[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

[finagles]

[ Ah, he's cooking breakfast after all... Yusuke is a good man. ]

None. Would you like some assistance? Cooking isn't one of my best skills, but I'm decent at following instructions.

[stripartist]

It isn't one of mine either, but I'm hungry and there is food.

[Pretty simple.]

Could you get the cinnamon and a large bowl, please? Oh, and a fry pan.

[finagles]

[ This is a strikingly normal thing, preparing breakfast food with a roommate in an average sized apartment. In addition to the the city's conformist atmosphere, it all takes on a bit of a surreal quality for him.

He gathers the items for Yusuke, displaying none of that discomfort on the surface. ]

How long have you been with the coven? This is my first time traveling since my arrival. I have to say, I was expecting something a little more...

[ Bowl, check. Frying pan, check. He goes rummaging for cinnamon now. ]

Openly adversarial?

[stripartist]

This is only my first time as well.

[Yusuke gathers all of the things he needs from the fridge and goes to get the bread.]

I don't know if I was expecting something as bad as that, but I wasn't expecting a city that's more like modern Tokyo than some magical fantasy world.

[finagles]

[ After placing the spice on the counter, he checks the stove, just to make sure it's working. McGillis glances back over at Yusuke, watching him in case he needs further assistance and keeping his attention on their conversation. ]

Hm, and not only that, but one that seems to have developed a punitive attitude towards magic users. What do you suppose happens to visitors who violate that policy?

[stripartist]

Nothing I want to find out, to be honest.

[He's doing good so far, at least.]

At least not right now. We only just arrived.

[finagles]

I don't disagree. It's wise to keep a low profile until we have more information.

[ On the other hand, having this little information in such a precarious position doesn't sit right with him either. ]

What sort of work did you do before you were taken to our island hub? Were you a student?

[stripartist]

Yes, in my second year of high school at Kosei. I'm there on a fine arts scholarship.

[finagles]

Oh, an art student.

[ A polite smile. At this point he's just assuming that Yusuke is from an earlier century, as he hasn't met many people who are familiar with the earth that he knows. ]

You must be low on supplies these days. A city like this one will likely have what you need for your work in stock.

[stripartist]

[Yusuke looks up from where he was preparing the toast, eyes wide.]

I can buy supplies! That completely slipped my mind, I was so tired before. I wonder if they have any brands I recognize....or if they'll be able to suggest something similar to what I'm used to. And waterproof bags and boxes to hold it all in, of course...

[You got him going, McGillis. Maybe stop him and remind him to get back to cooking?]

[finagles]

[ Instead of doling out a verbal reminder, McGillis will step in and take over one of the tasks to serve as a visual one. He doesn't really want to interrupt Yusuke's moment.

Bacon, taken from the gathered ingredients and dropped into a heated pan. ]

That's the challenge, isn't it? Delicate wares for the environment we'll soon enter back into. Waterproof casing should help. If you're able to take one back with you, a well-made trunk to store it all in might prove useful as well.

[stripartist]

Oh, a trunk! That would be a wonderful idea...

[Oh right, cooking. Yusuke remembers himself and gets back to cooking.]

For more than just my art supplies, too.

[finagles]

Yes, I imagine so.

[ After some rummaging, he finds a spatula, and nudges at the fatty meat strips with it. All of a sudden, he asks: ]

What was the power granted to you, Yusuke?

[stripartist]

When I draw something, it comes to life. It's still papery and there seems to be a time limit to it, though.

[Finally the toast mixture is done, so Yusuke puts the milk away before getting started with the bread.]

You, Fareed-san?