Intro Log - March 2014

[rekindlemods]

Who: Everyone
Where: The Welcome Center
When: 18th March, 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 (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...

Close at hand there's a note that reads:

WELCOME CENTER
Newcomers: Please come downstairs 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 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 bright against a mostly blue sky:

WELCOME TO SAENG SEONG
(ENJOY YOUR STAY!)

Comments

[littlerat]

Who can be scared of fangs when they're attached to the most cutest face, anyway? Snorlax gives the boy a low but friendly growl, then falls back onto the ground with an impact that stirs the ground underneath them.

That trunk has junk in it.

"Not all of them," Red answers, watching the little scene. Blastoise comes out from the group and over to Snorlax, ready to pick up the boy for Snorlax rides! (she's a tall climb, he'll likely need it). There's some humour to his tone as he says, "Actually, I think Snorlax there's the one that really gave me a fight. But I deserved it."

[beforetights]

He first yelps in surprise as Snorlax shakes the ground, but squees in glee as Blastoise gives him a helping hand.

"Thank you, Sir Pokemon."

He continues trying to scale Snorlax. Though he's small, he's strong and he hangs on tight.

"Then you must be really lucky or really strong. Maybe they all followed you because they knew you were a big hero?"

[littlerat]

Snorlax is wide, but Blastoise helps to bring up the boy to her neck to steady himself. Just get a good grip there, and when everything is looking fine, the water pokémon will help Snorlax up from the ground. (Which always feel more like a tug of war to bring him down, but it's one he's used to.)

The boy's guess gets Red to laugh a little. "Lucky more like. Blastoise was caught being trouble when we met, and Lapras was given to me during some trouble."

He nods his head in direction the pokémon as they're mentioned, since the boy doesn't seem too familiar with them. With a pause, he decides to ask, "Do you know a lot about pokémon?"

[beforetights]

It takes him some work, but he slides onto snorlax's shoulder. Then it's a struggle for him to stay balanced and not slide off. When he's finally steady, he watches Blastoise trying to pull Snorlax up.

"Go, Sir Pokemon, go!"

He doesn't even turn to face Red, preferring to nod as he listens to Red's explanation. However, he shakes his head when he hears Red's question.

"Not yet. Sir Gold and Lady Crystal are teaching me about them, but I haven't learned very much yet."

[littlerat]

"Grab hold of her around her neck," he instructs, watching the boy try to keep a hold. "It's okay, you won't hurt her."

There's usually easier ways for Snorlax to get up with somebody (she should've just lifted him up in her arms, for one). Well, she did want to be a little more careful with a little boy stranger. Charizard, watching this from her spots, relents in just being a spectator and goes to give Snorlax a push from the back.

And rejoice! She stands! For that, have a joyful jumping on the spot! And just to help secure Cu, Snorlax holds the bottom of his legs carefully with her paws, mindful of her claws on him.

Discussion about other people will have to wait. For now- "Hold on! She can get you dizzy!"

[beforetights]

“Yay！ You guys did it!"

He would jump and cheer, but he's sitting on snorlax's shoulder right now. He carefully wraps his arms around snorlax's neck, like Red had instructed.

"I will!"

[littlerat]

Hopefully a ride still included one on the back of a snorlax. It wouldn't be running that'll be happening, but there were other ways to get one dizzy than on the back of a heavy, earth-shaking pokémon.

There was spinning.

From one large paw foot to the other, Snorlax twirled on the spot with her company on her. She spun, taking a large heavy hop onto a new spot and twirling once again.

She seemed to find it very fun, laughing (or what the deep noises she made could be taken for laughter) as she bounced about.

[beforetights]

He squees as Snorlax twirls around.

"Faster! Faster!"

Obviously, he's having as much fun as Snorlax is. However, after a few spins, everything seems to go woozy for him.

"Wow...so much spinning..."

[littlerat]

Snorlax might've heard that, or know there's been enough spinning to slow down to an end. She takes a few wobbly steps to get her footing again, and all through it she's laughing.

Red takes a step forward, hands on his waist. "Ready to come down?"

[beforetights]

Cu Chulainn groans from his position on Snorlax's shoulder. She might have stopped spinning, but he still feels like the world is spinning.

"Where's down?"

[littlerat]

Red chuckles and looks to Charizard. It's a look that's understood, and she goes to take hold of Cu Chulainn to help him find the ground safely, back underneath his feet.

[beforetights]

He groans and sits down once he's back on the ground. After giving his head a few shakes, he feels his dizziness start to go away. As soon as his head is clear, he hugs Snorlax's foot.

"Thank you very much for giving me a fun ride, snorlax!"

He then bows to Charizard.

"And thank you too. For helping me down.

[littlerat]

Charizard huffs, a sort of acknowledgement to the thanks. Snorlax on the other hand has no issues with being friendly, giving the young boy a pat on the head (maybe not as gentle as it could be right now, but nothing painful).

Red walks over to the boy, lowering down to a kneel. "How are you feeling?"

[beforetights]

He gives Red a big grin.

"I'm doing fine! It was a lot of fun! I hope we get to do it again!"

He stumbles toward Red and reaches out to give the other boy a hug.

"Thank you for letting me play with your pokemon."

[littlerat]

He wasn't expecting the hug, but he puts a hand onto the boy's back, patting it.

"No problem. Snorlax enjoyed herself too."

The pokémon makes a sound of agreement, then waves her paw to the boy. Going? Bye-bye!

[beforetights]

He waves back at Snorlax.

"Next time I'll bring my pony and my puppies. Then all of us can play together!"

[littlerat]

"Sure." Ponies and puppies. All fire-types, right?? But hey, before this kid might leave...

"Is this the best place to bring your pokémon?" He looks around at the open area, stray animals spotted around. "Space wise."

[beforetights]

"Hm..."

He looks around at the stray animals.

"I dunno. Maybe they'll get angry and try to bite the other animals."

He thumps his fist into the palm of his hand.

"Ooh! I have a good idea! You should come to the ranch! We can play there because my pony gets along with all the other animals!"

[littlerat]

The other animals were a thought, though they had seemed to be more wary about approaching them, Red had found. Probably due to the size of most of his pokémon. The ones that had been around didn't do much more than hiss or growl before finding somewhere else.

But hey, a ranch? Those got quite spacious. That had Red's interest.

"Where's the ranch?"

[beforetights]

"It's in the fourth district of the city. Sir Ramza built it for his big birds, and I put my pony there too."

[littlerat]

"Oh. Then it's nearby?" Since they're in the fourth district.

[beforetights]

"Yeah, I think it's right over there!"

He points toward where he thinks Hamza's ranch should be.

[littlerat]

He follows with his eyes the way that the boy points. He could head there himself to check it out. Or, since his company offered just a while for them to go there...

"Do you want to show me to it?" He pats Snorlax on the shoulder. "You can introduce me to your pony."

[beforetights]

He nods and grabs Red's hand.

"I can, but Sir Hamza might not be home. We could sneak in, though."

[littlerat]

He laughs, but he keeps himself where he is before Cu can begin pulling.

"Wait- let me get my pokémon first." It might be safe to keep them there, but he'd rather not. So with the other hand, he takes a pokéball off from his belt.

"We won't get in too much trouble with Mister Hamza if he catches us, right?"