video; backdated to the 11th

[alilyinthemoonslight]

[Lily looks... disturbed, to say the absolute least.]

So, the "Numbered Special Commissioned Group" contacted us today, and we've got a... potential problem.

We know that there have been lights appearing over multiple new locations lately. One of them was Lapland, which Winter and I briefly visited around Christmas. [It was cold.]

Nothing much seemed out of the ordinary then, but now? Now we've got a problem.

Since around the time of the lights appearing, children from Lapland and the surrounding area have started to disappear. There's no ransom, and no clue why. However... two preschoolers who were hidden away at the time were able to tell the authorities something: They saw an old man with a beard they're saying looked like Santa Claus, and his helper, was...

[She purses her lips.] Ever seen "How The Grinch Stole Christmas?" Him.

[She shrugs; they've encountered weirder, right? But she still looks immensely bothered. The involvement of children is assuredly doing that.]

Here's where we come in: They want our help. Numbered help. This is clearly connected to us in some way, and those of us with the NSCG have at least proven cooperative, so I guess that helps. We're to be there by the 13th, in Rovaniemi, and they'll take us upstate from there to begin searching and investigation. We're told to bring friends, so...

Please. Come with us. Help us. If we can save those kids... [Or even if they can't, and they can just discover the cause, which makes her shudder.] We've got to do whatever we can. We have the power to, right? We have to do something.

Comments

audio

[dragon_blossom]

[ Santa and the Grinch causing problems should... it should just be fun and games, but the little detail of kids missing - really, really little ones - is impossible to ignore.

Marina grits her teeth for a moment before speaking. ]

You know I'm gonna be there Lily. Whatever you need me to do, however I can help... if nothing else, I'm pretty good at handling cold weather, I'm athletic, and I've got good eyesight, so any direction you can point me in that I'll be helpful... yeah.

audio

[alilyinthemoonslight]

[She smiles unseen, but the sense of it probably carries in her tone a bit.]

I wouldn't think anything less, Marina.

And if you're good with the cold, that's one up on me.

Voice

[icy_heavens]

[He's not even going to comment on that Grinch thing. Their lives are just like this; it gets so easy to simply accept.]

Well it's not like we can ignore something like this. [AKA: you have his sword.]

Voice

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Well, I expect you definitely can handle the cold.

Good. Thank you, Toushirou.

Audio

[feastorfamine]

... Lapland, huh?

I think I'll come along as well. I'm not much good in a fight, though I'm better than I used to be. Just, if people with powers show up... I may need to partner up with someone. Not trying to be whiny, of course.

But you sound like you could use as many feet on the ground as possible.

Audio

[alilyinthemoonslight]

As many feet on the ground and as many eyes as we can get, Amy. That's perfectly fine, I think.

[Audio]

[scarlet_devil]

I'll be there, you can be certain of that. [Once again, trouble pops up, just when she was trying to have a nice night. And kids are involved here...]

If muscle's needed, I'm your girl.

[Audio]

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Good. Muscle won't be a problem but we're not going to turn down more.

[video]

[gogoghostpowers]

Wait, wait, hold on. Let me just get this straight:

They want us...to beat up a kidnapper Santa Claus?

[video]

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Well, someone dressed up like Santa Claus.

[She blinks, thinking about who they are, and what they've all seen.]

And okay, yes. I suppose it's possible we could be beating up Santa Claus, isn't it.

[That's not even phrased like a question.]

[Video]

[charcoalfeather]

[Rakka couldn't ignore this. Kidnapped children? Some evil grinch monster? This was way too bizarre.]

I'll help, in any way I can. I know I don't have any powers, but that... [She shook her head disgustedly.] That's not right at all.

[Video]

[alilyinthemoonslight]

No, it's not, but we'll need all the help we can get.

[She smiles.]

You did well enough before this, anyway.

[Okay, yes, Raye was a rampaging monster but...]

[originaloddcouple]

What?!

But Santa's supposed to be a good guy!

[alilyinthemoonslight]

You would think that, but... not so in this case.

Video

[jasminebloominginshadow]

[Jasmine is looking more or less fit and able. She's still got some minor pain but largely she's back up to speed and carrying herself well]

... I want to get back in action. So count me in on this, sis.

Video

[alilyinthemoonslight]

[Lily purses her lips.]

Are you sure about that, Sis?

Audio

[guitar_case_vagabond]

[She hesitates for a moment after seeing this, unsure. She's still not sure about a lot of things but... missing kids. No way she can ignore that.]

I'm going.

Audio

[alilyinthemoonslight]

[Lily's eyes widen a bit on her end, but her tone and expression softens, even if Raye can't see her.]

Good.

I'm glad, Raye.

[action]

[peacefulwinter]

"The pattern's breaking down."

It comes out almost absently, as Winter lays down and checks the network responses as they come in. The promises of help. The reminder that, when the chips were down, they were all a team. And yet...

"Just when we thought we knew something... everything falls apart. Even setting the incident itself aside for a minute, it feels like something is wrong. Taken together..." She shivers. "We have to find them, Lily. We have to."

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Lily looks to the other young woman as she talks. Cutting her communication for now, she crosses the room and sets down beside Winter, reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder and attempt to rub it comfortingly. Her lips quirk up just a little bit.

"Maybe not everything. We knew more things would happen, Winter."

Not something like this, though. Not a threat towards children like this.

"We'll do all we can, Winter. I promise you that. This is somewhere we can use our power for good... and I'm damned well going to do that."

video;

[waltharius]

[ He's been hiding away from a lot of things lately, but this... everyone has a breaking point, and this is it. ]

I'd like -- I want to come along. I know I'm no Rambo, but I have a few -- I can help. I'm pretty sure.

[ This has all been pretty rambly. He mumbles an apology for that under his breath, face going a little black. Not red, not even pink, black. ]

video;

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Like I've said above, we've got muscle and firepower if we need it. I think more important than anything, we need eyes right now.

If you can provide that, I think we're good.

[voice]

[ruleorserve]

They're certain about that sighting?

[He's certainly not about to say it can't have been! But it does seem more unusual than most of things thus far, not that giant lobster-monsters are terribly normal either.]

[voice]

[alilyinthemoonslight]

As certain as they can be from the mouths of preschooler witnesses, I suppose.

I'll admit it's not much, but it's... also all we've got.

[goldenflames]

...Normally all that would sound crazy. You know what, count me in. We'll get those kids back.

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Hardly anything sounds that crazy to me anymore, honestly.

Private Text

[evowhisperer]

It's showing a lot of trust that they're inviting outsiders to help with the search.

Do you think they're expecting the kidnappers to be rogue Numbered?

Private Text

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Rogue numbered or some sort of experiment gone wrong, but... The fact it started happening immediately is peculiar, isn't it? Could someone have gotten that many pulses back so simply around that place?

[Video] gurg slow go me, I hope backtags are okay?

[oncedevil]

Missing children connected to us?

I don't know what all you might need, but I'm a pretty good shot and quick on my feet. Id' hate to see a bunch of kids get hurt because we decided not to get involved.

[Video] Backtags are always awesome!

[alilyinthemoonslight]

We need... well, whatever we can get. We didn't get anymore information than I gave out, so...

[She smiles.] If you can do anything, we'd appreciate it.

[Audio]

[dead_black_eyes]

I don't know how much help I could possibly be for this. Someone should stay behind with Project Jump, but... you'll keep me updated? I want to assist any way I can.

[Audio]

[alilyinthemoonslight]

I agree, we can't leave our assets unguarded, either. It could very well be trying to lure us into something.

But... you can count on that, I will.