[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

[oceanaria]

An overwhelmed Chika-chan? That's something new.

[ Riko can't just stop giggling. It's true that she said almost, but she can't recall Chika being overwhelmed. Not that openly, at least. ]

I was thinking...if we're going to travel to different worlds, no matter how bizarre that sounds...you could make even more people smile. That's what idols do, right?

[ Chika was the one to teach her that, after all. ]

We all could. You, me, Dia-san and Ruby-chan.

[ Riko can't really come to terms with the fact that they were taken from their world so abruptly, but there's no point in moping and whining all the time. ]

Yes, it's a pity...but we can talk whenever we want now instead.

[ Well, it's not like they couldn't with their phones and everything, but this is a bit different...kind of. Probably. That's how Riko feels. ]

[heartholder]

... Yeah. Yeah!

[ chika immediately perks up, giving riko's hand an affectionate squeeze and stopping in their tracks to turn and face her. ]

You're right. No matter where we are, we have to keep smiling, so anyone else who feels lost or scared can smile along with us. We have to keep shining!

[oceanaria]

[ It's funny how everything has changed with Chika's arrival. Riko, feeling rather down about being so far away from home, doesn't think it's as bad as she thought at first. Sure, it's not perfect and she'd rather be at Uchiura, but...

Riko realizes that she's been starting at Chika in complete silence for a bit too long. ]

Um, yes. [ That's such a weak answer, so she'll add in a haste: ] But...if things get too rough, you can talk to me. Any time.

[ Knowing Chika, she's going to push herself too hard at some point, but that's when Riko comes in to remind her that she's not all alone in this. ]

[heartholder]

I know I can.

[ chika doesn't release her hand, so soft and warm in her own, when they resume walking. ]

Thank you, Riko-chan. For being here. For everything. And if there's ever any way I can return the favor... I'll be here for you, too. We're friends, after all.

[oceanaria]

Do you really?

[ Just making sure!! And giving Chika's hand a squeeze, too. ]

Thank you, too. Chika-chan... [ Is it just her or is Chika a bit different? Just like... ] ...You've grown up.

[ The remark just slips out by accident, but that's what Riko's been thinking for a while. ]

[heartholder]

Huh?

[ chika looks surprised, caught a bit off guard by riko's observation. ]

Ehehe... Have I?

[ she's not sure how to react, rubbing the back of her neck with her free hand and letting an embarrassed giggle slip past her lips. ]

[oceanaria]

I think? I'm...

[ Riko's not sure how to put it, but...there's something about Chika. Something different. Is it because they haven't seen each other in a while? Or...it's more like just Riko hasn't seen her. ]

Am I making things up?

[ Her smile grows wide, but honestly, she can't quite tell what's different. ]

[heartholder]

[ chika swings their hands back and forth, playful. ]

Well, either way, I'm still the same, plain old Chika as ever!

[oceanaria]

That's true, you're my plain old Chika-chan.

[ It takes her a while to realize which pronoun she has used. ]

I mean...our. I was wondering...do you think we could perform here, just the four of us?

[heartholder]

[ chika doesn't notice the slip up, or if she does, she doesn't mind it. ]

That's a great idea! Putting on a live would be sure to lift everyone's spirits! We just need lyrics, and a set of costumes, and the choreography... and...

And...

[ ... ]

[oceanaria]

[ And...other members, probably... ]

I'm sorry, maybe it's not such a great idea after all.

[ She just wanted to cheer Chika up, but... ]

[heartholder]

No! It is a great idea! We'll just have to get a little more creative, that's all.

[ chika bumps riko in the shoulder, snapping herself out of her temporary funk. ]

As long as we're together, we can do anything. I know it.

[oceanaria]

[ Riko had second thoughts about the whole idea, but Chika somehow makes it sound easier than she considered it to be. Of course, having all members would be lovely, but it's not like they can do anything about it. ]

I can help you with the lyrics this time, Chika-chan.

[heartholder]

Really?

[ her whole face lights up. ]

That would be great! I hope your talent will rub off on me, for just a little while. I want to measure up to your standards, after all.

[oceanaria]

[ Riko gives her a surprised look and eventually shakes her head. ]

You don't need my talent...w-which I don't have, anyway...to rub off you, Chika-chan.

[ Flustered and slightly irritated that her friend is putting herself down like this (it's not like she's doing basically the same thing, not at all), Riko squeezes the other girl's hand. ]

[heartholder]

Talent you don't have?

[ chika gawks at her. ]

Riko-chan... you're one of the most talented people I know. Why would I have pestered you to join Aqours so much if I didn't think you had talent?

[ chika looks surprisingly serious, and she squeezes her hand right back. ]

[oceanaria]

[ Riko lets out an exasperated sigh...but a smile follows it right away. ]

Just...don't say that you don't have any talent, okay? You do have a talent. A talent to bring people together. And you're always trying so hard! Trying so hard that you even followed me, Dia-san, and Ruby-chan so we wouldn't feel lonely.

[heartholder]

Okay. Deal.

[ the smile that follows matches riko's. ]

But you need to stop being too hard on yourself, too! I mean it.

[oceanaria]

I'll try. But I'm not as good at trying as you are.

[ Riko presses her forehead against Chika's, still chuckling. She's so happy to have her here, even if wanting Chika to appear in another world was a bit selfish of her. ]

[heartholder]

See? That's exactly what I'm talking about! Everyone in Aqours has their own unique, individual talents, and that includes you. You try and try just as much as we all do. We wouldn't be the same without you.

[ chika doesn't back away, just lets her eyes flutter closed for a brief moment with a laugh. she's happy, too, as jarring as this entire situation has been. just being near riko makes her feel so... warm. all over. ]

[oceanaria]

I can't believe you're scolding me this much.

[ Maybe Riko simply deserves it; she doesn't seem to mind this, however. ]

I'll behave from now on, I promise.

[heartholder]

Good.

[ chika crosses her arms and nods, satisfied by this, before giving riko an affectionate pat on the head. ]