[Sup, folks. Have a Hideki poking at the screen.]

Is it on? I thought these things were supposed to tell you when they started recording! Uh.... Right! I'm Hideki Motosuwa. [Smile!] Alright, so I read everything in these brochures and I gotta say... ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?

Acumen? Supernatural abilities? Britannian? I may not have remembered much from school but I know there's not a language called that! Oh, did you mean British, maybe? I always thought they just called that English. -- Wait, that's not the point! What's up with these welcome packets!? What is this, a vacation? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying tie me up or anything like that. It's not really my thing, if you catch my drift. I'm just saying that it's sketchy! I mean, is it really alright to give criminals a movie theater? There's even a baseball team!

I'll just get to the point -- I know that I'm innocent. Just how many of you are really criminals?

Hello~! Say hi, Dorian! [ A shot of an unenthused white kitten cleaning itself, instead of saying Hello. ] Dorian, that's rude...

Anyhow, first of all~! Neil, your little coat is ready. I hope it fits him. I couldn't find a ball that was the same size, so it was hard to guess...

Secondly, does anyone know if Acu celebrates Christmas? Orihime-chan and I were thinking it would be fun to have a Christmas party. And earlier I was thinking about New Year's, too... I thought it'd be a fun idea. [ A thoughtful pause... Survey time? ]

If you could, what would you guys ask Santa for this year~?

private to Hikaru ▶

Hi, Hikaru~! I hate to be a nuisance, but Miwako was wondering if she could stay with you tomorrow while the shelter is being cleaned? I think you said you had your own house... I don't think I know anyone else who does. We could play ping-pong, if you'd like~

[The feed shows Oz, just sitting there in what looks like the cafeteria. Nothing spectacular or overtly interesting to see here really except that his hair happens to be extra red today. Of course those who know Oz know that his hair can change color from day to day depending on how motivated he is to do it. Let's just say someone got a hold of some cherry kool-aid mix. Anyway, it's just Oz.]

Anyone interested in meditation classes? [Yep, that's all he has to say with one curiously arched brow. Nothing more and not exciting or interesting at all.]

So tomorrow Acumen is planning to begin cleaning. It seems a little early, but then again, I suppose not everyone does their annual cleaning before New Year's. Speaking of which, is New Year's observed in Marina? It's an important occasion back home. [Ukitake breaks off to cover a short series of coughs before continuing.]

In any case, it seems the next few days will be quite busy. What provisions have people made for them?

[ooc: Ukitake's going to be quite ill after the move to the Shelter on Day 145, so ICly, he's been feeling under the weather off-and-on since Day 141. I'll be commenting on the Monday meme week-after-next to finalize plans since I have the healers I need, but there's still room for one of Ukitake's friends to call for them (if anyone is interested in doing that) since Ukitake won't be able to do so.

And again, tons of thanks for the gift of paid time. It's so awesome and really sweet.]

[ the video feed sparks to life, and there's alois trancy's little face in it. he's twinkle-eyed and beaming. ]

Hullo, [ he tweets, with certain satisfaction. nothing too out of the ordinary—that is except for the sure-to-be wicked bruise forming his on right cheek, just under his eye. it's a swollen cherry-pink welt right now, but it'll flourish into unbecoming blacks, purples, and green-yellows within a few hours or so. ]

I dreamt last night. [ this is his sneaky way of saying, 'I slept long enough to have a dream last night.'

as he speaks, bits of his fringe keep billowing up by kinetic wind, before they float back down. the sound of rushing metal scraping against cement announces itself now and then. ] Usually, I would share it with Claude, but well— [ saccharine smile. ] He isn't fucking here.

But— [ ah, another momentary pause so he can twirl around backside first. ] I was thinking, sometimes it's fun to try and figure out what stupid shit your head is trying to tell—

Whoa! [ his face becomes unsteady, for less than half a second his eyes grow wide, that quick metal sound is gone, and then thud. now, the camera gets a shot of side walk and some blades of grass. there's some shuffling noises, and alois reappears, looking undeniably disheveled. ] Anyhow, why don't we talk about dreams?

Tell me yours, if you had any, and if you want to know mine—[ hint, hint. ;_; ]—then say so.




(ooc: optional action post, because he's all over having a time with his new roller skates. also, if you do come up on him, please note that he's all battered up because he ... k- keeps falling and wheeling himself right into things. u_u)

[Anyone who walks into the shelter kitchen today will be smacked in the nose by the smell of popcorn. Gino has taken over the place with the stuff and there are at least fifteen bowls at his feet, already filled to the top - and there's more popping in the microwave! Gino looks not in the least bothered by the strong smell, but feel free to ask him what he is even up to.]

Man, Halloween was something else wasn't it? Makes me wonder how everyone celebrates Christmas here. It can't be as crazy as the events Milly used to throw back in Ashford. Probably. Maybe.

Right, anyway. I've got a serious question for you Marina. So think hard about it okay? [we pause for dramatic emphasis]

Red or green?

[context what context!]

[at the convenience store and clothing shop, picking up some foodstuffs and clothes for Nill and her. geez, she feels so...domestic.]

It's strange. [P A U S E, okay yeah she's going to say something else.] You'd be lucky to get a roof over your head back home, much less food, and yet... You can do that here - and you can eat as much as you want without having to worry about money or keeping a job.

I never thought a life in prison could be...comfortable. [which doesn't mean she likes it, technically but][eyes trail over a pack of unsweetened chocolate. that reminds her :x] I could do without the tricks people play here though.

[private to Nill]

[switches to video just for her] I'm in the store right now. Do you want me to bring anything specific home?

[ some minor (personal) things aside, Halloween had been a pretty good day. (it hadn't started out that way, of course, but once one realizes they're only a couple feet high and combine it with the love of being held in arms, one quickly decides to take advantage of it) trick-or-treating was a blast! even if poor, miss usually pink-haired miwako couldn't remember him and miss nill. that had been a bit of a bummer, too. he's memorable. he makes impressions, good or bad, he'll make certain to honey-stick himself all over the inside of someone's skull.

at some point in the evening, he'd convinced nill to stay the night. she isn't nearly as troublesome as most girls and she likes fairies and she is a princess now, after all. she seemed like a spectacular candidate. not to mention, he really hates living alone and having to sleep alone. on top of it, he may (is, rather) afraid of a ghost or witch coming to snatch him up in the middle of All Hallow's Eve. this way, they can protect each other.

for the moment, alois trancy—magically molded into a five-year-old girl—has excused her self to some privacy to dress into a sleeping gown. ('I've learned to dress myself and everything!' she had announced moments ago, with such convincing exuberance, as if she really had.) her pillow-sack of candy was unceremoniously discarded in the middle of the floor. in fact, the whole place is a mess. there's stockings, thigh-high socks, coats, and sweaters, and tiny shorts, trousers, corsets, lacey things, petticoats, hoop skirts, ribbons, and dresses, and perfume bottles and books littered everywhere. not a single place is neat!

she's also helped herself to quite a lot of pillows and there's a nest of them and blankets on her bed.

barefooted, with cotton long-sleeved gown dragging on this new shape, alois shuffles out of the bathroom and tries not to snag her toes on the skirt of her sleep wear. she seeks nill out, before plunking on the floor (not unlike a normal toddler) by her stash of candy. ]

If you need something comfortable to sleep in, you can borrow anything of mine you like. [ she flits a hand about carelessly. ] Though, you'll have to find something on your own.

[Nill hadn't really given this holiday much thought before, but she quite liked it. She was suddenly very, very sparkly after snacking on some of the candy ahead of her plans, but she felt it was pretty fitting considering her costume (tights included, of course. it was getting cold). She was currently standing right outside the shelter, gently rolling back and forth on her heels, waiting for the evening's company.]



((OOC: SO UH. Nill, Alois, and Miwako (the latter two who are currently tiny babbies) decided they were going to go around trick or treating/hang out/etc so they'll have their own thread for idle holiday fun, but! If you'd like them to stop your chara along the street or have them show up at your chara's residence, feel free to tag and get ambushed♥ tricks may or may not be included >_> /eyes Alois))

[It's early in the morning yet, the chill biting the tips of his ears, but his attention is elsewhere, eyes cast out among the water. It's the sleek, grey shapes propelling themselves joyfully to and fro. Quite frankly, he's a little enraptured.]

[Filtered from Itachi]

...What are they?

[He'll be standing on the beach by himself for several hours, eventually sitting down in the cold,damp sand. It isn't as though he has anything better to do. In fact, even if he were to go back home, e has nothing. It's a strange, hollow sensation.]

[ This is just a video of Miwako - no cats here! No sir! She looks a little frenzied, but trying to look "natural" and joking~ ]

H-Hi again, everyone!

Ha ha ha! April Fools! Except it's autumn now... Oh no... Uhm-

Mi-Miwako didn't actually get a cat! That was a lie! It was a fake cat, so just so you know, it can't be hurt or kicked or anything so you shouldn't even bother trying. I was just joking! So all the bad guys and cat-haters can rest assured that there's not actually a cat here, so you can't get him, okay? And even if there was actually a cat, I wouldn't let you get him! But there isn't a cat, so don't worry about it!

[ Somewhere off-screen, you might hear a quiet meow, which sets Miwako's teeth on edge. She looks a little frantically at the camera as if it can tell her if that was actually recorded or not, and then hastily cuts the feed.

Miwako is the worst liar ever. ]

[ ooc | inspired by this conversation with Shinji... oy vey. ]

[ Good morning Marina~!

Were you sleeping alone last night? Well now you have company!

Were you sleeping with someone? Well, you're still sleeping with someone, but maybe you'd like to give it a look-see, before you get too comfortable.

Are you sure this is your room? You might want to check though -- who knows if you're using the same design of lampshade or if your bed really is set up against the wall...

Whether you are in your own room or not, one thing's for certain, you're in for a surprise this morning! ]


(( OOC: Many pardons for the late, but here be your Morning After Prank all-purpose post! Do your threads here if you are so inclined, or make your network freak-out posts~ Have fun!

ETA: I have used the reveal table as a handy Thread Index. I'll update this as the event rolls along [last updated: 22 October, 12:40 p.m. EST] ))
 

[ oh, marina asylum! good morning! a rather pretty pretty face is presenting itself in the communicator. it's a bit belatedly, but oh, well, right? the cheeks are round (a bit of remaining baby fat), eyes blue and pale, eyelashes extraordinarily thick and long—although, golden not black or brown—and hair honey in color, but a little unkempt. it's incredibly youthful, and girlish just as much as it is boyish and vice versa. for a brief moment, there's a really concentrated look, and then— ]

It's really personal to be able to know all of that—[ the break between speaking is very slight; the accent is british, light and airy, and a little more raspy than what's normal for him. (his throat is a bit raw, you see.) ] My entire life. If you're going to be so sodding personal about it, the least you could do is address me properly. It isn't, "Welcome, inmate," it's: "Welcome, the Earl Alois Trancy of Buckinghamshire."

[ this is clearly important. clearly. his face rises a little and he slides his eyes shut in what's supposed to look like offended dignity. acumen, you are such lowlife. ]

Oh, but perhaps we don't even need titles. Oh, no. Let's just do without them completely. [ it's funny, because there's a half-truth to this. for all his aristocratic and snobby airs, he really fucking hates nobles. legitimate nobles. people born with silver spoons in their mouths who act as though the world owes them everything, and isn't that a laugh? hypocrisy? oh, hell yes! but, he doesn't care. ] Addressing the Earl by 'Alois Trancy'—or, hell, even Alois alone should be dandy, shouldn't it? But, inmate is not acceptable.

If I'm to remain here the rest of my li—

[ there's a quiver in his tone, a choke. his teeth set, his eyes clench, and he swallows very, very hard. —alois arrived sometime during the night, and being easily prone to night terrors, he had not slept through it. he awoke and imagine his dismay, of course, when he found he was not in his own bed. the majority of the rest of the night and early morning, once arriving, was spent throwing the most massive tantrum.

he screamed, hollered, wailed, sobbed, and called out for claude—his butler—time and time again. 'Houheo taralna, rondero tarel' was chanted again and again and again, in throat ruining desperation. he wrecked his welcome basket and did his best to throw himself against a wall, because someone needs to be punished for keeping him from claude (he didn't walk away without a few bruises, either). it's been hours later, and claude still hasn't appeared. he is devastated and furious. and!, in spite of his needless complaining, he's teetering. poorly trying to keep himself together. to say he's 'calmed down,' is an overstatement. he's simply bitter. ]

... Life. The rest of my life, then you'll call me 'Alois,' at the very least. [ 'inmate' sounds like a thing and fuck that, if he's going to feel like an object again. ]

Oh—! Though, I have to tell you: this is my first time seeing the ocean! [ his voice pitches here. it's lilting, amused, like suddenly he's having a friendly chat. (yeah, what? this kid.) ] I always knew it would be beautiful, because it's so large and so fucking deep, [ oh, best brace yourself for crude language, too, ] but I hadn't imagined to what extent. A lot of things are really easy to imagine, but there's probably not enough room in our brains alone to comprehend all the things that can be found in the ocean. In a way, I suppose you could say, you've given me something I've always wanted.

It's true, it's my first time seeing it, and I always suspected when Claude would finally take me to the shore I would only get to see the surface. And, as far into it I'd go would be up to my shoulders. The surface is really lovely, too, though. How it sits so close to the sky, like they're kissing. I've seen it in paintings and I'm always so jealous of the ladies who are painted next to them. Rivers and lakes aren't as beautiful. They don't have that sort of blue. They're only green and dirty. 'Paint my portrait, too, Claude,' I've asked him, but we're always too busy and much too far from the seaside. From anywhere, really. I don't think I've been anywhere outside of Buckinghamshire in ... hum, well, quite a long time! [ he giggles a little, and the recording shows him rocking slightly. he's sitting upon some mats, doing his best to avoid exercising entirely, and kicking one of his legs with youthful enthusiasm. ] Oh, ahaha, I've almost forgotten. Of course you must have known all that. You watch very closely, don't you? I wonder, just what kind of 'artificial life form' you are, Mister Acumen? Should you be evaluating yourself for crimes, too?

—Ah. [ his eyes widen a bit, and he stills. his head cants. ] I'm really well taken care of, you know. Just what do you intend to have me do about food, and bathing, and dressing?



(bitty ooc note!: ack, i um. could be wrong about this...? feel free to correct me! but, as it's tuesday, i'm assuming alois is in sector six for exercise today. c: please, feel free to run into him or visit him or whatevs!)

[The face over the feed is mistrustful, with a neutral regard for her surroundings that borders on severe.]

slfhr

[Yes, Marina, text. She doesn’t have the hang of it yet, but she is from the 1930s. Frowning down at the communicator – the frown not that different from her usual expression, just an extra pull of the mouth, Chane tries again.]

a a a a b b b c d e f g 1 2 3

A A B B C C d d E E f . . .

! ! ! ? ? a a B B

[The severity of her expression softens, mildly, but it’s clear she hasn’t yet figured out she’s on the feed. A few more seconds and it dawns visibly.]

Who took my weapon?

[Priorities. Chane has them.]

So it's true...

[At first all that broadcasts is a soft, thoughtful male voice, but this is soon followed by a delicate young face framed by shaggy golden brown hair. Anyone who saw Nakama's picture of the pilots hanging in her living room just might recognise him. His eyes are gentle, totally unfrightened, and he speaks with a measured calm that doesn't seem to be at all forced.]

Hello, everyone. My name is Kunihiko Moji, and I just got here. I'd like to thank the people who made the basket and the pamphlet, since they've helped me figure out most of what's happened, but I do have a question for anyone who might have more information on these doubles who were apparently sent to replace us? Any help would be appreciated.

[A brief pause, and then, a bit more seriously:] And if any of my friends are here, I'd like to talk to you. I think there's something you should know.

I hope there were no hard feelings. [He wasn't being sincere and he sounds pretty worn out.]

I don't feel like sleeping. [Yaaaaaaawn.]

Talk to me. Just try not to bore the fuck out of me, okay? [That was his way of saying he was willing to listen to whatever. Anything to stay awake...]



((ooc: Okay I'm going to be breaking up the Action logs into separate comments. One for the DF folks who dragged him in so they can talk to him, one for VISITORS(??) if there are any, and one for late at night for the lucky sap assigned to watch him.))

Upon entering Sector 4, the very large tent that stands framed by the beach is quickly noticeable. Closer, one can see colors dancing upon the white sheets, like opalesque spires under the moving onyx sky. As you enter one of the wings of the tents, grass give way to wooden flooring, and chains of white blossoms and gold ribbons line the sides. The open dance floor in the center bids one to look up to whimsical white-gold lamps, balls of light dancing in seas of violet, blue, green and pink organza. The fabrics fall down pillars adorned with leaves and flowers. Tables set in white and gold with jewel toned flowers sit at the four wings surrounding the dance floor.

... but it is far too early to take a seat. Smile and greet your fellow attendee, take the hand of a friend, and dance to the music.



There are large tables with finger foods and punch (not spiked -- save it for the after-party!), and very little space near the walls (sorry, wallflowers! You won't get away so easily. ♥ )  After a large number of people are gathered together, Jeanne stands up on the small stage set to the side of the dance floor and taps on the microphone to get everyone's attention...



OOC STUFF
+ Info post / thread index (please read this first!)
+ Jeanne's greeting speech!
+ Prom King and Queen announcement. (Spoiler: It's Euphie and Kanda.)

[naoto has no idea how this happened. she was with Heine and Nill back at the church - when those twins appeared...]

[and now she's in prison. it's not like it could get any worse. there were still those same boundaries, dangerous people, and the need to survive. she fixes a glare at the camera] I don't care about the crimes you committed or the people you killed. Just know that if you point your teeth at me next, I'll pull them out for you.

[When he finally cracks his eyes open, he doesn't recognize the ceiling he’s staring up at. For one, heart-stopping moment, he’s deathly afraid that he’s back in the Organization, being patched up for some ungodly reason. Or, worse, being experimented on yet again. The last thing he remembers is telling M-21 that he has to live, for all of their sake.]

[The message is something he takes in more slowly, and when he finally finishes reading, a sardonic grin curls at his lips.]

So even guys like me can get a second chance… [He laughs, but that makes his chest hurt, so he shuts up pretty quickly. He grudgingly shifts a hand to feel the bandages that have been wrapped there. So they’d saved his life, when he was supposed to die. He isn’t sure how he feels about it. Hell. As long as M-21 is safe. As long as he’s free. Really, isn’t that all that matters?]

That’s some technology, helping to patch up a broken heart… literally. [Goddamn it, he really had to stop chuckling. It felt like someone was taking a hammer to his ribs...]

((OOC: M-24 is in the hospital! He is restrained, but he probably needs anywhere from one to three days to fully recover. Heart punctures are terrible.))

[Before he heads out for the library, Atsuro switch his communicator on for a video feed, showing him smiling at the screen.]

Hey, who do I talk to about enrolling into classes?

[After that, he'll be at the library, working hard on the mathematical problems Naoya mailed to him. Atsuro's sitting at one of the tables with a pencil, eraser, papers and a calculator. There's some equations and numbers written on the papers, and he looks very focused on solving them.

It'd be easy for people to sneak up on him like this.]