[Unlike yesterday, the house today is lovely, a fit atmosphere for a tea party~ The doors are wide open and anyone who wanders won't be pushed out. For now. All of the rooms are free for perusal, except two, and the living room is home to a long table, fitted with a tablecloth, as well as a platter of cakes. The room is helpfully lit up by the many floating candles hovering in the air. Just don't go touching them or you'll accidentally cut yourself~]

[ooc: Road will be mingling with everyone, and there will be a tag for your character to tag her! Sorry for the late! anyone can tag! even the people who didn't respond to Road's invitation post! /o/ get those ac threads ENJOY]

[The video opens to some frantic clinking. Komui's in the shelter kitchen, desperately fiddling with a coffee maker.]

Anyone know how to get this thing working? It's broken or something. [ -- it isn't. And yes, he knows there's a coffee shop, but it's not the same. Also, it's entirely possible that he hasn't slept in two days.] Lenalee told me to take down my coffee Komurin and --

[and he can't even finish that sentence. Why's he crying over coffee? Anyone who knows him at all will probably guess what's going on: Lenalee's vanished. Again.]

[ This lady is dressed warmly, hood of her heavy green cloak pulled down to her shoulders, white knitted scarf around her neck. In a jovial but determined voice, she calls out -- ]

Touma Hashiba.

I am hereby calling you out on plans we have made over the last baseball match -- that on the day of the first snowfall, we shall have a snowball fight.

Where would you like for us to duel?


(( OOC Please Read : This post is so very open to all! I would like to draw your attention to the ooc plotting thread in the case your character wants to join in, and the fight will be postponed for better organization on another day. If you feel like handwaving your character voicing their interest, please respond to the ooc thread, or leave an ooc tag here. ))
 

[The feed flicks on to this red-head, he's on the top of the playground's jungle gym and his cheeks are flushed. He looks a bit flustered, but anyone would be if they suddenly ended up in some weird place all alone, right?]

Is this some kind of test?! Why am I here? What kind of place is this anyway? If you don't tell me what's going on I'll--[looks down from the not-so-high jungle gym] I'll jump and if I hurt myself its your fault!


((ooc: Yuta's candy gave him memory loss, big time! Go for it!))

[There's some static at first and then audio, buzzing and krisssssssking with a familiar voice that does not sound quite the same.]

--me, h-how does this contraption wor--[and then there is video and a familiar face is looking with concern and confusion at the screen.]

Oh! [Blink. Surprise. A hand reaches up self-conscious to move a displaced strand of hair--almost as it used to tucking it behind something.]

Hello? Excuse me, I-I am not sure if this is working, but I do believe I'm lost. And I...I don't know how I got here. Am--Am I dead? Because this would be a rather awkward afterlife, indeed.

[Because heaven didn't involve being trapped in a body that wasn't hers last that she knew.]

Even if I... If that is so...this a mistake. Please. If anyone from the Order is here, I need help. Something is very wrong with me.

{OOC: Alma is suffering from memory loss! And has completely forgotten she is Alma. The memory of his past life are not all there, so she'll also been confused about that as she hides out inside the convenient store.}

[See a Fuuma, once again taking over a kitchen in the shelter to make a great big mess and not have to clean it up himself. Because he is lazy. More importantly, he's got ten large pumpkins, and some carving tools - the kid friendly kind, save for maybe one big sharp kitchen knife. There is also two bowls, one for pumpkin guts, and another for seeds. Why waste them when you can toast them and eat them, right? Right. He also managed to get a book of patterns to carve, for those not-artistic people like himself.]

Since Halloween's tomorrow, I thought it might be fun to carve some Jack-o-lanterns. I've got ten pumpkins, so I wouldn't mind some company. Or you can just take one home, if you'd like.

[Five days since his... minor argument with Karen, and his hands are healed completely. Now he just has to wait two more days. And then...]


((OOC: Open to everyone! Also if you want to do mingle-y things, that's more than welcome, I don't mind. But he does only have ten pumpkins, so first come, first serve.))

[ look, Marina, it's a tsunpire walking a kitten. though, more like he's walking and she's wandering, stopping and napping or playing with a leaf or bathing herself whenever she feels like it.

they have eventually made it to where the pumpkins are. May climbs on them and chews on some of the stems. Kamui alternates between watching her play and explore, and wondering what in the world pumpkins have to do with anything.

eventually, though, he pulls his communicator out. ]

[Atsuro is smiling down at his communicator, and pretending this morning didn't happen. There's just something about his smile, however...]

I'm pretty sure I heard other people mentioned Halloween over the network. [Gotta set up the context or something for this. Wait for it.] And it reminded me of all the usual Halloween stuff and tricks to scare people.

Which lead me to this... Have anyone heard of One Man Hide-and-Seek? It's a game for those brave enough to take on the unknown.

[Oh, a game. How bad can it be?]


So...anyone brave enough to give it a try?

[Voice | open]
[Outside on one of the grassy fields near the Athletic Complex, Yuta is kicking at a ball he borrowed from one of the sheds and chasing it until it stops. He does this continuously before stopping a moment and adressing the communicator.]

If I could've joined my soccer team back home, I bet we'd win all the time. Oi, does anyone here know why someone would stalk you?

[Action closed to AR]
Come and play with me AR, I'll try to teach you a little!

[If you want near the recreation center, or the training halls that evening you might here the sound of crashing, breaking--animalistic growls of frustrations. More beast than man.

You might see the punching bag go flying or the dummy getting splintered into chips of wood. The equipment is meant to withstand the force of someone has angry--hurt, afraid--as M-21 is at that moment. He had searched, called, and hunted down all the leads he could find, but the fact he had to face.

M-24 was gone. Again.

De--

--He punches the bag hard enough it cracks the wall behind it. Stares for a few seconds, almost as if he doesn't even notice the damage. He looks down and notices that without even trying...his hands have changed...thick fur up to his elbows, sharp claws curling to dig into his own palms as he clenches them. That hasn't happened subconsciously in a long time. He's not controlling himself.]

...You damn idiot.

[He doesn't know who he's saying it to.]

HELLO, MARINA. I'M R2-D2.

THE INCLUSION OF DROIDS HERE SEEMS TO INDICATE A LACK OF AN APPROPRIATE ALGORITHM FOR DETERMINING THE SEVERITY OF CRIMES AND APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENTS. BASED ON AVAILABLE DATA, THERE IS A 64% CHANCE THAT I AM HERE MERELY BECAUSE THE WARDEN IS LONELY.

HE'S CUTE, BUT MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION IS THAT HE'LL PROBABLY PLAY HARD TO GET.

It is a peaceful morning in the Shelter. In the dome above, the artificial daylight cycle has not yet begun. The halls echo with the gentle sounds of early morning residents milling around and robots going about their business amidst the even, sterile glow of the artificial lights. Yes, all is quiet and calm...



Some will recognize that it is Sentience's voice -- not Acumen's -- that follows the echoing, whooping alarm that rings out through the halls of the entire Shelter and directs everyone to stay calm:

"Attention. Attention. An emergency has been reported in this building. Please, cease operations and calmly leave the building utilizing the nearest stairwell exit. Do not use the elevators. I repeat. Do not use the elevators!"

This continues on for many minutes, as denizens stir from their slumber or drop their meals and take to the halls. At least... it is expected that everyone follows the evacuation orders and strobe lights as directed. Elevators are non-functional for the duration of the alert. (But you can try to hack or override them if you want -- just expect someone to notice, later.)

As an added bonus: those in the kitchen and dining areas, sprinklers have activated, as that is the source of the disturbance. A perfect way to start your morning, right? (Don't worry -- there is a laundry cart with towels upstairs outside the exits.)

( OOC notes! )

[The feed shows the small red-headed Yuta. He's on his way to the Convenience store in Sector Five to find a few supplies. He takes note of the places around, he might visit. For now, focus on the task at hand.]

By the way, has anyone here played any sports?


[Private to Inara]
Inara-neechan, when you're not busy do you think you could come help me plan out some things to get to settle in?

((ooc: Feel free if you're in the area to give a passing wave or just a video reply if you'd like.))

[ video on, and you're staring up at Yuri's face as he fiddles with his comm. he notices the video is working after a beat, and then -- grins into it. ]

Hey. The name's Yuri Lowell, if we haven't met. Just thought I'd give everybody a little heads-up -- Brave Vesperia is now open for business.

[ he steps back out of view and it's clear that he's claimed a little bit of Sector Three for himself, a small storefront with big picture windows. "Brave Vesperia" is hung up over the door, a bot-made sign. he's had some help with setting up. ]

((ooc: Wondering what Brave Vesperia is and why you should care? Ask away! Yuri will gladly use more words once he sees they're necessary. X3 Reply by video or feel free to notice him setting up if you're in the area. Or Flynn.))

Good morning, Marina. [Have a young woman standing outside of the dojo, as awake and alert as ever despite last night's activities. She's in her usual garb today, and from the looks of it, she's been warming up for some sort of physical strain.]

I was wondering if there was anyone who wanted to spar outside of the dojo? I could use the practice, and a partner is always more beneficial than a training dummy. Nothing serious, of course, we don't want to really hurt each other~ [Though the glint in her eye suggests she'll be going easy on you.]

Thanks for your time!

[It's late at night, which is exactly what Sentience wanted before making a post like this.]


The Engineers do not take anything seriously. That's simply the way they are; they have a tendency -- not a personal tendency, but a racial tendency, wired into their brain functioning -- to laugh at painful or difficult topics, to treat them lightly.

But even taking cultural differences into account, it is... cruel, isn't it? To take out their boredom on the people here. This is supposed to be a place where criminals can live out their sentences in peace. Everyone here is a person, not... a toy.


[Sentience still seems troubled about the fourth wall.]

[When Edward Brock comes to, he experiences that strange, almost delusional sensation of being in some place different than he can last remember. It's happened a few times before, but he'd always been soothed by the Other that it was necessary. Now, there is no soothing, and when he reaches out with his mind to feel for the symbiote, the roiling anger and frenzy he feels makes him jerk in surprise.]

[They're in a cell, for some reason, and Eddie can't understand why. He shifts a little, only to gasp out-loud at the pain that wracks his entire body. He's been patched up somehow--which means he'd taken one hell of a beating. But why? What the hell had happened?]

[The flashbacks came later. The taste of blood, the screams, the shattering of glass. Memories, but not his. They leave him even more confused than before, and sick to his stomach. Something bad happened, something terrible. He won't allow the Other to cover his face, and it doesn't want to, simply seething and twitching against his skin as though it might impale him at any moment.]

((OOC: They're currently locked up in a Defense Force cell, interaction open to those who would want to see them! A Defense Force member will be present at all times.))

[ a certain someone can be found kneeling in a Marina garden. he's wearing plain clothes today, not his habitual Order uniform, and working his hands in the dirt. his expression is distant, his blue eyes unfocused, and his gardening a little bit inattentive.

he just wants the feel of soil on his hands: the clean, slightly damp sensation of working at a long-time hobby, one his muscles know as well or better than his brain. it's nice not to have to think.

communicator is OFF, but it will still translate you if you come interrupt him. ]

[Clearing his throat. He is the most serious right now.]

Are these supposed to...set items on fire? [He pans the video down to an open microwave with black scorch marks and a plate of left overs wrapped in foil in the center.] It seems to be an inefficient method of cooking.

[Private to members of the Black Order]
Your reports on yesterday's events are due tomorrow morning. [Did you know you had reports to do? Surprise!]

[Private to Suzaku and Lacus]
It is my understanding the two of you coordinate additions to the defense force. I am Inspector Howard Link and I would like to speak with you about [getting my blade back] joining as Walker's partner. [No, he doesn't need to speak to Walker about it first.]


(OOC: Action always and forever open to Allen.)

[Oz has set himself up in a cell, locked away from everyone else. He's been there for several days now. It's a decent set-up, actually. He has candles lit all around, a mat to sit or sleep on, his guitar is there along with several notebooks he's been scribbling in.

At the moment, if anyone were to pass by, they would find him sitting on the floor cross-legged on the mat with his eyes closed and his hands resting lightly over his knees. He's in full-on meditation mode. Feel free to break his concentration.]