MINGLE: SHEHUI

[lohengrins]

Who: Percival, you and more!
Where: The recreational floor of Shehui's apartment complex
When: Day 145
Open/Closed: Open to any character who's decided to entertain the invitation below!

[ As an esteemed member of the coven, it's likely that you (and your roommates) have received a telepathic message; it seems to be text that grazes across the landscape of your mind.

Perhaps you've decided to pay it no mind. But should you choose to read it, you'll be greeted with relatively fine penmanship, befitting of a noble.

Coven members.

12 PM.

Recreational floor.

This city is strange; we should discuss it.

Signed,
Percival

Percival has somehow managed to...keep out any other residents of the complex for this particular hour. The seats and tables have been arranged to form a setup akin to that of a town hall's, and various books regarding the scarce history of the city, alongside what would be considered available information pertaining to its public figures are splayed across the table. He sits, simply waiting for a moment. ]

First and foremost, I suggest that you watch what you say in here. It's likely that they can hear you — and I can't guarantee that they won't punish you for what you say. Not with what little I know of this city.

Naturally, I've gathered the lot of you here today with a purpose in mind. [ His fingers drum against a book. ] I've been researching...learning what I can about the land. The natives of this city don't appear to be fond of magic; I was met with a strange response the one instance I'd mentioned it. They expect us to stay, which won't bode well for us in due time.

...But it's the ban that's piqued my interest. I've been unable to find any information regarding as to what happens to those who have been banished...be it for their inability to pay for their residency or something else. It's not as though I'd know — it hasn't been listed to start with.

...I don't trust it. Or rather, I don't trust them: those who oversee this city. 

[ ooc: hi! basically, this is just a mingle dedicated to getting a grip on what ideas other characters have, and an attempt at developing this potential player post. i need some questions and ideas to run by the mods, but i'll need a foundation first! please don't feel like your character has to respond to percival, this is just a post for characters to talk about this and air out their thoughts, be it with each other or him! ]

 

Comments

[spaceforged]

It's not just those who rule the city that feels off. The residents are really pushing for us to stay and become a part of their community.

[He leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. What he's seen of the city has been frivolous and focused on the present. That had bothered him but not as bad as the strange pressure to be part of the system.]

What response did you get?

[lohengrins]

I would agree; the problem is those who govern this city are conscious of what they're doing.

You can't say the same for the civilians.

[ he presses his lips into a thin line for a moment. ]

Discomfort. Repulsion, even — it was obvious that they wanted me to stop immediately. It was as though I spoke of committing a crime.

[spaceforged]

[His eyes widen and narrow. That is a problem.]

How many were present when you brought it up and what exactly did you say? [Did he get noticed? It could be nothing. But if using magic at all is a crime...]

[rebells]

[Jay is idly flipping through some of the books, still standing up.]

That was a very dramatic speech.

But I agree: we should figure out how this city really works, rather than having it potentially take us by surprise. I'm going to try and get work clerking for the government, or some other entity important to Shehui. Does anyone else have similar plans?

[lohengrins]

Hmph. It wasn't a—

[ it's in his nature, please don't mind him. that next bit stops him in his tracks, however. ]

I've been employed as security for the hospital — within these coming weeks, I'll be on patrol and working in closer contact with the government. It would be ideal if we could communicate through Qri's signet, but there's the chance that we may be detected. Given their outlook on magic, we'll want to avoid that for the meantime.

[rebells]

Yes, I think we should probably save telepathy for emergencies, or at least for when we're in private. We don't know what kind of ability to track magic they might have.

I think for now it would be best to be cautious. We can get as many people of ours as possible into positions with access to information, and keep our eyes and ears open for more. We can take further action once we have more information.

[guerrilla]

[Listen, Percival. Hear him out.]

If we get Jumin to use magic, we can get him banned.

[lohengrins]

...

I'm not opposed, but it'd be a waste of intel. Not that he has a particularly vast skillset.

[guerrilla]

Ousting idiots like him is my calling.

[Eat the rich.]

...Seriously, though, I agree with you. I never trust anybody as far as I can throw 'em, but this place is shady even by my standards.

[yancat]

It's stagnant.

[ Yes, he also heard them, but he's not going to call them out like an asshole?? He thought this was a business meeting??? ]

I'm reminded of my country as far as culture and appearances go. Developed, hedonistic. "The nail that sticks out must be hammered down." However, it was a society that promoted the advancement and welfare of humanity.

Surely Shehui should have sought to expand its territory by now, yet its people remain within these walls. They are content, but ignorant. Are they aware of how much information the government is keeping from them? If magic is banned, then there must have been some precedent... and yet we can't find it.

[ The next part should be difficult if he was a more emotional character, but it rolls off his tongue almost too easily: ]

I agree with you, Robin, Percival. Now I'd like to discuss this matter further in an intelligent, professional manner, and we're all professionals here, I'm sure.

[ Not intelligent. Percival's still dumb for eating burnt fish. ]

[guerrilla]

[They're not even all professionals. You need to be paid to be a professional. Robin never collected a paycheck.]

We're not even aware of how much information they're not being given. All we can figure out is that it's something.

[But something is enough for him to feel uneasy about it.]

It figures the one time I'd be useful I can't do any of the things that would make it easier to fly under the radar.

[That's an expression the hip cool modern kids use, right.]

[yancat]

It's fine. You don't need magic to commit a crime. Have more faith in yourself.

[ At least have confidence in your abilities as a criminal. God! ]

Anyway, I was thinking about hacking the government database.

[lohengrins]

This government tries hard to maintain an appearance free of err. They've actively withheld information from the public — knowledge is the crux of rebellion. There's a chance they know there's bound to be some backlash to whatever their history is comprised of.

[ percival's...eyes widen upon hearing jumin's suggestion. ]

...Don't be stupid. Try it and we won't hear from you again. Whatever you plan on doing, I'll have my part in it.

[yancat]

[ He chuckles. ]

Well, it's a good thing I don't have a particularly vast skillset, then.

But they're storing this knowledge somewhere. If we can find where it is, Mr. Hood can steal it without fail.

[guerrilla]

Uh, picking pockets and stealing information are totally different things, you know.

[But he'll still do his best.]

...I do have a little experience with that kind of thing, though, so I'm probably as good a bet as any.

[He was inside the computer from which he smuggled data last time he did it, but he's not about to sound like a crazy person when they're hatching a plan.]

[yancat]

[ Still stealing! Which is still wrong, and he still wishes they had someone like Seven on board but they don't have much of a choice. Shehui isn't Seoul; many factors remain beyond his control. ]

But there's no way we can assure your safety—especially if you go alone. [ And he doesn't want to upset Hakuno. ] If we're to recover confidential information from the government, I'd like to do it with minimal casualties.

Percival, ideas.

[ It's an order. ]

[guerrilla]

No offense, but going alone is always less risky than going with someone else. Less people means fewer chances to screw up...and it means if one person goes down, the others aren't caught in the crossfire.

[Robin doesn't want to upset Hakuno, either, but he also knows she'd just be more upset the more people were involved, should things go south.]

If you've got ideas, I'll hear 'em out, but I'm more or less used to going solo.

[yancat]

... If you're willing to martyr yourself for this one mission, [ this ONE DAMN MISSION ] then I suppose I'll have to speak with Hakuno.

[ why does he have to go and be a big damn hero... THIS ISN'T NECESSARY ]

But we need to lower the risks somehow.

Get a haircut.

[guerrilla]

What? No. Don't tell her anything.

[HE'S NOT BEING A HERO? HE'S JUST BEING A DISGUSTING PRAGMATIST]

[yancat]

... Hakuno doesn't know you're here.

[Jumin pinches the bridge of his nose. He feels a headache coming on...]

[guerrilla]

And it's better if she doesn't. It's not exactly a secret that we're together a lot, so the less she knows the better if something does end up happening.

[This is why having friends and liking people is bad. Pay attention, Jumin!!!]

[yancat]

[On one hand, he doesn't want to be held responsible for whatever stupid shenanigans Robin gets up to. On the other hand, looking for contraband is important and if Robin gets hurt, it's his own damn fault. ON THE THIRD HAND, HE'S SURE MANY PEOPLE WOULD OBJECT TO THIS, HIMSELF INCLUDED.

The headache is happening! Right now!!]

...

[He mentally drags his hand down his face.]

Either way, you need a haircut.

[lohengrins]

Are you two done yet?

[guerrilla]

Yeah, Jumin's done alright.

[He may or may not be planning on poisoning Jumin's food.]

[yancat]

I'm done when I say I'm done. [FOOL!!!]

We need someone on the inside. Frankly, Mr. Hood doesn't look the part.

[Unkempt hair, obscenely low collar, tights... And what the fuck is that necklace? Get out.]