[WORLD TWO | SHIT MEETS FAN]

[spellbindmods]

Who: The Chosen 12, Shehui Monitors
Where: Around Shehui, The Underground Holding Areas
When:
Open/Closed: OTA, but especially the Chosen 12

[ Something seems different about today...you feel it when you wake up if you're of the sorts who happen to have a good gut instinct. You don't have to wait around long for the news of the day to confirm this anxiety in your chest. In fact, it may only intensify if you happen to be looking at your ID card when the announcement comes in.

On your ID's text scroller, a message comes through with a loud, blaring beeping:

The following Shehui residents have been requested for an audience with officials. If you know of their location, please tell them as such and maintain their location as much as possible. (The list, though, contains last names OR the name they offered at their Shehui introductory meeting.)

Ruby
Haru
Geir
Madoka
Jade
Julius
Jusis
Shirley
Orga
Noctis
Akechi
Riza

If you're in your apartment and happen to be on that list, you'll find that your door is locked from the inside suddenly. You and your buddies aren't going in there until a monitor comes by. For those out and about, you may be able to hide for a while if you're in a crowd of folks who don't know who you are. However, any and all news or screens will begin offering photos of those on the list as the day continues. That might get you some interesting looks.

That being said, you have options -- giving in and surrendering is only one of the choices you can make.

pre- or just after the announcement: Want to react to this sudden discovery that you're quite possibly a wanted criminal? Go right ahead! Maybe this is where you begin to plot your life on the lam. Maybe, maybe you have a mental break down. Maybe, maybe, maybe you just need some advice about what to do. Who knows!

running: Life on the lam is entirely possible, and even though it might not last, you can definitely make a break for it. If you have magic that can help you...why not use it? What do you have to lose? However, know that monitors will be looking for you far and wide. You thought there were a lot of monitors hanging around the city before? Think again, now. There are some pretty good places to hide, like in the woods of the more rural areas, but be warned -- that doesn't mean the monitors won't come for you there, either.

fighting: Maybe you're more proactive in your denial. You don't want to go anywhere with these monitors, and they're closing in...instead of surrendering, it's time to battle! Magic will do you well in this scenario, but monitors do have weapons and tools they can use to try and combat your fighting spirit. These include stun guns, energized-batons and a gun-like device that shoots out magnetized clamps designed to grab at arms, legs...even your neck. Trying to cut through these is also very hard, and once the gun is attached to you? It's also electrical in nature. You'll get a pretty good zap if you don't comply.

capture: So that's it. You've been caught. What does that mean for your future in Shehui? It's hard to say -- but it is for certain that you aren't simply being interrogated in your apartment this time. The monitors lead you to their underground doorway, opening it and bringing you inside. What you find is a totally different building that looks very ornate yet official -- this is the home of the Shehui government. The hallway you're led through is long, and your restraints tighten before your feet are clasped together with a device that's similar to the clamps the monitor's gun spat out. There are hundreds of monitors looking to stun or even shoot you now that you're away from the public. Escape is seemingly impossible...at least for now.

From there, monitors will take you to a holding room that lies at the furthest end of the last hallway you're taken to. It's not that bad for being what is essentially a jail cell -- there's an enclosed restroom, sizable bed and mini fridge. A table, a television built into the side of the wall...and a sign on the wall that lists up to three different names. Even though there's one bed, that doesn't mean you'll be utilizing it on your own:

-- Geir (his own, larger cell -- though it's outfitted with larger amenities)
-- Riza, Jade, Ruby
-- Jusis, Noctis, Julius
-- Madoka, Shirley, Haru
-- Orga, Akechi

The first day, everything is quite quiet. A monitor brings you food, carefully making sure that you can't escape through the door...since they're sliding it through a tiny slit, it might be very hard to squeeze through. That's where you're at right now...Today is day one, and who knows what the next day will bring.

[SPECIFIC NOTE: For large creatures, i.e. Geir's big dragon ass, the monitors are going to be using helicopters and larger versions of their regular weapons. They'll be very cautious in trying not to injure Geir -- more than they would be when it comes to the average coven member -- because potentially felling him from the sky can lead to casualties. If he is captured, the underground door will grow to accommodate him, and there is a larger holding area for bigger creatures. Hallways, however, will be a tight squeeze.]

telepathy: Telepathy can be utilized at any time during your long, hard day, but it may be beneficial to attempt to use it while you're locked up underground. Those who hear your mental feed will find that whatever signal you're trying to send is very faint -- for instance, sending text, the letters will be less than opaque. Voices will be softer and potentially static-y, as well as video transmissions.

In general, citizens of Shehui will take a pretty standard approach to coven members who are on the circulated list. They won't get directly involved with the chase; there won't be many citizens who will put a coven member in a headlock and directly involve themselves. However, they will shout, point at and follow coven members who they know are on the list in an attempt to help the monitors. However, you do have the freedom to create non-standard reactions from Shehui residents. You can say they feel some sympathy, or maybe they're even more violent than the average person!

Comments

directed mostly to the other prisoners!!!

[efface]

[ it's not going to take long before riza is going to try and reach out to any of the other captured who she hasn't spoken to. it's...pretty obvious her experience with these kinds of things is not shared, which means she is going to step in and help. ]

To anyone else being held-
My name is Riza Hawkeye.
I'm in one of the cells here.
If you have any contact with the monitors, or if they say anything to you at all, please let me know.
If you have any information as to why we're being held, or what they could want, that would also be helpful.
If you are harmed, or if they come in to harm you, also please let me know.
There isn't much we can do, but we need to look out for each other.

[rootandbranch]

We're probably being held because Vern and I blew those bones up. Sorry.

We were pretty sure they were getting close to this anyway, though, or we wouldn't have done it.

[efface]

Why do you think that's the reason? And why do you think they were getting close to this?
And are you alright?

[rootandbranch]

It wasn't so long ago that we did it. They got much more nervous about us after it went off. They're sure that both of those were magical -- they're so nervous of magic.

But they were already blaming the explosion that happened earlier on us, and encouraging the citizens to avoid us and see us as scapegoats. So this was probably a matter of time.

...I'm well. And you?

[efface]

Did you learn anything about the bones?

And if it was just you and Vern, why would they bring the rest of us in?

[rootandbranch]

We didn't have to learn more about them-- we were just trying to find out where they were taking magic things to hold them. It's the same place that we are now, so if we can get out or the other coven members could get in, I bet we could find a bunch of stuff. Maybe this is what Qri's been waiting for us to do.

They were already really suspicious, like I said. They don't like magic.

[he repeats his question:]

Are you all right?

[efface]

[ well that's interesting. ]

I'm alright.

[ because she realizes she kind of....forgot to specify that. before. ]

Unharmed, entirely. They haven't so much as spoken to me, or anyone else in my cell. Have they said much to you?

[ AND OKAY BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T TRY AND IGNORE THAT FIRST BIT EVEN IF SHE TRIED. ]

Can you tell me exactly what happened when you blew up the bones?

[rootandbranch]

Of course.

[they'd blown the bones up for community knowledge, after all.]

The monitors showed up pretty fast and looked at the fragments that had been left behind, along with the bone we left as bait. They blocked the area off, complained a lot among themselves about not knowing what to do. They didn't get paid enough for this.

[relatable, to be honest.]

Then they said they'd bring it to the place where the rest of the magic stuff was, and went to the building that we were brought to. So, we're probably more magic stuff to be kept-- at least right now.

[efface]

And did you blow them up just to draw them out?

[ because that's....smart. dangerous, but smart. ]

Did they see you? When you blew them up?

[allbroea]

[ convenient. ]

My name is Jusis Albarea. Brigadier General Mustang suggested I contact you, and I think I can understand why. [ he suspects she has a rank and title, too. ] I couldn't agree more on looking out for each other, and I would extend the same requests to you.

[ he probably isn't anywhere near as experienced in these situations, but he's not one to avoid trying. ]

[efface]

[ ah, there's another one. riza almost finds it amusing how many of roy's acquaintances she's meeting. still, he uses the title and it settles riza back into the role she knows the general is painting of her. ]

Colonel Riza Hawkeye. [ just in case he was curious. ] It's nice to meet you, Jusis. [ because she may or may not already 'know' of him because of roy. whoops? ]

Is everyone in your cell present? And unharmed?

[allbroea]

[ he's already committing colonel hawkeye to memory. ]

While I would prefer a meeting under better circumstances, likewise. All of us are present and technically unharmed, as far as I can tell. [ both of his cellmates look like they've had better days, but that's not necessarily because they're injured. ] I'm being held with Noctis and Julius Visconti, if you're familiar with either of them.

[efface]

Of course. [ she would have liked to meet anyone and everyone under different circumstances, because she wouldn't have wanted any of them in this situation in the first place. but as it stands, they're here, and riza would rather know who she needed to be looking out for by more than just name. ]

I've spoken to Julius, yes. I haven't talked to Noctis. Are they alright?

[allbroea]

[ he gives noctis a good glance on the bed before responding. ]

If you mean Noctis, he doesn't seem injured. [ not obviously, at least. ] I don't think he's taking the situation particularly well, but he's conscious and conversational.

[efface]

That's understandable. This isn't exactly a normal situation.

[ most of what riza has been doing has been trying to calm down ruby, so she understands. ]

And your cell? What does it look like?

[allbroea]

[ it hadn't even occurred to him to check for disparities between cells. ]

Shockingly accommodating. They afforded us a television and a fridge, but only a single bed. [ they don't even really have televisions yet where he comes from. the words are dryly sardonic. ]

We also have a table with no chairs and an attached restroom. I checked the walls for vulnerabilities, but that may be the only competent part of this cell's design.

[ Shame. ]

[efface]

That's the same for us as well.

[ it wasn't even so much a theory she needed to prove as she is trying to collect as much information as she can. ]

If we are truly underground as our capture suggested, there's a good chance everything through the walls is just stone. [ which...doesn't make it easy to escape. but that's not on her, currently. ]

I appreciate you checking in, by the way.

[hearsthesea]

My name is Shirley.

I can't confirm it, but they might have wanted me because during the lockdown I told the monitors the truth about having magic in my home world. I made it clear that the magic didn't work here and I never said a thing about the coven, but maybe they didn't believe me. Or maybe they didn't care. Either way, I'm different enough that they may consider me to be dangerous or suspicious...or, since I told the truth, easy to manipulate.

They might want to eliminate me, or they might want to use me. That may be true for everyone else here as well.

[Bitter, bitter.]

[efface]

[ oh goodness honey. ]

It's possible- they have proven to be very suspicious of magic and anyone related to it. But it's if they didn't have any evidence of you practicing magic, it shouldn't have been enough to act.

They're not going to eliminate you, Shirley. We'll get out of this safe and unharmed.

My name is Riza. I wish we could have met under different circumstances.

[hearsthesea]

Me too. I didn't mean to make you worry about me, but I knew people who did things like this back home. That's why I think their motives might be what I said, even if I don't know whether or not it's true.

[efface]

People who did things like this? You mean take people captive?

[hearsthesea]

Yes. At home the Ferines had power that the Orerines didn't, like the coven does now. Because of that people were killed in raids, or captured and experimented on. I've seen it all myself. Whoever is doing all of this, they might have the same intentions.

[It's a personal story, but Shirley means it as a warning rather than a woe right now. Without any indication otherwise, why should their current captors be any different?]

[efface]

[ well that sounds....vaguely familiar. and riza hates the implication that this could be where they're headed. ]

They're not going to hurt anyone here. No matter their intentions.

And I'm sorry, you don't have to answer if you don't want to- but did you have magic back home?

[hearsthesea]

It's fine. I already told the monitors the truth. Yes, all Ferines have powers given to us as blessings from the sea. We're different from most people here in that we're able to live in the water as well. I thought it would be all right if I told the monitors that because it wouldn't betray the coven, but I was probably wrong about that.

[efface]

[ RIZA!!! IS GOING TO REGRET SAYING THAT!!!!! SO MUCH!!!!! ]

It seems out of place for them to hold you accountable for something you had back home.

Can you use your Ferines powers here?