[At the entrance to Sector 5, several very long tables have been set up outside. Low light is provided by street lamps hung up just for the occasion, a cozy dining room in the middle of the street. There's turkey, mashed potatoes, candied yams, cranberry sauce, and many, many other Thanksgiving favorites. A warm, printed message at the center of the table asks:

In the tradition of the holiday known as Thanksgiving, please feel free to enjoy this meal and think about all the things over the last year for which you are most grateful.

Come one, come all! Food covers the tables, enough for the prison's entire population, courtesy of the bots. Have a nice big dinner with your fellow inmates, and get your CR on!]

[ a video feed pops on, and then pans across the public baths. and there's a voice over: ]

Clean water... ample soap... immaculate linens... it doesn't even smell like anyone's ever been here. I'll forgive the warden for it not being deep enough to dive.

Do I really have to go home?

[ the video picks up bare feet and bare legs as Hawke hops down into the bath, and then the feed focuses on her already-getting-red face. she looks positively blissful. and yet, smirky as always. ]

I know there's a party tonight, and we all should look our very best. Would anyone care to join me? I'll wash your back, if you wash mine?

[ he seems to be answering this question a lot lately, so might as well give all future questions an answer in a one fell swoop via PSA. ]

I am not an angel. My name is Angel, but it's just a name. No halo, no wings, no time spent in heaven. Stop asking.

[wow. w o w what did hijikata ever do to deserve this, huh—? wait, don't answer that.

as of right now, all the vice-chief can offer is a short, tired laugh with that demonic grin of his. hijikata's fatigue is apparent; his wounds may have been healed, but that still doesn't do anything about the fact that the issue with itou had only recently gotten resolved with his life and nothing beyond that. what use was resolving that bullshit if all hijikata had to show for it was fucking prison?

he sounds more than indignant when he begins to speak.]

You think this is funny? Is it? Cop stuck in prison— [it takes more than just effort to try and keep calm and not throw around his restraint everywhere and cause property damage, (not that he could, anyway) and it shows. clearly. hijikata's temple has one laaarge vein about to pop out from irritation. he's probably going to get an ulcer soon, too. words can't describe how much he wants to kill everything right now.] —hilarious. Go laugh in hell, you bastard.

[obligatory scary face included.]

I got things to do, and this isn't one of them. Sougo! Fun's over.

[. . .

there's no response. hijikata waits... and waits... and waits. ......... what. does this mean he's alone in this scary place?? guys???]

Sougo!!

[ Being locked up is one thing; being restrained just makes Faith's skin crawl. The fact that okay, yeah, she's kind of totally dangerous doesn't escape her but the problem here is she's usually the target of other dangerous things. Which means having a giant heavy ball attached to her leg makes her way more vulnerable. So the grunting and wheezing should be unsurprising as she tries to yank the chain off of the ball. ]

You think this is gonna help? Seriously, I get it. Normal prison wasn't cutting it, so you pull me out and dump me here. Fine, great. Three squares and a weird headset? All kosher. But this? [ She punctuates that by chucking the welcome basket away with a sneer. ] Ain't gonna cut it -- can't chain me up and dump in some graveyard like old times. I'm only declawed for humans, let's get it straight.

[ Though...now that she's looking around this place is pretty scarce for a graveyard. ]

Okay, what the hell is this? Whack-a-vamp? [ Stiiiiill trying to disable the old ball 'n' chain, here. ]

...Leo? [his voice shakes slightly, confused and groggy (and maybe a little scared -- no one's here to hear it, so what does it matter?). his head is pounding, and he can't remember how he got here, but all he can remember are Leo's words:

"I've come for you, Oz-kun."
what did that even mean? and did that have anything to do with now? unlikely, perhaps, considering the information he'd woken up to and the weight chained to his ankle and he takes a moment to play with the chain before giving up. he can barely move with it nevermind get it off.

the video feed that (accidentally) is initiated a few moments later shows oz crushing his hands to his head in an attempt to numb the pain he's feeling. he's alone, of course, collapsed to the floor with his back up against the weight for support and knees pulled in. his eyes are open, wide and pupils narrowed.

the abyss had been different. he'd been a different person, then, and in the abyss he barely had time to think with the chains present but this place he could sit and think and think for hours upon hours (and perhaps he had depending on when he exactly got here) and the more he did, the shorter his patience was becoming. he can't be here, he has to be with his friends, he has to protect them, he has to protect himself for them and being stuck in some underwater prison isn't protecting himself at all! finally, he speaks up, his voice loud.]

Alice! Gil! Where are you! [it drops, the slight desperation seeping through.] I need you both... [here. with him. where he knew they were safe and not hurt or anything considering the encounter they had had all been facing with leo, vincent, and echo.]

[another presence of silence, just oz's breathing before he speaks again, this time not nearly as desperate. it's like shutting a switch off the way the built up panic dissipates completely. he's quiet, voice low and slightly poisonous with spite.]

...This is stupid. My head hurts.

[ After waking up, it takes Elena a few breathless, panicked moments of trying to pull off the source of that sudden and disturbing communiqué and barely processing what Sentience is telling her. The communicator hits the ground and switches on to voice.

(She's not sure where she is. Someone took her? There's a chill to the air. She's surrounded by metal and concrete. This isn't - doesn't seem like Klaus. Because the voice said - what did it say?)

Inmates? Thanksgiving? - no, that's not possible. Neither is the weight attached to her ankle, which she touches lightly for an astounded moment and then gives a testing tug to pull off, to no avail.

Her breath is heavy and shakes slightly; that's all the network hears for a moment.

Okay. She can figure this out. Resolved and confused, she grabs for the device she had tossed to the floor. ] Hello? Is anyone-? ... Damon? [ His name is soft, and the last syllable trembles. Where is he? She can't be here alone.

That's when she notices the welcome basket. She sets the device aside in favor of rummaging through it for something, anything, her fingers eventually slipping over and clutching the pamphlet. There's a map, and she skims the words, processing them much like she processed Sentience's. Getting outside to see how real this is seems like good a plan as any.

It's a good several minutes before Elena's on the network again, and now she's on video and outside the ice rink. ]

This doesn't make sense. [ Her lips twist slightly; there is uncertain fear in her eyes, but determination too. Is this some really bad trip of her conscience? ] How is any of this even possible? Please, I- if anyone can answer me...

My friends, my fam- [ Her voice catches in her throat. ] Is Jeremy here? Jeremy Gilbert? ... or... Klaus? [ Please no. ] Ric? Stefan? [ She pauses. The silence is not comforting. ] Anyone.

[It's a bright day, warm and sunny, or however sunny it can be at the beach within an under water dome. Fingers curling around the delicate handle of a parasol, Yuuki walks along the shore line at the beach, a seasonal appropriate sun dress covering her. She's pale, but pretty, sandals off her feet to run and dig her toes within the soft sand. Gaze below she walks, looking for sea shells and watching the foot prints she makes in the sand with each step she leaves behind.

At last, she tilts her head back, lifting a small hand up into the sky.]

It's a beautiful day.

[In light of the blood and violence previously, it's such a strange contrast. The days here are are so peculiar, each one bringing a new feeling with it's strange flow of time. One moment it can be peaceful and the next chaos.]

I think they're important to enjoy. You never know when things might suddenly change.

[A deep breath, breathing in the fresh air - before she slumps, head falling while she brings an arm up to rub at her eyes]

Ahhhh it's really really bright though, isn't it. [Not that easy going on a vampire's eyes. OTL Maybe she needs to invest in some sunglasses.]

[hey, it's Flynn! and it's time for Flynn's I miss my dog hour]

[he's already had breakfast, done his jogging, gone through his practice forms, and now he's ended up in the pet cafe, again, playing with one of the puppies. it has been kind of a depressing day so far, so he came here to cheer himself up, but wouldn't you know it? it's just got him thinking about different melancholy things]

[and he just can't help himself but turn on the communicator]

It feels like a lot of people here have adopted animals. I see them out and about all the time. ...How many of you have pets back home?


((ooc: If you want to have caught him earlier in his routine, that's fine too!))

[There's a bedraggled loser hanging outside in one of the sectors today. He looks somewhat disoriented, as if someone brained him in the head with a two by four. It also doesn't help that there's a fat cat clawing its way up his leg.]

Ow, stop that you stupid cat - [He reaches down to try and yank it off by its tail. It responds by biting. oh god someone save him!]

[filtered to Noah]

Road, I found your cat. Where are you?

[Hikaru waves!]

I have an announcement to make!

[Imitates the sound of trumpets.]

I'm going to be making some changes with my current living arrangements. It's just way too boring without anyone around so maybe if there's anyone looking for a place or anything...

But to make this fun, you need to sell yourself! Why should we live together? I don't want any lies. It has to be honest stuff!

[ it's your friendly neighborhood Bookman! and he has something to tell you all, now that he's more or less awake. ]

So, I guess I should assume everybody who was in the English class last time around has completely slacked off. Except munchkin. [ wry ] Man, you all are lucky Gramps isn't around.

Here's the plan, folks. Days ending in two and seven, from five p.m. to six, I'll be teaching a basic English class, starting on day 162. Yuuki, you've got no excuse now. [ he is so winking ] And for people who were bored in the basic class, I'm adding an advanced class on days ending in five and nine, from three t'four p.m. That's going to start on day 165.

If it's all right with Euphie, of course. [ looks ready to turn this off, then remembers: ]

Oh, an' bring pencils and paper. Curse words get taught in the advanced class. [ GRIN /click! ]

[When the video comes on, there is the image of a kitchen on the screen. It's obvious from the looks of it that the kitchen is neat and orderly--normally. Currently the counters are riddled with boxes and bottles. Spices. Food. Cabinet doors are wide open.

In the midst of all of this chaos is a slightly confused and vaguely irritated Zero. The clanging of pots and pans echoes through the microphone as he squats on the floor searching through one of the lower cabinets. He's obviously having difficulty finding what he's needing.

Finally, he pulls out a flawless stainless steel skillet that looks almost brand new-the reflection of a familiar looking short-haired brunette sticking her tongue out at everyone for a moment before Zero tilts the pan and makes her disappear. You all saw nothing, right?

With a sigh, Zero gets up on his feet before addressing the entire dome. He's too confused and lazy to filter to his housemates so he doesn't really care who hears it. He originally thought it was Yuuri, but little things he's noticed in the last few days of living here are leading him in a different direction. Which is confusing the hell out of him because who picks up so many weird personality quirks in such a short time? He'd lived with her for four years and some of her behavior wasn't what he would consider 'normal' for her.]

Just so you know, it takes a lot longer to get a meal on the table when you don't know where anything is. If you want to rearrange all the cabinets, at least come retrieve things for me so I don't have to spend five minutes searching for the flour.

[[Open to participants at the end of Round One!]]


[You wake up suddenly, and you're not where you were. But looking around, you find you're in... your own room. Your own bed. It's dark and quiet, late at night, and any friends and roommates you might have are there with you, still sleeping, or just waking up.]

[But something is wrong.]


((OOC: This mingle will function the same as the last mingle. Sentience will make a "prompt" comment for each new development, and then you respond to them and thread amongst each other. In this mingle you start out separated, so you are also welcome to use your communicators to video or voice chat with each other in response to each prompt comment. But you are only capable of speaking to other people who are in this mingle; you cannot hear, speak to, or communicate with anyone who isn't taking part in the event. So don't tag any other action or network posts on the community if you're in the event!))

[Late afternoon in Sector 3, a slightly-built robot, different from the many that wander the facility, has gathered with a few of the inmates in front of the movie theater.]

[They're planning a party, or so they say.]

[...Within an hour they break away and head to an unremarkable, sealed building towards the dome wall of Sector 3. And then Sentience's party disappears inside it and they are not seen or heard from again for the rest of the day.]


((OOC: The first event mingle. Do not respond to the post itself! Sentience will make several comments over the next few hours. Each comment is a separate prompt, describing the action that's just happened and which is happening. Comment to a "prompt" comment to set your character in the mingle, so that other characters can tag you there! If you want to tag Sentience, Sentience will be making comments just like every other character so that you can interact with it directly.))

So everyone's in agreement that the kisses that happened yesterday don't count, right...?

[Searching for confirmation here, because she definitely kissed more than she intended! One was already one too many. Even a day later she still looks red, and slightly embarrassed over it all. She thought going to bed after would help her forget it all, but instead she can't stop thinking about one in particular. The memory of Zero's lips cause her eyes to dance away from the screen. With a small cough she clears her throat.]

Is that normal for St. Xocolatl's Day?

[With idle hands, she fidgets a moment, before deciding to work on braiding her hair.]

I heard something about a holiday called White Day that's supposed to serve as follow up. Because there was an idea that after the last Holiday this was around the time of St. Xocolatl's Day. Or...however you measure time and holidays here. Please tell me it's not something equally as weird.

(OOC: Still finishing up kissing threads. If I missed one that someone wanted me to tag to poke me about it!)

If this is what it means to be imprisoned for criminal activities, aren't we a lucky bunch? Granted, the last two days was a bit of a buzzkill, but now that I'm one iron ball chain lighter... Seriously? Comfy rooms, endless entertainment, free food and drinks?

Not exactly anything to complain about. [ The lack of a familiar face around here though kind of really sucks. Damon's also worried about Elena back home (and he has no idea what to think about that whole 'he's been replaced by another version of himself' nonsense), but since there's no getting out of the facility anytime soon, he might as well get to know his fellow inmates -- see if anyone strikes him as interesting or worthwhile enough to get to know. ]

Or am I missing something? What's the catch?

[Lovely day for being in any open, common area of the dome, isn't it? Of course there is a chance of kissing bot, but it's always something in the underwater prison.]

(OOC: Check out the OOC post for details. Pucker up! Edit: Links for those with loading problems!)

[Voice - Open]

Hey Miss Kitty, when do I get my encyclopedia? I've got just the place for it.


[Voice - Filtered to Order Members (minus Alma)]

Good news! [don't you love it when Komui is all excited about something?] I finally finished testing on a potion that will let you Exorcists use more of your powers. Temporarily of course, but it's better than nothing right?

I'll need a few volunteers to test it out. Fou, you still up for a spar with the testers?


[Voice - Private]

[unlike his other calls, this one his tone is quite serious.] Miss Yuuki, I have your pills for you.

[Cloud's a patient man. More importantly, he's a stoic man, and though he's better about showing emotion these days, his cues are still subtle, and still rare compared to most people's. Ergo, he must be more than a little annoyed to let all of Marina see his impatience. The signs are small, but many. Arms crossed over his chest, mouth drawn into the tiniest of frowns beneath glowing blue eyes, and eyebrows drawn together in either consternation or aggravation, he definitely has a problem with something. The giant sword sheathed at his back does nothing to soften the picture, and when he speaks, that hint of tension in his arms carries into his voice.]

You know, I had a CO once who probably would have fed us to the Midgar Zolom if we were late for duty. [Hint, hint, nudge nudge, Dean.]