INTRO LOG - OCTOBER 2013

[rekindlemods]

Who: Everyone Where: The Welcome Plaza When: 18th October, afternoon Summary: The new arrivals, freshly pulled from their worlds or others, awaken in a strange plaza... Warnings: Inbox death may occur. System overload at own risk. SOME NPC RESPONSES WILL BE SLOW. The lanterns flicker and the shadows rise... Perhaps you felt a rumble beneath your feet, a sensation of what you were standing upon giving way underneath you as something pulled you in and away from what it was you were doing. Or, perhaps it was simply a gentle tap on your shoulder before you had the same tugging sensation from behind your navel. No matter which it was; there is one other constant: lp... A quiet rustle of the wind, wherever it is coming from as it hits your face. help... u... The earth grumbling beneath you resounds with something unintelligible. Of course; it's the earth. Dirt can't speak, after all. Yet it won't stop, nor does the wind. All you wanted to do was sleep... Yet suddenly it stops, and as you begin to stir, you begin to feel the crisp wind still seems to be picking up, yet as it settles, it's almost as if it whispers something to your ear. 'elp... u... sh.... Before you can make sense of it, it is gone; and when you awaken, you begin to realize your surroundings. It looks like...a plaza of some sort? As they look around them, the ground beneath them is an intricate mosaic - a water fountain at the center of the plaza in this foreign world. There are many buildings around its perimeter, making this location seem like a central hub of whatever town this was. Some may even recognize the peculiar design of the buildings and sloped tiled rooftops as a Far Eastern theme. Were they somewhere along the Pacific? Who knows! But what is quite apparent is this: Along with the many buildings surrounding the plaza, the first thing that is noticeable is the amount of people sitting or standing around you in a similar daze. You are not alone... One building seems to stand out among all the others; one that seems large enough to house all of the completely lost and confused masses gathered here to the welcome plaza. A sign outside the door reads: WELCOME CENTER Newcomers: Please come inside for refreshments and your welcome packets! 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, someone comes from inside the double doors to usher you and everyone else inside. "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 we're inside and away from this windstorm!" Whether you go inside immediately or linger outside a little longer, eventually you must come in from the slight autumn chill, and sooner rather than later would probably be better. ...What was that shadow from the corner of your vision? 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 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 Mai, Medical 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 inside 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 four districts in the south and west parts 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 newest and brightest doctors. Again, welcome, and thank you for all your help. Irene Arrival Liaison Back behind you, others still linger, and through the translucent glass you can see a banner hanging from the tiled roof of the building across the street in the blistering summer day: WELCOME TO SAENG SEONG (ENJOY YOUR STAY!)

Comments

[screwmeister]

After patting himself down and being thoroughly discomforted by his manner of arrival, the logic-defying banner and the shadows flitting just outside his range of vision, Stein decides the better part of valor is to head inside and gather information. He takes an information packet, immediately rejects the idea of sitting in the middle of the room (no matter how comfortable the furniture looks), and after a short inner debate finds a bit of open wall space to lean against.

He digs a cigarette out of his lab coat and puts it in his mouth right away, but doesn't bother to light it until he's read the welcome letter. Smoke trails from the end of his cigarette as he carefully examines the information provided in the packet, occasionally raising his free hand to give the screw embedded in his skull a turn or two. It creaks ominously when he does so.

Caught up in trying to determine if he's experiencing a particularly vivid hallucination (the shadows flitting around in his peripheral vision and the surreal atmosphere aren't exactly helping him discount that theory) or if he's really been transported to some far away world, the thought that his smoking, or the strange noises he's making with his screw, could be bothering someone doesn't even cross his mind. After all, he doesn't look that strange, right?

[someonetowatchoveryou]

Here's a thing for your peripheral vision. Does one of the shadows look like a pale, hairless man in a suit, or is he really there, just at the edge of your view, watching you?

[screwmeister]

Stein is aware, of course, that the room is essentially full of people. That doesn't stop him from throwing a second glance at the person (or supposed person? the jury's still out on that one) who appears right at the edge of his vision, barely turning his head in the process. He's never hallucinated a guy in a suit before, but then again his day so far has been full of new experiences.

When the second glance doesn't make the mysterious suited man vanish, Stein blows out a stream of smoke, contemplative, and decides that the best course of action is to actually turn his head and stare back.

[someonetowatchoveryou]

Yup. He's still there. Staring expressionlessly but not vacantly. Oh, no, his gaze is far too keen for that. His head tilts to one side. There's a telepathic ping, if Stein can sense it. If not, well, it's a man with his head tilted curiously to the side.

Then, suddenly, the man vanishes. And reappears on Stein's other side, just as expressionless, his gaze just as keen.

It appears as though he wanted to see if that screw went all the way through Stein's head or if it was just embedded.

[screwmeister]

Stein doesn't jump, exactly, but he does tense up as he quickly turns to the man's new location, frowning around his cigarette.

"That's not very polite," he says slowly, but despite his posture and expression there's hardly any inflection in his voice.

And, for the record, that screw does indeed go all the way. So to speak.

[someonetowatchoveryou]

Their voices sound very similar, at least in their inflectionlessness. As though to go with his lack of expression, the man's voice also gives no clue as to any kind of emotional state. It's altogether possible that he hasn't got one at all. An emotional state, that is. His only reaction is another headtilt, before he speaks.

"Apologies. Rudeness was not my intention. Traversing small distances in this manner is preferable for avoiding the paths of others."

In other words, he teleports so he won't end up walking in front of people? Ohhhh...kay.....

[ichoosefight]

After spending all that time scoping the outside of the place, Steph suddenly realizes that there could just as easily be trouble inside the Welcome Center. That's where the newcomers go, after all, and if her baseless suspicions are right one of them is here to cause trouble. She slips in the back door, trying her best to make her way through the building quietly. It's not as hard to do in the Batgirl uniform as one might think, considering the types of people who normally walk through this place.

She didn't mean to stare at him from the quiet hallway towards the back of the building. It was just that she had thought that screw was some sort of costume piece, and then he went and tightened it. She could see it moving through his skull. How was that possible? Was that possible? Was he a zombie?

[screwmeister]

Stein finished digging through the welcome packet and decided that he should scope the area and try to make some observations. Naturally, he glanced around himself one last time...and proceeded to fully turn toward the hallway as he realized there was actually someone there.

He stared blankly for a moment as he reached up and turned the screw again. Once, twice, three times, and the third turn ended with a definitive click. That done, he started walking toward Steph. He had decided it was time to stop pondering and start investigating his surroundings, starting with the mystery person in the hall.

[ichoosefight]

When she realized he had spotted her she retreated back into the empty hallway, searching for a corner to hide behind. There wasn't one. There was, however, a corner next to the back door that she could stand in and look at least vaguely menacing. That was almost as good, right? If only she were taller.

[screwmeister]

Unfortunately for her plan, Stein was both tall and, let's be honest, kind of creepy looking himself. On the bright side, he wasn't actually trying to be menacing.

Having come within speaking distance of Steph's corner, Stein stopped and considered her. His lit cigarette cast a little spot of light, not that it was terribly useful, but that didn't stop Stein from staring. You'd think he would say something, but...nope. Since Steph retreated when he approached, he felt that it was safe to wait her out.

[ichoosefight]

He wasn't any taller than Scarecrow, and despite the fear toxin he managed to get into her bloodstream he didn't scare her. She stood her ground, watching him warily.

"Did you need something?" The question was accusatory, at least somewhat in rebuke of him shameless staring.

[redcladidealist]

The moment when Stein adjusts the screw in his head, someone off to the side makes a strangled noise. Lloyd hadn't really been looking at the man. He'd just caught the movement in a passing glance. But one glance at the wrong moment had been more than enough.

"Holy cow, what happened?! Mister, are you alright?!"

[screwmeister]

Stein glances over at Lloyd, grateful for a solid, bright distraction from the eerie shadows. Not that anything but blank confusion shows on his face, because:

"What happened, I don't get it. What do you mean?"

He doesn't think he looks that upset with the situation. Naturally the thought of the screw looking out of place doesn't occur to him at all.

[redcladidealist]

Alkajsdfal how can he not know what Lloyd's talking about? Oh man, maybe his brain got damaged by that screw! The teen reaches out, intent on steadying Stein in case the injury is bad enough to make him collapse.

"Just- just keep calm! I'm sure there's a doctor here!" He doesn't wait for a response before raising his voice. "Can anybody in here heal?!"

[screwmeister]

Stein watches Lloyd reach for him with the same blank expression but doesn't move. What an energetic kid he's found, eh?

"Actually..." he raises up one hand in a small wave, "I'm a doctor. Are you injured or in pain?" He doesn't seem to be very concerned over the whole situation. He's more bemused than anything.

[redcladidealist]

"You are?" Surprise stops Lloyd in his tracks for a moment, derailing his train of thought. Then the question and the situation catch back up. "What? No, I'm fine! You're the one who got stabbed in the head! Can you even treat something like that yourself?" How is he not dead?

[wontdoanyless]

Steve normally isn't the type of person to stare, but when he sees a guy standing around with a screw going through his noggin, well he cannot help himself. Doesn't help that the guy is turning it too every now and then. However, despite all that, he eventually walks up to Stein with a somewhat concerned expression.

"Sir? ...Are you alright?" Oh gosh, cigarette smoke. Smoking is popular back in his time but he never could handle it too well. "There's a uh, giant screw in your head." Obviously. But he's not bleeding out, so that's good? Maybe he's a robot then. A very human looking robot. Steve isn't sure which one is more plausible at this point.

[screwmeister]

Stein turns his attention to Steve, bemused by the observation. No one ever mentions the screw...or the stitch mark scars...or anything else about his appearance back home.

"Yes I'm fine," he says mildly after a beat of staring blankly at Steve. He wonders what prompted the question, but since he can't think of why anyone would be concerned about the presence or placement of his screw, he decides to take it as a compliment and move on.

He gives the screw a single quick turn before continuing, "It's one of my best works. Cool, right?"

He uses the word 'cool' like an awkward dad trying to be hip with the young people.

[wontdoanyless]

Steve was glad that Stein seemed okay- wait what, one of his best works? And "cool?" He didn't really understand that. The slang sounded a little strange to him and his confusion was evident in his expression. But more importantly...

"You did that to yourself?" There were a lot of stitch marks on him too. Was he one of those mad scientist types? Dr. Erskine wasn't like this guy at all, well at least in Steve's opinion.

[screwmeister]

"Yeah. Like I just said it's one of my best works."

For all of Stein's quirks, his body language and expression are really quite benign. It's obvious he doesn't mind repeating himself, goodness knows he does it enough in the classroom over what he thinks are the simplest things. Steve certainly doesn't look young enough to be one of his students, but he does look confused so Stein expects that more questions will follow.

[wontdoanyless]

A dozen questions were going through his head as he took in Stein's nonchalant response about the whole thing. "But- wait. Huh?" Give him a moment, he was normally more articulate than this. Although, he never really had a brain to mouth filter, that won't come until later.

"How did you survive something like that? Isn't that screw going straight through your brain?" Good job Steve, instead of helping the guy by giving out information or something, he was asking all these questions. But he hadn't met someone like this before.

[deadbeatspirit]

Spirit could hear that awful creaking if he was standing in front of a jet engine. No. No, no, no. Surely not him. Surely Spirit isn't stuck here with... Franken Stein.

It is with sheer horror that he ever... so... slowly. Turns his head.

[screwmeister]

Stein is just minding his own business, pondering the whole situation, when he feels a sudden urge to turn his head. Why, he does not know, but he trusts his instincts (mostly...the shadowy movements are starting to make him wonder) so he does so. And about two seconds later he determines his instincts are still as sharp as ever because what do you know, there's Spirit.

Stein...stares at him, expressionless. Spirit will probably come this way any minute anyway.

[deadbeatspirit]

Shit.

Spirit stays completely still, just staring back dumbly. Maybe Stein's vision is based on movement. Like a T-Rex.

[screwmeister]

Stein, patient as ever, continues with his thousand yard stare. He is quite confident that Spirit will be the one to break.