-Here we have Akira, sitting at her piano, playing a little tune as she speaks, addressing the gardens.-

Heh.

It's a good thing I decided to stay in a few days ago, I guess. Wouldn't want to catch anyone in compromising positions, and whatnot. Besides, I'm just not that kind of gal.

Though I suppose I owe some apologies. Having that many dates in one night got me into a pretty big heap of trouble. And beyond that, I let myself go all to hell during the Pirate Queen's little escapade. I've been a damned fool lately... and for that, I am truly sorry. To my friends, my loved ones, and anyone else that gives a care.

Speaking of... I believe I owe one Miss Akiha Tohno a date. I think it would do my karma well to make good on that. So, if she's willing to have me for the evening, I'd love to take her out. Whenever's convenient for her, of course.

Summer's just about over... makes me wonder just who out there in the gardens took advantage of the heat of love, eh? Ha ha...

-She continues playing to the end of the song, turning the Vine away with a wink once she was finished.-

-The vine unfurls, the image displayed being a rather distraught Akira.-

I went to investigate the missing birds. I wanted to ask Mugi if she'd come with. Wasn't home. No big.

But when I actually get to the place I was going to scope out, I found a bottle in a tree. Inside... well...

-Akira holds up the bottle, pulling out its contents. Rolled up in the bottle are two pieces of parchment, lined for sheet music. The first page is a letter written in a neat cursive, with the words laid out in the space between the blocks for notation. It makes makes the spacing kind of awkward.-

( ooc cut for image )

-The second page is a page of haphazardly sketched musical notation (meant for piano, as those familiar will notice). There are lyrics, too, which are awfully cheery when you consider the fact the author was kidnapped! The title is "Dreams Dancing in the Clouds". Yeah, there's no questioning that this is authentic.-

... Is anyone else missing?

[[ ooc: Transcibed:

Dear Madam:

The view of the Gardens is breathtaking from above!
There is so much to see and learn, even here.
I am being treated well. There are others with me.
I wish that I could share it with you all, so I have
attached something special to that end!
I hope you are doing well.

--Tsumugi ]]

-The garden vines present us all with the site of one Akira Satou, putting on weapons grade charm and swag. She's a woman on a mission.-

Hello, ladies.

I hear there's a party going on soon. A beach party with sun, fun, and perhaps a bit of romance.

But you see, I find myself with a bit of a problem. You see, with so many lovely options, I find myself unable to decide. So instead, I put the task in you beautiful hands...

So, tell me... Which of you would like to be my date and treated to a night of magic you won't soon forget?

-Oh lawd...-

-And here we find Akira, looking a tad hung over and slumping over her bed, an egg on top of her, crying away. She looks completely defeated.-

...

Nguh... I'm not cut out for this anymore... Once was enough, guys, now it's just cruel.

Lilyyyy why can't you be heeeere and save meeeee... -Hicup-

Help me out here, guys. I dunno what to do.

[ Well , wasn't this unusual ! The woman smiled as the vines twisted and turned together , intertwining as she dared to lean in close , a gentle smile on her pale lips as she backed up , long hair coiling around one of her clothed legs . Turning her head , she sees a mirror , and she tilts her head .

How peculiar ! ]

Hello? Is anybody out there? My name is Reiko Aya!

[ It's best to use her alias outside of business , right ? Crow-san would become upset if she did anything other than such ! ]

Do you want my business card? [ She pauses , then looks down at the letter in her hand , already crumpled from her grip . ]

This is an interesting place! ... So, is anybody out there? Hello, hello?

Hey, uh... For those that knew her, Hanako... doesn't seem to be around any more. So... send her your best wishes, yeah? -She was going to need it...-


A-anyways, let's not dwell on the depressing. Ladies and ladies~ of the Gardens, I have a suggestion to make. You see, this place is sorely lacking in cool. Like we have a pretty massive lack of cool going on right now and it's completely killing me. I am bleeding from lack of cool in my life. But don't you worry your pretty heads. I have an idea.

What we need, now bear with me. Hear me out. What we need...

Is a jazz club. Bar, band, the works. We can build anything with this magic dirt, right? So let's inject some cool into this place and get our selves a hip joint to expediate that process. Sounds like a nice idea, right? Right.

So who wants to help?

SHICCHAN ITS NOT NICE TO RUN OFF JUST BCUZ I FELL ASLEEP U NO （￣へ￣）

neway where am i SHICCHAN DID U LEAVE ME SUMWHERE TO DIE ｡ﾟ(ﾟ´Д｀ﾟ)ﾟ｡ I DON'T WANNA DIE SHICCHAN

r we still on campus... i can prob find my way back if i am... maybe...

but u wouldn't leave me out here would u...




would u shicchan.......?


[I apologize for the font (never mind that font colour, turns out it was unreadable) and nominal chatspeak, but I feel it's IC. Anyway, she's super duper out of it rn, so pardon her if some of the basic facts of this place haven't registered yet. Like the fact that she's communicating via plant]

Within those Gardens, time stretches out with little to fill it with, in an endless stream of leisure. After all, food gives itself to you almost without asking, and shelter is freely given. Clothes and other things can be fashioned with a simple trip to collect the very earth of Chaos, and far more safely than the usual methods of calling Chaos into shape.

I am lacking in the usual duties that fill my time. No growing seasons to bless with fecundity, as the Gardens almost care for themselves. No births to bless with prosperous growth in life, and likewise none coming before me to ask for a gift of fertility. Chaos' touch is so light that little call exists to manage it. A mere facade of a temple of Zephyr stands here, its ceremonial halls empty.

But there is one duty that a place still exists for. And that is to bring merriment. So if any occasion arises where you could use my aid on such matters, I will gladly extend it. If you wish to have delicacies, intoxicants, and other things that bring joy upon their imbibement, I can provide. And I will give other kinds of aid as well. I have a great deal of experience with celebrations, festivities, and other such matters.

And, after all, there are many kinds of pleasure to be found.

[Sephiroth is seated at a table, outside, one of the ornamental tables that one can find here and there within the Gardens, among the flowers, an idyllic spot. On the table is a curious chess set, which was Sephiroth's gift for the Winter Holiday. She is regarding it thoughtfully, alone but for the tendril of Vine coiled companionably around her wrist.

She's been quiet of late, but she's starting to feel more--what is it that she feels? Sociable? Restless?

Sephiroth has been here almost a year now, and she and the Vine are old friends. She's spent a great deal of time bonding with the plant, fascinated by it.]

I used to play chess often as a child. My favorite was the variant in which one can view one's own pieces, but not the pieces of one's opponent. It took three boards and a referee to play--one for each player, and one for the referee to view, to see how the pieces stood together. War chess, it's called. Like a general, one only sees and guides the movements of one's own troops. As in war, there is no perfect information, unlike in standard games of chess.

[She'd never lost. She picks up one of the monster-shaped pieces, turning it in her hand.]

This is like the sets we used. I wonder, does anyone else like to play? Ordinary chess will do.

-Amidst new visitor time, the vine has picked up another new person! One that... Well she doesn't quite look like a girl at first, but we're sure most of the viewers will assume she just has a boyish look. It's easier to imagine than the Queen suddenly bringing a boy.

She lays on the grass, seemingly unaware she's being watched. Her jacket is off, balled up behind her as a makeshift headrest. She has the scroll in her hand, and she just seems to be watching the sky...-

I think... I have a hangover...

-To say the least.-