[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

[decipheringeye]

Hmm... no, if I'm going to be visiting a modern world, then I'd better get used to modern lifestyles. Is it normal in other countries for people to live together like this?

[finagles]

In order to save on housing costs, and especially in large cities such as this one, it's normal for people to share even small dwellings. Admittedly, gender and age are usually factors that are taken into consideration and prioritized.

[ But for McGillis, coming from a technological society with an extremely archaic noble ruling class, where things like child exploitation and arranged marriages are common, it's hard for him to react with anything but dull acceptance.

Of course, now he's curious about where she comes from. ]

You were more used to the setting we had on the island, I presume?

[decipheringeye]

[ Kosuzu sits down, a bit more collected now that she's moving from panic mode to parallel world studying mode. ]

Back home, I live with my parents. I don't think it's common at all for people to live together unless they get married or they're already family. Or, like, master and servant? [ Whatever's going on at that one mansion. ]

Maybe it's because it's so crowded here, so there's no way around it, even with these huge buildings...

[finagles]

Cities like these have to accommodate large populations, yes. Unless you're a person means, space will be an issue.

[ Leaning with his back to the kitchen counter, but not quite casual in it - there's a pressed and proper air in his speech and body language alike. ]

Then again, I'm extrapolating from knowledge of cities that existed in my own world. This one could be very different from how it seems.

[decipheringeye]

[ Siiiigh okay. ]

Well, I guess as long as I can have my own bedroom to myself, I should be able to get by with this living situation. It was just kind of a shock.

[finagles]

It's understandable. You've only ever lived with your parents. Are you from Japan as well?

[ Seems like a trend in coven demographics. ]

[decipheringeye]

I hadn't ever left Japan before now. [ Let's just leave the Gensokyo explanation for another day. ] What about you? You seem pretty relaxed about this crazy place.

[finagles]

It wouldn't be my choice - but it's clear that Qri has no regard for our choices.

[ What's the use in signaling discomfort to your captor? ]

I come from earth, but my alliance was not with a country, rather an organization. Its influence and power extends throughout the world and to the farthest space colonies.

[decipheringeye]

An organization?

[ Makes it sound sort of like the tengu on Youkai Mountain. Also, space colonies? She'd read about rockets and stuff, but apparently in his world they have whole colonies out there.

Now that she thinks of it, he does kind of look like he'd fit in with what she's heard of the Lunarians... ]

I don't know if I really get it, but it sounds like you're part of something seriously amazing.