--ess, stay back!

[The transmission begins to that, and the sound of a struggle that seems like it's been going on for a while already: metal clashes on metal, and the sound of sickening growls and grunts can be heard. The struggle continues, and there's a sharp, surprised shout as Syaoran is thrown backwards into a wall.

For a second there's just silence, and then the struggle begins again -- it sounds much more intense this time, but it ends quickly, with the sound of metal cutting through meat or flesh, and a dull 'thud!'

Some labored breathing follows]

Ah...it's all right now, you--

[...] Princess?

[there's a pause, and then he takes a deep, shaky breath. the transmission ends]

((ooc: i'm saying she was with him when she disappeared; also yes he got ambushed by one of the legato!reavers |Db))

( Locked to the police force )

...I still have a lot to apologize for.

[...]

Princess, everyone, are you all right? Those tremors... Has anyone found a cause for them? I can't imagine that they're natural -- it hasn't happened since I arrived in this world, at least... Has anyone else experienced it here before?

I was also wondering who was still interested in restoring the library? The project was...put off for a few weeks. [Because I was too busy being angry and antisocial. ;;] Now that things have calmed down a little, I'd like to try again.

And-- Ah, I'm sorry, it looks like this will be a long entry. I've heard mentions of this "Tanabata," but I can't find much information about it in the books I've looked through. What is it, exactly?

( Private | Off-network, voice )

[The post begins with near-silence; a few footsteps can be heard echoing in the recording. When Syaoran speaks, he doesn't seem to realize the device is on]

The hospital? [...] Then I-- ...Those people...

[The footsteps stop. There's a pause, followed by a slow, shuddering breath. He fumbles with the communicator for a moment and clicks the voice feature on.]

I'm--

[...]

[Saying it like this won't even begin to suffice. His breath hitches a slight bit, almost inaudibly; he doesn't know what to say. The post ends.]

[The communicator is recording at ground-level, tilted slightly upward in a position it was dropped from. The first thing that can be seen is a large pile of monsters of various types that have been mangled and beaten -- by what, it's almost impossible to tell.

The creature responsible seems to be looming in the background, surveying the work it's done. It rises to its full height and then makes a noise, something between a screech and a wail, before slinking out of camera view.

Syaoran is nowhere to be seen in the video.]

((really, really sorry for taking so long on this orz. description of cloney-monster, but since the transformation happened off-camera, you're free to assume whatever xD obviously he won't exactly be responding to anything ♥))

[The wind blows in the background; for now, Syaoran takes a breath, as if to speak. Then he pauses, silent for a few moments but for some belabored breathing. Then:]

...The forest.

Are they--? ...

[He falls silent. Footsteps begin, slow, heavy, a continuous rhythm of them.]

...They have to be.

I need to--

[...] Princess--

[the transmission ends]

((ooc: SO HERE'S THE DEAL. to ease up on confusion, this will be an open commentlog post for anyone that HUMAN CLONEY is attacking; i'll put something up on the 25th when he changes! ANYONE interested in running into him is welcome to; these will mostly be random "omgwtfbbq out of my way peon" attacks until he turns monster-y. these attacks can also be back- or forward-dated to your convenience ;3

these can take place anywhere in the city before the 25th. in addition, he'll be disappearing from horton until either he's injured and too weak to move, or turns into a monster. SO, YOU KNOW. GO WILD. ♥))

((edit: 'A' i shouldn't post right before bed. sorry, replies will come in the morning!))

[entire post is backdated to earlier this afteroon!]

[The device turns on as it clatters to the ground; from some distance away, Syaoran can be seen fighting with one of the oni that inhabit the shopping district.

At first it seems as though the oni might win, due in no small part to its speed and power. But Syaoran --are his eyes closed? it's hard to tell in the video-- delivers a series of swift, powerful martial arts. He finishes by bringing up a large rock, kicking it at the oni almost like a soccer ball. The creature makes a pained noise and skulks off.

For a few moments, Syaoran breathes heavily, shaking visibly. He clenches his fists, swinging one arm to hit the wall near him: already crumbling from decay, several of the stones fall. The post ends.]

[When the post begins, it's obviously an accidental recording: some heavy breathing can be heard as the post begins, and the voice that follows is almost inaudible, distant.]

Nngh. What is-- My head-- it feels...hot...?

[Syaoran sucks in a sharp breath, and then some rustling as he fiddles with the communicator, presumably to switch it on but actually switching it to text]

[TEXT]

Princess...are you well? How are you settling in?

Ah-- and I was wondering if anyone would like to spar, by any chance? I would like to get in some sword practice in the next few days, but I'm also all right with hand-to-hand combat.

Also, before I forget, I'm supposed to speak with someone named Abel? Maka-san suggested I help with the Book Club in her absence, and told me to talk to them. Does anyone know where I can find them...?

[...]

There have been some strange things happening lately, haven't there?

[the video feed turns on, but the view is abstracted; there are several dark spots on the image, through which some footsteps can be seen. it looks like Syaoran is holding the device while it's recording]

Well, it looks like I've managed to avoid being shocked this time, doesn't it? I suppose it's good timing, in this case. It's gotten so quiet lately that I think now might be a good time to... Ah, well, I mean, I'd like to start working on the library again. Restoring it, I mean!

[a pause; a door can be heard and seen opening. at this point, it can definitely be said that the video feed is accidental.]

So...if anyone is still interested... Well, I thought first it might be best to relocate the monsters, and then we can focus on cleaning up and restoring any damage.

--Ah, that reminds me! I've heard that there is a museum here, too, but I haven't ever seen it. Does anyone know where that is? Or if it's in the same shape as the li--

[He stops, and the communicator drops to the ground, revealing what might be described as BOOK CARNAGE. ripped pages are everywhere, the covers and spines discarded, thanks to someone making a little visit last night. Syaoran runs closer to inspect the damage. For a little while he doesn't speak, and then:]

...What in the world-- This is-- just... who would do something like this?!

[The transmission ends.]

--Oh? This is...familiar. Didn't this happen once before...? unusual.

They certainly brought a lot of new people this time, didn't they? Ah, well-- Hello! Please let me know if I can be any help to someone.

((4th wall post for cloney, go go! ♥))

That was...

[...]

A-ah, well, I was wondering... I've been here for...w-well, around five months, from the look of it, but I know there are others that have been here a lot longer. So, I'd like to ask: has anything like this ever happened before?

Or maybe, to put it a better way... Has the city ever presented this level of danger to people before now?

( Locked to Yuui, Kurogane and Fai )

( Locked to people involved with the Library restoration )

--Ah! Another shock. I really do forget this easily, don't I?...

Er. Well, now's as good a time as any, isn't it? I was wondering, actually -- ah, I know it might not be considered a priority, but...

There's a lot of information in the public library that's only gathering dust and damage, because of the creatures living there. I'd like to attempt to make it accessible again, if it's possible. Maybe to repair some of the damage the books have taken, too... There could be some information there that's useful or relevant to Discedo, but no one has been able to fully look through it because it's still so dangerous.

So-- I was wondering if anyone would be interested in helping me do that?

( Locked to Syaoran )

[The post begins and for a few moments only the sound of heavy breathing can be heard, followed by a slight scuffling and a soft thud]

That-- what did he-- ...nn--

[There's a pause; the breathing continues, then scuffling and what might be footsteps]

At least... [there's a muffled, wet cough] almost there--

[And then, as if adding insult to injury... ZZZT.]

A-ah--! [The transmission ends, cutting off the sound of more labored breathing and a few heavy footsteps]

I didn't-- ...I couldn't...

I've looked everywhere, but I-- ...

Where is she?

[it's that time again! It sounds as though Syaoran was asleep; deep, even breathing can be heard at first...and then: ZZZT!] Ah!

[There's some immediate rustling and then a heavy thud, for the cloney has fallen off the sofa. Where he fell asleep.]

Urgh... ...Oh, I keep forgetting to use this, don't I? Or...to post, at least. I'm sorry! Have I missed anything? Well-- aside from the...the rain and things like that. I didn't miss those, but I wish I had.

Well, I'll try to update more often, but for now--

[A pause]

...What's this-- a candle? What's this for? [a short pause] ...The flame is blue!?

[zzzt!]

--Ah! Oh, right, I understand. I suppose I'm overdue to-- [zzt!] Ehh?! But I thought it was only supposed to-- [ZZZZZT ZZT!] Ack! Alright, you, stop that!

[there's a short, waiting pause]

...That's better.

I'm not sure what to say, though... Oh, thank you to whomever helped me yesterday at the clinic -- I think I forgot to ask your name, but I do appreciate it. Otherwise, I've been spending a lot of time at the library. It's taken a long time, figuring out what's there and where it is. And trying to translate some of the titles! But it's enjoyable, at least. But I suppose I should have made time for sleep, too...

[a soft rattling can be heard, and a few clicks]

...Ah? The door is-- Well...that's strange...

Well-- the sofa is fine, then. And what is this itch on my back that won't go away...?

((ooc: syaoran went to the clinic yesterday to find some calamine lotion, or anything that will help relieve itchyness, for bbfai. if anyone wants to say they helped him, go ahead ;3 and the door to his bedroom is locked because lolkurofai in the room he and kuro share. and why yes, he is getting chicken pox. xDDD whee! /o/))

So it's-- ...a new calendar year has started, then, it seems. It was nice, and so was the food... I'm not sure if I'll be making any resolutions yet --is that what they're called?-- or not, but it might not be a bad idea.

... I don't know what to say about--

I, ah-- I assume that I'm not the only one who...saw something unusual. Does anyone know what they were? And...Kazuki, was it? I'm sorry. I looked, but I couldn't find Sakura anywhere.

( Private//Difficult to Hack )

((all strikes are deleted text))

It seems as though things are, ah...more or less back to normal. W-well, I say "normal"--

Ah. Well. These clothes could be worse, at least.

Oh! I suppose I should be saying "happy Christmas," right? Or "merry"...? Or-- maybe it works both ways... Ah, right-- Fai, are you going to help me, tonight? And maybe the others, too, if they'd like. Even with the costumes -- I don't think they'll cause much of a problem, really!

What in the world... I think I heard someone being -- er. E-eaten...? But-- it seems as though in comparison, that's less unusual than... Ah-- well-- what's going on, exactly?

[...]

There's, ah... There's a girl up here, or-- I mean...a... She looks like the girl from Piffle Country... Tomoyo-san, I think.

[...!!]

Princess--! Are you alright?! Has anyone seen her?

edit; She's-- I didn't--

...

( Private//hackable )

[there's silence for a little while as the post begins; it sounds as though Syaoran tries to begin speaking a few times, but doesn't know how to begin]

I, ah-- ...

So this must be the--

[there's a pause, and a sigh. the transmission ends.]

((commentlog for sakura/whomever is at the hospital, regular tags for everyone else ♥))

[as the transmission begins, there's a violent crunch of a body colliding with a brick wall; then a groan and a sound of sliding and scuffling. It sounds as though Syaoran is attempting to rise to his feet]

Why are you-- ah--!

[The crack of a hard punch can be heard, and the body again collides with a wall. He attempts to counterattack with a kick, but instead his leg is grabbed and he's thrown against the wall a few more times.]

Hnn...--

[And then there's a loud thud of a body colliding with the ground. For a long time, maybe a few minutes, nothing can be heard except for even, if labored, breathing -- it sounds as though Syaoran has fallen unconscious. Then, finally, there's the sound of footsteps drawing closer to the communicator, and what sounds like a sword or knife being drawn.]

...Ngh-- What-- ahh!

[What follows could only be described as a ripping sound, though it sounds sickeningly soft and is followed by a few drips. It's accompanied by a loud, agonized scream, and the transmission ends.]

((:DDD no one should ICly know who did this ♥ also of course there will be no replies!))