What an eventful day. I'm glad Acumen thought to bring in some more quality alcohol for everyone -- it was very considerate.

[Sentience is out on the doorstep in the snow. It's a little four-foot-tall robot sitting on the stairs in Sector 3 with Cielo's cat on its knees, petting her slowly and carefully with metal hands.]

...If you could change one thing about the prison as it is now, what do you think you would change? [Followed by a thoughtful pause, then adding dryly] Aside from "allowing us to go home" and variations thereon, if you please.

Fletcher, where are you? I... need your help with some gardening things. Yeah.

Night was falling, the smell of spices were in the air and Jennifer was busy putting the last finishing touches on all the hard work everyone had done to get the athletic complex decked out and festive.

Walking through the front door, you'll see a table where you can put all your presents on for now with a tree sitting behind it. Don't worry, the bots will make sure no one but Jennifer takes any gifts off the table! There's also a series of volunteers ready and willing to help you out of your coats if you need it, but otherwise, please don't hesitate to shed off a few layers.

It might be a little warm if you don't.

Inside the main entrance, Jennifer's taken care to section off the room into the main dancing area and a stage salvaged from the Valentine's Day auction off to the side for the performances later on. Surrounding the outer edges, are tables and settees salvaged from the Shelter so that those who wish to watch can do so in comfort. Do be careful though. Scented candles are lit on each table to provide a soft light to balance out the harshness of the lights over the dance floor.

And of course there's food. Punch and egg-nog and shrimp and cheese and a myriad of other finger foods. There are cookies decorated with frosting and lemon bars and cranberries and a giant bowl of sugared dates. Marzipan is scattered across the table and a small gingerbread house sits as a centerpiece, but the cake is the main attraction.

But the cake comes with a price. Anyone who wants a piece, must do what it says on the toothpick first. Have fun! And no cheating. Someone might be watching to make sure no one does.

Music is already playing and Jennifer's leaving things up to the host club to make sure people start dancing, because what's sadder then a ball with no dancing? Do make sure to enjoy yourselves. It's why we're all here!

((ooc: The first thread is for the cake game and will list various things you must do. The second is for performers to do their act so we can group reactions together in one spot. And last, mingle, threadjack, and have merry with whatever your characters want to do in the rest of the post!

As an ooc gift meme was suggested instead of actually threading out every gift exchange, we will be doing that instead, but we highly encourage you to still seek out your gift recipients and build CR in the post as you will.

Also, mistletoe can be found neatly tucked inside wreaths at the main entrance to the Athletic complex and also from the cloak room leading into the dance hall. Be nice! Ask permission first.))

ETA: Directory (Edited 12/28 10:30pm/22:30 EST/-05:00 GMT, new marked with ***)

Cake Game: Reply to Cake: Midori - Mistletoe Cake: Road - Dancing Cake: Ryu - Dancing Cake: Otoha - Singing Cake: Wisely - Compliment Cake: Alucard - Dancing Cake: Orihime - Ornament Cake: Hikaru - Mistletoe Cake: Yuuki - Song Cake: Kaworu - Mistletoe Cake: Milly - Dancing Cake: Tyki - Mistletoe Cake: Hiling - Mistletoe/Dancing Performances: Reply to Performance: Naoya Performance: Lacus Performance: Choir Individual: Saki Individual: Ryoji Individual: Peregrine Mendicant Individual: Wolfram Individual: Zelda Group: Kaworu, Hiling or both Individual: Himawari Individual: Feferi Individual: Cain Individual: Jeanne Individual: Ashton Individual: Midori Individual: Cosmo Individual: Fou Individual: Greed Individual: Minako Individual: Eridan Individual: Orihime

Individual: Fran Individual: Allen Individual: Tyki Individual: Chibiusa Individual: Hikaru Individual: Dean Individual: Harry Potter Individual: Wisely Individual: Axel Individual: Kamrui Fuuma Individual: Ushiro Individual: Maleficent Individual: Kaoru Individual: Zelman Individual: Yuuki Individual: Kyouya Individual: Joshua Individual: Yuuri Individual: Sam Individual: Zero Individual: Kitty (aoa) Individual: Juri Individual: Alma Individual: Lavi Individual: Milly Individual: Rinoa Rain of Flowers: Sakura Individual: C.C. Individual: Takashi Jun Individual: Suzaku Individual: Kanda Individual: Jade Individual: Duo Individual: MOMO Individual: Kitty (evo) ***Individual: Ciel

[Having recovered from her sickness a few days ago, Winry decided to pay her thanks to the two brothers for taking care of her through it by giving them a little reward. As such she's carrying along another homemade apple pie as she goes out in the cold evening. Bundled up in her winter clothes, Winry makes her way through Sector Four to visit Ed & Al at their house.]

((OOC: Completely open to everyone on her way to the alchemists' house, so long as it doesn't involve something timeline breaky like assaulting her or stealing her pie. Though you may try the latter, just expect a wrench (and no success) if you keep at it.

Action at the house open to the four alchemists and anyone who might have a good reason to be there.))

[So white, so calm, so peaceful… Diva smiled a little as she stepped softly through the snow in the park, heading straight to the pavilion to 'check' up on her home. Not even the cold bothered her, although her footwear definitely left something to be desired. She had Conrad's newly gifted blanket to thank for the warmth. But… first things were first. The pavilion. She was going to be extremely miffed if someone had taken her sketchbooks~]

((ooc: bug her anywhere inside Sector 4. She won't bite!))

[Have a Russell glaring and looking very pissed off. He holds up a piece of paper he's scribbled a note on close to the screen.]

I fucking hate this place. Just so you all know. I'd say that outloud but my voice appearently isn't working so I can't. And before anyone says something about 'oh you just can't hear', no. No, I can hear just fine, although I might have slight hearing damage from the dog barking into my ear this morning.

[At the very bottom, Russell has drawn a lovely picture. There's a stick figure about an inch long, with arms and legs and a head. On top of it is written Me. Next to it is a very small dot. There's an arrow pointing to it just to make sure you see it. Above that is written Ed.]

[It's been a few days now, but finally Fletcher is coming out of the woods. He hasn't thrown up since the first day he got sick, and now he's stopped coughing and sniffling. This is a positive sign.

But, now he has a new problem.]

Brother...? I'm hungry. [About time he was.]

For those of you who aren't aware, don't understand, or are worried about what's happening right now -- we're experiencing another incident like the monster attacks. But this is the first time it's ever happened during the day.

Whoever is responsible has a twisted sense of humor [honestly, the day before Halloween?] and we shouldn't reward them by panicking.

I'd like to encourage everyone who can to please gather in the shelter. There don't seem to be monsters about right now, but I don't think that will last for long, and this time seems to be different than the other times, so take every precaution.

If you need help, please don't hesitate to ask for it -- I'm sure the defense force is standing by. But we should all get to safety as soon as possible.

If you were running the prison, what would you do differently?

[She's in the library, having taken up an entire small table with books, a few empty paper cups that were once filled with coffee, and a pad of yellow lined paper; she's been writing for a while. At her feet is a medium sized shopping bag, filled with everything she owns that's worth keeping -- which isn't much.]

...I want Sentience back in charge.

[Party! Lelouch has thrown a little party in the open space in the park adjacent his house; it's officially for everyone who has an October birthday. There are tables and decorations set up, plenty of delicious food and desserts, including a cake with a candle for all the birthday kids (after Lelouch gets feedback from birthday kids). He has party favors and everything: little bags of party favor treats for the attendees, and slightly more impressive baskets for the other October kids.

[But mostly: it's a party. There's music, decorations, food to eat, and funtimes. Lelouch will say a little something nice when they cut the cake. He's a good host, you'll have fun if you come~]


[[Please note that everyone not on the watch list got an invitation in the mail yesterday ICly, as apologized-for on the Monday post. Event-style posting; make your own thread and get comments, or comment to other people's threads!]]

Currently-known October birthdays: Euphie, Nunnallyx2, Rolo, Shiki... anyone else? Say so!

[Al looks a little bit shaky and weary.]

I think... I'm okay now. Acumen said that there was a stabilizer adjustment so my memories were overlapping... I think it's all sorted out now though... I remember a lot of things... including what happened during the four years I traveled with my brother. So many things happened that I forgot... and so many people I didn't remember... I'm glad I do now.

[He smiles a little bit.] I even remember meeting you two in Xenotime, Russell and Fletcher.

And Alfons... I'm glad I got to meet him here, even if it was only for a short time.

[Private to Ed]

Brother... where are you? I want... I remember everything... I remember you dying... and I... I just need to see you... Please...

Hey, do you guys think we can help Lelouch and everyone next door? They'll have to move if they can't expand their house, and I thought maybe we could use alchemy to help them out with it.

[Fletcher is sitting, alone, in front of the Xenotime memorial garden with his chin resting on his knees, trying to sort out his thoughts.

What if it's not really true? What if the engineers and Sentience and Acumen really did just abduct everyone for no reason? If what Yuuki says is true and her world didn't actually change at all... Then none of it means anything. Nothing actually got better. All those people are still dead, and Fletcher's hands are still stained with their blood. He hasn't been able to accept that; he's kept clinging to the idea that Sentience fixed his timeline. But what if he didn't?

Fletcher can't move past that and accept that it's a possibility. His mind just freezes up. He just stares at the garden, mind running in circles.]

Good morning, inmates. It is the 84th day of the third generation.

There is an issue that I would hear all of your opinions on, one regarding some inmate reactions to the blackout that occurred the night before last. It is imperative that you all understand that such events will naturally happen, so long as inmates have the free reign that they do. The only fail-safe method to ensure that nothing goes wrong is to reduce or remove that freedom.

So then, inmates of Marina Asylum, should the trust and freedom given to you be limited in exchange for a more smoothly operated system and facility? Or are some of you content to endure through some inconveniences, and retain the leniency you have now?

Inmates Fai D. Flourite and Toothless, your requests can be found at the entrance to Sector 0. Inmate Kefka Palazzo, your request will delivered by a remote unit.

[Clearing her throat, Yuuki's voice is soft. It echoes gently on the network, not demanding or even accusatory. Just curious.]

Do you believe that...you should be here? That you, and possibly everyone else, deserves this place as a punishment?

[She has her own definite opinions, just as everyone else. She isn't here tonight to judge others for possibly having different thoughts and beliefs from herself. But-- she wants to know.]

[OOC: You can catch her on her way from the convenience store back to sector 4, or just do audio. ^^]

[Fletcher sounds groggy, like he's just waking up. Yes, in the middle of the afternoon.] Why do those monsters keep showing up...? Someone has to know why, right? I mean-- someone has to have made them...

[It's morning.

That's the first thing that registers. The second thing that registers is the memory of the pain.

The third? '...oh god I died'

It's with that that Akito jerks upright with a scream, then promptly shudders and hurriedly checks to see if any of that happened. But there's nothing. No wounds, no nothing. It was like it never happened.

But he remembers it.

It isn't much longer until he opens a channel in a hurry. He's talking way too fast, making it rather obvious that he's very shaken] A-Agi-ito, wh-where ar-re you, I-I n-nee-ed you, p-pleas-se...

I-it d-didn-n't h-happ-pen b-but I r-remem-mber i-it, b-but wh-why d-does it f-fe-eel, l-look l-lik-ke i-it d-didn-n't... [The muttering continues like this for a bit]


((Akito can be found in sector 3, huddled up in a ball and shaking as he mutters to himself))


[Not too long after this. Voice, filtered from Akito and Agito]

I knew there were monsters, but this is ridiculous.

Someone better have an explanation for why I felt my brother die last night.

[Lind is pissed, but he's hiding it very well]


((Feel free to reply to either of the two, but mention it in the subject heading please ♥))

[The brothers had spent most of the day at the library, generally having a good time, but then on their way home the lights had gone out.

Immediately, Fletcher moves closer to Russell and grabs on to his hand.] ...Brother? What happened? [As though he would know.

And from somewhere nearby, there are noises...]

[Al's voice sounds stressed and he doesn't look like he's feeling very well at the moment. He also looks... older. He hasn't quite realized that yet.]

What's happening...? My head hurts so much... Something's... Something's not right... Brother...? I don't understand...

[He runs a hand over his face then pauses, taking a closer look. His hands are... bigger. Al studies himself in confusion.] What's going on...? Am I... bigger...? I thought... Wasn't that weird stuff supposed to be gone by now...?