[Shizuru wanders around the Gardens, sighing heavily.]

Happy Birthday... to me.

Then again... How on earth, or wherever this actually is, is this supposed to be considered a 'happy' birthday?

Spending a birthday without Natsuki? Unheard of.

[Sighing again, she sits down gracefully, pathetically drawing circles on the ground.]

My birthday wish this year... is for Natsuki to be safe and sound... and here with me.

[ Someone's been hiding, just a little bit. Adapting to the disorientation was easy enough, but adapting to... the swarm of people who were only looking out for her proved to be more difficult. Even with Medusa gone... ]

Ah!

[ The dark one bumped into a vine again it seems, broadcasting her lilac-colored head across the network for all to see. ] Oh no... what's with these things? I don't like them. I don't even know how to turn them off!

[ . . . Well, since she's got it open, she might as well ask. Steel your guts, Crona! At least you're not dealing with people face-to-face! ]

Has... uhm... anyone seen Lady Medusa? Th... thank you in advance...

[A new face has shown up on the vine tonight! It must be; how many people here are decked out in one of those especially revealing Santa costumes? In any case, she's smiling very tersely indeed, leaning down for a rather nice view of the... ornaments.]

Ladies, ladies, ladies! I am most disappointed.

I've been keeping a list and checking it twice, but there's not enough naughty and far too much nice. Means you wouldn't know how to take advantage of wishes if they were tied to a chair in tinsel and pretty lights, for those who can't keep up.

Where's your holiday spirit? 'Tis the season to be giving! If you're into receiving, that's fine too. Her royal bustiness told us you'd be encouraged in no time, honestly.

It's high time I take matters into my own hands, don't you think? Yes? Glad we agree!

[That's that, apparently. It takes nothing more than a teasing flick of the wrist to prompt some alarmingly quick plant growth in the background. Maybe you've encountered these before. Then have a kiss blown at the mirror, as if to demonstrate:]

Now pucker up, girls. You'll thank me later.

[OOC: You heard the, um, lady. Mistletoe now decorates the Gardens, and any two people caught beneath it will be compelled to kiss. For child and pre-teen characters, this does not have to be a kiss on the mouth. The mistletoe will last through Saturday the 18th, after which point it can be assumed that the Vamp got bored of putting it back up after its victims tore it down or set it on fire.]

[Ninetails had known from the moment she opened her single, functioning eye and sat up from a bed of flowers that something, somehow, had gone wrong. Not five minutes ago she had been in Sei-An, riding high on a murder gone right, and now- now this nonsense-? Sure, she had found her Fox Rods and prayer slips piled neatly nearby, had redressed herself in the priestess garb of robe, hood and beads, but the information cleaned from the scrolls taken from that cat had barely satisfied. (And the kick she had aimed at it afterwards, not at all.) Quite frankly, Ninetails was tempted to shed this stolen human skin and tear these pathetic gardens apart. But oh, that's just temper talking; Ninetails knows better than that. Usually.

"Stay calm. Remain in control. Watch and wait, wait and see."

It's with these firm thoughts in mind that the fox in disguise manages to keep a calm, motherly smile in place as she appears in the mirror.]

Oh, dear, so this is the "Vine"? Hmm, how clever!....yet I do wonder, have I been kidnapped, pretty and inviting words aside? But this appears to be far too lovely a place for that sort of thing. Really, perhaps I should consider myself rescued....

[a light, lilting laugh]

Joking aside, since it seems as if I will not be returning to my home anytime soon....introductions are in order! I am Rao, holy woman and priestess, so should anyone need assistance in that matter- don't be shy. It is both my duty and my joy to offer what prayers, advice, comfort or protection that I can.

-Ah, and one more thing!

[here the smile turns into a frown and her kind young face grows quite sad.]

Is there any way that I can communicate my apologies to this "Queen of Hearts"? I am bound by oath to serve one- and only one -royal woman, and so cannot in good faith pledge my person to another.

*somebody was quick to get her things and figure out the function of the vine*

Iono-sama, kidnapping is illegal.

*Arge wouldn't put it past Iono to start calling herself Queen of Hearts...*

This is kind of interesting. Everyone's getting wishes now, huh? Anything you desire, as many times as you want?

You should feel lucky; no witch would ever feel this generous.

Hey, hey, so I'm curious! What's your wish? You can tell me, okay? After all, I'm just like the rest of you who wants everything. Maybe I should take advantage of this, too... All of you better hope there's enough stars in the sky to last me!

My, there are so many interesting places to see here... has anyone found a library by chance?

[[OOC: Undercover mode is go! >D]]

[ action ]

[As the sun sets, the usual darkness overcomes the sky. There is no moon in the Gardens, and there are no stars. The only lights are fireflies, whatever marks the necessities, and the distant glow of actual fires.

Tonight, that changes.

It starts with a tiny *pop!* noise, and a single bright star appears in the sky. Tentatively, a *ding!* rings out, and another star appears. *Bip!* and there's another one.

Then, in a symphony of small, obnoxiously cute noises, stars cascade into being in the sky. For the first minute or so it's a nice picture. But it doesn't stop. Not until the entire sky is filled with stars, and light shines as bright as day.

Then silence falls.]

[ voice ]

Oh, no, I think I did that one wrong...

[OOC: Players are welcome to use this post for reaction threads or make their own. The Queen will be responding only sporadically.]

Um... hello everyone! I hope today finds you all well. I'm doing very good myself.

Oh, but I should introduce myself properly. [she does a quick bow.] My name is Himeko Kurusu. It's been nice meeting new people here, so I hoped I might meet some more like this.

I'd also like to say that um... well, my older sister Chikane is here too. She's a bit strange at times, but she's a nice person so please try to get along with her if you can. If she does anything too strange, please let me know and I'll try to do something about it. [cough cough]

Also, I've talked about it with some other people but... does anyone have any idea why there are no boys here?

[ voice ]

Sorry, but I don't believe in Heaven for the likes of me. So this is something else, isn't it?

If that's true...

Has anyone seen a young girl with long hair? She might not be talking right now. It's her way. But she'll answer to Clare if you call.