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

[darkhourdear]

Pharos complies, eyes widening in total fascination as he uses a hand to pet each of them. They're both very soft. Excuse him, Diarmuid, this is enough to occupy him for a little while.

[smallspot]

Diarmuid giggles, glad to see that the other boy is enjoying himself so much. He kneels down by them and pets Grey, "See? This is why every boy should have a puppy! They are fun and they are always there for you! They also teach you to be responsible because you have to take care of them."

[darkhourdear]

The puppies are both so full of energy that Pharos can't help but smile. If Diarmuid takes over petting of Grey, he'll focus on White, glancing over at the bother boy periodically and copying him. "How do you take care of them?"

[smallspot]

"We have to feed them and make sure they don't get sick, of course!" Grey doesn't seem to mind that Pharos is focusing on his sister puppy. He just crawls into Diarmuid's lap and settles there, "We take them out for walks and to play. We also have to train them so they are good. Like, we are trying to teach White not to jump so much because when she gets big, she might accidentally hurt someone."

[darkhourdear]

"What do they eat? How do you train them?" If you're going to be friends/family/in the general proximity of Pharos, Diarmuid, hopefully you're ok with a lot of questions. He has a lot to learn.

[smallspot]

Being curious and asking questions is the last thing Pharos has to worry about around Diarmuid. He is too curious for his own good most of the time, so he does his best to answer all questions that come his way because he knows the feeling of wanting to know.

"They have a special kind of food that we buy them at the store. They also have treats we give them when they are good or we are trying to teach them something. The food comes in really big bags! I can show you when we go inside if you want to see," Diarmuid motions into the apartment. "When we train them we gently show them what we want them to do and then give them treats when they do it on their own. It takes a lot of patience and time. The puppies tend to listen to me better than my brother for some reason..."

[darkhourdear]

They are going to make great friends.

Pharos continues petting White, looking up at the other boy he talks. "Well, I guess if they only eat a special kind of food they're need a lot of it." Humans tend to eat a lot of different things, after all. If there was just one thing, would they need to eat more? "What kind of things do you train them to do?"

[smallspot]

"And they are growing too. The lady at the store where we got them says puppies eat more because they need the energy," Diarmuid pushes Grey off his lap and then pulls a small bag of dog treats out of his coat pocket. "One thing we have taught them is how to sit. Grey, sit!" The boy holds out a treat to Grey and the puppy sits down, watching the treat hopefully. After a moment, Diarmuid gives it to him, "See! When they are jumping, we can tell them to sit and they will stop!"

[darkhourdear]

Pharos is clearly impressed. "Do you have to do that a lot to make them listen?" He's pretty sure dogs don't know what words actually mean, after all.

[smallspot]

"Yes," Diarmuid puts the treats back into his pocket and then pets Grey on the head. "Grey just got it learned not long ago and White is still learning. That is why I didn't tell her to 'sit' when she was jumping at you. I didn't think she would listen."

[darkhourdear]

"I see." He'll go back to just petting White now, looking between the two dogs. They do seem like they would be nice things to have, but he's torn. His purpose is nearly the exact opposite of caring for something like this. Even with Dairmuid's direction, he's not sure he'd know how.

[smallspot]

If Pharos isn't sure he can handle a pet of his own, he is always welcome to come and visit Diarmuid and his brother's puppies. They certainly won't say no and the puppies love the attention.

After taking a few more moments to pet the puppies, Diarmuid stands up and motions toward the doorway, "Shall we go in? My friend--the one who had the bear and was sent home--he bought several pairs of winter clothing for me and my brother. We also got some stuff from other people. That is why we have extras!"

[darkhourdear]

"Oh. Ok." Pharos pets the dog a moment more before standing and following the other boy in. This, at least, is something he's more familiar with, though it still looks drastically different from Minako's dorm and room. "Are you sure you don't need them?" He's not sure he does.

[smallspot]

"Positive!" Diarmuid nods and then closes the door behind them once the other boy and the puppies come in. He then makes his way into one of the bedrooms, motioning for Pharos to follow, "These extra ones haven't even been used. Look!"

He runs over to the closet and then pulls out a dark blue pair of gloves, a black scarf, and a blue hat, "Here! Try them on!"

[darkhourdear]

Pharos takes them, carefully pulling them on. The hat is easy enough, but he gets one of the gloves on the wrong hand at first at has to change it. He likes the scarf, even if it is a little weird to have something around his neck like that. "Is this good?" he asks.

[smallspot]

Diarmuid reaches out to help adjust those gloves slightly and then claps his hands, "Good job! The scarf looks nice on you!" Actually, the colors really match Pharos well. It's a good thing his brother likes blue so much!

"Now a coat!" Diarmuid motions for Pharos to follow him and then go into the other bedroom. He walks over to the closet and digs around for a moment before pulling out a black and green coat, "It doesn't quite match your gloves and hat, but it is warm. I promise!"

[darkhourdear]

Though he still doesn't quite understand the need for all this, Pharos will comply and try on the coat. It fits fine, even if the green is a little off with the rest of it. Not that Pharos has any idea of how color matching works or anything. "I need to wear these because it's cold outside, right?" He hadn't really noticed yet, but he's not sure how that works for Shadows anyway.

[smallspot]

"Yes! It's cold outside and people get sick when they are cold and wet. Better not to take chances even if you are used to the cold," he smiles warmly at Pharos. He doesn't see a Shadow, but another boy just like he is, and he doesn't want that boy to get sick. "People get sick too if they don't touch others, so make sure you hug or touch someone everyday. I don't know if you have any special powers, but they can go out of control if you get to sick from not being touched!"

[darkhourdear]

That was not a topic Pharos remembers reading about. "Does that happen a lot?" He doesn't think he'll have much of a problem with it... hugs seem very pleasant, after all. It would help is everyone is as nice as Diarmuid, but he highly doubts that.

[smallspot]

"Not as much as it used to. When we first arrived, lots of people didn't believe the letters or Lady Irene, so they would test if it was true by not touching people for a long time. I remember seeing posts in the Network and meeting people who were sick for that reason," he frowns. He never liked it when people did that. What is the point of making themselves so sick when touching is such an easy thing to do?

"It doesn't happen as much now. I'm glad. Since everything stops at home while we are away, why shouldn't we help these people fix their problem? Aside from bringing us here without asking, they take really good care of us!"

[darkhourdear]

There is a very important part in there that Pharos was not aware of. "Everything stops at home while we're here?" That makes much more sense to him, actually. Coming here is not what was supposed to happen, after all. So when he goes back, whenever that is, he'll fulfill his role like normal. "I wonder how that works."

[smallspot]

Diarmuid nods, "That is what Lady Irene told me when I first came here. I wasn't sure how that could be either, but when I was sent home, it was true. No one knew I was gone. It was just like waking up from a nap!"

Actually, that part is pretty literal. Diarmuid was napping when he was brought to the city, so the next thing he did upon getting home was wake up.

"I was home for a year and it was just like I hadn't left. Then I came back here and found out only three days had passed! All I can guess is that very powerful magic is at work. Kind of like with fairy realms!" He gives Pharos a curious look, "Do you have fairy realms on your world?"

[darkhourdear]

It sounds a little bit like the dark hour, except much longer and the people who don't notice time passing probably aren't hidden away in coffins. And apparently it sort of works in reverse too? How weird. "Not that I know of, no," he says, "but I guess there could be... What are they?"

[smallspot]

"They are magical realms outside of the normal one where most mortals live. The Fae and the gods live in them. That is where Father's home is so I got to be in one for a while too! Time usually moves differently in those realms. That is why I wonder if this is some kind of fairy realm," he pauses and frowns. "But everyone says there are no fairies here. No magic either. I don't like that. How can there not be any magic?"

[darkhourdear]

"I guess Tartarus is kind of like..." Pharos muses, "But it's with Shadows, not fairies. I'm not sure we have any of those in my world, either." Magic they have, though. "What's your world like?"