sirenspull | Entries tagged with c: aoko nakamori

Well, my quarterly review didn't go so well, fellow newcomers. [Wearied, tired, bitter- that's the least of flatlined emotion from Dr. Yumeno here] This is probably a delayed little anecdote to add to the pile, but since we've all been sharing our hardships...

Despite everything, and despite Dr. Pyke fully believing the plight of our little community, that bouncing to and fro between centuries is nothing we can control, un-notified absences are still technically grounds for termination, the hospital board is still angry I haven't been axed years ago...amazing, to hear it all come up now, all that had been swept beneath the rug, but apparently they were so glad to have grovelling hands in back at work for the past two weeks, that it caught me completely off guard- this "we'll talk about it later" actually pulling through.

Another pay cut, and a week's absence apparently swallows the whole of my unused vacation time, backwards and forwards till the summer. It's still a (modified) resident doctor's salary, despite more little nips and tucks made to my job title, so a newcomer shouldn't be dissatisfied. But I'm actually quite tired with fighting to advance my career. I'm tired with trying to reform the health protocols. Whatever respect of tenure I've earned in the past two and a half years has been spent three times over, and rides very thinly on credit.

Many, too many coworkers have given me the cold shoulder. I thought it was just my imagination, at first, but now I know without a doubt- they've said I keep spoiling this good hospital's reputation. It's remarkable, how the opinions of intelligent, rational peers can change to cold and resentful overnight - or with a week's disappearance excused by the unending grace of your Chief Director.

I could have lived with that, once, being a social pariah at work, if I hadn't been under the impression I've been making progress for so long now. I wouldn't have cared less, once.... [There's a soft sound, rueful, and a defeatist laugh] but I've grown much too used to being liked.

An interesting thing this whole ordeal has taught me: Maybe I've become too accustomed to the habits of this day and age.

I'm taking the weekend to downsize a bit... Throw some things away. There's too much clutter of mine, here, and I wouldn't want to leave a pile of waste and sensitive information where I've been, should we all be so inconveniencing as to vanish from this world again .

madeinoblivion

Munny, Munny, Munny....

[Ooh. Someone sounds like he's in a foul temper, grumbling into the NV. A jangling of silver bells grows distant, and wind whips over the NV speaker. Joe's breathing heavily into it too, huffing as he heads home at a brisk walk.]

They say it makes this whole world go around. [And then he growls flatly, in self-pitying irritation] Well guess who's going absolutely nowhere.

They cut my worktime in half at the stadium, because some Hockey star's spoiled rotten kid on the Sector Six Saints wants to have his own job. So I'm training somebody to be my own replacement, and making half as much now! They said I could go back to hawking sodas in the stands, but they couldn't pay me tech wages for concessions. Well! What a thank-you!

[An acrid laugh turns into another bitter mumble.]

...I shouldn't have gotten fresh with my manager, but... I guess I'll ...just call him in the morning and say sorry. Sorry, I really can't afford to quit. Does anybody have any advice for that? Like should I have Xion bake a cake, or just come crawling back like a kicked dog?

(...at least I won't have so many presents to buy this year.)

Does anyone know any place that are hiring newcomers for decent pay? Someplace that's not on AGI or SERO's lists. Or...I don't know, some... holiday party coming up, they need a DJ for? I'm really running kinda low on my luck here.

[Another low, disgusted snort] Pretty soon we'll be taking food boxes from those creepy people at the Jenova church basement again.

madeinoblivion

So. [Joe sounds particularly cranky and irritated] Me and Roxas we were wondering...

Is it okay for a landlord to just like.... come in your apartment and show somebody else around- while you're still living there?

Who just does that? Let strangers walk around and say nasty things about all our stuff, and how it smells like cats. What if we weren't home, and they took stuff? Or if somebody was sleeping, or naked in the bedroom?

...who do we even go to and complain to about it?

We really need to get serious about moving someplace else. Between this and the rent going way way up for next month, and the heat not coming on till it freezes outside... it's getting crazy.

[Roxas chimes in, sounding nearly as perturbed as his friend.]

They said it was an inspection, but we've been here a couple of years now and I don't think we've ever had one of those. Except when we moved in, maybe.

We've never had a problem here, but they were acting like we're bad renters. But we're fine, we always have been.

...and it does not smell like cats. Xact and Blue are really good and we clean up after them!

motioned

I bet I'm not the only one who's glad that's over. [A giggle.]

And just in time for Thanksgiving, too! My first one. It smells really amazing in here already, too. Since we didn't have any turkeys, especially not any exploding—

[But she stops that train of thought, because she's just going to get more frantic and awkward. As usual.]

I'm really excited, though. I think it's important to have stuff like this. I mean, there's a lot to be thankful for. N-Not that we shouldn't be thankful every day! But maybe a special day for it is good, too.

It'll be my first Halloween here in a few weeks too. I know you're supposed to dress up and give out candy to little kids, but I don't really know much about it other than that. It doesn't seem very fun, just sitting in your house in a costume, I guess. I'm probably missing something, though.

maddeninghatter

C-can anybody hear me? My name is Emily.

[ A little girl is weeping. ]

Everyone's dead. Mother and father. My big sister. Everyone.

[ She is a doll come to life. Somehow she has acquired Xerxes Break's NV. ~~Because Pandora Hearts is a canon where Important Things get jacked by little girls~~. ]

Kevin, where are yoooooooou? Has anyone seen him? I told him, please don't go. I said don't leave me!

[ She sobs freely, inconsolable. ]

Help me! I'M ALL ALOOOOOONE!

[ Looooooming behind her is something enormous; only a small part of it is visible on camera. It's metallic, like armor, and red. ]

rewritter

[The feed begins focused on a dark haired boy as pedestrians mill about behind him, but it's not his voice that can be heard first. The sound is noticeably more feminine than that, and likely more familiar to the Port as well.]

Of course it's necessary! Here, everyone can see you now, introduce yourself.

What are you even... what is that thing, anyway?

[apparently nobody really explained the NV to him, from the way he gestures blankly at the camera with noooo idea what's going on.]

It's just a video! It's like, it's almost like a picture, except it keeps showing you for as long as you want it to, moving and talking and stuff. It shows you to other people, too, that's why I said everyone can see you! So you should say hi, okay?

I... what... couldn't you have told me that before, idiot? I'm not interested! Shut it off, do something...!

Hey, don't call me names! Just say hi and tell them your name, I promise it isn't that hard!

I don't...! Fine. If I do this, will you stop bothering me about it?

[There's a sigh, before she moves into the view of the feed, standing next to the taller boy. Though her voice was bordering on annoyance a few seconds ago, it's not hard to spot the broad smile on her face.]

This is my friend Fakir. I guess he's just sort of shy, but he's a really nice person!

[The affection when she turns her head to look up at him is almost palpable as well.]

See! That wasn't so hard, was it? Now everyone knows who you are.

I'm not a nice pers... ugh. Believe what you want.

[he seems to just give up, rubbing his forehead. the things he puts up with for her. but he reluctantly glances up and nods shortly at the camera. that's... probably the closest thing to a hello he'll give.]

[And just as quickly as the smile had been there, a slight exasperated frown takes it's place.]

You are too! Stop saying stuff like that, jeez. [She turns her attention back to the NV for a moment.] No matter what he says, he really is nice! [And then, just like that, the feed cuts.]

[ note: pink is Ahiru, green is Fakir o7 ]

madeinoblivion

[The camera adjusts, and Ciel Phantomhive looks...distinctively disheveled. Bedheaded, shirt untucked, and ... is he sitting backwards on that tea table chair, legs straddled, straining his poncy boyshorts? No stockings today? No shoes, either?

Despite this, he's found the most outlandishly feathered top hat to perch on his head, and addresses the network with a farcical, overly-affected accent]

Hallo, Siren's Port! And my, what a lovely day it 'tis!

Of course, it's probably lovelier for me than you, because I get to live in a huuuuge house and have servants take care of ALL of it for me, since dust makes me sneeze, and cats make me sneeze, and I get sick if I do any work at all, and I'm probably too weak to lift up a broom, even if I wanted to.

[And he takes an overly delicate sip of lemonade, from a teacup, pinky out. Mid-way through the sip, he sputters with laugher, and quickly shoves the china cup and saucer aside.]

So I know what you're all thinking- Who IS this dreadful body-pirate, and what has he done with the Ciel we all know and laugh at behind his back?

Well I'm here to tell you that's all a pack of lies!

I'm Little Lord Fancy-Pants, and I'm here to tell you all that I sleep in a frilly light purple nightgown, and all the little shorts in my closet are so tight I'll probably sound like a pinched little girl for the rest of my life!

(By the way, if you stop by Funtom Toys today, and buy anything from the bakery or the twee selection of dainty nursery amusements, Gilbert will throw in a free breakfast scone. Which I'm sure you can use for a doorstop or a paperweight, or something sort-of useful?)

[His voice flattens somewhat, with a roll of his eyes, as he drops into a more comfortable slouch with his arms folded over the back of the chair.]

And seriously. This whole lousy business has already happened to four of my friends now, and it's not funny anymore, so we need to get our hands on whatever's been doing this and stop it before anyone else is forced to be stuck as a sissy-boy without any kind of warning.

[Privated, to his own NV. Weird.]

...and hey, Teabags. I know you're probably listening, all totally horrified. Don't wet my pants or my bed. Do yourself a huge favor and don't kill yourself being me, okay? Or I'll ruin your life.

Go bug Riku, if you really need a protip figuring out how to function with two eyes, darkness, and actual muscles. Don't make any of the girls upset, or I'll come right over there and sock you in my own face.

There's probably a stone in your pocket. It could be still full of my soul somehow. Don't you dare lose it, and take it away from my body, or something horrible will happen to both of us.

maddeninghatter

[ This bright Sunday morning finds Gilbert Nightray sitting behind the wheel of a black jaguar convertible. ]

I'm realizing that I've been a rut, lately. All I do is look after my young master, fret about things uselessly, and work.

[ It isn't his car. ]

So I thought I'd go for a drive, reacquaint myself with the city. Would anyone care to join me? You could point out some things that I've been taking for granted.

[ In fact, he's never driven a car before. ]

I'd be happy to exchange a lift in exchange for a bit of tour guiding, what do you say?

[ Xerxes Break is "borrowing" Ciel Phantomhive's car and Gilbert's body. The feed ends with the sound of a powerful engine growwwwwwwwling to life! ]

madeinoblivion

Man. Just when I swore I'd never ever get involved with anything SERO ever puts out there that's gimmicky, and then...

"Thermographic Night Vision Contacts". What are those, they help you see better in the dark, but without goggles or anything? Do they really work? For stuff like...monster tracking, like Darwin-work, you think that'd really help a lot? Be useful?

I'm not even allowed in the arcade, but maybe I could borrow Riku's ID and get in on a late-entry team, if they're still takin' em. Is anybody here any good at laser-tag?

motioned

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm all back to normal now. Um, thank you for everyone who was concerned or offered to help. It really does mean a lot.

[Still, despite that good news, her voice doesn't very relieved or happy. It doesn't sound sad, either; it's carefully neutral instead as she moves on.]

That's not really all I wanted to say, though. For anyone who knew Davesprite while he was here, he's gone home. He was, um, the orange boy with the wings. The timing seems pretty bad, I know, but I'm sure he wasn't in the hunt, so nobody should worry about that. I called and it kept ringing, so... For what it's worth, though, I'm sorry to all the friends he had here.

I guess that's all I really had to say.

integrity

The citizens of this city, registered and unregistered, are somewhat pathetic.

[Hello, Siren's Port. Have your neighborhood friendly demon, sounding oddly serious and composed.]

We are brought here, against our will, by a mystical force that none of us can control or see. While we are trapped here, we are treated as second-class citizens, the proverbial Rosa Parks on the bus line that is the multiverse, and not weeks after a neighborhood friendly hunt on the newcomer population, individuals seem to have... shrugged it off. Moved along with their lives and their husbands and wives and paper routes and white picket fences.

[There is a slight creak as Crowley shifts in the chair he is sitting in. He pauses slightly, to collect his thoughts, before he continues. A good orator always knows when to draw the line and when to keep talking. He seems to be deciding where it is now.]

Whether or not this is just another display of humanity ignoring when terrible things occur in favor of the new bright and shiny politician on their doorstep is irrelevant. What is relevant is your amazing ability to ignore what is directly in front of you -- we are held in the hands of a group of individuals no more or less powerful than we are and yet we are the second-class. Even those registered as citizens, those with powers in government -- you can't tell me you are truly invited to the weekly bridge game of our Canadian cousins.

[And suddenly, his voice grows slightly harder.]

What will it take for all of you to realize that we are nothing more than cattle in a small pen being poked at with sticks? Would it be the brutal murder of someone you love or the relinquishment of supposed unalienable rights that you hold onto so tightly? What will it take for you to finally open your eyes and understand that you aren't free. Your tiny little slice of life is nothing more than an illusion fed to you by a series of corporations and egotistical human overlords who think themselves better than everyone else because they have a pretty picture stamped on an ID card. So come on -- be honest. What would you rather have -- eternal peace at the price of freedom or the knowledge that you did something potentially great regardless of the consequences?

[There is the clink of a glass -- and Crowley ceases talking. But the feed stays open.

It's a serious question. And a testing of the waters.

He wants to know how many dangerous people are truly in the Port.]

crowsicle

( OOC cut for quirk )

( Quirkless but OOC cut for length )

deathknellgrell

Ooooh, Siren's Port! Hel~looooooo! ♥

I've got a job proposition for some lucky person. You too can be - a Magical Girl!

Fight witches! Wear ~adorable outfits~! And gain fantastic powers! For instance, I've got HUNK RADAR, if you know what I mean - and I know you doooooooo! ☆

[ WINK ]

Sadly, however, I've got to resign my position. I just don't have the time for it anymore. And, quite honestly, I've gotten a bit bored with it. I'd just quit, but…

I'm helping to write a book on workplace etiquette, and I'm told it's best to at least try to find a replacement. Not that anyone could really replace me, ahahaha!

But anyway, if you want the job, make sure Kyubey gives you a ~real~ gemstone.

[ Grell holds up his ~~Soul Gem~~ necklace. ]

I thought this was a ruby, but now it's gone all cloudy!

Tch! I'll show you to fool a Death God, you stupid CAT!

laurice

[The feed switches on to Larry standing just outside his house with a frenzied look on his face. And that's not all. His hair is green (almost reminiscent of the time he was Jokerized last year), his eyes are aglow as if he were a lamp someone switched on, his lips are purple, and his cheeks are flaming red as if he had been kissed on both cheeks by the hottest woman he could ever imagine.

Oh, and when he speaks, you will have a nice view of that bright orange tongue. His voice is frantic and possibly a little ticked. Okay, pretty ticked.]

Niiiiick! Edgeyyyyy! Where are you guys?! You never come around to visit anymooooooore! We were supposed to have lunch that one time but it snowed and everything and c'mon, we gotta do something together!

Oh man, and I want orange juice and the saltiest popcorn I can find...and uh, I don't have any OJ in my fridge...hang on a sec...ummm...

[While still clutching his NV, he strides toward the nearest tree in the vicinity, opens his arms, and wraps them around the trunk. As he does so, his hair slowly fades back to its normal brown color, but of course, he doesn't notice. What he does notice is that his NV was open while he hugged that tree.]

...l-look, it's not what it looks like! I'm not a hippie or anything! [DEFENSIVE MUCH, LARRY?] I just...kinda had to do it...maybe it was the candy...

crowsicle

( Cut for text quirk )

jesus
apparently taking a morning stroll through the used section of a shitty video game store constitutes suspicious behavior in these parts
nice to know random raving jackass keep me updated
christ i know its a weekday but isnt school out by now??
also heres a psa for you
even if i am a filthy hooky playing juvenile delinquent that doesnt make me a child stealer
fuckin rude
newsflash i was the one who got kidnapped and brought here against my will three months ago
obviously
who in their right mind would ever want to be stuck in canada
maybe the kid finally found a way out of this pisshole and decided not to take her douchebag parents with her
if not i hope someone finds her soon so i can look for two dollar tony hawk knockoffs in peace
this is bullshit
anyway
this isnt what i wanted to talk about
i have a question
what do you get your dad for fathers day when youre kind of strapped for cash
and also you didnt know he was your dad
and maybe you kind of have two dads
and one of them probably doesnt know hes your dad because hes like sixteen
yeah
does hallmark make singalong cards for this situation
this is kind of a new thing for me im shaky on the etiquette here

[[OOC: As always, you can opt into Davesprite's text quirk here on his permissions post. Otherwise I just answer in black Courier.]]

pullsheavendown

[It's a beautiful day and both Roxas and Xion look much improved from the last time they appeared on the network. Perhaps they're a little skinnier from suffering through their illnesses, but there's color in their cheeks and smiles upon their faces.]

Hey everyone. I bet most of you have been down to the block party by now, but if not, you really should—it's a lot of fun, and tomorrow's the last day.

And if you're coming down you should definitely come and see us!

[Roxas lifts a foam bat and nods.]

We've got a really fun game—it's called Struggle, and anyone can play using this.

It's really easy too! All you have to do is take your opponent's balls!

[Roxas gives her a somewhat hesitant sidelong glance before forging on.]

Well, kinda. Instead of taking them, you knock them off in a Struggle for victory! You can also play Grandstander by yourself and win a prize if you can hit a single ball in the air and keep it going for a while. But it's most fun when it's one-on-one.

[Xion grins, and if you know her at all well- or even if you don't know her that well- it's clearly mischievous. She picks up the other bat and beckons someone off camera. A moment later, Joe Fieldman appears, wielding a Struggle bat of his own and decked out in some ridiculous gear. He is covered in balls.]

Our lovely assistant is here to demonstrate. [smirk]

"Lovely" yourself, Roxas! [Joe taps the foam bat against the palm of his hand, impatient, before readying himself into a defensive stance, bat raised and legs bent, readying to spring into action.] C'mon, are we going to demo this thing, or are you guys gonna stand around all day?

[Xion has snatched up the bat from Roxas and is all over this one; she's clearly in high spirits as she gets ready to swing for him.] Ha! Your balls are mine, Joe.

[Roxas stares open-mouthed before snatching another bat from somewhere off-camera. And then they lunge at Joe, intent on taking his balls.]

And this is how you Struggle!

[ooc: Roxas is blue, Xion is purple, Joe is red.]

crowsicle

[Though usually talkative, Davesprite only has two lines to post today.]

( OOC cut for color )

break me out of pediatric ward
will pay with body

[[OOC: Permissions post here for those who want to opt into his typing quirk. Otherwise I reply with plain Courier.]]

madeinoblivion

[Joe is wearing a Portside Aces baseball cap, NV propped up on another greasy table in the Underground Mall's food court. There's the crinkle of fast food paper, the slurping noise of an oversized fountain drink, and milling-about sounds of a busy afternoon. The boy sighs glumly, unsure where to start. There's a lot of restless anger brewing in the piercing cyan of his eyes, but it's tempered down since his raging fits of last week. He seems tired, like he hasn't been getting the best sleep.]

One week we have a newcomer business convention, the next week newcomer businesses are burning down, and it feels like more and more people keep disappearing.

I really hate it, when it feel like everything's changing for the worst. Maybe they think they can keep us all down and playing by their rules when there's less of us. [A lower sigh of resolve, then-]

But I won't stop fighting.

It's really not fair these mall businesses always seem to be safe. (I mean, besides the big darkness breach that happened around this time last year, but-) Why are only some places left alone when they're not taking sides between AGI or SERO? Can somebody tell me that? The Underground Mall Clubs Association... how do you get in on something like that? Do you have to be a native with lots of munny?

[Joe reaches and tilts his NV so that it shows newest addition to the foodcourt behind him, a bustling counter service with a long line, thick hand-cut fries, and a round serving station filled with several dozen condiment pumps and bowls of relish. Sitting on his tray in front of him are five plastic cups of very different dipping sauces, ]

...and can somebody tell me why 'pomme frites' are so much more special than french fries that they're charging nine bucks for a paper cone?

[He sticks a fingertip in one of the cups in front of him, sampling a dollop with a casual shrug] The sauces are pretty delicious to try, at least.

Poutine.... [he points at the gravy on his far right, then goes right down the line of red hot, yellow, green, speckled white-] "War Sauce", Sweet Mango Chutney, Wasabi-Lime Mayo, Parmesan Peppercorn. So much for plain ketchup! (And this is just 5 of 42 they've got. It reminds me of ice cream flavors.)

[He shakes his head, giving a dry smile and a roll of his eyes.]

Everything's gotta be a good gimmick to be original, huh.

where_the_hearth_is

[The video pans across a table completely covered in muffins, arranged into neat, cheery baskets, artistically arranged by color in a shallow pyramid. There are all manner of strange and strangely healthy flavors: raspberry lime muffins, zucchini basil muffins, blue corn muffins, ginger pumpkin muffins, and more. A little mechanical droid carefully adds another batch to the pile, still hot and steaming faintly. When the smooth voice comes, it is quiet, uncertain, almost ashamed.]

...I think I made too many muffins.

Does. Um. Anyone want some?

[Privated separately to Wanda, Dr. Orpheus, Loki, and Lucifer. Its sounds nervous.]

Is there any magical method that would guarantee perfectly repairing architectural damage?

theosen

[ The sun has finally set, and when the video opens, its to the pitch black gloom of a decaying city from a rooftop in Sector One. Monsters rove the streets in packs, each more grotesque than the last, and it seems as though the one recording them is only all too fascinated with their destructive capabilities.

Finally, a voice like age-old gravel addresses the scene below, a dark silhouette only just now made visible as he perches on the edge of a rooftop. ]

The world unwinds again.

[ He gestures with a clawed hand, his tone only growing darker the longer than he speaks. ]

Forever lending itself to chaos and destruction, not even the souls of the damned have a say in what manner they are to exist.

Humanity's struggle against the tide of time is pointless, a meaningless effort that bears only the light of death, the inevitable end of a once untainted world. As worthless as they are destructive, their existence is but a cancer.

[ A dark shape drops down suddenly, attempting to latch onto the speaker. Jerking about, his eyes glowing a blistering white, he all but tears the Death Squid off him, its body ripped to shreds by a powerful unseen force.

Turning his gaze towards the NV, there's an almost mad sort of gleam there, a fury that will not abate. ]

You have twenty-four hours before I raze this city to the ground.

Fight me, if you dare.

[ He vanishes then, and the feed cuts off. ]

[ ooc: Another for the 7DS Plot, Proxy One has been hit with Wrath. Obviously, he won't actually get to destroy the city (Alucard will stop him, I think), but if you want to encounter a wrathful Proxy? Just be warned, he won't be playing nice. ]