[ It's Manah, looking somewhat lucid today. ]

Such a tragedy has befallen us all. I didn't know her well, but for those who did, my door is always open if you wish to talk, confidentially if you wish.

[ a solemn pause. something's going through her mind, but it's hard to tell what. It's also hard to tell if she's fully aware of whatever it is. ]

Surely there must be something we can do. Bantering and verbal fighting was one thing, yet murder is purely another. I must agree with Cyrus on this matter. We must take this into our own hands and stop this. Peaceful means seem to fall on deaf ears.

However there are uncertainties which must first be answered. Are the people fully in control or is there a greater force guiding them towards the path of chaos? Surely their grasp has not reached this far, but I cannot rule out the possibility. [ a thoughtful pause laced with doubt ] Whatever the cause, it is the source which must be stopped first.

[ another thoughtful pause before she shuts off the feed. She will be in her office for any action. ]

It seems that little has changed, despite the war raging outside. How smoothly we live our lives. Though it may simply show that those here are able to carry on regardless, it may mean that they do not care.

...As you know, I seek an end to strife. Though I am only one man, one mortal. I realized that setting this world right cannot be done alone. This world...it is a crude one. It is incomplete. I seek to change that...

And yet, we return to the initial point. Circular logic, as it were. To do so, to achieve my goal, others must work for the same.

To begin, we must root out the causes of suffering. The town below us carries in itself much hatred, the ancestral, primitive hatred for any who are different. Yet what causes us to cling to those ancient, illogical things? What inhabits them to override their logic to the point of violence?

I seek those who will aide me in finding out.

[ here, have a video post! For once, Manah's office isn't decorated for the holiday. Instead behind her it's just a plain old bulletin board with nothing truly of interest posted on it.

as a note: things in monospace font are her babbling the crazy stuff she's not aware of. Be warned, there are layers of crazy she drifts through. ]

I'm glad to see Valentine's Day is over. A holiday that has - the Watchers - flying babies as their symbol puts me on edge. Not to mention it's a holiday with excessive amounts of love and affection.
- No one ever loved me. Only the Watchers -
[ she looks in another direction, her expression a bit worried ]
--- but I'm a good girl. Why won't you love me? ---
[ a pause as she seems to stare at something behind the monitor before snapping back to reality. ]
Whatever the case, I'm glad it's over. It's a pity that the theme of the holiday didn't quite flow into the city. It's still a dangerous place. If you must go to the city, I would advise you take with you someone skilled at fighting and protection. If you don't know someone, I would be happy to go with you. I'm quite skilled at staff fighting and magics.

On another note, what holiday comes next? This place seems to celebrate one at least once a month.

I'm disheartened. You would think that academics such as yourselves would understand that Valentine's Day is a complete and utter waste of time. If you bring useless scraps of paper or one of those garish, excessive boxes of candy into my class, they're going right in the wastebin. Fair warning.

Pay more attention to the important things. Things are more tense than ever in the city. I had to pull a man off of a beastkind just the other day on a simple market run. This isn't going to simply dissolve into a nonissue. Keep your gaze pointed forwards, not towards the sky to look at the clouds. Honestly.

[Or maybe he's just grumpy about Valentine's Day because it's also his twenty second birthday. But that's none of your business.]

( [Action] Hope you like cats... )

---

So, uh… I don't want to freak anyone out or anything…

[As she spoke, a large lion's head tried to look over her shoulder, staring at this strange new technology curiously. Daisy had to hold its paw back as it tried to bat at her webcam.]

I, uh, have a guest staying with me for a little while! His name is King Totomesu, and he's really friendly, except when he's breathing fire, so um…

Incidentally, and on a completely unrelated note, does anyone have any experience looking after cats?

Hoooooooo!



Dearest Smash Academy babes, Michel would like to remind all of you once again that this school is a place of love and sharing! As stipulated in the Bro Code; Respect others as much as you respect yourself! If you need help with your work, Michel will help you! After all, even his good looks should be shared, he'd even be willing to help you look as handsome as he does!

[No Eikichi, the world does not need that thank you very much.]

Now! As you all know, this February 14th is Valentine's day. [He dramatically sighs.] Ahh yes...the time where you can freely proclaim your love in the open! To shower your other with affection and goods! Personally, Michel thinks that there should not be a single day, but that every day should be cause for celebration. [It's also his friend's Jun's birthday. He kinda wish he was here too..]

However, since there IS one, perhaps we should all follow Ms. Flurrie's wonderful idea!

Come on Smash Academy, Michel knows you can do it! ♫♥

[ Manah looks a bit troubled by the recent news casts and trouble within the city. ]

This violence. It's feeling more and more like home.


[ and that's not necessarily a good thing. Too many memories. Too many things best left forgotten, but the recent violence has brought them back to the surface. She seems to look through the computer, almost as if talking to someone else on the other side of her desk. ]


The Watchers have come to play
The Watchers have come to create a new world.


The Watchers sing.
The Watchers dance.



........


[ but as soon as it came, it had left. She's not exactly aware of this side of her. It comes and goes and she seems to lose time. Her red eyes focus back on the screen as if nothing happened. ]

I really hope all this violence gets resolved. This seems to be the only safe place in the city. I had planned on going out but it seems that plan isn't going to happen. Perhaps another time.


[ ooc: I've been waiting to do one of these :3 ]

[ the odd guidance councilor has christmas lights still strung behind her in her office. ]

This Christmas is most strange. Just giving gifts to people without expecting anything in return. It's such a strange idea. It is... pleasant, however. Perhaps next year, I shall celebrate it as well. There isn't another holiday like it, is there? Hm. Well there is Valentine's Day, but it involves that curiously delicious chocolate.

Such strange holidays. I suppose it will take time to grow accustomed to them.

[ Here appears a blond with red eyes, a smile crossing her face. she seems peaceful surrounded by her decorations of fall leaves and pumpkins on the bulletin board behind her. ]

There are so many new faces I haven't had a chance to see. My name is Manah, and I'm the Guidance Counselor. My door is always open for anyone who wishes more information or simply to have someone to talk to.

I have also heard of something called Halloween. Is someone familiar with this event?

[ By some small miracle, the young man on the screen before you has somehow managed to activate the video feed. Accidental or not is uncertain, but he's aware it's running and a face drawn to white suggests he isn't doing so well. He's still in the clothing he arrived in: red vest with a small gold badge (whatever could that be?) pinned to his left collar, bright aqua tie and a white dress shirt.

It's obvious he's in his dorm room by the bed behind where he is seated, as well as the new flavor of walls and doors that the areas have all adopted since the flood.

His bottom lip moves, words trying to exit from a shifting throat, and amongst the hundred other things he must be thinking about now, he ponders on two: If anyone is out there to hear him, and - ]


Giant... hands...

[ooc: Oops! Editing to mention that I like the format in AA where thoughts land themselves in parentheses. Apollo does this often enough where I want it to flow properly, so if you see them, he's thinking. Thanks!]

While I am certain some of you may appreciate the esthetic changes to the facility, does anyone else think that it was perhaps a little too drastic considering the circumstances?

[Private to Kanji]
It appears that Eikichi Mishina is a Persona user as well, although his methods differ entirely from ours.

[Also, I am not going to mention anything regarding the hotel.]

[ It's the resident guidance counselor looking somewhat uneasy. Her mind has been a mess since being sent to the hotel and getting lost in her mind and in the city. ]

These renovations are... different. The repeating decor reminds me of home, almost like a metallic castle of sorts.

[ she turns to the side, seemingly looking at something, concern plastered across her features. ] I feel like I'm being watched. Watch not the Watchers. [ not realizing she said something, she turns back to the camera completely unfazed and smiling as usual. ]

I do hope everyone is settling in well, even after the massive flood. I know the new school year is approaching. My door is always open for anyone who needs advice.

[The feed turns on to reveal a big wet nose hogging up most of the camera space. It moves back, revealing a wide-eyed tauren face.]

Ah! It works! [Wow, what kind of crazy-ass accent is THAT?]

Lok'tar! Hello! This device - it is Gnomish? It hasn't exploded so far, so definitely not Goblin... I have never seen anything like this. Even the writing of... of...

[She wrinkles her nose and pantomimes writing something on her palm.]

...Mail! Even the writing of mail is not common in my tribe. We prefer face-to-face. But, as this is speaking and not writing, it is still good, I think. I-I know it will help me to practice the human tongue. You can probably hear I am still learning.

[She laughs nervously, rubbing the side of her face. Then she glances away, trying to remember something.]

...Oh! I was so excited, I forgot the most important thing. My name is Aquenda Tenderhoof. I think, maybe, I come at a strange time. There was a festival, but great beasts came to destroy it. [Sorta.] Also, I have heard of floods? To speak of that, if anybody can tell me your rituals in receiving elemental blessings here, that would be helpful very much.

I'll be watching a movie called "The Room" If you want a reason to shoot your eyes out, come join in room 105

[ it's the crazy guidance counselor again, but normal Manah. Not crazy child Manah from the time eater. Nope. That never happened. ]

It's great to see so many new faces recently. I do hope that everyone is settling in well. If you haven't met me, my name is Manah and I'm the guidance counselor here. I have an open-door policy so stop by any time.

[The video begins and it shows part of one of the instructor dorms rooms for a moment before a woman steps into view and takes a seat in front of the camera.  Crossing her legs, she offers a friendly smile.]

Good morning, everyone!  My name is Chun Li and I am a new member of the school faculty and will be teaching gymnastics in the upcoming term.

I'm actually very excited to be here and I'm looking forward to meeting and getting to know you all and I trust we can work together to bring out the best in each other!  In the meantime, if anyone has any sort of questions or simply wishes to speak with me, my door is always open to students and faculty alike.

Have a great rest of your day!

[Okay, that should do for a nice introduction.  Not too formal, but not too informal.  That was what she'd been going for.  Giving a final smile, the video is cut.]

With classes coming to a close, I'm sure that many have questions about what to do. I am available for guidance and will give you the best advice I can. I will be here for the summer as well.

[ oh look who it is. ]

I apologize for my sudden disappearance. I seem to have gotten myself lost somehow. I'm not sure how or where or even why, but I am back now. Thankfully the "allergies", as it were, seem to have healed upon my return.

If you need advice, please do not hesitate to visit my office. I will be happy to assist in any way possible.