--- [ Closed to Suzaku | DF HQ ] ---

[ It was something that Ryo and his friends had long thought about -- even longer for him, as he had to quell the little touches of doubt that had been hounding him, ever since the Armors had been destroyed. Questions answered themselves as he had gone through the days -- Rekka was still with him; and if its fire is still alive then it might as well serve its purpose.

He steps through the doors of the Defense Force Headquarters to look for one Suzaku Kururugi. ]

-- um. Good afternoon...


--- [ Open | Sector 6 ] ---

[ Ryo took to practicing his forms with his preferred practice blade in the dojo. It's not that it's "his", but it was the one he was most comfortable with, and made sure it's the one he uses for class and for whenever strikes his fancy. Battling invisible opponents had their limitations, so he keeps an eye and ear out for anyone else who might pass by and join him. ]
 

[ Consider yourselves lucky. Diva's good mood has carried over into the new day thanks to all those chocolates she ate. And she's treating you to something very special indeed...

She's putting on a performance from the top of the clock tower for anyone who might happen to be tuning into their network devices or just straying close enough to hear her. She did promise Sanji she'd sing for him, after all, and Diva always kept her promises. At least the ones she remembered.

As the song ends, she holds her eyes closed until the note fades before opening them, an impish smile crossing her lips. ]

Did you enjoy that? I know I did. I should really sing more often~ [ giggle, and she ends the feed. Hopefully, she didn't make anyone too mad with her little performance. ]

((ooc: Don't remember if someone's living at the clock tower, but if there is, feel free to action it up before or after! ETA: Since IJ doesn't like embedding videos, I added it above and repeated it here for you to listen to.))

[See Zinda Blake. See Zinda Blake looking very hungover, rubbing at her temples. ]

Jiminy Cricket, I feel worse than a wet washcloth that's been rung through a meat grinder.

Must have been some party last night, huh?

[Throughout the day, you can find Zinda in her favorite places- The Defense Force HQ, the club, or the bar. Yeah, she visits both. What are you gonna do about it?

Either way, she has no idea she's been gone. Dare you clue her in?]

[There is no mail today, but as always, PM will and must complete her postal duties. She does the rounds dutifully, despite her... temporary problem. At least she looks very cute in a little tiny version of the postal uniform?]

[Though nothing is stopping her from making a video announcement after her rounds! It’s clear what candy PM was snacking on--she appears to be the carapacian equivalent of a very little girl, with big round eyes and teeth too big for her mouth--to the point where she lisps when she talks in her squeaky little girl voice.]

[Video]
Greetings! Um, this is a bad day for it, but the winter uniforms are here. [She swivels the camera around to show two uniforms laid out carefully in the post office, the women’s uniform (sans scarf and yellow leggings) and the men’s, which is similar enough, but has pants. Which may come as a mercy, based on PM’s usual fashion designs. PM’s albino lobster, Castell, is also in view, though he is not doing anything more useful than getting the skirt of the sample uniform wet by walking on it.] I am only sorry that I cannot wear one to better demonstrate the look. Rest assured, if you see the proud dolphin logo on such a garment, you are dealing with an esteemed member of the postal service.

Volunteers are welcome to stop by to pick up their uniforms! … Even if you cannot wear them today due to suddenly becoming a child. Please also refrain from cutting holes for animal ears and tails.

[Click here for pen pal signups. Mail submissions for Day 140 go here!]

[Yet another teenager around Marina really isn't all that big of a deal, right? Frankly, Cain is kicking himself for eating that damn candy. His paranoia-fueled instincts are getting too soft. Next time, other people eat it, THEN he does. Returning to his awkward phase wasn't exactly what he had in mind for the day.]

[Still, he has chosen to hang out by the ramen stand rather than hide in shame. He was never a bad looking kid, after all, just lanky and not filled out with the muscle of adulthood battlefields. Then again, he is hoping for a fairly quiet lunch, so hopefully he won't be too popular today.]

[--though he is curious about how his fellows from the Imperium are faring. Well, if they mock him, they mock him. There's a pretty good chance that he can at least commiserate with Felicia, though.]

[Private to Ibram Gaunt and Felicia Tayber]

[His voice is decidedly less deep, though at least he is old enough for his voice to not crackle TOO badly.]

It’s Cain. Have you two been eating candy?

What's Halloween? There are lots of people talking about it and going trick or treating, but I don't know what those things are. Is that the reason that Akuaku gave out these baskets of candy? They're pretty yummy, but I don't think I like them. After I ate one, everything became bigger! Now, my clothes don't fit me anymore.

[For those wandering around the park, you'll see a pink-haired toddler sitting on the ground and wearing clothes that are too big for her tiny frame. Somehow, the toddler manages to set the communicator to her lap before glaring at the candy wrappers littering the ground. Not to far from her, stands a basket full of candy that seems to be missing a few sweets]

[ The feed shows a small girl ankle deep in clothes. Her purple hair is in short pigtails, and Chinese-collared shirt she's wearing is obviously too big for her, what with the sleeves profusely rolled up, and the hem falling right above her knees.

A brightly smiling face greets whoever's tuned in! ] Hey guys! I need your help!

I already had a costume planned for Halloween, but ah... things call for a last-minute change. Care to help me pick out a new one that would go with my new size and these~

[ Points to the top of her head where purple rabbit ears have sprouted, and she twitches them accordingly~ She then holds up her costumes of choice -- ] I was thinking of going as a fairytale character with white pants, of course, or just wear a cute dress like this one, or this one!

Other than that, anyone going out for trick or treating tonight?


(( OOC: Here be an aged-down and bunnied-up Kohran! Please assume that the girl replying to you is 8 years of age with rabbit ears at the top of her head~ ))
 

[At first glance, you might not recognize the human teenager with light hair. He looks nothing like the stoic, stone-skinned and wire-haired man who sulks around in a mask, and he sure acts nothing like him. The boy is smiling, ear to ear, his joy almost infectious -- something one would never see from Zelgadis Greywars. At least not before his "cure."]

[He might be seen running through the park or playing in the water at the beach. Or lying on the grass in short sleeves, just enjoying the crisp weather. You could find him in the pizza parlor, devouring a pile of slices and a stack of sodas with gusto. Or maybe he finds you, eager as he is, for once, to just talk to people and shake their hand.]

[After all, it's a wonderful day.]

[ Defense Force HQ ]
Alright, I'm off! [ Subaru might not have been assigned any shifts today, but she still wanted to help around where she could. Plus, she had to finish presenting her findings about the Shelter's current emergency exit strategies, and how she'll hold drills in the future. She pauses at the door to wave goodbye to whomever is in the front room. ] If anyone needs me, I'll be at the skating rink tonight -- everyone's welcome to join in if you want! [ And she looks pleased as punch to announce this as she steps out, hoping to have some new faces show up tonight. She can be stopped if someone has a question. ]

[ Sector 5 ]
[ Subaru can be spotted in a tracksuit, with a large rods balanced on her shoulders. The back half of the metal stick has skates slung over it in pairs bound together with their heavy laces. It looks to be about a dozen sets... Her other arm is dragging along a big cooler.

She's headed straight for the skating rink, and she's singing along under her breath to something upbeat playing on her headphones. But if she spots someone headed in the same direction, she'll mute the music and at least say "hi!" ]

[ Skating Rink ]
[ The rink has been converted from an ice skating floor to a roller derby track as it often is when Subaru visits, but tonight there are no obstacles. She's sitting on a bench, the extra skates laid out next to her, and just waits for company. In the meantime, she'll be calling everyone who expressed interest in skating in the past. MOMO, Kohran, Fou, etc. Hopefully everyone has some free time to at least pick up their custom skates, if not take them for a spin!

Also, because skating works up an appetite, that cooler from before is stuffed with cold cut sandwiches and bottles of water for anyone who's in the rink and needs a snack! ]


(OOC: Can be action or voice, if your character wants to respond to Subaru's call. Though I'd like to handwave most of that if they'll just be showing up anyhow, if I can. Thank you~ )

[After some research, it turns out that Diva's second Chevalier is indeed missing. Even the one was dangerous, but there may never be a better time to act. And as much as Saya wishes it weren't so, the last encounter showed her that she can't do this alone.]

[What she can do though is make sure that the person who helps her won't get themselves killed in the process. And she has a whole crew of potential people... plus a boy who she knows. Asking him privately seems a little personal, so she just adds him to her filter.]

[Filtered to Defense Force (minus Conrad) + Sasuke]

This is Saya Otonashi. I'm hoping someone who hears this will be able to help me.

[deep breath, Saya. It'll be okay, somehow.]

I need some help with Diva. [all the DF members should recognize her name from the watch list, at the very least, if not the incidents where she turned two inmates into her slaves.]

[And so she waits for replies. She'll have to screen carefully to make sure any volunteers will be able to handle this -- and formidable though the DF members' abilities are, most of them can't hope to hold their own against one of Saya's kin.]

It's getting colder, [her voice is doubly detached; her words said without any particular interest.]

Does every world have a snowy season?

[Anya's absconded to the park for the afternoon. She sits on an otherwise empty playground swing, but not really swinging; just idly kicking a toe at the pebbles every few moments as she flips through the pictures on her PDA. As expected, she won't say no to company.]

[ action ]

[ Currently in a front of a convenience store, Setsuna stands there with a faintly blank expression. But if one can look harder, he's actually pondering about something.

Pondering. While drinking out of a milk carton.

He's thinking about what he could practice cooking for breakfast today. He's getting sick of butter and toast. Plus, it's about time that he moved on from just toasting bread. ]

Hm.

[ A light glance to the side, he notices one of the bots pass by peacefully. He would ask the bot for thoughts, but... they don't even eat. It would feel silly.

... He'll just make a short network inquiry instead. Afterwards, he can properly shop for what he needs. ]


[ video ]

[ Setsuna slightly lowers his milk carton down. Though, the straw is still visible in view. The background clearly displays the front of the convenience store. He remains with that unchanged expression. ]

Marina Asylum. Good morning.

[...] I wish to inquire: What is your preferred breakfast?

[ and a tinier voice, while eyeing to the side (he didn't mean to mumble this one): ] Do the bots eat?

[ rise and shine, Marina. it's barely morning, but you can find Kanda in the training hall in Sector 6, wearing a tight sleeveless top and loose pants, for once out of his Exorcist uniform. he's getting in some practice, going through forms, and occasionally swinging Mugen, his sword, sharply through the air.

come on in and say hi, or get your spar on! he'll be here for most of the morning. ]

[good evening, Marina! As the artificial sun cruises on towards the artificial horizon and the shadows begin to lengthen, someone has finally finished setting up a small table outside of a lovely home in Sector 4. On the table, several different kinds of autumn vegetables, including beets, carrots, turnips, and and cabbage, are carefully arranged. The garden, seen behind the table, takes up what was once the large front lawn of the house. Around the base of the table sit a collection of ripe, orange pumpkins (of course).]

[WV is standing behind the table, wearing a beaming smile despite his arm still bandaged in its sling. He addresses the communicator:]

Greetings, fellow denizens of this prison! My garden was first begun and subsequently tended to in an effort to lead a more self-sufficient existence. I trust that you will all be inspired by its successful Earth cool-season yield. Please, do visit and admire the vegetables, and select some to consume in your homes.

Yeah, I'm not buying into the whole "inmate" thing, no matter what this stupid computer says. I'm not a criminal and I'm willing to bet there are a ton of people here that this things's wrongly accused, too.

[ yukari's muttering to herself, wandering around one of the hallways and seemingly completely wrapped up in whatever it is she's doing. which ... is getting lost. at least it's not that dark any more; darkness is a yukari's worst enemy, don't you know? she could be down by the cafeteria, or the library, but she'll basically be wandering around all day, so feel free to have your characters bump into her at any time in any place because her insatiable curiosity is going to drag her around everywhere. especially the shopping area. ]

Hey, so—What's the deal with this "Sentience" thing, huh? What kind of mistakes did it make? [ there's a pause as she leaps out of the path of one of the bots, a curious expression on her face. ] Ugh, and what's with all the robots? This place doesn't function like any prison I've ever heard of. This seems more like... I dunno, some kind of weird vacation facility or something. Seriously, what kind of prison has a dance club?


( ooc: oh my god this is so, so so so so so so late. i got hit with a monstrous sinus infection literally the DAY after i ooc intro'd that knocked me flat on my ass, and since then i've just been laying around being pathetic. but now that i feel a lot better, let's do this thing!!! *w*9 )

[It may be early, but Cloud looks like he's been up for a few hours at least. He's already dressed in his usual black ensemble, sans sword harness, and his hair is as tamed as it ever gets (in effect, it looks like he let a bird style it and then gelled the result into place).]

I've been hearing about the Defense Force since I got here, and I'd like to know more. Anything you can tell me, really.

So how did everyone's dates go at the prom? [teehee] I realize it's long over by now, but I haven't had the time to ask, especially with all the new arrivals.

But I kind of miss it... I loved having the excuse to wear a really fancy dress. I wish I could wear dresses like that every day... [le sigh]



[well, time to finish setting up for Madoka's birthday party! it's a pretty modest affair in Orihime's house -- cake and cupcakes abound, with some little snacky sandwiches for anyone who wants less sugary food, and a few balloons and decorations. Yachiru made her a big decorated card and everything!]

[people who bonded with Madoka already are welcome to show up, and housemates Ukitake and Rapunzel are welcome to introduce themselves! Orihime kind of invited Yachiru and Madoka to stay with everyone.]

[ Before one even arrives into the kitchen, they will be met with the aromas of something grainy and nutty, then sweet and milky, enveloped with the distinct scent of strong, freshly-brewed coffee.

For those who know Sasha, making too much food is a habit she still has to shake off. But they also know that she is more than willing to share.

And whether you are a familiar face or a new one, you will be greeted with a warm smile and a bright -- ]

Good morning! Would you like some breakfast?


---------- Video -----------

[ And thinking that perhaps more can benefit from a warm meal to start the day, she switches on her video feed -- ]

Good morning, Marina! I have made some breakfast. Would you like to join me?

[ And there is a view of freshly baked bread and something that resembles pies -- for breakfast, yes. ]
 

[Touma was on a mission. He was determined to figure out the reason why some people had restraints and others didn't. Talking with a few people recently got him thinking about it, so he was now walking around the prison, approaching people and asking them what their crimes were and if they had been restrained when they arrived.

He had a notebook with him, though he wasn't writing in it when he was talking to people. That was too obvious. However, if you caught him between questioning periods, you might catch him making generic notes on statistics. No names, so no worries, just numbers and rough ideas right now.

He was wandering around Sector 4, so he'd be anywhere around there all day.]

[It's been days with little to no sleep, hours of excessive training, and several skipped meals--and what ones were not skipped were lacking--but one would not notice by the tone of Itachi's voice. It's soft, contemplative, just as it normally is. He sits in the kitchen, bandaging burns on his hands that he was careless enough to get.]

Would you consider death an end or an exit? Does death truly bring a cease to events or does it merely rearrange the participants?