[After hearing a certain name on the list of missing inmates, Fou-Lu decided to avoid contact with others until he could sort himself out.]

[He'd anticipated this happening to someone he cares for, and he assumed it would invoke no more than passing regret. It isn't death--only disappearance. People have gone and returned soon after, even within days. And yet, he feels unsettled, more-so than what he'd accounted for in those assumptions.]

[The god-emperor's wandering brought him to Mami's little farm. The house on the edge of the property earns no more than a fleeting look. His attention is turned to the vegetables which she spent so much time cultivating. What will become of them without their caretaker?]


((OOC: violence warning for the Axel thread.))

OW, HEY!

[The video function flickers on when Lea hits the ground belly first and right when he leans up to shoot a glare over his shoulder he discovers that...there's no one there. To his left--]

Isa? ...Hey, where'd you go? Come on, this isn't funny! [He growls and sits up on the ground. Behind him you'll see that he's at the park. That's nothing too different, but if you happen to know Axel...then perhaps the sight of a much younger version of him will cause a double take. Lea crosses his arms and huffs.]

What a joke. Hey, what if I'm passed out? ...Don't think he threw us that hard. [Pause] Ok, Isa, you can come outta hiding now. Seriously, cut the act, got it memorized? [...Huff! Deep breath.]



...ISSAAAAAA!

((ooc: This is Axel's chibi!Other, Lea, and he happens to have a heart. In other words, this is Axel before he was Axel. More info on his profile annnnnnd...possibly will have KH BBS spoilers!))

[A young lady in a flowing white dress padded around the gardens, fingers trembling as she held the communicator. She didn't veer too far from the park, as the presence of Amaterasu's tree somewhat gave her comfort. Wiping any trace of tears from her eyes, she approached the first person she sees --]

I beg your pardon, please; but would you be so kind as to tell me where this place is? Are we... are we in the Aegean Sea?

I... I am afraid I do not quite understand what is happening...


(( OOC: Here be Sasha/Athena of Saint Seiya - The Lost Canvas from the 18th century. She is the goddess of war incarnate, so if your character is able to perceive divine/magical aura then they can sense her. She is also capable of sensing you back. At the moment she is speaking in Classical Greek, as the communicator display kind of freaked her out. ^^;; ))

...

Oh wait, I remember this place.

[Sigh] Deja vu all over again.

[Although not particularly imposing standing at three feet and looking something like a human child complete with her blonde hair in pigtails, this woman stands with a proud expression on her face. She looks towards the camera before beginning her speech.]

Really quite unexpected, this glass dome under the ocean;
though really, not at all a fresh or new notion.
But an alternate Vana'diel with Windurst so far beneath the waves?
Had some total loser adventurers told me of this, I might have thought them simply to be knaves.

Still, I cannot help but say, this fresh device is quite a treat,
even if I might say it is a bit incomplete.
Transmitting images as well as words,
and at a rate far quicker than those chocobo birds.
A linkpearl and gazing crystal in one;
you've really outdone yourself, someone.

But if you're to please your empress-to-be,
Might I suggest that you ought to bend your knee?
Take the novice Koru-Moru's magic dolls' lesson to heart,
and build in an enemy detector (though without its annoying voice); then society might agree you to be a bit smart.

Still, I suppose not all can have my beauty or my brilliance.
But every living creature must learn to have at least some resilience.
As such, citizens of this place, feel free to pledge yourselves to my domain.
Such a rather dull place here; no need for it to stay so mundane.

As such I will benignly accept any into submission.
Those recording for posterity, make sure to have no omission:
The Shantotto Empire, here I found on this day,
Now, shall we get this campaign on the way?

O~hohohoho!

Doodeedoodeedoooooooooo~~

[All decked out in his doggy suit, GIR is taking a walk just as the sun goes down. But this isn't just any walk. Oh, no. GIR has plans, you see, and this involves the certain someones who engaged in bedroom jousting while he was in charge of the dome. Yes, that's right, GIR saw all of you and now he's on a mission to find where you live and knock on your door. Why?

Because he. Wants. Your. BABIES.

Sorry, Zero, but GIR doesn't actually know how long nine months is.

But, of course, feel free to stumble upon the strange looking dog walking on two legs while he's on his quest!]



((ooc: GIR will only be visiting the houses of the people who had sex while he was in Acumen's place, so if that includes you, you can action out answering the door when he knocks or whatever it is you wish. ♥;))

[He's worried about the monsters from last night, but he wants to help people cheer up, so he'll talk about something happier.]

I think it's time for another baseball game! If that's okay with Suzaku. Everyone who can make it should be at practice today, so we can get ready! And maybe we'll have the game, um, in two or three days? Does that sound good? Oh! Maybe I'll send a letter when it's decided. PM likes mail.

If you're new to the team or if you know someone who left, could you let me know? [Sheepishly rubbing his neck and smiling.] I guess Murata was kind of taking care of the rosters, and now they are a little out-of-date.

Does anyone else want to be the manager of the teams? Maybe someone with nice handwriting?

[Ryu is patrolling around, making sure things are relatively quiet. That dance party last night was kind of exhausting, but he has a duty!]

[He's kind of lonely, though. Hopefully he'll run into someone while he's patrolling.]

[[ooc; Yeah, open bother post. Mostly sector 4 and 5 today, just put the location you're running into him in the subject line. :Db ]]

[A harsh crash and clatter abruptly come over the network-- headset, meet floor-- along with a girl calling out loudly. Anyone who's met Saber would likely find the pure fury, and the faint but still there hurt, evident in her voice as odd coming from the small girl]

--what you wanted, so why, Kiritsugu?! Why now-- [Whatever might have been screamed next cuts off into a sudden yelp, a solid thump and scraping metal follow immediately after that, and then it's... back to the still quiet that hung over the network before the entire episode, so one might think the audio was turned back off.

The erratic sobs and repeated whispers of "I'm sorry" that start up can be heard if they care to listen carefully, though]

[[ooc: someone's back with a canon-backdate! :D]]

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.))

Good afternoon. Ah, I do hope I'm not interrupting anyone's luncheon.

[ a polite pause, as if to give you time to finish chewing, daub your mouth with a napkin, or otherwise prepare to be interrupted. then, so mild it almost doesn't sound careful or calculated: ]

I have a question, you see; merely an item of curiosity, and of course answering is completely optional. [ ♥ ] What would each of you call your... station in life? Class, occupation -- title, if any? Nationality? Species? Sex? Gender? And so on.

...I'll start, shall I? My name is Jade Curtiss, my class is baron, my occupation is military in nature, my title is colonel, and I hail from the Malkuth Empire. Human, male, and masculine.

[ cheerfully ] And I do apologize to the prison's more senior inmates for the almost certain redundancy.

[The video comes on, showing Orihime sitting on her bed, cross-legged, with her still-damp hair piled on her head in a neat bun. She is surrounded by various stuffed animals, and her yellow Haro, and beams at the camera.]

Ta-daaa! Orihime's Amazing Plushie Emporium! I just wanted everyone to know that if you asked me for a stuffed animal, I got them all done. [holding up two cute dogs] For Rayflo-san... [and a stuffed cat and a catnip mouse] For Cielo-san... and I made a matching one for Kururugi-kun, but I already gave it to him at his birthday party.

[and a Chappy doll, and she giggles] And one for Kuchiki-san, too.

[brightly] The others I just made for decoration. [there's a little pig, and a little tiger, and a little bear] I'm working on C.C.-san's sundress and I have to fix Heiwajima-san's shirt... But then I can make anyone else something if they want.

[Ashton was at the work desk is his apartment, looking more than a little tired and dis-shelved. He had been up all night working, but that wasn't what he was making this call about.

In front of him lay several parts to what some might recognize used to be the somewhat gaudy orb lighter that he had been wearing around his wrist. The trinket, however, was now disassembled. Several pieces were even scratched, or outright broken. Except for one important piece that he held in his hands. He depressed a switch on the side of the small cylinder several times, but nothing happened.

He was stumped.]

Um, excuse me... does anyone know how a "lighter" works? I can't seem to fix this one. I, um... dropped it.

And stepped on it.

And now I can't get it to work. [With a sigh, he places it down in front of him, looking quite distraught.]

[Slightly hopeful, but with far less enthusiasm than his previous requests.] Also, would anyone need any work done? I've found a few new tools, and some books on charms and talismans and things like that.

---

[filtered to Fou-Lu]
[After a moment, he gets his courage together.] Fou-Lu? Sir? I...
...I wanted to thank you.
...I hope you're doing okay.

[Propped into a sitting position in his bed, Fou-Lu rests, recovers, and thinks. Colorfully bruised and bandaged as he is, he's still much better off than yesterday. Between cure spells, his divine regeneration, and a difficult night's sleep, he looks only miserable rather than death warmed over--and given the wounds and blood loss he sustained, were he not Endless, he certainly would have been killed several times over.]

[The bulk of the morning had been spent staring out the window, trying to decide how best to discuss yesterday's events with... anyone, really. Between the slumber party and those who avoided going outside thanks to the monster threat, he has a far smaller pool of people to be diplomatic with than he likely would otherwise. Rumors will certainly spread, and if he earns a reputation as a murderer, so be it--that basic title is nothing more than fact, and he doesn't especially care if people fear him. But Xellos had to die, whether or not they ever comprehend the reasons why.]

[Open Voice]

I offer mine apologies to those whom encountered the battle last night, especially if thou sustained injuries due to it. It is my sincere hope that such a scene need not be repeated in the future.

Ye of the Defense Force, and the bystanders--if any has a wish to speak with me, I welcome it.

[Filtered to Minako, Amaterasu, Zelda, Lacus, and Ryu.]

I am in thy debt. Shouldst thou ever require my aid, simply ask it.

[Filtered to Ashton and Jennifer.]

I've retrieved their remains.


((OOC: The Xellos fight log is still in progress because Lena is sick and will be out for the next several days, but since we already know how it will end (with a big dragon, character death, and the retrieval of Gyoro/Ururun's remains), I'm hoping we can handwave the precise blow-by-blow details for now? ♥ Action is immediately open to his housemates, but he won't turn away anyone coming by with flowers/candy/questions/counts of assault.))

[It's time.]

[Fou-Lu, in hybrid form, circles through Sector 6, only low enough to be seen in silhouette from the ground, yet not too far from those waiting for the confrontation to begin. Avoiding looking in anyone's direction, he tries a few aerial tricks as a distraction while he mentally prepares himself for the fight. They're half-hearted and sloppy maneuvers, for while he has no fears or reservations about what he is going to do, the repercussions may not be so easily endured.]

[Out of nowhere, as is his nature, Xellos appears a few dozen yards in front of where Fou-Lu is dancing around. His amusement is clear, the only other emotion evident is a very clear challenge.]

Well, well. I see you're looking for me, Sir Fou-Lu. [He bows, tossing his cape, and then glances up, his normally closed eyes opening to reveal inhuman, cat-like pupils.] I am, of course, at your service.

***

((OOC: The first thread will be a CLOSED thread with Xellos, Fou-Lu, Minako, Ryu, Joshua, Ammy, and Zelda. Please note that all property damage will be caused by only Xellos unless specifically stated otherwise. Will contain violence, obv.

Bystander thread is HERE, and is OPEN, treated as an event post (ie, threadjacks aplenty!). Read the first comment of the thread for details as to what your character will see, what sort of rubble and spells they will dodge, etc.))

Good afternoon, Defense Force members. This is Lacus Clyne. [And her normally light voice is deadly serious. THIS IS HER SRS VOICE.]

I'm sure that everyone saw the video spectacle this morning perpetrated by Xellos. I have spoken with several parties and plans are in place to resolve the situation. I'm sure that many of you are rightly angered by such a blatant disrespect for life, as am I.

However, none of you are to approach the subject unless you are personally addressed by Emperor Fou-Lu. Xellos is extraordinarily dangerous and approaching him will put your life needlessly at risk. What we would ask is that members set up a perimeter should any fighting occur, and focus your energies on keeping any onlookers apart from the fighting as well as protecting them from the effects.

Please focus your patrols for the remainder of the day on Sector Six. Thank you.

[Ashton is wandering the dome; both without aim, yet with a purpose. It's really hard to find his way without his communicator to map things out for him, and even doubly so with his mind going in every which direction. He doesn't know whether he should feel angry, sad, or even tired.

He really tried hard the past few days to recover, both mentally and physically, from what had happened. There wasn't enough time -- there would never be enough time -- to be able to witness that.]

(( OOC: All-day post, since he won't really rest until someone stops him, and he won't have a communicator. Which means since no one's from Expel, Ashton will not be able to understand anyone. orz

Places he will for sure visit: Sector 4 park, butterfly pavilion, the beach -- where his attack happened -- and Sector 5 near his apartment. Pity party? Confusion? Encouragement? All is welcome~))

[Good morning Marina! Have a smiley Xellos!]

What a lovely day, isn't it? I just had to bring my new friends out to play~ [he leans close and wags a finger, winking] Be sure to let them know how much you enjoy their performance! They're terribly shy.

( Slightly squickable content, perhaps. )

Bravo, bravo! That calls for an encore, I think...

((OOC: The lines are from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Thanks to Pip for helping me find them!))

( Filler action part lalala. )

[He turns on his communicator, looking worried.]

I... I think I might have hurt some people. I don't really remember it but...

[He sighs, looking down.]

I'm really sorry...

[Ryu could do nothing but fly. So fly he did, in his hybrid form, until he spotted something to attack.]

[Anyone getting close to him would see that his eyes were blank, and he looked as if he was incredibly angry.]

[Approach? Trial of the dragonnnnnnnnnnn!]