+ some wonderlands are kind

[Kanji hadn't hung around what would probably end up serving as a 'safe zone' for long when he'd woken up to find that Wonderland had changed. All of it was intensely familiar-- the architecture, the steam, the tense feeling that had always come over him any time he and the rest of the team had to revisit the bathhouse inside the TV for any reason. None of them were ever too thrilled to go back to the dungeons that had been created by their own hearts.

He heads up a couple of floors, just to see how extensive the change is. Just like he thought, the corridors are still winding, and they seem to shift after leaving a floor and then returning to it. That means there's plenty of ways for people to get lost, and once he confirms that there are definitely shadows on the loose, he decides it's safest to assume the worst. If there are shadows, then there could be capital 'S' Shadows too.

When he does address the network, he's still a few floors up, and the scenery behind him is hard to make out through all the steam. The bathhouse corridors seem to go on forever, and he grimaces as he uses his thumb to wipe a little bit of fog away from the camera to get a better picture.]

Uh... so this one's on me.

[No question about it.]

If you can't fight, you're probably better off stayin' near the bottom floor-- this place is crawlin' with shadows. Even then, find a friend and stay close. Can't guarantee that any place will stay safe, but I've checked out the first couple of floors so far, and the shadows-- uh, monsters there ain't too aggressive. If you guys remember that tower we were all climbin' a few weeks back, it's a little like that, but... not?

[He's helpful. Full of helpful information.]

But I gotta warn you. Last time I was here... there was this shadow that looked a lot like me. Said he was me, except he was sayin' all this shit I'd never say. I dunno if that's gonna happen this time, but in case it does? If you run into someone who looks like you, no matter what they say, you gotta accept it-- even if it's real shitty. It's a part of you, an' that's okay. We all got shitty parts. If you refuse 'em, though, things get real bad. Like, people dyin' kinda bad. I don't want anyone here gettin' hurt.

[He exhales. This is getting long-winded, but it kind of has to be, doesn't it?]

Whatever happens while we're here, I'm gonna do whatever I can to help keep people safe. Just don't run off on your own, okay? Nobody gets through this kinda thing without their friends.

[Kanji returns to the first floor not long after he sends out his message. First things first; he needs to gear up. He uses one of the lockers there to try to get his hands on some basic supplies-- food and water are important if they're going to be here for any length of time. A weapon is easy to come by: he grabs hold of one of the folding chairs near the showers and tucks it under his arm before he goes in search of people he knows, just to get a good idea of where his friends are at to make sure they're being safe. He'll check in on people he doesn't know, too: making sure that they're armed and ready to protect themselves, and that they're using some sort of buddy system.

It's not long before he decides to head up again. Back home, the shadows never came down to invade the first floor, but that was because the team was working their way up and fighting them off-- they didn't give the shadows the chance to spread beyond the bathhouse, and he's not taking any chances now. While he's fighting his way through, he'll be keeping an eye out for anyone else who might be exploring, prepared to jump in and help where he's needed.

He remembers what it was like. Even knowing he'd had something like his Shadow inside of him, it had still been almost impossible to face it head-on, because he hadn't wanted to admit to what it had twisted his feelings into. Even if they've been warned of what's ahead, he knows not everyone is going to be able to accept what they see and hear. Luckily, that's what's friends are for.]