[The video feed comes on to show a scowling Karkat. He has various bandaids plastered over his face and neck, though some of them appear to be peeling off.

Just off the feed, there’s the sound of sneezing, coughing, and swearing between the phlegm clogged breaths. Karkat closes his eyes at a particularly angry coughing fit. When he opens them again, he focuses on the feed and scowls.]

Can you humans keep your fucking hideous germs to yourselves? I am fucking bathing in snot thanks to you shitfigurines.

[Another sneeze from the background, and Karkat growls.]

See? I fucking swear, if you infect anyone the fuck else, I will unleash the motherfucking trollocalypse. Your weeping and crying shall be my swan song of joy. I will smear the ooze you have caused all over you, and I’ll -

[Another coughing fit. Karkat breaks off, putting his palm over the feed.]

You fucking disgust me, Pyrope!

[It doesn’t muffle the undercurrent of worry that shows through his anger, of course. His fingers scrabble at the comm and he cuts the feed, but not before bumping into something and swearing loudly.]

[It's time for another hour filled with amateur sword-swinging! Preferably without accidentally throwing it, and even more preferably without the sudden projectile smacking into the back of someone's head.]

[Today's class focuses on defensive moves. After a demonstration on basic blocks and parries, he sets his students up with helmets and light armor and divides them up into rotating pairs. Cain will come around and offer commentary, or pair up with students as needed. Or scold people who are slacking off (too much), as he expects people to work hard in his class.]

[The end of class is reserved for the experienced swordspeople who want to vigorously smack each other with sword-shaped sticks. Students are invited to stay and watch, but Cain won't yell at them if they sneak off.]


[[OOC: Threadjacks highly encouraged! Set your subject lines as Before, During, or After class.]]

[Ryu sits up in bed, holding his head. He feels like he's going to throw up, which is… unusual. He leans against the wall with a 'thunk'.]

( Canon update ahoy. )

[And now he was back, but he'd never left. He reaches for his communicator and turns it on.]

[Voice]

Has anyone else… remembered things from back home? Like, you were there, but you couldn't have been there because you were here?

LETTER RECIPIENTS

• Roxas: a letter from Fai.
  
• Lyle (& Frederick!): a card from Fai.
  
• Jeanne: a card from Fai.
  
  PACKAGE RECIPIENTS
  
• Suzaku: a package and card from Xion.
  
  NEW PENPAL MATCHUPS
  
• A comprehensive pen pal update! Please see the list if your character's penpal has recently dropped.

[Another busy day for the postal service! Thanks to a combination of WV's arrival and abrupt recovery from Ribbons' disappearance, PM has sprung fully back into action. Records of address are fully updated, pen pals re-matched, notes written to each of them with basic contact information about their new letter-writing companions... she has accomplished much, and although it's another slow day, she sets out with slightly less horrible posture, ready to greet the world!]

[And after work, she considers stopping by WV's place with a veggie-laden pizza to see what her friend has been doing during her busy day.]

[Click here for pen pal signups. Mail submissions for Day 98 go here!]

( 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())

How do you celebrate birthdays in your worlds? I know some places have parties with cake and presents, but that's the only tradition I've heard of.

[Guess who has a birthday in eleven days?]

[[OOC:replies will be slow, but I wanted to get this up now that IJ's working again]]

( Early morning//Private )

[Video, about 7 AM]

[Ryu flicks on the video, looking as if he hasn't slept well. At least he's managed to wipe his face by the time he broadcasts.]

Fou-Lu's gone, if anyone's looking for him.

[Defense Force filter]

Can someone cover my shift this morning? I… I'm not feeling up to it.

[/Filter]

[Action]

[Ryu's wandering around this morning, mostly in sectors 2 and 4. He's headed for the Butterfly Pavilion and the Pet Cafe.]

Yes, but the world
Is always so beautiful
It seems so strange that you alone aren't here…

[[ooc; Feel free to tag either of the public parts (or the filtered part if applicable). Ryu's humming a bit of this song.]]

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

[Of course Xion is taking longer than he is to get ready--that's just like girls.

But Axel's not complaining. He's doing all this for her sake, after all. So he'll be downstairs, looking in the hallway mirror as he adjusts the tie around his neck and...kinda fails. What? He doesn't wear formal stuff. Anyway, with the tie somewhat on Axel turns towards Xion's bedroom and is about to call out to her before a certain little puppy comes walking up to nudge his leg. With a grin he leans down to pat Pluto on the head...and adjust the little black bowtie attached to his collar.]

Don't you look snazzy. [Pauses to glance back at Xion's room before nudging his head towards it] Go get her for me, will ya?

[Pluto wuffs happily before trotting on down the hall to start pawing and barking at her door]

( Yesterday it snowed. And yesterday I died. )

[Bundled up against the freezing weather, Xion's sitting quietly on a bench near the graveyard. It's a rather grim place for sitting, but it suits her mood. She just...needs to think.]

[[OOC:Placeholder until I finish my project, won't tag back until tomorrow. I'll probably add more Xionthoughts then, too.]

--ow!

[Roxas colliding with the ground turned on his communicator, so have a view of the grass outside the house where he's been living. Roxas is barely visible in the video field and appears to be having some difficulty getting back to his feet. His face is turning a little red with frustration.]

I can't bel-- Ugh, why-- This is so stupid--

[He finally manages to get to his knees, and then catches sight of the communicator. He moves very slowly and deliberately to pick it up, glowering something fierce.]

What the hell is going on all of a sudden?!


((ooc: Roxas is back! and he doesn't know what's going on. hi guys))

[...well. Not being able to see makes both reading and knitting hard. There's nothing she can really occupy herself with in her room anymore, then. It's about time she stopped hiding in there anyway. It takes a while, but Xion eventually feels her way into the living room and settles herself on the couch with Mars. Pettinz do not require seeing. Hopefully she'll see....

...

...hopefully she'll meet Axel soon. She hasn't heard a peep from him since yesterday, and he's not in his room.]

[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.))

[ Himawari is holding a giant book titled 'ASTROLOGY AND YOU'. She seems very intent on whatever line she's reading, before she finally puts it down with a cheerful smile. ]

I used to read my horoscope every day in the newspaper back home. I know that a lot of people don't believe in astrology and sign reading, but I think it's a fun hobby! If not sometimes accurate!

[ Flips to the Sagittarius page. BEAM SPARKLE BEAM ] My birthday's on November 27, so that makes me a Sagittarius! How about you? I can read your sign for you too if anyone would like me to.

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.

[...He's finally home now, though he's not sure on if that's a good thing or not. It feels out of place being at home, because, well, it's missing something. Something important, like a memory or a part of his body, really. Axel tries not to get too caught up in those thoughts, though, as he enters the house, not bothering to open the door--he just teleports through--and makes a beeline for his room.]

Can someone tell me where Roxas was staying?

Kinda have something I need to pick up there.

[He DID make a promise, afterall.]

[This may be the rudest awakening Mami's ever had. To her, she went to sleep for a few moments (or so she thinks,) woke up, walked back to her farm...

And someone's tried to torch it. Oh, there's proof of reconstruction (and it looks like there may be another farmer on the premises - she'd have appreciated a "hey, neighbor, I'm gonna move in,") and somehow the weather's colder than it should be, but... Someone. Tried. To. Torch. Her. Farm.

She can't quite keep the despair out of her voice as she cries into the communicator.]

...Who did this?! Who took a torch t' mah farm?! Ah don' remember doin' nothin' to anyone--- Why'd ye do this?!

[...Halloween plans have to be canceled again this year, unfortunately. Axel has been wandering the dome all day, or at least a majority of the day, and even into the night when kids are going around trick-or-treating he's still walking, never stopping and with no plans of doing so until he figures out where Roxas is. It's not like him to not answer his communicator and it's not like him to just disappear without saying anything, so needless to say that Axel and Xion have been worried.

But he's not taking the dimensional stabilizer into consideration yet. No, that can't be possible.

...And yet as every hour passes and every corner and under ever Jack-o-Lantern goes empty, the more Axel's hope starts to dwindle. And by the time the sun has set he ends up outside the club, the last place Roxas would be he hopes, his energy is seriously spent as well. What if there's another monster attack tonight? What if Roxas fell into one of those holes--No, he couldn't have; he was in the house all night. Under his protection.

Axel stares at the ground, thinking and blaming only himself, before he considers the club one more time and ends up going inside--two or three shots later coming out to find the nearest bench to sit on and hold his head, visibly distressed.]

( [action closed to household] )

((ooc: Bother him at the club or on his forlorn park bench. Sad Axel is sad and needs some support. :<))