[ hops back, out of Jun's reach to catch his breath. he's not sure how long they've been sparring in the park, but it's enough he's stripped off his uniform coat. he hasn't pulled out his hammer yet.

puts his communicator back on. ]

You gonna teach me or not, man? [ goading grin ]




((ooc: Sob, my hiatus. Open to all, after Jun tags!))

[ Link is sitting at a nice spot in the grass, near that lovely tree. There's a basket of apples placed on his lap. For the moment his eyes are closed. ]

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

[ He opens his eyes, looks at his basket, and caaaaaaarefully picks out an apple after much internal debating. Once this incredibly important and necessary process is over, he flicks open his switchblade and proceeds to peel it. ]

(ooc: Link peels...apples...like a boss. APPLEPIE! go get him 8( )

[Here's a face that's been missing for a month a few days. The headset appears to have turned on when Jun dropped it, and he picks it up from a pile of musical notation papers.]

Aahhh, no, no, get back here...

[Headset and somewhat sheepish-looking Jun, get! Closer inspection will reveal he's not at his house, but near a certain place in Sector 3. With his violin. Because he is a dork.] Right, um, I guess it's showtime.

[And with that, he begins to play. Sadly, the mun can't write music, much less play it, so she must ask you to imagine a song with a fairly upbeat tempo, cheerful tones with just an underlying bittersweet melody. But that part's very subtle.

If one were to hear it, it'd probably be pretty good. Not Vivaldi or anything, but still pretty good.

Enjoy.]

Night was falling, the smell of spices were in the air and Jennifer was busy putting the last finishing touches on all the hard work everyone had done to get the athletic complex decked out and festive.

Walking through the front door, you'll see a table where you can put all your presents on for now with a tree sitting behind it. Don't worry, the bots will make sure no one but Jennifer takes any gifts off the table! There's also a series of volunteers ready and willing to help you out of your coats if you need it, but otherwise, please don't hesitate to shed off a few layers.

It might be a little warm if you don't.

Inside the main entrance, Jennifer's taken care to section off the room into the main dancing area and a stage salvaged from the Valentine's Day auction off to the side for the performances later on. Surrounding the outer edges, are tables and settees salvaged from the Shelter so that those who wish to watch can do so in comfort. Do be careful though. Scented candles are lit on each table to provide a soft light to balance out the harshness of the lights over the dance floor.

And of course there's food. Punch and egg-nog and shrimp and cheese and a myriad of other finger foods. There are cookies decorated with frosting and lemon bars and cranberries and a giant bowl of sugared dates. Marzipan is scattered across the table and a small gingerbread house sits as a centerpiece, but the cake is the main attraction.

But the cake comes with a price. Anyone who wants a piece, must do what it says on the toothpick first. Have fun! And no cheating. Someone might be watching to make sure no one does.

Music is already playing and Jennifer's leaving things up to the host club to make sure people start dancing, because what's sadder then a ball with no dancing? Do make sure to enjoy yourselves. It's why we're all here!

((ooc: The first thread is for the cake game and will list various things you must do. The second is for performers to do their act so we can group reactions together in one spot. And last, mingle, threadjack, and have merry with whatever your characters want to do in the rest of the post!

As an ooc gift meme was suggested instead of actually threading out every gift exchange, we will be doing that instead, but we highly encourage you to still seek out your gift recipients and build CR in the post as you will.

Also, mistletoe can be found neatly tucked inside wreaths at the main entrance to the Athletic complex and also from the cloak room leading into the dance hall. Be nice! Ask permission first.))

ETA: Directory (Edited 12/28 10:30pm/22:30 EST/-05:00 GMT, new marked with ***)

Cake Game: Reply to Cake: Midori - Mistletoe Cake: Road - Dancing Cake: Ryu - Dancing Cake: Otoha - Singing Cake: Wisely - Compliment Cake: Alucard - Dancing Cake: Orihime - Ornament Cake: Hikaru - Mistletoe Cake: Yuuki - Song Cake: Kaworu - Mistletoe Cake: Milly - Dancing Cake: Tyki - Mistletoe Cake: Hiling - Mistletoe/Dancing Performances: Reply to Performance: Naoya Performance: Lacus Performance: Choir Individual: Saki Individual: Ryoji Individual: Peregrine Mendicant Individual: Wolfram Individual: Zelda Group: Kaworu, Hiling or both Individual: Himawari Individual: Feferi Individual: Cain Individual: Jeanne Individual: Ashton Individual: Midori Individual: Cosmo Individual: Fou Individual: Greed Individual: Minako Individual: Eridan Individual: Orihime

Individual: Fran Individual: Allen Individual: Tyki Individual: Chibiusa Individual: Hikaru Individual: Dean Individual: Harry Potter Individual: Wisely Individual: Axel Individual: Kamrui Fuuma Individual: Ushiro Individual: Maleficent Individual: Kaoru Individual: Zelman Individual: Yuuki Individual: Kyouya Individual: Joshua Individual: Yuuri Individual: Sam Individual: Zero Individual: Kitty (aoa) Individual: Juri Individual: Alma Individual: Lavi Individual: Milly Individual: Rinoa Rain of Flowers: Sakura Individual: C.C. Individual: Takashi Jun Individual: Suzaku Individual: Kanda Individual: Jade Individual: Duo Individual: MOMO Individual: Kitty (evo) ***Individual: Ciel

[Christmas Eve. Which meant that Allen's birthday was...tomorrow. Which in turn, leads to Jun out in the snow with a messenger bag full of ~surprises~ for tomorrow....and a bouncy coyote puppy.

That he's attempting to teach to carol. It's not going well, but they're both having fun, no?]

[Early in the morning, just before the announcement, Allen is cozily asleep in his bed. He stirs a little restlessly at a sudden sensation on his face. Something -- poking him --]

Cut it out, Lavi. [mumbled]

[but he snaps awake when an unfamiliar voice responds] You mean Libby?

[And the communicator cuts in briefly on Allen flailing and shrieking like a girl as he knocks his communicator off the bedside table. You'll have about five seconds to see Wisely leaning over him on his bed before the video cuts out again.]



((ooc: backdated slightly))

[ a young man standing straight, adjacent to a desk some of you might recognize as Gino's in the DF office. he's only nineteen, but his expression is all business and it has the effect of making him look older than he is. mature, responsible, and there's just something in his eyes. ]

Good morning, everyone. For those of you who are new here, my name is Suzaku Kururugi. I'm currently head of the Defense Force here in Marina. The Defense Force is here for your protection, and you can also address any questions you might have to us. If you need help, with anything, you can come down to our HQ and ask -- or you can use your communicator to direct a private message to "the Defense Force". The communicator knows who we are.

If you're interested in signing up to join the Defense Force, please let me know. [ a pause, because how to say this, and then: ] We have civilian positions open as well, if there's anyone who's good with computers or details.


[Filtered to current DF members]

...Please report. Several of our people have failed to appear for their scheduled patrols, and I'm sorry -- but Marina needs Defense Force members it can depend upon. I know we're a volunteer organization, but we've also been entrusted with the means to protect people here and that is a duty I hope we all take very seriously.



((ooc: This is both a recruitment post AND a roll call. DF members who don't respond to this post will be removed and have their weapon confiscated! (Hiatused characters excepted.) Please remember that you must be willing to be involved with DF activities: if another player needs to plot with the DF, you and your character should be ready to volunteer. If that's not something you can do, please don't join, resign ICly, or let Suzaku take you off the Force. Thank you!))

[Someone is lost in the butterfly pavillion. Someone is lost because he can't see. Someone's not happy. He clicks on the video and...scowls, faintly.]

...This is going to get really old, really fast. Hey, I know there are ma--[--wait no let's not say that where people can hear] people with supernatural abilities, can any of you please let something harmless go off? I need to check something.

...[So he woke up this morning and found out he'd managed to sleep through an entire day. He didn't think he'd used that much energy. But, even so, Jun's voice doesn't really sound sleepy, just deadpan, and he's bored...bored, and a little bit curious.]

This is a bit of an odd question to ask out of the blue, but since everyone is from different worlds, what kind of music do you listen to? Well, if you listen to music at all.

[...That last sentence pains him, but he has to include it.] Also, is music an everyday part of life, or is it mostly just for special occasions?

[ooc: Tags will be slow, BUT I WILL GET THEM, GORRAMMIT. >:O I MEANS IT. Also, consider this blanket permission to threadjack all over this post if you should feel like it. Cheers.]

[Minato carefully looks around the beach. There's no sunlight peeping from that overcast sky and the sand was a bit cold to touch. He rubbed his fingers together, looking to the side where Sentinels were slowly patrolling.]

[He wasn't sure of this idea anymore to be honest. It had sounded great in his head, but now that he was actually outside in the cold he was starting to have second thoughts.]

[......]

[But his courage is badass, so Minato reaches down and pulls off his shoes and socks, shrugs off the scarf and jacket and shirt, slips his pants off over his knees, and tries vainly not to shiver too much in his swimming trunks.]

[Because it's never too cold for swimming. Right?]

[Jun is...currently completely unaware he has a shiny new twin, and for the most part, he's in a good mood. Neither of his classes are today, there's a whole bunch of new arrivals and it's been at least a week since he music'd at the network at large.

He's brought the violin out to the butterfly pavilion, and he's playing--something calm. People could use that after the last couple of days, right?

...Of course, he wasn't planning on getting jumped on by a puppy partway through.]

--Aya! [Fffff who's a good music disrupting puppy? Yes you are!]

Ah, if anyone wants, I can probably do requests...I'm not sure I can play everything, though.

[He's just.....going to stare past the screen at his surroundings. For a long time. GUESS WHERE MINATO WOKE UP. Yup, shower stall.]

.....This is prison?


[ooc: go and find him in the shower stall. you know you want to. and I'm so sorry Kay and Li for changing my intro post u_u.]]

[ The screen is greeted by an annoyed face. It's very annoyed. It's extremely annoyed. It's the face of a man exhausted and simultaneously struck with a great indignity indeed. ]

Whoever messed around with both my lunch and my room is in for it. Isn't the 'warden' supposed to keep it's precious inmates in relatively good health?

[ His scowl deepens, and his eyes narrow in mingled weariness and pain. ]

Where's the nearest first-aid station? I don't need a migraine on top of all this.

[Swish, dip, splash.]

[Ryoji's up to his elbows in dish water -- unfortunately literally -- but that doesn't mean he can't say hello! The camera is propped up a bit away, and he'll grin at it disarmingly.]

As punishments go, this could be a lot more interactive! But I guess now that I'm a prisoner, I really shouldn't complain, right?

[Brief pause as he finishes scrubbing one plate and sets it to the side.]

I'm Ryoji Mochizuki. We're supposed to introduce ourselves, right? [Little laugh.] Since we're stuck here and all.

[ she doesn't know Wisely's name, so she doesn't have a name to private to. That's fine, she'll just yell angrily at the network anyway. ]

You - you freak with the white hair! If you -- if you ever come near me again I'll kill you. So don't even think about showing your face. Better yet, just crawl up and die!

[muffled] This is why I don't understand why psychos are allowed to run freely in this stupid place--tch!

[ lying on a sofa in the arcade room after playing her twentieth game. Hey, she's tired. ]

Something's occurred to me.

[Jun's expression is perfectly blank, because he's tired and totally not plotting anything.]

By the way time works here, today is Naoya's birthday. I'm sure he'll enjoy as many people as possible wishing him well, possibly even singing to him, from over the network. He's shy, so I wouldn't do it in person, unless you're really good at dodging geta.

And on that note, does anyone know how to make cake? I know the robots can, but this sort of thing requires a...personal touch. [And Jun can't cook for beans.]

[Naoya's wandering around in the graveyard before class, dressed in a costume (without the toy gun and cigar). He looks mildly amused, at least.]

It's that time of year, according to this place's time? Interesting.

[He stops and sits down amongst the graves, looking rather comfortable.]

Here's a question, my fellow inmates. What does 'death' mean to you? Aside from the purely biological definition.

[Heh. A fitting question, at least in his mind, for this time of year. Happy birthday, indeed.]

[Saki's sitting up against the window, watching the shadows creep along the ground outside. Naoya's stupid cat is curled up in her lap and she hasn't shoved it off yet. She's going a bit stir crazy in this house, but wandering out would probably be worse.]

How's everyone doing? Is anyone hurt? [Concern? Nah. Curiosity.]

[... okay, maybe a bit of concern. don't tell anyone.]

[She's been doing as Jun said and hasn't ventured outside, instead having gathered all the flashlights she could find and made sure the shelter's first floor common area was well lit. Hopefully none of the batteries will run out...]

If anyone needs healing, come to the shelter! [THAT MEANS YOU, JUN.]

[The video clicks on with a loud crash. After a moment or two of static--that is probably due to the face Jun just hit a wall--the video clears up with the communicator on the ground. When it clears, it's staring up...and up...at a terrible, stitched thing with way too many arms and heads and everythings. There's a very close view, because said thing is trying to pin Jun down, to get to pulling him apart.]

Gu---ahhhh! [There's a sickening popping noise as his shoulder dislocates, but he manages to get a hand free--and snarls, a strange ring to his voice.]

Get off of me!

[The screen goes white in a brilliant flash of light, and there's a scrabbling sound as the communicator is picked up, before the video is turned off.]

[ooc: While the communicator is off, Jun's dialogue is in Japanese, but the intent should still be pretty clear. :Db]