[The video feed centers on Tifa, who looks to be in a pretty good mood. Behind her, part of a small bar can be seen.]

This is probably about as calm as things are going to get for an announcement.

As of today, I'm reopening the bar, the Crow's Nest. The name's from the previous owner, but I decided I'd keep it. I think if you rename a place too many times, it starts to forget its character.

Anyway, it's located a few streets from the plaza, look for the red door. If you're interested in a good drink or a home-cooked meal, you come right on by.

[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.]

[Junon military base: it's all cold metal and hard angles. This room seems to have been repurposed to accommodate a press conference. Tifa stands with Barret, their arms bound, flanked by Shinra soldiers, while Scarlet stands in front of them, a malicious smile on her lips as she addresses the press and the cameras.]

These terrorists are the people responsible for this chaos. Now, you'll all witness their deaths live on national television...

Starting with this girl.

[Barret shouts and tries to muscle his way in front of her, but the soldiers hold him back. The others escort Tifa to a tiny room on the left, where they lock her wrists into the restraints of a chair. Scarlet leans in close.]

This is my special gas chamber. Take your time, and enjoy a slow, painful death. Stuck up bitch.

[She slaps Tifa and then leaves with the guards. There's a clink as one of them drops the key, and then the door slams shut and the gas starts. Outside, the base's alarms start blaring and a commotion kicks up. Tifa shouts for Barret, but chokes on the gas and thinks better of speaking.

She stretches her foot for the key. Just a little farther... The gas is thick in her face and she shakes her head, shutting her eyes against it. Feeling blindly, her boot finally catches the edge of the key and she drags it carefully back to the chair. From there, she manages to get it up into her mouth and unlock herself. She switches off the gas and looks around. What to do?

A blast rocks the base, throwing her against the chair as something rips a hole in the ceiling. There's a pounding on the other side of the door and Scarlet's muted voice.]

First you lock me in this thing, and now you want me to come out? Make up your minds!

[Tifa climbs out through the opening, and finds herself atop the base. The air tastes clean, but it must be at least fifteen stories straight down to Junon's huge canon, and beyond that, nothing but the ocean. Nowhere else to go.]


[Tifa wakes with the feeling of vertigo, nearly tumbling out of bed. She steadies herself, and breathes deep.]

[What began as the harmless gift of a bunch of costume mermaid tails transformed, after making its way around town, into the rather fishy rumor that Tifa was secretly a mermaid. The miniskirts made it clear enough that she had legs during the day, but what about at night? Did she sleep in her bathtub?

Thus it is that Tifa finds herself having some difficulty bathing this evening... with one of the mermaid tails suddenly in the way. Somehow it's gotten stuck on and she can't get the thing off. Not actually wanting to spend the night in her bathtub, she calls up Rinoa to give her a hand.

The video clicks on as her friend arrives, the SFC recording from the edge of the sink, thankfully facing Tifa's back.]

Don't laugh.

[Tifa appears on the video, looking pretty relaxed. With the lack of insanity lately, she's had time to sort a few things out.]

All the animals running around the other day reminded me -- I heard we have some chocobos here in Vatheon.

Is there anyone who wouldn't mind letting me ride theirs from time to time? It's something I really enjoyed back home. The weather's not bad for it right now either.

[Video would make it too obvious how he is feeling, and text would make it clear he is hiding from something. So Mitsuhide chooses to make a voice post instead.]

[It's unfortunate for him (or so he would think) that it is rather obvious when he is distressed; it reflects clearly in his voice. Mitsuhide is indeed being haunted by his fears, in the form of one Oda Nobunaga. Of course, nobody else can know that right now.]

This curse is like one we had once before, quite some time ago now.

[He pauses, and lets out a shaky breath.]

It will pass. These shadows will disappear soon enough. You can make it through. You can all make it through...

[Apparently that's all he wishes to say, but before he clicks off the SFC one can hear him mutter something under his breath:]

You are no Demon King.

[ Sophie looks extremely excited today, which is a rather big change from her usual deadpan expression. ]

Asbel~! [ Okay she could have waited for him to come home and ask in private, but she doesn't know there is a social etiquette for this sort of thing. Plus she has to ask other people too, so it's just easier this way! ]

Asbel, will you marry me? [ So bold! ... yeah commence your WTFing now, Vatheon. ]

I want all of my friends to marry me, that way we can stay together forever. Cheria, Hubert? Captain? Will you all marry me too?

[ ... she... she doesn't get the concept of marriage really... ]

And Hayner and [ She trails off, thinking of the other people she wants to include in this. ] Tifa, and Yuri - [ Someone stop her for the love of god. ]

[ 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.

I'm surprised I haven't seen more relief to be back in our own bodies. Maybe we're still reeling a bit.

Anyway, I don't mean to bring everyone down, but does anyone have more information about the recent murders? I think we all got pretty caught up in last week's confusion, but the danger's still there. Especially considering it's the time for new arrivals, right? It's harder to find safety in numbers if you don't know anyone yet.

[Murder is a great topic for your first network post, right? Oh, well. It's better than worrying about things back home anyway. Despite the subject, there's nothing uneasy in Tifa's manner, and she ends the post smoothly.]

( action cut )

Some time later...


[When the feed turns on, one very annoyed looking pretty boy vampire can be seen scowling at the SFC. It’s a usual departure from “Johnny’s” usual cheery demeanor. But what “he” has to say next will likely explain why.]

This is a curse, isn’t it?

[“He” sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. There’s a grimace when a particularly awful sound emanates from somewhere in the background. To the trained ear, it’s the sound of someone butchering the notes on an ocarina. “Johnny” continues to ignore it, for now.]

Whatever is going on, let’s get something straight: I am not Johnny Rayflo. I’m Rinoa Heartilly, or I’m supposed to be, anyway. Since I’m in Johnny’s body, I’m assuming he’s in mine. Johnny, if you hear this, contact me ASAP. I think we have a few things to discuss.

[More horrible noises in the background. Finally unable to take it any longer, Rinoa turns around and beckons to someone to cut it out. She moves the SFC camera so it points at the musically challenged one. Some may recognize the body as belonging Sola.]

Oh, and that’s not Sola. That’s Chibiterasu. So Sola, if you can hear this, too…. Uh, I guess try to contact us, if you can? [She imagines the paws will make it difficult.] Or get over here, if it’s easier. I’m sure Chibi can help you out or at least give you pointers.

Anyway, right. Curses last a week…ish? That’s not too bad, right? It’s not permanent, anyway. And since I’m guessing this is happening to a lot of people, including my friends, if you guys wouldn’t mind telling me whose body you’re in for the week, that would help.

Chibi would probably appreciate it, too, right? [She looks over at him for confirmation.]

Arf! [Yes ladies and gentlemen, he really did just bark.]

Uh, Chibi, I’m pretty sure you could talk, being in Sola’s body and all...

But anyway, um, good luck everyone? [She has no idea what else to say. This was going to be an awful week for pretty much everyone.]

((ooc: Rinoa-as-Johnny's replies will come from sparkly_one and Chibi-as-Sola's replies will come from shadestuck))