[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

[sealeted]

e. moonce...nts

[If Hakuno is ill at ease in the little coffee shop, it's only because of the name. After a short while, her spirits noticeably lift, and she relaxes. for all intents and purposes, she seems utterly at ease.

....well.

Utterly at ease, but also unmistakably torn as she glances between all the syrup options she can add to her free sample.]


f. do you wanna...

So... like this?

[Some of the children have taken Hakuno under wing, and are teaching her how to properly pat together a snowball.

Have any advice to offer them?]


g. winter wonderland

[Hakuno has yet to actually flop down and make a snow angel, but she looks sorely tempted to try.

This is the first time she's gotten to experience snow herself, so she's taking a moment to sit on this frozen bench and enjoy the ambience, all the same.

...somebody should probably get her a scarf.]


i. wildcard!

new?!

[keeptrucking]

B. so many thin mints

[Or not exactly Thin Mints, actually - not cookies at all! Here's the thing about Daichi and fundraising, or Daichi and food purchasing in general: he's easily startled and even more easily guilted into buying something he really... doesn't actually want?

So it happens that he's standing in the lobby of the apartment building, while a citizen helpfully unloads the last of something like 20 boxes of, apparently, frozen soft pretzels. They're oven-ready (but like off-brand, ya dig) and fun, easy, & delicious! And Daichi has somehow managed to purchase way more than any one person needs.

There are 20 boxes sitting in a disorganized tower at his feet. It's like waist high. He's standing there looking shocked and a little tragic, like he doesn't understand how he went from "Oh, sure, I'll take one" to being surrounded by this stuff so quickly. He looks to you, dear passerby, for assistance.]

She had a really good sales pitch...? I felt bad! [help] I don't know how I'm going to get any of this upstairs.

D. for despair

[See Daichi, also easily bullied into community service. Not even - he'd have volunteered in due time without being heckled into it, but here he is, handing out some fliers... and looking a little soggy? It seems he's been splashed by snow a few times even this far up on the sidewalk. Misery consumes him.

When he cracks a smile, it is the smile of someone who still doesn't really get what's going on here and really wishes it would all stop. God.]

You wanna learn about recycling bins? Paper goes in blue...

[Here, he mimes tossing his entire stack of fliers into a blue bin just behind him. That's how his day is going.]

E. it's not even coffee anymore

[Scene: Daichi wants every marshmallow in this coffee shop put into his drink.

Problem: other people also want marshmallows? He bumps elbows with someone else over here, trying to take advantage of the free drink fixings bar. Ah-]

Oh—uh, you go ahead? [Watch as he tries to angle his cup away, so the dozen marshmallows he's already dunked in here aren't so visible...]

I. wildcard?!

[catch him lowkey hyperventilating about a whole new world!! he's living on floor 11 so he'll be up and around there eventually, too... with pretzels. catch me @ jojoveller!]

[skincares]

A | ROOMMATES

[Carmilla's nature is solitary out of habit. Those who she'd happily spend time with was rare and, since those "friends" were so far and few between, she preferred to keep to herself. She has always lived alone and throughout history she has stayed alone -- that's how it should be. Chaldea may have softened her to the idea of living with all manners of eccentric roommates but it doesn't mean she'll happily accept just anyone to live with her.

At some point in the afternoon, she's moved out from her room and sits at the kitchen. It seems she's prepared tea for herself, dark and fragrant, and when she sees you she raises a slender eyebrow.]

Come closer.

[yo who's this bitch and why's she bossing u around]

D | COMMUNITY SERVICE

[It seems as though someone is slacking off... Carmilla is seated off to the side, a pile of pamphlets acting as a footrest. She seems to be bored out of her mind.]

... oh? You seem to be working especially hard.

[Why is her tone so judgmental. If you're also slacking off, though, she sounds amused.]

WILDCARD | LET IT SNOW

[Carmilla has been summoned to all manners of strange time periods, but she thinks this may be the first time she's been summoned into a situation where she'll be moving from planet to planet. Oh, there's the Singularities, but traveling through human history was a bit... different from traveling through dimensions.

With all that said, Shehui is too gaudy for her tastes. It reminds her of her misspent, overly energetic youth, and the thought of it has her mouth curl in disgust. She walks through the streets without a coat, stopping every now and then to look at the clothes on display. Servants have no need for clothing, but... as tacky as this awful place may be...

... maybe there's something nice that can be found in the streets. And if she doesn't find it, so what?

She's (perhaps?) free to go where she wishes, for once in her life.]

[deusex]

( A ) roommates

[ please hmu for roommate stuff I need human contact ]

( E ) if it's free I'll take a thousand

[ they said one drink, but who's really keeping count, anyway?

because Mikazuki is steadily on his third cup of hot chocolate. He's also taking up an entire seating by himself, a couch that four of him could probably fit into if they squeezed in. Feel free to try to share this seat. Or have you noticed that he's kind of hogging the free drinks tray.... ]

( G ) is it meant to be yellow?

[ Mikazuki has seen snow before — in a time and place so far removed from where he was now, in a situation much different. They are children, but they didn't have time to relax and properly enjoy it like they should; what had happened before was too fresh in their mind to even think about such frivolous activity.

Winter in Mars was freezing, the wind chilling you to the bones, it could freeze you to death if you weren't careful but it had never snowed like this. The khaki uniform of Tekkadan is barely enough to keep the cold out, but he's used to that.

Mikazuki will be found in a park, a frozen over pond and the like, reaching to press his hand into the nearest mound of snow. Or maybe he's trying to eat it. Please stop him. ]

( H ) the destroyer

[ the gist of the game is easy enough to get; just have to point and shoot at whoever is easy enough to present a target, right? Even with an arm in a sling, it's a piece of cake for Mikazuki. He's taken out a few kids already, and it was kind of getting boring with how easy it was.

But then, it's just a game, as strange as that concept sounded to him. He was used to the reality of it all, the need to kill for survival. How strange.

His vantage point is pretty good, secluded and shielded by a low shrubbery and a tree. Other people might get the same idea as him, and come try to take this spot? ]

( I ) wildcard it up!

[ just come and hit me up with whatever u got he's new ]

gimme the marshmellows

[meritedly]

[ it's not that yamato doesn't know what coffee is. he's had his body weight in it back home. he prefers the basics to be honest. all these extra fixings seem excessive. isn't it just watering down the caffeine and thus diluting the intended effect? god people are weird.

speaking of weird people. yamato spots daichi and it's a weird mix of relief someone can answer his questions but also slightly irked he has to answer anything for yamato. since when does daichi know things he doesn't. ugh. ]

Shijima. What are you doing? [ that's a great start, nose wrinkling as he stares accusingly at daichi's cup. ]

cursed

[keeptrucking]

[Oh great, it's Yamato! That's a genuine "oh great," mostly, being as there are still liiike none of them here. Running into Yamato in a fake Starbucks is jarring, but fine.

The goopy, mostly-marshmallow sludge in his cup, on the other hand - possibly less fine. He glances at it, then back.]

Enjoying my free sample...?

prob

[meritedly]

[ he doesn't know about the cube yet. don't tell him unless you're in the mood for haughty scoffing.

yamato scrutinizes the cup a few more seconds before looking up to his face. ]

...What's in it?

[ fact: he has no idea what marshmallows are. ]

yeah very?

[keeptrucking]

[Soooo bring the cube over for a surprise sleepover? Got it.]

Uh... seriously? I know there's a lot and they kinda all melted already, but... it's marshmallows.

[He'll realize Yamato has been deprived of this pure, delicious confection all his life in a moment.]

smh

[meritedly]

[ first kickball now marshmallows. it's takoyaki all over again. ]

Are they supposed to melt?

[ seems questionable and a useless treat. he doesn't have the biggest sweet tooth to begin with.

these little white puffs are getting The Staredown. ]

[keeptrucking]

[Daichi wants a do-over so he can turn around and leave before Yamato notices he's here. What the hell?]

Yyyyes...? Dude, you've never had a marshmallow before? Here, you can have the rest.

[He's changed his mind about putting even more sugar in this drink, pushing the little container of marshmallows at Yamato instead. This, truly, is community service. Where are his credits.]

[mesmerevenant]

A | ROOMIES
[ After everything Jun's had to deal with coming here, roommates don't seem too dire an issue. He's lived in a college dorm after all! Though in that case he was rarely around enough to be familiar with the other students - study, part-time work, and simply electing to stay with other friends taking priority... but surely this wouldn't be too different?

On second thought, maybe it is a big problem after all. He doesn't know anyone here, and the magic he's use to falling back on is absent! What if something goes horribly wrong? He really can't afford to make enemies here!

For those watching, one can easily spy Jun abruptly shaking his head in the hallway of the complex - clearly in an attempt to chase away some internal monologue. Determination shines on his face for a brief moment. It'll be simple - just remain cool, be polite, and everything will work out... right?

He reaches out to give his apartment door a quick knock, before opening it gently. ]

Hello?

E | free coffee
[ It's impossible to resist free samples. Especially when you're out and about doing thankless volunteer cleaning work in the snow. Which is all well and good, until Jun takes a sip of a coffee and can't help but make a face at it. ]

Ugh...

I | wildcard!!
[ Otherwise, this poor guy can be found window shopping through Shenhui. He's squinting into Optometrist shops in particular, clearly in need of glasses. He seems frustrated at the current prices though, muttering under his breath about how much work it'll take to afford them. ]

[mesmerevenant]

G

Ah... excuse me. Aren't you cold?

[ It's a little concerning to see someone out in the snow without the prerequisite scarf (and hat and gloves, possibly). Jun can't leave well enough alone, practically obligated to show concern. There's always a chance that she isn't out here by choice. ]

[mesmerevenant]

D

That bad, huh?

[ Jun can sympathize. He was pushed into volunteering duty earlier. Still, he respects Daichi's clear attempt at cheerfulness through misery. ]

a, sup roomie

[pigii]

[ though ruby has been spending plenty of time in dia's room, her roommates aren't so intimidating that she finds herself unwelcome in her assigned quarters. she's slowly begun to spend nights in her own room, getting more comfortable with being physically away from her older sister at least for short periods of time.

she's alone in the room when jun knocks, working on what appears to be a scarf. she's a little too engrossed in her knitting to hear the knock, only realizing that someone else is there when he speaks up. when she does, she lets out a high-pitched squeak and disappears in the blink of an eye, leaving her knitting supplies behind. invisibility magic sure is convenient! ]

[keeptrucking]

N-nooo, it's going great. I think the next time I see a blue bin I'm going to burst into flames, though.

[He's so chipper? His soul is dying.]

[mesmerevenant]

[ Shit is relatable. Jun grins back, and isn't even forcing himself to play along with that dark humor. ]

At least you'll be warm and dry then, right?

[keeptrucking]

Oh, for real. Buuut then I probably have to remember which bin the rest of my dignity goes into, so.

[Shrug!! Maybe he'll not do that thing. Bursting into flame.]

[mesmerevenant]

Um.

[ Well, that's not at all worrying! Everything Is Fine! This doesn't make for a bad first impression at all!

After a second of internally freaking out himself, Jun tries to salvage the situation and be reassuring - closing the door softly behind him. ]

... sorry! Did I startle you?

A!!

[mesmerevenant]

[ Good question, and that's pretty much exactly the first thought that runs through Jun's head. Balking at being ordered around, Jun just barely manages to restrain the impulse to refuse Carmilla immediately. Instead, he blinks at her a moment before stepping forward - even if he cannot help the small frown of dissatisfaction that graces his face.

After all, if they're going to live together, it's all the more reason to try not to make waves. ]

Yes?

b

[guerrilla]

I don't either.

[That's not very helpful. Robin is clearly enjoying the plight of this poor kid and his 20-something boxes of pretzels...but not quite moved enough to help (yet?).]

I can take one or two of 'em off your hands, though. One of my roommates likes sweet things.

[That's still not very helpful.]

[mesmerevenant]

What, so it's not included as flammable garbage?

[ Because making that distinction is totally helping Daichi do his job. Absolutely. Not a joke at all. ]

[keeptrucking]

Okay, that leaves me with... still way too many to get upstairs. Can I get, like, a cart? A pretzel-only elevator?

[Also he paid for these, at least offer to fundraise for the Get Daichi His Wasted Money Back campaign.]

I'll settle for a big basket. You seen any?

[keeptrucking]

[Ah, well, his dignity sure is open season for complete strangers still. That's good to know.]

It's not supposed to be... Do you want a flier or not?

[mesmerevenant]

Sure, I'll take a flier... by the way, you're also one of the coven members, right?

[ Since all the new people basically got herded at the same time, Jun is sure he's seen Daichi at a distance. Maybe. His vision's a little blurry without his glasses, but there's no mistaking that bright yellow scarf. ]

[keeptrucking]

If that's what it takes to keep the apartment, then yeah, totally. Love being in a cult. —Coven.

[He's taking it as well as he can, but yeah, he's definitely the same guy going around in winter accessories before they even got to this snowy city.

He holds a flier out, belatedly. Enjoy.]