[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

[oceanaria]

I might have read just a bit...

[ Finally, she's giving up. ]

But it's not what you think it is!!

[ Why is she assuming that she's being judged... ]

[lalliho]

[This is one of the most confusing conversations he's had, and he had to learn about androids, computers, and guns that don't require ammunition.]

What do I think it is?

[Please, enlighten him.]

[oceanaria]

[ Riko is always doing her best. Even when it comes to confusing others. ]

That it's a really weird book...?

[ Why does she sound so unsure. ]

[lalliho]

[what is HAPPENING]

I don't know anything about it except that you keep being weird about it and lying.

[oceanaria]

Uh.

[ She had her reasons, please understand?! ]

You just asked me about it all of a sudden, I didn't mean to lie...I'm sorry.

[lalliho]

[Did he, though... Did he...]

Mrrmn...

[Whatever... She seems slightly calmer, even if she's still flustered for mysterious reasons, so at least there's that.]

What kind of book is it supposed to be?

[oceanaria]

R-R-R-R-R-R...

[ It's gonna take ages. ]

Relaxing!

[ Back to lying, oops. God, when she'll be able to talk about romance openly and why never. ]

[lalliho]

[A book on relaxing? He looks curious again, help this poor girl.]

So... It writes about sleeping? If it's not the normal stuff, that would be useful... Maybe I should read it...

[oceanaria]

[ She's been screaming internally all the time and she's really close to switching to doing it externally right now. ]

...

[ She dug her own grave here. ]

It's about relaxing with someone else.

[ At least she's getting closer to the truth. ]

[lalliho]

Oh...

[aaaaand there goes his interest.]

Then it wouldn't work. I don't find most people relaxing... They're all weird.

[oceanaria]

[ She didn't believe it's going to work, yet here she is, her reputation saved.

For now. ]

W-Weird? Why?

[ Is she really the right person to ask this, is she. ]

[lalliho]

[Lalli hums, thinking...how to put it...]

I don't understand a lot of why people are the way they are, or what they do? So it's very weird. That's all. I guess most people think I'm the weird one.

[Which makes them rude to him and definitely not relaxing to be around!!]

[oceanaria]

Did you try to get to know them better? That might help a little with the understanding part, I think. You won't be able to understand everyone, obviously. Not right from the start, too...

[ This sounds like the beginning of a power of friendship speech... ]

[lalliho]

[ehhhh what is this... some weird little girl lowkey judgment...]

The ones I like enough. I'm not stupid. [just gullible ig] It's really frustrating to have the same conversations over and over, though. And most people don't matter.

[oceanaria]

Isn't that a bit too harsh...?

[ Rather than being upset Riko's surprised more than anything? Nobody has been so straightforward with her before. ]

It's impossible to be friends with everyone, but saying that people don't matter...

[lalliho]

[After a beat, he just kind of...weakly shrugs?]

Yeah. I said it wrong. People matter. But I don't care about knowing individuals a lot? Is that better?

[oceanaria]

Of course it is. [ A sigh. ] So, in other words...you're so terrible at making new friends that you just gave it up altogether?

[ Idol girls can be savage too apparently?? ]

[lalliho]

[Lalli looks like he's really considering this.]

...Yes. I think. I have a couple friends, but it's not because I tried to make them. That just happened. Trying all the time makes everything harder, and it hurts people sometimes.

[oceanaria]

It does make everything harder but...it doesn't mean it isn't worth it. They tried to make friends with you, right? Listen, I'm no good at making friends either, but it's definitely worth trying, I know that much.

[ She's speaking a bit louder than before and by the moment she realizes that it's too late. ]

Sorry, I got ahead of myself.

[lalliho]

[ummm...yeah, he's leaning away a little like he's trying to reach an escape point.]

You're confused. Um, most people don't want to be my friend, either. Some people do, but then they do stuff I don't like, so I'm not going to be their friend. Most people don't treat me like a person with feelings. I'm not going to try with them.

[oceanaria]

Most people? But why...

[ This is unexpected. Why would people be rude to him?! She really can't tell. ]

I'm sorry, I...jumped into conclusions. I do that more often than not, unfortunately. But you're right, if they're not going to respect your feelings then you're better off without them.

[lalliho]

[Vague shrug.]

I'm different?

[That's kinda...all it takes...]

...I think that's normal. A lot of people do it. [He's not exempt from it, either.] Is that why you were being weird when you saw me? You jumped to a conclusion?

[oceanaria]

Weird...

[ She heard that she's normal before, but weird is something new. ]

It's rather I didn't want you to see me reading a romance novel.

[ Oops, someone spilled the beans, FINALLY. ]

[lalliho]

[...looks back down at the book.]

That's a romance novel?

[oceanaria]

[ GULP ]

Kind of.

[ What kind of an answer is that. ]