Adam (his usual annoying self): Finally wore out your welcome, huh?

*totally unconcerned* Yup.

Adam: I don't think I really need to point out how totally dumb you were.

Nope.

Adam: It wouldn't hurt to think a bit next time, hm?

Too much trouble.

Adam (raising an eyebrow): So it's less trouble to do everything your way?

Less interaction with others.

Adam (dripping with sarcasm): Oh, that's right, I forgot how much you hate people.  Silly me.

(Abruptly and without warning the Authoress stops typing and turns to glare at Adam.  As she does so, two giant wings sprout out of her back, nearly knocking Adam out of his seat.  Adam's expressing gets a great deal more serious as he sees that both of said wings are pitch black.)

Adam (a bit softer): It's that bad, huh?

*shrugs* It was bound to happen sooner or later...

Adam (shaking his head): If you think like that, then I guess there's nothing I can say...

*turning back to the computer* Good.

Adam (short sigh): Hurry up and feel better.  I don't want to be the nice one.

Too bad.

(The Authoress resumes typing without a second glance, and therefore misses the genuinely worried look Adam is giving her.)

Voidstar (reading): "Keep out"..."No Entry"..."Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted"..."This Means You"... (smirks) That so, huh?

Grinning madly, Voidstar cracks his knuckles and approaches the door, gathering wisps of energy in his hands.

Voidstar (evilly): Of course this means I'm going to try getting in any way I can...

Before he can generate any major property damage, however, there is a small "ping" noise and the locks open themselves.

Voidstar (surprised): Eh?

As the chains fall away, an immense rushing of wind can be heard.  The door splinters completely as a black mass breaks through it and surrounds Voidstar, its tendrils curling in a manner that was anything but assuring.

Voidstar (pensive): Our patterns are...identical.  How very fascinating.

Voidstar (shrugging): Weirder things have happened.  So, mind telling me who you are?

Voidstar (raising an eyebrow): I didn't know I had a split personality.

Voidstar (nodding): Oh, so this is one of those "remerge, get bad flashbacks, regain latent powers" deals.

Voidstar (pensive): Hm...

Voidstar: Well, if you put it that way... (crosses arms) This isn't one of those things where I'd have to sell my soul or anything, is it?

Voidstar: ......point. (shrugs) Ah, hell, I don't have much to lose anyway.

Voidstar chuckles and steps forward into the threshold.

Voidstar (with a touch of sarcasm): Please be gentle.  I don't take getting my soul eaten too well.

A burst of wild colors ensue, somewhat like a kaliedoscope on LSD.

Asuka (stretching lazily, yawning): It's a Saturday, Kii, where are you going?

There is a slight hesitation in Kii's answer, as if he is unsure of his own words.

Kii: The dream...changed.

This gets Asuka awake in a hurry.  Her shock is even greater when she sees what Kii is wearing.

Asuka: What do you mean, "the dream changed"?!? Your dreams don't change! (slight pause) Do they?

Kii (shakes his head): No. (pauses) At least, they're not...supposed to.

Silence.  Trying to control her shaking, Asuka gets out of the covers and begins to change out of her pajamas.

Asuka (averting her eyes): What did it...change to, then?

Kii (averting his eyes): I'm not sure...it all happened too quickly, but...

Asuka (looks up, startled): But?

Again, Kii hesitates, this time much more significantly.

Kii: It felt like...like someone ripped out bits and pieces of it and tried to jam new parts in.

It takes a while for Asuka to realize the significance of Kii's words.

Asuka (staring, with a touch of desperation): Are you sure?

Kii (nodding, with some reluctance): Very sure.

Only the small hiss of air escaping the plugsuit can be heard as Asuka finishes dressing.  She walks towards the door, and touches hands briefly with Kii as she passes him.

Asuka (resigned): Let's take my Eva.

Kii (same): I'll pack some leftovers.

Jenova (softly, to herself): o/ Little bird, little bird, in the cinnamon tree; little bird, little bird, do you sing for me?

She works tenaciously, and soon there is a small but visible reduction in the pile that she is tackling.

Jenova: o/ Do you bring me word of the one I love? Little bird, little bird, please tell me so! Little bird, little bird, I have to know! Little bird, little bird...

Getting herself into rhythm, she speeds up, losing herself into her work.

Jenova: o/ For in this tree, this cinnamon tree we learned to laugh; we learned to cry....

She's so into what she's doing that she doesn't notice the line of figures coming up into her field of vision.

Jenova: o/ We learned to love; we learned to kiss; and on a cold and moonless night we said goodbye... o/

Soon, however, other voices can be heard floating in the air, slightly muffled by the snow but loud and quite obnoxious, compared to what Jenova was singing...

Voices: o/ We're men! We're men in tights! We're running around the woods looking for fights! o/

It's only a matter of time before Jenova is drowned out completely, much to her annoyance.

Voices: o/ We're men! We're men in tights! We rob from the rich, and give to the poor, that's right!

Jenova (stops shoveling, annoyed): What in the world--? (raises her voice) Excuse me, but do you mind?

Finally, the other "singers" come into view, and Jenova drops her shovel in shock as she sees that it's a ragtag army of roaches, demons, and even Large Friendly Spiders, some of them shoveling, some of them sweeping, and some of them sprinkling salt.  With all of them working together, their pace is brisk, and soon they've made their way past Jenova and the bar, still singing.

Voices: o/ We may look like pansies, but better watch out or we'll knock out your lights! o/

Their various implements still in hand, the entire army pauses to do an impromptu can-can, then laughing heartily, they pat each other on the back and continue on their way.

Jenova (in awe): Well, I'll be...either I'm hallucinating from hypothermia, or EGC has gotten themselves some very efficient street cleaners...

Roisin (thinking): Of course it's just my luck that the only vacancy left is the one next to him...

"Him" being, of course, Dives, the former member of the Triumverate that had been quite nearly the sole cause of Roisin's terror and grief.

Roisin (thinking): But...I don't know what to think of him any more... (chuckles weakly, out loud) I can't even bring myself to hate him...

Placing Dante on her shoulder, Roisin pats his back awkwardly.

Roisin (thinking): With all this snow, there's no way I could go anywhere...but what about afterwards?

She remembers Rufus' offer to take her with him whenever the Turks are able to make it through the storm.

Roisin (thinking): Mr. Shinra is nice enough, I suppose, but...

Image of Dives looking at her guiltily.

Roisin (mostly to herself): His eyes were always so sad...and I never noticed until now...

Synthesis (huggling Velvet): It's been so long, onii-chan! I'm so happy to see you!

Velvet (not computing): Pardon???

Synthesis (hugs even tighter): I've taken care of everything for you, onii-chan! There's no need to be afraid any more!

With a bit more roughness than necessary, Velvet pushes Synthesis away.

Velvet (brushing himself off): Excuse me if I don't share your enthsiasm, miss, but I've been burned way too many times to believe this whole "long-lost sister" spiel. (narrows his eyes) Who are you really?

Synthesis (sad): You really don't remember, do you?

Velvet (narrows his eyes even more): Answer the question.

Synthesis (pleading): I'm your sister, onii-chan, your twin sister! Can't you feel the bond between our hearts?

Velvet (unconvinced): You'll have to do better than that.

Synthesis (ready to cry): Deuteronomy...please...

At the mention of his real name, Velvet goes from mild annoyance to severe fury.  He grabs Synthesis by a wrist and twists it viciously, causing her to cry out with pain and surprise.

Velvet (eyes like slits): I have to admit I'm a bit impressed.  You must be a very resourceful person to have dug that up. (clenches tighter) Now, then, answer the question.

Synthesis (in pain): You're...hurting...me...

Velvet wordlessly glares at Synthesis for several seconds before letting go of her hand.

Velvet (turns): I don't have time for this.

Synthesis: Wait! Where are you going?

Velvet (not looking back): To make things right, once and for all.

Xelloss: You do realize how pointless all of this is, right? ^_^;

Lady: On the contrary.  Instead of being somewhere else causing trouble, you're here fighting for your life.  I find that quite constructive.

Xelloss: Well, if you put it that way... ^_^;

Another rapid exchange of spells and blows occur.

Lady (raises eyebrow): Interesting use of magic you've got there.

Xelloss: Oh, so you noticed? I picked up a thing or two from watching all the chaos that goes on around here. ^_^

Lady (smiles): So did I.

Xelloss barely has time to phase out of the way as a huge spell materializes in the Lady's hands and shoots out for him.  He doesn't have much time to stare and comment on the destructiveness his opponent is capable of, either, as the spell loops around and homes in on him.

Xelloss: Eep! ^_^;

A frantic session of fleeing ensues.  Finally, Xelloss manages to outmaneuver the spell, and it crashes into a nearby building, causing a horrendous explosion.

Xelloss (gaping at the crater): Goodness, you're quite serious about killing me, aren't you? ^_^;

Lady (amused): It took you this long to figure out?

Xelloss: Well, I was sort of hoping that you'd only traumatize me a bit and then let me go. ^_^;

Lady: As tempting as that sounds, I'm afraid I'll have to be a lot more thorough than merely putting you through intense pain...

Ironically enough, at those very words, the Lady herself doubles over, clutching her head.

Lady (strained): No! It can't be!

Xelloss (a bit curious): Something wrong?

And then Xelloss feels it, too.

Distant voice: OOSHA!

As the manly, pink-clad warrior of Saikyou-ryu rolls and taunts into view, it is important to remember exactly what sort of man Dan Hibiki is.  Despite the beatings he's gotten for his flashy but useless attacks, Dan is a man of excessively large ego.  In other words, he feels absolutely nothing negative about himself.  For the Mazoku, who thrive on pain and suffering, the mere thought of His Pinkness is enough to send them into spasms.  And now, he has arrived.

Dan (overly confident): AHA! At last I have found you, sexy but nasty mean lady! (rolls) If you surrender to my obviously superior skills, I may still be merciful! (rolls again) However, if you insist on following the paths of darkness, then I shall unleash the full power of my might! (rolls a third time) For I am Dan! And in the name of Saikyou-ryu, as well as for the sake of my father, I will defeat you! (rolls, jumps, rolls, and extends his fist) OYAJI!

Lady (twitching): Make...the...hurting...stop...

Fortunately for Xelloss, he's a bit more conditioned to experience this sort of silly speech-making and powerposing thanks to Amelia.  Unfortunately for him, he's still affected badly enough so that he can't make his escape.

Xelloss (also twitching): Oh dear...