INTRO LOG - FEBRUARY 2014

[rekindlemods]

Who: Everyone
Where: The Welcome Center
When: 18th February, evening
Summary: The new arrivals, freshly pulled from their worlds or others, awaken in a strange place...
Warnings: Inbox death may occur. System overload at own risk. SOME NPC RESPONSES WILL BE SLOW UNTIL THE ONE WHO PLAYS THEM IS PRESENT.

It's a shuddering breath, a sensation of being pulled to elsewhere and finding oneself pressed against something on the soft and some place cozy. However, before one can fully stir, there is and odd, warm stirring sensation that lifts you up from wherever you've been dropped, when you begin to drift off once more.

Yet the feeling passes quickly, and when you awaken, you begin to realize your surroundings. It's a small room with what some might recognize as a Far Eastern theme when it comes to decor, from the walls to the sofa (or bed) you find yourself on. Illumination is provided by carefully crafted lamps, and even a candle flickering on a nearby desk. The doors are made from paper and wood, with a thin frame; through them it's easy to hear other people stirring, talking, or coming to.

You are not alone...

The people who arranged this room aren't stingy with treats, either. Close by is a plate full of mostly benign chocolates...Though there isn't any milk on hand to go with them. There's also the sound of more noise from further downstairs, and even the faint whiff of something warm and tasty. And to add to all of that, close at hand there's a note that reads:

WELCOME CENTER
Newcomers: Please come downstairs to the lobby for refreshments and your welcome packets!

(PS: This includes milk.)

Odd... This wasn't written in your own language, and yet you find it easily understandable. Soon enough, if you don't enter on your own, there's a gentle knocking on the door as someone comes from downstairs to usher you along.

"Welcome to Saeng Seong! I know you must be confused as to where you are and what's going on, but we promise to explain this to you once you've had a chance to stretch your legs!"

Whether you go downstairs immediately or linger a little longer, eventually you must come down and get out of the small space, and sooner rather than later would probably be better. You'll find yourself in a well-lit lobby, filled with comfortable-looking couches and chairs. Along one wall are refreshment tables, loaded with all sorts of warming, comforting food and drink, including some you probably aren't familiar with. On the wall opposite are a pair of desks, each with a sign and a person seated behind them -

Irene, General Assistance
Devin, Technological Assistance

Unlike a few waves before, the only people in charge seem to be the people behind the desks. They look a bit busy.

However, before you can go over and give them a piece of your mind and ask questions, the same person who ushered you downstairs hands you a manilla envelope that contains your welcome packet, urging you to read this before asking the two figures questions that the packet likely answers.

Inside it, you will find: a ring with a key and apartment number on it, some kind of cash card, a map and informational guide to the city, and a letter folded neatly on the top -

Welcome to Saeng Seong!

You are among a new group of arrivals to our city, from many far-apart worlds.
We have gathered you here because our city is in a crisis, and we are at our last resorts. The energy of the city is in a slow downward spiral, and is dangerously close to expiring altogether.

That's where you come in - you and everyone else we've brought to the city. Unlike those of us here, you have the potential to generate the energy the city needs, but you'll need to work together to do it.

Why? Because the energy can only be generated when two people touch each other. Any touch will do, but it must be between two of you who are new to the city. If you don't keep in contact with someone, eventually your energy will begin to drain as well, making you dangerously ill.

A few other things:

The closed-off sections of the city are closed off for a reason; approaching them will cause your energy to drain very rapidly. We're working to open the rest of the city to you as soon as we can, but for now, please remain within the first five districts of the city.

You have been given a key to a one-bedroom apartment in a complex set aside for you and the other new arrivals, near the riverside in the 1st district. You're free to change your living quarters whenever you like, and we encourage you to move in with someone in one of the larger apartments. When you want to change, just come back to this building to exchange your key.

We've also included a cash card with a living stipend; if you're unfamiliar with this system, or the network established for new arrivals, you can talk to Devin in the lobby for help. It's what he's here for. If you need medical assistance, contact Mai, one of our nurses.

Again, welcome, and thank you for all your help.

Irene
Arrival Liaison

Outside, and through the translucent glass you can see a banner hanging from the tiled roof of the building across the street. It's looking oddly bright and cheery against a darkening sky:

WELCOME TO SAENG SEONG
(ENJOY YOUR STAY!)

Comments

[lightstrike]

Though Light would give an arm and a leg to be back home-- or even a fal'Cie's since they tend to have more pairs than she cares to count-- but if people aren't going to let her get back home and there's no visible way back to do it herself, she might as well get acquainted with this Saeng Seong. Who knows, she might be able to find something that everyone else has missed.

So what does one do when in a new place they don't know? Explore. Explore Lightning does, walking purposefully along the streets, taking in her surroundings with a critical eye. If some people are staring at her-- or her hair, or her brisk gait that screams military, or even the large red holster at her back-- well, she doesn't really care.

Occasionally, she'll pause before shops to peer at their display windows, wondering at how different they are from the shops she knows-- because most of the shops in Cocoon are digital, really. Other times she just stops and looks up at the sky, as if getting her bearings. But really, she's just walking and looking around.

[shadowsgambit]

This woman - military from the way she walks - is certainly exploring. And she doesn't look like she's about to settle in anytime soon.

This is exactly the sort of person Fortuna wants to talk to.

"Hoi, there," she says in greeting as Lightning draws near. She may not have expected meeting an eight foot tall woman with tusks and at least two pairs of horns. "Just showed up?"

[lightstrike]

No, she's certainly not expecting to have met someone who stands out so much from the rest of the rabble-- literally. Lightning's not a short woman and she's used to craning her neck up to look at Snow who's considering ridiculously tall by Cocoon's standards... but clearly this woman is from completely different stock.

Lightning puts her hand on a hip when she's stopped, raising an eyebrow at this new person.

"What gave it away?" A kneejerk reaction, one Lightning has no qualms about stifling. She's not trying to be rude, but sometimes the sarcasm just flows, and she's okay with letting it out.

[shadowsgambit]

"The way you're exploring. You look like the kind of person who isn't willing to take all they say at face value and leave it at that."

The way the people who had been a while seemed complacent might have soothed someone else into complacency, themselves. Not Fortuna. Because this place still reeks of escapist fantasy - nothing like the world she knew and so unlike it as to be truly unbelievable.

[lightstrike]

Lightning lets out a 'hmph' or derision at that. "Of course not. They pull this on people and expect us to be fine with it? It smells of something else."

She has something more important to do back at home, more important than to help one city get its power problems under control. If it sounds all too easy or simple, it's probably not.

[shadowsgambit]

"Yeah. So far, looks like what they say is legit. Touching other people really does restore energy - theirs and ours. A new district opened up. I'd checked it myself, couldn't stay in there longer than a few seconds. Now it's just fine."

She folds her arms, looking in the direction of the city wall in the distance. "But even if everything they tell us is true, why is there so much they aren't telling us?"

[detective_shirogane]

Naoto was just finishing up some work at the precinct when she caught an interesting sight.

That gait was military like, surely, the girl's hair was a similar colour as Cupid's, but clearly she was closer to a human than spirit. And that holster... how interesting! But she definitely did not recognize the young woman at all, and she was not someone you'd easily dismiss or forget. Deciding to take a risk, Naoto cleared her throat, stepping into view, and tipping her hat slightly.

"Hello, may I be so bold as to inquire if you have newly arrived today?"

[lightstrike]

Lightning stops some feet away when her path is suddenly blocked by a young man-- more like a boy, really, but there's something about him...

She bites back the scathing "you've already asked me," because at least he's polite about it. The least she can do is return the civility. "Yeah, I have."

ahahah wow late.

[detective_shirogane]

"I thought so. I am a 'guest' as well here; I am Naoto Shirogane, and I work as a Detective."

Stoic. That's the impression Naoto got from Lightening; someone stoic and guarded. Fitting if she was indeed in the military. Yet she was allowed to keep her hair long and wild, so most likely not of her world.

"The transition to Saeng Seong can be rather difficult, especially for those with questions of our... 'hosts', and who are not comfortable with physical contact."

Reaching into her coat pocket, Naoto pulled out a business card, and held it out to the older woman-- careful to keep her fingers away so Lightening could take it without worry about contact. Forcing it on someone like her... would not be for the best.

"Mind, it appears that physical contact can also mean training hand to hand, which can be useful for those more inclined for that. If you have any question that you'd rather not ask the Welcome Center, I would be more than happy to assist."

[lightstrike]

For a moment, she just stared at the business card as she absorbed the boy's words, but plucked it out of his hands anyway, with the tips of her fingers. Detective, huh? She couldn't imagine there's much going on here for an investigator to thrive-- or even do anything. She'd been here only a few hours and she could already tell it was quiet here.

Too quiet, in fact.

Not literally-- there was a level of noise she associated with the usual sounds of a city, but it was too peaceful here.

"I think I've got all the answers I want for now."

[smallspot]

A pair of bright gold eyes watch Lightning for a long time before the boy they belong to finally decides to go over and say hi. She seems very focused on what she is doing, but he doesn't recognize her and so Diarmuid knows that she must be a new arrival. Since he has been here from the beginning, if there is anything she has questions on, he might be able to help.

Besides, it's the knightly thing to do!

"Hello, Lady! You're new, right? Is there something I can help you find? My butterfly is good at looking for things and I have been here a long time!" As he speaks, a small blue and green butterfly appears to flutter in the air near his head, "I don't mind. I like helping people!"

[lightstrike]

Oh for-- more children? That's just wrong, she feels, dragging in kids just because they're that desperate. Lightning almost scowls at that thought, but manages to school her face into something more calm-looking.

"A way back home would be great-- but they say they cant do that just yet." Yeah, that's pretty much all she wants.

[smallspot]

Diarmuid nods, expression solemn, "The only way I know for people to go home is if they get really sick first. Sometimes, people get sent home when they aren't sick, but they always get brought back. I got sent home for a whole year and then was brought back here and only three days had passed," he shrugs. "I don't know if I understand how it works, but that is what happened. If it helps any, no one at home will even know you are gone. Time stands stands still for them while you are away!"

[lightstrike]

"Sick how?" That's what she first asks after parsing the kid's rambling explanation. So far, it only brings up more questions.

Time standing still? Being sent home but getting dragged back? It all smells of contradictions.

[wontdoanyless]

Steve was just carrying a bag of groceries when he noticed Lightning exploring the city. Hard not to notice someone with that military outfit around here; the large holster really stood out too. Regardless, she looked like she was a new person here, so he started to walk up to her, hoping that his assumption was correct.

"Ma'am? Do you need any help?"

He definitely didn't look threatening at least, bundled up in winter clothes as he held onto his bag of food.

[lightstrike]

Help? She could probably do away with any help the locals would offer freely, considering their main priority was the restoration of their home. She didn't blame them-- after all, she used to be in the military and for years her first priority had been the safety and defense of the people.

Help from someone who's not from around here? ... She'll think on that. If this man was not a local, anyway.

"Depends. I'm fine with just directions, but I'll find my way around soon enough."

[wontdoanyless]

"Can help with that, been here for almost seven months now." It was a little strange being here for that long, away from his world and the war he was supposed to be in. He just really hoped time had stopped there as some people had said.

"Any place you're looking for in particular? If not, I can just give the rundown here."

[lightstrike]

"A way home is what I really want. But something tells me that's not really something you can just walk to."

Okay, that second line was just an extra comment-- she was just airing out her frustrations in a way that wouldn't show exactly how frustrated she was. Seven months. Seven. She doesn't even have the luxury of one month, not when time wasn't on her side. One day the brand on her chest would be completed and... well.

Nothing pretty, that was for sure.

"A run-down of the city is a good alternative."

[wurstisyettocome]

"Oi!" Prussia sees the woman, and well, if anyone could tell military when he sees it, it's Prussia who had been in the military for close to a thousand years in one form or another. So he wants to talk to a fellow soldier... and possibly see if she's any good with that sword. Never mind the fact that he's unarmed and hadn't had any sort of weapon since he got here

So Lightning you're approached by a guy with white hair and eyes that nearly match your hair. They're red fading to violet at the bottom.

[lightstrike]

"What."

It's not even a question. Someone called to her like that, she's going to answer in a similarly brusque manner. She'd learned long ago in the Corps. how to stand on her own and not give others an inch.

[wurstisyettocome]

"Kesesese~" Prussia isn't bothered by the brusqueness of the answer. He seems amused by it. "Where are you from? Are you military?" He only words it that way out of some small courtesy, not that he has much of that as a commodity.

[humility]

Window shopping is a bad habit at this point for Aqua. She's not really shopping for things for herself, so much as...making a daily routine of looking around the city at a variety of jobs, and fretting about whether or not to apply. It's not like her chosen career path is very flexible or compatible with many others.

Aqua smiles at the other woman, polite and reserved but still friendly, as ever.


"Hello. Do you need help finding something?"

[lightstrike]

Lightning manages not to sigh when she's stopped yet again, since people are just clearly trying to be helpful.

"Not something specific. I'm just getting my bearings," is her reply. Maybe this woman can give her more than what she's already heard.

[humility]

"It's a struggle at first, I admit. I'll try not to bore you with anything you've already heard."

Because everything about her screams that she's new, and most people usually dogpile on new people and bombard them with helpful information. ...Herself included.

So what would be of interest...

"...I could show you the park by the pond? It has lots of open space for sparring or solo practice, if you brought a weapon with you or will get one soon."

It's odd, how Aqua lowers her eyes in embarrassment for a moment. "...You seem like someone who's used to fighting, for one reason or another. If I'm wrong, forgive me."

[lightstrike]

People seem to be overly friendly around here, and while it does have its uses, Lightning isn't comfortable with it. To her, it's too nice and to someone like her, that tends to hide something darker underneath. But Lightning shrugs anyway, unconcerned about the woman's assumptions.

"It's fine. You're not assuming wrong." To give her a proper answer, she pulls her cape to the side, to show the grip of her gunblade peeking out of its holster.

"But some place to train really isn't what I'm interested in right now."