[She's gotten soft. Fighting a group of enemies used to be a daily occurrence that she hacked through and then moved on from. Now she's barely ten minutes into a fight and she's gotten hit at least five times.

The sandwiches she brought for patrol are long gone, and thick monster blood splashes over her own bleeding wounds with every slice through a raptor she makes. She was able to activate a prayer, surrounding herself with a corona of light that should have repelled all physical attacks, but half of the lizards are still managing to hit her. And she's already got less than two minutes of that protection left. Power reduction is such a bitch.

She strikes down what by all rights should be the last one, but it lets out a screech with its dying breath and another pack comes running out of the fog. Dammit. Sword at the ready, she ducks into an alleyway in the hopes that they won't be able to swarm her this time.]

Er... I have something to report. Well, Jennifer asked me to report it, anyway...

Some of you know about the party being planned for the Peregrine Mendicant tomorrow. Jennifer asked me to report that Kefka is insisting on going to the party and asking if there are going to be children there.

... Considering that he's sent raw meat to the house, and threatened to kill people in front of Jennifer, she asked me to make sure that there are Defense Force members at the party.

That's all, I guess.

[The feed clicks on first showing Axel wrapping a white bandage around his palm and fingers before he pulls on his leather glove again and picks up the ice cream he set down on the ledge.]

What's your reason for living?

[He sounds amused, just a little, but it doesn't exactly show on his face. He wouldn't be surprised if he gets called out for asking this, but, hey, it doesn't matter, right?

You'll find him alone on top of the clock tower, quietly, almost forlornly watching the sun set as it normally should, and rather than eat the ice cream he'd gotten for himself he's holding it over his bent knee, letting it melt and drip off of the ledge without care for whoever it could hit down below. So, hey, heads up.]



((ooc: I think he and I are both curious.))

What a day. Well, at least all this is taking my mind off people disappearing. [Gino's smiling, though, if not terribly broadly. he's noticed Anya and Kallen's disappearances. he's just focusing on the important stuff, heading up to the education center to pick up some things, carrying an umbrella even though the rain is trickling off]

So, about my first self-defense class! Can I get my students' votes on whether or not we want to hold it in the dark and the fruit-punch rain--

[but he glances up. what's that shape blocking out the stars, rapidly growing larger]

That's-- Holy--!

[he dives out of the way as the ground suddenly shakes, a tremendous crash thundering through the communicator. Gino pries himself off the pavement after a second and glances up at the -- immense pizza that just smashed to the ground just outside the education center, as far as he can see, blocking the entrance to the school]

.........you... you know what? Self-defense class is canceled. Uh, and, can my -- DF guys keep a watch out for more like this?

[A young girl, with a very bored expression, stares into the communicator screen.]

I'll try not to ask too many questions, as many of them were answered in this pamphlet. I'm certain that the questions of 'how' and 'why' have been asked far too often by the confused and sheep-like. It doesn't really matter 'why', because it's already happened.

Neither will I demand to see this Acumen, because I doubt he - or she - will be likely to accept an appeal, though a sensible justice system should have one.

No, what I'll ask of you is simply this: where can I find a pair of knitting needles?

[The feed reveals a very handsome-looking blonde, peering at the camera with a confused expression on his face. His blue eyes widen upon the picture’s appearance, and his brows knit together.]

I know nothing about this commoner’s device… how do I work this again?

[After adjusting the image to his liking, he seems satisfied enough and his expression warps into a placid, relaxed smile. Are those… sparkles? Glittering around his face?]

Hello, fellow inmates. I am Tamaki Suoh, a captured king in dire need of your assistance. Though kingly indeed… I am a prisoner as our warden suggests; a mere lowly servant to the women of this world, who tempt me with their beauty and grace upon my entrance. If any of you lovely ladies could help me understand just what exactly is going on… I would be forever in your debt…

[He gives a little laugh, light and that of a gentleman. But quickly, his face changes again, the laugh becoming an anxious frown upon his lips and it’s obvious everything he’s said prior was just a cover up for what he was really feeling.

He’s silent for a moment, and when he speaks next it’s in a quiet voice as if he’s speaking to someone off to the side.]

Ha, Haruhi..? …Are you here…?

… Mommy…? … Hikaru? Kaoru?

… ……. …. Anyone?

[... He is strangely silent, simply staring into the camera with a look of dread.]

…. It is far too inadequate here.

[Zexion's voice is weak into the recorder, like he's having trouble getting enough breath to form the words. Still, he presses on without a stutter, firmly and stubbornly enunciating everything without any emotion behind the words he's speaking.]

Current status: Alive. Barely.

Damage suffered: Existence-threatening.

Recovery Period: Unknown.

Contact lost with clones B and C prior to altercation with subject.

As of last contact, status of team as follows: Number IV - Terminated. Number V - Terminated. Number VIII - Active. Number XI - Unknown, likely terminated. Number XII - Terminated.

Current location unknown.

Active agents, report.

[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.

[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!))

[Sora yells into the microphone, confused and slightly agitated]

Riku, Kairi!! Are you there? Can you hear me?

[He moves his hands around the communicator, searching for a volume button as if it is a two-way radio]

Hello?!

[There is a bit of silence as Sora notices the welcome basket and brochure.]

Food? Uhh.

[The rustling of paper is just barely audible]

What.. I haven't committed any of these crimes! I-- What is this?!

[Audio] I wonder... Maybe if I hit this...

[A video feed goes on cutting to a young teenage girl with bright red hair coming down to her shoulders. Her blues eyes that usually carry warmth quickly narrow though. In, fact, Kairi looks far from her usual complacent self. She has a big old frown on her face as she reads and rereads the message that she seems to have just now taken notice of. Whether she knows it's a communicator or not yet is another question. Kairi isn't exactly tech savy. Comes with the whole fooling-around-outside-all-the-time deal.]

What? But I didn't do anything! How can this be right?

[Kairi grits her teeth with a narrowed brow. Something is definitely off about this place. And as pretty as it may seem on the outside, it's still a ward for criminals. And she's pretty certain that she has committed no crimes worth this punishment if she has committed any at all.

Kairi closes her eyes and the frown slowly vanishes as a breeze picks up. Where she ended up was even crueler... When she first woke up, she thought she had just dozed off on the beach. Until she realized it wasn't her beach. Or island, for that matter.]

I wonder where Riku is... And...

[She looks down and that's about when she notices the basket with the pamphlet.]

Huh...?

[A non-human creature in a dusty, filthy grey robe blinks into the monitor as the feed cuts on. She sits square in the middle of a walkway with a ball-and-chain around her spindly ankle, welcome basket next to her as she picks away at the food while studying the pamphlet. All in all, she doesn't seem particularly distressed about her situation.] Greetings to all, Marina Asylum!

I could not imagine a better welcome from anyone, especially a prison! Thank you very much.

...by any chance, is a Dr. Brinner present?

[She sounds a distracted and the usual vibrancy of her voice is absent.] I forgot to tell everyone, but Acumen will be delivering the welcome baskets now. I thought it might be best since we never know what will be happening on the days people arrive now, and it's so hard to predict where they will be. I hope no one minds too much. I know it's not as personable, but I didn't want them to be missed.

Oh, and most of the course descriptions are done. Please turn yours in if you haven't already and you're teaching a class. We should get the school started soon.

[There is a long pause before she says what is really on her mind. She thought about making it private, but she's not sure who might know something or who would want to know...]

Cornelia didn't come home last night. I've been trying to call her, but...

[It's serious. She knows that much. She could ask Acumen, but she doesn't want to hear that detached voice telling her that her sister is lost in the destablilizer or in the hospital.]

You all have favorites, don't you? Y'knoooow~

...Favorite color? Place? Time of day? Letter? Number? Person? Article of clothing? Word? I dunno--Element? Phrase? T.V. show? Animal? [All said fairly fast because SOMEONE'S happy today, but you should be able to catch at least some of it.]

And you gotta tell me why. I'll even give my answers to even up the playing field.



...Oh, yeah. Roxas, Xion--S-some other people I know. It's not crummy outside, right? We should hang out.

[It's the first non-annual random defense force social~ On the roof of the DF's headquarters, we have strung-up lights around the ledge, decorations, and a table of food, mostly snacks, and drinks. (But not alcohol; sorry Sakamoto, let's say Gino warned you earlier in the day you'd have to get your drink on ahead of time?)

[There's some music, a dartboard set up, and a table with question cards -- mostly light, fun, get-to-know-you questions -- in case you all want to get your I've Never or some other form of question game on.

[Closed to DF members, their guests, and possibly crashers-- ask permission first! Event log, thread amongst yourselves~]

Hey, my team-- We now know what the sleeping sickness was all about, and I'm going to update each of you. I'd appreciate it if you keep it as quiet as possible, since it's -- kind of a delicate topic. Ask if you're curious, otherwise it'll be on the watch list. [a little muted, then!]

Soooo, some of you wanted to have a face to face meeting, so we're going to have a little get-together here at the HQ tomorrow night. You can bring a guest if you want, just try not to make it someone on the watch list. And don't worry about standing on formality. We'll all have a good time, okay?

Attendance is mandatory! [he adds this cheerfully, and laughs, ahaha] You can meet our new defense force mascot, right, Anya?

[Ba-dum-tum! That's a set of bongos. Demyx is wandering the music room, and back to planning entertainment that requires minimal effort on his part..]

Sooooooo...

What are your general opinions on beach side drum circles? You know, dancing barefoot in the sand, wailing on anything percussive in sight?

I hear the dolphins go nuts for a good beat! We could break out the tiki torches and do it after 'dark hours' and everything!

[Someone's huddling under the covers today, sounding a little frustrated and...sick.]

Ok. [Cough, sniffle, he's gotta ask:] Medical advice; who has it.

Attention, please everyone. I need some information from you all that will hopefully prove useful in our investigation of this phenomenon that has swept the prison. I would like everyone that has not suffered any symptoms of this wave of exhaustion to please come forward. I would like to compare these individuals against those that are currently experiencing extreme exhaustion, to see if there's some psychological or physiological reason for it. You may also give me the names of others if you are absolutely certain that they have been feeling no exhaustion whatsoever.

If you are one of the individuals suffering from the outbreak of the pentacles, and were previously healthy, please also say so.

[Private to the Defense Force]
I'm going to compare those that come forward against my profile, to see if anything fits. At this point, it's likely a shorter list than those affected. Our unsub is someone gathering energy for some larger purpose, likely an attack on the prison itself. At this point, if they are clearly unaffected, it would stand out. Of course, those that do say that they aren't feeling tired at all will need to be verified by us.