[If Tidus were to check his apartment sometime during the day, he would find the absence of one particular Lombaxian General. Why is that, you may ask?

Well...

Because he's dragging himself through the street, shoulders slumped and brow knitted into a glare as he stomps forward, wrench in hand and sparking at the tips. The weapon gives a heavy clunk with every step, thudding against the pavement and one would assume it was being used for a walking cane.]

It's done nothing for me.

[...who was he talking to? There was no one else around.]

It never has. It always takes them away.

[Is... that Ratchet's complex he's heading for? Just what was he planning on doing?]

But I can fix it this time. I can help you.

[The Lombax grabs up his weapon, now holding it with both hands and standing up straight, malice in those gold-sclera eyes.]

Sometimes we need to take risks.

[Hello city of Vatheon. On your screens is a face not many have seen in a while. His eyes and ears are drooping a bit and he gives a long yawn, showing off those pearly whites. Ratchet is a tired Lombax but he needs to get this out before things get worse; if that is even possible. He waves and gives the camera a tired smile.]

Hey everyone. Just wanted to let you know I'm awake and everything is fine. Nothing big to worry about, alright? I'll talk to you all once I get a few cups of coffee in me. Still really tired. Those comas can take it out of you, huh? Anyone, talk to you all in a bit. Later.

| Text: Filtered to Golden Victory employees |

I have... a bit of a strange question to ask, but...

Have any of you experienced anyone taking... issue with what we do at the host club... ?

|end filter|

| Video: Filtered away from Asakura |

[Ioder looks a mite perturbed today. Calm, in spite of that, but certainly not the usually cheerful emperor most people are used to seeing.

Thankfully for all the things that are annoying him, his SFC doesn't seem to be one of them today.]

A question, if I may...

How do you, personally, deal with a particularly bad misconception about yourself or something you do? Do you simply ignore it and move on, or try fervently to change the opinion of the person involved?

So, uh... I'm all healed up after that Ri- errr, that thing.

Yo, Mitsuhide... sorry for missing work. I kinda got... hurt really bad.

...

[sighs]

Just, wanted to check in with everyone, you know?

Well... now that things seem to be back to normal, I would like to inform everyone that I am very much not dead, and to anyone who thought that this "plague" was going to be the end of us that were ill...

[He's looking at you, trolls. Especially a certain over dramatic one.]

You were all being ridiculous.

[Yes. That's all he wants to say. So... to the point, isn't he?]

That said... I may need a day more to recover my strength, but I should return to work after that with no problems. I do apologize for my absence from the Defense Force this past week.

[And that's the end of it. Click!]

It's such a bloody shame when one's basic skill sets are completely obsolete in this city and island. Death was considered one of the few things in life as a certainty, and yet here we are, unable to die properly.

[ a sort of low groan, like he's nursing a migraine. ]

Being an assassin isn't easy... quite under appreciated bunch we are, really! You think you just...just... go up to a bloke and stick a sword through his beating heart being stealthy-like and all, but no... no! That's not how it works, you idgit... [ yes, he just said 'idgit'. ]

There's a finesse, a sort of grace in the kill. It's an art, really, and a bit of showmanship if you're not the only two there. There's nothing like a good audience to motivate you if you ask me, and I'll bet you're asking me... how is murder art? How do you sleep at night? Just an unmoral sack of fucking shit you are, is what you're thinking I'll bet. Well... I... [ mumbles, trailing off a little. ]

I brush my teeth real proper holding that brush at a 45 degree angle. Not too hard for that makes the gums bleed something fierce and that's quite unhealthy I hear. Then get undressed...heh, then dressed again into something proper for sleep, perhaps read a couple chapters of the good ol' Dostoyevsky, and that's it! I sleep like a big baby is how I fucking sleep, I'll tell you that much!

Ugh... I need to stop drinking and find something better to occupy my bloody time with...