[WORLD TWO | FEBRUARY INTRO LOG]

[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 226
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 ▢ One of the places you may arrive in Shehui is your apartment -- and if you're not a newbie, then that may be where you're hanging out anyway. There's likely going to be at least one other person in there with you. Are you going to say hello? Are you on good terms with your roommates? Do you even know who they are? Discuss. B ▢ If you want to go out and do something else, that's also acceptable. Because no access card is needed to enter the recreation floor, which contains the game room, garden and more, it's likely a lot of coven members are hanging out there instead of waiting around for roommates to let them into their rooms. If you want to blow off steam, the game room now also features a karaoke machine and photo booth. C ▢ Word of the recent jailbreak -- which you'll likely need to be caught up to speed on, if you're new -- has made it out into the greater part of Shehui. The job board in front of the apartment is somewhat depleted now that a number of coven members have been "black carded," and thus have no need for credits. This doesn't mean jobs aren't available, though! The newest jobs are going to be related to the upcoming festival, which includes card delivery, chocolate carriers and water holders. These will be explained in a bit -- but there are a lot of other jobs you can utilize to make money. What interesting position will you find on the job board to try out?

Those coming into Shehui today are in luck -- today is Neyi, which translates to "the day of darkness." Today you'll see a lot of old furniture on the sides of the road, people drinking depressedly in bars and a general melancholy aura in the air. The point of Neyi is to get rid of the pain, heartbreak and toxicity you've been carrying around in your relationships. D ▢ Chocolate carriers are walking around the busy streets of Shehui with boxes that are held with straps that go around their necks. Some of these boxes contain four pieces of chocolate, containing a very strong liquor. It doesn't take much for these to get you drunk. Other boxes circulate as the night goes on, other boxes circulate that are a lot more gentle and amorous. These chocolates contain a caramel that has a slight aphrodisiac -- not enough to turn someone into some raging horndog, but they are inclined to make someone a little more cuddly than usual...although, it's worth noting that the more you eat, the less true the previous statement becomes. E ▢ A lot of Shehui residents who aren't into the somber feeling of Neyi have begun to get their true Yuenai party on. One of the most traditional charms of Yuenai is giving out cards with well-wishes, romantic sentiments and other positive emotions. Those who want to send cards can choose from two options: personal, or competition. Personal cards are a lot bigger and more ornate depending on the credits used to purchase the card. Competition cards are part of a little game played on Yuenai that focuses on who can get the most well-wishes. These cards will contain one sentence and then the name of whoever sent the card, and are meant to be a small symbol of appreciation. These can be received all day on Neyi or Yuenai. F ▢ One of the biggest rituals of the day is the ceremonial bonfire that's held in the middle of Shehui. Participants are welcome to bring photos or mementoes of those they hate or ache for, then throw them into the fire. Usually, there's a special powder that's inserted into the fire in order for it to change colours once objects come into contact with it -- it helps with the symbolism, you know? Instead, because of a lot of confusion and ruckus within the contraband rooms, the powder has been mingled with something a little more magical. Now when these items ignite with the fire, a representation of that person springs to life within the flame. They aren't a true physical person, but instead an eerily accurate visage. While they can't possibly be that person, they do speak tormenting or heinous things to those who dare to throw in an object. Bear in mind, this can be performed with something even as simple as writing their name on a piece of paper. G ▢ If you want a less drama-filled evening, then you may want to skip out on the big bonfire and instead head out to one of the smaller parks. There are more personal canister fires scattered throughout each park, and water carriers are asked to patrol in case fires get out of hand. These smaller burns don't contain the same contaminated powder and instead will ignite into a fierce array of colours if anything is burned in them. Others who don't have the same relationship needs as the sad sacks on Neyi have actually begun to use these fires for marshmallow roasting, scary stories, or just outright warmth. It is a little chilly out. H ▢ The discovered magic has, of course, put the residents of Shehui in a tizzy, even if most of them think that this is just an amplified version of what happens on Neyi anyway. Despite this internal reassurance, that doesn't stop most Shehui residents from being very on edge. Fights are becoming commonplace in the street, and the added liquor candies and open bars aren't helping this out, either. What kind of person are you? The kind who has been devastated by Neyi yourself, or the kind to break up those who are causing a scene? There are also an assortment of sad drunks on the street who may need some cheering up. I ▢ Unlike the Valentine's Day that many worlds celebrate, Shehui's Yuenai is open to more than just romantic love. There are also tiny kiosks that are giving away personalized pins that state the holder's name. They can receive up to five of these for free and are asked to give them to those that they consider family. The pins are in the shape of a bouquet of lilies, with the ribbon connecting them the location of the engraved name. The person who requests these will have their name on the pin, and those who receive it are to wear it proudly, showcasing who cares for them. J ▢ Those who are completely new to Shehui may feel a little left out if they don't quite have any close relationships already present in this world. Citizens of Shehui will be given a gift basket by the monitors that contains the names of several already established members of the community -- this is an exercise in relationship building. They're to give the people on this list part of their gift basket, including a competition card and a box of chocolate -- you can pick which kind! Have fun hunting down the people on your own list. [OOC: You have the choice of either selecting your own names or picking people at random based on the taken list. You can also keep this open-ended -- hey, can I ask you to help me find this person? Oh that's you? What a coincidence! etc. Also, this is open to everyone -- not just newbies!] K ▢ Finally, the fact that the Shehui government has been put through the wringer lately is evident by the rain that begins to fall ahead of schedule, around 10 PM instead of at midnight. The major bonfire is a little too powerful to be taken out quickly, but the smaller park fires will be put out eventually. This rain is also a surprise to a lot of residents, and taking cover is a slow process with so many people out and about. L ▢ Wildcard! How will your character interact with this new and unusual world?

Comments

f for first impressions, clearly!

[drizzle]

[After hearing a voice asking her all sort of questions, Nike will stop doing whatever it is she is doing, giving the other girl a quick look before a small teasing smile will pop up after realizing just how cute the other was.]

That depends on your own response to a question of my own -- is this your subtle way in wanting to learn my name?

[Of course it was clear there was a purpose by the other girl's notebook, but she was curious to see what she was up to before doing anything else.]

[splendente]

Hm, it might be!

[ Mari taps her pen against her note book, offering her new companion a smile and a wink. ]

Buut, if I wanted a charming way to learn your name I probably wouldn't want to follow up by throwing it into a fire and summoning a mean specter of you! That would be a waste.

[ Mari scrawls something in her notebook and turns back to the girl. ]

A name for a name?

[ She holds up the book so that Nike can see what she wrote. ]

[drizzle]

[A light laugh.]

No, I don't think you'd want to. Wouldn't recommend it neither. Not after overhearing the original can be just as terrifying all on her own.

[With a small smile, a nod will be offered in agreement, she'll take a glance on her notebook, noticing.]

Wow! You have really cute handwriting! Your name is...

[Peering at notebook again.]

...Ohara Mari? Or is it Hearthara Mari? Hm, that second one has a nice ring to it too!

[splendente]

Ohara! But Hearthara would be a cute stage name dontcha' think?

[ She closes her book shut, leaving her own name intact and out of the fire. ]

Well, I can most certainly settle for the original! Assuming she'd be kind enough to give me her name with the promise that it absolutely won't end up in the fire.

[drizzle]

It does sound like a cute nickname! But, a stage name...? Somehow, I feel Kara-nee may actually know more about that.

[What are pop idols that aren't dudes or magical in nature? She has no clue.

But she does know about the fire though, and the current festival, and the jokes! So with an amused smile.]

As long as I keep away from the fire, it should be okay! My name is Nike Lemercier! It's nice to meet you, Hearthara-chan! [Guess who was now bestowed a new nickname? Mari is. She is getting a nickname off the bat without having to level up on the social link.]

[splendente]

[ Usually Mari is the one giving nicknames, not receiving. This is such a weird change of pace!! But she rolls with it. ]

Well, miss Nike!

[ Mari directs her gaze back towards the big bonfire and watches a rather weary looking man dutifully take the emotional lashings from a ghost of who she assumes was his ex-girlfriend. ]

What do you think about this holiday? It's really something isn't it.

[ Mari can't imagine why you'd want to air so much of your dirty laundry like this. ]

[drizzle]

Hmmm, good question.

[How do you even describe this particular holiday when someone else stole the very words out of her own mouth? She can't help ponder about it, trying to understand the gist of it all, in the eyes of the citizens and this particular world than her own upbringing.]

It's obvious the whole thing is connected to the spiritual. This holiday may be a way of the citizens to release all kinds of pent up feelings they're unable to express. Like guilt, anger, sadness, or whatever other burdens they may be carrying. [A slight pause.] It kinda reminds me of my duties as a rain summoner except we use water than fire to do this sort of thing. [And with another weak smile.] And it isn't as public as this is neither. I would say...it is the opposite of it. [Her ritual was private for those listening to her song; even though it is done in a public setting, like a party.]

[splendente]

[ It's not a comparison Mari can really understand, but she doesn't question it. If a denizen of another world can find something relatable in it, then perhaps these feelings were a bit more universal than she thought.

Perhaps she herself wasn't so weird for finding this otherworldly experience so poignant. ]

Well when you put it that way, I guuuess I get it!

[ More than she'd like to admit. ]

Moral of the story! If you have a nasty, awful breakup in this world don't let them keep any of your things!

[ Granted, a piece of paper also apparently did the trick. But using momentos definitely seemed more brutal. ]

[drizzle]

[There's going to be a light chuckle at the lesson learned about this ritual. Nike will nod her head in agreement.]

Try your best to not leave too many broken hearts behind. That may be the best thing you can do.

[And here comes one of those "in my day", a medieval version.]

It's unfortunate their relationships ended so terribly though. Where I'm from, giving someone a gift other than food or flowers is a sign of the relationship being very serious, to the point it is more a courtship for marriage. [After all, flowers, food, and letters are usually signs of interest in getting to know someone before making the decision to wed them. Friendship is the first step to love after all. Only in her conservative opinion.]

[splendente]

Oh! How..

[ Mari runs through a list of words in her mind? Primitive? No that would be rude. Historic? Hmm, not quite right. Medieval? Probably wouldn't make much sense to Nike. ]

--responsible!

[ Hmm.. good enough! ]

Things have never been very special to me.. and getting things isn't exactly something I would use to measure how close I am to someone.

[ Granted, Mari's view on material items was incredibly warped considering her family's wealth. ]

It would make things easier though.. to have such a clear way to tell how someone feels. Maybe your people have the right idea!

[drizzle]

[The word "responsible" would be a very good way to describe it. Too bad her family is so laid back that the word "responsible" wouldn't be on the list of ways to describe them. After all, she was only getting married after losing a game of rock-paper-scissor with her sisters.]

...I suppose it is, but I kinda wish....the getting to know part was longer than the courtship one...

[Speaking from experience since she became her fiance's bridal candidate only three days after officially meeting him, and although the wedding won't be possible until he was fifteen, but....she still wished, especially after being away from him and meeting so many other people, it wasn't...forced and one-sided.]

And as you said, gifts and other material objects shouldn't be the only ways to reach a person's heart. I much prefer having an emotional connection with someone before all else. Just having someone share their appreciate for the little things in life would be enough for me. [Again, speaking from experience, but...] What would you prefer for a boy to do to catch your attention?