...Vatheon.

[The voice over the feed may be familiar to some, although perhaps they do not know it as being this flat, this devoid of much of any feeling to speak of.]

I am curious: for what reason do you exist? I do not mean in the simple scheme of how you came into being - what drives you? Why do you live instead of contenting yourselves with mere survival? For what purpose do you rise in the morning? Or have you even considered it...?

...I await your answers.

[ Someone's soaked. And he's someone that disappeared about three weeks ago today. He's... not in a very good mood, but then again, when is he ever? ]

Okay, which one of you was it!?

[ Yeah... definitely not in a good mood. ] Zelda!? Maybe you, Kohaku!? Shing!? Zelos or Lloyd!?

[ He wipes his face off with a towel. ]

I take a nap for one hour and then I wake up soaking wet and in front of the Coral!? [ Clearly, Occam's Razor says someone did this as a prank, and he didn't just disappear and come back without remembering it. ]

Good evening. In light of recent events, I have come to the conclusion that perhaps I have more to give to our little community than I had initially believed. Therefore, I am willing to teach magic to those who wish to learn once we have reached a slightly more stable state. Please feel free to ask if you have questions.

[With that, the feed ends. Would anyone care to take his offer?]

[Gives the SFC a gentle flick, giving the camera a wry smile. Seems like he's managed to get rid of all signs of his wet arrival, minus his damp clothes. He's trying very hard to forget the whole incident for your benefit.]

So what, all I get for gracing you all with my presence is this booklet and this horrendous tunic? No welcome party, no parades, no nothing? Geez. Not to mention there's water in places you don't deserve to even know about.

[He pouts his pretty boy pout, looking very hurt indeed.]

Ah, well, I'll forgive you this time. I'm sure that there should be plenty of hunnies out there to cheer me up, yeah? We can have a party of our own now that the great Zelos is here! 

Oh, and Lloyd and friends? That includes my dear, voluptuous hunny, my darling angel, my cool beauty, and my precious little one-- If you're here, you're invited, too. Don't leave a man hanging, hmm?

[With a wink and a grin, he turns off the feed.]

[There is nothing quite like falling asleep on a Saturday evening and waking up on Monday morning. Generally not something to be exceedingly concerned about other than wow, you must have been very tired and should probably sleep more often. For Dhaos, it was almost this exact situation that he woke up to... Save the small fact that the Saturday he had fallen asleep on had been nearly a month ago, and he'd woken up wearing an unfamiliar outfit with no magical ability to speak of.

The coma/curse strikes again, leaving Dhaos with a rather awkward morning. It is not too much later than when he turns on his SFC, still looking slightly bewildered and sporting a rather nice Red Mage hat.]

...I seem to have been asleep for the past month. Is there anything that happened in that time that is particularly important? Furthermore, does anyone know the exact nature of this curse?

[Dhaos had managed to resist pressing a button throughout the week, if not avoid sleep entirely. To have others see a piece of his past firsthand once had been more than enough; so when the time came that he could resist the urge to give in to the curse, he could not bare to add his own pain to all that had been shown over the network the past week.

And so he chose to dream of a future that might never come to pass...]

( Stand next to me... )

[He lies there a few moments even after waking, doing nothing more than staring at the ceiling. Then, he sits up without a word, blank expression still firmly in place, and cuts the recording.]


((ooc: This is mostly meant as an interactive dream, although he can be talked with after he wakes up

[Well, someone's looking rather grave today. ...And lacking a certain very noticeable article of clothing that he is almost never seen without.]

...It appears that I too have become a victim of theft. No, I am quite certain I did not simply misplace my cloak: large items of clothing do not simply disappear from the dryer on their own.

[He even checked throughout the house in case one of his housemates was playing a prank on him. No such luck.

He pauses for a moment to retrieve something from offscreen. The item is quickly revealed to be a pretty jeweled anklet.]

I would also like to inquire as to who sent me this anklet. While I appreciate the thought, in light of what appears to be a slew of thefts, I cannot be certain it is not stolen until proven otherwise.

Kindly contact me as soon as is feasible if you have information regarding either subject.

[With that, he cuts the feed.]

[The feed turns on to show a very exasperated (and slightly annoyed) Seraph.]

I request some minor assistance. These two - [He turns the SFC to a pair of sheep who are milling about what appears to be a well-cared for backyard. One bleats at the camera much in the way people will go "Hi Mom!" when they notice a news camera has turned their direction.] - are refusing to leave the premises, no matter how I politely explain that this is not a place we can allow them to stay. I am thankful they heeded my warning about the flower bed, but I do not have the means to escort them elsewhere without risking property damage on my own.

Assistance would be greatly appreciated.

[With that, he cuts the feed and hopes for a prompt response.]

[The feed turns on to show Dhaos looking... well, rather like he's unsure how to feel about what he's about to say.]

...It has just occurred to me that according to the local measurement of time, today is my birthday...

[He pauses for a long moment.]

...and I have no way of knowing my age. Out of curiosity, might there be a way to gain a rough estimate, or shall I simply continue on as I have? It's not terribly important, but I believe people would prefer I provide an answer besides "I do not know" when they ask my age.

[ Hello Vatheon! There is a Sophie sitting in her bed with a book on her lap. ]

Asbel brought me a book, when I had to stay in bed. He was reading stories from it.
I can read some too, but it's strange.

[ Here, let her show you. She starts to read. ]

"Once upon a time there was a family of six bears. There was Daddy Bear, Mummy Bear, Blue Bear, Big Bear, Clever Bear and Completely Bear. They lived in a forest that didn't have any trees."

[ ... she looks at the SFC. ]

If the forest doesn't have trees, how can it be a forest?

[ She is so confused. But it doesn't stop there. She looks back down to the book. ]

"The four young bears all decided to go out looking for adventure, so off they went. Blue Bear headed for the fun fair, but on the way he tripped and fell into a pot of yellow paint. This made him yellow from head to toe. Big Bear went to the Science Museum. Before he looked at all the interesting exhibits, he went to get a large hamburger and fizzy drink from the restaurant. But instead of drinking the fizzy drink, he accidentally drank some Incredible Shrinking Potion which made him about the size of ant. Clever Bear went to the library. He was sitting down reading some history books, when suddenly his brain exploded and millions of tiny pieces shot out of his ears."

[ At that point she suddenly stops reading, staring at the book for a few minutes. Quietly, she closes the book, looking at the SFC and with a perfectly serious look on her face, asks: ]

... is it really okay to read this? I don't want my brain to explode.