[Private to Kaylee]

Kaylee,

I'm sorry that I haven't been around. I've been very caught up in certain projects - nothing exciting. Anyway. How's the car coming along?

I never expected to get so used to spending time with you, that I'd miss you this much.[deleted] I'd like to see you. Any chance that you'd be free tomorrow? That is, Thursday? (I never know whether to say 'today' or 'tomorrow' if it's three AM but I haven't been to bed yet. I really should settle on one way or the other.) 'Tomorrow' as in Friday would be good, too. Both?[deleted]

Billy

[[The camera switches on to reveal a newly-restored-to-maleness Dr. Horrible, standing in front of his lab bench, which has been cleared of any sign of the explosion that led to this week's madness. What is on the table is a brown rabbit, sniffling its way around the usual beakers and apparatus. He ignores it.]]

"Well. I hope that everyone had a good week. Some of you may have noticed certain... changes."

[[He smiles, for all the world as if he planned the whole thing.]]

"It will have all worn off by now. Consider it a beta test of sorts. I hope you enjoyed the novelty."

[[There's a tinkling of glass from behind him as the rabbit nudges a small beaker off the edge of the table. He twists around quickly to assess the situation, rolls his eyes, and scoops the rabbit up, shouting off-screen.]]

"I thought you said you took care of all these!" [[A pause.]] "Well, will you come get this one? It's worse than that last swarm of gerbils you turned loose!"

[[Seeming to remember the camera then, he turns back to it, still holding the rabbit.]]

"Well." [[He hefts the rabbit, looking a bit sheepish now. Hard to look properly evil with a cuddly bunny in your arms.]] "Happy Easter, I guess."

[[Cutting his losses, he shuts off the camera.]]

[Private to Owen Harper]

Owen,

I need to ask you some questions in regards to a new theory of mine. Your friends from Torchwood too. Can we meet? Somewhere that is not a bar.

Billy

P.S. This doesn't mean I've forgiven you for Valentine's Day.

[Private to Kaylee]

Kaylee,

Remember how we were talking about ice skating? Well... remember Barney? I think he's trying to get a group together to go skiing. I thought you might be interested.

Would you?

Billy

Private to Tex

Tex,

I've been trying to keep my nose out of your business, but at this point I think I have the right to ask what is going on. Who are all these extra people in the house? I thought you said you didn't expect anyone else to be joining us after your friend York. And why am I hearing gunshots and fighting at all hours?

Obviously you have the right to entertain yourself however and with whomever you want. Our arrangements have been very satisfactory up until now, but I'm not comfortable with all of this chaos right on top of my lab. If it's going to continue, I'll be looking for alternate housing.

Dr. Horrible

[[The anonymous entry is posted in Dr. Horrible's blog. The camera switches on to reveal Billy, sitting on a different sofa in a different living room than last time. He stares down at his hands where they're braced on his knees.]]

"How does the saying go?"

[[His voice is almost too low for the microphone to pick up even from just a few feet away.]]

"'What would you do if you knew you could not fail'?"

[[His shoulders give a convulsive jerk, as if hunching against a blow.]]

"The answer might surprise you. But, you know, if you ever decide to find out... make sure you never come back to normal life afterward."

[[He slowly raises his head, looking directly into the camera for one second, hungry and hurt and lost. Then he tears his eyes away and reaches out blindly to shut off the camera.]]

Private to Barney Stinson

Barney,

While I appreciate (I suppose) the inherent evil in sleeping with women and leaving them angry, I would be grateful if you would make a point, at some convenient time during your... negotiations... of mentioning to them that there are others in town who look similar to you. Because if this happens again, I'll be forced to start devising fiendishly terrible punishments for them and for you, and that would be unfortunate for all concerned.

Dr. Horrible

[[The webcam switches on, revealing a smirking Dr. Horrible in his lab.]]

"Good morning, Aternaville. You're all doing well, I trust. I myself have quite a bit of progress to--"

[[He breaks off, because the table full of bubbling beakers and interconnected test tubes has begun to tremble, setting off a rattling like beads in a rain stick.]]

"...Interesting. Historically this area is very seismically stable. I know there was a tremor recently, but..." [[Seeming to remember that the camera's still on, he stops mumbling to himself and turns a smile on the computer.]] "Never fear. I come from California; I know how to prepare my lab against a--"


[[Again he breaks off, because the rattling has built to a clatter. Offscreen, something shatters, and he twists towards it, now openly alarmed.]]

"Oh, that's not a good--"

>BOOM!<

[[The camera goes dark.]]

[[The anonymous entry is posted in Dr. Horrible's blog, but when the video switches on this time, there is no Dr. Horrible. No laboratory trappings. Just a young man sitting on a sofa, his expression hollow, eyes not quite focused on the camera.]]

Once upon a dream
I conceived a perfect plan
That would change the face of man
Once upon a dream

For it was my dream
To create a perfect world
From this cold, imperfect world
Once upon a dream

And I was unafraid
The dream was so exciting
But now I see it fade
And I am here alone

Once upon a dream
All I had to do was try
Too late now to wonder why
It can never be...

Could I begin again?
Once upon a dream...

[[The song trails off on a long, wistful note which fades into silence. The silence lasts nearly a full minute before he stirs himself to reach out and clumsily fumble the camera off.]]

[[The webcam switches on, and Dr. Horrible appears on screen. Behind him, what is obviously a lab table has been set up, the surface covered with vials and beakers of interestingly-colored liquids, some of them bubbling for no apparent reason. Tubes run up the back wall in an incomprehensible tangle, various bits and pieces of machinery are visible on a separate table off to one side, and a large metal ventilation hood has been installed over the table. He clears his throat.]]

"The wait is over, my friends. My new lab is finally up and running, and my plans can proceed. I have several new avenues I intend to pursue now that I'm set up."

[[Reaching overhead, he pulls down a large map, window-shade style. Unfortunately it comes down right onto his head and bonks him a good one, as he ducks out of the way a moment too late. A few seconds' struggling with the thing, and he manages to get it hanging properly behind him. Dignity, such as it is, regained.]]

"First of all, this mysterious device in the ravine." [[Pulling out a thick red marker, he draws a lopsided circle around the section of the ravine he wasn't able to get into. Then an arrow pointing to it. Then, for good measure, a second arrow.]] "Doctor, I'm sure you're listening, and your little force field isn't going to keep me out of there for long. If this device, whatever it is, is alien, if it's what's caused so much abnormality in this town, then I want a look at it. If it isn't... well, I still want a look at it. So. Getting through the force field and investigating the device, that's one priority."

[[He gives the map a tug and it whisks back up into its holder, though not before giving him one final whap to the back of the head. He scowls up at it, rubbing the spot, before continuing.]]

"Second, I've started looking into a new possibility: an Amnesia Ray. Different from anything I've built before, but it's theoretically possible. I've got a few ideas as to how to make it happen. I'll keep you all posted as to how it's going."

[[He reaches out and switches the camera off, but right away it switches back on.]]

"It's, ah, just occurred to me as I was posting this that today is the anniversary of... It's September eleventh. So." [[A lengthy pause as he visibly struggles with what to say. Suggesting a moment of silence seems distinctly unvillainous, even though he's more or less according one anyway, as it takes him longer and longer to speak. Finally he shrugs it off.]] "Just thought I'd acknowledge that. Now I've done that, so - back to your lives, everyone. Shoo."

[[He makes a little shooing gesture at the camera, then shuts it off once more.]]

[[The webcam switches on, and Dr. Horrible appears on screen, holding a clipboard with papers. He’s surrounded by the usual paraphernalia of an evil laboratory, though it seems to be half in and half out of boxes.]]

“Well, here I am. Canada, prepare yourself – Dr. Horrible is open for business!”

[[He indulges in an evil laugh. Then his voice becomes more conversational.]]

“I was going to start my conquest in Montreal or Vancouver, but Dead Bowie suggested that there might be something to see here in this Aterna…place. So far, though, not much to report. The crime rate here is practically nonexistent – which should mean there’s a need to fill, but there just doesn’t seem to be much crime worth committing. There’s one itsy-bitsy bank in this hole, so robbing it seems a little… pointless. They’ve probably only got a few thousand in the vault anyway. All in all, after LA, this place isn’t even small potatoes: it’s like the little burnt shreds that cling to the pan after you make hash browns. You know, the bits that are totally impossible to scrape off. Doesn’t that drive you insane? You soak the pan for hours and still, the darn things–”

[[Catching himself, he adopts a sly expression and a slightly more grandiose tone.]]

“However, conventional wisdom says we should never take anything at face value. Maybe Dead Bowie knows something I don’t.

“I’m still leaning toward Montreal, but let’s give…” [[He checks his notes.]] “…Aternaville a chance to surprise me, first. My henchmen have things well in hand back in old SoCal, so I can afford the time.” [[He tsks.]] “Frankly, I don’t expect much. But who knows?”