What a day. Well, at least all this is taking my mind off people disappearing. [Gino's smiling, though, if not terribly broadly. he's noticed Anya and Kallen's disappearances. he's just focusing on the important stuff, heading up to the education center to pick up some things, carrying an umbrella even though the rain is trickling off]

So, about my first self-defense class! Can I get my students' votes on whether or not we want to hold it in the dark and the fruit-punch rain--

[but he glances up. what's that shape blocking out the stars, rapidly growing larger]

That's-- Holy--!

[he dives out of the way as the ground suddenly shakes, a tremendous crash thundering through the communicator. Gino pries himself off the pavement after a second and glances up at the -- immense pizza that just smashed to the ground just outside the education center, as far as he can see, blocking the entrance to the school]

.........you... you know what? Self-defense class is canceled. Uh, and, can my -- DF guys keep a watch out for more like this?

[The beach has been taken over by festivities! Amongst the plethora of buckets and shovels for the sandcastle competition, the snorkeling gear, and the beach volleyball setup, Cain and Jennifer have worked hard to get everything set up and ready to go in time for the guests to arrive.]

[Fortunately, the food was acquired earlier in the day, and so there is plenty to eat--burgers, bratwurst, fish, grilled vegetables, and an unfamiliar but tasty-looking steak that, if questioned, Cain will cheerfully explain is from grox, a "domesticated" giant lizard from his time.]

[But there are also snacks like chips and pretzels, along with a small variety of sides like potato salad and bread. Further down the table are the cold (non-alcoholic) drinks, complete with ice, and a few desserts. They are all set to go on a buffet-style table not too far from the grill, dutifully replenished by Jennifer.]


((OOC: Event-style post! Threadjack as you please. Party crashers may or may not be tolerated depending on how much Saya gets to eat before their arrival.))

Good afternoon. Ah, I do hope I'm not interrupting anyone's luncheon.

[ a polite pause, as if to give you time to finish chewing, daub your mouth with a napkin, or otherwise prepare to be interrupted. then, so mild it almost doesn't sound careful or calculated: ]

I have a question, you see; merely an item of curiosity, and of course answering is completely optional. [ ♥ ] What would each of you call your... station in life? Class, occupation -- title, if any? Nationality? Species? Sex? Gender? And so on.

...I'll start, shall I? My name is Jade Curtiss, my class is baron, my occupation is military in nature, my title is colonel, and I hail from the Malkuth Empire. Human, male, and masculine.

[ cheerfully ] And I do apologize to the prison's more senior inmates for the almost certain redundancy.

[Rayflo has things to do today! Even if he's doing it all at a leisurely pace. The bitemarks have been covered up, but he's still tired. First he's going to Orihime's to pick up his gifts, then to the convenience store for some nice things for Maria--including a cute collar--and then he'll be going to the clothing store to pick out a cute dress for Alessa for her first day of classes! But he also has something else he needs to do which is why he has his communicator set on the network as he walks with Maria sitting on his shoulder.]

Hmm...seeing as we have a nice new mail service, does that mean we can send something to just about anyone?

Anyone mind admitting any letters or presents they intend to send? You don't have to say to who.~

{OOC: If you want to see Rayflo at any of these specific places or in between places, just say so in the header of the comment or be specific in your tag. Thanks!}

[It's Suzaku and Shirley's (surprise) birthday party, being held over by the pools where they usually spend their mornings swimming. There's a large waterslide, a volleyball net bobbing in the water, glowsticks and floats and other pool toys in the water, and the area has been decorated cheerfully.

There's also a breakfast buffet, provided by Lelouch -- with a single, somewhat out-of-place pizza better fight for it, C.C.! -- and cupcakes in lieu of a cake.

This is open to any friends of Suzaku and Shirley, and anyone on the defense force, since... Gino got some of you guys to help set up. Thread amongst yourselves, enjoy!]

Good morning inmates. It is the 71st day of the third generation.

Today, the postal system will be fully operational, and inmates may now engage in one of the oldest forms of communication. All questions, changes of address, and interest in assisting with postal duties should be directed to inmate Peregrine Mendicant.

Tomorrow, the school organized by Princess Euphemia will be open for classes, and the current curricula has been distributed to those who expressed interest. Attendance is not mandatory, though highly encouraged.

...And there is an overall decrease in the amount of silverware and cooking utensils available to inmates. The inmates who are in possession of such utensils are requested to return them to the kitchen area.

[It has been the longest morning, Marina. Longest. And it finds Jun at the observation deck, sitting on a bench and curled around his knees. He's fiddling with his communicator, and eventually, he speaks.]

Hey, question...for everyone, really. When you've had a...bad day, what do you do to cheer yourself up?

[He's good at making this sound like he's just idly wondering, we swear.]

[ooc: Anyone at the observation deck can totally poke the moessiah! You know you want to.]

[After everything that had happened in the morning, Akito's finally gotten around to getting that party he wanted together. The arcade has been decorated and there's food around for anyone who's hungry.

He's a little nervous, but he still wants to do this. With all the bad things happening lately, it'd be nice to do something good, right? Right!

So he'll sit on the DDR platform and watch for people to arrive]


((Event style post is go!))

[Propped into a sitting position in his bed, Fou-Lu rests, recovers, and thinks. Colorfully bruised and bandaged as he is, he's still much better off than yesterday. Between cure spells, his divine regeneration, and a difficult night's sleep, he looks only miserable rather than death warmed over--and given the wounds and blood loss he sustained, were he not Endless, he certainly would have been killed several times over.]

[The bulk of the morning had been spent staring out the window, trying to decide how best to discuss yesterday's events with... anyone, really. Between the slumber party and those who avoided going outside thanks to the monster threat, he has a far smaller pool of people to be diplomatic with than he likely would otherwise. Rumors will certainly spread, and if he earns a reputation as a murderer, so be it--that basic title is nothing more than fact, and he doesn't especially care if people fear him. But Xellos had to die, whether or not they ever comprehend the reasons why.]

[Open Voice]

I offer mine apologies to those whom encountered the battle last night, especially if thou sustained injuries due to it. It is my sincere hope that such a scene need not be repeated in the future.

Ye of the Defense Force, and the bystanders--if any has a wish to speak with me, I welcome it.

[Filtered to Minako, Amaterasu, Zelda, Lacus, and Ryu.]

I am in thy debt. Shouldst thou ever require my aid, simply ask it.

[Filtered to Ashton and Jennifer.]

I've retrieved their remains.


((OOC: The Xellos fight log is still in progress because Lena is sick and will be out for the next several days, but since we already know how it will end (with a big dragon, character death, and the retrieval of Gyoro/Ururun's remains), I'm hoping we can handwave the precise blow-by-blow details for now? ♥ Action is immediately open to his housemates, but he won't turn away anyone coming by with flowers/candy/questions/counts of assault.))

[It's time.]

[Fou-Lu, in hybrid form, circles through Sector 6, only low enough to be seen in silhouette from the ground, yet not too far from those waiting for the confrontation to begin. Avoiding looking in anyone's direction, he tries a few aerial tricks as a distraction while he mentally prepares himself for the fight. They're half-hearted and sloppy maneuvers, for while he has no fears or reservations about what he is going to do, the repercussions may not be so easily endured.]

[Out of nowhere, as is his nature, Xellos appears a few dozen yards in front of where Fou-Lu is dancing around. His amusement is clear, the only other emotion evident is a very clear challenge.]

Well, well. I see you're looking for me, Sir Fou-Lu. [He bows, tossing his cape, and then glances up, his normally closed eyes opening to reveal inhuman, cat-like pupils.] I am, of course, at your service.

***

((OOC: The first thread will be a CLOSED thread with Xellos, Fou-Lu, Minako, Ryu, Joshua, Ammy, and Zelda. Please note that all property damage will be caused by only Xellos unless specifically stated otherwise. Will contain violence, obv.

Bystander thread is HERE, and is OPEN, treated as an event post (ie, threadjacks aplenty!). Read the first comment of the thread for details as to what your character will see, what sort of rubble and spells they will dodge, etc.))

Good afternoon, Defense Force members. This is Lacus Clyne. [And her normally light voice is deadly serious. THIS IS HER SRS VOICE.]

I'm sure that everyone saw the video spectacle this morning perpetrated by Xellos. I have spoken with several parties and plans are in place to resolve the situation. I'm sure that many of you are rightly angered by such a blatant disrespect for life, as am I.

However, none of you are to approach the subject unless you are personally addressed by Emperor Fou-Lu. Xellos is extraordinarily dangerous and approaching him will put your life needlessly at risk. What we would ask is that members set up a perimeter should any fighting occur, and focus your energies on keeping any onlookers apart from the fighting as well as protecting them from the effects.

Please focus your patrols for the remainder of the day on Sector Six. Thank you.

So, um...does anyone really know what those things were last night? With the fog? They were kind of scary...

[Akito hadn't slept well last night, and since this is kind of his second day on little sleep, he sounds tiredish. But he tries to banish it for this part]

And um. With the festival that was on yesterday...it's nearly July, if it's that, right? So...I think tomorrow might be my birthday. I thought maybe could organise something...since having something fun would be good for everyone, right?

I was thinking of having something at the arcade, so more people could come, and there'd be games and stuff...

Roxas, Xion.

[He was on his way back from the festival, walking for once, when a little more than a few faceless and bloodied creatures showed up around the house. They're moving rather slowly, limping more like, and they don't seem to notice him, but when he takes a step their heads turn in his direction and they freeze.]

Hmph. [Quietly,] Stay inside.

[They're not like the Heartless...but they're still a little more than unsettling to him. Hearing all the commotion over the communicators plus the mist made him suspicious from the get-go, sure, but he couldn't figure out what these things were actually like. There are a few more seconds of silence before he decides to open a portal to try and get into the house quickly. Darkness rips through the air and it's quiet, very--So far so good. They're staying still...so he'll start to back up--

THUMP.]

...Dammit!

((ooc: Being of darkness, killed things, just plain bad=lots of creepy crawlies. If you find him you'll see that he's on the ground and all the Puppets have lashed out and wrapped their strings around some part of his body. And most likely things around him will...be on fire. Have a field day~))

[Fire festival...

There were no festivals in Tokyo-3. The simple task of staying alive was enough to fill every second, and once the Angel attacks began, no one knew when it was safe to be outside and when a state of emergency might be called without warning. Still, she misses Tokyo-3 sometimes. At least everything there was familiar. She feels she's dealt well with all the changes, but that doesn't mean she's always appreciated them.

Currently, she's sitting by the bonfire, watching the flames lick their way higher and higher as though reaching for the top of the dome. She's got a lot on her mind, which is one of the changes about this place that she doesn't appreciate - she never had anything on her mind in Tokyo-3 but work and survival. A simple, cyclic pattern of days occasionally broken by moments of extreme stress, rather than this constant low-grade gnawing at her thoughts. Which is better?

Which is more human?

She curls her knees to her chest and continues to watch the bonfire, the firelight turning her pale skin almost bronze and causing her red eyes to flicker strangely. A festival. Another first.]

[voice // open]
Did someone submit a written application to join the defense force? That is so cute! I kind of want to frame this.

[video // filtered to the defense force, which includes Hughes]
--And he included pictures of his daughter! Look at how adorable she is. [shows pictures of Elysia off on the video]

So how're we doing, guys? Anything to report?

*There is one dhampir again, this time without his ball and chain. He looks quite the worse for wear, ripped up gauze wrapped around his forearms and calves. Every few steps he looks to waver on his feet before righting himself. Getting attacked by the dragon thing yesterday certainly didn't do him any good. Having hid himself for the rest of yesterday, he decides to venture toward the shelter in the announcement.*

If I eat perhaps...I can feel better.

*Will you help out or point and laugh?*

Good morning inmates. It is the 68th day of the third generation.

Due to the damage suffered yesterday, some sectors will be undergoing repairs and the abilities of the responsible parties will be further restricted. This is the second incident in as many days, and unacceptable. Inmates, if you are unable to restrain yourselves, this system will have to do so for all of you.

... On a lighter note now, a Midsummer Fire Festival will take place today. It is an event meant to celebrate the hottest season, so the facility is decorated accordingly, traditional drink and food available in the kitchen and club, and a bonfire present in Sector 6. The remote units stationed there will handle any interference. Finally, at nightfall a multitude of fireworks will be set off, completing the traditions by igniting the skyline. It is inadvisable for those with the ability to fly to do so at this time.


[[ooc: Sure enough, the prison has been decked out in bright, streaming blue and orange decorations, and flowery wreaths. Some streetlights have been switched into maypoles with colorful ribbons in various locations, and getting to close to one may bring about the desire to dance. A large bonfire has been set up in one of the empty fields in Sector 6, heavily guarded by sentinels that will subdue any that attempt to mess with them or the fire. Enjoy!]]

( Filler action part lalala. )

[He turns on his communicator, looking worried.]

I... I think I might have hurt some people. I don't really remember it but...

[He sighs, looking down.]

I'm really sorry...

[The Peregrine Mendicant has taken the time to make herself more presentable--a good scrubbing in the bath to make her carapace shine, and a change of clothes into a multicolored pastel dress. She seems a little nervous at first, but her confidence blooms as she continues to speak.]

Greetings once more, Marina Asylum!

My name--well, title, but it functions as my name--is the Peregrine Mendicant. Once upon a time, I was called 'Parcel Mistress.' Despite the circumstances which lead to my exile, the delivery of letters and packages has remained my true calling. I have long understood the mail to be a beacon of civilization, and it would be a great honor to shine that light upon the dark depths of this ocean. For no matter how dire the situation becomes, for as long as a dedicated postal worker still lives and breathes, the mail will always be there for you!

Acumen, however, is not convinced. She... he? Does not understand that there is more to mail than a smattering of words stuffed into an envelope! Surely you all know better. Surely you can recall a postcard from family, a love letter, a well-timed package of treats! So please, let me hear your opinions and thoughts. If you have questions, I will gladly field those, as well.

Thank you.

[Ryu could do nothing but fly. So fly he did, in his hybrid form, until he spotted something to attack.]

[Anyone getting close to him would see that his eyes were blank, and he looked as if he was incredibly angry.]

[Approach? Trial of the dragonnnnnnnnnnn!]