[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

D...oggo

[mech_and_mutt]

Huh?

[He darn near bumped into her on his way past, arms full of clinking and crinkling grocery bags. Face to face with grocery stores and junk food, can you blame him for blowing his first stipend check on a little variety?

even if most of it was said junk food.]

A theater? I haven't even finished making my way through the market yet!

[...But she'd apparently been busy. And the line behind her was testament to that. Blink.]

...Made some new friends?

[songbird_slayer]

[She observed his haul. My, my, someone's been a busy boy...]

Friends?

[She peeked back, shrugged but pulled her collar up higher for some reason.]

Hired help. I couldn't possibly carry all of this back. A few credits their way and they were happy to deliver my findings to my room. So helpful, these ones, aren't they?

[mech_and_mutt]

[Was it just him, or did she seem a little less earnest than usual?...]

Ah. Couldn't get your roomies onboard for it either, eh?

[He'd have offered a hand, himself, were it not for the paper bags full of glass bottles and precious, precious calorie content he was currently encumbered with. Still, didn't mean he couldn't at least keep her company- he fell into stride beside her.]

Speakin' of, what'dja get?

[songbird_slayer]

[She immediately all but burst with relief:]

Clothes, by Twelve! Wearing one outfit was driving me mad! I have enough to dress an entire cabaret troupe... well... if said troupe were all in my size.

Also, it seems my fate is entwined with a certain zombie girl. I'm pondering inviting her out to one of the thousand cafes I've passed by this morning; the poor thing could likely use a fancy cup of coffee every once in a while!

[mech_and_mutt]

Oh my dog, you're roomies with Rotty?! THAT'S gotta be a crazy story waitin' to happen. You gotta tell me what happens; y'think she sleeps in a coffin?

[He almost can't contain his snickerfit. No wonder she wasn't out here lifting; the way Madhuri had been hitting the market so far, her arms would've fallen off!]

I'll probably have a lot of extra cash once I get some work done- [FINALLY, a place with an actual job board!] we all oughta make a day out of it. It's been a few months.

[songbird_slayer]

Agreed wholeheartedly! Coffee, sandwiches and... brain food. Yes, brain food.

I'll give her a nudge later. She seemed eager for a little nap before she tore up the city.

[mech_and_mutt]

[And that's a full-body tensing that has his hands clap around his temples and his tail go bristling straight down.]

Ugh, don't remind me about the whole brain thing-- I know she's a nice girl and all but ever since she mentioned it I can't get it out of my head!

[...Not that it would be enough to cut into his sympathies, of course.]

Feel kinda bad for her, though. Hope she doesn't get too many stares in a place like this.

You, too; anyone been givin' you a hard time for the horns and tail?

[songbird_slayer]

I'm mistaken for a dragon and some of the gentleman seemed eager to give me a little coin "for my hoard" for a little of my time.

[She shrugged and made a careless 'eh'.]

I'd tell them stories and slap their hands when they got grabby. It's the same in Eorzea...

[mech_and_mutt]

Mm.

[For someone who didn't really know what a 'dragon' was, it took him an embarrassingly long time to get the meaning there; it was another few steps before he all but *dropped* his bags in a double take.]

THEY WHAT?? That kinda thing even ALLOWED here??

[songbird_slayer]

You can hire lady or gentleman company for the night, yes. I suppose they wagered I was one of them.

[She shrugged. But then waved her hands in a placating manner.]

The security guards did ask if I was alright, as they're very strict about enjoyment and comfort here, so I highly doubt just grabbing people's allowed.