Leave the lights on, will ya?

Another Christmas here, huh? And another birthday missed. You're really gonna kill me when I get back, Sara.

[He taps the photo in his hands. It's old by now.]

And more mistletoe. Just need a cute girl to walk under it with me.

Hmmm....now where would I find a cute girl around here...

[Jackie's apartment is - you guessed it - dark. But he's sitting by the window, where a bit of moonlight hits his face through the chewed curtains. His profile is to the communicator; it's not clear whether or not he turned it on on purpose.]

Been thinking about you a lot. [...] Both of you. You know...

We always made our own family. I guess I kept that up even after you went back.

[...]

The stuff I've been trying to do...I keep...saying it's for you. Maybe just...for all of the 'yous' out there. For all the lost people and the ones just trying to get by...like...candles in a rainstorm. Some of 'em go out, and you're just trying to light it up again...and sometimes you don't do it right.

So that's why...we have to try 'n keep those candles lit. [...] You know?

I know it's kinda late notice, but is there any turkey in Discedo? Turkey products? Something that involves turkey. I'm sure I can get some instant mashed potatoes or something.....gravy...'ve got some corn, at least.

Man. It just kinda completely slipped my mind.

[locked to Shinji and Kid]

Hey.

Thanksgiving dinner. Just the four of us?

[ooc: ALSO ACE WE WILL DO MORE OF THAT LOG, I AM JUST DEAD TODAY ;;]

[Crash bang crash.]

's this what I get? This...what I get for helping your goddamn city, huh? God - God damn you, you fucking -

[He runs out of breath, trying to gain more with suddenly ragged gulps.]

'm not a good guy by any fucking definition, but there was one thing that was makin' me try. The only thing that'd keep that Darkness away. And now - now you fucking take it?! What the hell kind of game - the hell kind of game you think you're playing with us?!

[A tense pause, and then something else is thrown around. It splinters and breaks with as much noise as he can make.]

What the hell do you think you're doing, Scientists?!

[Beat. Then Jackie screams, full of hate and anger and loss.]

NIIIIIIIIIILL!!

Yeaaahhhhh I've been here before.

[The post cuts in abruptly to the sound of a door being smashed in by a foot. Jackie's head snaps up at the commotion - ]

The hell - ?!

[This is not what he needs right now. The Darkness's out killing people for shits and giggles, and - ]

Oi, bastard. What the hell is this, Jackie?

Hey - hey, this wasn't my idea...

[Johnny throws a dead Darkling on the ground as he stomps over to Jackie, stopping several feet from him.]
( Not cut ICly. It's the Johnny and Jackie show! )

Hey, guys, take a look at this.

[The camera pans out across a building. It's dark - darker than you might expect - but it may or may not be the safehouse.]

Remember this? That thing we made so, you know, people with their chips can not blind people and stuff. Let's make more use of it, kiddies. 's not gonna work if everyone's pulling in opposite directions.

[He lowers the communicator, and the post - seemingly - ends. But then through the darkness eyes start a appear - dozens of them. Little pinpricks, lighting up the night. And long sharp teeth and claws as well. The Darklings.

Something brightly colored moves on the side of the screen.]

Okay, boys. Have at 'em.

[And at his command, the imps launch off of their feet, frenzied with hunger. - And then there's ripping and howling sounds as a group of Marionettes are devoured. One of them speaks between mouthfuls;]

Tastes like chicken.

So....

[ohey it's a video. of a guy wearing a colorful skull mask. don't be scared, bbs, its just jackie.]

In Mexico, they celebrate their Halloween-type holiday yesterday and today. It's called El Día de Los Muertos.

[he pauses to lift the mask away from his face.]

"The Day of the Dead." It's less about scaring the pants off people and more about...celebrating the dead who've left them. ...They say it's easier for spirits to come back, so they decorate the tombstones of their friends and leave food and other stuff the person liked when they were alive. They eat this special bread and these little sugar skulls and stuff.

[pause.]

You know, I like how the Mexicans celebrate stuff. It's...festive. Most people, a day like this would be sad and gloomy and shit. But they...they really celebrate, you know?

[another pause, before the transmission ends. it comes back a little later for;]

Like to call a Horton Watch meeting. And recruitment, I guess. Basically it's here to take care of our little apartment family. We take shifts guarding around the building, so if you're interested, sign on up.

[ooc: Anyone who visits the Northern Lights today will find a little shrine made out of a shoebox in a corner on the bar. It is adorned by plastic flowers, and contains a cross necklace, a Twinkie, a shot glass, and a simple black bow-tie. Try to mess with it, and a Darkling will bite you. 8|

If you are interested in the Horton Watch, please to see this.]

[Ka-rash, the communicator has fallen to the floor. The impact knocks it on (of course) just in time to catch a very angry Jackie - ]

- ell are you doing here.

[The voice that replies belongs to Seishirou, tone mild and polite despite Jackie's anger, and tinged with both confusion and curiosity -- and for those that can recognize it, amusement.]

( Not cut ICly )

Okay...I know last week was totally exciting...but back to business, right? Right. Doctor...Crescent? You said you would help with the safehouse. Can you be our on-site doctor for it? Since House is gone...gonna need someone to do it.

And also, I need to talk to...a...lawyer type person. Or Kadaj in a suit. Or it would probably be best to have both. Yeah.

uhh....

[There's the sound of - papers shuffling. Yes, he made notes about the stuff he has to do. Shut up.]

I think that's it. Sorata...your chip's back in, isn't it.

[fml.]

You better get that thing out soon, man, or Kan'll have to do everything himself.

[He looks through his papers one more time. And sighs.]

I am not used to this being organized thing.

[ooc: yo discedo i'm real happy for you and i'ma letchu finish but

IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN THE SAFEHOUSE, PLEASE RESPOND HERE.

love!]

FUCK MY LIFE, HOUSE AND NARUSE?!

[the voice isn't Jackie's. it's another's. deeper, but with undertones of tenor and alto, shifting, resonating. for the old hands, they'll know who this is. for the new:

say hello to the Messenger of Darkness.]

A refreshing change of pace. Hate and fear....malice. Darkness.

Do you understand now? Do you understand what lies within all of you?

Can you see that Darkness is only a part of the balance?

[it's your favorite neighborhood jackie. he looks a little tired, but his voice is a lot better and he doesn't have a fever.]

Hey, kids.

The Safehouse has been completed. Woo.

[he gives a little jazz-hands. exciting!]

Here it is on my handy-dandy map...

[and have a map in your face. woo.]

's pretty cool. Nice work, team.

[locked to anyone who was/is involved in the safehouse including doctors, kan and sorata]

So...roll call. House, you're still here, right? Not going back and forth again? Sorata, you too. Stop bein' all fickle about it.

I, uh....

[uhhhh.]

To be honest, this was the farthest I'd thought it all up, so...what now?

[he shrugs a little, and turns off the video function to change over to voice. for a ~special message~ -]

[locked to Anemone]

Girl...the hell're you doing sleeping around?

[ooc: AND HERE IS THE PLAYMYACE POST FOR IT. In addition HERE IS THE OOC DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. Please help me out with this and offer suggestions and cookies. Love love!]

[jackie's voice is a little quiet and a little hoarse. guess who got sick along with daughter?]

Sounds like...the safehouse'll be ready in a week or two. So....

[cough.]

...yeah.

The item fairy brought me stuff, so...yeah to that too, huh?

[hurggh jackie is sick. ;;]

[ooc: commentlog for niruchan. YUUKO-MUN: jackie has been given the power to temporarily understand Nill a la mindreading/telepathy thing. I hope that is cool and whatever price there is he will pay it. love love <3]

[The feed turns on to show a dim view of Jackie's apartment. It's daytime, so what's going on is clear enough: a variety of small objects floating about in the air. Candlesticks, a busted radio, a hairbrush...

And then someone runs into the picture - a small blonde girl, hopping up and down on tiny feet, desperately grabbing at the runaway things. Her wings rustle ineffectively, and her face is in an almost comical pout. She's just...too...short!

The video times out to this scene, with maybe a low chuckle from Jackie.]

[ooc: AGAIN THIS IS BACKDATED TO THE 23RD, late Cube event is late but adorable. x3;; ]

...what a week, Discedo, huh?

Since's Lyra's got the team going...

HEY, DOCTORS.

NEED YOUR HELP.

...PLEASE.


[ooc: so far I've got the okay from Derek and Laron oocly - I'd love to hear from KUREHA, NAGISA, CHOPPER, MURAKI, WASHU, EIRIN, WALLACE (?), DIST, STEIN, and maybe LUCRECIA. Please comment or leave me a note or IM me at "marvelous mith" (or Pied at "wheatear2109" if I'm not on or you really can't wait or something). Thank you. <3]

[the communicator turns on as its knocked against the stairsteps. it's too dark to see what's happening, but something crunches sickeningly and a woman gurgles her last breaths.

out from darkness steps a jackie-chan. darkness swirls around him as a satisfied darkling drops the husk of a Nurse on the floor; the darkling's muzzle is covered with blood. after a moment of basking in his own awesomeness, jackie bends down to pick up the communicator.]

'm here.

[ooc: hey hospital guys its a jackie, HERE HE COMES TO SAVE THE DAY. let's date this after whatever happens with fuuka happens (DONT KILL HER ;-; ). NILL, FATHER IS COMINGGGGGG~]

( they left before the sun came up that day. )

My daughter's decided to go back to working at the hospital. I'm sure we all like her enough to keep an eye on her, but I would...appreciate it if extra attention was given to her welfare. In fact, I would greatly appreciate it.

Which reminds me, Dr. Eirin...

[locked to Eirin]

Seishirou. He's working with you, isn't he? At the hospital.

Are you aware of his...activities during his stay here in Discedo?

[the apartment at 305 Horton is dark. Because it's night, obviously. But there's something else about the darkness tonight; something sinister. Something moving.</i>]

Hey, boss.

[pinpricks of light appear. Eyes.]

Yeah, boss.

[more of them. Two pairs come closer, but there are a dozen in the back. Two dozen.]

We gotta talk, boss.

Things ain't goin' so well.

All this community organizin' and playin' nice...

[the speakers are close enough now for their forms to be vaguely visible. They're spindly, small, but sharp and full of teeth and claws. And they're not happy.]

You're like a damn cookie mom!

[another one comes in from the side. Bigger.]

's the matter, big guy? Lost your mojo?

We gotta do somethin' about this, Jackie.

Yeah. The boys are gettin'....

hungry.

[Finally, a familiar voice comes on.]

Get outta here.

[the creatures press closer, tighter. There are scores of them.]

Can't, Jackie.

We stay with you.

Because that's what we are.

That's what you are.

[an arm sweeps out. Some of the smaller ones scatter, but the eyes become narrowed.]

And don't go forgettin' what you are, Jackie.

'Cause that day comes...

we'll be here to remind you.

[the arm comes again, but this time with a dark energy around it, an armor. It jumps off onto the creatures and Jackie's back comes into view as he throws a punch at his minions. They finally dissipate, with flashes of writhing dark, a squeal or two from the small and the close.

The man you know as Jackie turns towards the communicator, wrapped up in his unholy armor. His eyes are glowing - again the only light in the room - and they narrow at the unwanted audience before a hand reaches out to turn it off.

Click.]

[ooc: THE PLOT THICKENS?

I'll also be posting some stuff for the town meeting followup later loves~ kiss kiss!]