[When the video starts up, Elizabeth looks... well awful. Half undressed for her, which currently involves something that suspiciously looks like Cross's shirt and her petticoats, curled up in her bed with her arms wrapped around her stomach.]

If someone could go get Raven or Kiriko. [no titles right now, she can't be bothered] Please. I drank water from the tap and now... [she grimaces and curls in on herself a little more.

Which she shuts the video off, and curls into the pillow some more, wanting this to just end. This is why she never touched the stuff, she knew it would make her ill.]

Now that winter is coming, it'll be easier to keep a blood store going. Some time in the next month, I'd appreciate it if everyone made an appointment with me. If any of you happen to know your blood type, tell me right away. If you don't, I can determine it for you.

[He's doing his best to speak gently, so the idea of jabbing everyone with a needle sounds as appealing as possible.]

I'd like to get small samples from everyone, and if you meet the requirements, start the donations.

We never know when we could have another invasion on our hands, and next time we might not be so lucky.

I figured I had better ask if anyone wanted to stop with their Russian lessons or if anyone wanted to pick it up since it's been a while since I asked. Or we could do some other language if anyone wanted. Though the lessons won't be picking up for a while.

Okumura, I was going to ask Rin if he wanted to travel east with me past Credinta but... [Since he's gone...] I thought I should ask you instead. If you don't want to go that's fine. I've gone by myself before. I won't go until you or Kiriko clear me.

Just a side note, awning work has been put on hold for a while. I want to try and get a loom set up so that her majesty can try her hand at making us warmer blankets. The dining room table is done, as are the chairs, though the kitchen is still a work in progress. Thanks to Loki the library is complete, but I suggest knocking on the door before going in, it's someone's room now as well.

Loki, I left a pallet next to the door early this morning. I didn't want to wake you.

[She's actually made sure to click the video on this time, and she's... well, her Queenly self, jewels and curls and far too much silk. All very evident to the place where she's been the last two weeks because she surely had no reason to dress like this here, there was after all, no one to impress. She's addressing the feed while she took off her feathered hat, putting it down beside her on her desk, absently arranging things on the desk.]

Forgive my absence, it seems my England had need of me. 'No rest for the wicked', is the appropriate phrase is it not? [the term Loki had used for it, she quite liked it.] I cannot know how long it has been, only that it's been too early winter at home, but still apparently summer here... [which with that, off came the heavy silk jacket she was wearing, tossing it over the back of her chair, and she sits down herself.] ... and whomsoever it was that was in my dresses and things whilst I was gone, thank-you for not stealing them. [though she's fairly sure she knows who it is because there is so few women here.

Taking out a hair pin, she fiddles with it, mind far away for a moment as the light bounces off it through the window. Little rainbows reflected on the wall.] ...If, ah... [distracted again before she clears her mind of it and takes out her earrings] ... If there is anything worth telling me, as well as any changes, I should wish you to do so as soon as possible. I hope as well that the Mayor of Credinta has caused no more trouble. It would be a comfort to know there is some peace to be had in this place, and that all of you are in one piece. I know how you all like to worry me.

[She's more or less built herself a tiny battle layout on her floor, peering down at it. The incoming soldiers are random pieces of material.]

Forgive me this authority, but I've a plan, should you wish to follow it. [she clears her throat.] I'm schooled in war, even if I cannot fight. 

I told this to my lord Yukio, and I think it's our best chance. In this case straight out battle is useless to us, we don't have the numbers to break them. What we do have is our reputation to think of. And what they want. Which is simple, they're only human, men who want to go home to their families, to their women and children, to warm beds, and they already think we're monsters, else they would think this --  [a rather short gesture out the window, and there's a sneer in her words] -- was necessary. 

So use it against them, make them believe we really are inhuman. The fog's with us. Already they are out of their element they cannot see us properly, as well it muffles our movements. And scared because of how unsettling this place, but we know the lay of the land and can trap them. Those of you with above human abilities, go in first, do not put yourself directly in their line of fire by any means, you're useless if you get killed. But do things to divide them, separate them and make sure it's huge, flashy. At the very best they will run, because they do not want to be here. They will run all the way back to their city. 

If not, if they really mean to stay here and kill, at the very least they will become skittish. Enough of it should in time give them want to divide, which case those of you who are not so showy... I'd suggest you pick them off one by one. I know it's not honourable, but we really don't have time for those sort of things. 

... [she's just cold.] Lastly, show mercy if you wish too, at the very least we can use hostages to negotiate a peace. So perhaps takes prisoners if you can without personal risk.  But remember this, they don't want to show you mercy at all, they want to drive us from this place. Damned it might be, but this is our city, it is our home, and if any of you die, for any stupid heroics when you could be doing something far more useful, I will never forgive you, do you understand? 

I think that is everything I can think of. Any further questions, see my lord Yukio or myself. 

[SENT LATER]

I'll be on the roof, with my lord Yukio. Please relay to me any position or if you need any assistance, I'll be keeping a eye on all. [because you're her people.]

[Yukio's standing on top of the apartment building, peering through the fog in Credinta's direction with a worried expression. The wind is blowing his hair into his eyes, but he's too focused on what he's looking at to pay his growing locks much attention.]

Everyone. There are soldiers coming into the city.

[The video begins with Lin down on all fours in a patch of dirt, her bare knees and palms caked with sod. The video must have started when she threw the PDA down on the ground. Next to her is an iron bucket, and in front of her, a hole about a foot deep. Her nails are black with mud, and she is... digging for something.]

Where is it?!

[She begins to look more frantically, throwing dirt and grass around until her clothes have been dusted with a fine layer of black.]

Where - is - it?!

[She lets out a frustrated little scream and punches the earth she had been digging in. After taking a few angry breaths, she covers her face with her hands. She sighs, and when he hands slide away from her cheeks, her face is filthy.

It's then she catches her PDA recording, and her frown intensifies.]

S-Stupid thing! Who said you could film me?!

[She tosses the PDA across the dirt.]

[Alma's out by the side of the apartment building this morning, carefully examining the mud provided by yesterday's rain. Anyone who's been around long enough will recognize the spot as the location of last year's kinda-almost-successful garden.]

Is it warm enough to start planting again? [Because Alma thinks it's pretty hot. :|] I think we can do better this year.

 [She's looking less tired now, sitting on her bed with the windows behind her. Back to her normal colourful dresses and neatly bound up hair, save for the odd curl that escapes. Her little sewing decoration is tied around her wrist now though, all finished. Testament to how much nothing keeps her outwardly down for long.]

Since there's so many new people arrived, treat this as an announcement of sorts to extend my services. I'm Elizabeth, I'm in room 601 and I sew. I can fix any rips in your clothes, alter them, or if given material, I can make some things within reason. I'm out of practise, so to speak. Large projects take time, resources, so on so forth. I suspect those of you that can would be better off buying things in the city across the river. 

[Which no, she doesn't want modern clothes just yet. She feels naked already thinking about not having corsets.]

But all that aside, for sewing purposes, I'll be leaving a basket outside my door, leave whatever it is that needs fixing there with an indication to who it belongs to, and I should have it done within the day, if there's not too much. [... and she grows stern for a moment, speaking like she did to her advisors. Flat, stern and rather grave.] And I'd ask you not to steal each others clothes. Because it's a headache I do not even want to think about, I'd hope there is some measure of trust between us all. [It's a common enough event to her, because of the sheer amount of jewels sewn into clothing, or in the lower classes, just having clothes at all meant a great deal of stealing.] 

Oh and master Dextera? I've finished translating the evening prayers for you. I'd play the Kyrie for you to hear, but I have no instrument, the best I could is sing, but I am even more out of practise with that then I am sewing. [Laughs at little.] Come collect them whenever you wish, I'm in my room at present.

[Private to Cross] 

... I don't want to hear otherwise about this. You're taking my jewels, the hair pins are all diamonds. I sold one, and I got much too little for it. But my lord Tyki assured me that such things have not lost their value, and there is another six. I don't know how much the pearls will fetch, but it should be something. You'll get a much better price for them then I will with my poor Russian. [She's keeping her face blank about this, but stern.] There is much better uses for them then adornment.