It's been nearly two weeks, now. Really- I've tried to be understanding. Crime must meet punishment for the functioning of society, as weak as this punishment truly is. Corrective containment without the reinforcement is all you need in a bubble full of petty thieves and murderers wet behind the ears.

It was quite cute, nearly charming for oh, say, the first few days. I laughed because jokes are meant to be funny, and I certainly didn't want to offend. That would be rude, and a princess minds her manners.

However.

Surely the Almighty would find its time better spent dealing with crimes of a higher caliber.

I tire of all this camaraderie, this friendship that spoils even the bloodiest of hands. Punishment is most effective under fear, power, and brutal authority. You crush until the prisoners can no longer crawl on their own. How I hate to see all this opportunity wasted.

Take pleasure in the relationships you have established here, my fellow criminals! Enjoy this peace- for it is only the eye of the storm! People are nothing more than pawns, and without the proper measure, even pawns will turn and strike.

Speak to me of kindness and of love if you so desire. Soon you will understand how worthless it is in the end- how easily loyalty can be tossed aside by fools!

It is nothing- do you hear me? Nothing!

[ooc | Azula is going off the deep-end. I apologize to everyone I didn't tag in my last post- but I'm getting out of that RP slump, now and I'm back with some fresh crazy :)]

[Minako and Michiru have taken over one of the common rooms for a much needed ~CHOCOLATE~ break! What this means is that they've prepared cups of delicious hot chocolate, courtesy of Michiru, and have a bunch of marshmallows and chocolate and granola crackers for their attempted smore extravaganza.]

[Minako clicks on the camera, grinning.]

Hey Marina! Who's up for some smores? [she waves the bag of chocolate around] I know we just had dinner, but if anyone's in the mood for chocolate then you can just follow your nose. Michiru-san and I will be here all night!

[Michiru smiles.] Everyone, feel free to come by. We have plenty of food.

I've deduced this much of this place:

You all so readily accept your imprisonment, like there's nothing you can do to change your predicament. You accept your fate and attempt to carry on your pathetic lives as if that's your sole purpose in this universe.

Consider it curiosity. What were you BEFORE Acumen? What were your destinies before being kidnapped and brought here?

There are some of you who have questioned about the knowledge of others. As far as I can tell, you've only absorbed that knowledge. You've done nothing with it! If you have the knowledge and the power to change things, then why would you wish to idly sit around and waste your time and energy on mundane things that Acumen says that you can do?

[Raistlin is, as usual, dressed in his black robes. He looks irritated and his expression is peering down at anyone who would be answering the video, almost like he's looking down at them for their beliefs. Raistlin is attempting to provoke a reaction from anyone who responds, though he's still out of his element. He's still trying to understand this world, this technology, and what his role is here. If you answer, he will be brutally honest in his responses, but that's just who Raistlin always has been.]

Good morning, Marina! [Have a very smiley pink haired girl on your video feed!] For anyone I haven’t met, I’m Lacus Clyne and I’m very glad to meet you.

It seems as though we’re all going to be in the shelter today, so we should make the best of things. I was thinking that we should get together and have a big winter banquet! Anyone who wants to help cook should please feel free to come to the kitchens and assist, and if not you should still come and enjoy the food with us.

Dinner will be served at 5 in the main cafeteria, and after that maybe we could have fun playing games and watching movies together. I hope everyone has a good day, and I hope to see everyone at the feast!

[A few minutes later]

I just learned that today is also Ritsuka’s birthday! To celebrate there will be a cake and some special desserts and decorations. [as many decorations as they can find without access to the store.] Everyone please, stop by to wish him a happy birthday!

***
((OOC Notes: Mingle post, open to all! Reply to Lacus by [video] or there are several action options: [cooking] any time before 5pm ICly, [dinner] a huge buffet of almost anything you could want, or [after dinner] for card games, board games, and movies throughout the cafeteria and nearby common rooms! Your character is in no way obligated to be at all of these, but they could be if you want~

Also! A link to Ritsuka’s birthday party will be added once it goes up. There will be cake and lots of special desserts and pretty decorations in one area of the cafeteria.

If anyone wants to intentionally or unintentionally sabotage the food, please contact me OOCly before you do so. Thanks and ENJOY!))

[Sakura is sitting on the edge of the bed and kicking her legs around a little before speaking] If you could have anything for Christmas, what would you ask for? [this is her sneaky way of trying to find out what to get everyone...] I think I'd ask for a new pair of knee guards. My old ones are really scratched up from all the times I've slipped on my AT.

...I'd also like to visit a zoo so I can see penguins and elephants again. [QUICKLY] I don't want them to be arrested though! I just want to see them. ...I'd like to see everyone from back home too. [her legs stop moving] And all the friends I made here. Like Ushiro-kun and Josak-san, and Lavi-san... [ashton nakama kaito teddie kamui kobato adachi fai lelouch everyone. but thoughts like these aren't what she wants right now, so Sakura pushes them away.]

[she moves a hand to her head and moves it forward, measuring her height.] It'd be nice if I could grow a little bit taller too! Taller than my brother. That way I get to call him shortie. [AND STEP ON HIM]

[private]

Syaoran-kun, are you busy? I'm really sorry if you are, but I just wanted to ask you something quickly!

[For Ukitake, the move to the shelter has been poorly timed. He was in bed ill the entire day before, catching what sleep he could and nursing cups of hot tea between naps. His coughing, however, has only grown worse, and by now, he really should be at the hospital. He hasn't slept at all in the past twenty hours. The latest coughing fit is bad enough to leave him wheezing for breath even after it's passed. Telltale stains darken the edge of his sleeve and the palm of his hand. He's too weak to go anywhere on his own, though, and so endures until there is help to be had, much as he has always done.]

[ooc: The thread for Zelgadis and Arianna is here and is closed. I'll wait until both have replied to answer with Ukitake, and we can keep that posting order, if that works for you!

Anyone else who'd like to reply is certainly welcome, but please start another thread. I'd like to ask that any visitors to Ukitake be assumed to arrive after the healers have seen him for continuity reasons.

Thanks everyone!]

[ It's a simple game, but it has helped the blonde kill a good amount of time. Wolfram usually would complain or bitch about being kicked out, but no today. After being shooed out of his apartment and going through the trouble of finding a new empty room —all while dealing with a killer hangover— Wolfram has been sitting quietly and calmly on one of the Shelter's couches and in front of him is a tea table with a rectangle-shaped structure made of sticks of wood. The game may be plain but it's quite entertaining: Pull a stick and place it on top on the remaining pieces– keep on taking them out and keep going on carefully or the structure will fall apart.

Wolfram is carefully pulling more wood sticks out of the wobbly tower, pulling softly and carefully— until he suddenly falters and the whole thing falls apart.

ldksfjlsfj

stupid game. ugh, time to rebuild it all. ]

Out of curiosity, does anyone have experience with alternate realities, transdimensional displacement, and pandimensional travel? I've been there and done that on all accounts, but I'm curious to know how much of a common denominator that is within the prisoner population.

[ tampering with time and other realities is, after all, one of his listed crimes. angel is also not an expert on the scientific how to of dimensional go betweening. he's just regurgitating things fred said that were committed to memory a long time ago. the mystical and supernatural end of that spectrum is more where his expertise lies.

and later in the day, angel can be found in the training hall, going through some tai chi forms. ]

[He isn't quite sure how it came to this, but he is in the convenience store walking down an isle he had never intended to use. Clinging stubbornly to his shoulder in a precarious yet graceful balance of weight and determination is a small black cat. She is a tiny thing and yet she has refused to release in the pet cafe. Her resilience was so obvious that he stopped trying to make her.

This is a very odd situation. A week ago he would have refused her easily. But for some reason in the course of his conversation with the man at the pet cafe and the kitten's refusal to leave him be thereafter...he gave in.

He should probably find himself more pathetic than he does. Give him time and he most likely will.

And that is how he finds himself at the convenience store collecting supplies for a small kitten and then returning to his residence, all the while not sure what he is doing and why this little black animal is intent on remaining with him. Cats choose their keepers, but why this one chose him is beyond his comprehension.]

{OOC: Do not ask me how this happened, it just...happened. Feel free to run into him at the store, on his way home, or when he gets there if there is a reason for you to be at his house.}

[Here's that line-faced guy again, standing very rigidly with his hands behind his back. He clears his throat quietly.]

Good morning. I have a question directed at everyone here, if you would please hear me out.

( Cut for newbie determination to get out )

[He reaches to end the video, at which point he accidentally (?) turns in a way that you get a very brief glimpse of his left arm, and-- is that a trick of the light, or is his fist made of stone?]

[[OOC: Same thing as last time: he looks human, should feel completely human... but if your character still notices something is off, please don't call him out on it in public? And his next post will be as Puck, I swear. And if anyone wants to continue any old threads, go right ahead!]]

[ While the previous classes since Ribbons' return had served to polish the waltz and give the students more ways as to how to embellish their routines, it was time to introduce a different kind of dance; still ballroom, but something livelier and something that can be a passe-partout with more upbeat tunes: the Swing.

The instructors are early, and whoever passes by will hear a jazzy tune -- warm for the otherwise cold weather -- and will see them reviewing their routine; something that hey did not do for the waltz. Students will be expected, and newcomers will be very welcomed. Curious eyes will be seen and might just be pulled in because the rhythm is going to get you~ ]


(( OOC: This one's long overdue, so tag in (before, after, during), dance among yourselves or have Hiling and/or Ribbons bother you X3;; ))
 

[Anyone who walks into the shelter kitchen today will be smacked in the nose by the smell of popcorn. Gino has taken over the place with the stuff and there are at least fifteen bowls at his feet, already filled to the top - and there's more popping in the microwave! Gino looks not in the least bothered by the strong smell, but feel free to ask him what he is even up to.]

Man, Halloween was something else wasn't it? Makes me wonder how everyone celebrates Christmas here. It can't be as crazy as the events Milly used to throw back in Ashford. Probably. Maybe.

Right, anyway. I've got a serious question for you Marina. So think hard about it okay? [we pause for dramatic emphasis]

Red or green?

[context what context!]

[Well, it is morning, Marina. And it is a beautiful morning indeed - or maybe it isn't, Ashura has no idea as of yet because he is still sleeping. You all might notice this in the corner of the communicator's camera, seeing as Ashura has his back and all you see is the top of an ear, long black hair, and a body curled beneath the covers.

What, might you ask, would cause the communicator to turn on?

Well, it might be Ashura's new pet, the song bird from his world. He had yet to take the little creature to the butterfly house, so for the time being it made itself at home in Ashura's warm apartment. And it being the early bird that it was, had woken and decided to explore some. It had found the communicator and prodded at it with its birdie curiosity, and managed to press the button for a video feed. We've all done it once or twice, Marina, don't lie to yourselves and say you haven't.

And what do early birds do besides poke at machinery? They sing.

So you will be serenaded with a lovely song, Marina, early in the morning by Ashura's new pet bird. If only this was a music video. Instead, you get to watch Ashura sleep. Well, at least one thing was nice about this?]

[The Doctor's been behaving himself for a change (more or less), and as the day wanes, can be found seated in the library, pouring over a stack of books. A tower of about eleven books is on his left, and two more stacks totaling twenty-four books in all are arranged to his right. The latter set of volumes constitutes the reading that he's finished in the past hour, the smaller stack being the books he still plans to complete before leaving for the night.]

[Video]

[You are hereby treated to the sight of the most line-faced man imaginable, standing with his hands behind his back on some random street. Wait, you say, isn't this a little late for a newcomer post? Well, he's got a perfectly valid explanation to that. When he speaks, his voice is as flat and matter-of-factly as if he hadn't just found himself kidnapped and given a lifetime sentence at the bottom of a freaking ocean.]

I'd like to extend my thanks to whoever put together the information pamphlet. It's been… enlightening reading. [Beat.] For the gift basket as well. Thank you.

I've listened to the other newcomer posts and I believe I've correctly understood the basics. I have one question, however: what would be the quickest way of getting to know of any changes to our situation?

[Another – long – beat.] It's Owen Burnett, should anyone need or wish to contact me later. [That counts as being personable, right?]

[[OOC: So much for not spamming the comm. So yes, this is Puck, formally introducing his favourite OC to Marina in case he ever needs an alter ego. He's 100% human at the moment, but characters with such abilities may still see what's up. Just please don't out him in public?]]

[A tired-looking Ukitake is on his way to the shops in Marina, intent on procuring a few supplies in advance of the snow. He's bundled warmly in several layers of clothing, once again wearing traditional Japanese garments suited to his status as head-of-house for a noble family of minor standing. He's in search of some additional blankets, a fresh supply of tea, and a few medicaments that should help him to endure some of the difficulties the colder weather might cause him due to his already poor health.]

[ooc: Hiatus, might lag, but aiming to meet activity. :) Thanks for being patient.]

[Ashura was up early already in anticipation of receiving his little gift. It had been something to look forward to for three days now and he was not about to be late to receive it - it being a small, brightly colored bird from the pet shop, a bird he recognized on sight as the small birds from his world that sang so beautifully.

So he was stepping out of the pet cafe, having paused to snag a candy from a nearby dish, popping it in and swallowing. He did have such a penchant for treats.

But that meant when he stepped out of the cafe and into the morning sunshine - he sparkled. Yeah. SPARKLED. You know, like those vampires in that one book? He shimmers and shines with each movement, and with the fact he is wearing a light, lovely blue, well, he might well resemble a creature of ice - or diamonds. Of course he notices once he steps out, and for a moment he cannot figure out if it is something on his hands or actually him. Perhaps it is a trick of the light? Acumen was known to do such things when it came to holidays, and it was this Halloween thing again. Maybe that was it? It did not hurt him at any rate, and his skin felt normal enough. It was just shiny. Deciding it would go away on its own or be washed off, he decided to ignore it in favor of introducing his little pet to its new home and headed for the park so that he could then angle for the butterfly house.

So perhaps you might see the king walking around with his new pet, sparkling like a character out of a bishounen manga.]

[ooc: So Ashura got hit with the diamond candy and he does, indeed, sparkle. And he sparkles SO MUCH HARDER than Edward or any of those other vampires B| Just sayin'. He's got the Bishounen sparkles going on. Oh yeah, it's a challenge Tamaki Suoh. You know it is. BEAT THIS. Haha, but seriously, sparkles, has a bird, walking around. Enjoy folks.]

[It starts off quiet, nothing but darkness and your average dull broadcast--he left it on last night after getting home late from the bar--but after a while there's a loud shriek.

This is what he gets for believing that things would be all right this Halloween. Candy. Stupid candy!

There's the sound of pitter-pattering feet a little ways away before he picks up his communicator and thinks of who to contact about this...but then he realizes that the video feed is on.

Great. Say hello to a female version of Axel, who appears to be a little more than distraught after noticing these changes in the shower. While he's hungover.

A pair of droopy and now wet bunny ears rest atop his head and he's frantically trying to squeeze water out of them and hold the communicator, and hold a towel around his new and improved busty body at the same time. Holidays.

The voice that follows is lighter than normal, but clearly he's ticked off.]

Is it too much to ask for a regular holiday in this frickin' place?

((OOC: Lol "Accepted" is a funny film. Also! he'll be taking on a couple bunny-like traits to go with the ears and tail. Having lived with a female bunny who constantly wants babies for a year now, I kinda get what those would be. NOT TO SAY THAT HE WANTS BABIES. I mean like. Cleanliness...and demands for snuggling. That sort of thing. :D))

[ The feed flicks on to a very undertain face, like he's still getting to know the place and the communication device. He looks like he's about to speak, but clamps his mouth shut. Then he puts a finger up, looks like he is about to say something -- with conviction! -- but sighs instead. With a lopsided little smile, he looks at the camera in earnest. ]

I'm about to have uh... a strange little request here.

[He enunciates every word. He really means business.]

Can someone please say, "April Fools!"? Or maybe, "You're on Candid Camera!" or even, you know, wear a sideways baseball cap and rush me with a camera crew and say, "You just got punked"?

...

Please?

[Heavy sigh, as his face takes on a look that's more peeved than earnest.]

Barring that, I'm looking for a guy named Dean. Man, we need to talk about your car.


(( OOC: Someone's got a taste of some MEMORY LOSS CANDY, and is now reliving his first day in Marina! THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO TROLL THE TRICKSTER, GUYS! >8D ))

[This? This is the tiniest confused whimper of a baby godpuppy who doesn't know where she is. Ammy the puppy goddess can be found near the entrance to the shelter, chewing worriedly on her communicator, which is transmuting her whimpers across the network. Where is she? This isn't home...]


((Ammy + candy = disaster. Age down and memory loss combo. Have at!))