VIDEO

[freckledninja]

[If you ever wanted a screen full of dancing turtle your time has come. He has some sweet tunes blasting at first but after thirty seconds or so he slams those jams off and shoots finger pistols towards the webcam as his sweet moves come to a halt. This sure is a teenager who is mutant turtle that might be trained to be a ninja. He seems pretty stoked to be talking to everyone and doesn't seem to feel the need to explain things like Why He Is a Giant Turtle.]

YO! I'm Mikey! I'm in this Manchurian Falls place and I just got here and I got this brochure but it was real boring and blah blah blah. My bros are probably gonna portal themselves over or something soon to pick me up but until then let's hang! I gotta get in some sweet vacation time while I can.

Where's the best pizza here at? I got a need that can only be unneeded by about three boxes of large pizzas! I'm gonna stack them on top of each other like a perfect cheesy and tomatoey cake.

[video] the road that ended

[sassguard]

[ For those familiar with his face, Shepard seems ... younger, somehow. Not by much, but there are fewer lines creasing his forehead and the corners of his eyes. His posture's slightly different, too, shoulders squared and spine straight even as he almost hums with alertness. ]

I'm Commander Shepard. I've been told I've been here before, but apparently I'm missing a few things. I don't recognize most of the faces on this network.

[ His voice is scratchy, hoarse from use -- or lack of it? He's had the time to go through his communicator record -- lucky it wasn't locked -- and what he's seen has mostly added to his growing confusion. Although he conceals it well, the frustration with the inability to understand what's happening grates on him. ]

Am I the only one having issues with memory loss? Is this something that happens a lot here?

video; June 11th

[mathemagier]

[The video feed opens to a tight-lipped Dr. Gottlieb looking tense and faintly worried, but silent. The camera is set down for a lovely view of sand, ocean, and a setting sun. And then there's Newton picking something up, making wild gestures, and babbling on about sand dollars and where they came from.]

--Normally they'd be soft and any number of colors, but the sand dollars you find on the beach have been dried and bleached by the sun and--DID YOU KNOW, you can determine the age of one by counting the rings in its exoskeleton? Kind of like you do with tree rings and--

[From his voice, Hermann's trying hard to seem interested]

Yes, I'd always wondered..

[He's at least trying to pretend it's sarcasm, but instead sounds something approaching terrified.

And then while Newton's back is turned again, Hermann sets his cane down and lowers himself to kneel in the sand, on one knee specifically. He fusses with his jacket a moment, clutches something in his palm, then - yes, it's a small jewelry box - opens it up and holds it out for the inevitable moment Newton spins around again.

Though he's several feet from the camera, there's still a visible tremble in his arm and he's perhaps not the most balanced.]

Dude, are you freaking out about sand dollars... it's--

No Newton, it's just- it's been.. six months, 196 days - give or take three weeks for various bits of lost time - but it's also been nine years or twelve, depending on when you begin counting. Though I suppose if you want to get technical--

Holy shi- [Newt takes a deep breath, covers his mouth, can't decide WHAT to do with his hands, actually, and resorts to just kind of standing there in the sand, staring wide-eyed at Hermann. His hair has been tousled by the sea breeze and the sunset off the ocean catches in his glasses.]

Anyway, the point is, you've been a constant in my life for approximately a third of it, and I find myself very interested in reaching the point where the portion of my life that I'd spent without you is eclipsed by the percentage in which I've known and- and loved you.

( cut for length bc these nerds are incapable of short and sweet )

[ooc: Orange text is Newton, and blue text is Hermann!]

video: the non-experiment (road not taken)

[4thdimensional]

[The man facing the camera might be familiar, or he might not. His face and voice resemble the Doc's, and the ID still reads 'Emmett Brown', but his demeanor has entirely changed. The man's hair is short and neat, he wears a prim and proper suit with conservative polo, and the eyes behind his glasses bear a stern impression, nothing like Doc's wide-eyed wonder. Perhaps strangest, his room is the vision of neutral sterility, lacking the inventive chaos and sprawling blueprints that usually surrounds him.]

Good evening, citizens. I believe this is the appropriate forum for introductions? My name is Emmett Brown and I have recently arrived in the town of De Chima. I've had a fine welcome, and I thank you, but I confess I'm troubled by some of what I've seen.

I see discord, grit and grime, compounded by the chaos these 'supernatural abilities' are said to bring, and I wonder, perhaps: if there might be a better way. You see, I'm the leader of a peaceful and thriving town, and if we're all to remain here for the time being, I believe I should offer my services to you as well. With some careful planning, we can make this town a cleaner, brighter, and happier place.

I therefore toss my proverbial hat in the ring for the role of Ambassador, and I'd be honored to receive your vote of support.

[He steeples his fingers, glasses glinting in the light.]