[JANUARY 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
IMPORTANT: While some prompts are newbie exclusive, all characters can tag this intro log!

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. You'll also have a letter slipped under your door with some explanation about your whole coven situation, as well as info that explains you have magic now! And yet what kind of magic is conveniently left out. Are you up to speed? Great. Now, here's the question of the hour: what are you going to do about all this? A ▢ If you're the sensible sort and want to explore your new digs before slinking around Shehui, you're in luck! You've got easy access to your apartment, and it's luckily not on lockdown right now. Feel free to check out your room, raid the fridge -- oh, and saying hello to your roommates should also be on your to-do list. B ▢ Let's say that hanging out with these people is a little overwhelming...that's fine! There are plenty of things to do in the apartment building without interacting with roomies! There are vending machines to prop up, a leisure floor that contains a totally vacant air hockey table and a nice garden to relax in. C ▢ But ah, there's also venturing outside! Out front is the job board, which is a nice place to hit up if you're looking to add to your currently fat but depleting credit account. The problem is that the jobs are currently disappearing quickly, and those around you aren't giving you such nice looks. This apartment building is a known problem area at this point, and your signet doesn't do anything to settle their fears.

D ▢ With new year's week coming to an end, the residents of Shehui are feeling more celebratory than somber now. A lot of businesses are closed in order to enjoy themselves and ring in the new year the right way. A lot of restaurants and bars are currently offering specials, from free drinks to cheap food in order to pull in the holiday crowd. If you're looking to meet people and socialize in Shehui, this is the best way to do it. E ▢ Also because it's the post holiday season, stores are trying to push out the rest of their overstock merch. One item of note that's being peddled quite often is a cell phone. From tiny flip phones to the latest Orange product, cellphones are a necessity in this modern society. Get yours right now and begin texting right away! There are a few social apps that are installed, so you might be lucky enough to connect with another coven member! They also have Redmolar capability, which will automatically allow you to text those with phones in the area. Maybe send some mysterious stranger texts? F ▢ While you're hustling around Shehui, you may realize that the telepathic messages get stronger -- perhaps the new coven members are near? In general, you may be subject to telepathic messages about current Shehui goings on, random thoughts or requests to meet up at so-and-so location. A.K.A. let's utilize that telepathy...it may not last forever! G ▢ Because the week of remembrance is still going on, flowers are littering the streets, though most of them are dead. Bunches of flowers are being sold, and flower fortunes are a popular activity during this part of the holiday. There are fortune tellers on the street who will give you your flower of the year, but it's more fun to have them read with one another! There are digital cards that you can buy that will allow you to read fortunes on the go -- simply tap the screen of the card and your flower will be decided. Not happy with your choice? Too bad! It won't randomize to something different, no matter how hard you try. H ▢ While a lot of Shehui citizens are trying to avoid the coven members like the plague, a small alien child isn't so much concerned with who helps her, just as long as someone does. She accidentally left her house's door open and her five new kittens are suddenly missing! Where are they? Who knows! But she'd certainly like some help looking for them. I ▢ As the day winds down, snow falls on Shehui for the last time this season. The government is getting rid of their supplies that create the festive weather. This is old hat for older coven members, but for newbies? You better enjoy the snow while you can. After an hour or so, it piles up enough to truly be utilized for merriment...this also means that it's pretty easy to get snowed in if you happen to be in a building during the snow fall, which also creates some interactive opportunities. J ▢ Wildcard! How will your character interact with this new and unusual world?

Comments

[allbroea]

[ the smart thing to do would have been to buy a can of tuna ... or a lure ... or something, but that would be admitting that he's going on a fetch quest. he definitely just coincidentally happened to find a cat.

he freezes in his hopeless gesturing when he realizes someone has approached him, and is offering him ... what he should have prepared in the first place. his guard is immediately up—the tone shift is impossible to miss—but he's not looking to argue, either. ]

It's a better idea than what I'm working with. [ why are you carrying around a can of tuna, kid ] Is this your cat?

[ he assumed it was the little alien girl's, but it's not like he has a keen eye for scribbles of cats. ]

[inspiteful]

Nope, I'm just helping someone look for theirs.

[ ...Which he hopes explains why he has a can of tuna with him. He doesn't want people to think that carrying tuna is a thing he just does! Seeing the change in Jusis's body language makes him wonder if he's a stuffy type, though.

He turns the can around in his hair for a moment, wondering how on earth he's supposed to actually open the thing, before he pulls up the tab with a small "oh". Soon there's the stench of tuna in the air and Skylark crouches down next to Jusis. ]

I bet you're hungry, huh. [ Meant for the kitten, he means. ]

[allbroea]

[ no idea why anyone would consider him the stuffy type, no sir.

he refrains from commenting and settles for observing for a bit. he's internally relieved when the kitten shows interest in the newly opened can, cautiously inching forward against its better instincts in search of delicious tuna. some tension drops from his shoulders. ]

It's working. [ good plan, stranger ] But we still have to make sure she gets home to her owner. [ does he pick the kitten up while it's distracted by tuna? after it's had its fill and trusts them?? why didn't a small alien child lose five ponies. ]

[inspiteful]

The way to a cat's heart is through its stomach.

[ Applicable to all sorts of living beings, really.

He gives the kitten a small pet on the head while it eats. At the very least it's too distracted to mind and it's free pets!! ]

Maybe we should wait for it to finish so it doesn't get too grumpy when we pick it up.

[allbroea]

[ he's worried about the cat doing a dine and dash on them, but his accomplice seems to be getting it to warm up to him juuust fine, so maybe not as much of a possibility as he feared. ]

That would make sense. [ he refrains from sighing at the poor critter. ] I only hope it finishes quickly. That child probably misses it sorely.

[ with the cat crisis nearly resolved and nothing to do but wait for it to finish its meal time, he has time to get a better look at skylark. the first impression is made: helpful kid who likes to pet kittens.

cute. ]

You were asked by a young girl to find five cats, correct?

[ just, you know, making sure there isn't a lost cat crisis in this city. ]

[inspiteful]

[ He doesn't even particularly like cats, it's just that when your city has a patron god of cats, you learn to be cordial. (Besides, cats are nice to pet when they're amicable.) ]

Yeah, that's the one. She was making a real fuss about it, so...

[ Read: He couldn't say no to a small girl. ]

[allbroea]

So you bought a can of tuna and tried to find them for her. How very noble of you.

[ it is both a genuine observation and meant to poke a bit of fun at him. most people don't go out of their way to find stray cats, much less spend money on doing so. ]

[inspiteful]

[ When Jusis puts it that way Skylark realises that he must seem like a total sap, which is unacceptable! He's cooler than that, he swears! His cheeks turn red as he gets flustered despite himself. ]


It -- it was just the quickest way of finding them. Better to lure them out instead of looking everywhere, right?

[allbroea]

[ something about that response reminds him entirely too much of himself. ]

You're right. It was a good plan. [ as far as he can tell. he's no cat expert, but it worked. ] It speaks well of your character that you'd look for them at all.

[ ah ... he leans over and gives the kitten a small pet himself. no harm done, he supposes. ]

What's your name?

[inspiteful]

There's a lot of cats where I'm from, that's all.

[ Said as if it explains everything, though as a statement on its own it's true. The kitten, who is now quite happy with a full belly, purrs and leans into the petting. ]

I'm Gracious Skylark.

[allbroea]

[ c ... cute.

he could pursue how having a lot of cats around doesn't make one into a de facto cat finder, but the name gives him pause. not exactly standard, is it. ]

Is Gracious your title?

[ nothing wrong with it being his given name, he supposes, but he ought to check. ]

[inspiteful]

[ Well, that's a first -- no one's actually ever asked him that, since...well, back home everyone would just assume it's part of his name. He's not someone so important to have a title, anyway. But Skylark realises that he's never met anyone or so much as seen another name like his here, so he has to wonder if perhaps this kind of naming convention isn't common elsewhere. ]

No, it's part of my name. You can just call me Skylark, though.

[allbroea]

Skylark, then.

[ he hopes that isn't rude. even if he's been told it's fine, it feels a little strange to clip something like gracious out of someone's name ... ]

I'm Jusis. It's a pleasure to meet you. [ he says, but it's jusis, so it comes out as formally as possible. ] Since you were the one who successfully lured the kitten in, I suppose you should be the one to bring it back to its owner.

[ as much as he would like to see her smile when it comes home, he has to give credit where it's due. ]

[inspiteful]

[ It's fine Jusis, there's even fancier names that get shortened all the time back home.

Skylark's left wondering if Jusis is a high class type -- who even gets that formal otherwise? And he certainly looks the part, probably. ]

Well, you found her first. We could go return her together.

[allbroea]

[ he is wearing a cravat ... unless the commonfolk wear cravats where skylark comes from. or unless the nobles don't wear cravats. looks pretty darn fancy, though. ]

I wouldn't mind accompanying you. [ like he's not interested in seeing the payoff. ] It would be good to have an extra pair of eyes in case another kitten is on the way as well.

[inspiteful]

[ They don't, but fancy usually means high class anyway. The only thing he isn't sure is if Jusis was just rich or actual nobility, though personally he considers the latter a little more likely given Jusis's demeanour. ]

Let's go, then.

[ He carefully picks up the kitten, petting it on the head to appease it now that it suddenly doesn't have its feet on the ground. ]

[allbroea]

[ he's not usually the type to make small talk, but in a position as disadvantageous as his current one, he might as well take the opportunity. he's going to avoid the elephant in the room that is the coven for as long as they're in public, at least. ]

How long have you been living here, if you don't mind my asking? [ how old is he. does he go to school. he has so many questions that aren't even helpful to his own plight. ]

[inspiteful]

About four or five weeks.

[ It's probably better to not talk too openly about the coven, anyway. Especially not since people have been either avoiding them or otherwise giving a cold reception. ]

Are you new here too?

[allbroea]

[ four or five weeks ... he expected something like that, given that he isn't even sure where he would buy a can of tuna yet. definitely someone who's been here for longer than a handful of hours, at least. ]

I only arrived this morning. [ doesn't sound all too happy about that. ] I was still trying to acquaint myself with the city when I found myself flagged down to find lost kittens.

[inspiteful]

You couldn't say no either, huh?

[ Why else was he trying to persuade a kitten to come along? ....Though Skylark basically gave away that yeah, he caved in to a little girl's request. ]

[allbroea]

[ he pulls out the classic sidelong glance for this one. ]

I neither accepted nor denied the request. [ he totally couldn't say no to her face, at least. ] That said, I wouldn't consider myself so busy as to be incapable of returning any lost cats I find.

[inspiteful]

Right.

[ ...Somehow this kind of reaction is familiar to him, but he can't quite put his finger on it. Skylark scratches under the kitten's chin as they walk. ]

You don't deal with cats too often though, do you?

[allbroea]

I don't. We never owned one, and the city I come from doesn't have a population of them.

[ heimdallr, on the other hand ... ]

I didn't think they would be so finnicky. I'll have to keep it in mind.

[ he's one to talk. ]

[inspiteful]

It doesn't?

[ Skylark finds it difficult to imagine a place that didn't have cats (and dogs) practically everywhere.

Also he actually thought 'I'm not sure if you're one to talk.', given Jusis seems like the fussy type to him, but he has better sense than to say it outloud. ]

Lots of animals are like that, I think. Most of them won't say no to petting, except when they do and get all hot and cold about it.

[ How many cats have come up to people seemingly asking for petting only to get hissy when it's actually given, he swears.]

[allbroea]

A couple of the residents own them, but they keep them indoors or nearby. [ there is a woman who basically sits outside his house with her cat, but that's none of his business, either.

this is really about the sum of his experience with animals, so, in an effort to contribute to the conversation: ]

I suppose it's true young colts can be difficult at times, though most trained horses are quite friendly, if not affectionate. [ it's been a while since he personally had to deal with a horse that wasn't eager to be brushed and fed. such are the merits of horse whispering. ]