[WORLD ONE | OCTOBER INTRO LOG]

[spellbindmods]

Who: The new coven members and old blood
Where: In and around the hub island
When: Day 92
Open/Closed: Open to All

All characters are told briefly what their powers are by Genette -- no extemporaneous details. For instance, if your character has the ability to detect lies, they'll be told as such -- no warning about limitations, repercussions or the like. They'll also be given a variant of this letter so they aren't totally ignorant of the situation -- though of course adapt this letter to the current setting and surroundings of the game.

This setting may be familiar to you -- maybe you caught a glimpse of it when you first visited. Maybe this is your first time experiencing this weird world and the panic is setting in. If you're totally lost, a tall human woman with a long scroll of paper will stop by to give you the run down. She'll also give you a letter, which may give you more questions than answers since the information is a wee out of date. (Maybe someone else can fill in some gaps for you). What is at first painfully obvious is that you're ill-equipped. Any magic or powers you had previously are suddenly replaced with an empty hole in your being. That's not all that's gone, but perhaps that's what's most pressing. Another thing you may notice is that there are others just like you, wandering around and just as confused. If you feel so inclined, you may want to ask around and see if anyone else knows what's up. A ▢ If one of your characters isn't looking to introduce themselves to others, someone's willing to do it for them. Genette is trying to make sure all newbies are accounted for and have a buddy, so she's grabbing them when she finds them and tossing them at the first coven member she sees. "Hi, so-and-so, this is so-and-so! They're new, so show them the ropes -- be friends, okay?" You get the gist. Your character may be paired up with another newbie, a seasoned character or both! Five times, even! Timelines in RPing are weird! B ▢ Let's say that instead of milling about and doing nothing entirely productive, your character has decided to try and venture off to find a way off this huge floating rock. That's nice -- but be warned that the forest is filled with interesting things. For instance, they've happened to find a hollowed out tree that happens to be where a hoard of land crabs are living. They move fast -- run quick! C ▢ Other characters may want to establish shelter before they do anything else -- and that's their right! The problem is that if your character wants to be well-supplied, they're going to have to do things for themselves. There's something of an assembly line set up, but not a lot has been done in way of making things workable. Genette wanted all new coven members to have a little food parcel to take to their hut, but time constraints, you know? If you want any food for now -- or for later -- you may want to cook some of this (poisonous) eel, salt some boar jerky or cut into one of these rabbits. You've also got some berries to eat in the meantime, if you want something simple!

By the time afternoon sets in, everyone should be a little more adjusted -- or, they should at least be a little more aware of the situation. From there, things still need to be done and exploring is always an option! D ▢ For those characters who want to stick around the base camp, there's something worthwhile in discovering the buildings around the area. One such building is the mansion, which contains extra supplies and a renovated kitchen. The kitchen is now functional with electricity and running water, with a few raw ingredients for making whatever your character would like. It's minimal, but also not totally useless. E ▢ If you mill about too long, you'll be put to work. Run into Genette and you'll be sent to pick western part of the island to look for strawberries, wheat and deer (good luck hunting if your character doesn't have the capabilities, but maybe someone else can help?). Run into Genette and she'll offer your character an ax to chop wood with (is this a wise idea? probably not), or a request to go fishing in either a stream or the ocean attached to the island on the eastern side. Or your character can do both if they so choose...? F ▢ With all of these new people milling about, telepathy is on the fritz again. At least, it certainly is for those who are new! Your character may not realize their broadcasting frustrations to the network, or maybe a stupid secret. Their mental filter is certainly broken, but that's at least a great conversation starter. Night finally falls on the exhausting day, and it's time to rest. Thankfully the island is beautiful at night, especially the sky. The night is filled with space worms, relaxing mist and wondrous sights in the stars. G ▢ Adding to the excitement of the beautiful night, Genette has set up something of a...talent show? In an effort to get new coven members acclimated with their magic, she's asked them all to use their magic in some way -- it may take a volunteer, or maybe they can show it off all on their own. In any case, show me what you got. H ▢ Of course, some characters aren't going to be up for this fancy display and will want to go about their own business. There are plenty of places to sit and stew on this island, both private and in plain sight. The stars are spectacularly bright, and the higher up your character gets the less it seems like night time. If they're lucky, they may catch sight of a shooting star, though it's of course much larger than usual. They're directly in space, after all! I ▢ Wildcard! How will your character interact with this new and unusual world?

Comments

[talim]

[ she seems... weary. exhausted, even, but jude isn't going to comment on that. a2 might be more of an enigma to him than 2b and 9s combined. ]

Then that's a good thing, right? That means you can start over. Get to know each other better. Become friends, even.

[precedents]

[ she considers him for a moment, blue eyes meeting his. as much as she is an enigma to him, A2 has no easier time understanding humans and the way they think. they're unpredictable, dictated by emotion, and in many ways A2 envies that freedom. ]

... You aren't upset? I fought your friends. Multiple times, even.

[talim]

Why would I be?

I've had fights with friends, too.

[ somewhere in the distance, alvin sneezes. ]

Every relationship has certain trials to overcome, and sometimes those trials are much bigger than others. As curious as I am, whatever happened between you three is none of my business. All that matters is the present, and... I think I'd like to get to know you better, too, A2. No, I know so.

There's no limit to how many androids I can befriend, is there? That would be news to me.

[ he meets her careful gaze with warm eyes and a light laugh. ]

[precedents]

[ there's no limit to how many androids i can befriend, is there?

"thank you... for giving meaning to my life."

something surges in her systems, a brief spark of recognition at his words, and she sets her jaw against the memories. all that matters is the present, he says, and she doesn't argue the sentiment. she had carried the weight of the past for so long that it has become a part of her, melded into her chassis and through her circuitry to settle side by side with her black box. it is difficult to let go, but in truth, she doesn't want to let go.

how many more will end up hurting in the end? how many more will she lose? ]

There's not much of us left, anyway.

[talim]

[ jude isn't quite sure how to respond to that. he can't help but feel a bit foolish, regardless of the fact that there's no possible way he could have known. ]

... I'm sorry.

[ it feels like so little. but what else can he say? ]

I didn't mean to hit a sore spot.

[precedents]

You don't have to apologize.

[ it isn't said harshly despite the brusque words; it's not hard to understand that jude is a kind person and that he means well. they're the hardest for her to be around, because while she had always unknowingly craved that warmth and acceptance, it grates on her just as much. the idea of someone being so selfless, always putting themselves last; so eager to give and give until they had nothing left, and she had no choice but to take and take, and in the end she obtained her freedom.

but weapons are given trajectory, not autonomy. ]

... You're right, [ she says eventually, drawing up one leg to rest her chin on her knee. ] Guess it doesn't really matter in the end. We're here now.

[talim]

[ jude frowns. there's something so achingly sad about her response. it makes his chest constrict, as if her pain is his own. jude really is too empathetic sometimes. ]

You're here now.

[ he echoes. ]

And maybe you can have a fresh start. Give yourself permission to do that, at least.

sorry for the delay!

[precedents]

Yeah. [ she breathes a small huff, something close to what could be a chuckle, expression easing into something more wry. ] Not like I have anything else to do, anyway.

[ blue eyes turn to him again, considering him once more. he reminds her so much of pascal; she finds herself thinking of him more than she expected. sometimes, she catches herself wondering if he's alright, alone in his empty village with no memories left. in the end, in the wake of everything that happened, maybe it might be better this way.

but that's another story for another time. ]

... So did they give you some kind of ability too?

[ her attempt at small talk. progress. ]

no worries! take your time!

[talim]

They did, but it's not all that interesting... It'd probably bore you.

[ a short, mildly embarrassed laugh. ]

What about you? I'm assuming you've already figured out yours.

[precedents]

I can see someone's past.

[ she doesn't sound particularly pleased about it; no surprise there. she's capable enough on her own without the need for something as trivial as this, but there's nothing she can really do about it now, so that's all she really says about it.

anyway. she glances at him, tilting her head. ]

I doubt it.

[ that's the thing. he's human. anything about him is more interesting. ]

[talim]

That's... heavy.

To be honest, I don't know that I'd want to be burdened with that kind of knowledge.

[ he frowns, but he scratches his cheek awkwardly and continues. ]

I can translate and understand text in any language. I do a lot of research, so it comes in handy, especially when the library here is full of books written in a language no one else can read.

[precedents]

It's supposed to happen when I touch them. Should be fine if I keep my hands to myself.

[ despite the lightness in her tone, he's right, it is heavy. just as heavy as inheriting 2B's memories, learning all the secrets she'd held from 9S; her pain, her suffering. once more, the cycle continues.

but the description of his ability actually coaxes some amusement out of her. a small half smile. ]

No wonder you get along with him.

[ 9S, she means. ]

[talim]

Well, that's something, at least. Unusual, though.

[ her small, barely there smile makes jude's lips twitch into one of his own. it's nice, to see her smile, even if it's only a little one. it looks good on her. ]

Nines? Y-Yeah... I guess you could say we're pretty close. He's a good person.

[precedents]

[ "i mean, if you want to call me nines, it's totally okay."

a good person (a good friend), as opposed to a good partner, a good unit.

she remembers the last time she'd seen 9S' face before she was deactivated -- full of anger, of desperation; lonely, with nothing left to lose. she remembers his red eyes, the twist to his mouth, so different from the way he looked in 2B's memories. softer and lighter.

he may never completely go back to the way he looked then, but as she regards jude, she finds herself thinking close enough. ]

He is. [ a beat, before: ] That's good, that you're close. He deserves to be happy.

[talim]

Yeah. He does. Seems like he's been through a lot, but... he hasn't opened up about it.

[ jude looks momentarily troubled.

"you don't know how many times i died because of something like that."

it's a topic that has gnawed at him and gnawed at him, relentless, but he hasn't brought it up since... since. so much happened all at once, in the heat of the moment, and jude hasn't known how to revisit that topic since. he almost doesn't want to at all — wants to avoid it forever and pretend he never heard something so horrible.

but jude can't do that. it weighs on his mind, and it's an open wound neither of them have acknowledged that's festering. ]

I can just... tell, I guess.

[ he wonders if a2 knows. ]

You deserve to be happy, too. You all do.

[precedents]

[ it doesn't surprise her when she hears him say it. A2 may not have known 9S as long, nor have they interacted much outside of fighting, but she doesn't need to be a scanner model to recognize a pattern when she sees one. 9S hasn't told 2B about anything that happened after she had destroyed her, and he likely won't out of sparing her the anguish. she can see him doing the same for jude, as well; holding all these thoughts, these memories inside despite the pain.

it's a sentiment that A2 understands. they've hardly met, but jude has already run through the gamut of sadness just from a few words alone. she can't imagine how he'd feel if he were to learn the entire truth. ]

Maybe, [ she allows, wrapping her arms around her knees and resting her chin on them. ] Guess you can call it a work in progress.

[ at least here, the odds are a little more in their favor. ]

[talim]

That's better than nothing, right?

[ he manages to force a smile. it's small, but it's there. ]

Just know that I'll believe in you and your happiness. Maybe it's strange hearing that from a guy you just met, but the sentiment is there.

[precedents]

[ she notices it, how he still tries to smile for them despite his concern. she doesn't understand it completely and it grates on a part of her, despite his good intentions. ]

You don't have to. [ she grips her knees tighter, sets her jaw. ] This is what happened to me. To 9S, to 2B. You don't have to take it on yourself.

[ she frowns, looking away. ]

... They're trying. They'll get there eventually. This is more than any of us ever got.

[talim]

[ his smile vanishes, replaced by a far off look that might just rival a2's. he curls and uncurls his fists, staring down at his lap, not sure where else to look.

a2... isn't a person he quite knows how to deal with. if 2b and 9s are unique in their own right, then a2 is something else entirely. he doesn't know what the right thing to say is. he doesn't know how to smile, how to act. maybe he shouldn't be smiling at all. there's a time and a place; as naive as he might be, at times, jude isn't too naive to realize that much.

even jude knows that he can't fix everything with a smile and some reassurance. he's been through more than anyone could guess, himself. surely nowhere near as much as them, though. ]

I know I don't have to. And I'm not.

[ his lips straighten into a thin line. ]

Believing in something doesn't mean shouldering an entire burden. It's as simple as that: hoping, and believing.

But... 9S tells me the same thing. Too often, actually.

[ that he's too kind. that he does too much. that he gives too much. jude can't agree with him. how much is too much? ]

[precedents]

[ there was a time when she was like 9S and 2B, filled with the same lofty ideals that yorha had programmed into them. she too, had held on to hope and her belief back then. but that A2 had died with the rest of her squadron in the tower three years ago, now left with nothing but a freedom and autonomy that came at much too high a cost.

hoping and believing. she doesn't know if she's ready for it. not yet, at least. ]

Maybe you should listen to him. [ A2 can make the same conclusion; jude is much too kind, even to strangers he's just met. she knows she isn't as easy to interact with compared to 2B and 9S. they were always a little more open, even 2B.

but she knows she's different now. emptier. lonelier. ]

... But like him, you'll probably keep doing things your own way. Right?

[talim]

[ a light laugh, under his breath. there's not much humor in it, but... ]

Right. How did you know?

[ a rhetorical question. ]

[precedents]

Lucky guess.

[ there's a small wry smile despite her words; another amused huff. ]

You're alike in a lot of ways.

[talim]

So I've been told.

[ 2b has said the very same thing, and on more than one occasion. ]

[precedents]

He was already a handful on his own, [ she breathes a sigh, shaking her head briefly. ] Now there's two of you.

[ 9S was always stubborn, even on the brief occasions she'd interacted with him. 2B's memories showed the same thing. but that determination was also something she admired, even when it led to his demise in the end.

well, that won't be the case here, she supposes. ]

[talim]

[ jude cracks a smile, a small thing. ]

Just how are you going to handle us?