spellbinders | [JANUARY INTRO LOG

[JANUARY INTRO LOG | WORLD TWO]

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?

your flower will be decided

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ The first thing that crosses his mind is: is it ever enough?

- But enough of these thoughts. He'll only nod his agreement. ]

There is still much I can learn from those here, and from you. [ So he wouldn't sound arrogant after all the help he had offered.

Two can play at this 'everything is totally fine' game. ]

[ julius sounding arrogant hadn't even crossed his mind; he offered help to someone who was clearly, if shamefully, in distress, which is noble.

on the other hand, jusis can't help but feel a little guilty in retrospect. he didn't mean to come off as arrogant, either, though that tends to be what he ends up sounding like anyway. what might bother him more is how utterly modest julius is. he almost, almost wants to call him on it—but he did mention a friend with an uncertain fate, so he thinks that might be too callous. ]

Good. Awareness of your limits is a boon. So is awareness of your accomplishments.

[ moderation is key, as they say. ]

You seem capable enough without downplaying your experience.

[ he did say he could learn from jusis, right? the boy is prone to speaking his mind as long as it concerns anyone but himself. ]

[ With each step, a man may slowly begin to undo the disaster he has left in his wake. He doubts anyone else will ever understand this, so it's something that he keeps to himself. A boy who was convinced that his trained preparation would be perfect, a man who wanted to save those doomed to certain death... only to fell them by his own hands.

With each step, he may slowly atone. Even if it takes a thousand years, he will not leave anyone in need. His curse would not let him die. ]

You would think so?

[ Still, it feels undeserving. ]

Thank you.

Edited 2018-01-15 16:15 (UTC)

[ okay, maybe that's genuine self-deprecation. that, or julius learned false humility with the best of them. he does what he can not to groan in julius' general direction. ]

Your self-restraint would put most people I know to shame. Your overview of the situation was clear and concise, and your approach going forward is sound. You offered your assistance to a stranger without being prompted, and then again. I know nothing of your prior circumstances and can hardly offer a moral judgment, but you do seem, at the very least, capable.

[ it's not praise; he's just stating his observations. ]

In that respect, I would consider myself fortunate to have run into you, and I would like to rely upon you in the future.

[ this probably isn't even the most roundabout way he could have established that he finds him respectable. ]

[ Hearing all of it so plainly feels a little like he's being reprimanded, though all of Jusis' words are true and thus he's deserving of the scolding. There isn't much to reply with, except a nod. ]

Thank you. [ A pause. ] I apologize. I am not used to such things.

[ Working alone, and now in a different world - it's become difficult to judge himself. ]

[ jusis is too familiar with the value of pride and self-confidence not to comment on it. the fact it turned into something closer to a lecture is entirely unintentional, but he's glad it ... worked? ]

Many people aren't. [ he takes a moment to consider if he really wants to say this. ] Others will doubtlessly try to discredit you, Mr. Visconti. You hardly need to do their job for them.

[ ... he doesn't usually shy away from voicing his opinions, but they only just met and he really doesn't know anything about julius, so, immediately after, a tad sheepish: ]

Forgive me if I've spoken out of turn. I think I recognize this street ... The apartment's down the block, isn't it?

[ Jusis is sharp, it reminds him of how Gilbert used to try and discourage him from taking up more work. In this way, it brings a slight smile to his half-tiredness. ]

You have not. I have merely been without another to tell me what I could not see.

[ But enough of that - he switches to voice now, his tone quiet. ]

We're almost there. Did you perchance receive a room assignment?

[ he's kind of relieved to be free of telepathy, but he's going to have to get used to it sooner or later if he's going to stay here. ]

I—[ a second to switch gears, shutting his eyes in frustration. ] I did. The rate at which they file paperwork here must be incredible.

[ probably helps they're not using real papers, but damn. ]

[ Makes it all the more suspicious that they claim to use no magic, really... ]

I assumed it was digital.

[ They've already migrated to tablets in where he's from. ]

I'm sure it is, but they'd still need to approach a new residency through proper channels. I suppose the process would be expedited significantly by merit of instant communication.

[ truly, the future where he gets to digitally process his paperwork is a future he dreams of.

just a little grouchy: ]

It certainly helps they didn't have to ask for my input on where to place me. I'm sure our shared housing is coincidental.

[ more like a prison indeed. ]

I'm of the impression that they care more about the whole than any individual.

[ If order is too perfect, then there must be a price. ]

If anything, I'll be within reach in case anything happens.

[ This is said calmly - it's a fact, and instead of becoming anxious he could instead start making preparations. ]

Did you bring any personal effects with you here?

[ in light of recent events, prioritizing the whole over the individual sounds like a dream. maybe a bit too extreme, though. it's certainly an interesting, different look at how society can be run. ]

Only what I had on me at the time. Qri didn't exactly give me time to pack. A sword used in court fencing, a handful of balms, and ... [ he already knows no one on this goddess-forsaken planet knows what an orbment is. a straightforward explanation is probably best. ] A device that would, in normal circumstances, allow me to cast magic and otherwise augment my abilities.

[ on the followup comment, his disdain couldn't be clearer. ]

As you might expect, it's nonfunctional at the moment.

[ it's also a phone, but he doesn't think shehui has access to the orbal network, so it's not even worth mentioning. ]

[ That's more items than Julius himself arrived with, but. ]

What sort of device? Perhaps we could fix it?

[ He's no technician, but it might be worth a try. ]

I am a swordsman of sorts as well, if you need to upkeep your training.

[ he frowns at the suggestion of fixing his orbment; he's relatively certain that's not an option, but it's a kind sentiment. ]

I wouldn't consider myself an expert on it, but it doesn't appear to be broken. If it truly is broken, I'd need to find someone extremely qualified with orbments to fix it, which would be difficult enough even if I weren't in Shehui. It was good of you to suggest, though. [ maybe if he namedrops 'orbment' it'll be clear it's not exactly standard tech. ]

As for your second offer, I could always use more practice. What style of swordsmanship do you train in?

[ he doesn't expect to hear arseid or vander or eight leaves one blade or anything, but there are less iconic schools ... ]

[ Perhaps it was something unique to his world, then. Regrettable, but understandable. ]

I used to serve in the military. My specialty was taking out targets larger than myself; I'm not quite sure if it ever had a name. [ A pause, before he figures he has to elaborate: ] Though considering what we face aren't necessarily oversized, I might need practice with fighting normal things.

[ military it is. not exactly surprising, but good to know for certain. ]

Likewise, I'm not unfamiliar with fighting large creatures. If you have any tips, I'd be interested in hearing them. I don't think I've ever met someone with such a specialty.

[ The military trains people to be realistic, amongst other things. ]

It's quite rare, and tailored to the circumstances back home. Compared to the others here, I might be at a disadvantage.

[ Or maybe he can just brute force through things, but that's never pleasant... ]

Did your people fight wars against other people?

[ he's not really sure what to make of that question. sure, there are monsters—and most of his experiences with fighting things larger than himself are with monsters—but that's not what he'd call a war. ]

I would consider the definition of a war to be between people. [ if he wants to be technical ... ] At the moment, 'my' people are engaged in war with 'my' people.

[ he belongs to both factions, and to neither. funny how that works out. ]

Edited (grammar is rough) 2018-01-21 05:31 (UTC)

[ Ah, a civil war. That... is something rare in his world, for the simple reason that there aren't enough people left to fight one. ]

I'm sorry. I hope it resolves soon.

[ - is what he says after a pause, eyes closing briefly. ]

[ he has no reason to expect time has halted for his classmates any more than it hasn't halted for him, so, with another carefully even tone: ]

Thank you. With any luck, it should be coming to a close soon.

[ no anxiety over that here. no, sir. instead, a deflection. ]

Why did you ask?

[ With luck, he says. Yet in his heart Julius feels that Jusis would never submit to wishful thinking; that it is only a painted facade.

Not that he can't say the him for himself, either. ]

I... was merely curious. [ Though it's said a little awkwardly, which he supposes he has to elaborate: ] In my world, we mostly fought beasts.

[ he needs all the luck in the world to think his classmates wouldn't lose their minds at his sudden disappearance and risk derailing their planning.

he folds his arms and scoffs—at his own situation more than anything else. he doesn't have the context to realize it's hard to war against people if there's only so many of them left. ]

I wish I could say the same. There's no shortage of people who will sacrifice others for their own gain in the Empire, and no shortage of enemies outside of it. [ it doesn't help at least two of those people stand at the top of the chain of command, though he's not quite aware how deep that goes. ]

The monsters are never-ending, but one expects a beast to prey upon humans. They can be identified at a glance and defended against. A man who does the same will hide his intentions until the damage has been done.

[ jusis does make some attempt to sound as impartial and above-it-all as he usually does, but it's impossible to mask all of the—condemnation? betrayal? just plain anger? in those words. he is kind of envious of a society where humans aren't trying to destroy each other, but he realizes for julius, even warring against beasts might be hard to deal with. ]

... Still, both are horrific. My condolences.

[ Jusis cites an Empire, the word's significance implying a world still with people. It's not something that can be afforded in his own world. ]

There are people with malicious intent in every world, I would think. What's more important is that there be people who will fight back against them. [ Even in a ruined world, there would be manipulators. He's living proof of this fact. ] They give us hope to last and correct the harm that was done.

[ His voice is quiet but firm in its belief. ]

[ is there anything julius isn't prepared to handle with ease and grace?

jusis is still disgruntled, but it's a nice sentiment—a true one, too, even if it sounds a couple of embellishments away from one of rean's motivational speeches. with similar resolve: ]

True enough. That so many of them happen to be in a position to cause needless bloodshed is all the more reason we must enact change. [ there's a saying about becoming the foundation of an era ... he's thinking specifically about the empire and its inhabitants, but it works just as well as a blanket statement. ]

Just what kind of world do you come from?

[ that ... is a blunt and unspecific question, but the environment that julius grew up in sounds kind of unreal. ]

[ There is something. There definitely is something, as they will find out later on in the month ]

Not a world I would wish upon any other soul.

[ The words slip out before he can stop them, resulting in a frown on his features once he realizes what exactly he has said. Now that he's already left something blatantly unsaid, he supposes that he should make up for it. Being around Okuni teaches you about the merits of being honest. ]

Decades ago, great beasts appeared and began rampaging through the land. We retreated to bases from which we could repel them and live without fear of being eaten. The military is focused on the defense of our homes, first and foremost.

[ This is a terribly watered down version but it'll do. It Will Do. ]

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i like how done he is in that icon

i feel like half of his expressions are just a sliding scale of done ... child

3done5life this man needs a break

i honestly can't tell if we're talking about julius or jusis anymore

both. how about both

It is both. someone teach them how to chill

they need intervention... from someone like okuni, maybe??!

as long as she takes it easy on jusis ... he's so easy to goad

UNFORTUNATELY SHE'S GOOD AT GOADING........

YEAH ..... maybe one day when she gets bored of griefing him ...

she got bored of griefing julius because he got too depressed FJDSLKJFLSDJFKLDJSLJ

oh my god POOR JULIUS ... LMAO

now she wants to protect him so she's not all that bad!! maybe!!!

put in a good word for her and jusis will consider it

SOON.... complain to julius about okuni maybe

if she really gets on his nerves julius will be the first person to know

i await :3c

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