[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

[splinten]

Maybe you wouldn't. But you thought about it, and now you aren't sure.

[He gives Geir a pet, along his forehead. He doesn't seem upset, exactly, but he doesn't seem happy, and Dirk wants to help him chill.]

That's what I mean when I say that it feels premature to judge you about these things yet. You're still learning and making your decisions about how you feel.

[rootandbranch]

[Geir doesn't retreat from the pat, but he doesn't quite lean into it either, eyes narrowing slightly.]

I didn't know how I felt about that before you mentioned it, either.

[he isn't upset, exactly, but he definitely felt the urge to dig in his heels and push back against being pushed there, and he's still feeling and expressing that. the fact that he trusts Dirk and that Dirk was the one who did it -- in the context of one of their all-topics-allowed heart to hearts, no less -- means that it's a low stakes situation, though, and he can examine and analyze the feeling. he's thinking about it.]

[splinten]

[It makes Dirk stop the pat.]

What do you mean?

[rootandbranch]

[...Geir shoves his nose into Dirk's hand again, almost grumpily. he didn't say to stop.]

I just mean that that wasn't the first I was thinking about it. It's hard to talk about. I didn't like the question.

[huh. that's... very interesting. where has he seen that reaction...? a few places, honestly...]

[splinten]

[OKAY, OKAY, HE WILL CONTINUE THE PAT. He feels bad now though as he realizes what he just did.]

Oh. Sorry. That's, uh, the pushy asshole thing. I'm sorry. That was shitty, and I shouldn't have done that.

[rootandbranch]

No, it's okay. I do the same thing...

[it's said in a tone of interest; Geir doesn't seem to be taking it personally, and the sulkiness is ebbing away as he examines the problem.]

I didn't get why people got upset at me.

[splinten]

[He wants to ask if Geir gets it now, but he's now worried about being the pushy asshole, so he just keeps patting Geir and waits for him to continue.]

[rootandbranch]

[Geir lays there thinking for a few moments and then realizes Dirk stopped talking and glances at him sidelong. what.]

Dirk?

[splinten]

I wanted to let you finish thinking.

[rootandbranch]

Oh, sorry.

Um, I was thinking, I might get it more now? I don't know if it's the same for other people, though. And I'd have to see if it happens more now that I'm thinking about it like that.

[he hesitates, not quite able to get his claws into another thought yet.]

...I don't think it's always bad, though...

[splinten]

[Dirk is... still scared of asking a question, but feels like Geir needs a response, so he settles on an unusual use of body language as his primary form of communication: the tilt of a head.]

[rootandbranch]

[this will be very weird when Geir fully notices it. usually Dirk can't shut up. it's noticeable.]

I dunno. Most of the time, when I don't like answering something, I feel like I should probably answer it?

[he wonders what the difference is? is this all in his head? it's very confusing.]

[splinten]

[Okay he can venture, like, some words. Go him.]

Hm, yeah.

[Excellent words, very expressive. Nailed it.]

[rootandbranch]

[patiently:]

Dirk?

[splinten]

Yeah?

[rootandbranch]

What.

What are you doing.

[splinten]

I'm petting your snout.

[rootandbranch]

Yes, and keep doing that, but you stopped talking!

[splinten]

[wow bossyfangs fine he'll keep doing that]

You were thinking things through.

[He is repeating his defence and he knows it.]

[rootandbranch]

Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirk.

[this dragon has NO DIGNITY, wow?????]

[splinten]

Geir.

[rootandbranch]

[with some anxiety finally surfacing, as simply trying to ask about the problem doesn't garner an answer:]

Did I do something wrong? Sorry--

[splinten]

[oh fuck NOW HE MADE IT WORSE this is why he's prince of hearts, right here, destroyer of souls, fucker-up of everything]

It's all right, Geir. You didn't do anything. I'm wary of being too invasive with my questions again, so I was trying to not do that.

[rootandbranch]

[weirdly, that actually seems to fix the problem entirely. Geir relaxes again, relieved, though his eyes widen in surprise.]

Oh. No, no no no! I love your asking questions. And-- talking, and saying a bunch of stuff I don't understand half the time. I felt weird for like-- five seconds. It's really fine!

[splinten]

I was under the impression you got almost everything I say, and asked for clarification when you didn't.

[Look that surprises him, and is easier than trying to negotiate the sick guilt and self-loathing inspired by fucking up in one of the ways he always does. He knows that going, But it was a bad five seconds, and I didn't notice, and I always do this and I just fuck everything up even trying to fix things isn't productive.]