[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]

[Help him he thinks cats must be nightmare fuel]

I don't think so. Domesticated animals like that are long gone, where I'm from.

[They just keep fish. It's a sad, sad time]

[enflame]

( This is an injustice that must be righted. )

Ah...well, we don’t really see dogs or other pet animals where I’m from. Cats are the only pets people really have, outside of sheep and smelly herding animals, anyway.

( Now to think about how to best describe them...hmm. ) Well, they have pointed ears and whiskers — ahh, these thin, hard things coming out of their face. They’re about this big ( Makes a quick size gesture. ) and have a lot of fur...and if they like you, they’ll let you pet them! Military cats are a different story, though.

( That doesn’t paint a very descriptive picture, but what can you do...oh! ) There are probably places for them around here, if you want to take a look for yourself.

[deem]

[At least 9S knows what whiskers are, but he doesn't interrupt. Instead he waits, watching the gestures and trying to compare this description with anything he might've seen, but not had a name for]

I think someone had...something like that...

[Although to be conclusive, perhaps he should scope them out to be sure]

You think I can find one around here? Without barging into someone's place, that is...

[enflame]

I just got here, but I’m sure. Cats don’t magically appear out of thin air. ( Even though that would be cool. ) I don’t know where you’d go first, but someplace with animals. Cats have to be there, somewhere.

[deem]

Guess I can look for something matching that description. Scouting's what I do, after all.

[And hacking, and maintenance, but neither is relevant to the cat hunt]

[enflame]

Oh, really? ( This definitely pings him. ) Soooo does that mean you’re part of a military, or...?

[deem]

[He nods, and smiles, like they're talking about a favored hobby]

Yep, I'm a soldier. YoRHa unit number 9, type S. People just call me 9S though.

[He finishes off that introduction with a salute, left hand leveled in front of his chest]

[enflame]

( That’s okay, this is his passion!! Although... )

Uhm...your name is a number? Sort of? ( This must be some cultural difference because wtf...still, Emil gives him a small salute, despite his confusion. ) I’m Emil Västerström, Cleanser for the Swedish military.

( Since they’re sharing titles, and all. He also can’t say shit about names when his has dots in it. )

[deem]

Oh, I think Lalli mentioned Swedish people once.

[A little. And not exactly favorably, but that seems to be a Lalli thing, or such has been his impression.

But those opinions didn't include that new term Emil just mentioned]

What does a Cleanser do?

[enflame]

( FIGURES!!!!! )

Oh, you know him? ( That probably saves him some explanation...what’s so hard to get about the apocalypse? ) Cleansers burn down infected areas in order to allow for new, non-infected growth. We help bring back forests and expand safe zones! It’s pretty important.

[deem]

Oh, so you reclaim territory, in a way?

[It makes enough sense to him, or at least 9S thinks so]

Preservation and repair's pretty important where I'm from too.

[Granted, the world still looks like it's seen the apocalypse, but what can you do?]

[enflame]

( !!! Someone who Gets it. Excellent. )

It is, isn't it? I think it should be important everywhere, even if these worlds so far haven't had the need for it. Maybe it's something they should consider...just in case!

But how do you scout with that thing on your eyes? ( The blindfold makes him dubious, like...that's kind of counterintuitive. )

[deem]

[It makes enough sense to 9S. At some point, preservation has to be a priority in any place. He wonders if that's something that Qri considers, when they're sent to far-flung places like this.

That's a question for which there is no immediate answer. The matter of his goggles, on the other hand...]

I know they look like opaque cloth, but my goggles actually improve my vision. They're a product of technology as much as I am.