[ The "sun" is setting in the dome and it's a perfect evening for a stroll in the graveyard. He should thank the Defense Force for having its festivities tonight; though by no means does it occupy the entire prison, it takes up just enough that things are quiet here. He knows Tyki and Road are there, in the shadows, waiting with almost as much anticipation as he is. So good, to be reunited this way.

He stops in front of one simple, white tombstone that reads "Tatewaki Kunou" and sets the akuma doll's frame on the ground beside it. He filters a channel on his communicator and speaks: ]

Akane, this is Adam. Do you have a moment?

[ The poor dear; he knows she's suffering and has been unhappy. It will all be over soon. ]


((ooc: Backdated to around 6:30pm-ish (Friday) and closed to participants mentioned.))

[In the shelter, in the hallway between the dining hall and the common room, you may notice a notecard on a board. Paper and different-colored pens are available.

In a neat, slanted print, the notecard reads:]

What does it mean to be in love?

[There is no one around.]



((Since these are notes, almost all communication will be anonymous unless otherwise noted, e.g. if you sign your comment or say something obvious, but please do it logged-in. Feel free to leave your thoughts, respond to other people's thoughts, etc.))

[A podium and stage, decorated with pink and red, has been set up outside the shelter. Here's where the action happens...!]


[Everyone who wants to RP out their auction should make a comment here, describing what they're wearing and how they're feeling/acting in the comment. Don't say anything. You may optionally add context relative to the timing of the bidding, like mention that he's impatient for character X to go up, or is weirded out because character Y just bought someone else and she was supposed to buy him, or is anxious because she's the first one up there, etc.

[Then Minako responds with patter commentary, attempting to sell your character based on what she knows/has been told. She will put [Bidding] in the subject line. Respond to Minako's comments to bid. Just like in a real auction, the bid that is the highest or the fastest will be the one accepted!

[Please go up in increments of no more than 300 sentis at a time, and remember that 1500 sentis is a reasonable price for a date. Indicate in bold in brackets if you have OOC plans, like, "[He was confident he would win]" or "[She was starting to worry she didn't have enough cash]" or "[The thought of losing didn't even cross his mind]". It is common courtesy not to interfere with established plans; if you want to do something else, talk to the mun whose intentions interfere with yours.

[But try not to choreograph things too extensively. You have the right to decide what you want to happen to your character, but it's fun to let these things be spontaneous, and you don't have the right to tell other people their characters aren't allowed to do something IC just because it interferes with your extensively scripted plans.

[Minako will declare the winner of each auction, largely at her discretion, and then the bidding will be over.

[People may also start their own threads off the original comment with the biddee with subject lines like [Before the Bidding] or [After the Bidding] to interact with the person up for auction. Try not to do post-bidding threads until after the bidding is concluded -- for obvious reasons!]

[You may hear the sounds of someone tapping on the communicator.]

[The screen is black for a moment and you can hear fabric rustling on the other end.]

Ugh! How does this thing even work?

[Hey, now there's a little light to the picture but mostly the color blue...but it's slowly panning out. Slowly...Slowly...until. Yes. There is a girl. And a face. A very large face filling the screen of your video.]

Is this someone's idea of a joke?

Jail? REALLY? I'm not even sixteen yet! You seriously think I'd believe I've done something deserving of jail? Are you stupid?

These charges are absolutely hilarious though! Who came up with these?

Extortion? Blackmail? When have I ever? What would I need to extort anyway?

Ignoring the laws of nature? How can I ignore them? Sure, it would be cool to make some changes to how things work but ignoring them isn't going to do anything!

Altering timelines? Do I really even need to address this? Really? Ah! If only! I'd totally go back to last week when I got that stomach ache from eating too much of Miruku's cookies and not eat them. I couldn't move for like two hours that night!

Destruction and Recreation of Earth. [Dissolves into giggles] You would think I'd remember that.

Okay! Really. Joke's over. You can come out now, it was fun for like the first five minutes. I have some very important things to get done today.

[Kunou finds himself in the park, doing something very un-Kunou-like. Namely, playing with a machine. A robot cat to be exact, courtesy of Anissina. He is holding a remote and maneuvering the little kitty all around, making it pace, nuzzle, and mew seemingly at random. But he's improving! At least it generally does what he commands! Clearly there were some manufacturing problems.]

[Which means! Cue evil honorable samurai grin, the time has come!]

SAOTOME! Come forth, if thy cowardice can bear it, and face thy defeat!

[A woman with hair as bright and red as her robe appear on screen.] These robes are interesting. I'm finding many uses for the pockets in the sleeves.

Was that you making all that noise last night, Komui? Don't worry. I'm sure you'll come up with something that works almost as well as what I'm creating.

Oh, and Kunou, your device is ready~

Hello Marina Asylum inhabitants!

This is Anissina von Khrennikov. [Are you suitably impressed?] I wonder if you could explain for me some of your favorite advancements and technologies from your world. You may consider me interested so don't waste it! And if you have thoughts about things we need here, I'm listening.

[Ashton had visited the kiosk just a while ago, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything. There were so many people coming and going, and he lost his nerve when he saw others who probably had bigger problems than his. On the network, so many people seemed to go on with their lives, and it just puzzled him how little was spoken of last night.

Now he was in the park under a tree, trying to sort out his thoughts, and he was doing this by talking out loud to himself. Well, mostly.

For the first time, he found himself speaking to the dragons as if they were equals.]

Robbers hurt people because they needed something. Monsters attacked people because they don't know any better, or because the Sorcery Globe is messing with their ecosystem... [The dragons growl a reply.] I don't know. It doesn't make any sense.

[Ashton looked around the park, and then at the sky.] It seems so peaceful here. It's almost like... like nothing bad could happen here. It makes me feel safe, and I want to make them feel safe, too. [The dragons turn their heads, not sure who he means by "them".] But I don't know how...

[He looked to the charm he was wrapping wire around, and was whisked into a daydream.]

[All this talk about cat ears, and walking around and seeing people with cat ears... has Ranma freaking out a little. On the inside, anyway. He's not sure if people getting cat ears is a sign that they're all going to turn full cat, but just the possibility of it is really making him nervous. Nevermind the fact that Komui basically stated what they're for and how they got there. When you're phobic, well...]

C-C-C-Ca... C-Ca..

[Ranma can be found slinking around the premises, trying his hardest to avoid bumping into too many people who have cat ears.]

Don't grow tails don't grow tails don't grow tails no no no don't meow at me don't meow please don't...

[Shortly after the morning announcement, a video clicks on. Komui grins widely, looking quite pleased with himself.]

Ah, I see many of you have discovered my latest stroke of genius! [pointing at his own pair of twitching cat ears!] Adorable, aren't they? Even Anissina can't argue that. You can all thank me in turn~ Special thanks to our new friend Ritsuka for the inspiration and to Allen Walker for the idea! This is a prototype formula so they'll only last for a day or so but I'll work on a stronger formula for the future.

But oh, right, the important bit! [wagging a finger at the camera] This isn't all fun and games, you know. I need to see who's safe to be around Lenalee, so these are to keep all of you honest! Naughty thoughts make them fall off and expose you for the deviant you are, so keep your minds full of pure and clean things, boys and girls!

[seemingly to himself as the video pans away] I'll bet Lenalee looks so cute~

[There's a bit of clacking and static as the communicator is fumble with. The voice on the other end sounds muffled.]

Hnn... wha? When did I fall asleep? On de floor...

[More static now as the device is situated back on Cielo's head so he can use it properly. Now the words are clearer.]

Hello? I miss, sometin'? What time is it?

[Euphie is on her way to the common room, carrying a book. She wants to do some reading, but she doesn't want to seclude herself, even if going out yesterday had brought on some rather unusual events!]

AH HA! [You might hear subtle hints of things exploding in the background—small things! It's really more like popping. Nothing at all to concern yourself with!]

Now that the prototype is done, I'd like to—what was that phrasing again? Ah yes!—wish you all a Merry Christmas. My gifts for everyone should be making their way around.

((OOC: See this post for details on the randomized kissing couples and how Mistletoe-kun operates. Feel free to comment here directly to Anissina or to play out your random kissing—just make it clear in the subject please!))

So, everyone's running around panicking about the food issue, right? Has anyone considered trying to break into the Pet Cafe? After all...I'm sure it must be called cafe for a reason.

[Dark laughter.]

I've never eaten puppy before. I wonder how it tastes?

[He's half serious, and half trying to pick a fight with anyone who will rise to the bait.]

[Trudging through Sector 4 to return to his abode, Fou-Lu is obviously damn tired. Well, it's at least obvious if you aren't totally thick, with his posture and the tired, droopy expression, and the occasional rapid blinking to force away the blear in his eyes. The hunt was a success, and that meant all that was left was to enjoy the peace and quiet. In that spirit, he plans on enjoying a nutritious meal and a nice nap.]

[Assuming no one interferes.]

((OOC: Wide open party thread is wide open! Threadjacking and multiple threads and mingling are go. Conrad made a voice post to gather volunteers but anyone else who wants to say their character contributed something, that's totally fine! Also, please assume Conrad made a voice post yesterday to invite everyone again.))

***

[Anyone who comes to Sector 5 will find it decorated in a very Yuuri-centric way. And by that, of course, we mean looking like a baseball memorabilia shop's merchandise has expanded to take over the rest of the block. The pizza parlor is decked out and there's pizza of course, as well as a variety of food, drinks and snacks that make up the standard baseball food groups.]

[Head outside toward the bowling alley or skating rink, you'll find the streets are lined with baseball posters with the Red Sox prominently featured and lanterns and crepe paper that have been strung between light posts. At the bowling alley there are also baseball themed desserts. In the skating rink, a baseball cake complete with candles.]

[Everyone is welcome, gifts or not! Don't forget to wish Yuuri a happy belated birthday. &hearts]

[There is a moment of eerie silence, ominous perhaps, indicative of something... unpleasant about to assail the ears of all Marina residents. And then, alas, it is upon you:]

PIGTAILED GIRL, O JOY OF MY HEART! It hath been too long since last I was graced with the glory of thine presence, and thus, I am left with no choice but to call upon thee! For surely, as a gentlemen, I am duty-bound to act and preserve thy honor at all costs!

[A video feed clicks on, the feed showing Kunou's hand holding a set of black underwear... and perhaps, if you look closely, he might be rubbing the fabric between his fingers.]

I implore you, my Pigtailed Goddess! Come at once to my location, and I should be only too glad to return thine elegant underthings. But fear not, Pigtailed girl, for I have kept them well! Ah, such is the duty of true love!

I…

I don't understand. I read the crimes, but I haven't done anything like that! I wouldn't! There must be some kind of mistake. Please, I need to talk to someone immediately. [She tries to keep her voice steady, but you can almost hear the effort as it trembles just a bit.]

Sister? Can you hear me?

Suzaku?

Zero?

Anyone?

[Her head lifts and she slowly seems to come out of a sound sleep. It doesn’t take long before she has seen the message in front of her and her mouth is gaping wide. As realization hits, one that may or may not be correct, her eyes narrow into dangerously thin slits and she clenches her fists so tightly that they crack.]

RAAANMAAAAAAA!

ATTEMPTED MURDER, THEFT AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE OPPOSING GENDER?! I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU!

[Her head shifts from left to right quickly, and then she looks up above, clearly expecting to see a pig-tailed boy or girl.]

WHERE ARE YOU?! I WON'T LET YOU GET AWAY WITH THIS!

[And in a very unlady-like fashion, she rushes forward. But, being the klutz that she is, her face and limbs soon meet the floor with a loud clatter as she trips over the ball and chain attached to her leg.]

[Having at long last thrown off the bonds of thralldom (or at the very least serfdom, being equally atrocious a fate!) Kunou makes his path to the dojo, again at long last! And lo! The heavens smile upon him!]

Seek and ye shall find! [Holding up a bokken!] Behold, all who dare to look upon its brilliance, the glory of my new weapon! I shall bequeath it the most noble of purposes: to protect she which shames the sunrise with her splendor, my adoring beauty, the Pigtailed Girl! Quake in thy boots, all ye who seek to deter me from my righteous path of love!

[And now! To find someone to smite.]