[DECEMBER INTRO LOG | WORLD TWO]

[spellbindmods]

Who: All coven members, especially new folk!
Where: In and around the new world’s apartment building where the coven is staying, as well as the rest of Shehui
When: Day 160
Open/Closed: Open to All

How did you get into this building? This apartment room? What the fuck is going on? Let's refer back to this page for a semi in-depth, wow so detailed, explanation of your current situation. Are you up to speed? Great. Now, here's the question of the hour: what are you going to do about it? A ▢ Unlike the other coven members, the newbies are coming into the apartment building with non-empty apartment rooms. Depending on how polite or cautious you are, your first instinct may be to find your apartment and knock on the door. But it is your apartment now, too, and you do have an ID card that'll get you in. What horrible calamity will you walk in on? What eccentric roommates will you happen upon? The wacky situational comedy scenarios are ENDLESS. B ▢ One of the jobs on the job board this week is fundraising -- neat, right? Before you even make it up to your apartment, you may be accosted by an excited citizen -- coven member or no -- that is trying to push something onto your character. Chocolate bars? Cheese logs? Cookie dough? Some other luxury item or overpriced snack food? Because this fundraising task is based on commission, the citizen in question may be a bit pushy...or you may be inclined to buy ridiculous amounts of goods and not know what to do with yourself.

New coven members showing up today are in luck. This week, Shehui is celebrating a Keep the Community Clean event. It's rare that they force jobs on people, but there has been an influx of new citizens and the population growth is leading to more trash. Fulfill your assignment and you'll be rewarded 1,000 credits. Don't? Be fined 500. Everyone has been sent a job to their ID, be it collecting trash, cleaning their apartment building or holding up signs/handing out literature about recycling. Sweeping, bagging...it's dirty work, but someone has to do it. C ▢ Cleaning up trash on the street might be hard, but it's fulfilling! Okay, that's a lie. It's demeaning and a lot of citizens don't really care about the minimal littering credit deduction as they toss trash from their cars or miss throwing it into bins. Volunteers are outfitted with gloves, vests and a roll of trash bags, but it doesn't prevent them from being rudely splashed with snow or having to pick up nasty things. Have fun! D ▢ For those who decided to pass out literature, you did pick the better job! It's a lot easier to avoid getting nasty, but it's also awkward...having to hand out fliers, be cheerful, regurgitate boring facts about recycling. Please sir, stop and listen to this exciting speech about why should put your cans in the red bins, not the blue ones! E ▢ There is a bright side to these jobs: local businesses are getting in on the outpouring of people out and about to try and get them into seats and buying things. Free samples are abound! There's a local coffee shop, Mooncents, that is handing out free small drinks to anyone who is actually working today. Come inside, regardless if you "volunteer" or not. It's warm inside with all that snow out there...

Speaking of snow! Most businesses and buildings in Shehui have paid to have snow falling every other hour, which coats the city areas in a fine, powdery dust of snowflakes. You may be familiar with snow, or maybe you've never seen it in your entire life! It's unavoidable either way, so you're going to have to deal with it. F ▢ Children in Shehui are usually in a school building somewhere, but snow days call for some leniency. School is pretty come-and-go anyway, so don't be surprised that there are quite a few kidlets out and about on the streets. They're also fully into the spirit of snow, throwing snowballs at unsuspecting strangers. Will you get in on the action, or will you plan the murder of innocent children today? G ▢ While it's unadvised to just go lay out in the street and make snow angels, there are plenty of parks in which to examine or play in the snow. You won't be the only one acting like a fool -- it's Shehui. You're allowed to live a little! H ▢ Finally, Coins! has bought the most snow as a means for their seasonal activity -- snow paintball. If you're looking to have a good time and enjoy Shehui for what it is, you'd best be inclined to sign up. A massive field with snowbanks and excellent areas for hiding, snowball paintballs that hurt twice as much as usual. What more could you ask for? I ▢ Wildcard! How will your character interact with this new and unusual world?

Comments

[guerrilla]

It's okay, I understand! I'm a handsome guy.

...But seriously, we're not in a Grail War or a Singularity. I can get by fine with what I've got.

[He'd have already brought it up if he thought he needed it, honestly, reservations aside.]

[sealeted]

I-I mean you are but—but, um, even my first kiss was just a Code Cast transfer so...

[guerrilla]

[Wait, seriously? That's almost kind of sad...though it makes sense, given her origins.]

Don't have a heart attack or anything, Master...

[Maybe the joke just ended up making things worse...even if it's kind of cute that she's so flustered.]

...If I need a little extra juice in the tank there are things you can try before we, uh, run any bases.

[It's definitely the most efficient way though.]

[sealeted]

...like blood?

[Waver did say all of the bodily fluids could be utilized for magic...]

[guerrilla]

Not a chance.

[Technically a possibility, he supposes, but not one he'd ever pursue.]

If it ever comes down to it, there are ways I can cut down on mana consumption, so I'll just try those first. Things like not manifesting physically, for instance.

[sealeted]

...um, maybe not that.

[She peeks up at him through her bangs, still a bit flushed.]

I like having you around more than the alternative, even if you're around a lot more often than I actually realize.

[guerrilla]

I'd still be around, just not...well.

[If she doesn't want him to go with that option, he supposes he'll just have to think of something else should the need arise.]

I guess it doesn't matter. Just don't think you need to go out of your way for me or anything.

[sealeted]

Why not? You go out of yours, for me.

[She tugs at the cloak he so easily dropped on her, for emphasis.]

[guerrilla]

No I don't!

[He seems vaguely scandalized at the mere suggestion that he's putting any effort into being her Servant at all, even though he pretty obviously is.]

Lending you a cloak isn't going out of my way, it's keeping you alive so you can keep me alive.

[sealeted]

Then let me do the same.

[guerrilla]

That isn't how this works.

[Is she....is she propositioning him after all? It really sounds like she's propositioning him?!]

[sealeted]

I'm... I'm not some clueless newbie who doesn't even know what she is anymore.

[She raises her chin stubbornly.]

If there's something I should be doing for you, I want to know about it. If there's anything I can do to help you, I want to know about it; whether it's super embarrassing, or totally mundane, or anything. I... said it before, right? I don't want to watch you die again.






...please.

[guerrilla]

...You're doing fine.

[It's a poor substitute for the things Hakuno deserves to hear: a "thank you" for her efforts. But even though she's letting spill the contents of her heart, her dedication to her Servant, Robin simply can't do the same.]

If I thought you were doing something wrong, or not giving me what I needed, I'd have bailed as soon as I saw Ritsuka. If it gets bad, we can talk about it then, okay?

[But he meant it when he said he was fine right now. He can't utilize his Noble Phantasms or anything else that might drain Hakuno's mana right now anyway, and he hasn't had much of a need to use very much on high frequency worlds either.]

But I'm not a good enough guy to stick with a crappy Master, so wanting to stay with you means you're doing everything right.

[That should encourage her, he hopes.]

[sealeted]

Yeah, but unless you're with somebody completely contrary or over the top, do you bother speaking up...?

[She is obviously relieved to hear that he thinks well of her, but still, the worry persists.

Could she be better?]

[guerrilla]

Why speak up when it'd be easier to just force you to use all your Command Seals so I could find another Master?

[Since he actually has the wiggle room to utilize his Independent Action skill outside the Moon Cell, there's nothing compelling him to stay with a contrary Master at all.]

[sealeted]

Hey. Hey.

[She frowns in an almost pouty way, and firmly prods the bare skin displayed by his shirt with one icy fingertip.]

I only did that one time.

[guerrilla]

[Robin, of course, wasn't present to witness Hakuno burning all her Command Seals on Gilgamesh, so he's more than a little alarmed to hear this response.]

You're lucky you're alive at all! I just meant I'd be a pain in the ass so you'd get fed up and leave!

[More of a pain in the ass than usual, anyway.

The chill in Hakuno's fingers doesn't go unnoticed, and Robin reluctantly takes her hand in both of his, doing what he can to warm her up a bit.]

[sealeted]

Look, being Gilgamesh's Master on the Far Side was a balancing act in a lot of ways.

[He's... he's not wrong to chastise her though, it was a dumb move even if she was panicking at the time.

She shifts her hand in his, happy for the sudden warmth.]

...thank you.

[guerrilla]

Under your arms and between your legs are the warmest places on the body. Put your other hand there.

[The last thing he needs is his Master developing frostbite...]

And I'm buying you some gloves and winter clothes later. What's your favorite color?

[sealeted]

I can at least get the gloves by myself.

[She obediently tucks her hand under her arm, after tugging the cloak around them more securely.]

I think I should probably invest in some woolen tights, for sure. Or pants. ...it's weird, having so many options.

[guerrilla]

Want me to just give you some money so you can pick stuff for yourself? You're gonna kill me going around in a school uniform all the time.

[Figuratively, but also literally if she gets pneumonia or something and dies.]

[sealeted]

Wow, you don't see me complaining about your outfit, do you?

[...he has a point.]

It's okay, I have money myself. Bought some nice boots and everything.

[She clicks one heel pointedly.]

[guerrilla]

You'll live even if I die. I'm dressing for one.

[Or slightly less than one, if the revealing nature of his top is any indication.]

You should definitely do some clothes shopping while we're here, though. Try to get some fun stuff done. Take Ritsuka with you, if you can, or at least encourage her to do the same...both of you need a break.

[But it's not like he cares or anything.]

[sealeted]

That sounds fun. Actually, I think we should make a family outing along those lines, too; Beech would probably like some of the things I've seen around here.

[She pauses.]

...does Beech still think we're involved with Jumin, by the way?

[guerrilla]

I sure hope not. I wanted to get him kicked out just to be sure she got the right idea, but Percival talked me out of it.

[So he's safe. For now.]