INTRO LOG - JANUARY 2014

[rekindlemods]

Who: Everyone
Where: The Welcome Center
When: 20th January, afternoon
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 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...

And perhaps even a small fuzzy cat just outside, making a persistent 'miiiiii' sound in order to get you up and about. 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 downsatirs to the lobby 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, 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 two central 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 darkened and chilly looking sky:

WELCOME TO SAENG SEONG
(ENJOY YOUR STAY!)

Comments

Irene - General Assistance

[rekindlenpcs]

The woman at the desk is currently engrossed in paperwork. But as you get closer, she glances up.

"Hi, my name is Irene. How can I help you?"

[erfingi]

Busy, though she was, Loki needed answers and general assistance seemed more likely to be able to answer many of his questions than Technical, though he was planning on speaking to Devin as well.

"Yes," he glanced at the sign one more time, "Irene. I had a few questions that maybe you could answer if it won't be too much of a bother."

Of course, he could play polite. So far they did not threaten. He could spare politeness.

Devin - Technical Assistance

[rekindlenpcs]

The young man behind the second desk sits up straight as you approach.

"Hey there, I'm Devin. What can I help you with?"

[drivenbatty]

An albino middle aged man comes up to the desk, still holding his information packet. He's wearing dark glasses despite being indoors. "Hi," he says, squinting nearsightedly at the sign. "I just had a quick question. I noticed some terminals around here, so it looks like you guys have some kind of internet? I was wondering if it would work on my laptop, by any chance? It's got a wireless card, but uh...I have no idea what kind it is, sorry." He gives Devin an embarrassed smile.

[erfingi]

After his talk with Irene, Loki will make his way over to the next desk. He wondered how much this man would know about the technological capabilities of this world.

"What are the forms of communication available?" Loki asked, starting right up.

September | Fringe | OTA

[someonetowatchoveryou]

Every month September comes here to watch the new arrivals. He doesn't interact unless spoken to, but when he is spoken to, he is courteous and even rather friendly, considering his expressionless face and too-serene voice.

Go on, say hi. He may be a completely bald man in a suit, but he's... he's wee and has a somewhat sad, questioning look in his eyes.

[birdened]

Considering that his survey of the room has revealed the people mentioned in the welcome packet -likely not trustworthy- and a lot of young people -nothing against teenagers, of course, but he's used to working with adults-, September is really the logical person for him to move towards to figure out what's going on here.

"Excuse me, I don't suppose you're from around here?" Of course, what Finch doesn't say is that he's hoping the answer to that is 'No'.

[erfingi]

Loki approaches the man. Considering the lack of name tag, Loki determines him to not be a local, but he is going to ask.

"Hello, I am Loki, of Asgard," he introduces himself.

Robin | open to all

[staystraught]

[Direct again your eyes to the holographic marquee above Robin's head. It's a circled R and a red X on either side of the words "FREE HUGS.]

Get your withdrawal deterrence right here.

[Below, in tiny, legal-type text: "ALL LOGOS © THE JUSTICE LEAGUE. AUTOGRAPHS NEGOTIABLE.]

[sweettalker]

That a newbie only offer, or can anyone take you up on it? Just for curiosity's sake. [Of course after what happened last time she wouldn't be surprised if he willingly offered for her anyway, just to avoid being talked off anymore ledges.

But don't worry, she didn't come JUST to tease. She's got hot chocolate!]

[robintakesflight]

No way! ...Nightwing?!

(No Dick, you're not seeing double. You are seeing another young man in a Robin costume, even if the colors are different than yours.)

Open!

[dadcepticon]

Clumsy for an ordinary person is one thing; clumsy for Krok is another matter, and he's already snagged on and torn a couple of these stupidly delicate paper door screens by the time he thumps his way downstairs, a slightly frantic air about him. His attempts to interrupt the strangely cheerful organic who hands him his packet are ultimately futile – though he really does try. With an exasperated noise that's more the rumbling of his power plant than anything vocal, he fumbles the packet open and squints at the printed information. It only takes a few seconds to scan it all. His unease returns tenfold as he looks up from the letter; he glosses right over the unfamiliar refreshments and ignores the people at the desks and looks past any of the residents milling about in welcome. He's searching for faces more like his.

…He doesn't see any. Krok leans unsteadily against the wall, his worry over the abrupt absence of his crew compounding the fuzzy-headedness he can't seem to shake. Slowly, he makes his way to one of those sofas and sinks onto it.

"This can't be right, can it?" he croaks at anyone who passes close enough, gesturing with the letter. Maybe if he asks often enough, someone will tell him he's hallucinating. It doesn't quite feel real yet.

[thenameofscreen]

Well she doesn't have a robotic face, but she's an alien to this world the same as him.

Starfire happens to be hovering nearby when his question reaches her ears and gives her pause. Even though she's hardly new she still comes by out of both curiosity and a hope to one day find her companions also looking for her. Raven had at least given her hope that somehow everything would go back to the way it should be when they returned, though if time travel was involved it might actually be far more complicated than that.

Sidetracking- in any event, she moves to hover at a conversational height in front of Krok and gives him a concerned look that seems to ask the question "How can I help?" before the words even leave her mouth.

"Perhaps I may be of some assistance...?"

[smallspot]

"Will it make you feel better if I tell you that anyone you left at home is safe and won't know you are gone?" The question comes from a small voice off to Krok's side. More specifically, it comes from the little dark haired boy who is crawling up onto the couch to sit next to him. Despite being from Ancient Ireland and long before anything that could be called 'technological' existed, Diarmuid doesn't seem bothered in the slightest by seeing a giant robot.

Of course, that would be because Krok isn't the first one he has seen during his time in the city. Diarmuid was friends with the two who were here before they were sent away. Maybe he can be friends with this one too? If nothing else, hopefully he can at least make him feel better about being brought to this strange place so suddenly.

[birdened]

On the subject of people who might very well be hallucinating, Finch feels that he is just based on... well, everything, to be honest. Waking up in an unfamiliar room, the welcome packet, the information in a language he knows he doesn't know but somehow understands as though it were plain English. It's disorienting enough without looking around at the other people in this lobby and finding a robot sitting on a sofa.

So, pardon him for offering a confused, owlish blink when Krok speaks. "I... no, I don't think it is. It can't possibly be right." He shifts the small pile of items under his arm to look at the welcome packet again.

[outplays]

In comparison, Akashi's taken this turn of events rather serenely, but even he has to show some surprise over what appears to be a giant robot. Even better, the giant robot is questioning the reality of the situation in some kind of absurdly cogito ergo sum moment.

"It might be easier to grasp the situation at hand if you calm down first," he says. Okay, yep -- it definitely feels weird to be giving advice to a giant robot.

[dontthesunlookgoodtoday]

Davesprite pauses on the way past, with a brief moment of staring. Seriously, the giant robot is asking that?

…the giant robot is probably normal for wherever he comes from.

"Longest and most vivid dream I've had to date," he says. Helpful.

[babysage]

Kotaro blinked at the big metal man as he spoke to him. There had been a metal man here before but Kotaro had never met them. He was bigger than even Grand Duke Bowwow (who was outside in the plaza, those running the welcome centre wouldn't let a bear in). He nodded at the letter. "It's all true, but this place isn't really bad and everyone's nice, we just can't go home yet because they need help. How can you talk? You're all made of metal!"

[erfingi]

It has been awhile since Loki has seen any being truly massive. It is also strange to see that the being is a sentient machine. He has not seen anything of the sort in the nine realms. The only beings that may be sentient machines are Stark's constructs and he is not sure if they are truly sentient.

"I fear that this is reality," Loki says slowly, not letting his surprise show, though there is some apprehension.

[drivenbatty]

"What can't be riiiiiooooh my God you're a giant robot."

...thank you Jeff. That's very tactful.

Fortunately he does seem to realize this rather quickly. "Shit. Sorry! Sorry. I just...you can probably tell I'm new, right? We don't really have uh...you know...guys...guys? People? Uh...sentient beings? Like...uh...like you where I'm from. I mean we have robots but they're not people, they're more like self-propelling machines and I am babbling. Jesus. Can I start over? I'm Jeff. Hi."

Lloyd Irving | Open | Outside in the plaza

[redcladidealist]

[Four days. He's been out here four days and starting into a fifth, waiting for newcomers to show up. He'd known he might have been a couple days early, but he hadn't wanted to risk missing their arrival. At least he'd had Yuan to take shifts with him.

But still. Four days. Lloyd's just about ready to drop his head in his hands, and he can't keep himself from groaning. Four days of watching a plaza he's painstakingly covered with a thin layer of sand and erasing tracks when people walk through it.]

Ugh, I'm so bored. When are they going to come?

[Nope, he has no idea that the newcomers are inside. Six months they'd show up in the same spot. Why would things change now?]

[outplays]

[ Akashi leaves relatively early, basically once he's gotten his mind wrapped around the situation and figured out where to go from their starting point. Still, there are some questions that he has that he'd like to ask from somebody who's been in the same position he's in now. And it's not really that difficult to figure out that Lloyd probably isn't a native -- he's waiting outside the welcome center but wasn't part of the official reception. ]

Excuse me... are you a local?

Tim Drake | Open | Near Apartments

[robintakesflight]

(As far as he can tell, Tim's been here nearly 24 hours. Batman might've gone looking for him after the first hour he didn't report in, if he were younger and still had the tracking device in his belt. He was currently near the apartments, doing his best to keep to the shadows while also getting used to the city in general.

If/When Batman showed up, he'd want a report of what went down since he arrived, how he handled things and...probably not show an ounce of approval when finding out.)

This probably never happened to Nightwing when he was Robin...!

[little_girl_lost]

Kara's sitting on the rooftop of a nearby apartment building when she overhears Tim's comment. Nominally, she's looking for crime, but mostly she's just out to enjoy some fresh air. The city tends to be either very quiet or very chaotic. Not much need for patrol.

Still, there's someone she might at least recognize. She floats down from the roof and gives Tim a broad grin.

"I'm pretty sure it did, actually."

[drivenbatty]

There's a few things you might notice as odd with the tall, middle-aged man finishing up a conversation with Devin. On the other hand, it's hard to tell what counts as "odd" in this place. The sunglasses, those certainly aren't typical when one is indoors, but while he's removed the winter coat and other warm accoutrements, the sunglasses are staying on. So that's one thing.

Then there's the color, or rather, lack thereof. He displays all the classic signs of albinism; there's the pale pink skin, the white hair...come to think of it, that would explain the sunglasses, wouldn't it? Unusually for a human albino, anyone who cares to look close enough can see his eyes are pink rather than the usual pale blue.

And finally, it looks like he's made a friend somewhere between waking up and making his way downstairs. A small black kitten is perched on his shoulder, surveying her domain with all the dignity her species can muster. Or at least she is when she's not chewing on his hair. Or his ear. Ow.

The welcome packet is shoved in his bag and forgotten as he helps himself to a generous serving of sashimi. He finds himself a comfortable seat with a good view and watches with interest as people file in and out.

"Hi!" he says to anyone who comes within earshot, smiling. "Are you new here too?"

[because_its_cool]

[This conversation started over here!]

"Oh, I have no glass cases. I don't even have a proper lab yet, or even a space! Just a small apartment." He glances over at the tall, pale, hairless gentleman in the suit and fedora, as if he's making sure the odd man hasn't gone out of sight. "I wouldn't dream of poking and prodding, anyway."

He pauses.

"Well, only if you asked."

Loki | OTA

[erfingi]

He felt as though he had been run over by a heard of rampaging bilgesnipe. It didn't take much effort for Loki to remember the last few hours and find a reason for his body to feel as badly as it had only one time previously. Ah yes, Kurse and Svartalfheim.

Well, he had no time to do more than make sure he really would not die, satisfied of his health, for the time, Loki decided to take a look around. This was definitely not Svartalfheim. Nor did it appear to be any location on Asgard. At first glance he likened it to some places on Midgard, but there were differences.

He would talk to the others that had been drawn here.

So, Loki may very well approach you here.