[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

[talim]

I couldn't begin to guess.

[ jude gives his hand a squeeze and stops at another game, still lit up with blinking lights but very much different from the others. it's a pinball machine, although jude wouldn't know that and i don't know how to phrase it more eloquently. ]

... What are you supposed to do with this?

[deem]

That's... [As 9S stares at the machine, he's not immediately sure either] A good question.

[9S leans one way and then the other, inspecting the game]

I can see where the controls are, and I assume those holes further up with numbers under them are related to points... Want to try it out and see how it works?

[talim]

Looks like it takes either credits or coins. I don't have any coins on me, so...

[ credits it is. jude doesn't really like the idea of spending them on a game he has no idea how to play but rules are rules, even if he doesn't understand them.

jude seeks out the two biggest buttons when the game starts up and the ball shoots out — he's immediately pressing them in rapid succession, somehow managing to navigate the ball in between doors and other obstacles. ]

[deem]

You sure you haven't done something like this before?

[Because 9S could easily imagine he had, given how coordinated his efforts are in navigating the ball around. It seems pretty straightforward, but there's a lot going on.

And quite a few distractions with blinking lights and pre-recorded sounds that go off with seemingly no provocation]

[talim]

Yes, I am. With a reasonable degree of scientific certainty.

[ the sounds are loud and annoying, but jude manages to fend off distraction, and when the game is over there are even more blinking lights. how is that possible? but apparently it's a good thing because he set a high score! ]

I've found my calling. What even is this game called?

[ then jude remembers to actually take a look at the giant block letters decorating the machine. ]

Pinball. Huh.

[deem]

I guess if you get tired of being a doctor, here's your alternative.

[Not that he imagines that Jude will ever tire of a vocation where he looks out for and helps other people. That's basically his calling, isn't it? Couldn't find anyone more well-suited to such work, at any rate]

Can't say I've heard of this game before though.

[Did they have this in the Old World?]

[talim]

So what does that mean for you? If you ever get tired of being a Scanner, your alternative is a professional dancer?

[ jude covers his mouth and snorts. look, it's funny. ]

[deem]

Does that really count as dancing? All I had to do was move my feet...

[Might as well call fighting dancing here]

[talim]

The game had 'dance' in the title...

[deem]

Is that how you'd dance though?

[talim]

Well... no. But I can't say real dancing is something I have any experience with.

[deem]

Really?

[Stunned by the thought that Jude hasn't ever danced before.

Jude, come on, be the beacon of human everything here]

[talim]

Why are you so surprised?

[ there are no dancing classes in medical school! ]

[deem]

Well, I mean...

[Why does he have to account for himself here?]

Isn't it a basic part of human culture?

[talim]

You make it sound like dancing is ingrained in our society as some sort of human passing ritual.

Not everyone can dance. Not everyone likes to dance, either.

[deem]

Well, isn't it part of a lot of traditions?

[He knows people dance at weddings, even if he has no idea what that looked like]

Do you dislike it?

[talim]

I don't dislike something I've never really done, but I'd be embarrassed. And nervous, I suppose. What if I tripped or something?

[ says the guy who can snap pivot. ]

[deem]

You're more graceful than that.

[He's seen Jude in a fight, after all]

Why would you be embarrassed?

[talim]

Well, if we're talking weddings and other formal events, you'd typically slow dance with a partner. And on the other hand, if you're dancing on your own... I just don't like the idea of attention on me.

[deem]

[He thinks he understands a little better now, sort of]

So should I pay less attention to you?

[A joke, hoping to alleviate Jude's discomfort with this subject]

[talim]

Never.

[ jude's tone is teasing, but he squeezes 9s' hand. he wouldn't like that very much. ]

But you get what I mean, right?

[deem]

Yeah, I think so. You just don't want to be the center of attention, right?

[That's what it sounds like to him]

Not for a crowd, at least.

[talim]

Yeah, that's the gist of it.

[ he's never really thought about dancing in private, though. what reason would he have to? ]

[deem]

But the game was okay, right?

[Just making sure]

[talim]

The game was fun.

[ jude smiles. ]

Don't worry. I'm having a good time. Of course we'd inevitably run into reach other, right?