[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]

[ before jude can comment on that, she asks him a question, and he's sidetracked. he gives it some thought before answering — jude hadn't really realized it until this moment, but he hasn't spoken to a2 since things were a mess with 9s and 2b.

so he makes sure that the smile he offers a2 is a warm and reassuring one. ]

I'm... good. Things are good. I talked to 2B toward the end of our stay on the Hub, and... well, small world, we were assigned to be roommates. Everything is more or less back to normal.

[ his cheeks color just slightly before he presses on. ]

Things with 9S are... good, too. I'm happier than I was when I last saw you.

[precedents]

You look it.

[ and that's good, she's glad for it. seeing jude smile reassures her enough to soften the expression on her face, to coax something close to a smile of her own. ]

It's good you're with her. 9S and I are on the same floor... if he hasn't told you already.

[ not that she's spent much time in the apartments, since they got here, but. details. ]

[talim]

She promised to keep me safe. And to make sure I maintain a healthy sleep schedule by going to bed at a proper hour, which... well. I don't know how I feel about that part, but I know she's just looking out for me in her own 2B way.

[ and 9s didn't mention that, actually. ]

Who are your roommates? Do you like them?

[precedents]

So what I'm getting from that is you don't go to bed at a proper hour. Is that right?

[ lowkey giving him shit, sorry not sorry. she breathes an amused huff, something akin to a chuckle. ]

I only know two others. Jake's alright.

[ she remembers him being nice from her brief conversation with him earlier, and bucky is. well, ]

... Bucky's alright too.

[ what are compliments, honestly. ]

[talim]

I may or may not have a habit of staying up so late reading I fall asleep in an open book.

[ a sheepish smile, but he chuckles, too. ]

That... sounds. Alright?

[ alright? alright. ]

I mean, alright is better than terrible. And it's great that you can see 9S whenever you need to. I admit I'm going to miss barging into his place whenever I feel like it.

[ 9s never minded. welcomed it even. ]

But with 2B around, I'm sure I'll be seeing plenty of him.

[precedents]

Somehow that doesn't surprise me.

[ despite the dryness in her tone, there's no heat to it. she can understand why 2B (and 9S) make it a point to look out for him. ]

I don't think they'll mind if you came by. [ jake didn't look like he wanted to stay in the room and A2 herself has opted out as well. ] I'm pretty sure 9S wouldn't either.

[talim]

I hope not. Back on the Hub, we made a promise to stick together wherever the new world took us, so... I'll hold him to that.

[ jude rubs at the back of his neck, a little embarrassed. time to change the subject. ]

Is it okay if I stop in and visit you, too, A2?

[ she's always so underdressed. jude is thinking he might have to knit her a scarf, too. ]

[precedents]

[ listen, the tank top and short shorts combo has been working out for her so far. she takes a moment to consider his question, setting one hand on her hip. ]

... How about you let me know when you want to come by and I'll be there.

[ she'd rather not stay in the apartments if she can help it, but if jude wants to see her she can stick it out for a while. ]

[talim]

Sounds like a deal to me.

[ jude beams up at her with a pleased grin. ]

Anyway, are you looking for anything in particular, or just browsing?

[precedents]

Not really. [ she actually hasn't spent any of her credits yet. ] Saw you when I was passing by.

[ mostly, she just wanted to get out of the way of people in general. ]

You?

[talim]

[ jude looks a little surprised that a2 came to see him, but not at all displeased about it. ]

I'm shopping for yarn to knit winterwear. Scarves, hats, mittens... With the snow season coming up, I'm thinking some people might need it.

[ a pause, and jude squints at her. ]

... Including you. 9S said that androids can more or less regulate their body temperature, but are you sure you'll be all right wearing that?

[precedents]

[ well, now that he mentioned it, she looks down at herself too. she rolls her shoulders in a shrug. ]

The weather doesn't bother me, if that's what you're getting at. [ she may be an older model, but that sort of thing was never of consequence. she's also been running around like this for years, so she's long past the point of it bothering her. ] You might need it more than us.

[talim]

Perhaps, but can you blame me for being just a little concerned?

[ this gives him a good idea of a proper gift to get her, though... ]