MarinaNova Asylum

[ amidst the chaos of day 205, there is at least one person who hasn't found time to freak out yet; after all, as far as the pink-haired girl sitting in sector 3's park with a cup of hot chocolate is concerned, today is just another quiet day. she has a warm drink in her hands, cute enough clothing to feel good about it, and she's even shut off her communicator to allow for the perfect relaxation experience.

the bots near her, the ones danging mistletoe ominously? she's just assumed those are decorations. after all, it's not like they could hold any real significance... right? right. so she sits on a bench with her drink, sipping quietly and smiling.

today is going to be a good day - she can feel it. ]

Good morning, inmates.

Today is day [ 205 ] of the first generation and also a day where we observe a [ traditional Marina holiday ]. Please enjoy the festivities. Your [ spiritual needs ] are important to us.

The following inmates have been found guilty of breaking the [ facility rules ]. Full details of their punishment will be transmitted to their devices shortly.

Aidan Reilly: Injury
Dirk Strider: Injury and assault.
Euphemia li Britannia: Injury and assault.
Ferris Bueller: Assault.
Helix Wamtani: Assault.
Jake English: Assault.
Damon Salvatore: Property damage.
Stefan Salvatore: Property damage.

There are currently [ no ] pending requests.

Have a nice day.

[ And like the last few times, we end this message with a jaunty tune! You're welcome. ]


((OOC: And this starts the MISTLETOE BOT EVENT! More information can be found HERE. A mingle will come up in a couple of days but you're encouraged to make your own posts!

Kiosk requests will be handled by Conscienti unless otherwise requested! ))

[It's been way too long since she's seen those ruby eyes glaring out of the shadows. Long enough that the worry is starting to grind at Homura. It takes some days of this however for her to actually make a message about it to see if anyone else might know, as much as she doesn't like the idea. But she does in the end, appearing on the video feed to politely address it.]

Pardon my message, but I am looking for the whereabouts of someone. He looks something like a plush toy or small animal, with white fur, red eyes, long drooping ears ending in pink, and a thick tail. If you have seen him recently, please let me know. Your cooperation means a lot to me.

[How much QB has made his presence to the non-magical girl population of the dome, she does not exactly know. But likely some girl here has to have seen him. He wouldn't give up his work even here, so long as he found the potential in someone.]

[Startling red stained eyes meet the screen only briefly when the device turns on, a pale, short haired brunette appearing within an orange jump suit, before she winches and glances away. Light from the artificial sky shines down upon her face, but she shifts somewhat along the side of a tall, solid building, until it's partially blocked by the shade of what can only be assumed to be another one. Direct light no longer shines in the oddly tinted eyes, but clear discomfort remains in the way she lifts a hand to her head, nails burying within her hair. That gaze lifts again, and amidst the swirling specs of crimson in what should otherwise be a darker shade of brown, one could almost think she'd also cried earlier, or that she'd went too long without sleep.

Tongue flicking out to smooth across soft lips, they part gently. With a shaky breath she finally speaks, a quiet comment and question.]

It only feels like a day, but how long was I really gone for...?

[Back flat to the wall it's more of a support than she likes. Another exhale comes, followed by a short, forced laugh.]

I didn't think I'd have to wear the jumpsuit again.

[The amusement isn't genuine though, more of a distraction, maybe even more for herself, than anything. Her free hand strokes her throat, but quickly lowers to wrap around a slim waist. She closes her eyes and presses on.]

There's still people here that remember me, right?

Happy Anniversary, Marina Nova!

The bots have been busy cleaning up the dome and setting up decorations for this momentous occasion, and by now there isn't a nook or cranny left un-pimped! Bright blue MarinaNova flags wave happily in the artificial breeze together with the colorful ribbons that have been wrapped around poles. The streets are illuminated by strings of lights and paper lanterns and each sector gate has been lovingly decorated with fragrant flower garlands.

Of course, that is far from all! There wouldn't be much of a festival without entertainment and your loving wardens have made absolutely sure that there's something for everyone!

( Let the celebrations begin! )

Enjoy!

[Today you will see one (1) Jake English scrambling around all parts of the dome, picking up litter and-- say, are you carrying a bag of groceries? Let him help you. He insists!

Are you trying to reach an itch on your back that you can't reach? Let him help you.

Trying to master a new move? Let him help you.

Jake wants to earn as many points as he can despite Veridical basically saying he's a dumbass who just got convicted for murder. He will prove himself all the while doing his best to get Dirk's (late) birthday present!!

Problem is he's kind of too helpful and perhaps a bit too clumsy.]

[ at this point, it's not nightmares or memories that have been keeping her awake at night - it's bad sleeping patterns. when you don't really get to sleep until two or three for a good three weeks, it really messes up any natural rhythm you might have had. so when madoka's voice transmits over the network, it's quite late - one or two in the morning, at least. she seems apologetic for it - and just a little tired. ]

I'm really sorry if this wakes anyone up. [ it shouldn't wake anyone up who's not already on the network, of course, but it doesn't hurt to cover her bases! ] Does anyone here know any good ways to get to sleep? I tried counting sheep for a while, but that hasn't really helped any...

[ not today, or yesterday, or the day before. after a bit of fiddling, she enables a private channel to homura. ]

( [ private to homura akemi ] )

[The beach is beautiful at sunset and light has just begun to spread the colors all over the end of the dome, artificial though they may be. There are chairs and lounges set close together around a few umbrella tables with lemonade and teas and bowls of fruit salad and tea sandiwiches with long toothpicks for the group participants to sample. Everything is peaceful, quiet. But nothing yet hints at what the theme of this group might be.

Once it seems like everyone is settled in the sand or in a chair suddenly a sentinel turns on a stereo. After it completes sheets of paper with questions will be handed out to facilitate conversation. Participants will be told that talking and being involved in the discussion will end the session faster. If it ever seems like dialogue is dwindling, the sentinel will replay that track.]

( They will never take our freedom! )

[OOC: This is the abuse survivors group therapy mingle. Feel free to wander into it since it is in such a public place. Threadjacking and talking over each other is encouraged.If there is anything wrong with this, please feel free to drop me a line on Miranda's HMD and I'll change it.}

[ Inmates receive a message stating a destination and not much else. You will be asked to go to Quatro park if you've killed someone (or something) in cold blood. Murderer's, Serial Killers, Assassins or otherwise, will receive this invitation to therapy.

( Session details under cut )

((ooc: Basically if the Wardens would consider your character a killer then you'll be assigned to this group. Have fun! Feel free to tag around, threadjack, open up discussion or your own questions for the group or what-have you.))

[action, backdated to earlier in the day]

[It'd be one thing if she could just avoid the ghosts. Staying in her apartment all day would be completely unproductive and lame, but it would still be less annoying than all of this. But no, she's not even safe from them there. This sucks. Vriska does not like ghosts.

At least for the most part they're easy to ignore and avoid. Mostly it's humans and other species, mostly strangers. Who gives a shit.

But every now and then, there's a familiar face. People she knows. Knew. Some of them, people she killed.

The weirdest, though, is seeing someone she knows is still alive. Someone who's here, or at least was until recently. Okay, she hasn't seen or heard from Terezi for a few days, but it's not like she's tried to, either.]

Haha, joke's over. Not like I needed it, but this is all the proof I needed that this is all bullshit. Unless you've got something to say for yourself?

[She doesn't. She does, however, turn her head in Vriska's direction. It's probably coincidence, but it seems like Terezi is staring at her...and for all of the different levels on which that doesn't make sense, Vriska freezes.]

...okay. Fine! Let's pretend you are real. What do you want from me? An apology? Or do you want me to say I believe you, I'm totally dead? Let me guess, I'm really the ghost, instead of you! Hahahaha, fuck off.

[It takes a moment for her to process that the ghost has already turned away. Vriska's lip turns downward in a scowl. Fuck everything today.]


[voice, a while later]

Ugh. Of all the things it could be, why'd it have to be fucking ghosts? I keep wondering if I've seen the worst this stupid place has to offer, but the wardens keep finding new ways to outshit themselves. It's like a never-ending jubilation stampede of everything retarded and terrible in paradox space.

[There's a note of panic not usually heard in Vriska's voice. She's trying to hide it, and it's pretty clear that she is, but it's there.]

So great job, assholes! Thanks for ruining everything, all the time. Too bad you're probably too broken to hear any of this.

[ the video clicks on to everyone's favorite little magical(?) girl, one madoka kaname! she... does not look pleased. in fact, when she opens her mouth, she sounds goddamn livid. ]

Attention, every last one of you. Yes, even you! The person listening to this right fucking now. Actually, you know what? Especially you. You make me sick.

[ she clears her throat, taking an impossibly deep breath, and forges forth with the same angry timbre. ]

I am calling a memo right the fuck now. "But Karkat," you whimper in some pathetic attempt at speech, "you can't do video memos!"

No.

Shut the fuck up. Not another word from your gaping spitmaw. I am calling the shots now. I am in complete control. I am declaring myself de facto leader of this entire place, and do you know what that means? Don't answer that. It means shut the fuck up, it's time to get schoolfed.

First order of business: get me my fucking body back. I could have gone my entire life without getting forcibly jammed into a human body! In fact, I was planning on doing exactly that. I was doing a fucking admirable job! Great job on fucking that up. I'm sure the universe is proud of you for continuing its legacy. Second order of business: put me back exactly where I was. I don't know if this is just more dream bubble bullshit or not - and don't you fucking dare answer that! Surprise: I don't actually give a single fuck. All I can say is that if I'm not put back, there will be consequences.

[ the tiny madoka scowls admirably. it is not so much intimidating as sadly adorable. ]

Dire consequences. For everyone.

Yeah.

[ after a bit more awkward silence, she finally fiddles around with the screen for a moment - and it dies.

AND THEN IT POPS THE FUCK BACK ON. ]

Change of plans. Anyone that doesn't induce immediate, uncontrollable ragegurgitation? Report in. You know who you are. And Terezi, if you're there, uh...

[ ... ]

...never mind. It's fucking dumb.

[ she angrily reaches out and swipes at her communicator. after a couple of flustered attempts, it finally turns off. ]

LETTER RECIPIENTS

• Spencer Reid: a postcard from Helix anonymous.

[PM had been starting her route when the power failed. She quickly slips on her ring--while she may not have special night vision, she does have improved senses. The occasional lime light as her body flickers in time-space helps, too. She doesn't feel particularly good about flying around with all the lightning going on, though, so she remains firmly grounded.]

[She really prefers to walk during her route, but she would also really like to get the mail done in a timely fashion.]

[So, PM starts teleporting between the apartment buildings to check and deliver the mail. There is a lot of groping around with her paw and flashing a neon shade of green as she goes through them one by one. It doesn't help that the flickering is extremely uncomfortable (flashy gif warning!!!) for other people to stare at for too long. It may, in fact, be more distracting than having a winged, dog-headed alien sticking her arm into their apartment mailboxes.]

[Voice]

The mail is all delivered! Um. If you can safely get to your mailboxes, I mean. Or have light to read your mail by.

Does anyone need anything? [And then she adds, just so it sounds more like an offer than a polite thing to say:] Flashlights, food, bandages?

--
[ahaha I missed last week, sorry. Info about the postal service and mail submissions for Day 191 and beyond are here!]

((OOC: This post begins the power outage portion of the mod-approved Ghostly Event!. This is a mingle post so feel free to post and tag around freely. Action and network posts are both welcome here! However, you are of course more than welcome to make your own posts related to the sudden onset of pitch blackness. Enjoy!))
***

[The hour isn't too late just yet, the costume party's still in full swing and less mask-oriented inmates might still be out and about, doing whatever. Lovely night, isn't it? Too bad it's about to take a serious left turn.]

[Regardless of where you are in the dome, all of a sudden there's a minor power surge as the lights strain with over-brightness for just long enough to draw looks of concern, and then the entire dome is plunged into complete darkness. Anyone paying a whole lot of widespread attention might note that the first lights blink out in Sector 2, then the effect cascades through the remaining sectors.]

[Not long after the dome goes dark, there's a loud clap of thunder and then a torrent of unrelenting rain starts falling. The only light you'll get tonight is half-second streaks of lightning arcing down from the dome.]

[No lights, no power, a nasty storm, no kiosk to complain at. Have fun.]

[ it's late. not as late as it could be, no, but- late however you look at it. and already, it's looking like another night where sleep's not going to come easily. she's not tired at all, what with staying up into the odd hours of the night before with roxy, and if she lies down she's just going to be stuck with her thoughts in the bed.

and that means it's time to wander. she exits the apartments, heading out into the cityscape that is sector 2, and briefly checks her surroundings before moving forward.

maybe a walk will clear her mind. ]

[Midway through the morning, prior to the breach of Sector 6, the bots finally came for Homura, interrupting her in the course of surveying parts of the dome. It's been a few days now since her punishment was assigned to her, but apparently she can't just ignore that punishment forever. Naturally if they are computers, then they probably won't ever.

Even if she could fight or run, there's no use fighting it. As far as punishments go, it's a slap on the wrist. After all, it's just a guest lecture.

She's made no attempts at advertising it, so whoever happens to walk into the classroom is fine. Who would be interested in a lecture delivered by a second year middle school student? Not that it matters. She'd speak even if no one shows up and it had better still count. There were no requirements mentioned.

Not long after being escorted to an open classroom by the sentinels, she begins speaking. The lecture is short and to the point, with no attempts to make it interesting. There are no slides, no notes in her hand, but rather just information called up from memories of an old school report on the spot.]

The Iriomote Mountain Cat is a small wild cat living on the island of Iriomote in Okinawa Prefecture of Japan. [She doesn't bother with saying the planet name.]

Although belonging to the widespread Leopard Cat species, Iriomote cats exist only on one island, the smallest habitat for any known species of wild cat. Due to habitat destruction, fewer than one hundred remain in the wild, making it a critically endangered species. They are protected as Specified National Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora by the national government and are designated a natural monument of Okinawa.

[She continues on for a short while, covering some of the causes of the population decrease and so on. It's not a deep lecture, but she wasn't required to make it deep. This should suffice.]

Any questions?

[The damage in Sector 2 has long been repaired from a certain chimera's rampage a few days earlier, forcing Saber to navigate the maze of alleyways from the small corner she'd hid herself away in to rest, instead of going straight through building rubble like she would have been able to before. She eventually manages to squeeze out onto a main street; looking generally worse for the wear with her blue gown wrinkled and rumpled, silver armor scuffed up a bit, and complete with a tiny smudge on her cheek. Some of it from the fight with Zelgadis, some from the tight spaces she ran into on her way.

She makes to dust off her dress before pausing, seeming to realize it's a lost cause, and the next moment it's as if her armor shatters in a brilliant flash, leaving the small girl in a crisp black suit now, blonde hair pulled back neatly and no trace of her previous dishevelment. Throughout all of this, and while starting to fiddle with her device, she keeps an utter impassiveness-- what part of this is out of the ordinary here, after all-- but a hint of unease gradually seeps into it when her attempts to contact Zelgadis go without an answer. She knows her master is present, can feel him even if only slightly at this distance... so she merely assumes that he's incapable of replying. Which means her options are... wandering around, trying to follow their connection to his location, and the network that she so dislikes making use of. But desperate times, and so she straightens out both her tie and expression, and readies to spit out her request as quickly, yet courteously, as she can]

I apologize for any interruption I may be making, but if there are any who could provide information and the result of the-- [Shortest pause; she's aware time has passed but not entirely how much. Who listens to announcements, ever?] -- recent incident in Sector 2, it would greatly appreciated. It is of utmost importance to me, and I have been indisposed for some time, so--

[A sudden, deep rumble interrupts her, echoing at least to the next block and eliminating whatever was going to be said next from sheer surprise, and the girl freezes, expression momentarily unreadable until she very swiftly ducks her head with both clear embarrassment and a hurried "thank you" to the camera before she flicks it off.

It seems the first order of the day should not be information, but food...]


[[ ooc: seiba back from hiatus |D And like it says, her hungry can be heard for quite a distance, so passing people wondering what the hell that noise is, or just witnessing her mahou shoujo-ish transformation, are all very wanted! ]]

[ she's not sure where to begin, really. there's no sense in asking why she's in prison when she was told only minutes prior, and there's no point in trying to make a great first impression when you're stuck in a bulky orange jumpsuit. still, it only takes a moment's thought to decide that the “video” option she's presented with is the best one.

when the camera clicks on, a middle-schooler with light pink hair and eyes is smiling quietly. ]

I don't really know what you're supposed to do here. This is, um... my first time in a prison.

[ and she laughs at that, a sad little laugh full of embarassment and self-deflection. when she's finished, she gives that same subdued smile again. ]

For anyone who's listening, my name is Madoka Kaname. It's nice to meet all of you – I hope we can all be friends.

[ she gives a short bow, not curt so much as rushed, before looking back to the camera with an odd sort of resolution. ]

Homura, if you can hear me, I- tell me where you are, and I'll come and find you. Okay?

[ and with that, she reaches forward, keeping her gaze locked just long enough to turn off the camera. once she's had a few more moments to compose herself, she stands up and exits the room. this is a new place, with new rules and new locales.

and that means it's time to go witch-hunting. ]

(( ooc: feel free to run into madoka anywhere you'd like! right now, she's roaming the facility and wondering why no witch activity is showing up. ))

[It's becoming more and more obvious that this shithole has it out for her.]

[Here she is, minding her own business and (mostly) not even doing anything questionable! It's not like there's any rules against looking for info on building doomsday devices or trying to collect materials for them, and no one could be mad at her for going to the arcade, getting food, or anything else. Yet she keeps getting stuck inside, and it's really getting annoying.]

[Just her shitty luck.]

(ooc: feel free to have your character trapped with vriska at any time and basically anywhere that would make sense why would you inflict that on them)

[Away from the bustle of transients today, Homura has holed up in a corner booth at Bean Crushers alone for the moment, nursing a cup of strong black coffee.

Today is a giant distraction from what she should be doing, what she cannot simply give up on - finding a way out. Yet it's impossible to ignore the flood of people across the communicator. Whether this glitch is temporary or permanent, there's no way of knowing. But the possibility of someone from her Earth turning up exists, so long as the stream of broadcasts continue. Someone she knows. Someone she might need to spring into action to meet, someone unfitting for this place. Someone who needs her protection. She lets the device scan for any broadcasts, watching some, skipping others.

As for planning...all she can find are dead ends for now. But she won't give up. No, she can't give up.

Sipping her coffee, the hot drink washes over her tongue. Bitter, just like this situation. There are plenty of sweet drinks she could have picked, perhaps more appropriate for a teenage girl. Something sugary, sweet, delicious. Something like a dessert without a hint of harshness in it. At the very least she could have added some sugar, syrup, a bit of cream.

But it's just as well. The caffeine can keep her going.

And the bitterness, well. It's not like she doesn't deserve that.]

[Good day, Marina. There is a man on a harness suspended from an impossible ceiling somewhere by you. Or maybe he's just running around in melodramatic slow-motion.]

Why have they arrested me again? I do not know!

[And then, maybe, he'll notice you.]

Hello, citizen!