[ Sarah Jane might have made a bad impression with all her shouting in her first post, but this time she's determined to attract positive attention. She's smiling, bright and enthusiastic. ]

Do you know what we need here? A newspaper. The network doesn't have everything, after all. Wouldn't it be nice to know the news? We could do classifieds and advertising too! Whatever people are interested in. It could be like a club or a class.

Is anyone interested? Don't worry if you've never written for a paper before, I can teach you. I used to work for a newsmagazine at home. Journalism is my calling.

Oh, and we'd want photographers and copy editors and the like, too. If you want to help, we'll find you a place. So don't hesitate to get involved!

[ With another bright smile, she turns the recording off. ]

[Sector 3 is a popular destination for entertainment! People may be interested in seeing a movie at the theater, getting a drink or singing karaoke at the club, playing games at the arcade, or dropping by the Brave Vesperia headquarters -- on business or otherwise. In addition, Sector 3 has a lot of apartments and small houses; maybe people are just coming and going on their daily routine, or you might be seeing a friend who lives here.]

[Everyone who might have passed through Sector 3 today -- morning, noon, or night -- is invited to thread out a chance encounter here, or a date, or a gathering of friends. Just tell everyone where your character is and what they're doing, and go!]

[ (But if your occasion takes place after dark, remember there was a bomb threat if that's relevant to your character.) ]

HI!

[See GIR waving very happily at the screen! He's in the park right now this early in the morning, circling around trees and trying to figure out which ones are his breakfast trees from before!

And he may or may not be watering the grass with orange juice. You know, just in case the grass will grow into breakfast grass.]

Does anybody know how to cheer up Acumen~? He's bein' a little silly poopy pants all by his-self!

What he needs is a friend~~

APPARENTLY THEY LET JUST ANYONE TEACH A CLASS AROUND HERE.

... EXCLUDING PEOPLE WHO ARE DANGERS TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS, I GUESS.

[ pause. Um, what is he supposed to say...? Have some uncertain wibbling - he's really not good at the whole communication thing. ]

SO, I'M TEACHING A COURSE CALLED TECH SHOP I, WHICH STARTS THIS AFTERNOON. IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT BASIC PROGRAMMING AND ELECTRONICS, AND THE FINAL PROJECT IS BUILDING A MINIATURE ROBOT. THERE ARE SOME PREREQUISITES FOR PEOPLE COMING FROM LOW-TECHNOLOGY WORLDS, BUT IF YOU'VE USED A COMPUTER OF ANY KIND BEFORE COMING HERE AND ARE OF AVERAGE HUMAN INTELLIGENCE THEN YOU'LL PROBABLY PICK IT UP.

[ ... He thinks that has it just about covered? Hopefully people will come. Um... ]

IF NO ONE COMES I'LL PROBABLY JUST SIT IN THE CLASSROOM AND BUILD AN ARMY OF TINY ROBOTS, ANYWAY.

[ So you might as well attend, because maybe then he'll give you an important position in his New Order once he has conquered Marina with matchbox-sized robots. ]

[ Wandering around the snowy park? There are two things to look out for: (1) don't trip over the bright orange ropes that close off a large open area, (2) take cover and watch for a stray snowball, and (3) ... you know, you might want to join in for this is a Snowball Fight.

Only guidelines: no weapons, no head shots, no stuffing snow down someone's mouth, collar or anywhere else uncomfortable. Play to your heart's content! Spoiler: there's no winner.

Warm drinks and snacks are served in a nearby tent (ah, thank goodness for space heaters!), while towels and blankets are also available. You might want to take advantage of the snow as well -- make snowmen, snow angels, your own sculpture as you wind down~ ]

( --- OOC Guidelines; PLEASE READ --- )
 

[Well, here she was in Sector 5. She planned on trying one flavor a day just like Gear had suggested, but that was easier said than done when there were so many to choose from in the first place! Her eyes drifted from flavor to flavor as she bit her lip in concentration; she was only going to get one shot at this, after all. One self-imposed shot, but a shot nonetheless.

Still, it wasn't like she could stay here forever. It was cold, after all! Even with her coat on she still knew that much. Maybe she could ask the network...]

Hey, I want to ask all of you something! If you met someone who never had ice cream before, what flavor would you tell them to try first? I'm just curious.

[Asking for help straight out? Never. That request was still punctuated by a muffled sneeze into a handkerchief, however.]

[ The camera shows a young woman in her early twenties with a frustrated, almost pouting expression. ] Doctor! Doctor, where have you gone? This pamphlet says I've been arrested. I've got a gift basket! It's completely ridiculous. [ She holds it up and then drops it unceremoniously. ]

This isn't funny. [ She scowls. ] If you can hear me on this thing, you'd better come pick me up.

[ And with that final statement (just missing the heavily implied "or else"), she turns the camera off. ]

[Jack opens his communicator, turns it to video, and stares into the thing without even the slightest problem. He's dealt with communicators before. Many types. There were only so many different ways you could build a communicator before only needed the slightest hints to work one.

The handsome man that appears before you is looking rather calm, for being a newcomer, and if you know him at all, for being Jack. He turns the communicator a couple times, then offers a smile.]

What kind of planet is this? A prison planet? Can't say I haven't been to a few in my time, but... this was pretty abrupt. I didn't even get to see who captured me! [He might have been able to "persuade" them to let him go, after all.]

Well, down to business. I don't suppose any of you fine ladies and fine gentlemen could give me a few pointers here? I wouldn't want to get lost on my first day.

[Sounding rather like he has just arrived at his first day of school, his eyes trail to a bot beside him. He flashes it a charming enough grin, muttering to it for a second, then returns his attention to the camera.]

These guys don't seem quite as fun as flesh and blood people anyway.

[ On the video screen: an expression-less gold-plated robot, who adjusts the focus of the video several times, fussily. ]

Hello. Hello, is this thing on? [ He taps it. ] All right. [ He straightens proudly. ] I am C-3PO, human-cyborg relations. I am a... recent arrival to this planet and only seek to be of assistance to the residents here. I am fluent in over six billion forms of communication and would be glad to assist in issues of protocol and diplomacy.

[ And then he sighs -- or at least, it sounds like a sigh, even though he doesn't have real lungs. ] Oh, what's the use? I'm sure I'll be in pieces before morning.

[ On that despairing note, he turns the video off. ]

[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!

[Frederick is out of the borrowed room with the announcements and has determined that he is going to figure out where his friends are in the shelter. Meeting others wouldn't be such a bad thing either. Never mind the fact that Frederick took off without anyone else...

So Frederick is rolling around the hallways of the Shelter, peeking around corners and into the common rooms. Unfortunately haros aren't very good at stealth. He pauses in his quest to look around]

Hello? Hello?

[ooc: Frederick, Lyle's haro, is out exploring. Feel free to encounter him anywhere in the shelter. Lyle can also join later in the thread if you want, but for now, just the haro]

[...quietly]

I have been giving a great deal of thought to the incident a few weeks ago, and your -- opinions on what happened. I think I have decided that I cannot excuse what the Engineers do in the name of entertainment. It feels like -- an abuse of their power.

[after a beat]

I understand that it's unlikely that most of you would be willing to help me. But -- is there anybody here who would be willing to act... as...

[another pause. almost embarrassed]

...my bodyguard?

[If you feel like wandering into the Shelter kitchens for a midnight snack, you’ll get a bit of a surprise: there are small tea lights scattered around on counters and floors, lending the dark room a soft, warm glow, and, just beyond the doorway, there’s a techpriest seated on the floor with her legs tucked underneath her. Her head is bowed towards the room’s interior, her hands are clasped in front of her face, and she’s softly reciting a prayer. A dish of incense burning close by is lending the kitchen (and even the hallway outside) a powerfully bitter scent.]

[How long has it been since she’s blessed the kitchens? Far too long, in her opinion. And with the Sanguinala approaching quickly, purifying the equipment she’d use to cook the holy meal was of paramount importance.]

[ You can hear the sound of rustling and rummaging around. Finally, Toph decides to express her displeasure to the network. ]

I don't see why everything had to be cleaned. It was fine just like it was! Now I can't find anything.

[Sup, folks. Have a Hideki poking at the screen.]

Is it on? I thought these things were supposed to tell you when they started recording! Uh.... Right! I'm Hideki Motosuwa. [Smile!] Alright, so I read everything in these brochures and I gotta say... ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?

Acumen? Supernatural abilities? Britannian? I may not have remembered much from school but I know there's not a language called that! Oh, did you mean British, maybe? I always thought they just called that English. -- Wait, that's not the point! What's up with these welcome packets!? What is this, a vacation? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying tie me up or anything like that. It's not really my thing, if you catch my drift. I'm just saying that it's sketchy! I mean, is it really alright to give criminals a movie theater? There's even a baseball team!

I'll just get to the point -- I know that I'm innocent. Just how many of you are really criminals?

[it’s late. Like, really late. Like, almost dawn late, like morning-of-that-term-paper’s-due-date late. Everyone sensible should be in bed, especially on a cold, snowy night like this.]

[Felicia’s counting on that, which is why she’s chosen this hour to head out to do something important and likely illegal—but those two things often go hand-in-hand, don’t they? Despite the faintest stirrings of guilt, she slips into the Education Center as silent as a shadow—and a very weirdly-shaped shadow, at that—to get this over with.]

[OOC: so Felicia is stealing a computer from the education center. She won’t touch anything but the one desktop computer, which she’ll be sneaking back to the shelter with in a duffel bag. Feel free to catch her before or after she pulls off her heist, out in the open or in the shelter. Goodness, why aren’t you asleep?]

[ Open ]
Snow's right around the corner, and that got me thinking... Would anyone be left who can work with textiles and things like that? [ Neil scratches his neck and leans back. The view is of his living room, and he's seated on the couch, clad in a simple green pullover and corded slacks. ] I'm looking for some custom coats to keep the snow and water off of a buddy of mine.

[ There's a pause and then his brows shoot up when he realizes that he forgot a crucial point. He holds out his hand. ] It's not a big job, but the shape might be kind of ah, ... unique. [ Suddenly, a large orange ball hops into his open palm and spins around so his red eyes are facing the communicator on the coffee table. ] Haro here, and I, would really appreciate your help. There are a few others in the dome who would probably be interested in the idea, too. [ A knowing wink to the camera. See? He has all the haro owners covered with this plan. ]

I don't have a lot of skills, or things to offer, but I'll be very thankful for the time saved cleaning my buddies up when they come in from outside. [ All those haro units out there without jackets. Please... think of the haros. ]

---

[ Private : Allelujah Haptism, Soma Peries / Marie Parfacy ]
[ And he figures this call is long overdue. Not only has he not talked to Alle in quite some time, but he also has yet to meet the new arrival face to face.

Of course, that doesn't mean he can't give Alle just a little hard time about it. His tone is airy and there's a teasing edge to it. ] Oy, Allelujah. Don't you think it's about time you introduced me to your girlfriend?

[ oh my God, it's a tiny toy car coming full speed ahead towards the camera, get in the ca --

- that won't save you.

The toy car connects, lighting up in a symphony of very lovely & soothing sounds, while the device's sensors also give out a short 'biiiip.'

The car goes back... then bumps into the camera again. Back. Bump. Lights and noises. Back. Bump. Lights and noises. Back. Bu - ]

They are greeting one another.

[ Yes, there was a young man with the car's remote somewhere in the background. And yes, he is beaming with paternal pride, because lo and behold, his firstborn toy car is making friends.

This assault on the camera's dignity goes on undeterred for yet another five minutes, until one of the poor robots on duty gets in the car's way. Something about the sight of the droid seems to relieve Rai of his humour. ]

...you are not worthwhile.

[ but that moment is gone, the toy car finally steers, and it seems to be up and away, off to find new prey! ]



[ ooc: if you're aiming for action, feel free to have the Tiny Toy Car of DOOM [TM] run into your character. Or there's always Rai! XD ]

[ Acumen said that there would be snow tomorrow and has advised all inmates to procure winter clothing. "All inmates" means Artoo. Hey, he doesn't like being cold any more than the next person, right? So, he's in a shop picking out a scarf and hat - green ones. He likes green. ]

YAY! I'M READY FOR SNOW!

Ooookay, joke's up, I'll bite. Jail? Seriously?--freaking hilarious, sure, and kind of. Elaborate for a "learned your lesson yet?" prank, should this turn out to be one. But hey. I can roll with it. The basket was a nice touch!

Even I have to cry I'm stumped on this one, though. Can't we call it a release on good behavior? I'll be a good girl from now on, won't do it again, promise? No fair trial aside [he-hem], these crimes are stretching just a little, and adding insult to injury... Who goes to prison for disobeying orders?

Right. Me, apparently.

[...]

[Shoulders slumping, Steph crouches down a little, showing herself still in her Batgirl suit, as she... pokes one of the bots of the sector she's been running around in, before it turns on her face and zips away.]

... I know, right? Tough crowd.

[Sigh. Anyone who wants to run into a purple vigilante on their sector of choice this morning is free to do so, she'll be doing the Batman and creepin' around until then. Or at least, until waffles are had.]