Mm, I have a question. [a conversation with Ciel has prompted Fai to hold a sudden poll, of sorts.]

When you think of Ciel-kun, what's the first word that comes to mind?

[Ciel is cranky today. Very cranky. Especially since he was woken up earlier than he wanted to wake up.]

This place is ridiculous. How can you all be so cheerful? [It's ridiculous.]

[Nakama meant to head straight to the clothing store to replace her uniform, which feels rather out of place and overly visible here, but somewhere along the way she got distracted by all the areas to explore in the prison and wound up in the park.

Enjoying the freedom of walking without her ball and chain, she wanders through the park with a small grey bird circling through the air around her, and finds herself at the memorial gardens. She doesn't quite know why, but something about them draws her in - she reads the plaques, each one devoted to a place outside of the prison where some kind of tragedy must have happened, and an idea begins to form in her head. It would only be a gesture, maybe a hollow one, but it would be something...]

( Voice - Private to Ushiro )

[ Jade is in a wide open park, running through his artes. he's been doing this every day, feeling out the boundaries of the "seal" placed on him by Acumen and... pushing at it. he believes he's starting to get a handle on its exact composition, though he has to give it many props; he managed to undo the last seal placed on him much more quickly... so far, he's not even completely sure he's making progress.

so, this amounts to him making big, splashy magical displays, for anyone in the area to notice.

a little bit later in the morning, he pauses, taking a break in the exercise to turn on his communicator and murmur, only slightly breathless from all of the exertion ]

The limitations imposed by this place are rather frustrating, aren't they?

[ even though the words should be irritated, there's a little curl of amusement in his voice; on some level, he's enjoying the challenge. ]

( private )
----

Marina. How peaceful. I wonder how long it'll take for all hell to break loose here again.

On another note, would anyone like to donate some blood to a worthy cause? I promise I'll make it worth your time. [ ♥ trooolling in your skiiiin ]

((ooc: Zelman talks to himself. 8())

Well, well. A prison and facilities for all of my egregious crimes.

How sweet. [have a wry chuckle; he's a man of few words]

So tell me, criminal citizens, if you can. Has no one ever left alive?

OK, one? This basket needs way more cookies and chocolate! Nice thought and all, but there's just not enough. You don't wanna make a cute girl like me sad, do you~?

Two, what the hell -- crimes? Are you serious? I was doing my job, god! I can't believe a computer could be this stupid. [a purple haro forces it's way into the video]

Dumbass! Dumbass!

Exactly. You better be listening Acumen! And what's with this stupid chain? It's annoying and uncomfortable and I want it gone. [ugh, this is so retarded]

Three; the most important part~ [she winks before speaking again in a considerably darker tone] My brothers. I want Michael and Johann, I want them now, and if you don't give me what I want, then you're even dumber than I thought you were. If I have to, I'll find you and fuck you up good, got it~? [peace!]

Acumen's systems tick over to midnight, and somewhere in the depths of the holding facility, dozens of little silver spheres shiver and come to life. They rise up into the air, dangling little bouquets of mistletoe, and hover in waiting for the door to open again. And when it does, they swoop out and work their way into the dome proper, making it out just in time for daybreak.

Now they're scattered all over the dome, Anissina's gifts and Eggman's souvenirs. They're seeking out people to bring together in the holiday spirit...

Whether they like it or not!


[Comment here and other people will comment to you. Details and index here. Please specify your time of day and location in your tag!]

[Ryoji had intended to go on a quick breakfast run before Minato woke up -- he slept so little these days, between dreams and his own restlessness -- but the end result was far different. To the average onlooker, Ryoji is nearly twice as pale as usual, his cheeks pinkened almost hectically and deep lines under his eyes.]

[He's also a bit unsteady on his feet, his voice a bit less smooth than normal.]

[He's fine, though. Totally fine. Just ignore him propped up on a bench outside the park, head bowed. How did he even get here?]

Hey, does anyone else think the sky is weird?

Night was falling, the smell of spices were in the air and Jennifer was busy putting the last finishing touches on all the hard work everyone had done to get the athletic complex decked out and festive.

Walking through the front door, you'll see a table where you can put all your presents on for now with a tree sitting behind it. Don't worry, the bots will make sure no one but Jennifer takes any gifts off the table! There's also a series of volunteers ready and willing to help you out of your coats if you need it, but otherwise, please don't hesitate to shed off a few layers.

It might be a little warm if you don't.

Inside the main entrance, Jennifer's taken care to section off the room into the main dancing area and a stage salvaged from the Valentine's Day auction off to the side for the performances later on. Surrounding the outer edges, are tables and settees salvaged from the Shelter so that those who wish to watch can do so in comfort. Do be careful though. Scented candles are lit on each table to provide a soft light to balance out the harshness of the lights over the dance floor.

And of course there's food. Punch and egg-nog and shrimp and cheese and a myriad of other finger foods. There are cookies decorated with frosting and lemon bars and cranberries and a giant bowl of sugared dates. Marzipan is scattered across the table and a small gingerbread house sits as a centerpiece, but the cake is the main attraction.

But the cake comes with a price. Anyone who wants a piece, must do what it says on the toothpick first. Have fun! And no cheating. Someone might be watching to make sure no one does.

Music is already playing and Jennifer's leaving things up to the host club to make sure people start dancing, because what's sadder then a ball with no dancing? Do make sure to enjoy yourselves. It's why we're all here!

((ooc: The first thread is for the cake game and will list various things you must do. The second is for performers to do their act so we can group reactions together in one spot. And last, mingle, threadjack, and have merry with whatever your characters want to do in the rest of the post!

As an ooc gift meme was suggested instead of actually threading out every gift exchange, we will be doing that instead, but we highly encourage you to still seek out your gift recipients and build CR in the post as you will.

Also, mistletoe can be found neatly tucked inside wreaths at the main entrance to the Athletic complex and also from the cloak room leading into the dance hall. Be nice! Ask permission first.))

ETA: Directory (Edited 12/28 10:30pm/22:30 EST/-05:00 GMT, new marked with ***)

Cake Game: Reply to Cake: Midori - Mistletoe Cake: Road - Dancing Cake: Ryu - Dancing Cake: Otoha - Singing Cake: Wisely - Compliment Cake: Alucard - Dancing Cake: Orihime - Ornament Cake: Hikaru - Mistletoe Cake: Yuuki - Song Cake: Kaworu - Mistletoe Cake: Milly - Dancing Cake: Tyki - Mistletoe Cake: Hiling - Mistletoe/Dancing Performances: Reply to Performance: Naoya Performance: Lacus Performance: Choir Individual: Saki Individual: Ryoji Individual: Peregrine Mendicant Individual: Wolfram Individual: Zelda Group: Kaworu, Hiling or both Individual: Himawari Individual: Feferi Individual: Cain Individual: Jeanne Individual: Ashton Individual: Midori Individual: Cosmo Individual: Fou Individual: Greed Individual: Minako Individual: Eridan Individual: Orihime

Individual: Fran Individual: Allen Individual: Tyki Individual: Chibiusa Individual: Hikaru Individual: Dean Individual: Harry Potter Individual: Wisely Individual: Axel Individual: Kamrui Fuuma Individual: Ushiro Individual: Maleficent Individual: Kaoru Individual: Zelman Individual: Yuuki Individual: Kyouya Individual: Joshua Individual: Yuuri Individual: Sam Individual: Zero Individual: Kitty (aoa) Individual: Juri Individual: Alma Individual: Lavi Individual: Milly Individual: Rinoa Rain of Flowers: Sakura Individual: C.C. Individual: Takashi Jun Individual: Suzaku Individual: Kanda Individual: Jade Individual: Duo Individual: MOMO Individual: Kitty (evo) ***Individual: Ciel

[Oh goodness, the Angel has found the Pet Cafe on one of his morning strolls.

He's also decided that he may as well fully out himself, since he hasn't been putting - well, any effort into hiding it. Why not live as an Angel here, since there's no SEELE or NERV to know or care about it? With that thought in mind, he turns on video.]

I learned a lot about you Lilim yesterday. It seems your emotions are even more complicated and confusing than I thought.

There's still one thing I don't understand, though - your desire for animal companions. [He picks up a small orange kitten, regarding it curiously.] Pets, you call them, right? What's a pet's purpose? Why do you care so much for something that can't even communicate with you? What do you get from the relationship?

[He's holding the kitten in a rather unusual way, thumbs lightly pressed to its throat. They're so fragile, these little creatures. He still remembers how easily he ended one of their lives, without even breaking a sweat...

... no, he's not considering doing it again. There's no need this time, since someone will eventually adopt the thing, and the robots will care for it if not. But if you're particularly sensitive, you might not like the intense way he's staring at kitty, particularly with his hands at its throat.]

[There are no footprints in the snow of the field in sector 6, but Itachi stands in the middle of it. There are practice dummies set up around him, at varying distances. He holds his sword in its sheath, listening to the wind. He's not wearing his usual cloak with red clouds. It's too bulky for this training and lays draped over the low branch of a nearby tree. Instead he wears a long sleeved, high neck shirt and his traditional open-toed sandals.

Itachi pulls the sword from the sheath and moves before the blade has time to glint off the snow. He's already struck his first "target" by the time the sheath has embedded itself in the snow.]

{OOC: Itachi's getting used to using a sword again and up for a little sparring, but don't let his height age fool you. He'll be in Secto 6 most of the morning and afternoon.}

[After several days of hiding from the entire dome, denying that he was upset over Lizzie's disappearance, Ciel finally ventures out. Eventually, he winds up in the library. Within the library, he begins to read a couple books he's never read before. (Such as books from his future. He couldn't resist the Arthur Conan Doyle reads.)

However, it doesn't take long for the recently restless youth to fall asleep in his chair, his book still in his hand. He mumbles incoherent things as he sleeps.]

Sweets...

((OOC: If you've ever wanted to see Ciel at his cutest, here's the place! ♥))

I just realized something...[thoughtful pause from a girl that's been missing for quite a while...but she doesn't know that!] If it's this cold again already..?, that means I missed my birthday! I've never missed one before, and I certainly won't start now.

I'll have a cake with lots of candles~ And lots of presents~ And, oh! I can't forget the guests. What's a party without people to play with?~ [by this point she's swinging her legs around, her voice sing-song] I'll invite Mama and Naoya and Gin and Joshua and Xion and Ciel, Sebastian too naturally~, and Euphie and Akito...Jade, Conrad, Yuuri, Lelouch, Maya, Orihime, Yuuki, Sakamoto....

Exorcists too of course! Actually, Allen only - the rest of you Exorcists aren't wanted~ [♥]

[ooc: oh hey it's the df's most popular criminal w-will be laggy....action's open for Wisely and Tyki and whoever's still at home!]

[The curtains looks nice, she thinks--good and black. It's so easy to fix up the apartment when it comes fully furnished. Moving the things she's collected over the last month from the Shelter to the apartment? Not so easy. She's going to drop something, she just knows it.

And at that thought, Lee vuuls! in warning, but it's too late. Miranda trips over her own two feet and the box she's carrying tumbles toward the ground.]

{OOC: Miranda has no voice, but she is carrying a writing pad and markers in her satchel!}

[After assisting PM with her morning mail duties, Ryoji's cooking! It's just a test drive of the omurice dish Jennifer had taught him but if the smell coming from the shelter kitchen is any indication, he got a little creative with the ingredients...]

[Who wants to taste test!]

[His restraint is offffff, so instead of eating in the kitchen, Kaworu's off to explore the other food options in the prison. He's gotten so used to walking with that weight dragging against one leg that he appears to have a limp at first, but gradually he regains his balance and begins to walk a little more normally. As for his black eye, it looks slightly healed - his eye is open now, and rather than turning purple or yellow as a human bruise would whilst healing, the black portion has simply shrunk down a little.

Eventually, he stops at the ramen shop and orders a bowl for himself, sitting near the door and awaiting his food. He's heard some nonsense over the network, a lot of angry voices, but this morning he's been too distracted with his exploring to pay the close attention he did while restrained. Thus, he has no idea how lucky he is when his ramen comes and he takes a big bite, then pulls a face:]

This is terrible. It doesn't taste like anything at all.

[Anyone outside at the moment of nightfall and expecting to see the usual moonrise on the dome will see something a little different, tonight. The soft, pale light of the moon will indeed be visible,; especially bright, perhaps a harvest moon? But no, what finally rises in the sky looks like the moon, except much larger and... heart shaped. Someone has been adjusting the star projector again.]

[It's for a good cause, however. She hopes that Axel can see it, wherever he is tonight.]

[When the actual video feed begins, Lacus is smiling peacefully while standing on the beach, Kingdom Hearts visible behind her, over the water.]

Good evening. I'm sure you all observed the difference in the sky tonight. It's from another world, one that I would enjoy learning more about. I hope you find the sight as lovely as I do.


((OOC: KH cast/fans please forgive and correct me if I've done anything wrong! Never had the pleasure of playing the games, orz, but Lacus would have done her research so I'd like to be accurate as possible~

Also, today's astronomy class is presumed to have happened, but there won't be a post for it.))

[private to Kitty]

Still coming by for the microwave? I still have that something from before to tell you about, too.

[/private to Kitty]


... It can't be this close to Christmas already. [ Could be worse, dancing at those annual affairs back home, but still. So soon. ]

Well! So many new people today! I must say that this is quite the opportunity to pose a question.

Do any of you have any specific wishes? How many of you are expecting a birthday soon? Or perhaps over the holiday season you'll be wanting something? I simply can't just sit here without granting some things for you. Do tell me. Come, now, don't be shy, tell me all that you want. Princess Nunnally, perhaps? Or Ms. Kurosu? [A light laugh.]

Mm...oh, yes. [And now she will add with a touch of sympathy,] Xion, darling, I'm afraid I was unable to find your friend. I hope you had better luck than I.