Evenin', passengers.

[Here's a voice you don't recognize. And a face too! He smiles into the camera.]

My Captain sends her regards and apologizes for the delay. But we're back on course and headin' full steam on to the Golden Shore.

Hey! Sure is quiet around here! We should play a game!

A couple'a years ago on the Elegante, I got a bunch of people together to play Sardines! It's a game like hide and seek, 'cept only one person hides, and everybody else looks for them. Then when somebody finds the guy that's hiding, they hide with them! And it goes on and on like that until everybody is together! Last person to find the group is the loser. It was super fun, and everybody loved it! So I think we should play. Everybody is invited, just tell me if you're playing so I know!

I have a super good hiding place. Good luck guys!

[Welcome to a Lily Event, which is a thing I just made up right now! Rules are just like Lily explained. Characters can search in a group, or alone. I'll be posting a log shortly (this is an intro post only!), as well as a post in the OOC comm to explain how we determine the order in which she's found. Comment here with a number between 1 and 20! In the meantime, comment here with your character if they're going to play!]

[Here is a link to the first game of Sardines, way back at MS Elegante in 2010, to give you a feel of how the log will be. Stay tuned!]

GUEEEEEEEEEESS WHAT, GUYS!

[Pause for effect.]

I'm 16 now! I was 16 yesterday, actually! 16 years old! I'm an adult! I mean, I don't know if I'm actually 16, but it sounds right!

I'm at the bar in the Pourhouse if anybody wants to do shots. To celebrate! Like a mini party.

Man this thing is ancient.

[Beep, beep, beeeeep. She's pressing buttons. Possibly trying to dial a number.]

But there's no service so does it even work?

[She studies it closely and when she finally sees the blinking 'record' light, she realizes oh hey it does work and it's been on this whole time.]

This is so fucking cool. Hello? Is anybody on the other end? I'm Ellie and I'm from the future. If you meet a grumpy old guy named Joel tell him to give me a ring [did they say that back then?] cause this is some weird shit.

Hey, uh, everyone? I'd like you to meet someone. Someone special.

[Carter holds up a bar of handsoap. It's slightly used and kinda oblong. It's a pleasing ivory colour, and if you sniffed it you'd think it had a pleasant, neutral odour, but it's really nothing to get excited over.

Unless you tried one of the heart lollipops and washed your hands, and fell in love with the nearest inanimate object.

So, bar of soap. Carter makes cow eyes at the thing. He bites his lip, looking shy but his eyes shine in happiness. How often does one find a love like this?]

She's--she's really shy. But yeah. We're--does anyone do marriages?

[The video feed clicks on and Ben looks... pretty happy, actually! Kind of odd for him. He looks pale as hell, though, and the feed shakes every now and then as he holds the camera.]

So, uh! Hi. Um. Weird month, huh?

Well, uh. I've noticed some, some new faces around here, and we... had a slightly terrifying mixer a few months ago when we all sorta. Started showing up.

I was wondering-- would there be any interest in maybe figuring out a kind of meet up for the newer faces on the boat? Like, we... I know I've met some people in passing, but there're a bunch of us I've only spoken with by the communicators-- wh-which is partially my fault, of course! But, I, uh, I think a fair chunk of us fall into the "i-introvert" category, and a casual sort of... thing, uh. It could be fun.

Part of me is thinking "giant blanket fort," but I don't, uh, I'm not sure if that'd be fun for anyone other than the kids, eh?

[He swallows a little, and when he continues, his voice cracks a little. Nerves?]

A-also, I. I wanted to let you guys know, p-part of the reason I've been... um, off, hiding on my own a bit, is... the whole werewolf thing has gotten weirdly unpredictable? Like... I'm still fairly passive and peaceful, but I'm struggling to figure out when I'm changing, now. My math said the full moon was, was last night, and-- I mean, I'm dealing with the symptoms now, but... if-- uh.

I'm talking a lot here, my point is: if, um. If I accidentally start changing in the middle of a hallway or something, don't worry. Just... you can kind of leave me where I land? J-just. Don't worry. F-feel free to like, l-leave.

But, um. Otherwise, if-- if someone wants to help me set up something, hit me up. You can grab me on the communicators right now, but-- uh, if I don't respond, I might not have thumbs.

I found a dog, and he's mine now, and I love him.

[Photo: A very delighted selfie of Lily and Keeva's dog!]

Yo, Sam----uuueeel.

[He remembers his respect part way through his indignant call-out. Chase being Chase, however, he quickly forgets it again;]

You gonna' uncuff me or what, you prick?

[His voice is muffled by the leather dog muzzle strapped around his face. He yanks his cuffed wrist against the metal pipe, and it makes a nice little clanking noise - and to prevent his free hand from unbuckling the muzzle, affixed around his neck is the Cone of Shame.]

I'll fucking kill you. You know that? I'll fucking k--

[And, just like that, he's silent again. The cuffs come undone, the cone unravels itself from the reality of being around his neck like an orange peel going in one piece - fading away by the captain's will. The muzzle remains affixed, for Chase to remove himself. The blonde picks himself up from the floor, rubs his wrist, and he offs his transmission.

The Captain is a Generous Woman. The hour is late, and she has released the Hound.

Stay out of the hallways.]

Hey!

I got all my Christmas gifts delivered finally!

I mean, Christmas was like, two weeks ago, but… still! Sorry my Christmas presents are so late, I burned the cupcakes I made and had to make more… Then I spilled something on one of the presents and had to look for another one, but there wasn't another one, so I had to try and clean it… Then I lost something... Tons of stuff happened.

It's whatever. I guess they're New Year presents instead! Happy New Year, everyone!

Hey Hound, I have some cupcakes for the crew, can you give it to 'em for me?

[Carter has received several cupcakes and a book about Al-Hebb gods, complete with bookmarks on pages that mention Zeshat and Qawwaz!]

[Bennett has received some cupcakes, a Lisa Frank notebook, and a VERY BIG wolf plushie! There's a soda stain on the tail that she couldn't clean, so Lily wrapped it in gauze, like dressing an injury.]

[Starfire has received cupcakes and a purple t-shirt with "TIDE TITANS!" painted on it in white!]

[Everyone else (whose room number she knows) has received not one, not two, but three cupcakes with pink icing. Merry belated Christmas, and happy New Year!]

I hope everyone's recovered from the bombing?

[Long pause, shuffling in the background.]

We've apprehended the culprit, but please be cautious. There may be more bombs planted throughout the ship.

Praise Rowe.