+++ 奇跡国 - Miracle Country +++

[Zero is feeding one of the cuckoo toys on one of the counters of Hinahito. It's a sleepy little thing and quickly nods off. The first thing you might notice about Hinahito--is it's really quiet. Zero has done a pretty spectacular job of putting all of the toys he's found to sleep as quick as possible.]

I seem to have things under control down here at Hanahito, if any of you want to get away from the noise.

[He's been running things pretty much on his own since Shara left with help from the few employees that had been recruited right before she went missing.]

My food costs are taking a hit, but--

[There is a stray cuckoo sounding, it's quiet but Zero immediately drops the subject and starts opening cupboards to track it down.]

At least we're open.

[He moves a large sack out of the way, only to have a stream of crystals spill out onto the floor.]

Dammit. Did you have to get into the salt?

[Tonight, after an uneventful, peaceful day, it'll be the perfect moment to sleep and relax and get ready for another morning in Kiseki.

Except not, because apparently someone doesn't want people to be able to sleep. Late into the night, coming out of various places around the hotels and outside of them there will be a probably familiar sound. If you bother to look it up, you'll find cuckoo toys hiding in cupboards, under beds, on top of shelves, and so on. These will not only do the usual cry, but carry a sign around their necks saying feed me.

If ignored for long, their crying will only get louder and louder. Can you simply destroy these? Absolutely, but only to be replaced by others eventually. So the solution is, obviously, to feed them!

What do they like? It depends. Some of them will take any kind of edible food, others might be pickier and want specific things - sweets, or vegetables, and so on. How insufferable or not your little bird toy is, is up to the players. And yes, the toy will physically eat the food given to them, although they won't be too responsive beyond that. Once full, the bird toy will close its eyes and seemingly fall asleep.

And more importantly, it will shut up.]

[The video opens at the beach, where you can see several tables with red-and-white checkered tablecloths, and red plates with all kinds of food. This, of course, includes a birthday cake, assorted sweets and lots of ice cream. Because Daigo is a good boyfriend. Besides, since it's technically an adult the one who organized this, there is also lots of booze.

A large banner hangs over the tables, and it says: "KING'S AWESOME DINOSAUR SAMBA PARTY" in colorful capitals and made with crayons. Rest assured Daigo made it himself. As well as most of the food.

Then, Daigo appears on the video.]

Hello, everyone! Today is my birthday, so I planned a surprise party on the beach! [A beat] The surprise is for you, of course. [Laughs]

Everyone is invited! Please, bring your friends!

[Then, he proceeds to take off his shirt. Hey, it is the beach.]

This is going to get wild! Try and stop us!

[Rose can be seen sitting by a bench at Sakura Park with the tree behind her. She's really just taking a minute or two to catch her breath as she's been doing a bit more exploring today. She's unaware of the small thought bubble looming above her head projecting a cafe and tea.]

Maybe some tea later would be nice.

[ooc: She's going through the thoughts bubble event, feel free to bug her. :D]

[So it hasn't been that long since Merlin supposedly disappeared. He should be able to handle that, right? Well, behold, a video, in which Arthur and Merlin's room is a complete and utter mess even after just one day, and he himself is looking a little rattled - his shirt is inside out, for one thing, and his hair, while combed, isn't as nice as Merlin usually combs it. And he is staring and frowning at the kitchen with absolute consternation.]

[SIGHS, and throws a pillow across the room towards the bed] At this point, it'd be better if you were in the tavern for two days.

[But instead of attempting to make his own food, which is probably a good thing, Arthur is leaving the room and setting out in search for Merlin, yet again, as he'd done the day before.

So feel free to run into him as he's searching high and low through Kiseki, even going deep into the forest and out to the other islands, as well. He's quiet, but clearly concerned and determined to find him, even if at this point to anyone else it'd be clear that Merlin isn't in Miracle Country anymore.]

You... dollophead. [:T] [See, he's using your word -- now you have to show up and be annoying and complain that he can't call you that. ......... Please? 8(]

[Ten recently found his way onto Penguin Island, and has spent the last few days there, and it's had an effect on him. He's not as tense about being trapped and has a more positive outlook. He picks up a nearby teddy bear and grins from ear to ear.]

Hello! What's your name?

[The bear gives no answer.]

Ohhhhh, no name. Wellllll, that's alright. I'll call you Alonzo. How would you like that, eh?

[Anyone who may stray near the beach today, or look at their journal, will find that there's a rather large ship waiting just off shore - The Jewel of the Realm - although it's easy to see that it's completely empty, save for the young man in lieutenant garb standing at the shore of the beach with a thoughtful frown, looking around when he spots the journal, as if it were waiting for him]

[He picks it up curiously, frowning thoughtfully as he examines it but then is quickly looking around, calling out]

Captain? [When there's no answer, there's a touch of concern to his tone] Brother? ... Liam, where have you wandered off to now?

[He can't even remember what happened -- he turned his head and suddenly his brother was missing. Did he leave without him to find this "Dreamshade", then? He sighs and presses his hands to his face -- and it's notable to see that, yes, he has two hands. No hook.]

Very well. If you're going to be stubborn and go off without me into this... "Neverland", then I have no choice but to follow you. [And although there's slight exasperation and worry in his tone, after a moment he smiles and starts heading off down the beach, in search of his brother and captain]




[ooc: Hook re-intro, although replaying the "deage" event to make him ooooh, about 300 years younger lol. Once the event wears off, however, he will be from the end of 3x17, The Jolly Roger.]

[If you should wander to the Noodle shop, you might find Shara sitting on one of the tables, finishing the decorations of the shop's official name plate that she is going to hang above the door - reading "Hanahito", surrounded by little painted sakura and tachibana tree flowers.]

[And later on, she will open the journal, recording purposefully for once.]

Good evening everyone! As you might have noticed, Sakura and Tachibana... they've returned home. [She smiles a little sadly, but bounces back quickly enough, not dwelling on how much she misses them.]

So that means the Noodle shop needs your help! Zero has been so kind as to help me keep the shop running, but if you want to work here, either cooking or maybe helping with the accounting, we'd be very grateful!

[She backs up a little, so the video shows the shop itself, and how everything has been cleaned, the tables decorated with fresh narcissus flowers and tulips, for Spring.] And even if you already have a place to work... come visit the shop, we have some new dishes on the menu, and Zero's cooking is very delicious!

[It's late at night, and everything's calm and quiet. The sky is clear, perhaps more than usual, almost as though it's inviting people to look up at it. It seems tonight is the perfect time for a late stroll - maybe you had a bad dream and felt like clearing your mind. Maybe you couldn't fall asleep at all. Or you were just drawn by the pretty stars and the relaxing atmosphere, perfect to recover from the stress of having almost lost important memories...]

[Ten is wandering around the residential area, exploring the sites and getting a good look at the various buildings. It almost looks like the ideal vacation spot, but he's not impressed because in the back of his mind he thinks this place is a prison.]

Not bad. Almost like a postcard.