semi-open

[cardboard_journalism]

Who: cardboard_journalism & friends
When: January 3rd, morning
Where: Around Cerealia!
What: Myriam Scuttlebutt's newspaper
Rating/Warning: (possibly some PG content?)

---

[ January 3rd, the day Myriam Scuttlebutt had finally declared her publication, The Cerealia Times, fit for printing. She'd worked through the night getting her press set up, and it was a relatively low-printout, but hopefully this would catch on... maybe, just maybe, this was her ticket to relevance ]

A.

[ Myriam Scuttlebutt, wearing her cardboard box, carries a stack of bundles of Cerealia Times in a cardboard box and tries to convince businesses (especially cafes!) to set them out for people to take, free of charge. Maybe you're a worker she's trying to persuade? ]

B.

[ Myriam Scuttlebutt, wearing her cardboard box, sits behind a register at the School Supply Store she works at. She rings people up blandly and then excitedly offers a copy of the paper with their purchase. ]

C.

[ No interaction with Scuttlebutt herself, just read the paper and post your own reaction wherever they may be! Maybe leave her a comment on her inbox. The paper can definitely be obtained from The Little Sister cafe, at least. ]

---

[ It looks, feels, and smells, like a newspaper, it has The Cerealia Times printed on the cover as its title. It's dated "January 3rd, ? year." There's also a note saying "Price: Free" and "Published Weekly" ]

[ The top above-the-fold story reads: "MAYHEM!" accompanied by a blurry photograph of the blizzard and what might be a monster, but could be anything. The article proceeds to detail what happened during the killer Christmas event. The byline is Leia Rolando. ]

[ The below-the-fold story reads:

"Cerealia shrouded in secrecy! What lies beneath?!" byline Myriam Scuttlebutt.

"CERES is a name known to every inhabitant of Cerealia. What else provides the population with low-income housing, modest employment, and the occasional explanation? But some say the details don't go far enough, or conversely, go too far completely.

For example, on arrival to Cerealia from their point of origin, each person is given a brief explanation of various events: the world is slipping, CERES needs help to rescue it, and other various details. Need to know information? Certainly. However, the information is presented so fast and so complete, that some say it bears resemblance to a shady practice known as 'information dumping'. A questionable tactic in which an organization that does not wish to release information attempts to discourage the questioning party by releasing a tremendous slough of facts to the point the ordinary person is so deluged they cannot separate important details from irrelevant ones.

And yet, very important details are left unanswered. What is the progress CERES is making? What is the purpose of the 'terrorism' rumored to have occurred in Cerealia? What security methods are being put in place to safeguard lives? What do the terrorists want?

It is clear to this reporter that further transparency is not only appropriate, but absolutely vital to the security of Cerealia and its growing community! The Cerealia Times stands open to any official statement and interviews on behalf of any spokesperson who has yet to come forward and offer such a thing, but neither will we be made to become their platform for the 'party line'. We call on CERES to demonstrate the vitality of a free and open press." ]

[ Next page is an article titled "Lawlessness in Cerealia?!" byline Myriam Scuttlebutt. The article details the criminal justice system that currently exists in Cerealia (that is, if someone murders someone, they go to jail), and why, it seems, no other crime is prosecuted nor are some (unnamed) lawyers with rather impressive records used to represent the accused. Similar calls for more transparency are made. ]

[ Next page is titled "Local News - Spotlight on Nonon Jakuzure" byline Myriam Scuttlebutt, and it contains an article and picture related to shikisha, conductor at the Opera House and lists a Q and A session with her.

Q: "How does it feel to be the conductor of a musical orchestra?"

A: "It feels amazing. Being the center of attention, the person controlling the entire ensemble, everyone's enjoyment depending on a simple flick of the wrist in time with the song. It's truly the most important part of an orchestra."

Q: "What first spurned your interest in conducting?"

A: "I started falling in love with classical music when I was in first grade, my best friend bought me a CD with classical marches. From then on I fell in love with it. I started conducting the Elementary band by my last year there, and just continued into middle school."

A final quote reads: "The vibrancy, the passion, the deafening power of an ensemble working as one. Classical music separates the composer from the piece, making it more complex, while also allowing them to put their heart and soul into it without reservations. That's what I love."

It finishes with a note that Nonon performs regularly at the Cerealia Opera House, and mentioning her name confers a discount. ]

[ Another unspecified number of articles with the byline of Leia Rolando detail various local businesses owned by newcomers to Cerealia. ]

[ An objectively-written article about The Little Sister business with the byline of Myriam Scuttlebutt. It includes a picture of psycholawgy dressed as a reindeer waitress and is presented very matter-of-fact with no editorializing or opinion. ]

[ "Weather: Probably pretty cold. Air quality: not-the-best." ]

[ A small article titled: "Local jerk acts like a jerk" has the byline of Myriam Scuttlebutt and it proceeds to detail how an unidentified white-haired man proceeded to cause trouble at a party organized by a small tightly-knit group of friends who just came out to have a good time and honestly felt so attacked by him. It specifies that details are very very sketchy and were not verified. ]

[ There's a whole section titled:

"GOSSIP"

It reads as follows:


"Welcome to the first edition, of hopefully many more, of the Gossip Column! Where we talk about sordid or not-so-sordid relationships in progress, rumors, and any other news we deem worthy of a quick read along with your coffee!

To kick things off, we scouted out the Winter Ball and we’ve struck a bit of gold!

One is a lonely number, and no one knows that better than Sir Integra Hellsing! We’ve searched high and low, and came up with pretty much nothing on her! So boring! If anyone can find her type, we’ll give a rich reward of three hundred credits! Valid only if the relationship lasts more than three months!

Next up we have Peko and Dangerous Drugs! Just say “No, thank you”, ladies and gentlemen! Drugs ruin lives, make you grope random strangers, and ruin relationships! We sincerely wish her the best in any intervention, rehabilitation, and recovery she may need! Don’t forget to donate to your local not-for-profit organization that deals with drug abuse and recovery! Be strong, Peko!

Lets move on to new an budding couples! Lets all give a big CONGRATULATIONS to Jaune and Pyrrha! If it wasn’t for Ruby, we would have never known they were an item! They sure are low key, though! We can’t have that! What a catch, Jaune, and good luck, Pyrrha!

Next we have a possible pairing! Guess whose hand was below the belt line while dancing?! It was none other than our resident delinquent, Ryuko! But who was she trying to win over with such lewd dance moves?! She may be new, but Nonon is already turning heads, and Ryuko has caught her in her sights! Nonon has high standards, so we’ll have to see how this unfolds!

The Cutest Couple Award definitely goes to Lily and Shirasu! She lead the way all over the dance floor, and Shirasu was a gentleman about it! We need more refined men like him around!

The Creepiest Couple Award goes to Inaba and Rock Lee! It’s rather a one-sided affair! Lee does all he can to be in Inaba’s presence! Nothing will stand in his way! Not even Inaba herself! He may have smooth moves when fighting, but not when it comes to avoiding collisions! We like him for trying, though!

The Couple to Watch Out For Award goes to Weiss and Zoro! We spotted them some days after the dance and one of them was already hot and sweaty! Surely things will sizzle between them soon! We’re sure of it!

There’s your taste of what’s to come! Keep an eye out for the next edition!


Until Next Time!

Miss Tattler"

]

[ The following positions are listed:

Publisher: Myriam Scuttlebutt
Editor: Myriam Scuttlebutt
Lead Reporter: Leia Rolando
Reporter: Myriam Scuttlebutt
Photojournalist: Myriam Scuttlebutt
Correspondent: Myriam Scuttlebutt
Gossip columnist: Miss Tattler

It specifies that letters to the editor can be delivered in person to Myriam Scuttlebutt. (No details of where or who she is.) ]

[ Another blurb reads: "Story sources and employees wanted! Inquire at..." (and there's a text reading of the link to Scuttlebutt's inbox.) ]

[ A final blurb reads: "Did we get it wrong? If you wish to correct a factual statement, leave your correction at..." (and there's a text reading of the link to Scuttlebutt's inbox.) ]


[OOC: journaler is free to comment to this post with any further articles or details they wish to give about Leia's content in the newspaper.]

Comments

b and ota

[multiglyphs]

[ here she was, minding her own business, attempting sneak in a few pages of reading before she begins her shift at the cosplay cafe... she had only taken her first sip of tea that morning before her eyes happened to glaze over the gossip column (a silly section, really, but weiss couldn't help but indulge) and lo and behold, what does she see with her very own eyes—

what da fuq.

WHAT DA FUQ.

EXCUSE U??? EXCUSE U????????

cue one, weiss schnee, heiress on a rampage, stomping through the town to head towards— well, she's not sure where to head towards, really, but she did manage to shake get information from a fellow coworker who'd been around at the time of the papers' delivery that whomever dropped it off was attempting to do so at other establishments. TIME TO FOLLOW THE BREADCRUMBS.

feel free to happen upon weiss as she makes her slow but steady (and slightly limpy, still) way towards the school supply store. MISS SCUTTLEBUTT, SHE HAS A BONE TO PICK WITH YOU. ]

[rollin]

[ Yata's on his day-off when he reads the paper outside some convenience store. Honestly, he was only here for his manga, but getting the new newspaper won't hurt. After skimming the relevant sections, he looks for the comics, only to be extremely disappointed when he's met with the gossip column instead. Wait, he sees some familiar names here... ]

Huh. I knew they were going out...

[ Maybe he shouldn't be standing around, holding the paper somewhere Weiss can see. ]

[multiglyphs]

[ he really shouldn't have, though it is perhaps a small blessing that she doesn't happen to hear his quiet little murmur there. still, that hardly stops her from stalking over and slapping the paper right out of his hands and into the ground. ]

Don't fill your head with such garbage!!

[ why hello yata, let's all just remember that nice, pleasant lunch they had together okay... ]

[psycholawgy]

[ It's this employee of the Little Sister who's responsible for the newspaper even being in the cafe. She promised Myriam that she'll talk to the manager about it, and now that Myriam's started printing, she supplied the cafe with some copies. This definitely did not end up the way Athena planned it too, though. She thought there wouldn't be any lies in this!

So before Weiss storms out, Athena tries to calm her down. And... will probably be the one to tip her off re: the supplier. ]

Calm down! T- These are all lies, aren't they?!

[multiglyphs]

[ weiss has got one of the newspapers rolled in her hand right now, swinging it around as if threatening to hit athena with it. which she won't, of course, but man does she look willing.

probably best not to tell her you OK'd this, athena... ]

Of course they're lies!! Am I supposed to just sit here and accept it?!

[cardboard_journalism]

[it wouldn't be to hard to find her, the box made it obvious, if she knew that little detail] [she was standing behind a register looking bored]

... Hello? You looking for something? Maybe a notebook? Aisle 10.

[multiglyphs]

[ she unfortunately doesn't know the little detail about the box, but she'll slam a hand on the counter anyway, knowing she's at least at the right place. ]

I demand to speak to the creator of that piece of trash newspaper!

[ ... she does need a new notebook though. mental note, aisle 10. ]

B

[sjokolade]

[And here Anna was trying to pick up some supplies for her job until she picked up a couple of newspaper for her upcoming project! (Hey, she didn't want her boss to yell at her for getting the floor dirty....again!) Of course, she didn't happen to look at the newspaper....until her eyes spotted a familiar name.

Oh.

OOHHHHHHHHH....

Now, this was something she was curious about! As she made her way to the supply store, she made her way toward someone] Excuse me but mind if I ask where I can find the person who wrote this?

[cardboard_journalism]

[the box girl stared back at her behind her register]

Who wrote it? ...it's a collaboration of many talented individuals. Sss, sss, sss.

But if you're looking for who published it, that'd be me. Myriam Scuttlebutt.

Did you like it?

[sjokolade]

[With that, Anna just blinked before leaning a little over the counter to get just a better look at said box girl.

Did she just hear a voice out of that box?]

Uh...yeah I guess but why are you hiding in that box? Isn't a little cramped in there? I mean, how can you even move?

[Yes, Anna has her properties]

C - CERES Hospital (open to anyone who would be there?)

[niceguypose]

[Lee is still confined to his hospital room, although a majority of his injuries have recovered at least, and now he can use both of his arms again.

One newspaper managed to find its way even to the hospital, probably brought in by some gossipy nurse. At first, he read eagerly, and proud to see that Leia had managed to write articles for this paper. And then the gossip column brings a mix of emotions to him.]

I... I see. [Weiss must be happy with this mysterious, sweaty love affair... but he feels oddly sad about it. On top of the shame he felt for winning the Creepiest Couple award. So he buries his face in his pillow in shame, while the pages of the newspaper scatter around his bed.]

This must be the end of youth!

A

[bakudanma]

<sub>[ Katsura is walking out of the establishment he manages, McCERES, in his uniform of a black polo shirt and a cap, long hair pulled back into a ponytail. He's taking out the garbage— literally, wishing he could be taking out of the garbage of society— metaphorically.

He is stopped by somebody wanting to put newspapers in his business, but he has to halt what he is going and read everything first. It takes a long time, but finally he lowers the newspaper and looks off into the horizon. ]</sub>

—I knew it.

[cardboard_journalism]

[Scuttlebutt wasn't sure what part he was at, so she took it as a comment on the paper as a whole]

It's good, right? Sss, sss, sss. C'mon, let me just leave a small bundle with you. Ten copies! That's all I ask.

[bakudanma]

Only ten?
These are important details all of Tellus needs to know.

I'll take as many as you have for my business.
We have to let everybody knows about the scandalous affair between Lee-san and Inaba-dono!

C

[shikisha]

[ There's something to be said about seeing your name in an article like that, and Nonon was happy to read that interview she did with Myriam. She's used to being center of attention, and honestly, used to weird people like the girl in the cardboard box. But when she gets to the gossip page... ]

WHAT THE HELL?!

[ At the cafe where she happens to be sitting she practically screams, her scratchy harpy like voice drawing the other patron's attention like someone must have just died.

Well. Someone might have. Or at least, someone would. ...Nonon... and Ryuko?! Like hell she'd have any interest in a delinquent like her, Satsuki's sister or not!! The whole idea is so preposterous she wants to take someones head between a pair of symbols!

Nonon will eventually go to work at the opera house, but catch her anywhere else to ask about the interview or her not-so-secret affair with her best friend's sister. ]

[dishonorstudent]

[ Like Nonon would get anywhere past the cafe. News of this has already reached Ryuko, and the cafe door violently swings open like they're all in a wild west saloon. In fact, Ryuko bursts in so hard that the door loosens off it's hinges, and then she spots... her.

Saying nothing, Ryuko methodically marches towards Nonon with furious eyes fixed on the girl. ]

oops. that should have said cymbals. those are different.

[shikisha]

[ Nonon just stares right back, turning to the sound of the door being swung open like that. It's almost like she could tell what was coming. It really is like a stand off, but Nonon is more like a deer caught in the headlights than anything else. Bad memories of being kicked in the head and being stripped of all her clothes seems to come back to her.

She just expects.. something, anything, except that strange silent, furious look. ]

W-What a second!! [ Already she's putting up her hands in defeat, trying to protect her face. ]

A

[swordboning]

Local jerk is a jerk. Normally, I'd say such a vague title could mean anyone but I'm pretty sure most of everyone knows that's me.

[Just rolling up the paper behind his food stand. The same one he cooks at and doesn't actually have a menu. He just takes requests.]

You could have used a little more detail, certainly.

[cardboard_journalism]

You read fast, local jerk.

[no emotion from Scuttlebutt this time]

Sss. Sss. Sss.

[swordboning]

I'm an archer. Consider it an ability of mine. Which, by the way, my name is Archer. You didn't figure that one out, I guess.

[Tapping his counter.]

Well, want anything to eat?

c or a idk

[spiritpearls]

[ Pearl is out to lunch after a shift of fortune telling, and what a neat newspaper! She skims the news section but her eyes alight on the gossip column. ]

Hmm, maybe Mr Edgeworth would be a good match for Sir Integra? [ Perfect, what a solution, how did she not think of this before. ] And I hope Peko is okay. And congratulations to all those couples!

[ Yes, yes she is taking the gossip column seriously. If it's printed it can't be a lie! No one would do such a thing. ]

[dereban]

[ Sorry, Pearl, but Inaba over here can't help but overhear what you just said... ]

Why are you congratulating all of them? [ She's annoyed. She's definitely annoyed. ]

[spiritpearls]

Be...cause they all sound like they'll do well? Ah, though you should give Mr Rock Lee a chance, if he's trying so hard. It doesn't sound that creepy to me!

[ So cheer up, Inaba. ]

[yourotherleft]

[well thanks to Weiss Zoro is now out on the hunt for a newspaper to find out what the hell she's yelling at him over text about. Hey, look, that girl has a newspaper]

Oi. Let me read that.

[no manners.]

I'm sorry.

[fairbrook]

[There's some pause before Integra approaches Pearl. Really now, why on earth would she be throwing her name around so casually? She had to wonder...]

Excuse me, did you need something Miss Fey?

[Don't mention the war gossip column.]