Loss is a curious thing. In many ways it defines us.

[There's a long pause]

I-

[Silence and then he turns off the comm]

Well now, about that time again it seems. Discedomas, 'tis the season, and what-have-you. The weather has definitely cooled and I see no signs of that plant that gives you an electric shock, so I suppose we're safe for now from it.

Hopefully the scientists don't see fit to get into the holiday spirit and nose into the romantic endeavors of our fair city.

In any case, Ashe, you had better be getting a fair bit of rest. The same to you, Basch. I'm out to go get some dinner and stop by the greenhouse since I don't think any of us even recall proper nutrition.

How does stew sound tonight? It does seem to last a while.

It seems I've neglected this device for far too long.

I do apologize from my absence from the goings-on of the city; I was under the effects of a persistent and troublesome stomach bug for the better part of over a month. My head still feels rather like someone's taken a hammer to it, though I'll attribute that to the wine and not the failings of my immune system. It seems while the Leading Man is immune to any sort of death, he is certainly vulnerable to a bad case of the flu.

I imagine it's probably due to some sort of deficiency in proper nutrition or somesuch, but I hardly claim any sort of medical knowledge.

Ah yes, of course, Discedo, up to your usual misbegotten mischief I see? Newcomers and old friends and foes alike, confined to your decrepit streets...

Well, since I'm no longer in danger of coughing up vital organs, I imagine a bit of fresh air will do me well.

Well now, looks as though we have ourselves a spot of trouble on our hands. How very unexpected.

One thing's for certain, getting close to some of this lot is hardly recommended. Also when I was out hunting, it looked like the Reavers were getting restless again. Just made it out of there with my skin on. My cuffs hardly fared so well, unfortunately. ...Alas, another good shirt ruined beyond repair.

Now, since you're all running about like a cockatrice with its head off, let the Leading Man give you a bit of a strategy, hmm?

First off, those at the hospital or going there; find out how the brutes are getting in and seal it so they can't. They're undead so fire and cure spells are going to be your dearest allies in this sort of battle.

Those of you in apartments, anyone that can fight should be acting as guards and taking shifts patrolling their respective buildings. You can't be everywhere at once so don't spread yourselves too thin. Pick a ground to defend and defend it. If those monsters get in, you're going to want to be alert and not exhausted from running every which-way.

If you can't fight, help by securing your building, starting on lower floors. Board up doors and windows that monsters can get through and have a clear escape route if things start getting nasty.

Hunting and street patrol parties should be the only ones going out and they should be leaving in groups. If you're bloody stupid enough to run out on your own in this sort of fog, I've no sympathy for you if you become these beasts dinner. Find someone and stick to them. It's common bloody sense.

I'll be keeping my eye on the forest for signs of movement from the Reavers, but it's a big damned forest and I've only two eyes. Anyone close to the forest, if you happen see signs of trouble, don't be rude and keep it to yourself.

For those of you not in one of the apartments, I'd recommend taking temporary residence in one until this passes. In these sorts of fights, there's safety in numbers. Especially when those numbers have some crack firepower. This goes for you too, Prydain. Don't let you and yours get overwhelmed for the sake of pride. There's no shame in retreating to safer ground to defend what's dear to you.

Hm. Been quite some time since I fiddled with this damned device. I feel a bit out of touch. Not like me. Not like me at all. Oh well, that's of hardly any consequence.

The meaning of this little interjection into your daily dosage of Discedo de facto is to inquire about any individuals possession of scrap metal or mechanical parts they simply aren't using. I am, of course, a fair and dishonest man so I'm more than happy to make a fair and easy trade of it.

What can I offer? Well, you'll have to leave a message to find out.

Oh, Basch, thank you for the loan of your razor. I was getting a bit scruffy. My hair needs a good trim at some point. You wouldn't happen to have a pair of scissors would you?

Reavers again? Such a nuisance... still, they're a tough lot in groups. Ashe, Basch, I hope you both are in good condition? We seem to have our work cut out for use.

For those not familiar with these things, they were hume once but seem to act on all the nasty little things humes can do. Like eat each other alive. An unruly lot, and certainly not the sort I want dropping in for a drink and idle chit-chat so do exercise a bit of common sense and get to somewhere safe. Preferably accompanied by a body guard.

Times like this simultaneously make me miss Fran and very happy she isn't here...

What a mess... I certainly hope that was the worst of those Gods forsaken tremors.

Basch, those chocobos wouldn't happen to be able to sniff out the injured would they? I suppose we have act as good neighbors do and save a few lives.

Wouldn't do for the leading man to leave people to their untimely demises, whether or not they're revived.

"-ou stop struggling!"

"Then untie me! There is no need for bonds, Balthier!"

"Those are handcuffs, captain. I know you can get yourself untied."

"How you got a hold of these I do not even want to know..." [A rattling sound as he tests out how well they're made... he's not getting free anytime soon] "Balthier, take them off."

"Only when I'm satisfied."

"... and that shall be when?"

"When you accept the inevitable. That you are going to be spending a bit of quality time on this bed while Ashe and I look after your little problem. Or big.... it does seem to be getting quite swollen."

"Balthier I can handle myself, ahn," [he groans and more shifting is heard] "Tis not that big of a problem..."

[a rustle of fabric and Balthier lets out a low whistle] "I beg to differ. I'm going to need quite a bit of salve for this."

"Did you acquire the salve the same way you did the cuffs?"

"If you're asking if I pilfered it, the answer is yes. Anyway, I need to make note that you'll be out of comission for a few days. It may take a while until I'm completely satisfied."

"A few days? Balthier surely that is too much..."

"Oh? We'll see."

"I shall do what you want for tonight, but I am not going to stay this way for days, Balthier."

"As I said, that all depends on you."

"... how so? What must I do to 'satisfy' you?"

[An audible grin in his tone]"Hush now. I need to make that post." [The sound of springs as Balthier gets up off the bed and bends over to recover the communicator. In the background you can hear the clinking of the handcuffs as Basch struggles, accompanied by a protest of "... Balthier. Take these off and stop this nonsense."] "Ah jolly good it's on. Alright, just making a note to all of you who work at the stables. Since he's a stubborn wounded git, Basch will be taking a few days bed rest at my adamant and ardent insistence.

Do take good care of those wretched birds. There's some swelling I need to tend to."

-[Locked from Ashe, Basch, and Small Childrens]-

[His tone is very level, as if he's conducting business, but there's an iciness that basically says someone's going to die very soon]

Let me make this very clear to whoever did this to Ashe.

Pray to whatever gods you want that I never find you first. I am not a man of the law, and thus I have no trouble meeting you with a fate much worse than death or imprisonment.

There will be a reckoning.

(ooc: strikes are deleted)
-[/lock-]

---

Ashe should be back today.

When you see this, let Basch and I know. We're at the hospital, and while it's considered often fashionable for a lady to be late, we'd prefer your usual punctuality.

---

-[Locked to Basch Fon Ronsenburg]-

Blaming yourself isn't going to change anything. What's done is done. Just be glad that it's been reversed.

-[/lock]-

Would anyone mind telling me why I am suddenly floating down the sidewalk?

Hmm...? Looks as though the greenery is finally coming out.

Ah well. Wings are wings. I'll take what I can get. Now...

...How far and how fast? Let's see what the limits are...

This troublesome lot again?

Good heavens and here I was looking forwards to a bit of a break from chaos and disaster to enjoy a bit of... drunken chaos and disaster.

Ah well.

Now, would any among your number happen to be a lovely young Viera lady named Fran?

If you zap me one more time, I swear on my gun I'm chucking you in the damned lake. I don't respond very well to compulsion.

In any case, I may as well mention that Penelo is gone and as many of you may know, the good Judge Magister Gabranth has returned to bring us a bit of law an order.

Also, this is for a Mr. Highwind and I do so apologize for the delayed response. Got a bit sidetracked with the recent trouble and all. I found a soldering iron and some fuel for it, but not much. We'll have to be careful with it.

And that's all I have to say on-

...hm?

How did one of those get in he- ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!

[~click~]

Things seem to be falling from the sky again. Taking shelter seems like the best course of-


[There is a loud smack followed by an ow and some very, very colourful language. There may even be some alliteration in there.]

-of all the damned things I have get hit by damned rocks in this damned-

...

......................


...............................

Well, well.

Ah, a competition of young men and women coming up?

A bit of entertainment at last.

Prydain, I'll be wagering a few good items on you. Don't let me down.

Now, who's taking the bets? Or should I open some up?

War.

Has anyone here even opened a dictionary in the last few centuries? Really now, what you looking at is nothing more than a squabble between two men.

War tends to involve quite a larger number of people. Past even the double-digits if any of you can count that high. If anyone has any sense, you'd knock their heads together and let them cool their heels in the cells for a while.

Now, onto more important matters.

I've been on quite a supply run and stocking up all manner of non-perishable goods and dried meat. Penelo and Ashe are organizing a hunt for a flowering cactoid, and apparently they're edible. And not just the flowering cactoids but also the regular sort. Nani, I've put much of the supplies that our apartment isn't using in your pantry. Mostly canned goods, but it should keep you from running too low.

Harry Mason seems to have gone. I wish the man all the best.

...So has Umi. A lovely young lady but this isn't the place for her.

Ah, so... another monster invasion.

Basch, look after her Majesty and visa-versa. I'm going to go see just what these things are capable of.

...

Where's my gun.

When trouble comes, it always seems to come three-fold.

Poison gas, acid rain, and a mountain of new mouths to feed. Not to mention that the gas took a good deal of our fresh food supplies. Just be ready to tighten your belts even more.

As for our shocking little revelation that we are not the only living things on fair (and I use the term quite loosely) Fortuna, I for one am not surprised that the scientists have been lying to us and any of you who are have gyshal greens for gray matter.

In any case, whether it is beneficial or not to search for the native inhabitants or not is the question that begs an answer. If that young lady is any indication, they don't want us here, nor do most of us want to be here. If they're willing to facilitate our return to our respective places and times, excellent. If they prove to be hostile then they are simply yet another threat to our safety, and my patience has run thin with that rubbish.

That little tidbit let slip also begs an old yet very important question:

Why were we brought here, if not to repopulate a dead world?

Hmm... I wasn't here the for when Discedo first had its acid rains. But like the wet season in the Giza Plains, the abundance of monsters increases.

I wonder if the initial rains were the effect of a common cause? Those gases were certainly unusually strong.

Discedo, you have this most unbecoming habit of presenting more questions than answers. And when the answers are found, it is often too late.

Since natural water is no longer an option, Ashe and I possess magicks capable of creating it. Should any of you require fresh water, then there is an extra option to you.

Ashe, I found some lotion for your stomach. Perhaps it will relieve the itching?

On a lighter note, at least the snow is melting.