The Doorway: a panfandom game

FILTERED TO NORMANDY HOUSE:

Carol, what would it take to see if Winston would let me do this?

A week ago ago marks my anniversary of coming through the Tesseract and becoming human.


And now I've finally been betrayed by human food. :(

FILTERED TO NORMANDY HOUSE:

I want to die

Ugggh don't come any closer I think I have the plague. :( :(

In the wake of recent events, I hope those who were driven to violence by the gas remember that feelings like guilt and remorse are a sign that you have a healthy conscience. I've had more than one reason to question whether my choices are my own over the years and I've often wondered if I could have made a better choice if I were just stronger, smarter, etc. Sometimes the only comfort is knowing that I do question myself. In my experience, the real concern arises when someone loses all room for doubt.

But, if all of this rings hollow, you could consider putting some good out into the world. Charitable works won't erase what's already done, but you might make someone else's life a little easier for awhile. The Phoenix Project is still going strong, and more people are always welcome at Food Bank for New York's Harlem soup kitchen. I can make a call if you're interested.

Whatever you do, don't be afraid to reach out and talk to someone. There are plenty of people here who can empathize.

[FILTERED TO "NORMANDY" HOUSE]

Seems like as good a time as any to say I'm glad we moved out of the tower. I've spent a little too much time thinking about the sort of things I'd see under a gas that inspires your worst fears and it isn't a fun list.

When Peeta was here, he and I had discussed alternatives to prosthetic limbs, when I fixed his. I had temporarily fixed his leg and then built him a new one. A better one, with more mobility and ease of use. Nerve sensation pads, more fluidity, that sort of thing.

Here, I'm human and don't require occasional cybernetic upgrades to my suit or my body even as tempting as it is to make my vision better or boost my imm, so it was a project I had set aside. But I think now that I have a workshop, I'd like to start it back up again. So um, if this is something anyone needs... please come see me! I especially like challenges. :)

FILTERED TO GARRUS:

We haven't had a date night in a while.


Which. um. might be my fault. But I'm sorry! I get caught up on working and forget to come to bed and- well, you know.

FILTERED TO NORMANDY CREW (AND CAROL DANVERS):

Last day of training, got my assignment, and... which cell were you again, Shepard?

Because if it's six, I might have to ask for a transfer.

FILTERED TO SHIELD CELL SIX:

I'm sure we'll get around to the official introductions soon, but I'm Garrus Vakarian. Looks like I'm the new guy on the team.

[Filtered to Space Folk]

I'd a said something sooner, but this week's been a bit of a blur. But, anyone's interested, I had my baby Monday, it's a girl.

( cut, not filtered )

I named her Serra.

FILTERED TO NORMANDY CREW:

Figured we might want to at least talk about this with everything that's happened...

Anyone planning on leaving the Tower?

( cut for image size, not filtered )

Why Garrus, I never knew you had such an interest!

[Private Filter]

I'm going to miss Mordin even more this time, as selfish as that sounds. I always respected and admired him, but I didn't know him personally very well. He was working frantically on the genophage and I was always busy keeping up with the broker agents or the scientists at the Crucible. There was downtime, sometimes, but both of us were very good at utilizing it for work, rather than relaxing. We did talk every so often. His work was fascinating and when Javik came aboard I was more than happy to share any knowledge of Prothean physiology I had. But when Tuchanka came and went, I felt for him, for Shepard's burden, but I kept to myself, because others had personal grief and mine was professional and more disconnected. There was a ripple that always made its way through the crew when we lost someone, but...

But here it was nice. Helping with his work gave me something to ground myself right away. And when Garrus and Tali have each other and Shepard and Ashley have found others here, Mordin was always fun to spend time with as the other odd one out.

I knew Kaidan so much more, but it's much harder to accept Mordin's absence knowing what happened in our world. Maybe there's another universe he'll make his impression on, other than this one. I can hope.

[/Filter]

Now that things have settled a little bit, I thought I'd ask the question again: would anyone be interested in giving me piano lessons? I'd like to learn how to play and I'll be earning a regular salary to pay for them, now.

[Filtered to Normandy Crew]

I have been sitting behind computer monitors for too long. Training is exhausting already. Or maybe it's just the timing.

Do they think we want to be here?

Gods, all I did was go out to get a happy meal.

i saw pacific rim
i want a robot

[FILTERED TO NORMANDY CREW + CAROL DANVERS]

I went to talk to Mordin last night and found an empty apartment. Checked in with SHIELD now and he's gone. I've been dreading this day since he got here, but I didn't realize it was going to feel worse than the first time.

Goddamn it, I can't Anyway, check in, will you? I sort of spaced it and didn't think to verify you were all still here while I had the chance. Trying not to panic. Doesn't look good on a soldier.

[Normandy]

I hope things are going well for you who are away. Like we all stated on Ashley's entry - please stay safe. I've got a few more things to add to our network in the meantime, Tali. I'm glad we have the project to keep us busy, I'd be even more restless if it weren't for the fifty monitors in your apartment.

As for news, I think we all stand on the same front there so I'll leave it be. I will say, though, that I've been accepted into training for becoming a SHIELD Handler. I start on the 17th, and I'm looking forward to dusting off my 'interpersonal' skills. My only regret is I doubt I'll be able to order Shepard and Garrus around even once it's completed. Still, it's probably for the best. I don't think I could ever tell Shepard what to do and keep a straight face. Wish me luck.

Spending so much time indoors reminds me of the digs I used to go on where we would be underground for days. When I was younger, my team lead used to tease me about forgetting what the sun looked like, and I would pretend not to hear him and bury myself in my notes to distract myself from the idea. I don't think I'll ever take windows for granted, though.

Does anyone play the piano? I've dabbled, and I think I would like to learn. Is there a place nearby that I could look into signing up for private lessons? Or anyone willing to give them? I'd gladly pay for the services.

I'm likely the last person who should be talking about this, because as far as I'm concerned, hope was in among various human weaknesses in Pandora's Box for a reason. It's passive. It's condescending. It's not as insidious when it's accompanied with drive, or (God forbid) logic, but so many "pep talks" are intended to make people feel better while downplaying the actual situation they're in. Waste of time. It's prayer for the PC set, in my opinion.

So I'm not going to give you hope. I'm going to give you facts: Tony Stark is the most stubborn, clever, obnoxious, and ambitious man I know; Death Himself would find him too much to swallow. He's provided for this Tower in ways that I can't even begin to fathom, and he saved me along with the rest of the world last May. And if you think that Pepper Potts is in any way lesser to his intellect or courage, you don't know her: she's got a heart of steel and a mind that sees every option in a situation. The fact that she chooses the kindest one is a testament to her generosity.

Logically, the Mandarin could kill them. He's got the firepower, the assorted followers and connections, and the reach to follow-through. Tony and Pepper are only human, with all our their fragilities and weaknesses.

I don't believe the Mandarin killed them. Not for a moment. Hope's got nothing to do with it.

I could tear the tectonic plates from the Earth itself looking for the Mandarin if I allowed myself to. It'd be nothing on what Tony and Pepper could accomplish. And if they've been taken, if they've gone dark or quiet or even still - there they are. Closer than close within the Mandarin's den, and waiting.

He'd be smart to be at unease.

[ Filtered to Known Hackers in Potts Tower ]

If you're not already busy with a project, I could use some extra eyes. I haven't slept i

[ /Filter ]

FILTERED TO MCU AVENGERS:

Pepper's missing. She was supposed to call me, but she never did. Called her phone, SHIELD picked up. Last known location [hotel name] in Santa Monica. Personal effects still in the room. Looks like foul play.

The best thing we can do for her right now is keep trying to solve the rest of this puzzle, and find the Mandarin. It won't be long before the news breaks to the media, and I'm anticipating another storm at Potts Tower when they hear. I know the tower's a powder keg, but I'm relying upon whoever's left with any common sense to try to calm them down while I can't be there. I hope that'll be enough.

I sent the data Tony gave us to (the other) Steve. A good number of his Avengers are out of the country, scouting locations associated with their world's Mandarin. He's promised to keep me updated about what they find; even if there's nothing, that helps.

In the meantime, we'll be looking at what Tony sent us to see if we've missed anything or if we can pick up any new activity. Bruce, bring in whoever you trust to get the job done. I'm going to gather up some of Stark's scientists in R&D to help too.

FILTERED TO STARK INDUSTRIES R&D:

As I'm sure you've heard from the board of directors, it's business as usual at SI. But I have a side project I'd like some of you in on, if you're interested. It's for Tony, and I'll need your complete confidentiality. The terrorist we're dealing with is incredibly dangerous, as you've all seen, and any slip up could risk a great number of people. No press, no friends, no one outside of myself and those directly involved. If you're free, drop me a note here, and I'll see you in the labs.

FILTERED TO HACKERS INVOLVED FROM STEVE'S POST:

I have a friend coming over tonight that ran an entire underground network to help finalize my improved setup, which is going to end up with half of my wall covered in monitors but um. Worth it? I started on coding hacking programs to run on their own consistently through every electronics device that could possibly linked to any of these attacks or the Mandarin.

If anyone wants to come by to help set up or share ideas, I'll have pizza and smoothies to share!

FILTERED TO GARRUS VAKARIAN (JOHN SHEPARD CAN READ):

I'm thinking we may need to move to a 2nd bedroom for the impending new bundle of joy in our lives.

[Text to Tali'Zorah vas Normandy]

» How are you feeling?

[Text to Garrus Vakarian]

» I have acquired fireworks for you.

I know there are a lot of you who are concerned about the bombings happening in other countries, and about the broadcasts that we've seen lately, and I know many of you are interested in helping. This is, as I'm sure you all know, a very delicate situation, and bringing this person in hinges on the countries investigating him being able to do so quickly at a moment's notice, before he knows what's going on. At this time, the best things we can do to help is to keep our eyes peeled for violence and threats to the city we're living in right now, and to join organizations such as the local law enforcement or SHIELD to be more involved in any take-down attempts. It won't help any of us to rush in unorganized. There are people here who are working on stopping him, and we need to work alongside them.

That said, I'd like to ask all of you who have experience with tracing signals and hacking to help us narrow down where this terrorist is, or anyone else involved in his organization. If you discover anything at all, please alert myself and Director Fury or Regional Director Hill. Anything we can tell them and share with each other is going to help us in the long run. When he is located, and he will be, I know that we'll be able to bring him in quickly. In the meantime, sit tight, do what you can to help us find him and don't do anything reckless. The rest of the city . No one can hide forever.

FILTERED TO TONY STARK (MCU) & PEPPER POTTS:

Are either of you in town? I'd like to talk to the both of you, if you have a moment.

FILTERED TO PEGGY CARTER:

What do you say to a kid who's lost another one of his friends? I don't know if I managed to say the right things last night.

FILTERED TO NORMANDY CREW:

It's been awhile since I've been shot. Tickles a little.

FILTERED TO SAGE:

How are you feeling?