[It was a normal day in Luceti for Shiki. She woke up in her room at house 10 without the threat of an experiment settling in today. She had her breakfast, she got dressed, and she headed out with Mr. Mew to All Passions. She walked into the shop and turned on the lights, noticing that the door to Minato's special little room was open. That in itself was strange, seeing how it was meant to be a dark room.]

Minato? You here? [She walked forward, approaching the boy's workspace and pushing the door open only to find it empty save for a stack of letters.

She instantly knew what it meant, but she wasn't going to react yet. She decided to look through the letters first, tracking down hers. Upon reading it, she knows it's true...and she knows she has to let the others know. So she's grabbing her journal and begins recording a new message for the village.]

...hey, hi guys. Um...wow, this is really hard to say. [It's awful. Minato's been here nearly as long as she has and now she's lost one of her oldest friends without a real chance to say goodbye? That's great. It takes her a few moments to pull it together, but she addresses the journal again.]

Minato's gone. Minato Arisato. I guess he only left us last night but these letters weren't here yesterday. If someone could confirm he's really, really gone...that'd be great.

But either way? Nephry, Akihiko, Yuri, Ange, Keiichi,Haruhi and Kyon? I've got letters for you guys. I'm at the shop all day whenever you feel like picking them up.

[Filtered to members of House 10]

In light of people disappearing, I wanted to ask you guys...can we do something special to celebrate the friends we still have here? Like a potluck or something. I made a new friend who asked me to hang out with her, and with Minato leaving...I've realized I can't keep putting things off. Let me know what you guys think.

[Well today Shiki's sitting inside All Passions behind the til, her own special little elf sitting side-by-side with Mr. Mew. She's currently working on something with her hands, though it's not quite in view of the camera yet. However, anyone who's looking will notice that the little elf is shifting through what looks like an elf-sized wardrobe full of outfits. Said-elf might also be trying to dress Mr. Mew. That's not going too well. The shop itself has been decked out with little lights shaped like stars and Christmas music is playing in the background. Shiki continues to work as she addresses the village.]

So this is, what, my third Christmas here? I'm starting to run out of ideas for presents for you guys, but maybe I'll try my hand at baking. [She giggles a bit.] Just kidding, I'm totally prepared. I've been totally good this year. [Hear that, Elf? Shiki's been good. In fact, she stops working to tilt her journal toward a pile of fancy wrapped boxes, presents for her close friends and housemates.]

Pretty, right? Just remember, if you need a last-minute gift for that special someone, or, well, anyone really, stop by All Passions! I've got just the thing for you.

...but can you guys try to stop by before it gets too dark? I wanted to close up early today, maybe go ice skating or make a snowman if anybody wants to join me.

[And she's adding the finishing touches to her project before holding it in her hands. A crown. A mistletoe crown, in fact, to go along with her new holiday dress, the newest of her winter line.] What do you think? Too much? I kind of like it. I'm really getting so much better at designing things myself. [In fact, she's just going to put the crown on her head.

It's probably best not to ask her where she got the mistletoe from.]

Anyway, merry Christmas everybody. PS, if any of you received...um...any kind of questionable gift outside of your house? Blame the elf. [Shiki may or may not have gone around to strangers' homes and decorated the outside of their doors with ribbons, bows and lights, along with leaving behind a box of cookies that might be slightly burnt. Shiki's not the best baker.]

[ooc: If your character has close CR with Shiki, assume she made you a present. Like hand-made.]

...you know, I'm just going to get straight to the point. [Hello, Luceti. If you happen to be looking at your journal today, you might see a redhead in the middle of All Passions. One side of the shop has been completely reorganized and cleared, almost as if the space has been split in half.]

I'll be the first to say I'm totally a people person. I can respect all of you that are antisocial and whatever, but that's just not me. I kind of need people around. So that being said, I'm renting out a bit of space in my shop. [She moves her journal, proudly displaying the area. Granted, her side is a little cramped now and has clothing racks, shelves and display tables smushed together, but details. Since letting Minato set up his dark room in her storage closet, she had to really get creative with how she organized.] I'm thinking about rotating it out if multiple people are interested. You know, someone could have it two days a week, someone else three, whatever. If you thing you could use the space, let me know. I'm pretty negotiable.

In the same line of thinking, I'm taking on apprentices! I'm really serious about it this time, I want to teach. I want to do something to benefit other people, I guess. I really would like to get a small enough group together to kind of have a little class and not just individual lessons. If you want to learn how to design and sew, come find me. I'm at All Passions.

[For those who are pretty close to Shiki, they might notice that over the last couple of months she's been working herself pretty much non-stop to distract herself from the fact that Neku's gone and hasn't come back. Then all the weird stuff with Haruki and Winry went down...it's just been kind of a mess. In trying to find a good distraction, this was the plan she came up.

A short while later, maybe about an hour later or so, the journal clicks back on again.]

Oh wait! One more thing...who's good with planning parties? I'm kind of late, but better late than never, right? [Yes, Haruhi, she means you and your birthday. Deal with it.]

[For the last few weeks, things have been a little crazy. Rhyme appeared in Luceti during the last cycle, and Shiki was doing her best to make sure her younger friend was getting settled. With that, she was also making sure she was balancing her time between her housemates and her work which was proving to be a bit more difficult as the spring season was kicking into full-swing. She had been spending a lot of time at the shop lately, but only part of that time was spent making clothes.

The other part? If anyone had come into All Passions at all during the last month or so, they would see that Shiki's been making very slow progress in cleaning out her storage closet in the back of the building. Shelves are being rearranged and racks are being filled in order to compensate for the extra storage bins and boxes she's dragging out. She's also been working with some sheet metal she picked up from the smithy last week, lining the inside of the room and making sure no cracks are left uncovered. She wants it to be perfect for Minato and his darkroom.

Seeing how it's a nicer day this week than it has been, she's going to take a break and go outside of the shop, sitting down on the porch with Mr. Mew. She's idling doodling in her journal for a few moments before she decides to address the village as a whole.]

...so I hope everybody's okay now! Last week was totally crazy, but what else is new in this place? I can't believe how different everyone was though when their memories were altered. I guess I can't blame anybody for being so far into their mindset though.

It just reminds me of some piece of advice someone once gave me. Well, maybe not advice, but wisdom at least. "The world is more than what you just see." [She goes quiet then, as though she's thinking on those very words and how they relate to her herself. But she comes back with another slight grin.]

Was there anyone who actually preferred their other memories compared to the originals?

Oh, and as usual, spring line's in! Come by and see me for custom-made wing-friendly threads!

...and Minato? I've got your space ready whenever you are.

You know...[And then she pauses in speaking as she watches all of the commotion outside. She's securely tucked away on the porch of All Passions with Mr. Mew, merely observing.] I feel like I might be one of the few people that isn't too bothered with all of the new people. This is a lot more like home, being so busy and crowded. Besides, the village grows as the population grows, right?

[And she gets up from the porch, heading down the stairs and marching toward the fountain. Let's see if we can get a better look from here....] What's the worst that can happen?

[It's no secret that Shiki's been a little less present than usual. Sure she's been keeping an eye on the village and checking in with her friends, but overall as soon as her last Christmas order was finished, she had taken to spending less time at the shop and more time at home. Less time talking and more time listening.

Is this a sign that she's maturing? No, not really. She's been regrouping since that last draft, and she's been plotting a little.]

Okay, so, I guess it's my turn to ask a birthday-related question. What do you do when you run out of ideas how you want to celebrate? Do you just acknowledge the day and carry on, or do you keep trying up until the last twenty-four hours? I mean I know I'm going to age no matter what, but...well, a friend asked me what I wanted to do for it. And I still don't know. It's a little under a month away so I have time but...okay, maybe it's a silly thing to think about.

And in the realm of something less self-centered, hi everybody. Did everybody have a nice Christmas? Thanks for the presents, by the way. I saw a few of you at the New Years Eve party, but for everybody else...yeah. Talk to me, I guess. I think the cold's starting to drive me crazy.

PS? Yes, I'm starting to take orders for the spring already.

[Housemates and close friends, of course, are allowed to find her in the living room of House 10. When she gets bored inside, she'll have moved to the front porch of the house to sit and sketch with the new colored pencils Ginia got her.]

[The start of the feed is rather abrupt as the journal hits the floor of a familiar clothing shop, and at first the voices are muffled until the journal gets settled.

For anyone who happens to be looking at the moment, they might see a pink-haired girl bruising the pride of one certain new feather. For you see, Shiki is currently using her plush cat, Mr. Mew, as a weapon of mass destruction as she holds the cat by the arm and continues smacking Neku with it.]

--any idea how freaked out I was that you just disappeared like that?! Come on, Neku! You have to quit doing this to me!

W-what the hell?! Shiki! I don't even know what you're talking about!

...wait...what? [And it's just as abrupt that she stops hitting him. That would have been good to know.] ...you've gotta be kidding me! [And then suddenly the camera blacks out as the belly of Mr. Mew lands right on top of Shiki's journal.]

I can't believe...those jerks!

[There's a bit of a static feed as the journal turns on, and Shiki doesn't say anything for a moment. She's busy reading over everything from the last few days, but she finally decides to talk to the village at large.]

So. Hypothetical question. ...how long is too long to wait? For people, for objects, for anything. Give me your thoughts on this.

[Filtered to Angel]

Have you figured out your answer yet?

[/Filtered]

It's fall now, isn't it? I should get back to decorating. So another question...favorite thing about Halloween? Decoration-wise, holiday-wise, anything. This is pretty important.

[Important in the sense that when she's done addressing the journal, she's busy flitting about her shop. She's been spending the last few days rearranging all of the furniture and putting up new shelves and such with Haruhi's help. And now. There are fake maple leaves all over the walls. And outside. Along with some cut-out paper pumpkins strung along the walls. Villagers are free to find her outside on the porch of All Passions staplegunning things to the building and such.]

Crap, how did I get so behind...? It's not like I have a lot but it keeps adding up. I just don't get it.

Buffy, your bikinis are done as promised, sorry they're late. And Keimi? Let me know when you can swing by the shop...I want your opinion on some stuff.

I guess I shouldn't be saying this but I'm still taking orders for things? I've got a couple of others done and ready for pick-up, too, so swing by when you're ready!

[Filtered to Suki's Recruits]

Okay...I need the following people to come by All Passions for measurements soon. [She pauses, flipping through papers like she's referencing notes.] Fenimore, Xion, Stella, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Ukyo, Marica, and Madoka? I think that's everybody. I was told you guys need to be fitted for uniforms so come by any time today. Right in the middle of town next to the bakery.

And on that note...Suki? If you could stop by too just so we're all on the same page of what you want. Sokka kind of gave me a brief idea a while back but...y'know, clarity.

[/Filtered]

[Action, later in the evening]

[For the most part, Shiki spends her day down at All Passions but as soon as dusk hits she's out the door and locking up. She's got a new destination in mind.

Lately Shiki's taken to shifting her stalker tendencies from Neku to Joshua, and she had recently discovered that the boy had been kidnapped. Her goal today is to snoop around house 38 and see what she can find out not only about his kidnapping, but about Joshua himself.

That is to say, she's flipping on lights and rummaging around both down in the abandoned cafe and upstairs. Neighbors are free to notice that there's activity in house 38, and certain housemates are free to notice that certain girls haven't returned home yet.]

[There's the sudden sound of a bunch of boxes falling to the ground, contents spilling everywhere as the journal's camera points up to the ceiling. It shifts suddenly to focus on a particular pink-haired girl who was unceremoniously dumped into the back room of her shop on top of said boxes.]

Ugh...thanks for the warning, jerks. [She begins to untangle herself from the boxes of ribbons and fabrics, moving the journal closer to speak. For the most part, she seems pretty unharmed.]

Hey...so what day is it anyway? Here's hoping I wasn't gone too long, totally bad for business. [There's a slight beat, suddenly remembering something. You know, her housemate that was alone for like a week.] Haruhi, report. [She works her way out from under the pile of materials and the door to the back room swings open, allowing her to enter the main part of the shop.]

Neku...you better have made it back. That was pretty low of them, keeping us sort of together and then sending you back first. Besides, I was right in the middle of designing a n--

[There's a long pause suddenly as she really takes a look at the shop. She's staring at a row of dresser dummies, counting them in her head.]

All right, which one of you broke into my shop when I was gone?!