[So it's been several days since he woke up in this crazy place, and Private Jimmy still has no idea what's going on. He'd been hoping that if he waited a while, a superior officer or a Freelancer or someone would show up and explain things, but that doesn't seem to have happened. Which means it's time to turn to other people for help.

Which means that there's now a voice chiming up on the network that doesn't quite sound like the one you might expect from this username. If you have sharp ears, you might recognise it as Church, but it might be easier to assume that it's just someone totally different. Someone younger, nicer, and significantly less grumpy.]

Hi, guys. First off, I want to apologise for that username. I'm really not big on profanity, but for some reason that was already registered on the tablet and I haven't figured out how to change it.

Anyway, that's not what I actually wanted to talk about here. I was hoping that somebody could answer a few questions for me? I can't remember how I got here or really anything about what's going on, and it's all very confusing.

Thanks in advance.

[ooc: Thanks to a death loss, Church's body is currently being controlled by its actual owner, Private Jimmy. When the loss wears off, his AI implant will start functioning again, effectively causing Church to possess the body again.]

Hi! It's Magenta again. If you don't remember me, I recently had a hand in releasin' a certain someone from a certain somewhere, and maybe you heard about that!

[That's putting it all very mildly.]

But that's not what I'm here to talk about...or, maybe it is, but not directly? Y'see, that venture didn't end well, and I reckon I passed out, or passed on, and wound up somewhere else. From what I heard, that's normal! About as normal as this place is willin' to get, anyways.

Anyways, I didn't notice this 'til pretty recent, but I'm not able to see myself! I have this mirror, here, but I'm just...not there. I know there's been weird shit goin' on, so I just wanted to know if anybody else had somethin' similar happen in these past few days! Also, can y'all see me? I can't see me, and I'm worried nobody else can. Arrivaderci!

[He signs off, before quickly hopping back onto the network for an addendum:]

That means "bye-bye" in Italian, I've heard.

[Waking up in a body you don't remember is ten degrees is horrifying. How do you stand up when you don't have legs? How do you come to terms with limbs you don't recall ever seeing in your life? With being dyed bright orange and bleeding bright yellow? (He gave himself a nosebleed falling off the morgue shelf to the floor.) He's lucky enough he figured out how to float without being told.]

[He's lucky, too, that the few things he did remember helped to piece together his situation. Norfinbury, Alaska: a town multiple people have been brought to, where the dead sometimes revive in morgues with something missing. He has enough collected things to suggest he's been here a while. He just can't remember anything he's done here, nor a big chunk of what came before.]

[By the time Davesprite starts the video, however, he's regained enough composure to feign calmness. He's cleaned his face, so there's no sign of the bloody nose earlier. His expression is neutral; the backdrop is the outside of a building some may recognize as the funeral home.]

Hey, so, few questions. One, why am I an orange bird dude? Last orange bird thing I saw was my sprite, but that doesn't tell me as much as you'd think it would. Two, how old am I? I sure as shit don't look thirteen anymore. And three, how did I die? 'Cause I'm pretty sure I died—else why would I be at a morgue—but I recall a whole lot of jack shit about anything I've done here.

[For once Sherlock is not on text only, he's on video in all his glory. Which is a very diminished glory today, considering he looks terrible. Too thin in the face, though his clothes hide the rest of him, and dishevelled as though he's spent a few months not really putting any care into his appearance. His hair is longer than the last time anyone has seen him, and he looks older.

He's moving frantically in short bursts of energy, jittery, as if he isn't quite sure whether he wants to stay still or keep moving.]

Data, yes, I should share that. [It's a mumble to himself as the tablet tilts, giving an askew feed of the detective.] Purposeful death does cause nearly guaranteed revival, this has now been tested several times with no known cases of permanent death.

[The tablet shifts again as Sherlock moves between morgue drawers, checking them one by one and then moving on.]

John. [It's a sudden shift in direction.] John Watson, has anyone seen him?

[Hi there, snowhellions. You might be turning to the network in the hopes of seeing something substantial or significant, or just something that's not really fucking stupid.

What you're getting instead is an image of Church and Caboose smugly posing with a red flag. Church is also flipping off the camera with both hands because of course he is.

The only message accompanying this is a bit of glittery text:

]

Characters: everyone
Location: mysterious, white hallways
Date: Day 193-194
Summary: Find friends. Get lost. Don't look.
Warnings: Potential for gore and psychological horror. Please note any specific warnings in your subject lines!

While confusingly similar, the area is split into a few different sections:

The Core
The hallways here are narrow and twist at a rapid rate. With how dazzlingly white everything is, it's easy to not realize you're coming on a turn and slam right into the walls. There are no rooms here--no one starts here, though they may find it while they wander. At the center is a large, round area, like the center of a spiral. There's a lot of air pressure here.

The Inner Hallways
The largest area, filled with dead ends, gentle slopes and twists, and, occasionally, difficult-to-see drops where a higher hallway intersects with a lower one without a wall to separate them. The whole place tastes vaguely like blood. Most rooms are here--most people start here.

The Outer Hallways
The outer ring of the ball of yarn. It's not as thick with halls and twists as the other two areas, leading to a lot more boring walking in one direction. It's totally possible to circle around the same path multiple times without realizing it, as everything is so similar here. Occasionally, footsteps can be heard just outside the farthest walls. Sometimes, something breathes. There are a few rooms here--some people will start here.


Remember to note what kind of eyes your character has in their top level!

[Zach hasn't made a network post in a while. In over a month, actually. The last time, he'd looked happy, had been ridiculous with Steph, doing a reading of Norfinbury's finest literature.

Right now, he looks gaunt, terrified, and sad when he shows up on camera. His coat swallows him up, and he's all hunched shoulders, not really looking at the camera. His eyes are still strange looking, the Prophet eyes still plaguing him. There's nobody with him in the frame.

He rubs a hand over his face, sighing loudly, before looking up at the camera.]

So, if math is right and all, today - or yesterday, or tomorrow - is my birthday.

[He lets out a bitter chuckle.] Shoulda known that even my 21st would suck balls. Heyyyy, I can drink legally! I don't have anything to drink! Happy birthday to me!

[He holds a hand up in the air in a fake cheer, letting it drop back to his lap afterwards.]

'Nyway. [Time to change the subject. He's got nothing good to actually say or offer, he's been way too lost in his own shit to think of what to do to help out on how to get out.]

I've been thinking about trying to build my laser cannon back up, but I don't really know where to even start. What does one need to build a laser? Can anyone help?

[He's not actually looking hopeful in terms of getting an answer. He keeps on looking down at his hands like he's missing something, the back of them obviously scratched to bleeding. Someone is not at peak health, right now.]

Characters: anyone and everyone
Location all around town
Date: Night 180
Summary: Kill the sinners or run for your lives.
Warnings: Horror, potential gore and death. Please note more specific warnings in subject lines!

close we will live, dilly dilly
and when we die
both in one grave, dilly dilly
close we will lie

[ Video ]

You asked, Norfinbury, and I delivered. It didn't make the final cut, but right before Zach started filming I told House, and I quote, "I'm going to hug you now".

[ Following is a clip of House, inside the museum, backed against a wall and holding a hammer. In front of the camera is Steph, already mid-leap when the video starts. Those who haven't seen her on video before may notice the padded suit and cape she wears under a poncho and scarf. The hood and mask are down, of course, since they're relatively warmer indoors.

House stops her by grabbing her shoulders. ]

Really?

I did warn you!

[ Steph digs ungloved fingers into the fleshy parts of his wrists, making House grimace and finally let her go. He lets his arms drop and stares forlornly up at the ceiling as Steph cackles maniacally and grabs him up in a hug.

They stand there like that for a solid thirty seconds, House looking like a thoroughly depressed log, Steph a very purple mushroom having grown on him. Then she gives him a squeeze and lets go. ]

Mission accomplished.

[ The video ends. ]

[ooc | Steph is purple, House is blue! ]

[ It's very late. Late enough for the majority of the video to be pitch black, with the tablet screen not illuminating much more than Angel's face. Possibly a good thing, since she just woke up in the police station morgue and nobody wants to see video of body lockers at fuck o'clock in the morning.

Okay maybe some people would. But they're weirdos and don't count. ]

I know a lot of people won't be awake right now, but I think this is information that needs to be public as soon as possible. The anomaly that attacked me and my friends a few days ago displayed some behaviour that I hadn't seen before. She-- it didn't appear while we were travelling, or smash its way into the building - it managed to work the door open. Like - um, like a person.

[ Awkward. Since the anomaly in question both looked like a particular person and responded to their name. Best not to think about that, though. ]

They seem to be getting smarter. I suggest blocking the doors to any buildings you stay overnight in until you're ready to leave, and being extra vigilant when you make your exit. I don't want anyone to be caught unawares like we were.

[ It takes the video of the bomb hitting to really force Rhys to realize how up his own butt he's been. And it's only partially justified. Ish. Maybe.

An update, then, on how the Situation has been resolved is in order, now that he's been fed, watered, and had time to collect his thought. ]

Jack's gone.

...gone out of my head, anyway.

Just, u-uh. Thought everyone should know.

Characters: Caboose and his bestest best bestfriend, Church! They are best friends!!!
Location: Building 11 and immediate surroundings
Date: Morning 168
Summary: Caboose is reunited with his best friend ever. Church hates his stupid fucking life.
Warnings: Pool noodles. will add if necessary ok good

( like hide and don't seek! your favourite game ♥ )

[ Should you choose to access this post, dear Norfinburian...ites, you get a hiss of static followed by the abrupt appearance of a semi-transparent blue man on your tablet screen. Smiling. Gleeful. Other synonyms.

Handsome Jack runs a technically nonexistent hand through his equally nonexistent hair. ]

Who missed me?

[ Laughter, loud and biting. ]

It's a pure, unadulterated hour of the Handsomest Jack, just for you! More than you filthy bandit-types deserve, which is --- duh, b-but I'm feeling pretty damn generous.

You're welcome.

Characters: Stephanie Brown, Zach Spencer, Kesara Freamon, Death the Kid, Leonard Church, Charlie Kelly, Jade Harley, Brian Thomas, Kanan Jarrus, Vanitas
Location: Buildings 48. 29, ??, ???
Date: 162-165
Summary: Assorted shenanigans
Warnings: Discussion of domestic abuse

DAY 162
48: The only doors in this single-story house are the front door and the bathroom; all other doorways are separated by faded green and yellow curtain beads. Even the bedroom gets this treatment, and it's the same for the living room and kitchen. The beads seem to be made of glass; moving through the house is a bit of a noisy affair. The bead curtain leading into the living room has been torn down, with half of the strings now scattered on the floor and some of the beads shattered, leaving a small mess of glass. The sharp bits of broken glass have been swept to one side, out of the way of anyone walking. Small, finger-sized slits have been cut into the couch.

"ALPHONSE ELRIC, MAMI TOMOE, FREYA CRESCENT, GREED, EDWARD ELRIC, STEPHANIE BROWN, DAY FORTY THREE, TRAVELLING NORTH-EAST." has been written on one of the walls. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, STEPHANIE BROWN, EDWARD ELRIC, GREED, DAY SIXTY-SIX, TRAVELLING NORTH-WEST. DEAR FORMER RESIDENT, WE ARE FRIENDS, PLEASE DO NOT FEEL YOU NEED TO HIDE FROM US. CONTACT LELRIC." has been written on the walls. "ALFIE SOLOMONS, 1922. Camden Town, London, England, UK, Europe, Earth. Day 133, January 23" is carved onto a wall.

DAY 163
29: A small shed outside the school, going inside reveals sports equipment is being stored in here. There are hurdles, various sports balls, giant mats, and the like. There's nothing that could be used as a weapon, though, unless you're going to try to hurl a basketball at someone's head. This is the only place on the campus it's possible to stay in overnight--if you try to stay anywhere else, you'll be made to leave at 7PM.

The following is written on the wall in blue ink: "This is Building 46 on the composite map. Contact @CaptSteveRogers for details." Underneath is a fairly accurate map showing the shed in relation to the school and buildings 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 31, 34, 35, 38, 41, 42, 43, and 44. House 34 is labeled "Medical assistance; hot, clean water. Contact Dr. Epps @claytonator". The school is labeled "School. Food available in cafeteria; DO NOT STAY HERE OVERNIGHT." The shed is labeled "Shed". Behind the shed is a small army of snowmen armed with sports equipment.

DAY 164


DAY 165