[WORLD TWO | INTRO LOG]

[spellbindmods]

Who: All coven members
Where: In and around the new world’s apartment building where the coven is staying
When: Day (the calendar isn’t syncing for me hELP)
Open/Closed: Open to All

You’re in a room. It’s pretty bright — blindingly so, even. There’s something very stark and very clean about the place, and also the person you’re sitting in front of. You’re sitting? You’re sitting. There’s also a pane of very powerful plexiglass separating you from the uniform-clad person who is now speaking to you. It’s impossible to transcribe what they say verbatim, but here’s the gist of it: - You’re being welcomed to a city called Shehui. Depending on who you are, the level of technology may be light years ahead of you or child’s play. - There’s a very strict policy about magic. While there are measures put in place to prevent magic from happening, this is still something that they reiterate over and over. They don’t want to take chances. - Crime is also frowned upon. Small infractions will result in credit deductions, while major crimes will get you banned. Antisocial behavior is also looked down upon. You’re locked in the city for your initial eight weeks. You can leave afterwards, but trying to break out of the city or cause social unrest will result in monitoring and a potential ban. - This city is supposed to be somewhat relaxing. Is it a free pleasure cruise? No. Is it a self-contained society that runs on community and indulgence? Yes. - You’re being given an allotment of credits in order to stay in the city, which is what the economy there runs on. This goes on for quite some time. - You’re being moved to a housing location. Despite the slotted speaker in the middle of the plexiglass, the only time you have a chance to ask questions is when a small slit opens in the bottom and a package is slid towards you. - What’s in the package? There’s a credit card-like apparatus that has apparently taken a picture of you. It contains a place to write your name, an identification number and barcode. It also has a thin strip near the top that has scrolling script floating by. It states “WELCOME TO SHEHUI. YOUR ID WILL UPDATE WITH COMMUNITY NOTICES AND PERSONAL PINGS FOR JOBS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO YOUR INTEREST.” It’s a lot to take in, but that’s the long and short of it. Have questions? The person will reiterate a few times that there are information desks around the city. That’s all for now…now you’ll be traveling to your next destination: your new home. The floor slowly lowers as if you’ve been in an elevator the whole time. It connects to several other glass containers, much like your own, all suddenly clanking together in a chain. After a short wait, the chain begins to move — quickly. Faster, maybe, than you’ve ever gone before. It’s hard to even make out the scenery when you’re zipping past everything so quickly. Where does this trip lead you? The ground floor of your new apartment building. The plexiglass cases open up and you’re in a hotel lobby. There’s a flashing board on the wall — NEW ARRIVALS, COME HERE. A ▢ So now’s the time to get settled into your new digs. Your name is on the board, and there’s a promise that your things — which, by the way, were mysteriously taken — will be located in your room. No need to fight over bedrooms; those also hold name placards that are digitally installed. Maybe everyone else is already there. Maybe you’re the first person there and need to find a way to stake your claim on the fridge or a bathroom. B ▢ Maybe you don’t want to fuck with anybody right now and are busy exploring the apartment building. You may encounter some aliens, some strangers, some ice machines. There IS that floor that’s nothing but recreational stations. If you’re overwhelmed, the garden is a good place to start. The sport court is pretty empty right now, if you want to have any regrouping meetings.

The apartment building is locked up tight for three hours in order to let new arrivals get their bearings. After that, the ground floor lobby doors open into the city of Shehui. There’s a lot to take in, but let’s cover the biggest bases: C ▢ Right outside this communal apartment building is a large, digital job board. The list of available jobs and credit opportunities are constantly flashing by. Want to pick one out? Just hold up that ID card you were given and the instructions and location will be sent to the ID’s text scroller. D ▢ You’ve got 500 credits to blow on clothes, food, strippers…whatever you’d like? Right next to the apartment complex are tons of local businesses, from bistros to outlet malls. A movie theater, an arcade, a video game store…and the best thing about Shehui? Most everything is dirt cheap. Where are you shopping? What are you buying? Enquiring minds would like to know! E ▢ Right next to the shopping area is a wooded park. It’s akin to a nature trail that’s similar to Yellowstone in scenery and topography. If you’re more comfortable someplace less…tech or modern…then this may be exactly where you’d like to be. F ▢ Wildcard! How will your character interact with this new and unusual world?

Comments

[deem]

I wouldn't say that. Actually...a Scanner like me isn't made for melee combat to start with.

[And so he sustains heavy damage far too easily and far too often. Some people don't have the sense to stay at a range even when they'd really be better off if they did. Looking at you too Prompto... Organic opponents haven't been a problem for him so far, if the Uvi were anything to go by.

Still, 9S knows to exercise some level of caution when replacement bodies aren't a factor and he'd be unable to do anything at all for 2B if he were damaged too severely]

My memory though, that part could be, with the right measures in place.

[And it's the most essential part of him, the part that truly matters]

That guy was really persistent. [He huffs out a long-suffering sigh] Thanks for the help. And if you want me to make you a shield, it's not like I'd mind or anything.

[armigers]

[ Noctis' eyes light up at the prospect of a shield as he regards the android. ]

Really? You've already done so much.

[ He can always use weapons even if he can't store all of them in his handy dandy armiger anymore. It'll be too hard to lug around that many on his person, but he could have a shield on his back. It would make him feel like a cool paladin, at least -plus, generally just be handy for keeping things from hitting him. ]

At least, let me repay you somehow. Do you need oil for your joints or maybe a cooling fan when you overheat?

[ He can't imagine what else he would need given the state of his body. Maybe Noctis can try and get Prompto to take a few nice photos around the city to give to 9s as keepsakes or even better... a gift idea pops into his head. The problem is getting the money for it, and that means actually saving and managing his earnings, a feat better conjured up than actually executed. ]

[deem]

[If he wasn't sure before, seeing Noctis look excited about it only leaves him eager for the project now. His core programming ensures a desire to be helpful and meet with the approval of mankind, but there's a more personal stake in it too.

After a world that was populated by lizard-people wielding some kind of inborn magic, a place like this enables him to truly use his skills as a Scanner. He can maintenance equipment or modify it, or himself for that matter.

So it's something he's simply pleased to do, though a pale frown tugs at his lips with the suggestion that Noctis should repay him]

If it helps, I'm happy to do it. I don't need anything. [Now if it was some machine expecting him to tear across creation beating up other machines for parts as some kind of annoying, repetitive task, then he expects a reward. But serving mankind is what he was made for] But my shorts are actually designed to vent heat, so you don't have to worry about stuff like that.

[It's nice enough of Noctis to offer, but he's just doing what should be expected of an android]

[armigers]

[ His eyes can't help but dart to 9s' shorts, checking to see if they're some kind of robotic shorts as opposed to regular shorts. Maybe he just means the fabric is breathable? it doesn't look like there's a fan anywhere in there or any fancy modifications, and he's not about to crouch down to take a closer look, especially not in public. ]

I'll take your word for it.

[ Lest he draw some unwanted attention their way, but he's at least happy to have some kind of weaponsmith on hand to help him out. His ultima blade can't carry him forever, especially with all the abuse it had suffered already on the island. ]

Might hand you my sword too while I'm at it. Think you can fix that up, too?

[ At least sharpen up the blade and make it look somewhat presentable again so Cid doesn't give him an earful when he returns. It's not his fault he was spirited away and left to survive with the one weapon he had on hands. He's starting to feel he's very much cursed at this rate -a feeling he already carried through most of his childhood. ]

[deem]

[Half his face may be covered, but there's no mistaking the eagerness in his voice, and even in the way his posture straightens, perking up at the prospect]

I can handle something like that. Equipment's equipment, after all.

[9S has generally gathered parts and turned them over to androids who worked exclusively with weaponry, but a sword is simple enough. He's modified himself and a flight unit before, so a sword's not going to be the thing that thwarts this Scanner. He's too proud to let that happen.

Not to mention, the idea of being of further use has an undeniable appeal to any android. Putting his skills to use is an incredibly fulfilling thing by design, and he's well aware of needing a sense of purpose.

Machines had that in common with them, much as such commonalities disquiet him]

I've made weapons for a few people here before, although they wanted firearms.

[armigers]

Could throw those in, though they're more of Prompto's thing, but I won't say no to an extra gun or two.

[ It would probably be more convenient than lugging a sword around for protection, especially when he can no longer warp strike with it. He might as well have a weapon he can conceal that doesn't make him stick out rather starkly in public... more than he already does anyway.

He flashes 9S a small smile himself before holding his hand out. ]

So that's a deal?

[ He'll clearly have to work a bit harder to repay him for this even if 9S insists on helping him just because he's human. It still feels weird to get something like custom-made weapons from a futuristic android for free. That only happens in video games. In real life, some old guy sends you on a bunch of quests for parts. ]

[deem]

[9S watches Noctis' outstretched hand for a beat before he responds. While he's been taught a proper handshake now, he thinks to try something else. Rather than take Noctis' hand, he gently bumps his fist against the back of it. They're on friendly terms after all, right?]

Yeah, I'm happy to give you a hand.

[And a weapon or a dozen, whatever he might need. What he is might at times seem to confuse Noctis, but he and Prompto both seem like nice guys, beyond the simple fact that they're human. He'll do what he can to keep them safe. And he thinks, like Flynn, Noctis would use that equipment to protect others too]

You can leave it to me.

[armigers]

[ The fist bump takes him by surprise, having expected more of a formal handshake, but this isn't bad at all. It's actually kind of mystifying 9S knows about them, not having thought it'd be a pertinent ritual humans would have taught him. Maybe he got it off one of the other coven members. Who knows?

It does manage to draw a small smile from his lips after as he withdraws his hand and meets 9s' 'eyes'. ]

Thanks. Just give me a mental text when they're finished.

[ He taps his temple as though it would take some level of genius to figure out what he means. He keeps forgetting the android is probably way smarter than him. ]

Until then, I guess.

[ A half-wave because he's sure his job here is done. Rescued the android, got a convenient weapon drop (sort of), time for a victory lunch and his fanfare music. ]