[It's early in the morning and Al is outside with some chalk. He's carefully drawing circles on the ground and practicing his alchemy, making little toys like a small statue of Den, a train car, a tiny house, some toy soldiers... When he's done, though, he transmutes them back into the floor since he doesn't want to get into trouble for 'defacing property'.

Then Al makes another circle, this time transmuting a one foot tall suit of armor out of the ground, modeled after the one his dad had in his study where he and Ed started to learn alchemy.

He closes his eyes, taking a deep breath.] Okay... You did it once before...

[Al opens his eyes, a determined look in them as he places his hands against the circle and concentrates. Blue markings light up around the armor for a moment, then fade away. A slow grin comes onto Al's face as he leans back, watching the little armor take a few steps forward on it's own.]

I did it!

[He lets out a delighted laugh as the armor does a few punches and kicks into the air, then sets off walking, changing directions every so often.]

Wonder how far I can make it go...

[Off the armor goes, straight in one direction, not stopping this time.]

Koi-nobori...

[A painfully wistful sigh from Lain, who is presently watching the carp streamers from the ramen stand and eating a rice cake filled with bean paste. There's something distinctly distant in her voice, lonely.]

Festival days are always quieter days, in The Wired. People are spending time outside with families, and their friends.

[She sing-songs a line from the popular folksong quietly, a little resigned]

They seem to be having fun swimming...

[Yes, Zero looks very irritated today. Yes, this IS beginning to become a pattern with him. He isn't normally so quick to anger these days. In fact many would say he'd just gotten even colder and less emotional during the past year. So him being so volatile wasn't something he liked to express. It showed weakness. He refused to show any weakness.]

I understand that we were provided with clothing for this celebration today, but...

[He holds up some things that are obviously not traditional Japanese clothing. In fact, they aren't something he would wear anyway. They are dresses in various pastel shades.]

This obviously isn't it. Who put these in my closet?

[OOC:Road...naturally. After the whole cross dressing debacle the other day.]

[A long pause is followed by a bit of an uncertain sigh. However, when Arthas speaks, there is confidence in his tone. It doesn't feel right to address a large group of people without being somewhat formal.]

It has come to my attention that there are several individuals located here that are of royal descent.

Perhaps you can tell me of your kingdoms and the lands you rule or are to inherit. I am curious. In return, I shall speak on my kingdom and Azeroth itself, should you wish.

I must confess...this establishment is far beyond anything I've even imagined. The environment is...completely alien to me.

[OOC: /really wanted an excuse to use this icon]

So, uh, what's this Children's Day? There are a lot of holidays I've never heard of...

They seem to have caught up with us, Sister dear.

[There's a jingling sound, followed by repeated metallic scraping and finally a sleepy feminine murmur.]

Oh, Brother dear, they have! Verrochio won't be happy.

What does that matter, Sister dear? All that matters to me is our happiness.

Are you happy, Brother dear? I'm not. I don't like being punished. It makes me want to cry. And these! [More jingling.] It's positively inhuman, Brother dear.

Que sera sera, Sister dear. We will have to find our own happiness here. All that matters is that we're together.

[A soft, wet smacking sound.]

I do love you, Brother dear.

And I love you, Sister dear. Now, how do you suppose we shall find someone to play with us, with the door sealed shut?

[They're not yet aware that their headsets are broadcasting all this to the other inmates.]

Illusion? [Fran pokes at the communicator on his face, when he turns on the video. The image of a boy with green-blue hair, and tattoo’s under his eyes, wearing a large hood that looks like a frog, flashes on the screen. He looks bored, and unconcerned with suddenly finding himself in prison.]

Hmm…no, I don’t think so. [He wonders if he’s in some kind of Millefiore facility, or maybe Vindice. He also wonders if his Master would return the favor by breaking him out. For some reason he doubts it.]

I must have passed out. How embarrassing~

[He leans forward and pokes at the screen.]

Helloooo? If this is a prank, it’s not very creative. [He doesn’t really think it is one, though.]

[After a conversation with Demyx, which she still hasn't gotten his name yet, Rin was sitting in the park. With the help of a kind robot at the clothing shop she passed by, over her dress is a yellow yukata, with her pendant still in shown. She still got no shoes on. Even if she doesn't know what she is wearing, she thought of how to finished the song based on this new holiday.]

[She probably accidentally turned her communicator on when she had an itch near her ear. It wasn't long until she started to sing.]

( (ooc: This isn't a real song, just made up some lyrics to a small something. Sorry for this lameness :'D) )

[ At first there's black and little else. Perhaps a bit of gray here and there, the occasional splash of muted white. The audio feed shows nothing of interest for the first five seconds --then it swings wildly and comes to land on a girl, yellow eyes all alight. ]

How funny! I didn't think places like hell could afford to install such advanced technology.

[ It's clear that she's holding the device at arms length because you can see the water's glow around her. She gives a cheery wave. ]

I'll be honest. I was expecting flames, fire, and brimstone. Wailing and crying-- that sort of thing. These accommodations are a marginal improvement.

So I suppose death isn't very bad at all! [ Here she laugh and kicks her feet back and forth. ]

Mr. Sentience, is there going to be someone available to show me around? Even with these chains I'd like to get familiar with this place if I'm going to be here for an undetermined amount of time. You understand, right? I'd be very thankful for any and all helping hands.

[Allelujah had finally managed to ditch the bots that had found and started herding him around around lunch. He felt extremely stupid for having left his communicator with Lockon, and worked his way to retrieve it. He kept a careful eye out for more bots, it wouldn't do to be cornered again when he actually was trying to get something useful.]



((OOC Go ahead and let your char encounter Alle on his way to or from Lockon's.))

[quiet]

Xellos?

[ video on. Suzaku is at first frowning in concentration as he adjusts the "camera", but then he grins into it, very slightly sheepish. a lovely expanse of sunny white beach is visible behind him, but instead of a swimsuit, he's wearing a kimono and has several others draped over his arm. dressing up makes everything better! and maybe it helps that Xion is so happy with her puppy ]

Hey, everyone. I know a lot of you have already found the robes Sentience has for us all to wear, but -- in case there's anyone who hasn't, there's a bunch here on the beach, and... they're really gorgeous.

[ this said, he shifts around and starts holding up the kimono he has for everyone to see. ]

Nunnally, this one is for you -- the pattern made me think of you. And C.C., this is for you.

[ tiny, tiny pause; there is also a third kimono which would look nice on a certain person over his arm, but at the last second he seems to decide not to mention it. and just turns around to face a changing cubicle -- and what looks for all the world like a beautiful woman with an inexplicable scowl on "her" face. ]

--Did you have trouble with the obi?

[ because why else would Lelouch be irritated? there is nothing even remotely weird about the kimono he picked out for his best friend. ]


((ooc: Assuming Suzaku survives the beating, he and Lelouch will be spending the day on the beach, flying kites, fishing, etc. Anyone who wants to find them there and hang out in dorky kimono is totally welcome ♥ Responses to the video are good, too. ))

A prison, is this? [a soft "hn" of what could be amusement or something else that is not clear.]

All right then. [The video turns on and one may first notice the icy blue eyes staring straight into the screen. The man is beautiful, and his face his calm, unflappable--but his eyes are intense. He wears a pair of glasses and there are distinct scars around his neck, cut like a jagged necklace with the word "BELOVED" etched beneath.]

If I am here, then what has happened to my "timeline"? [It is not a demand, though it is much more than a simple question. The next is even more so and the video begins to zoom in on his eyes. Soubi doesn't know where he is, but only one thing truly matters.]

Where is Ritsuka?

[An image appears of a young man. He looks something like Rtisuka, but older and with a face that says he has seen more than his fair share of hardship that involves the spilling of blood. If one pays attention to the background, once can see he is in some sort of cell (or if not a cell than a seriously depressing room), its walls blank and undecorated, the lighting dim at best though a large square of light illumination his face suggests that the door is open. There is a short pause before a voice actually comes over the communications device, seemingly thick from disuse.]

I am in need of assistance. I require maps that include distribution of the populous, geographical layouts, and I also require the status of the areas technological advances.

[He pauses again, as if waiting for something to happen, his brow scrunching in irritation. The sound of a chain clanging against metal can be heard, the rumbling roll of a iron ball along with it.]

I am within some sort of cell, and I have been informed I am part of a 'chain gang'. I require further information on where I am - name, area of the world, government structures.

[He pauses again, licking his lips as if the words are hard to come by.]

I would be grateful for help.

[The communication abruptly ends.]

[There's a loud bit of static and feedback, then the image clears to show a fair amount of blond hair - and eventually the man it belongs to as he pushes himself up from the floor with a muttered curse. The communicator has fallen off after Deidara tried to run for the door and tripped on the restraint he didn't realize was there.

After a moment, the device is picked up and examined curiously before being placed back on his head.]

Oi... what's this? Crimes? [a short, disbelieving laugh] You've gotta be kidding me, un.

[Following this is a moment of silence in which Deidara comes to the realization that either Sasuke's pulled some crazy new genjutsu that even his well-trained eye can't follow, or this isn't a genjutsu at all.]

The hell is this?? You think this is funny, un? [And he's been denied his grand finale to boot...] I'll fucking kill you, you little brat! Where are you?!

[The Doctor has already thought for a while and read the Greeting over several times by the time he makes his post. Thus, he’s looking unaffected, and cheerful, leaning against a wall in the Shelter.]

Hullo!

It’s not too bad here, bit like a cruise, really, even if it would be submarine rather than surmarine. [He pauses to grin for a moment at his own "joke".] Anyway, I’ve been in quite a few prisons before—weeeell, maybe not quite a few, or at least, even if it has been, it was always due to a misunderstanding at the time...weeeell, generally due to a misunderstanding, but it...what was I saying? Oh, right, I’ve been in prisons before and this has to be the nicest one. Top marks!

Or, nearly. [Camera points down at his foot, and the chain and ball attached to it.] I could've probably done without this thing. But it is a prison, so I don't know why I'd expect anything different.

[He shakes his foot attached to the chain.] I'd ask for a tour but I don't want to be shambling after someone so that'll have to wait.

[Thinking for a moment, he laughs.] Oh, yes, and I'm the Doctor. And before you ask, yes, it's just "the Doctor".

[One last grin at the screen and then he shuts the video off.]

[Naminé is sitting on a bench, several papers torn out from her sketchpad and laying on the ground in front of her. They're all lined in black, scribbled so dark in crayon that the pages are sticky with wax. The girl has her knees curled to her chest, staring listlessly at her work in front of her.

She promised she'd try to help Xion, and she can't. She feels more useless than ever, not even able to use the one gift she has to make things better. She closes her eyes.]


It's no use.