[There’s a man holding some of the cookies from the welcome basket in his hand, sniffing them suspiciously before popping one – with the largest chocolate chunks – whole into his mouth. His green eyes look tired. Very, very tired.]

 

Don’t think ‘ve ever been in a prison this serious. Got a ball an’ chain an’ everything, huh? Hard enough movin’ these old bones without it, now this. [He swallows and gives a bitter laugh that sounds genuine until you stand back.] Thanks to whatever lovely lady made these – ya’ll sure know how to make a fellow feel loved.

 

Want to come an’ greet ol’ Raven in person? [A sly smile and a wink ends it. One still can’t help but notice how his eyes flicker to and fro, seeing everything they could.]

[ Whoever this is, they're testing out all the features of the communicator. There's a lot of silence but for the sound of moving - but there's a few flashes of bruised hands, and a pale face framed by white hair that is just as vividly bruised.

Duke studies the device, expression bland despite the fact that he looks like he should be feeling pained. And then he decides he doesn't want to use video anymore, and there goes that. ]

A prison. [ The voice that goes with that pale face... is most definitely a males. ]

Unaware of the level of technology to build such places under water. Agrees with the unfamiliarity of the name of the ocean above. [ Silence like that's all he's going to say. ]


treats...

[There's a quiet sigh as the video flickers on. Some of you might know this man! It's seaweed head Gilbert, looking worn out. Not to mention grumpy. He can't find his cigarettes anywhere, from his turned out pockets. The same with his gun.]

Hello. My name is Raven and...like many of you, I've been taken by Acumen.

I won't plead, or beg. The welcome message was clear enough. But if there's anyone from my world, or someone who has knowledge of Pandora or the Baskervilles, I would like to speak to you.

Thank you.

[He picks up his hat, and lowers it so the upper half of his face is covered, even as he turns off the feed. There's nothing more for him to do then to sit and wait.]

[The message she received was all too strange. Is this a dream? Though she’s not entirely surprised she’s been caught and sent to prison. After everything she’s done… she’s technically a criminal right? She should accept her fate…

What she doesn’t notice are her restraints, or rather she underestimates them, causing her trip and her device to fall off and flip on. Her face shows an expression of slight pain, but she easily shakes it off as she stands up, picking her device up with her. Noticing it’s on, she does her best to force a smile. It looks genuine, but to anyone who knows her well enough, it’s easy to tell there’s a fake attribute to it.]

Ah, good morning everyone! I understand I have been brought here due to the crimes I’ve committed, but it seems we’re still allowed to communicate with one another, am I correct? I’m honestly so glad! [And that part is genuine. She rather doesn’t like being lonely.]

My name is Estellise, and it would be a pleasure to make all of your acquaintance. [Then a pause as she looks thoughtful…] Is there a library here or at least a place that sells books? If anyone could tell me, I would be so grateful!

[The first thing she notices is the sharpness of Ba’ul’s absence. It’s with a bit of will that she evens out her mood in response. The communicator is easy enough to figure out, even if she doesn’t particularly enjoy the weight of it.]

Strange. I used to think it was harder to catch me.

[She’s without her spear, too. A mild grimace is there and gone in an instant.]

I suppose while I’m here, I might as well make myself comfortable. [ -- because she won't be here for long. This is what she’s decided. The first opportunity out, she’s taking it.]

Maybe one of you can help me. My shoes are all muddy. [And that’s terrible.]

Good morning, inmates. It is the 148th day of the third generation. More inmates will be integrated into the facility today, so please be aware of this disruption as you go about your day.

The unexpected snow event has been completely dealt with and, as some of you may have noticed, the shelter has been unsealed. [You may notice that the ground is still wet, and there will be bots here and there using small devices to dry the ground.] Inmates should now feel free to return to their normal places of residence.

Inmate Setsuna Seiei, the item you requested is available for pick up at the entrance to the shelter in Sector 0.


((ooc: The kiosk has also been re-enabled!))

[He had thought that once he moved out of the shelter, he wouldn't be forced to go back. Being shut in a smaller space with lots of people in the same area? He would pass. Just being cooped up in the prison itself was frustrating enough. And now Fuuma was stuck in here a second day. With being trapped in the same building, it did make it easy to notice someone missing... It seemed like just about everyone from Tokyo was being lost.]

[For the moment, he's stretched out on one of the sofas in the open areas, a small cat sleeping on his chest, while he reads a book. It looks like it came from the library, but they were locked in, weren't they? Either way, Fuuma doesn't look too enthralled with what he's reading.]


((OOC: Open to anyone who wants to bug him! The cat is Sasuke's, but Fuuma is babysitting for the moment. He can also teleport, so if you ask nicely, he might be willing to get people things.))

Good morning, Marina! [Have a very smiley pink haired girl on your video feed!] For anyone I haven’t met, I’m Lacus Clyne and I’m very glad to meet you.

It seems as though we’re all going to be in the shelter today, so we should make the best of things. I was thinking that we should get together and have a big winter banquet! Anyone who wants to help cook should please feel free to come to the kitchens and assist, and if not you should still come and enjoy the food with us.

Dinner will be served at 5 in the main cafeteria, and after that maybe we could have fun playing games and watching movies together. I hope everyone has a good day, and I hope to see everyone at the feast!

[A few minutes later]

I just learned that today is also Ritsuka’s birthday! To celebrate there will be a cake and some special desserts and decorations. [as many decorations as they can find without access to the store.] Everyone please, stop by to wish him a happy birthday!

***
((OOC Notes: Mingle post, open to all! Reply to Lacus by [video] or there are several action options: [cooking] any time before 5pm ICly, [dinner] a huge buffet of almost anything you could want, or [after dinner] for card games, board games, and movies throughout the cafeteria and nearby common rooms! Your character is in no way obligated to be at all of these, but they could be if you want~

Also! A link to Ritsuka’s birthday party will be added once it goes up. There will be cake and lots of special desserts and pretty decorations in one area of the cafeteria.

If anyone wants to intentionally or unintentionally sabotage the food, please contact me OOCly before you do so. Thanks and ENJOY!))

Hey! Stop pushing, already. [the camera view is bouncing, but manages to show Komui being prodded by one of Acumen’s bots.] We were almost done! Just a few more adjustments.

[Gear is also being pushed, but mostly off screen] Come on, dude, we were right outside! It’s not like we were making a run to the rec center!

You’re standing in the way of scientific progress! This will not -- ow, stop that. I’m going, yeesh.

Dude, this bites. Hey--don’t poke the helmet!

It’s ridiculous is what it is -- hey, watch it! Stupid thing, who programmed you anyway? [Komui rubs at his rump, annoyed]

For real. [Gear’s glaring off in the direction of the bots, rubbing the sore spot on his back where it kept poking him] You’d think they would at least have let us turn it off.

[paaause] So... we fixed that power problem, didn’t we?

...Come on, bro, it only had enough power to last a few hours, right? [shrug. nothing too big just a foot or two.]

Well, yeah... before my adjustments... [ehehehe.... oops?] Well! There’s plenty of supplies in the shelter...

Wait. What? It can still be turned off right? [Ko, bro, you did not just say that.]

I think so! And anyway, if two feet of snow is fun, a little more would be extra fun! [who can argue with that?]

[The look on Gear’s face? They may have a problem. But he shakes it off with an uneasy laugh.] Yeah, right, it’ll turn off. It’s not like a few hours will overload it or anything. [He’s sounding a lot more confident than he is.]

((OOC: Komui’s dialogue is regular text, Gear’s dialogue is in green.

Snowed-in event is go! Starting tonight, massive amounts of heavy snow will be distributed everywhere, courtesy of Richie/Gear and Komui’s little snafoo. By the time the bots agree to let anyone out of the shelter, there’ll be between 8 and 10 feet of wet snow blocking you in. Enjoy, and don't forget to thank Komui and Gear for the lovely surprise~!))

[ Oz slammed his fork down, effectively blocking Break's bid for his cake. ] I'm surprised at how calm everyone is. They've hardly protested at all about getting kicked out of their house. [ mm... cake. ] Do you think they're just being quiet?

[ Break, rather put out by the effective block to his cake-pilfering ways, elects instead to snag a piece of the chocolate torte sitting at the edge of the table, keeping Oz's elbow company. Let it never be said that he wasn't exceedingly spry for his old age. ] Mmm, you're right! I haven't heard a single peep out of them. All like little mice, hiding away. Why do you wonder that is?

Maybe we should ask them. Of course, we'll have to make sure they're telling the truth.

[ Another pop of cake into his mouth, chew, swallow. ] But what if they don't wish to tell the truth?

Then we'll have to dare them into giving it up. [ Oz sips at his tea before turning to the network device sitting on the edge of the table. ] Wouldn't you agree? [ yep, they've been talking to the dome this whole time. ]

[ From Break's shoulder, a clacking voice pipes up. ] Truth or dare! Bet they're too scared for dares!

[ So, who is up for a little game of truth and dare, hmmm? ]


((ooc: tags will come from both Break and/or Oz. Feel free to thread jack in reaction to whatever truths (or dares) the others might come up with. Green font = Oz, Blue font = Break, Purple font = Emily))

[ they can't stay in the shelter, so Yuri and Flynn have been kicked out to roam the streets. after some discussion they agreed to go hunting for another place to stay -- maybe a place to stay permanently -- maybe a bigger place to accommodate certain other people. ]

[ so they're wandering around the dome house-hunting, and you can find them in various locations in Sectors 2-5 throughout the day before they head over to the Devil's Compass. they do get briefly distracted by the pet cafe in Sector 2, so you can also find them there, admiring puppies. you can tag with one or both of them. ]


((backdated to... whenever you like, but mostly afternoon))

[Lavender eyes open slowly, and it doesn't take the person they belong to too long to realize that the current surroundings are unknown; this is certainly not the church Crona had been in last thing zie remembers, and instead zie's outside somewhere unfamiliar] Eh... Where am I? [Crona huddles into a ball, feeling cold, gazing with fright at the sight of the ball and chain on zir ankle before yelping when the communicator on zir head – which zie hadn't noticed until right then – turns on and begins explaining everything]

Is this... a prison? I-I don't know how to deal with that... [Crona stays huddled there for what seems like quite a while before Ragnarok decides to show himself (or maybe it was only then that he was able to, he looks weaker and smaller...) as he appears from Crona's back] Stupid Crona! Stop being lazy and start trying to get us out of here! [The small black and white figure uses his fists to hit the other over the head a few times, jostling zir and causing the video recorder to turn on purposefully, though Crona is oblivious to it] W-What am I supposed t-to do..?

Get someone to tell you how to leave! [Ragnarok looks angry and Crona shrinks away from him, though it's futile since he's a part of zir body. Zie decides to hide zir head in zir arms. Anyone watching through the video feed would probably only currently see a rather odd looking black, with a little bit of white, shape with a blur of pink on top, because Crona is still 'hiding' in what appears to be an alley between two buildings. Ragnarok is behind zir, not visible at the moment] I d-don't like this...

((OOC EDIT: Please take a look at this if you are confused by my now and future use of genderless pronouns!))

[Graham's expression is serious, and understandably so. There's quite a lot to think about right now, and a lot to take in.]

To any comrades of mine who may have been brought alongside me here: this is Captain Graham Aker. I ask that you contact me as soon as possible.

[He would have ended this post right there, but he's been struck with another thought.]

To anyone else who may be listening... Do you accept this place as your rightful punishment? Or have you been wrongly imprisoned?

Would you say this is adequate justice?

[Anri lies under the awning of the Guardian Sapling’s branches, staring up through them at the dome’s ‘sky’, far overhead. It’s been an interesting few days and she’s grateful for the reprieve, having fled from her shelter room even earlier than usual to – be outside, collect her thoughts, find some focus. Give Saika some attention, so that she wasn’t under the constant suffocation of heady whispers.

She's dressed for the weather, coat and mittens and boots, but the hood is pushed down to support her head above the snow and grass. Under close scrutiny, anyone who knows her will recognise the alien brightness to her eyes – a clear red rather than their usual dull brown.

She’s hoping that no one who knows her will find her right now.

She’s hoping for some peace and quiet, but who knows how much she’ll get.]

[somehow, Flynn ended up promising a certain Xerxes Break flowers and a cake. so this morning he meanders over to the park and surveys the gardens leisurely, walking through them and ducking down conscientiously to pick some of the flowers every now and again, slowly arranging a generous bouquet]

[once he has his flowers picked out, he heads to the shelter kitchen and finds a nice cup to put them in with a little water. then he gets out all the ingredients to start baking a cake from scratch. he decides there's no need for the cookbook. he knows how cakes are made, after all]

[he'll just... modify the recipe a little...]

[and when he's done, it'll be time to go find Break and present him with his rewards!]



((ooc: come find him in either location and ask him who his lovely date is! :D or give him funny looks for picking the flowers and massacring perfectly good cake batter. either way. Val can put up an action tag whenever and I'll have Flynn call Break to meet up with him))

Bastard! Bastard!

Hey, hold on! Just a little peek, please?

[Atsuro smile, not bothered by the insults, as he speaks without looking away from the Haro.]

So anyone missing a...Haro, I think? If they are, can I ask if I can look at him? If there’s no one, I guess I can take it under my wing! [♪]

Dumb kidnapper! Dumb kidnapper! [It flies around his head.]

Hey, I’m not one!

(ooc: Finally got it up. If anyone’s curious, got permission for it~)

Yesterday's Halloween was much better than any I've had at home. Everyone looked so cute as children, or with their new ears. [laughs - mockingly? it's your guess] That should happen more often.

[and here's something new. she links her hands together and smiles sweetly into the camera] For all the new arrivals, welcome! My name is Road Kamelot. You're stuck here and you won't be able to get out unless Acumen loses you, but I'm sure you'll find something to occupy your time. And if you don't, I have a suggestion.

I'm planning on having a tea party at my house, you can't miss it - it's one of the nicest in Sector 5 - and I'd like to invite everyone! That is, everyone I like and who isn't a stick in the mud. There'll be plenty of tea and cakes of course, enough for everyone who wants to show up. Just tell me now if you'd like to, okay? That way I can start getting ready. It'll be in two days. I hope to see you there!~

[pause] I don't think I got your name but - I'd like to talk to the pretty man in charge of that guild of his - what was it - Brave Vesperia! [SHE'S GOT A JOB FOR YOU 8D]

[ooc: once again D.Gray-man cast is free to hijack and warn people that Road is evil or something, if they like. Defense force people please ping me first over here thanks!]

While I realize that I'm surrounded by miscreants and other miscellaneous unsavory persons for the duration of my stay in this quaint little place, I would like to remind everyone that it's awfully rude to steal another's belongings. [Popping out for a quick spot of tea in the transdimensional stabilizer unfortunately means that one's things get taken away.]

Raven.

If I find that it's you who took my things, I guarantee that a cake will not be sufficient recompense for your actions.

[Honestly, what sort of inhumane person steals from a blind old man? That being said, what's the point of being surrounded by so people if one can't make good use of them?]

But, while we wait for the useless bird to emerge from his hiding place, perhaps someone would like to assist me in locating a missing object? I suppose a reward shall have to be provided, for those of you who find yourselves unmotivated by anything less.

[And for those inmates observant and bright enough to put two and two together, they might just find the speaker fits the description of a missing person given by one (1) Anri Sonohara just a few days ago.]

Pardon me. Is this device functional? [Tap tap tap. Then, a little louder:] Pardon me!

[At first it's only voice, but after a bit of fiddling the video function comes on. Enjoy your view of the bridge of Nia's nose, Marina. It pans back after another moment, leaving her whole face in view. Absurdly bright eyes, unfaltering smile... check, check.]

Ah... hello, Marina of Prison fellow people! My name is Nia. It is lovely to meet you. I will be residing here as of now, so I hope we can all be good friends.

[Beat, then she adds:]

Oh, yes. Thank you for the time you spent listening. [♥]

Ahh, how unreal! This is unbelievable! It’s almost like the premise of a video game except this is real life! Just think of all the possibilities that could come from a set-up like this! The forbidden romance between two criminals; a boy and a girl trying to find their way home, all the while seeking comfort in one another as the dream of ever finding a way out gets farther and farther away! There are so many possible scenarios it’s almost unbearable!
 
If only Anri-chan and Mikado were here with me! She would be perfect as the leading lady beside me and him the perfect sidekick, supporting us in our perils as we try and keep the flames of our love alive while spending eternity together in this cold, dark prison! [Which is a strange thing for someone who is standing in broad daylight to say, but he’s on a roll so let’s not question this statement quite yet.] I suppose in their absence I will have to find others to replace them.
 
I’m sure that won’t be too hard. In a prison full of such lovely ladies, there must be many of you just dying to win the love of someone as handsome and loving as I! Yes, I can see it now, every one of you has some trait that makes you worthy of my love. There is no need to fight over who gets the part as my leading lady, though! There is more than enough of me to go around for all of you and I am more than happy to accommodate all of you. [And with that, there is a wink and the cut of the feed.]