[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]

[ Oh Noctis. Don't try to bullshit a bullshitter.

Seeing through the lie, and coming to the conclusion that Ray must be hungry (and will be hungry until he obtains employment of his own), McGillis prepares a fresh box. ]

I've made about half of what you see on display.

[ This is also a lie. It's his first day and he's barely mastered a single recipe -- but it's a straight-faced lie, an even lie, his demeanor sliding into professional humility. ]

But, you see... I'm still learning on the job. I'm not certain of the quality. If I gather samples for you, will you try them and come back tomorrow to give your opinion on each?

[ Saving face for you, little buddy. Without waiting for confirmation, he slides back the glass, piling all manner of pastries and cookies into the box. ]

An honest review will give me the insight needed for improvement. Please don't hold back.

[armigers]

[ It's not like he hasn't played taste-tester before, so there's no real hesitation, especially when the desserts look top notch. Definitely miles ahead of what he can accomplish. It doesn't even occur to him that the guy might be lying at all, easily nodding along with the suggestion. ]

I mean, if no one else is volunteering...

[ He'll gladly put himself out there for free pastries. His shame has dissolved into nothing in the presence of food and in the wake of great hunger and poor financial decisions. ]

Is this place hiring a full-time taste-tester? Asking for a friend.

[ Not a complete lie. He's sure Prompto needs a job, too, though his friend generally likes to avoid pastries like the plague. Noctis probably should, too, seeing as how he's no longer warp-striking like a mad man and burning off calories that way, but ...maybe another day. He's not about to turn down a free box of samples here. ]

[finagles]

[ With a quiet little smirk, he folds the (very full) box to close it. All the better if Noctis fails to see through the counter-lie. ]

A taste-tester...

[ That was his unofficial title. Still - he could use an extra hand, and it since he really is trying to learn some of these recipes to perfection, it would be useful to have someone like this around. An objective co-worker. McGillis hands the box to Ray over the counter.

Mulling over a short pause, as he considers it, light hum under his breath. ]

If your friend is willing to do a little extra work on the side, I think there would be an opportunity for him here. Bring him with you tomorrow, if you'd like. I'll evaluate him.

[ he... probably shouldn't be acting like a manager himself this soon, but it sort of comes naturally. he can barely help himself... ]

How about you? Have you found employment for yourself?

[armigers]

I was just about to get on that...

[ Not really, but he's also starting to clue in on the fact that McGillis might not be buying anything he's saying. He accepts the box regardless because who is going to turn down free samples? Certainly not him. ]

I mean, if there's more than one opening, couldn't hurt to toss my name in, too. The two of us work good together.

[ And it's not as though it's Noctis' first time in a kitchen, though he's far from anything close to competent as a chef. But if it's just sampling foods, he can do that pretty easily any day of the week. ]

Guess this is twice I owe you...

[ First the lesson and now sweets and a potential job. How many times is he going to be bailed out by him? Probably more times than Noctis can keep up with, uncertain what he can do to repay him at all. Hopefully, he can figure it out before either one of them ends up disappearing from this place. ]