[If you want near the recreation center, or the training halls that evening you might here the sound of crashing, breaking--animalistic growls of frustrations. More beast than man.

You might see the punching bag go flying or the dummy getting splintered into chips of wood. The equipment is meant to withstand the force of someone has angry--hurt, afraid--as M-21 is at that moment. He had searched, called, and hunted down all the leads he could find, but the fact he had to face.

M-24 was gone. Again.

De--

--He punches the bag hard enough it cracks the wall behind it. Stares for a few seconds, almost as if he doesn't even notice the damage. He looks down and notices that without even trying...his hands have changed...thick fur up to his elbows, sharp claws curling to dig into his own palms as he clenches them. That hasn't happened subconsciously in a long time. He's not controlling himself.]

...You damn idiot.

[He doesn't know who he's saying it to.]

[This was the third time she found herself by the surf of the beach, relaxing on the sand as the waves produced a calming affected over the young master. Aqua let out a long sigh and slowly bent her neck side-to-side, stretching the muscles before rolling her shoulders to loosen herself up. She's kept herself busy with work on the Defense Force but needed time to keep up with her training which was of top priority. Plus she needed to see what shape Ven was in…

The last time she saw him, he was in a coma and hidden away for his own safety. The memory of her friend in a deep sleep chilled her to the bone and made her suddenly stand up, shaking away the sand from the blue sashes of her outfit as she pushed the memory away. 'He's here now," she told herself. 'Safe and with you.'

Speaking of which, she should see if he was on his way for sparring practice...]

Ven? Are you close by?

[A pause in thought before she spoke again.]

If anyone would like to join us for a little sparring, you are more than welcome to. Please meet with us on the beach.


((OOC: I'll break up the threads into three parts: Spar with both Aqua and Ventus, Spar only with Aqua and Spar only with Ven. That way, you can have a tag team of keyblade wielders coming at you or you can just fight one-on-one! :D))

That baseball game was kind of fun. But I heard that there weren't going to be any more for a while, is that true? Why is that?

[specifically, he enjoyed Suzaku's team losing, but. hey, it looked like it was almost as fun as soccer! but it seems like it's too late to look into it now...]

[after a beat, kicking back against the inside wall of the clocktower]

--Hey, Anya. I want to show you something. Are you free?


((ooc: shortly before "sunset"))

[Good day Marina you are gifted with this stunning blue visage for once. He knows he may get some flailing at his skin tone but you see, he has a purpose for this, because there will be a much bigger distraction in a moment.]

So, I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. [Is he serious? It's hard to say, he sounds almost too sugary sweet and that smile on his face is far from innocent.]

While everyone was out last night I took the time to get familiar with the dome and some of it's sectors. It looks like some of you have made yourself at home outside the shelter... That's nice. [He's not trying very hard at sounding like he's happy for you. ]

But what I couldn't believe was the fact I saw an actual MANSION as well. I couldn't help myself of course, I had to go check it out. And guess what I found?

[The camera moves off of him, being careful not to give away his location, to point at the stuff he's got laid out over the floor. Some of you folks might recognize the gadgets -- it's mostly gadgets, like a radio or other, more odd looking things -- or clothing and... He picks up a handful of pictures and fans them out. There's a bunch of the host club members in them it seems.]

A certain someone has a really strange obsession of collecting pictures of people. I think he was even keeping data on them... [And back to him with a pointed look of mock concern into the camera. We have a weirdo in this prison WATCH OUT! Then a snicker and an all too satisfied grin.]

I'd watch your backs Marina and.... maybe keep a better eye on your stuff too. [A wave before he reaches over to turn the feed off.]

---

[Helix will be gathering up most of this stuff and shoving it back into a pillow case. Some of the clothing and other items he took from the stores are staying, but the stuff he took from other people are being hidden away for the time being. He'll just be slinging that pack of stuff over his shoulder and carrying it out to the hiding spot he staked out earlier.]

Upon entering Sector 4, the very large tent that stands framed by the beach is quickly noticeable. Closer, one can see colors dancing upon the white sheets, like opalesque spires under the moving onyx sky. As you enter one of the wings of the tents, grass give way to wooden flooring, and chains of white blossoms and gold ribbons line the sides. The open dance floor in the center bids one to look up to whimsical white-gold lamps, balls of light dancing in seas of violet, blue, green and pink organza. The fabrics fall down pillars adorned with leaves and flowers. Tables set in white and gold with jewel toned flowers sit at the four wings surrounding the dance floor.

... but it is far too early to take a seat. Smile and greet your fellow attendee, take the hand of a friend, and dance to the music.



There are large tables with finger foods and punch (not spiked -- save it for the after-party!), and very little space near the walls (sorry, wallflowers! You won't get away so easily. ♥ )  After a large number of people are gathered together, Jeanne stands up on the small stage set to the side of the dance floor and taps on the microphone to get everyone's attention...



OOC STUFF
+ Info post / thread index (please read this first!)
+ Jeanne's greeting speech!
+ Prom King and Queen announcement. (Spoiler: It's Euphie and Kanda.)

[ A short while before the prom is scheduled to get underway, Minako and Orihime take up their posts: lurking at the main avenue into the prom, looking for their victims! The two girls are hanging around outside, looking for solo arrivals and third wheels that they can put together into couples for the big event! ]

[ If you wander too near them, you might hear them calling out to you -- or find them grabbing your arm -- or notice them dragging someone else over to you with big smiles on their faces. ]



((ooc: In this post, introduce yourself to your designated date for the evening! Here is the list of partners, and you can direct questions there!

It would be great if you put your names in the subject of the first comment so that your partner recognizes you. ♥ There is also an optional thread for Minako or Orihime or both to wrangle you~! You can handwave it if you prefer. Please limit threads here to the actual matchmaking, not just socializing: Minako and Orihime will also be at the prom for your friendly chatting needs.))

[ a certain someone can be found kneeling in a Marina garden. he's wearing plain clothes today, not his habitual Order uniform, and working his hands in the dirt. his expression is distant, his blue eyes unfocused, and his gardening a little bit inattentive.

he just wants the feel of soil on his hands: the clean, slightly damp sensation of working at a long-time hobby, one his muscles know as well or better than his brain. it's nice not to have to think.

communicator is OFF, but it will still translate you if you come interrupt him. ]

[A video sudden appears on the feed revealing a tilted image of a young woman's shoulder and a part of her face as she mummers softly under her breath. The muffled sound of fingers pressing against the plastic can be heard over the audio as the communicator is flipped around and examined at all angles. In the background, the rushing and rolling waves can be heard indicating her location is somewhere along the beach in Sector 4.]

... I should read the rest of that--

[The sentence is cut off with a loud thud when she sets the communicator on her lap, the mouthpiece brushing against the steel of her boot. The video now reveals her face fully; bright blue, iridescent eyes scanning over the pamphlet. One hand is brought up close to her mouth with her brow furrowed as she is deep in thought.]

... hmmm.

[The newcomer looks down at the device with skepticism before picking it up and placing it properly on her head. She sounds hesitant, at first.]

... Am I really stuck here for good? Seems no different than my previous residence.

[A chuckle and then a sigh, her gaze wonders to the side towards the water. Perhaps it's the shock that causes her to fall silent but she makes no move to end the video, her thoughts elsewhere.]

Ventus sat out on the balcony of the apartment he was sharing with Aqua in loose shorts and a t-shirt. It was not quite the window seat he had back in his own room (if you counted your bed as the window seat, which Ventus did), but it was close to it. He looked up at the 'sky' of Marina, wondering if he would ever see a real sky again. He had only been here a week, at most, but still - it felt like a long time with all that water pressing down at the ceiling and the sides. Even with stars at night and a sky in the day, he could never quite forget where he was - and perhaps justifiably.

He reached into his shirt and tugged out the green star-fruit shaped pendant Aqua had given him. He kept it with him at all times, whether in his pocket or in his shirt, it was always somewhere near him. It brought him comfort when he was separated from his friends, and probably more luck than he could say. It had brought him back to Aqua, even if the, uh, place of their meeting was not the most encouraging.

He turned around and poked his head back into the apartment.

"Hey, Aqua, you up yet?"

[Roxas is sitting on a bench by the park, with a small blue PDA in his hands. He is perusing it with great seriousness, because he honestly has no idea how anything like this thing works. Almost literally the only technology that he has ever handled before this moment has been his communicator, and that only has three buttons on it.]

[Under his booted feet is a skateboard. He is rocking it back and forth a little idly while he attempts to learn the ways of his new toy.]

[He's waiting for someone, but you can come run into him, or contact him over the network here!]

[Everything hurt. He felt like he was defrosting, and when he looked down at his hands, he guess he kind of was. He was dripping water, mostly because of the ice melting from his armor and his hair. He shook his head, clearing the haziness, ice crystals flying as he slowly straightened up off the grass he was laying on beneath... a tree?

Had there been trees before? He didn't think so. Not in the graveyard. There had been nothing in the graveyard but desolation...]

Aqua! Terra!

[He jerked up, groaning and clutching his head as a headache spiked through it. He looked around, not recognizing a thing, though he did spot what looked like... well he was not sure what it looked like. A visor for your eyes? What he didn't know was that the communicator was recording him as he slowly came towards it and the welcome basket beside it. He poked at it briefly and then looked back around, eyebrows drawn.]

Aqua? Terra? Are you guys here?

Guys? Guys?!

[His voice rose a bit in the start of restrained panic as he looked around, grabbing the visor as he did, stumbling to his feet, steaming as he defrosted, looking around.]

Is... anyone here...?

[ooc: Fresh meat. That is all.]

[Aqua's in the shelter kitchen, going through the fridge and cupboards in the attempt to make the ultimate mocha. Maybe if she can get Roxas to wake up long enough to drink it, it'll help? Even though Acumen said everything would wear off, you'll have to excuse her for worrying about sleep-related effects on people who look like Ven.]

[While she's at it, she might as well make breakfast and take a portion back for him. That should help, too.]

Is anyone else awake?

[The video shows the beach, where Aqua is standing across from Roxas, watching patiently. He says] --Okay. I'm ready now.

Alright. Do it just like we practiced.

[He straightens his back. He's holding Oathkeeper in one hand and he braces himself, tossing the keyblade up into the air. It spins in the air and when it reaches the height of its arc it transforms, seemingly effortlessly, into a strange flat shape. Roxas leaps into the air and lands on it, righting himself -- balancing as if he's on a skateboard or a surfboard.]

[Aqua looks surprised for a minute, but recovers quickly.]

That's perfect!

I can glide! [to the communicator, gleefully] Are you seeing this?! [swaying a little deliberately on the keyblade glider, making it move]



((ooc: Video can be for either of them and may be threadjacked! Aqua was also down at the beach, doing a little carving, before Roxas got there. Feel free to go find her there in an [action] tag!))

[Orihime is in the playground in Sector 4, idling on a swing in a kimono top and leggings, rocking back and forth a little and spinning in a slow circle. Edward is chilling on the swing next to her.]

[She's supposed to meet Sasha here so they can do some baking together back at her house, but she rather likes this place. The empty playground sort of suits her mood at the moment.]

[Still, her voice is unfailingly energetic when she asks,]


What kind of ice cream would everyone want to be in a real ice cream parlor? I know we can get ice cream in containers at the store and everything, but we need a 31 Flavors or something so you can actually go and get all sorts of ice cream treats and where the ice cream is made fresh every day~

So what kind of ice cream would you want? And what other treats? I'll get a list together and then I'll ask Acumen for it so he can see how many people want ice cream!

[one very pissed off donna noble is in the park with one very important goal of not letting anyone get some peace and quiet until she finds out what's going on.]

Oi! What the hell is going on? This supposed to be another one of them computer simulation perfect world things again? I didn’t get out of one them just to fall back in again! You lot certainly ain’t foolin’ me! And this one isn’t even slightly convincing. Didn’t even try to make me forget my memories or anything. Shoddy computer this one is.

[she blinks as she realizes she's gotten a little sidetracked, and the rage is back]

And what kind of perfect world is set in a prison? For that matter, this sentence is the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard of! Killing that wasp-man? I had to! It was about to kill Agatha Christie. I'm not about to let a giant wasp kill Agatha flippin' Christie! Let me go! Doctor! Where the bloody hell are you?

[He hadn't heard from her in a while. He'd checked the life signals while at the Defence Force HQ, but he - no, surely the machines had been wrong. Right? So now he's asking - anyone he can.

Because Hermione can't be gone. She just can't. She'd always been talking about finding some way out and why nobody had left a note and surely she wouldn't have just disappeared, would she?

... Yeah, the kid's in pretty heavy denial right now.]

Excuse me, has - has anyone seen Hermione Granger?

[He's trying to keep the fear, the desperation out of his voice, but it's not working too well.]

[There is a comically overburdened loli squirming her way in the front door of the DF HQ, holding trays of veggie sticks, fruit, and other assorted terribly healthy foods. Given that it's raining, she's come all this way balancing an umbrella to keep her and her bounty more or less dry-ish.

The mission today? Feed the DF healthy immune boosting food so they won't catch ill in the rain. As she finally gets inside, she manages somehow to turn her communicator on:]

[Filtered to Defense Force]
If anyone wants a yummy snack, I've brought lots and lots to headquarters. If you're on patrol in another sector and want one, I can bring something out to you. Thank you for all your hard work, everyone!

[It might be raining now and making the paint on him run slightly, but that's not stopping Akito from sitting under a tree and watching the rain come down. After a moment he flicks on his video. The teen is very thoroughly paint-splattered, and his hair is an interesting shade of green]

That was fun~ [He giggles a little] You know, even though I've been here for over 100 days now, I still like it here. I wouldn't have changed coming here at all. [Humming thoughtfully] With all the friends I've made and everything that's happened...I like it here too much. Going home would be sad.

[He hums some more thoughtfully before flicking a filter on. The rest of the post is filtered from Kaito and Gazelle, as well as Lind]

Yuuri-nii, Jennifer-chan? If it's okay, when you have some time...can I talk to you? Something...weird happened. [He rubs his neck, still unsure what to make of everything] I found out something about Onii-chan and...neh. It's really weird.


((OOC: Hiatus people don't need to reply now~ Aki's just wanting to talk to someone he trusts))

[the video feed clicks on to show what looks like a very determined, disgruntled individual. He's frowning at the screen, before he opens his mouth, letting out a loud, resounding--]

Objection! What evidence do you have that I committed any of these crimes? I don't remember being properly charged or a proper trial taking place! You-- you can't just ignore procedure and-- anyway, a life sentence for those crimes? That's ridiculous!

--and I don't even have children! [he sounds almost plaintive; some could say... whiny? for the final sentence.]

--I demand a retrial!

[private to AXEL]

Hey-- [a beat of pause. there's just the tiniest bit of awkward, but he brushes it off] Are you doing anything for Xion's birthday?



[and, a little while later, OPEN but FILTERED FROM Xion]

Xion's birthday is today! I wanted to know if any of her friends wanted to help me put together a party for her tonight. You don't have to help, of course; all of her friends can come. --And anyone who feels like wishing her a happy birthday, I guess.

I've never tried to put together a party before, so I could use any help I can get. Does anyone have any advice?

Oh-- and don't tell her I told you!