[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.]

[Today, now that the snow has somewhat cleared up in the Orchards, people out there looking for food might stumble across Signum apparently taking an uncharacteristic nap under a tree.]

[If you look closer, she has a fishing pole propped up nearby where she can hear any movement of the line by a fish - she decided to provide some fish for dinner tonight. Trout, if she can catch it, since you don't really get those in Japan or Midchilda.]

[That's not the whole story behind her closed eyes and unusually relaxed posture, though. She's meditating, in a sense, trying to feel the magic that's being used to maintain and continue to create this place. She's no expert on the mystical side of the arts she uses, but lacking anything further in this place to give mere visual reconnaissance, she's decided to attempt focusing more on different places in particular, feeling the flow of mana and leylines, with the vague fuzziness of living things with Linker Cores wandering around her, including the almost nonexistant little phantoms of the dumb fish that were ignoring her bait.]

[Naturally, anyone concentrating this much is just asking to be bothered.]

[ Action ; Ever since the snow melted, Vita has set herself on the task of exploring. Everywhere. She's trying to do it on foot right now, in order to not raise suspicion by flying around, and is dressed in her civilian clothes. Though, that just means Graf Eisen and her are extra careful and aware of their surroundings.

You may find her in a number of places as she tries to understand this new location. Namely, she's going to be walking around the Ruins and the Necessities. If you're in the area, she'll probably approach you. ]

[ voice ]

This place is pretty big. The taste in decoration for those kitchen and clothing places is sorta dumb right now, but the change was pretty impressive. I can't see much trace of the way it looked before. All of the buildings have different types of stuff too, like old fashion or modern. It feels like a stupid museum.  But whatever.

Hey, Hayate. Signum, Nanoha, Fate, Vivio. You heard what that little girl said, right? About the dumb dirt? Whatcha think? 

[ somebody's not looking too happy. That's because somebody's been hit by a wildcard while out exploring, and seems to be more than a little muddled up. The language centre of her brain isn't holding up too well ]

There is something seriously potato salad with the sarcophagus out there. I was wandering around, chainsawing my own business, when bam! Now I can't even talk without getting unicorn in the overgrown shrubbery.

Argh! Machungwa!

[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...

[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!

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.)

[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?

[The strange beings had worried her, particularly the fact some people have been wounded by them, but it wasn't until the beings began actively assaulting the building that she realized just what sort of trouble they were getting into.]

Alright, guess the low-profile vacation's over. I don't like waving my title around, but--

This is Hayate Yagami, Time-Space Administration Bureau Marine Defense Force Investigation Commander. Second Lieutenant Signum, Second Lieutenant Vita, Enforcer Harlaown, Instructor Takamachi, and student Takamachi--report immediately!

Everyone, please tell me anything and everything you know about the things in the blizzard. More importantly, please stay inside and stay together! Don't split up for any reason. Even if you know how to fight, please don't go after those...things unless someone is in danger. The priority right now is to keep everyone safe!

If anyone is in danger, please don't hesitate to tell me! I'll do my best to have someone capable get to you to help!

[Video]

Oh good, the Vine's back.

[Forgetting to Filter]

Hayate, everyone, are you alright? What's your status? I seem to be snowed inside a shelter with a young lady somewhere in what I assume is the Orchards or the Necessities. We seem to be safe, though lacking in basic supplies for the cold weather. Where is everyone else?

[Flandre wakes up first. She doesn't like change on the best of days, and this is already a plenty complicated enough place for her to have to deal with. Which is why she is in the corner of the unlit room, knees up against her chest, peering out at the other unconscious person.]

[Cold, she can handle. She's pretty cold already, being a vampire and all. But what's this 'roommate' thing supposed to be about?]

[ It took Vita only a few seconds to figure out how to work the vines; purely on accident, of course. Her attempts to order Graf Eisen seemed to be misinterpreted as orders for the vine. And she's a bit skeptical at first when a large mirror appears in front of her and gives it a strange look, before figuring that it's answering her request and she had might as well try... as dumb as she feels to be yelling at a mirror. ]

This is Vita of Special Duty Section 6, subdivision of the Time Space Administration Bureau, requesting a response from any other personal in the area! I seem to have been moved to a strange new dimension of sorts! Contact me immediately if you get this message!

If any civilians see this, I want to question you this instant! I don't have time to be stuck here! And DAMMIT what is with all of these useless familiars?! Can't those damn cats say anything useful?! Graf Eisen, start scanning this place! Let's find a weak point and be ready to break out of here! Hayate and everyone are counting on me, dammit! I have no time to take a picnic in a stupid garden!

... Why am I talking to a mirror?! This isn't helping anything! Stupid stupid stupid stupid...nnnnnnrgh!!!!!!! [ and now Vita is looking pretty frustrated. She wishes this place wasn't so cheerful and calm because it completely contrasts her angry mood, which in turn angers her more. ]

[the mirror shows a side view of the hooded girl sitting on the boardwalk by the arcade, her legs dangling over the edge. Her head is turned slightly, arm outstretched to indicate that she purposefully called the mirror from the Vine, but she's silent for a few moments. She's thinking, though it's a bit hard to tell with her face mostly obscured.]

[when she finally speaks, it's to say:]

I didn't know love was so complicated.

[her mouth turns downward in a puzzled frown.]

I heard that love was something special, like...a power. But it's also a feeling. [here her voice becomes subdued, and it drops in volume.] I've felt it before.

But what power does it actually have?

[The mirror pops into view, flickers a few times, then reveals the Queen of Hearts once again, still against a dark background. This time, there's a holly wreath perched atop her hair.]

I'm sorry I haven't had the time to listen to all your helpful suggestions, darlings! It turns out creating a world is hard work...ahahaha, who knew?

Besides, I'm feeling a bit...

[She trails off, looking absently to the side, then quickly readjusts her wreath and continues.]

Anyway! One of my less tame incarna has shown her face, has she? I may not like her attitude, but I think she had a good idea this time. There are so many ways to enjoy this season, but this might be the best!

Now, I have work to do. At this rate, the whole place will fall down around my ears while I'm working on opening the dungeons...ah, it's enough to drive a girl crazy!

[And the mirror shrivels back up. But the mistletoe, that remains, wherever you are...]

[OOC: The Queen won't be replying to comments directed at her (she is, like she said, busy), but this post is free to be used for general mistletoe antics and mingling so that everyone who wants to make use of the mistletoe doesn't have to make a whole post.]

[A new face has shown up on the vine tonight! It must be; how many people here are decked out in one of those especially revealing Santa costumes? In any case, she's smiling very tersely indeed, leaning down for a rather nice view of the... ornaments.]

Ladies, ladies, ladies! I am most disappointed.

I've been keeping a list and checking it twice, but there's not enough naughty and far too much nice. Means you wouldn't know how to take advantage of wishes if they were tied to a chair in tinsel and pretty lights, for those who can't keep up.

Where's your holiday spirit? 'Tis the season to be giving! If you're into receiving, that's fine too. Her royal bustiness told us you'd be encouraged in no time, honestly.

It's high time I take matters into my own hands, don't you think? Yes? Glad we agree!

[That's that, apparently. It takes nothing more than a teasing flick of the wrist to prompt some alarmingly quick plant growth in the background. Maybe you've encountered these before. Then have a kiss blown at the mirror, as if to demonstrate:]

Now pucker up, girls. You'll thank me later.

[OOC: You heard the, um, lady. Mistletoe now decorates the Gardens, and any two people caught beneath it will be compelled to kiss. For child and pre-teen characters, this does not have to be a kiss on the mouth. The mistletoe will last through Saturday the 18th, after which point it can be assumed that the Vamp got bored of putting it back up after its victims tore it down or set it on fire.]

[ video ]

[A young woman appears in the mirror, as per the usual. She's new, but doesn't look particularly bewildered or frightened. Instead, she looks determined, if a little nervous.]

This is a message...from Princess Estellise Sidos Heurassein to the Queen of Hearts. I would like to o-open diplomatic talks between the Empire and the Gardens! I--

[Her shoulders droop.]

I'm sorry. That isn't right. Please...call me Estelle.

[She perks up a bit and offers a shaky smile.]

I'm a client of the guild Brave Vesperia, and I need to find a way back to them. I know it's not the same as a formal invitation to peace talks from a princess, but please, if you could, this is very important to me. I can't promise anything from the empire, because this is my quest, not theirs. But I'll do whatever I can to repay you, when the time comes. So...return me to Brave Vesperia!

[She turns away, not realizing the mirror is still recording her, lets out a breath, and crouches to pet a cat.]

Yuri, Karol, Judith...I'm trying my best, I promise! Even without you. I won't be away for long.

[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.]