[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

[enflame]

( Taller and even more Slytherin. )

A chest or something. I’m sure I can pick up luggage while I’m at it.

[teratias]

[To the point of near parody, if we're being candid.]

--Least you've thought this through.

[Wait. He just saw something. There's a red cloaky-capey type thing that's caught Waver's eye, and he runs over to investigate.]

[enflame]

( Emil is real thorough when it comes to matters of selfish capitalism. His eyes also follow Waver and he walks over once he’s made sure there’s no joke. )

You want something like this...? ( Little Red Riding Dude )

[teratias]

It's...different, at least. And looks warm.

[Saying that outloud will ensure Waver doesn't buy it.]

[enflame]

( We’re all entitled to bad decisions, and this is Waver’s. )

I mean, if you like it...put it on, let’s see.

[teratias]

[Guess it's time for a fashion show. Waver grabs the one he suspects will actually fit him, and puts it on.

In truth, it doesn't look half bad. There's some kind of weird fur around the top though, like a ruff. Waver frowns, unsure.]

It is warm....

[enflame]

( Hot, tbh. )

Not all that bad, really. This fur is a little much, but you can remove that if you want.

[teratias]

[Emil plz.]

Hmm, I wonder if--

[Waver pokes at the fur collar, and it automatically snaps upwards. The upright part comes to just under his chin.]

I guess that's to replace needing to wear a scarf.

[enflame]

It’s certainly...interesting. ( Not something he’d wear, but it has a bizarre sort of appeal. ) You’ll definitely need more winter gear than just a simple cloak. Shoes, socks, headgear, et cetera.

[teratias]

When people call something interesting, that's code for it's crap. [But it's so goddamn warm. Waver takes it off, and starts putting the thing back on the hanger.]

M'not getting everything immediately. I want to make sure I don't run out of money.

[He's used to having to plan it all out anyway,]

But you're right. Socks and gloves should probably be a priority.

[enflame]

Not crap! It’s just...unique! Nothing like that in my world at all! ( Emil, always the accidental asshole. )

I’m also sure you won’t run out of money. They gave you a lot, and most everything is inexpensive...it’d be hard to do!

( Emil’s inner saboteur whispers “watch me try” into the wind. )

[teratias]

I can always come back and get it later. There might be better and warmer coats. [There it goes, back on the rack.]

Inexpensive doesn't...really mean anything. I bought cheap clothes all my life but it still required me to plan stuff out.

[Emil please do not do the thing.]

[enflame]

( Again: watch him.

He picks up the cloak instead, fingering the fabric. Well, it’s soft for how ridiculous he thinks it looks. He’s also not one for the practical himself, so his advice about warmth is coming straight out of his ass. He’ll just...hold onto this thing for now. )

Huh. I never really thought about planning that sort of stuff. If you have it, it makes sense that you can use it whenever, right?

[teratias]

No....because you could be without in the future, and then where would you be?

[This is the boy who sold his parent's estate to attend Clock Tower. He's learned money management the hard way.]

Did your beach hut survive the storm, by the way?

[enflame]

( There’s a long awkward pause, since......that’s essentially where he is in his own world, so obviously the lesson was never learned. )

Yeah, my hut survived. Did you hole up in the mansion with most of the others?

[teratias]

Yeah. Most of my crap got flooded though and escaped.

[Waver sighs. He didn't have that much to begin with, but that meant his spare clothes were gone and the books he had found at the mansions and brought back to look at.]

[enflame]

Oh...sorry. ( Truthfully he spent most of that week drinking, sleeping and playing with his Palai kid, so the actual potential seriousness of it was lost on him, as well as his apparently more fortunate hut. )

How much did you lose? We can replace some of the things here, I’m sure.

[teratias]

Most of it. I'm just gonna try and get an idea of where there's stuff I like, then come back and get stuff as credits allow.

[Hey, at least Emil's got a hut. That isn't bad at all.]

Hey uh...how's your Palai?

[enflame]

( Waver, you’re breaking his heart...definitely hanging onto this weird red thing now!! )

They’re doing well. They’re learning to talk and walk right now, which is a hassle.

[teratias]

[He's just used to doing a lot of planning! He's not doing it on purpose!]

--Wait, seriously? That's fast.

[enflame]

I think those lizards said in Aimintas that it only takes is months for babies to become adults. Much faster than humans. Also much weirder.

( His Elto continues to be bizarre, even by Palai standards. )

[teratias]

...What else are they doing that's weird?

[Emil, he's intrigued and terrified. Waver also can feel eyes narrowing in on them both for loitering.]

We should keep moving and looking at the different shops.

[enflame]

This one’s fine for now. At least for a moment. ( He has to move to go buy this red thing, after all. )

I don’t know how to explain it, just... You’d have to see them. They’re an odd one, at best. ( Daddy loves you, Lisko, but you’re a freak. )

[teratias]

Er, okay. [Waver's not sure why Emil is still holding onto the cloak but...okay.]

Did you bring them with you?

[enflame]

Of course. They can’t just wander around on the island by themselves. They wound up with the rest of my things in my room here.

( Which...they’re probably wreaking havoc there as well, but oh well. Have fun roomies.

Time to try and find wherever the counter is...thank goodness for automation, so it’s not hard to just press his card to a cashier’s register and be done with the whole thing. ) Here. Since you liked it so much.

( Take your weird red thing, green friend. )