Hi everybody... not to put a damper on anyone's afternoon but... I just had a question.

[ Pause. Deep breath. ]

Um... where's the blood gone?


((ooc: I'll be going to bed soon, but threadjacking is a-ok with me.))

HEY! What the hell? There's no food in here!

[Guess who found the empty kitchen in the shelter~.]

[It's Suzaku and Shirley's (surprise) birthday party, being held over by the pools where they usually spend their mornings swimming. There's a large waterslide, a volleyball net bobbing in the water, glowsticks and floats and other pool toys in the water, and the area has been decorated cheerfully.

There's also a breakfast buffet, provided by Lelouch -- with a single, somewhat out-of-place pizza better fight for it, C.C.! -- and cupcakes in lieu of a cake.

This is open to any friends of Suzaku and Shirley, and anyone on the defense force, since... Gino got some of you guys to help set up. Thread amongst yourselves, enjoy!]

[There’s a lot of what sounds like button smashing before the image of a blond teen appears on the screen.]

Uh…hello? Are people actually in this thing? I need some help getting out of here. This is all a mistake and I need to get back to my training!

[His bottom lip pokes out in what he’ll never admit is a pout and speaks half to himself.]

Yamato-san won’t like that I’m being kept here. And trust me; you don’t want to make him mad. Not to mention Sakura-chan!

[This isn’t a threat at all. They both really are quite scary when angry.]

Open:

[ Suzaku starts every morning by taking a swim in the Athletic Complex, promptly at six am. he's doing his laps a little more slowly than usual today, though. you might notice him and think he looks -- really distracted. feel free to chat him up! ]


Closed to Housemates:

[ his walk home from swimming takes a little longer today; he drags his feet, spends a lot of time looking up at the sky, and just doesn't hurry. it's a little after seven-thirty when he finally gets to the stoop, opens the door, and calls in softly ]

I'm home!

((ooc: Backdated to the aforementioned time periods!))

[She sounds a distracted and the usual vibrancy of her voice is absent.] I forgot to tell everyone, but Acumen will be delivering the welcome baskets now. I thought it might be best since we never know what will be happening on the days people arrive now, and it's so hard to predict where they will be. I hope no one minds too much. I know it's not as personable, but I didn't want them to be missed.

Oh, and most of the course descriptions are done. Please turn yours in if you haven't already and you're teaching a class. We should get the school started soon.

[There is a long pause before she says what is really on her mind. She thought about making it private, but she's not sure who might know something or who would want to know...]

Cornelia didn't come home last night. I've been trying to call her, but...

[It's serious. She knows that much. She could ask Acumen, but she doesn't want to hear that detached voice telling her that her sister is lost in the destablilizer or in the hospital.]

[It's late, but Yuuki's a vampire, and she hasn't been able to sleep. She's in Kaname's room and alone. The device is slightly skewed to the side sitting on the bed next to her and she is only partially visible, as though she's accidentally turned it on or just didn't care enough to turn it off. It had remained on all night, on the hope that another voice would greet her on the other end, despite all of her failed private messages. It's not just him either, who hasn't replied since earlier. She takes a shaky breath, before tightly clutching a pendant to her.]

O-Oniisama, again you-- [She stops, choking slightly on her words. By now, she knows. They've both vanished again.]

You know, something just keeps bothering me. I know people are going missing almost every day but...

[Yeah... Zack has a complex about people just up and disappearing.]

Isn't there something we can do?

I have a question for everyone who is going to attend the school...would anyone be interested in joining a student council? It probably won't be the same as the ones from home, but it should still be a lot of fun!

I guess this will probably be a bit of a strange question for me to ask, especially since I don't remember much of when I was previously here, but I heard I had a dragon as a pet.

That's kind of hard to imagine at the moment, but I'm kind of curious so I was wondering if anyone knows anything about that at all?

( Private to Lelouch )

Ummm...do these belong to anyone?

[And into the camera's view come several horribly cheesy-looking romance novels. They're not the trashy kind with, well, questionable content but they're still terribly written and Nunnally is quite sure that no one in the house would read them. They're certainly not hers or are they?]

They were behind the couch pillows, so I think someone must have lost them when they came over...

Sorry for all the trouble I caused the past couple of days. I guess it goes without saying that I'm doing a lot better. I got let out yesterday. You can't even tell I was sick! A lot of us have Allen to thank for that, though I guess I'm not fully sure yet on who else caught 'The Stars'. [She laughs, rubbing the back of her neck and downplaying the seriousness of what it was she had come down with. Actually, she sounds pretty upbeat and happy, all things considered.]

So anyway, thanks a lot Allen. I owe you a large meal or something. [Aha~! She knows that you love food. Maybe even more than her, if it's possible. She sounds confident saying that but if it's her cooking you should probably be leery. Anyone remember those green chocolates for Yuuri?] Also Yuuri, Kamui, everyone else, and Zero [Hopefully his name doesn't come out too awkwardly... She's still feeling a bit unsettled about that. But.] thank you. You all helped me out a lot, including everyone else at the hospital. [She takes a breath]

Anyway... Aidou-senpai! [Bright, chipper, and slightly bossy?] You're feeling better too now, right? You better wake up if you're not already up, because being asleep for the announcement won't excuse you! [Only half joking. Because she'll stop by as promised whether he responds or not.] I'm coming to visit, and I have two individuals with me I'd like to introduce you to. So you'd better be ready! We'll come visit shortly. Mm... [Muffled noises a moment, as though it sounds like she's searching for something] I have your 'get better' present in here somewhere too. [Nevermind that it's after the fact...] _{I hope it didn't get squished...} [If that happened...well. Oh well. Food was food, whether smashed together or not, and the other thing could probably be fixed. Maybe. Anyway more importantly.] We'll come pick you up.

[And. Oh...oh right...]

( Filtered to Zero )

[The communicator unknowingly turns on and you can hear Shirley's speaking a bit quietly to herself at this point, her voice sounds a bit uncertain, because she has just read the welcome message]

...A prison? This can't be right, can't it? Though...maybe it can, I can't really--

[She stops midsentence, and starts speaking into the communicator now that she realizes it's on]

Hello? Is anyone out there?

[She pauses as she glances down at her clothes, realizing they're covered in blood. She hesitates for a moment before speaking up again]

Ah- it looks like I need some new clothes too,...with how they look now at least. Maybe there's a place around here that can help me with that?

[It's been an exceedingly hectic evening, and he's positive that it's left Shirley as edgy as him, and that she has questions, and he should reassure her. But the stars have soothed him in a way, perfected the evening he'd had planned, and it's helped to settle him after the earlier near-upset that he had almost been a part of.

[Things would definitely go as he'd meant. It seemed like everything was coming together -- including the completely unexpected.

[So he was waiting for her at the club, having changed from his more formal clothes at the auction to something more relaxed -- still stylish and classy, of course -- and is setting up a game of pool idly.]

[a rustle, a snap then-] HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!~ [the sparkles may not be your imagination and Minako beams into the camera]

Hey everyone!~ As all you cuties might very well know, and if you don't well now you do, today is the date auction! Sentience has given me and C.C. the authority to run this fantastical event and - of course - what's a fantastical event without some fantastical people to be there?

IN OTHER WORDS - [whips out a rather formidable LIST and waves it just long enough for you to glimpse at some of the names already written.] It's sign up time! Everyone who would like to be biddee please respond to this message, and your name will be added to the list.

Remember, for those who sign up there are some requirements. 1! You must come in costume or dress or something just very pretty. 2! Biddees are allowed to become bidders if they so choose to. 3! THE DATE MUST BE DONE.

[and here she gives a rather devious smile] Those on the list that are...less than enthused will get a friendly nudge from our very own captain of the defense force, Gino Weinberg~ And of course, anyone who would like to...volunteer others are welcome to do so! The event will be announced by Sentience later today!

Hope to see everyone there!~

( OOC )

( [ Private to Lelouch vi Britannia // Easy ] )

... Shirley, I have a question for you.

Lelouch, why didn't you tell me?!

Hey, um- Kallen? I know this might not be the best time, but, um-

[ A flash of pink hair can be seen in the background, along with Shirley's own. ]

We, um. Probably need to talk. Ah, do you remember when I brought Lulu- the dragonet, not- oh jeez you know. Anyways, do you remember when I brought her back with me? This is... kind of the same situation. Except bigger.

[ Nana's head peeks out from behind Shirley, becoming clearly visible on camera. ]

Well, uh, I... um. I figured I should probably ask you first this time.

[Some sniffling can be heard over the communicator; Honey's just arrived, you see, and his wide amber eyes are taking in the welcome text that's scrolling over the screen in front of his face. He doesn't want to be here, in prison, surrounded by unfamiliar sights. Anyone happening by the entrance to the education center will be able to witness as the tiny blonde begins to sob.]

Uuu... I... I... [sniffle] Uwaaahhahhh!! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to be a bad boy! I’ll be good from now on! I’ll eat less cake, and I’m only taking my bunny to university once every three days! You don’t have to lock me up, ‘cuz I’ll do better! I promise, I promise...