MarinaNova Asylum

[ . . . Amusing. It's too amusing. The way half the populace of Marina can't seem to talk except in song or rhyme. It feels like one of those rare occasions where she's somehow been blessedly left unaffected. She hopes that everyone she knows is. And so she's more than happy to chat away with anyone she can get talking. As for her, she's at work. Propped up on the counter at Nine White Orchids, she waves with a smile at the screen.]

Another strange day in Marina. If you've ever been too scared to karaoke before, I think today's the perfect opportunity for you to try it out! I promise to cheer everyone on. [Please someone indulge her. All amusement aside, she hadn't made a message to simply poke fun.]

Despite our real life musical, I wanted to let people know that outside of just flowers, decor and house plants, we also sell herbs at the shop. There had been some interest in it within the past, so if anyone needs something fresh, please be sure to visit us. And pay our newest employee a visit, too!

[While still recording, she takes her communicator off from around her ear, and tips it so that it faces up, while resting beside her lap to reveal the newest flower shop worker.]



Let me introduce you all to Tenshi-chan!

[Cheerfully! The white cat lying within her lap simply stretches, her paws reaching forward, before her eyes close pleasantly and she settles back into place. Lifting her communicator back up she carefully puts it back into place around her ear and grins.]

She's super sweet so come say hello, pet a cat, and buy some flowers! _{Or take them. There's really no buying, huh....}

[One prison for the next. Or good enough! Kicking the tree in front of her as hard as she can, the young pink-haired woman could shriek in frustration, fingers curled tight around a purse within her hands. The entire morning she had spent hidden within a building, unwilling to chance the painful rays of the sun. But now that it's down she's finally had a chance to wander the dome. Stalking the network quietly hadn't given her much information, and it was safer to wait until the cover of darkness.

At least it seems she can wander this place as she feels. No one had spoken a word about shiki, which means she's safe. And, at the very least, she'd been able to take as she desires. The new clothes she's procured are much more fashionable than her good for nothing home town.

And by now she's hungry. Surely no one will care if she just helps herself to any of the pickings, here. After all, everyone is only criminals.

Humming to herself as she wanders down one of the sector streets, she smiles in satisfaction when she finally happens upon someone. The question is, will they simply serve as an information source? Or food?]

Excuse me~!

[OOC: She will eat you :(
It just depends on her mood, if she's jealous/dislikes you, or whatever whim strikes. She wont attack every single person, but if you tag her the possibility is there, so tell me if you do NOT want her to please. Characters bitten by her wont die since she wont be around for multiple feedings. But they'll pass out and be incredibly lethargic and weak the next day or so. In addition they wont really recall being bitten or who might have done such a thing.Tags may be slow, so just a heads up.]

[Open Video]

[There's something off about the woman on the screen. Maybe it's how pale she is, how white her hair is, how much that stands out against her blue dress. Or perhaps it's the way she speaks, giddy and excited and also oddly formal and precise, like she enjoys speaking every word she says. Maybe it's her yellow eyes or the thick, ancient book of tarot cards she's holding in her lap. Or maybe it's the way she found the perfect spot to stand against he glass of the dome, someplace where the water swirls dark and mysterious behind her almost the same color as her uniform.

Or it could be the fact that she's giving out side quests for bonuses and exp here.]

Ah yes! A glass done with watery inhabitants. I know what this is. An aquarium! How thrilling. My name is Elizabeth and I have several requests I hope some of you may be able to help me fulfil while I am here. Should you complete one of my requests I will reward you handsomely, both with tokens of my appreciation as well as the experience such an undertaking will obviously bring.

I would like to receive a tour of this aquarium. Should anyone wish to accompany me to provide me with historical information and local trivia during my stroll I will reward you handsomely with this Jack Frost doll. You will observe this item is irresistibly soft and cuddly. It is therefore very dangerous.

For my second request I have heard that there is a particularly dangerous area of this aquarium known as Sector Six. I would like to visit it and retrieve any artifacts I find useful or interesting. Your reward for completing this request will be medical powder (x3), an item you may find useful in recovering from any injuries you may have sustained during our undoubtedly thrilling adventure or in your future endeavors.

Finally, I am always interested in a test of my own strength. I would like anyone interested to fight me in a battle I am sure will be one for the ages! I will of course tailor my strength and efforts to match yours. Should you wish to test yourself against me you will undoubtedly gain a great deal of experience, win or lose. And if you should win [A silvery blue tarot card appears from somewhere to flash in her glove hand before she slips it away again.] perhaps you will be able to learn something you dearly wish to know.

I eagerly await your responses to my requests.

[ Hello, Marina. You might find Lelouch getting coffee this morning, hanging around the library during the day, both typical of him, or, later on, the pet cafe -- which is less so.

He would not say he's been... hiding for the last few days. That would be ridiculous. Especially since the people he would, in theory, be hiding from are also people he lives with. But he has been leaving his room in the mornings wearing a bland smile like armor, and then spending the rest of the day out of doors. Filtering his network activity away from them. That... sort of thing.

One thing to have one of your greatest failures known; another to have it painfully reenacted. ]

Library

[ You will probably find him pouring over a stack of books with a small notebook, jotting things down while he listens to the network with half an ear. The notes he's making look like utter gibberish, because they are in code. ]

Pet Cafe

[ Lelouch makes a slow circle of the cafe, looking at fish first, then birds, and so on. He is looking but not touching, just... taking in the menagerie, until one of the firelizards decides his perfectly-still form looks like a good perch, and settles on one of his shoulders. Cue flailing, which changes the pretty creature's mind real fast. Lelouch will then scramble quickly to his feet, dust himself off, and pretend that did not happen. ]

[ video ]
[Haruka’s used to Juri running off - she never has enjoyed the surveillance that he feels is necessary. It makes for a fun game of tag, but as of right now, he’s filled with more fear than he is excitement. There’s too much about this that doesn’t settle with him, and being unable to search the dome with his speed or familiars leaves him quite the unhappy puppy husband.

His gaze is calm, though, if a little distant. He’d really rather not do this, but…]

There’s no need to explain where I am or why I’m here. I listened to it already.

[The pureblood’s words are, at least, polite, if a little more curt than usual.]

I’m looking for my wife. We were together, so she might be here somewhere. [And he can’t find heeeer!] If you’ve seen a very cute, angry woman demanding to see the wardens of this place, please tell me. I don’t want her to worry.

[Patient, fond little smile.]

And, if you haven’t seen her, then… [A pause, in which that smile fades entirely and the concern in his gaze doesn’t compare to the worry he actually feels. Virtual or not... he is a very protective father.] … could you tell me if there are children brought here, too?

[ action ]
[Haruka sighs deeply, mind wandering to all the possibilities. It’s impossible to feel relaxed, no matter what he’s told. His family needs him, the things he has tried desperately to protect them from with all of his strength a very real threat now. Who is friend, who can be trusted among the number of supposed criminals wandering this dome.

If they aren’t here, he’s okay with that. Juri and Kaname will be all right. Yuuki will be fine, too, with her mother and brother with her. It’s the worry that they might be here that keeps his feet moving, long after unusual fatigue has set in. Being without even his basic speed and endurance is such a hindrance…

The lonely pureblood puppy wanders through sector 4 (Yuuki would love the ice cream shop!), content in the orange jumpsuit until he finds out, one way or another, if his family is safe.

Looking among those walking by, he frowns, unused to actually wanting to get attention, unsure of who is appropriate to approach. It’s hard to tell who is a good source of information. Well, he has to start somewhere!]

Do you mind if we talk for a few moments?

[His aura is gentle and expression soft. He doesn’t want to eat anyone, he swears! He’s just lonely and struggling to cope with this.]

[Another day another dollar. Only there are no dollars in Marina, and neither does she run the flower shop because she has to. Rather, she does it because she wants to. Because she needs the distraction, and enjoys watching things grow. The day is early, much earlier than her normal hours, but she needs a little time to think and organize her thoughts. And sometimes, even compared to her shared apartment, this is the place she can do it best.

And to be honest, she doesn't expect anyone to stop by so early in the morning. Not today. But should someone, they wont find Yuuki immediately anywhere in the store. At least not to start, despite the hot chocolate still steaming upon the counter top. Or at least... what they do find isn't what they expect.

With a small leap, a brown, fluffy cat jumps up onto the counter. Padding across the desk, she peers into the steaming beverage, before her whiskers twitch and she pulls back. Apparently it's too hot...]

[OOC: Have a Yuuki cat. She's simply playing around with her ability to transmute and change her appearance. It needed to be done for butler reasons.]

[Backdated to Day 388 | Private Action to Zero]
[Backdated to Day 388 | Private Action to Ai]

[Back again. The break has been more welcome than Fai cares to admit, even to himself, just two days to push his worries away. Of course he wasn't able to forget about them. Enjoying yourself is hard when you have nobody to share the small moments of happiness with. It's something that can't be helped, that he can't change himself, so it's no use to dwell on it.

When Kurogane still had been with him they had started to renovate a café located in Sector 3, work that Fai is now continuing by himself. Most of the furniture is already in place and it's clearly a mix of western style armchairs and tall tables alongside more Japanese looking cushions on what looks very similar to tatami mats. The different areas of the shop blend into each other a lot better than one might suspect, with a rather large bar overseeing everything.

Fai can be encountered carrying a few metal chairs and tables outside, which arranges around some parasols in front of the Cat's Eye Café. The shop is proudly declaring its name to any passersby on a hand drawn sign showing a black cat.]

(OOC: PLEASURE PRISON EVENT)

[The lack of involvement from their captors make Bruce nervous -- if this was Gotham he would have the money to try to get food into Gotham. To help people. He would have the resources to investigate what's going on -- he lacks the gear and technology he's acquired over the years in the Batcave. There are creatures here that he didn't know really existed before like vampires asking for volunteers with the food shortage (it's not hard to put two and two together from Damon's post, after all, and the place is called the Blood Shack). How long until they lash out?

Until someone gets hurt?

It makes him restless.

He hasn't exactly been putting himself out there to make friends here beyond his first post -- Bruce is not a social being despite the airs he puts on for the public back home. He's kept in contact with Kara, and that's about it. Alfred would be disappointed -- but when isn't he?

He can survive eating less. He pushes his body to extremes on the regular -- what he worries about is other people.

He is weary and tired and he chooses not to broadcast himself at the moment and instead just speaks over the network.]

Considering the shortage of food I can't help but wonder if we shouldn't try implementing some sort of rationing system -- we don't know how long this will last and the last thing any of us wants is to run out. The human body can endure a lot and as long as we stay hydrated we probably will survive assuming this doesn't last more than a couple more days -- but it's important to be smart about it.

[So Sebastian kindly offered to take the place of all maintenance bots. The Wardens don't recognise a good deal when they see one.]

[Video:]

[There's Sebastian, cheerfully smiling, composed, perfectly immaculate in his butler uniform as always.]

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Please excuse the interruption to your day – I will attempt to be brief. I have made some of your acquaintances already, but for those I have yet to meet: I am Sebastian Michaelis, head butler of the Phantomhive household.

[A small, polite bow at the camera. Even if you haven't been introduced some might have seen Sebastian's smiley, proper self around: waiting on his young lord or Madam Red, or recently helping out at Yuuki Kuran's Nine White Orchids flower shop. And now this:]

Given today's technical difficulties [Veridical wouldn't say if they were having trouble with the bots or not, so Sebastian passive-aggressively goes with the less flattering interpretation of her words] I thought to offer my services, should anyone have use of them. Anyone unaccustomed to cooking, or who would simply prefers not to cook their own meals, is welcome to stop by The Bistro in sector 2. Since it is currently unmanned, I will be using it for the time being. [Veridical kinda sorta said it was okay!]

I will do my best to accommodate any request. I am no professional chef, but I am accustomed to cooking for nobility, and have years of experience with preparing and serving banquets.

Thank you for your time, and do have a good day.

[Action]

[True to his word, Sebastian has claimed The Bistro restaurant as his place of operation for the day. Please come by and ask him to cook things for you. Or bake things. Please save him from this crushing boredom of not having enough to do.

Anyone passing by just might smell the lunch he's preparing for Ciel and Madam Red: grilled salmon on a spinach bed with duchess potatoes and garlic mushrooms. It smells delicious - surely you want some? Please come inside and give him things to do.]

Congratulations on making it to Day 379 of your imprisoned lives. You're on your own for meals today.

[Kind of brief and abrupt even for Veridical, but that's all you get. Get your day on, folks!]

(OOC: Kiosk requests will be handled by Veridical unless otherwise requested. Warden request post | Mail submissions | ROUGHING IT EVENT)

| HEATWAVE EVENT INFO |

Um... [Look at this sheepish face, Marina!]

I guess I've been here a year today. I'm the first anniversary. I'm not sure if that's a good thing. Should I do something? Do I need balloons?

[If nothing else, be impressed with his mathing skills that he was able to figure out today is his one-year anniversary in the prison.]

a) Sector 4

[Bonnie had to admit, prison wasn't where she expected to end up, much less an underwater one. Breaking out doesn't seem to be an option - not an obvious one - so she decides to take that map with her and explore a little.

Clothing's a first, so she heads to The Row and stares longingly at an oversized sweater that is hung up far higher than she can reach. A normal person would've called a bot over, but Bonnie? Nah, Bonnie stretches out her hands and murmurs,] Motus.

[Doesn't even budge an itch. So she tries again,] Come on, Motus.

[Looks like she'll have to settle for something that's well, actually in her reach. Once that's taken care of, she heads off in search of adventure. Quatro Park, the Art Center, and honestly - anywhere in the dome, she'll be around.]

b) the Blood Shack

[However, she can't resist dropping by the Blood Shack, given the name. If vampires are around, then maybe they've heard of her friends from back home. So once she's gotten dressed, she heads inside and takes a long, sweeping look around.

The stench of bourbon is painfully, painfully familiar, and she'll gulp down her hopes as she sits at the bar. There's no way Damon would be here - why would he? - but it feels too much like him for comfort.]

[ Click. Have a very pretty teenager wearing the most affably self-deprecating smile you've seen recently, Marina! ]

Thank you very much, Wardens Verdical and Conscienti, for the spirited welcome. [ A chuckle; casually pushes his bangs out of his eyes. So harmless. ] I'm sure we all feel much better for it.

[ Lelouch holds eye contact with the video a moment more; violet and intelligent and watching you for any sign that you might not have felt better, because he has doubts, you see -- but perfectly normal, and normal even without the contacts. Which is not acceptable, FYI. ]

Well! As bracing as this morning has been, [ His smile shifts ever so slightly. ] it's no excuse to take leave of one's manners. My name is Lelouch. [ Just... that, for now. ] I'll be looking forward to meeting you all.

Ah, and I do have one question, if any of the veterans are feeling generous enough to answer it...

[ Gesturing eloquently. ] These... "rehabilitation points". I've never heard of a prison putting a numerical value on something like that before! [ Smile! Even more affably self-deprecating than the first. ] An example would be appreciated.

[ Dirty your nails. ]

[ You wake up in a coffin. You probably won't remember how you got here but now you're six feet under and awake. There's only one way up, through silk and walnut and several feet of loosely packed dirt. Maybe you panic before realizing you don't even breathe, and then panic some more. Maybe you'll just dig yourself out without further ado, because what else is there? Either way, you'll emerge in a graveyard.

It's the dead of night, but you can see clear as day. Everything sharper, more vibrant, crystal clear, an assault on supernatural senses. Cigarette smoke wafts through the air — Spike, sitting on a tombstone, waiting for you. ]

Took you long enough.

[ A night out ]

[ The Bronze is packed tonight. A local band is playing, high schoolers dancing or playing pool or drinking non-alcoholic drinks. A girl with red hair is fooling herself that she's doing homework in a corner when in reality she knows she'll get dragged out onto the dance floor before long, probably by the intense blonde who's already working her moves to the rhythm. It's a good night, good energy.

A guy in a black leather coat and bleach blond hair is surveying the crowd, slowly making his way along the outskirts with menacing intensity. Recognize him? Think this is a good time to say hi? ]

Dream 1: Family Time
[Sam is seated at a dining room table filled with what looks like a traditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey and every starch you've ever seen and "salads" that have nothing to do with vegetables not to mention a row of pies just waiting for afterward. He's sitting at one end smiling and laughing and apparently holding up his end of some lively conversations except everyone else at the table—as far as you can tell—is dead.]

Dream 2: Too Long (That's what she said)
[Your face is cupped between Sam's hands and your lips are already together so you might as well kiss back, right? It's been a long time for him, and he's prepared to make this worth your time.]

(OOC: Death warnings for dream 1 and sexy warnings in dream 2. Plotting if you have other ideas or need to discuss anything. You're welcome to just jump in!)

(OOC: EVENT INFO | RAFFLE THREAD)

[At one of the decorated clothing stores, Kija finds himself again. He's only been here one other time, and he picked up something simple. With everyone acting so strangely the day before, he thought to go alone. Only... he's clearly at a loss as he inspects the many different outfits and styles inside. With a tired sigh he slumps. It's no use. The fashion is so different from what he's used to at home. What would be good for...bicycling? Or everyday wear.... Things are much simpler in his village. All of his clothes were tailored and costume made.

. . . Not to mention they all wear the same thing.

Holding up one of the items on a hook, he frowns in confusion.]

What good does such clothing as this do...?

a;

[Watch out! When they said, "let's launch our kids into the future", they probably didn't mean this: a Victorian boy sailing at inhuman speeds over everyone's heads.

The kid's desperately screaming "Sebastian!" even as he collides with… well, Sebastian. Who just so happened to arrive in the prison a moment prior. Saying that Ciel "collides" with him is selling Sebastian short: what happens is that Sebastian, in that one moment between arriving and having a flying kid crash into him, manages to turn around just in time to catch Ciel in his arms.

It’s… not Sebastian's best heroic catch. Managing to catch someone at a moment's notice is one thing – bracing for the unexpected impact at the same time is another entirely. With a grunt he takes a stumbling step backwards—

possibly right into you. You know, if you just happened to be innocently standing there and didn't have the reflexes to move out of the way of two people who were literally not there a moment earlier. Sorry?]

[[OOC: Let us know if you'd like Ciel, Sebastian or both for this option!]]

b;

[Five minutes later and Ciel's off, doing his part in finding more intel on this place. He's approaching people at random, turning wide lost eyes on others and wandering around like a lost child. Anyone in the vicinity will hear him poshly asking for help.]

I think I'm lost. [Looks down at his jumpsuit. How awful. Not to mention ill-fitting, the sleeves spilling over his fingers and his legs being dwarfed by bunches of cloth. Looks back up.] No. I'm definitely lost. Have you seen my caretaker? Tall, dark, ridiculously useless when faced with cats? We were separated and...I don't even know why I'm here.

[So innocent. Much helpless. The powers that be definitely screwed up with this one. Feel free to spill anything you know about this place to him, even gossip if need be.]

c;

[Five minutes later, Sebastian is on the other side of the dome, to do his part of the investigation. "Try to find a way to break us out." Not the easiest task when his demon powers are restrained, but of course he'll give it his all regardless.

At least his part doesn't require any helpless act - he's changed out of the jumpsuit, is strolling alongside the edge of the dome with seemingly perfect composure before calmly stopping, looking up at the wall... you'd think he isn't a new arrival at all, acting so cool about everything. That is, perhaps, before he turns his head towards any passerby and asks, pleasantly and with a smile:]

The dome truly has never shown signs of cracking, has it?

[Maybe he is a little worried, after all.]