[When the video starts, it shows Peggy's face; she's not looking at the camera, but the way her jaw is clenched and how she keeps on taking deep, hard breaths betrays how upset she is. As background noise, the sound of her nails clicking against the wood of the table she's sitting at is loud, rhythmic. Her hair is disheveled, and there are tracks of mascara down her cheeks, clumped around the corner of her eyes. She's looking haggard.

She's trying to find the right words, and she's trying not to break down in front of the whole town of Norfinbury.

She knows Steve was important to a lot of people, and that he tried to keep the peace. She knows she has to do this, to tell everyone before the Admin comes out with an impersonal message. She was there; she saw it, she saw him, and she couldn't do a thing to stop him. Her heart lies in tatters at the bottom of her stomach, the guilt bringing fresh new tears to her eyes.

Losing him once was already too many times.

Running a hand under her nose, unattractively sniffling, Peggy turns to the camera, hoping her eyes are not so red-rimmed that they betray just how much she's been crying.]

This isn't an easy message to send. [Peggy lets out a chuckle, sounding watery and weak. She takes another deep breath.]

Steve is gone. He - [A pause, pain twisting in her chest some more, feeling like she's being carved hollow.] We were attacked, and he - he died. Steve is dead.

[This time, she can't help the tear that falls, even if she brushes it off quickly, smearing yet more mascara over her cheek. Saying the words out loud somehow makes it all the more real, the images replaying in her head as she sits there, holding her tablet and broadcasting the words to the whole of Norfinbury.]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I couldn't - I couldn't save him.

[There's so much she wants to say; she knows that he meant a lot to a lot of people, but he meant the world to Peggy, and she's just lost her heart and her will in one fell swoop. Peggy looks away from the camera once more, the back of her fingers to her mouth. The video feed cuts as a strangled sob escapes her lips.]

[They need to do this systematically. John has other things on his mind, but Christ...]

Everyone, this is Dr. Watson. I've made this post filtered away from the Joker. We have limited time and limited resources. My group is already near the entrance to the tunnels on the residential side. We'll look for any explosives on the way down. We're headed toward the hospital. Everyone else, please get out of the tunnels if you can. If not, search where you can, then get inside a building and use whatever's there to try to create a shelter over yourself, something with enough headspace to give you an air pocket if it comes to it. Mattresses work well for that kind of thing in a closet or a bathroom - an enclosed space. We do know these buildings are metal, but even that can come down with enough force.

We also know a few things:

One, items left out overnight seem to get picked up. It's very unlikely any bombs he's placed are ones outside. Just as likely anything not stored in a cabinet or inside something else has been picked up, as well. Mr. Solomons suggested the vents, and I suggested loose floorboards. Probably the best bet on where to find anything.

Two, supplies are limited. If there are any bombs, he likely wouldn't have created many. It's especially true for anything with a timer. This means that anyone in the downtown area is likely to be the most at risk.

Three, he's mad. The Joker is a bloody lunatic. He might be running us 'round to watch us dance, or he might actually have something. Chances are good he doesn't, but it's not something we can count on. If you do find anything like a bomb, your best bet is to get out of the house if you can and into another building. The Admin repairs things that get blown up, I think? It's our best bet to avoid first, dismantle second if we have to.

Report in if you find anything or once you've cleared an area as safe, if you can. Whatever it is he's got planned, there are a hell of a lot more of us than him. Keep an eye out. Contact here if you need help defusing any bombs. I have some experience, and I reckon Kain does, as well.

Characters: Steve, Peggy, Frisk, Quark, Rydia, Toriel
Location Buildings 29, 56, and 61
Date: Late afternoon/evening 112, evening 113, late morning 114, respectively
Summary: PUT ALL OF THE LOGS IN ONE LOG. An anomaly does a bad thing, meetings and reunions occur, probably there are sad and/or bittersweet cuddles, possibly there are hot baths and attempted vandalism. There could even be alcohol, who knows!
Warnings: Well, I mean. Yukio gets killed traumatically. So there's that, and resulting sadness.

( Read more... )

Morning

[The video message opens on Steve's face; he always looks a little tired these days, worn down by the deaths and the violence and all the strange, horrible things this place does to their brains and bodies, but this morning he's smiling a little, too, as he trudges through the snow.]

So, today is December 31st. New Year's Eve for Earthlings like me. [Mild, dry amusement here.] Happy New Year, everyone.

If you're not an Earthling... this is another important Earth holiday. Someone... and I wanna say it was Julius Caesar... someone at some point arbitrarily decided that tomorrow, January 1st, is the first day of the calendar year. We tend to celebrate on the night of the 31st with parties and champagne and fireworks. Everyone stays up until midnight to see the clock tick over so we can toast the New Year. It's traditional to kiss your sweetheart at midnight, too, if you have one. [Tiny smile.] People also make New Year's Resolutions, setting goals and making promises to themselves for things they want to achieve in the new year. It's a time to remember and honor the things that happened in the previous year, and look forward into the future to hopefully make the new year even better.

[Steve looks a little wry.] We don't have champagne or fireworks or the ball drop in Times Square, but... here's to the new year anyway.

As always, take care of yourselves, Norfinbury.

~ ~ ~

Evening, a little before lockdown

[It's a few hours to curfew, and technically they shouldn't be doing this until midnight, it's kind of ruining the point, but. It's already night, the lockdown will be in effect soon, and they'll miss their window. Peggy sets up, standing in the snow a few feet away from Steve, filming him struggling a little in the wind.]

So, we had this tradition, when I was a girl - New Year's, just after midnight, we would all gather outside and each of us would release a paper lantern into the night. You make a wish as you light it up and let it go. Your wish is transported and becomes this ray of hope for the new year.

[Smiling to herself, she's pretty sure it's audible in her voice.] Sometimes, they even come true.

[The paper lantern in Steve's hand is made up of what looks like pages torn from a book and taped together, disjointed and a little wonky, but they spent a few hours during the day putting it together and if there's something Peggy and Steve share, it's determination. They got there in the end, through some almost-disasters that Peggy wishes she had filmed to show the network. Steve with paper stuck to his check is an image she'll cherish forever.]

Anyway, we wanted to share this moment with everyone; we should all get to have a wish at this juncture, and have some hope that the new year brings us some good things. I know that things have been...difficult for a lot of people, here, so if you wish to join us in making a wish, we are going to launch this in a minute.

[Preparing for it, Peggy puts the tablet down against the windowsill, making sure it's not going to fall before joining Steve, who's by now making sure warm air is filling up the lantern, to allow it to fly up and away. Her hands cover his, and she smiles up at him.]

I wish for our holiday in Hawaii. [She grins as she says is, barely a whisper - it's meant for Steve, not anyone else on the network. Hopefully the mic won't pick it up.]

[The camera will catch Steve grinning and murmuring back to her, but the mic probably won't pick up his words either.] How about a house in Hawaii?

[Satisfied that the little chunk of cupcake-scented candle will provide sufficient lift, Steve catches Peggy's eye and raises his voice again for the camera.]

Ready? Three... two... one.

[They let the lantern go together, standing up and stepping back to watch it rise up into the sky. Steve wraps his arms around Peggy from behind and kisses her on the ear. After a few moments he remembers that they are on camera, looking embarrassed as he turns to reach for it, grabbing it off of the window sill. After a second of fumbling, the camera is now pointed up at the lantern as it rises, following it until it drifts out of sight.]

Happy New Year, guys and gals.

[And then, while he's fumbling around for the button to end the recording, in a slightly softer tone of voice—]

Happy New Year, Pe—

Characters: Steve and Peggy
Location Building 33 (funeral home)
Date: Afternoon 103
Summary: Steve and Peggy check to see if Handsome Jack is in the funeral home morgue. He is there! So is Beckett. And the other Peggy. Fun times for all.
Warnings: Uncomfortable emotions?

( Read more... )

[Steve looks a little tired, and solemn, what with all the death and chaos that's been happening, but he's slightly less brusque and businesslike than he often is when making PSAs.]

Good afternoon, Norfinbury. ...So, uh, since I arrived here I've been keeping really close track of sunrise and sunset times... best as I can, anyway, with the weather. After today, I'm certain—the days are getting longer again. Far as I can tell, we passed the winter solstice three days ago. This is good news—we'll have more and more daylight hours from here on out, and eventually better weather and warmer temperatures.

This also tells us a little about where we are. Winter previously told me that Norfinbury is near a town called Kotzebue and that we're in the Northwest Arctic Borough; America was able to tell me that Kotzebue's on Alaska's west coast, about thirty miles north of the Arctic Circle. Since we never had a day of no sun, this puts us by definition south of the Arctic Circle, and south of Kotzebue. We ought to be fairly near the coast as well, which is a good thing, although what that could mean in terms of actual mileage is anyone's guess.

[Steve pauses for a moment, and his face takes on a softer, kind of wistful expression.]

...All of this also means we know the date. If the solstice was three days ago, then today is December 24. Tomorrow is Christmas. [Tiniest of slightly sad smiles.] Merry Christmas, everyone, and God bless you.

Those of you not from Earth or a version of Earth I'd recognize... Christmas is one of our most important holidays. It's a time for peace and goodwill to all people. A time for giving. A time to show love and kindness to each other.

I pray that we can all find just a little bit of that peace this Christmas.

video, evening day 98

Good evening, Norfinbury. I realise plenty of you do not know me; my name is Peggy, I've been here for a few days, and, well. [Pausing, Peggy looks away from the camera, a little embarrassed by what she's about to ask.] I have already hit kind of a snag.

I am sending this message primarily to ladies who might be in the market for perfume, nail polish, or makeup brushes, as I have some of these that I'm very willing to trade. I don't have much else, but I am in dire need of a razor. [Again, Peggy flushes. This is just awkward. She shouldn't have to share her grooming needs to an entire town, and it goes against everything she was raised in - none of this is ladylike, but. Peggy's been in the midst of a war and she's had to deal with much worse. Still, this is not like filching Colonel Phillips' aftershave.]

Could also do with toothpaste, hair products, and mascara. Obviously, if anyone, f any gender, has something they are willing to share or trade for, I'll do my best to accommodate.

[She's also hoping for some feminine companionship. She doesn't know many of the women in Norfinbury, and she'd like to. She wouldn't trade Steve for the world, but she can hope to make some other friends, too.

She almost offers embarrassing stories about Steve for items, and the thought makes her smile.]

Anyway. Have a pleasant evening, Norfinbury - as pleasant as can be!

Over and out.

Characters: Kunsel and Peggy
Location Building 34
Date: Day 98, evening
Summary: Kunsel encounters Peggy in the hot shower house. Steamy times ensue.
Warnings: Despite the pun, probably none.

( Read more... )

Characters: Steve, Peggy, Leon, Sheena, and anyone else who happens by on Day 099
Location: Building 34
Date: Day 099/All day/Night
Summary: This is the true story of four (or more) people meeting in a house with a working shower.
Warnings: None so far.

( Snowhell World )

Characters: Beckett and Peggy
Location Building 22
Date: Day 97, midday
Summary: Peggy and Beckett meet after the displacement. Somewhere in the distance Captain America may be sobbing.
Warnings: Probably none?

( Probably a terrible influence )

[video | Day 95]

[It isn't too long after lockdown that Quark turns on his tablet feet, setting it up in front of where he's sitting, leaning on the very-full backpack he has draped across his lap. Despite everything that happened a couple days back with Beckett and House, he actually looks rather chipper. Or, excited about something, at least.]

Hi everybody! I'm just wondering, who here can play any musical instruments? And what ones?

[He coughs into his sleeve, which makes him falter, a bit disoriented, but he recovers quickly.]

Oh! I almost forgot. Has anybody found any sheet music?