{{OOC: Man, I lose, big time. I meant to start this thread days ago but went out of town and got sick and junk (not necessarily in that order but still). Anyway, this one's for Ishida<3.}}

Though five in the morning wasn't most people's idea of a fun time to go jogging, Hana and her dogs thought otherwise. Most mornings, they could be found braving the elements for their daily run, releasing pent up energy (in the case of the dogs) and getting in gear for the day to come. She and the dogs were always pleased when people joined them for their early-morning runs, since it happened so infrequently. When Ishida decided to tag along, Hana was pleased enough to hand a leash over to him and allow Shouri to drag him along.

The walk was filled with companionable talk and comfortable silences. When they arrived back at 311, each went their separate ways to clean up before meeting back at the front door at 8:30 sharp. Hana nodded and lead Uryuu out to her truck, unlocking the door for him and buckling the dogs into their crates. The engine purred to life when she turned the key, and (not for the first time) Hana was glad that Shuuhei had insisted she replace her old truck.

"I'm really happy that someone in the building wants to bring one of those puppies home," she told Uryuu as she pulled out onto the street. "They're so sweet, and cute, too. I could probably even get you a discount on your vet bills, if you bring the pup back to the clinic for all its checkups and things."

Hana smiled over at him as she changed lanes, checking her dogs in the rear-view mirror. "Have you been thinking about names?"

[[Wow, I so lose. This is from almost two weeks ago, I just got totally distracted and forgot to post it. So sorry Hana.]]


It'd been a long, though reasonably pleasant day at work. Hana changed out of her clinic lab coat and into more comfortable clothes before heading two doors down the hall to apartment seven and knocking on the door. This particular appointment seemed overdue to her, and since her brother seemed to be having a hard time bucking up, Hana decided to do the job for him. She knew Kiba well enough to know that he didn't mean to cause Hinata any trouble, but still, the younger girl felt his absence, and it bothered Hana to no end.

Silently she waited with her hands in her pockets, rocking on the balls of her feet. Hopefully this would go over well and things could work out in the end for everyone involved.



( Hinata paused when she heard the knock, frowning thoughtfully. )

Uryuu sat at one of those small café tables that seemed hardly practical for more than two people to share. Barely enough room for a couple of coffee mugs, let alone plates for a proper meal. A glance to his watch proved that the hour was naught but five past twelve -- he didn't have class until the evening. It was one of those long stretches of time which seemed to be without end, and Uryuu pondered what to do with that block of hours. He contented himself for now with watching the people go by, watching the servers go about to and fro between the tables.

( Even though... )

Despite her promise to Ino, Hinata still hadn't been able to deliver the cookies on Valentine's Day. That had seemed too much, too sudden, and she still couldn't quite get past the making a friend stage. So she arrived at his door two days later, nervously holding a plate of cookies (some from Ino, some she had made herself), and knocked as politely as she could.


Backdated to the 19th!

[OOC: This is backdated to Monday the 12th of February.]


Baking, Hana decided, was a dangerous venture when Shuuhei was around. As she mixed the chocolate batter for the cake she was preparing, she made sure to keep a safe distance from the man who was seated on an otherwise unoccupied portion of the counter. She'd already had to whack his hand with a spoon to keep him from getting "Shuuhei-germs" in the cake mix, and she wasn't planning on exposing her batter to danger again.

Hana stirred the mix in a large plastic bowl, leaning on the counter opposite and down a bit from Shuuhei. "So this girl, Jennifer. Do you really know her at all?"


"Not really. She works in the vocational training program, so we don't really interact much even though we work in the same building," he replied, drumming his heels against the lower cabinet door. "But from what I know of her, she seems nice... Are you sure she has a boyfriend? I can't imagine that she'd ask me out if she had one."


( Yay Chocolate! )

ANNOUNCEMENT

This is a fairly important sort of update, and it’s probably best not to skim it quickly. First of all, I’d like to say that this is one of the most unique RPG’s I’ve ever participated in, both because of its original structure and because of the caliber of players we’ve seen in here. I love playing here. What’s also fantastic, is that we’re an RPG that’s made it after an entire year of being open. Most RPGs see a lot of activity for four to six months or so, and then quietly settle back into oblivion (and usually, that’s fine).

The game, however, is admittedly quieter than it was a year ago (and I’ll be the first to admit that I never thought we’d come this far). Everyone has commitments and other sorts or priorities, and we can all relate to that. It is with this in mind that Aqui and I have decided to do a little bit of restructuring to preserve the community we have here, and that you all have helped to create.

1. From the date of this post, players will be given a week to post for each of their respective characters. If you know you’re going to be exceptionally busy or you just don’t have time anymore, that’s okay! Just let us know! We’d like a clean sweep—inactive players will be removed, and we can start fresher, a little more closer, with who we have left.

2. After the first initial week, the rules will change. Instead of requiring one post every two weeks, we will be looking to see one post every week (which still isn’t too much to ask for), and that everyone has managed to comment at least on one other journal (and hey, it’d be cool if people did logs, too). Players who miss posting weekly will be given a “strike”, and we’ll function on the three-strikes-and-you’re-out philosophy. This isn’t to be strict or to force people together, but to make sure that everyone gets included. If you don’t think you can keep up that level of activity, just let us know.

3. Awhile ago, we also posted a poll to see if the community was interested in group chats. It seemed that the majority was, and that’s a great opportunity to plot and to get to know the folks you may not talk to as much—move beyond your bounds! We are, however, looking for volunteers to START said chats as I am often busy in the evening and Aqui is British and thus in another sort of time zone. If you’re interested and have the time, please let one of us know.

4. And, last but not least, we’re also opening up character applications for everyone. If you were ever interested in applying for a second character, feel free to go ahead!

That’s about all, folks. Take care, and we hope to see you in game. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to ask.

Naruto winced as he strummed another sour note on his guitar.  He shuffled the papers that held the chords and lyrics to his latest angsty heartbreaking song.  That was what sold afterall and right now he had plenty of inspiration.  It helped to get out a little here and there, but he still missed her a lot.  He didn't even feel like himself lately. 

After washing and cleaning the apartment until it shone, Ino found she was still frustrated over the flower shop, at her roommates, and at life in general. She did laundry, cooked, vacuumed, and dusted for hours but was still full of nervous, anxious energy. Looking around the apartment to see if her roommates had gotten the mail (shock, they hadn't) Ino nearly threw her mop through the window in a pure fit of anger. Her father was supposed to send her a new credit card in the mail after destroying the last one in a fit of "independent" rage. After losing her job, living without a credit card was not an option. Especially not since the rent had gone up.

"THANKS FOR NOTHING, GUYS!" Ino screamed to no one in particular. Did she have to do everything? "Useless! The whole lot of them!"

Stomping around the halls and staircases of Lysgar, still wearing her cleaning clothes with her hair tied back in a scarf, Ino made her way to the mailboxes. Of course, her key got stuck when she tried to insert it into the mail \box. Clearly, she was cursed.

This day could not possibly get any worse.

A rhythmic clinking echoed through the otherwise empty basement - metal buttons hitting the inside of the dryer that looked like it was assembled some time in the 80's. Laundry day meant that Gin would have to wait in the basement, still slightly flooded from the storm a few weeks ago, for his clothes to finish to ensure they weren't stolen by mischievous children that might live somewhere in the complex. His socks were damp after having to wade through puddles and he looked like a street urchin wearing the only pair of clothes he wasn't washing, old and faded. He sat, reading that day's newspaper, with his feet propped up on the other chair. He was on the last load of clothes as he turned to page 5C and continued reading.

OKAY. So.

Sasuke said wait so Orihime was being good and waiting. But she figured she should wait where she was visible so she moved to sit at the left side of the second to the bottom stair on the staircase. In a few minutes she found it hard to remember WHY she was waiting again, but she retained enough common sense to not attempt all those stairs as inebriated as she was. She was wearing heels, too.

So she'd wait, yep. Wait for Sasuke. And try to remember the name of that song. "Let's get these teen hearts beating. Faster, faster... So testosterone boys and harlequin girls, will you dance to this beat, and hold a lover close?" Okay so she couldn't remember the rest now.

[Backdated to the evening of Dec 24th, Christmas Eve]

So far, Sakura was having a very interesting holiday season. Firstly, her parents had nearly disowned her for not coming home, but it wasn't her fault that she had to study! She was starting her surgical rotation in January, and that wasn't going to be easy now, would it? She had to take these two weeks to prepare.

( Secondly, Sakura had received a very strange unmarked package in the mail that morning. )

The bad thing about living with one's physician, Jyuushirou quickly learned, was that it was damned hard to avoid check-ups now. Especially when all he had to do was walk out of his bedroom and find her there, in their living room, knitting what looked to be something fluffy.

It wasn't like he could avoid her though. That was the thing about doctors-- they were almost always anywhere, and everywhere you don't want them to be.

Of course, he wouldn't be feeling so guilty seeing her now if he hadn't just coughed up a storm the other night. These walls really were too damn thin.

"Retsu," he smiled a little uneasily, wondering if he could get from his bedroom to the kitchen without having to answer any of her questions. "Good morning."

[Takes place way the hell before Christmas. Probably early December. Yes, we suck. Sorry. I blame Keryn. XD]

Standing atop a ladder, Ino nailed yet another sprig of mistletoe to the inside of the front door. Even if people didn't want to follow the mistletoe rules, it was still a very cute little plant and it looked so festive! There was mistletoe in just about every doorway, except for maybe the bathroom because that was just weird. The inside of apartment 17 was decked out; the walls were covered in tinsel, reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa paraphernalia. Most of it glittered, glowed in the dark, or lit up which was just fine by Ino. She had insisted on buying a Christmas tree, though a smaller one than she usually had at home. She still managed to decorate it to the best of her abilities with lights and tinsel and anything else she could get her hands on and stuck a star at the top that shone like a disco ball.

Not bad, she thought looking at all of her handy work. Ino hopped off of the ladder and wiped her hands off on her dark blue jeans and crossed her arms over her gray-blue sweater. Once the ladder was put away, Ino walked around to inspect every light to make sure none of the bulbs had gone out. ( Perfect. )

[Yet again, back-dated to X-mas]


All of the following [except Ishida's] are without a name and have been sent to the mailboxes [except Orihime's which was delivered by some kid Sasuke paid off >>]. Because let's face it, Sasuke would never fess up to being a nice guy.


( Naruto )


( Ino )


( Sakura ).


( Ishida )

( Orihime )

Or at least an official Santa's helper with determination that's second to none. Come Christmas morning each of the little stockings has a candy-cane in it (multicolored kinds. Ichigo gets red and Sasuke gets blue and Naruto gets orange...) and everyone gets a present. Yes, everyone. It might just be a small little hand-made stuffed doggie (Hana ♥) or bunny (Rukia) but thought and effort was put into everything. Santa's forgotten no one this year, not even Naruto.

Santa's Helper will, however, be sleeping until noon on this joyous day, thankyouverymuch.

Naruto bounded up the steps to his apartment two at a time as he came in from the chill. It was snowing, clumps of lovely, fresh, powdery snow. It'd been snowing when he'd left for work and now it was everywhere. He squished his way through the slushy streets, almost singing to himself, but settling for humming as he walked. It was perfect weather for sledding! Ever since the Transformers event over at his place, he'd been scoping out the best places to enjoy the snow, when it finally decided to come. It'd been bitterly cold lately, but no signs of snow and now... now it would be awesome!

The neon sign read BLARNEY STAR BAR in red and green, a chipper four-leafed clover marking it as so incredibly Irish as to be a cliché.

He really shouldn't have let Ino pick the bar. He knew, rationally, that Ino was one of those troublesome sorts of people who enjoyed trying "new things", all fresh and novel and vogue. Shikamaru was a big fan of things he'd been forced into trying once in his life and had gotten into the habit of repeating. Like Cocoa Puffs, for example. He never ate any other kind of cereal---hadn't tried any other kind of cereal in his lifetime, settling on the one thing he did like and never branching out. That took energy. Shikamaru didn't like expending said energy, so he filled his quota and considered himself done.

( This was his way of looking at everything in life. Familiar = good. New = scary. A two-category system made things simple enough. )