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

1/3

[risingland]

Knowing Sora, Aqua and Terra would probably tell him if one of those from their worlds appeared, Riku had other plans then just spending all day lurking near the welcome center in hopes that he'll see someone (preferably yet not Kairi and Mickey). This time, it was simply fishing in the pond. There were plenty to catch, and he only really needed one for a meal he was planning. So why not?

What he expected was a lot of splashing on the other end of the line. What he didn't expect was the sound and the smell of a failed dark corridor from above and in front of him preceding it.

[risingland]

[risingland]

He spent a few seconds simply staring at the figure that wasn't too taller than him in the all too familiar black coat. To anyone who didn't know him, it would seem as though he were dumbfounded by the suddenness of the new arrival. Yet to him, it was a quiet and cold moment of wanting to possibly make their day a little worse.

That was when the frog did his job for him, and he couldn't help the chuckle at Xehanort's plight. Nor could he help the fish on the end of his line likely smacking him as well while he continued to attempt reeling it in.

"What's wrong, Xehanort? Did it kiss you?"

Proof #5894 that, deep down, he was still a brat and damn proud of it.

[fons_et_origo]

At the sound of a voice - that voice - he whirled around, spraying water everywhere and tripping on a fish.

No, he was going to keep his head in the water until he was ready to handle this. One gloved hand raised itself, a finger pointed out. Wait.

Finally, he needed to breathe so he jerked himself back to a sitting position so that he could glower at Riku. Or attempt to glower, that is. He had been supposed to meet him, after all... though this was hardly the avenue for it.

"I'm sure some day your prince will come, Riku..." he said, though the effect was lost with his hair stuck firmly against his forehead like that.

[risingland]

Riku simply shrugged and waited, patient enough to let him try to forget what the sensation of frog felt like for a few moments as he placed the fish in the bucket beside him. Not even the comment seemed to phase him, as he simply shrugged it off.

"I can go without," he retorted. "Besides..."

He paused, attempting not to laugh again as he grinned almost from ear to ear. "Looks like yours is in another castle."

[fons_et_origo]

Rather disgruntled, Xehanort swept his hand through the water in annoyance, splashing at Riku. The water didn't quite make it that far but effort was worth something at least.

"Of course, you always did better alone, didn't you?"

With a bit of a heave he managed to get himself upright. His coat was alarmingly heavy when wet and he hunched slightly under the weight.

"Better than being in the abyss of dreams, wouldn't you say?" He managed a cheeky grin before he shook his hair out a little.

[risingland]

A part of him wanted to say that yes, he was better alone... though not the way that Xehanort likely meant. He always had cherished his friendships, and when he lost sight of them... no, he never did better alone at all. He failed alone. Which is why he spent so long learning to succeed alone, but for those friends.

Not like he would admit it, especially to the other person in front of him.

"You could say that."

Though he could do without the...sparkles... every time one of the two older Keyblade wielders decided to give him a noogie, and at least here... he had a hope that Xehanort wouldn't be able to harm Sora. That hope was likely not going to last long with this turn of events.

"Though why don't you just cut the act and say what you really want?"

[fons_et_origo]

"What I really want?" Xehanort's arms spread outward, gesturing to the sides. "What do you think I want? I want to go back to where I was supposed to be. We all have our roles to fill back there. Instead, I have to be here... touching people to give other people power. I suppose that's right up your alley, though, isn't it?"

[risingland]

"Tough luck," Riku said with a glare, though that dissipated more into a smirk as the gesture made seemed rather hilarious more than menacing when the offender was soaked to the bone. Not to mention that 'power' they're giving is mutual, considering he did experiment with what happened when they didn't touch others for a couple weeks. "Guess you'll just have to deal with it."

[fons_et_origo]

"Oh, are you going to help me then?" And Xehanort held out his arms as though for a hug. "Somehow I find that unlikely. Indeed, I am going to have to 'deal with it,' since they so kindly saw fit to bring us both here. While the conventional method of travel failed, I am rather loathe to attempt the others."

[risingland]

"No." Flat, straight to the point, and not even budging aside from to cross his arms. No way is he going to "help" Xehanort in any way, not after what his future selves did to his friends, and apparently what he would do to Sora. "And somehow, I doubt those would work, either."

[fons_et_origo]

"Your lack of compassion is astounding." He shakes his head a little, arms gesturing to the sides. "Really, even I would lend an embrace if the situation called for it." Not that he expected anyone to take him up on it. Though, his attention shifts quickly to Riku's second statement. "Have you tried entering the Dream Realms from here?"

[risingland]

"You're standing up and not coughing up a lung; you're fine." Riku shrugs, not really wanting to think of a time when that would be necessary. Because it's a Xehanort. Not exactly the touchy feely type.

"Yeah, and only wound up back here." So don't. try it. He would so have gone back home that way to stop your older selves if it had.

[fons_et_origo]

"For the time being. Don't we require ample contact in order to survive? Perhaps it's best we get a head start." he took a step forward, mostly in a teasing fashion. It seemed to get the best reaction, after all.

"But was it the dream reflection or the reality?" That was the more important part, after all.