[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

[talim]

[ jude wishes they weren't in public. as it stands, though, the most he'll do is cup 9s' burning cheek and murmur: ]

You're cute.

[ before letting his hand drop like nothing happened at all. ]

[deem]

[The goggles don't hide it at all anymore, do they?

And here 9S thought he was safe. He doesn't know how to respond to being called cute, other than being flattered, so he shuffles where he stands with his embarrassment before trying to move right along]

...Anyway, do you want some company?

[talim]

How could I ever turn down your company?

[ jude smiles sweetly. ]

Although we've already gone exploring... do you have anything else in particular in mind? I'll go back to the job hunt a little later. There's still plenty of time to sort it out.

[deem]

[His face can't get any warmer at this point]

We just saw the tower and the arcade, right? I passed by a place you might like to see.

[As 9S fails to grasp that this, simple as it is, can also be a date]

Sound okay with you?

[talim]

[ well, now jude is curious. ]

That's more than okay with me. Just one thing, though.

[ he reaches his hand out to 9s in a gesture so familiar it's second nature by now. ]

Are you asking me out on a date?

[deem]

[A moment of silence.

Is he asking Jude on a date?

...Is he?

Maybe this is how he could have apparently been on a lot of sort-of ones with him unwittingly]

I...think so?

[He's sort of guessing here, sorry Jude]

[talim]

Good enough for me.

[ the warmth that only 9s can give him is still settled over him, and jude nods once, smile ever present. ]

It's a date, then. Go ahead, lead the way.

[deem]

[9S reminds himself to...actually take Jude's hand in his, after this deep rumination over the nature of dates. And so he does, before he leads the way to a place he found.

There's a large, domed structure some ways away from where they're all staying, and inside is a botanical garden. It's filled with all variety of plant life, in colors and forms both familiar and not.

It's also filled with creatures that look quite a bit like butterflies, save that they're luminescent, flitting between flowering plants and blossom-laden trees]

[talim]

[ jude doesn't say anything at first. he simply releases 9s' hand and crouches down to the ground, examining the myriad plants closely.

it's like nothing he's ever seen before. ]

... Wow.

[ that's a massive understatement, but he sounds completely and utterly awed. jude has always been fascinated by nature, especially since experiencing the dying planet of elympios. if only it could look anything like this... if only he could help to achieve that goal one day. it'd be a dream come true.

jude absently holds out a finger, letting one of those butterflies land on it and tilting his head in curiosity. there's no one else here, just them and the plants and the creatures that thrive off of them. ]

This is incredible.

[deem]

[Jude's reaction is more or less what 9S had anticipated; he remembers the way he marveled at the gem-studded cave and even the field of translucent flowers. By now he has the impression that such things are what the other boy finds interesting, and so far it seems that he's right.

Clearly, Jude likes flowers and unusual natural phenomena. If not for his strong inclination to look after others, 9S would wonder why he became a doctor rather than pursing any other science such as botany]

The facility's pretty expansive.

[He says as much with a soft smile, pleased it was a good choice after all. There's never too much of seeing his favorite people happy, or at least interested in whatever they're doing]

[talim]

[ the funny thing is, he did become a scientist in the environmental field. perhaps he'll tell 9s a little more about it someday. he hasn't been able to use those skills much here, preferring instead to be on standby in case someone gets hurt, but back home he had been putting every ounce of energy he had into his scientific pursuits.

there's still so much 9s doesn't know about him; things he's not hiding but just haven't yet come up.

jude finds himself wishing they didn't have to be so carefully preserved just so he could pick one of the flowers and tuck it behind 9s' ear. instead, he turns to face 9s with a tender smile, shifting positions to kneel in the bright green grass. ]

Well? Come sit next to me.

[deem]

[9S doesn't hesitate to oblige, sinking to a seat beside Jude on the grass. While he thought that he might want to take a look around, because the facility truly is expansive, he doesn't mind being wrong about it. They're spending time together regardless of what they're doing.

Besides, that smile tells him Jude is happy, and that's more than enough for him]

Pretty neat, huh? They've even got a river and a pond in here.

[And the fish are nearly recognizable. He supposes when even the architecture of this city vaguely resembles that of the Old World, it stands to reason that some of the flora and fauna might be similar too]

[talim]

I'd love to take a walk around later, but I feel like taking it easy for a little while.

[ jude breathes in the fresh, clean air before he speaks again. ]

This isn't anything like anywhere else in the city. Not that I've seen.

[ he averts his gaze and turns to the direction of the bubbling river in the distance, a little bashful. ]

... And this is the first time we've had the opportunity to be alone, too.

[deem]

It's definitely different.

[An urban environment isn't new, but one that's in good repair and bustling with life certainly is. Aimintas was a far cry from the way this place is, and 9S is still getting accustomed to it himself.

He follows Jude's line of sight curiously, only to frown in thought]

Guess that's true too. Assigned rooms and all.

[talim]

You picked a good place to take me.

[ a soft, wide smile as he looks back to 9s. ]

[deem]

[And he smiles right back, easily.

Because Jude's good cheer is infectious]

That's good to hear. I was hoping it would be.

[talim]

You always get these sorts of things right.

[ jude leans against his shoulder. ]

Maybe you just know me really well.

[deem]

[Being intuitive is part of his design, but still...]

I'm sure there's a lot I don't, but I've learned a little.

[talim]

[ jude hums, thoughtful. ]

Well, this is a good chance, then. What else do you want to learn? I'll tell you anything.

[deem]

You're sure you want to give me that many options?

[He could ask a lot of things here]

[talim]

I'm sure. I'm not in any sort of hurry. In fact, I'd like to stay here with you a while.

[deem]

Well, okay.

[Though when the sky's the limit, there's so much to ask.

9S could inquire about something personal, but it's not what comes to mind first]

Um...what sort of things do you want to do? With this dating stuff, I mean. It's not easy for me to gauge that.

[talim]

[ jude immediately turns pink, if only because he didn't expect 9s to jump right into that at all. it's not that he minds, but what kind of answer should he give him? he doesn't know how to be honest without embarrassing himself half to death. ]

... Nothing that would make you uncomfortable. I need you to know that, first and foremost.

[ jude twiddles his thumbs and clears his throat. ]

But I like it when... I really like it when you kiss me. It feels nice.

[ and every time, he gets butterflies in his stomach just like the ones floating around them right here. ]

I wouldn't mind... u-um... if we... a little more...

[ he can't form a coherent sentence with actual words actually strung together, and his voice shrinks so much it'll be a wonder if 9s can hear him at all. ]

Doing all the things we've always done, though... Spending time together, holding hands... Those are all things I treasure too.

[deem]

[It might not be as much detail as 9S had anticipated, but it's plain to see the question caught Jude off-guard. Although he intends to that the opportunity to observe the way couples interact on a world as populous as this, that can only tell him so much.

What might be typical might not necessarily make Jude happy, though it should serve as a frame of reference. At least, he has to hope so. YoRHa weren't supposed to engage in such relationships, and although some did, he's certain it's not the same]

...That's all?

[Seeking confirmation. His wants seem pretty modest]

[talim]

[ is that all?

jude is a teenage boy, and he's at That Age. he's had certain thoughts, certain wants that involve kissing 9s for more than three whole seconds at a time. but they're nothing he'd voice aloud, and it's nothing that bothers him. just... simple, fleeting wants. he's happy with what they have, no matter how slow they take it; no matter whether or not they even get much further at all.

so what if sometimes he wonders what a little more would be like? ]

What kind of thing did you expect me to say?

[ maybe 9s doesn't even know the answer to that. ]