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. ]

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!

[ 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 ] )

[Sizzle and Sear is the location of this group therapy as described by the message. A few of the larger tables have been pushed together in a corner of the room, chairs all around them. There is food and drink--although there is a two-alcoholic drink limit--already set out for them. Particularly a large bowl of M&Ms set in the center that seems very out of place considering the food provided in this restaurant (do feel free to put some into a bowl for you!). On one side of the table is a box of art supplies. Paper, pens, markers, paints, glue, and even tiny cut-outs of shapes.

On the other end of the table is two stack of papers--of different pictures. One of line art, the other actual photos. That first stack? Different ways people die. Some of them may seem very specific to certain characters. The other stack? Strange images, some blurry, some bright, some very dim. They're may be people in them, there may be ceilings, darkness, a variety of things that may seem very random at first. But to some those images may look familiar. They might not realize why at first, but it could hit them that the photo they just so happened to pick up is the last thing they saw before they died (or had their last near death experience, no one is saying which).

At each place setting around the table there is a piece of paper with questions, topic starters, activies. The sentinels will let everyone know they will be able to leave sooner if they participate.]

( This is how you die )

{OOC: The Ways to Die stack has a picture for just about any kind of death ever, feel free to pick one and make up what it looks like for your character. This is a mingle, so threadjacking and talking over each other is more than welcome. Celebrate being dead!}

[ 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. ]

[ 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. ]

[ Roxy comes onto the screen looking both a little more sober than she has in most network appearances thus far, and REALLY psyched about something. She's flushed and a little breathless and grinning like she can't stop ]

Okay soooooooo I know that Jane Crocker is like the choicest of chicks around here, 'cause who doesn't want some of that sweet sugar, plus she can bake, and is adorable to boot. [ bounce bounce ] But I'm here to announce that as of today she is officially off limits to AAAAAALL of you! Her smooches are for me and me alone!

[ giggle ]

Oh, and if you want the best cocktails this side of the glass that keeps the ocean from crushing us to death, drop by the Blood Shack some night, I make a killer appletini.

[ gringrinbounce ]

( action // closed to roxy lalonde // cut for spoilers )

[Rebekah's been out doing some retail therapy, now that the streets seem to be safe to do so again.

But she's going to turn on her communicator in the middle of doing so, a pile of clothing showing up in the background, being placed in bags for her.]

So the freaky bugs and all that, is that just another one of the perks I can look forward to now that I've been imprisoned? It's good to know, I suppose, for reference if nothing else.

[Because unless those stingers are made of white oak, she's not so worried, honestly.]

At least it adds excitement, I suppose, if nothing else. People certainly did panic.

And some fought back.

Tell me, what happens if someone doesn't do their punishments for their crimes? What happens to them?

[She's curious, alright?

And with that, she'll be closing up the feed.]

[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 video turns on to a close-up shot of a few pieces of colorful chalk lying on a black road. Then a small hand, its black carapace smeared with color, reaches into the frame and picks up the piece of blue chalk. Then another, equally smudged hand takes the communicator and picks it up, and the video bounces and sways as the communicator is set on the edge of a nearby bench. As the frame is adjusted, the side of a building comes into view:]

[it's covered in a chalk drawing of a blue sky, drifting white clouds, and rolling, chessboard-patterned hills dotted with low, spreading trees and patches of bright green grass. With no black chalk available, the artist has had to improvise: the black chessboard squares are really a fuzzy purplish rainbow of several colors, blended carefully into something a bit like black, but at once much more interesting.]

[the frame is adjusted a little more, enough to bring the artist himself into view, too: WV, a short, black-carapaced alien with a smile on his round face and nearly every part of his person dusted with chalk.]

Denizens of Marina! Greetings, and good afternoon. I am the Wayward Vagabond.

[with that out of the way, he continues:]

What unexpected good fortune this is! I had never thought to seek out this particular medium before—not for a very long time, that is, until today. Perhaps, for once, our machine wardens have shown sense, for I can attest to the therapeutic benefits of chalk! I sought it out once before in a time of dire misery—oh yes, most dire, indeed.

[he blinks. It's a pretty cute blink; his eyes are bitty and quite widely-spaced.]

I trust everyone who has thus far made use of it can attest to such benefits, as well!

[ 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. ))