[Rogue is in a kitchen making bread dough. Her hands are bare and there's flour up to her elbows. She's got her hair tied back, a smudge of flour across her nose and she looks happy.]

I'm makin' biscuits and gravy from scratch in the dining hall if anybody wants some. I've got one batch that oughta be ready soon.

[The video flickers on and the screen reveals Tamaki sitting on one of the sofas in the shelter common room fiddling with a rose in one hand and looking as though he is in very deep thought. His face is serious for most of the time before he begins speaking, but after a good thirty seconds his expression changes to something between a smirk and a smile while he glances at the camera from the corner of his eye.]

In this world there are those who are blessed with beauty and grace, the greatest gifts God could have ever bestowed upon a living creature. [He raises the rose he'd been holding to his nose and takes a good long sniff before setting it down and turning his attention back to the camera.] I, for one, thank the heavens above everyday that I am one of those fortunate few in possession of such rewards. That is not the message that I have for you all today, however. You see, it is my belief that the duty of these people with such exquisite looks to bring joy to everyone around them in any way they can - a duty which I place before all other things in life.

[Another pause, this time so that he may close his eyes and imagine lines of women admiring him and men doing all that they can to be him. It is a wonderful fantasy and it makes him chuckle lightly.]

A Host Club is a club designed for the specific purpose of sharing this beauty and giving such joy to its visitors - in short it is the perfect setting for carrying out the heavy task of bringing all the happiness in the world to those less fortunate than us! For this reason I have made the decision to establish one here in this prison as some of you may already be aware! [Suddenly, his arms shoot off to the sides as if he were welcoming everyone to step into his arms for a great big hug.] I would like to invite all those who might be interested to join us and utilize your gifts to the best of your ability! I am certain that among all of you watching this today there are plenty who are worthy of the title of 'Host'!

[And as an after thought, Tamaki turns his face away from the camera, brings the rose up to his mouth and just mumbles the next few words. They aren't really something he's proud of.]

We will even accept Hosts of the female persuasion.

[When Cain stepped into the dojo for his morning warm-ups, it had looked like a small tornado had passed through. Which, of course, presented a problem for his class at noon. Rather than tempt his students into contributing to the dojo's unfortunate destruction, or into using the splintered equipment to shank each other, he decides to hold class outside in the open field nearby.]

[Students can find both Cain and Gaunt there, with salvaged equipment on hand.]

Sword fighting isn't just about training the body. If we're going to have any hope of turning this into an art rather than an exercise whacking each other with sticks, it's time to start exercising our minds.

We're going to start with a bit of meditation today. You're going to sit down, get comfortable, and close your eyes. Shed your thoughts and focus on your breathing.

[And after that, the usual lessons in whacking each other with sticks will ensue, with Gaunt as a guest/co-instructor!]

--
((OOC: Specify the time of class in your action headers~ Cain's classes are, as always, mingle-style, so feel free to tag with each other as you please! ...Though Cain might threadjack to make :| faces at people who start whispering during the meditation portion.))

[ On one of the pews near the front of the open church, two figures sat. One, dark-haired in a trench coat, sitting straight and contemplatinve, while the other, lighter-haired in a rumpled jacket leaned his head on the other's shoulder.

Or perhaps they're just looking around, going about their own ways, looking at the stained glass and watching those who come and go... ]



(( OOC: Joint post for Castiel and Gabriel! The thread between them is closed, but do tag in and just say which angel you'd like to talk to! ))

[Touma laid out on the grass of the park. His hands were folded under his head, giving off the impression of him being relaxed. However, as he stared up at the projected sky (which he appreciated the thought of whoever came up with that idea, even if it wasn't quite the same as the real thing), his thoughts churned.

He'd already decided that the welcome basket (good cookies, by the way) and the message from their 'warden' meant that this wasn't another portal problem made up by Mukala. And, seeing as how this really did appear to be an underwater prison after all, he knew he certainly wasn't in Africa anymore. The fact that he had lost Nasti, Jun and Shuu was troubling to say the least, but he couldn't do anything for them now from here. He had to get home first.

And on that thought tangent, where was 'here'? Where were they? Who had created this Acumen? Was there a way to access the programming? Was there access to the outside world at all?

He had studied the small communicator after waking up, fascinated by the technology. It hadn't taken him long to figure it out. With only three buttons, the functions were very simple for him. He clicked it on, deciding to get right to the point with what he wanted to say.]

So this Acumen computer... it's an artificial intelligence , right? A program? Has anyone tried getting it to short-circuit or something to send us all back? Computers can be overloaded, you know.

{OOC: I have icons of Touma in his armor and undergear because, well, they spend most of the series in that, so those make up most of the screencaps out there. However, like Seiji and Ryo, Touma does not have his armor. So, ignore that part and just go with the facial expressions. XD

Also, he's already finished off a good portion of the cookies in the basket. XD}

[this feed begins with a rather determined looking face, belonging to a rather determined girl. she's in front of the koi ponds, seated nicely on one of the rocks.

did I mention she looks determined?]

From what I understand, many people here have been wrongfully convicted. It is one thing to convict a Princess of a country with little warning--but it is another thing entirely to convict several innocent citizens with no prior trial.

There are circumstances concerning our crimes. Sometimes they are a necessity. It is for this very reason that one cannot simply take things into their own hands, deciding the fate of so many people on their own! If people wish to be tried and participate in your punishment, then it should be an option that is presented to them. A choice.

Acumen--I speak to you, personally--these actions are unjust. I ask you to see your wrongs, and cease this behavior!

[she pauses here, looking less determined and more calm.]

To the people who are here--thank you for both the pamphlet and the welcoming basket. They were extremely helpful. If there is any way I can assist here, please, do not hesitate to inform me.

[and with that, the video finishes. she sighs, a bit shakily, looking to the koi pond behind her.

how the heck did she end up in *prison* of all places.]

Denizens of Marinaland, [meaningful cane pointing here,] I greet you as your new overlord. Follow me.

[He's on video, but he's going to start walking regardless. You better be following. :|]

My legend dates back to the twelfth century.

From the looks of you, you are all in serious need of conditioner and top hats, but I will excuse your poor manners for the time being. [He's had ample time to observe and judge, after all.] Now tell me, which one of you will be my wielder. Single file, one at a time. I will be inspecting your lapels for quality assurance. The nicer the lapels, the more capable the man.

[He flicks his own, for emphasis.]

-- gah ?!

[ The flashing lights through his eyelids jolts him awake from a fitful sleep. For a minute, he thinks that a portal has opened again to swallow him, and take him back to the crystal caverns of Tanzania, only to remind himself that he was on the flight home back to Japan.

But last he checked, he was on a plane. In his sleepiness, it took a moment for the prison's welcome message to register, as he was half-expecting a flight attendant to tell them that there was some turbulence and that they had to fasten their seat belts. But the turbulence turned out to be the pounding bass of a dance track, the cushion he was resting on is a leather couch instead of the plane's seats, and the darkness was no emergency light shutdown of a plane, but the flickering strobe lights of a Club.

The welcome message just swam through his eyes. He knew the words, but they do not make sense to him. Not yet. And so fumbling with the buttons, he opens the communication channels -- ]

H-Hello? Shuu? This isn't funny-- Touma? Seiji? Shin?

Damn, don't tell me this is another stunt from --

[ He then rises from his seat, and realizes the presence of the restraint. And more to himself than anyone --]

I have got to get the hell out of here.

[-- who knows if the others were captured into this Marina prison too... ]


(( OOC: Catch him in the Club, or on his way out~ ))

[ Around noon, the robots that had been swarming the beach scatter, leaving a transformed landscape in their wakes. There are volleyball nets set up in the sand, along with colorful umbrellas and blankets beneath them. Part of the water has been sectioned off for water polo, while inflatable rafts in fanciful shapes are ready for use in the open area.

Ringing the beach are food stands serving street and festival foods: chin chin, takoyaki and taiyaki, aloo tikki, sabikh, empanada, hot dogs, ice cream and shaved ice, and suchlike. There is one stand where a robot serves an alcoholic punch not completely unlike sangria. Several of the other stands also serve non-alcoholic drinks. Clean up robots zoom from place to place, picking up garbage. ]

Good morning! [ When Ashton addresses the feed, it's with a sheepish expression on his face. The floor of the training hall is visible behind him, as is one very wrecked training dummy. He has a towel over his head because this morning's session with Conrad has been particularly hectic, so he's dripping with sweat. ] Um.. I have kind of an odd request. Does anyone know how to make stronger practice weapons? I'd keep using the ones they provide at the dojo, but... well...

[ Here he holds up a wooden practice sword, but the tip is wrecked, and the spot where the guard should be looks as if it was ripped clean up. There is a huge, fading bruise on the top of his palm where he holds it. It wasn't even Conrad's fault -- these weapons aren't designed for people like them. ] See what I mean?

I don't want Mr. Cain to have to keep replacing these for me.

Well now, it seems like Acumen isn't all that bad after all. I mean, apart from the whole imprisoning people for life bit. Apart from that, he seems agreeable enough.

[The voice currently coming across the communicator might be familiar to a few people, but the face certainly isn't. The background of the video looks like the outside of the hospital, for those with sharp eyes.]

Though announcing our requests across the whole network seems a bit... tactless. Anyways, now that I'm able to properly introduce myself, I thought it might be nice. You know, get friendly with all the new neighbors, since we'll be seeing a lot of each other. And I'd really love to meet each and every one of you.

[Mostly to see who he could form a new life link with, and who would be best for terrorizing, but that's besides the point.]

For those inquiring minds, I'm Captain Hazama of the Novus Orbis Librarium's Intelligence Department. I'm sure we'll be getting along just great here. Hehehe...


((OOC: Hazama has his body back! For anyone who wants to run into him in his ghost form at the hospital before he gets it back, that's fine too, just put that in your subject line.))

[ Yes, it's that time again, Marina. Jeanne's smiling face is viewable, with a blank TV screen on its stand to one side of her, and a whiteboard to the other. ] Hello everyone! I just wanted remind everyone -- especially since we have so many newcomers -- that my sign language class is meeting today in a half hour. It's going to be a short lesson, just to see how everyone is doing so far, or to introduce new students, and also...

[ And here Jeanne should have filtered it, but neglects to. ] I'll be hosting another spa gathering for all you ladies out there. For those who've never been, my name is Jeanne Fránçaix, and I do this from time-to-time because I think it's a great way to relax, trade ~gossip~ and just get to know each other better. It'll be at the public baths in Sector 6 as usual, starting at around 5!

[ She puts a finger to her chin. ] Hmm, I think I should try to make these more fun with themes, or something like that, but I don't really have any ideas. I'll look for your suggestions when you stop by. [ A wave. ] I hope to see many of you later!


((ooc: Three sections to this post for contacting her! Voice calls, during Class with Jeanne or to mingle with classmates, and Spa for a thread with just Jeanne.

The entire rest of the post is for Spa mingling, and open to all women in Marina -- or party crashers, since she didn't filter this. Have at it! /o/ ))

Here's a thought. If you find a loop hole on how to beat the system, how about you go ahead and don't talk about it over the network like an idiot.

Just a little public service announcement from me to you. Hold the applause. I'll blush.

[Good day to make friends?]


(OOC: Feel free to run into Kitty out and about if you'd like. She'll be hitting up the training hall and the shelter kitchen for some breakfast and some random points in between.)

[A certain returned spirit medium appears via video at the Training Hall, though something is a little off about her. Specifically, she looks rather unsteady, but nevertheless smiles at the camera as if nothing is wrong.

Nothing is wrong, after all, other than this mysterious migraine that just started out of nowhere.]

Um, has anyone seen Missile hiding around? I tried looking for her for a while, but whatever she's hiding as, she isn't reacting, and I haven't found two of anything yet...

[There's a brief pause, though she leaves the message public still.]

Oh, and sorry, Jennifer, but I don't think I can make the picnic today... Something's come up. It's nothing big, don't worry.

[Shortly after finishing this, Maya winces quite visibly, even through the smile, though that sinks a bit as her eyes go wide at something unseen and not in the direction of the camera.]

Mother...?

[Looking back up at the camera, Maya blinks in confusion, forces a smile again, and reaches for the buttons on the side of her communicator.] Oh, um, talk to you later... [The video quickly winks out.]

((OOC: She's been canon updated through the end of the third game.))

[ Waking up with no recollection of having gone to sleep wasn't strange for Jade. It happened so often that it didn't faze her as much. No, the first thing that came to her mind was "Where am I?". And well, she read the pamphlet after noticing it. She was so not a criminal! Who do these people think they are? Jeeeeeeez...

After playing around with the communicator the little book had described, she decides to actually use it. With a simple button press, the communicator turns on and the image of a young green-eyed girl appears on the screen. ]

Hello? Is anyone there?

[ Oh gosh please let there not be actual murderers here. Please please please please. ]

[The video feed opens to the side of the dome, smooth polished glass tinted blue from the waters beyond. A hand comes out to touch it -- a hand made of what appears to be blue-grey pebbles? Some of the darker ones, interspersed throughout the flat slate of the rest, shine a bit in the artificial light.]

[The hand sweeps over the glass, almost thoughtfully. The feed then shifts, the user setting the communicator on the ground to reveal a tall, lithe figure swathed in beige, complete with cloak, hood, and cloth mask covering his face from the nose down. And a restraint, of course, so heavy that it’s bowing the floor beneath it. What you can see of his face is more stone, his eyes framed by yet more dark blue rocks. He ponders the dome for a long moment, then reels back and delivers a very hard *punch* with his stone hand, all his two thousand pounds of weight behind it.]

[Nothing happens except for a spectacular noise. The stone man reaches up to pluck off his mask, stroking his chin.] Hmm. Must be a magic seal of some sort.

Date-A-Kanji

It doesn't have to make sense, but somehow it happened. You'll find yourself to be in Kanji's hometown of Inaba or the nearby Okina City, though parts of Marina may interlock all the same. (For instance, going to the butterfly pavilion from school, etc.) What shouldn't work will find a way to work, but that's not the point. The point is, you're on a date with Kanji. Maybe your first, maybe not.

Feel free to specify if you have a preference! & Take liberty with the setting as well. Some possible ideas include the school rooftop, Chinese Diner Aiya / Marina's Ramen or Pizza shop, the Pavilion, park, Junes, a festival or something once celebrated in marina (lanterns on your mind, anyone?) or anything else! ♥

[Setting up the field with cones, net of a couple of soccer balls to the side, Ken is just in the middle of his usual routine in doing some self-drills. Though since attending Neil's soccer class, he's been hankering to have others play too, and thus he recalled two people he needed to call...]

[Voice/Private]
Hey, Roxas! Vagabond! Uh... sorry for the short notice but, if you guys aren't busy today, care to join me for some soccer? Can't promise an all-out game but I can teach you basics.



(( OOC: Anyone is free to come over and play with Ken (or talk to him about your feelings too, he's a good listener |Db I think! Also pardon the lack of details as mun is nowhere as good as her muse when it comes to soccer. '''orz ))

Don't you all think that Acumen would be a lot nicer if it were in love~?

[The feed comes on with Ashura sitting calmly, mostly his face and shoulders shown and not much else, so it is hard to say where he is, but it is some place quiet.

He pauses for a moment, as if waiting for a crowd to quiet, then begins.]

I realize we have many new members joining us, and some of us have been here for longer than we care to remember. And it has occurred to me that we all know so very little about each other - be it our pasts, our names, or even the worlds we call come from. As a general rule, a people usually share a common past and culture, making a sort of unity between them that sits beneath the usual interplay of individual personalities. And those who follow a different culture are looked upon as oddities, or even with fear.

Being here, in Marina, with so many people from so many different worlds and cultures, I thought perhaps as a whole, as a... people, we might come to understand each other better if we understood each others stories and powers. I would hope that it would provide some unity between us, or at least make it easier for us all to get along with each other and coordinate when times call for it. That being said, I am willing to be the one to compile information anyone is willing to share about their culture, their people from their world. You do not have to speak to me, and this is only mine own idea of what I think might help us all, but I am sure this will work for the better of us all.

And in the spirit of this, I offer up my own story first....

[There is another pause, a breath, and he begins - ]

( Ashura's Story )

[He pauses again, taking a deep breath.]

I am available through many means if you wish to tell me your tale, and through my new understanding of technology can hopefully compile them and allow for all to access. I hope this proves to bring us together, or at the least make this place more liveable for us all.

[He stays on the feed silent for a few seconds more, then turns it off.]