six: voice

[hastheedge]

[Xanatos sounds royally pissed when he starts up the comm-it's a first for him, sounding this annoyed on the network. Also, his voice sounds...odd. Definitely louder than usual, for one. The kind of loud where you're at a rock concert and can barely hear yourself think.]

Circumstances beyond my control have forced my hand. Don't see this as me giving into Vulcanus and their demands. This is only a measure to stay alive.

[There is a very definite reason that this is not video, and that is because the skin is missing from half his face. Whoopsie. There's a little pause before he speaks again because arrrgh he absolutely hates not being in control.]

I was arrested back home, for receiving stolen goods. I've served my time-if Brooklyn were still here, you coud ask him about it. As he isn't, I suppose you'll have to take me at my word. I've learned my lesson-I haven't done anything like that ever since I was released, including here. I'll be willing to answer more specific questions from law enforcement if needed and if it has a purpose greater than simply being nosy.

[You can just hear the irritation in his voice.]

Well. That should do it. [A pause] And, as a slight courtesy, if you want to respond to this then please use text. My hearing should be returning soon, but I don't know how fast it will happen.

28 ☼ VIDEO

[sweetvalleygirl]

[Jessica is her bright and vibrant self, sprawled out on her bed with various fashion magazines, clothes, and make-up all around her. It's just a typical day in her life, so it seems.]

It's a good thing I decided not to go to Venezuela, huh?! You poor, poor people! I can't imagine how you guys feel. It must feel so awful.

And that cure? Jeez, what kind of sick joke is that?! I mean, I can't even come up with a single thing I feel ashamed of or guilty about. I guess I'd just be out of luck in that case. Poor me, left to wither and die or become an emotion spewing zombie or whatever.

[She nods, almost like she's congratulating herself on making the right choice.]

Yeah, I totally lucked out by staying home. But it's really just unfortunate for everyone else. There's like, legit doctors and stuff helping out, right? Hasn't anybody come up with a better cure yet?

003. Video

[hungryanhorny]

[Faith's pissed; it might be evident from the crushed can in his hands that used to hold her dinner. A glop of beans slides down her fist before she tosses the can away.]  So they want secrets, huh?

They wanna know about that vamp I let go? Maybe the slayer that possessed me? First guy I had sex with? What?

oo2-♦-[video]

[ace_of_knaves]

So lemme get this straight, all of you capes who went off to Vuvuzela got sicky-poo?

Ain't that a lark.

This is why heroing is the world's shortest-lived profession, folks. Go for team villainy. Life is just so much simpler when you stop giving a hoot.

three bites

[seeksherownsalvation]

[ Only the top of Kyouko's head can be seen in the video. She's not exactly concentrating on keeping herself in frame. Or on anything, really; her eyes are sort of unfocused. The area around her is kind of weird, too--there's a lot of mist, and phantom flames flicker around her head. Not to mention the sound is odd; are those hoofbeats? ]

This is bad. Yeah, this is really bad, isn't it? I should probably--before anyone else gets hurt--well, it's not as if I care! But--

[ No more delaying. She blurts it out all of a sudden. ]

My wish destroyed my family. They're dead because of me.

[ And then the communicator falls to the ground with a clatter, exposing only a sky that the fog is now lifting from. No more hoofbeats can be heard. ]

54 | video

[osreborn]

[ The camera turns on, propped on a desk, and Norman Osborn smiles calmly at the screen. Any trace of illness he may have been showing earlier seems to be gone; he looks somewhat tired, but otherwise quite well. His smile broadens more, just slightly, before he speaks. ]

It hasn't been easy, but I ask you: since when is anything worth doing easy? You have to expect struggle in life, now and then, but without the struggle there would be no finish line.

... Maybe I should say, nothing at the finish line. Yes, I'm going somewhere with this. Be patient.

[ He tilts his head slightly, a tired and modest gesture before he folds his hands together on the desk. ]

An antidote has been developed by myself [ A brief pause - ] -- and the aid and efforts of Spider-Man, Dr. McCoy, Professor Solus, Molly Hooper, Piccolo, Danger, Dr. Richards and Dr. Storm, to cure whomever is still suffering the effects of the Import virus. I was more than glad to offer my own expertise to a group driven toward the same goal.

Don't worry, it does work. There's no need to sacrifice your privacy for the sake of better health any longer.

[ Still that same smile. ]

It will be dispensed via airborne aerosol to save time; last I heard, some of the Avengers were handling the dispersal. [ He waves his hand in a dismissive gesture. That's out of his department. ] You may notice a slowing or receding of symptoms immediately, but it takes at least twelve hours for the antidote to take complete effect. Between twelve and twenty-four hours the virus should have completely deteriorated, but individual healing rates will be what they'll be.

Yes, it's free.

Take care, everyone. Rest up. This is a gift; not from me, no, but from one part of a community to another. It's only regrettable that it was necessary in the first place.