... is this a dream?

Hello? There... [takes a deep breath, as if the sensation is almost foreign to her.] T-There was a cat and... Where am I?

It's not everyday that I find myself in a fancy garden like this after wandering around the desert.

[An amused but somewhat hollow laugh]

So, where's this mysterious Queen? Anyone ever tell her it's not polite to kidnap people?

I've got some business to take care of back home. So let her royal Highness know I'll be leaving, now. But, hey, she's got good taste in decorating.

[There's fumbling on Taiga's end, as if she hasn't realised it's recording yet]

Stupid place, I'll snatch those birds out of the sky and have Ryuuj-- ...Hnn.  I bet he's not even taking advantage of being able to talk to Minorin, that stupid mongrel.  Do I have to do everything for him?

...

A, ah?!  I, i, it heard me?  Oi!  If you're my captor, you better... you better let me out before I rip your limbs off, one by one!  Yes, you'll make a delicious soup, and I'll feed the extra to the dogs.  And give me back my clothes, this dress is disgusting!

[The image on the mirror this early evening is that of a young woman with black bangs with vivid bright red streaks through them falling gently over her eyes. She stares curiously out towards the viewers, stepping back a few moments after. With the ivory vestments hanging gently from her body, it was evident she was novice to the Gardens. Her own belongings are seen on the side nearby and a bit scattered, as if they had recently been rummaged through. The most prominent of her gear would be the giant sword that was nearly the same height as herself.]

Hello everyone♪ The friendly were-cats here gave me a collection of scrolls, but they wouldn't speak to me. Which was pretty rude of them! I've never met a were-person who didn't chat my head off. Also, this gown covers too much of my body up. How am I suppose to fight wearing it? If I were attacked, I would surely be overwhelmed by my opponent.

[With a tiny laugh, she holds up the introductory scroll in her hand.]

At first I thought I was being kidnapped, but this letter is from the Queen of Hearts herself. It'll be interesting to meet another member of royalty. Oh! I'm being rude with my rambling! I'm Kaguya Nanbu from the nation Kagura Amahara. It's in the Endless Frontier. This place doesn't seem to be anywhere near that world though.. I wonder if this is the home world of one of my comrades. Hey KOS-MOS, Xiaomu, Reiji... are any of you here? No?

[The young woman frowns at her words, as if remembering someone who couldn't possibly be there.]

Maybe Haken is here.. it's possible, right? I made him promise he would kidnap me for another adventure. Maybe this our newest adventure together! Hey Haken, can you hear me?!

[She's much more perkier now with this revelation, the feelings of loneliness and despair fading now by the surge of hope of her favorite comrade's possible presence.]

[Two mis-matched feet appear on the mirror: one encased in concrete, the other seemingly orbited by electrons, not quite to scale.]

Is it like this? Ah, no... I'm supposed to do... this? Cat, are you sure your vine mirror is supposed to do this? Wait, don't--

[After some awkward shifting around of the "camera", the newcomer's face is finally revealed. She's changed back into her normal clothes by now -- though "normal" is a subjective term here.]

Oh... I see. Thanks. Um, bye? --Wait, you never told me your name!

[Utsuho frowns at the cat that's seemed to have lost its patience with her and left. She looks back at the mirror a little awkwardly, unused to this kind of... technology. She shifts in place, stretches out her raven wings, looks a little closer to see what's on the other side...]

...Hello? Hm, I feel like I'm talking to myself. Can someone really see this?

Can the, uh... [She holds up a scroll to quickly re-read and remind herself of the name.] Queen of Hearts see this? Am I supposed to be building something? I think I've forgotten somehow. I don't remember this place at all.

We're certainly getting a lot of newcomers, aren't we? And still no answers.

...from what I've learned, going to the edges of the garden and returning with the soil allows you to create things. Houses, items, whatever you'd like.

I'm beginning to wonder if this isn't a dream.

[Any ladies who check the vine today are greeted to a new face. She's wearing the default white shift, although she's carrying other clothing in her arms and has put a hat and rose-lensed white glasses on top of her head. The first thing she does when the video begins is gasp dramatically.]

Ah! It worked!

[She leans in closer to the mirror, her eyes wide and her expression inquisitive. It's almost as if she doesn't really believe that the Vine is actually recording.]

Well, if anyone can hear me, my name's Ema Skye. Does anyone know how this whole thing works? It seems really... unscientific.

[Judging from the girl's expression, being unscientific is a crime--right up there with kicking puppies and punching babies.]

Ms... Queen of Hearts lady, I have a flight back to Europe in a few days and I need to continue studying science so I can become a forensic investigator, so I'd like to pass on your invitation. I asked the cat how I can get home, since that's what you suggested--although I have no idea how they understand me--but it just curled up and went to sleep.

Cats are kind of fickle. Maybe you should consider getting better pet-servants.

[When she wakes up in a completely alien location, staring at a blinding sky, she is alarmed. Paranoid, forming theories (Reality Marble?), trying to sense where her Master is, but generally more inquisitive than openly hostile.

That's until a shuriken passes on its way down, about a foot to her left. Something invisible deflects it almost automatically off into the nearest solid object that will stop it, and the girl is in an armored dress now, glaring defensively at her surroundings.]

Who's there? Come out!

...I hadn't expected the wish to come true. However...

[Lamia carefully holds up a small wooden box with a certain pink knighted angel placed atop it, white feathery wings spread and body posed as if in mid-flight; the bow is held as if the figure was reading an arrow to be shot.

She cranks a key on the side of the box and the figure slowly spins while music plays. Oh! It's a music box. Little white feathers continually molt and fall off the wings, but it never seems to run out.]

Is this supposed to be an insult? I think it'd be better if I hadn't gotten anything. I can't bring myself to get rid of it, though. Why...?

*Kazumi's going to make use of these wishes, definitely-*

I wish for a maid outfit.

*yup, there's a capsule with said item*

C-cool... I wish for a gym outfit!

*yup, Japanese gym outfit*

Um... I wish for glasses.

*pop, some non-prescription glasses*

Hmm... I wish for a giant robot!

*... what comes out of this one wasn't quite as expected*

Aw... the real thing would've been cool... I wish for super powers?

*a can of spinach*

What...?

..."I wish for an audiovisual cable."

With a dull thud, a 'star' drops. Anna cracks open that capsule to reveal exactly what she asked for. Grinning, she plugs it into... a spindly rig, converted from an ordinary porcelain bath, and with what appears to be an obsolete computer sitting on a small refrigerator with pipes of a strange orange fluid leading from it to the bath.

"I wish for an electronic monitor."

She gets one - very thin, but with a small screen, like the least important parts of an iPad. She plugs the other end of the cable into it. Whatever she's making, it's almost complete.

"I wish for a Nightmare's heart."

WHIIIIIIIZWHOMP. Inside the capsule is...

...a Jack of Hearts from a deck of cards.

She looks at it, looks at the rig, and puts her head in her hands. "Course it's not that easy. It's never that easy."

[Mugi has been frolicking throughout the garden. She’s rather impressed with it, you see. She doesn’t realize how things work here, though, so she has absolutely no idea that the Vine is currently recording her voice]

Oh wow…this place is beautiful! How did I arrive here? It’s like I’m living one of those picture book stories from when I was little!

[She’s laughing and the sound of her footsteps as she’s twirling around are also being caught by the Vine’s megaphones.]

Ah—I have to tell the others about this when I get back!

[a pause; she’s stopped moving now, too]

I wonder if they followed me here somehow! I should explore this place a bit more, maybe I’ll find them!

[ action ]

[As the sun sets, the usual darkness overcomes the sky. There is no moon in the Gardens, and there are no stars. The only lights are fireflies, whatever marks the necessities, and the distant glow of actual fires.

Tonight, that changes.

It starts with a tiny *pop!* noise, and a single bright star appears in the sky. Tentatively, a *ding!* rings out, and another star appears. *Bip!* and there's another one.

Then, in a symphony of small, obnoxiously cute noises, stars cascade into being in the sky. For the first minute or so it's a nice picture. But it doesn't stop. Not until the entire sky is filled with stars, and light shines as bright as day.

Then silence falls.]

[ voice ]

Oh, no, I think I did that one wrong...

[OOC: Players are welcome to use this post for reaction threads or make their own. The Queen will be responding only sporadically.]

[There are those who visit the arcade that would probably head to the games first. Since it's new that is reasonable. But there is a pale girl at one of those computers, ignoring the games. Her face is completely unamused.]

Okay, I have to ask, has anyone else used one of these yet? Because all I'm getting from these are kittens, romance and some... e-card thing. I just want to make sure this isn't all some big joke on me alone. Or some sort of message.

... What the hell is an e-card, anyway?

_{[Nausicaä stands atop one of the taller pieces of ruins, one leg up as she peers away from the mirror. A breeze whips at her flying jacket, the dark blue cloth rippling around her legs. She finally turns back to the mirror, looking thoughtful.]}

These ruins... they remind me of some of the ones back home; the cities and towns that were swallowed by the Sea of Corruption. Except here there's no miasma. No spores. I wonder what happened...?

_{[She pauses and shrugs.]}

At least we're not going to starve to death anytime soon. But still....

_{[Feel free to come upon her. Or just talk.]}