[The Vine shows Akiha in her sitting room today as she has her evening tea.]

I know this is a bit late for some, but I will be hosting a party for the New Year tomorrow night here at my mansion. All of you are invited provided you can keep any hostilities off my grounds.

My maids have been busy getting the mansion ready and there will be plenty to eat from roasted pheasant to hors d'oeuvres to sweets. I will also be providing a modest selection of alcohol including champagne for when the clock strikes midnight. [And being Akiha is sixteen, she doesn't care if anyone else underage has a drink.]

Festivities will begin at eight o'clock and there will be a proper celebration at midnight. [She then frowns.] Nothing like the Queen forces upon us. I hope to see you all.

[Not really, but Akiha is used to having a large party at the Tohno mansion on New Year's Eve with visiting members of the branch families who she dislikes as much if not more than the those here.]

Oh, Kris? Lambda-11? Please come see me as soon as you can.

[ooc: The open log is now up!]

[The entirety of the transmission, while honest, is rife with the Doctor's trademark deadpan snark.]

...To state the obvious, there is a pronounced lack of men here. I find I actually prefer it, and may have previously jumped to conclusions regarding the taste of our dear Queen.

Ahem! Good evening, Gardens. I believe we may have got off on the wrong foot. My name is Dr. Kiriko. Long ago I was a nurse in the military, and have since moved on to another specialty. But seeing as my first broadcast was immediately met with the fury of a handful of closed-minded individuals, this is not how I shall introduce myself today. 'Reaper' is not a convenient occupation in 'paradise,' and I have no intention of playing the doting nurse any longer.

Truth be told, I am somewhat of a chemist. Should you ever require a draught of some kind, contact me and I will do my best to provide. Remedy for illness, a sleeping potion, an aphrodisiac, a hallucinogen, tear gas, a smoke screen... my talents are broad. Given there is no common currency here, "payment" will vary across individuals... I am a reasonable woman, but please do well to remember that nothing in life is free.

Of course, those of you who are less inclined towards knee-jerk reactions... it will eventually be worth your while to also remember me as the Living Reaper.

One last thing. Some of you may have come in contact with the miser known as "Black Jack."

If I were you, I would do my best to avoid her.

[[ooc: responses may be delayed momentarily due to holiday plans!]]