[At first, there is nothing but the sound of something metallic hitting against a wooden table, but then the video focuses on Stiles' face rather than the metallic bottle he managed to knock over (next to a small bottle of aspirin) -- he squints at the tablet, like the light filling the room is hurting his eyes, but eventually he clears his throat like preparing for A Speech.

Well. Something like that, at least.]

Okay, so, things! Thing number one: how stupidly optimistic would it be to think that "correcting for errors" means, you know, those weird creature things nobody actually wants to see again, like, ever? Also, speaking of... did anyone else see them surrounding a house you weren't it, even though the house you were in would have been closer? I mean, not that I'm complaining, it's just... it doesn't make sense. Why wouldn't they go for the closest one with people inside?

[For a moment, it looks like he could say something more about this, it's been something he's been thinking about for the past days -- but then he sighs and moves on, waving his hand at the tablet.]

Anyway, thing number two: has anyone come across a hospital, pharmacy, anything at all that would have medicine or other emergency supplies? Because right now, if one of us gets sick, can't get medicine, runs into someone else, infects them... it's definitely not a good thing. As in, accidental plague levels of not a good thing. [Not that anyone would catch a plague here, probably (you never know!), but even just several people down with the flu at the same time could be bad enough.]

And that brings me to thing number three! [He digs to his backpack, not visible in the view of the recording, pulling out a small bottle that seems to be some kind of medicine.] Is anybody missing seizure meds? Because I found this in one of the houses, and it's either been left behind by one of us or those who lived there, and in case it's one of us, uh, I'm pretty sure seizure meds aren't something you're supposed to leave behind. So. Anyone?

[With a grimace, Stiles cuts the feed -- that's enough socializing for today, and his head is killing him.]

[ When the video cuts on, Jim isn't looking at the camera. His head is twisted around to stare somewhere over his shoulder as his chest heaves with exertion (or maybe fear.) There's a bruise blossoming on his cheek where he'd fallen trying to escape and a dried trail of blood from his nose to his chin that he's forgotten about.

The microphone picks up the noise of the monsters outside in the snow over the rattle of Jim's breath. When there's a break in the sound Jim seems to remember what he'd been doing and turns back to the tablet. ]

Please tell me someone else is seeing these things. They're some kind of - of - of shadow things.

[ Jim has seen weird. He's seen creepy, thanks to Captain Flint. But he's never seen anything like those. Still, something about them had seemed almost too familiar. It's that which makes him wonder if it's all in his own head. ]

If you are? Don't fight them. Just run.

[ when Draco's voice comes over the network, it's clear that he's doing his best to keep his emotions reined in; there's a waver to his tone, a sort of high pitchiness that suggests he's more than a little on edge here. And really, why shouldn't he be? But if he was ever anywhere near tears in this place, he's not going to admit it to people. Especially not people he doesn't know. ]

Will someone tell me what in the hell is going on here?

[ Draco's never been that good with things he doesn't understand. It's why it's taken him something like three days before he's actually bothered to take to the tablet and the network. That and the weird goings-on this last little while.

[ He doesn't know where he is, and he doesn't know why he's here, and he's getting the gist that neither does anyone else, but they're all helping each other. And that means someone's got answers, if nothing else. He's got little to no motivation to really get to know any of them, or to help any of them in return, but if they can even give a little insight...

[ He's slowly but surely been poking around, searching things and trying to find some clue, but 2x4s and red pens don't give him much to go off of. Draco's about ready to tear his hair out. He's never really been that good at not having answers. ]

VIDEO, OPEN;

Hello? Um…

[Quark had more or less turned on the Network feed without really thinking. His puffy-eyed young face blinks warily at the tablet screen. He had something important to say, but the second that he started recording it was like he’d completely forgotten what it was. His cold face begins to color in embarrassment.]

Is everyone doing alright after last night? I mean…I know that nobody’s really doing very well, but I heard we weren’t supposed to fall asleep in case the brain eating people invaded our dreams and took us over! I accidentally did fall asleep, though…but I think I’m still me, so I just wanted to make sure everyone else is, too!

[He supposes that, technically, he wouldn’t really know whether or not anybody is still themselves because he hasn’t talked to too many people, yet. But…it seems only polite to ask!]

... So.

[You hear this voice, Norfinbury? This is the voice of a woman who has regrets. So many regrets she doesn't quite know how to shift through them all. May as well start with the ones with less personal baggage.]

How many of our number turned on the beacon while our minds were... affected? It may be prudent to keep track of those that did, in case something has been alerted due to such actions.

[She rubs her face a bit, though it's hard to tell given the only source of light around seems to be coming from the tablet itself. Distantly, she recognizes that she should probably be a bit more concerned about another morning of injections and subsequent paralysis, but after all that's happened in the past few days, she doesn't have enough energy to put into worrying about something that's happened twice before.]

Additionally, I have an update regarding the Jia Xú key I asked about previously. To the southwest, there is a building buried in the southern wall of snow. Previously, it barred entry to any who passed it, but it opened with the key I possess.

[Casually skips over the fact it promptly closed again once everyone was inside. It's not important.]

This building, though not a hospital as hoped, possesses a back door. The walls surrounding the town are not completely impenetrable.

[She flips the tablet then, casting the dim glow to the icy tunnels she's found herself in - dark, closed in, and sloping downwards. Not the best of views, certainly, but it gets the point across, she hopes.]

There is a series of caves branching out from that building, though I cannot yet tell how far they go or where they lead. It is easier to move quickly in here than it is outside as it is less affected by the weather, but suitable shelter seems sparser. So far it seems most of the buildings here have been destroyed, for the obvious reasons.

Should I find anything else of particular interest, I will be certain to share it.

[The feed ends.]

[ It's been following her all day. It's something... something a lot like where she's from, and it's nothing like what she wants. It isn't and still--

Still, she should know by the tone of Hewie's growls. She should know by the absence of sanity nearby. But there was a person in the distance, she swears it! Watching right out of reach, and she isn't sure if she can trust her senses anymore. At this point, she's not quite sure if she can trust his.

She doesn't know if the people on the other end are real, or if this is just another trap, another trick, dead bodies on the sofa dressed like dolls, and she swears she hears someone outside--but Hewie is sleeping, sleeping, so it's only that--

That she's crazy. That she's going crazy. Like Daniella. Like Riccardo and Lorenzo. Madness runs in the blood. ]

I wonder if people can get in at night.

[ She's started talking to the device without a clear decision to do so, like a security blanket of stability, if she just keeps talking-- ]

We're not supposed to go out, but can others come in? I feel like they can get in.

[ There's an edge beginning to ride in her tone, a frantic undercurrent, and Hewie whines up at her. Fiona blinks, a sharp shiver running through her.

She turns off the device. ]