Intro Log: October 2020

[faileas]

Intro Log: October

I. ARRIVAL Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. A moment later, you feel a tug, and you find yourself stumbling into a dark, musty room. Behind you, a mirror stands ornately decorated with reminders of home wrought in brass and wood: the faces of people you know, and symbols important to you; all things that send a pang through your chest with the desire to return to them. Touching the mirror's surface does nothing but leave the stain of your fingerprints. When you turn to survey the room, you find there are hundreds of other mirrors. None of them are as decorated as yours - they're plain and dusty, speckled with age. Then you realize a second thing: You're not alone. Distantly, the ringing bell of a clocktower can be heard. But no matter its distance, the time is clear to make out: it chimes three times, stark, resonating like a pulse of something in this mirrored hall that you and many others have found yourselves in. For those familiar with magic, they might feel the power of the witching hour upon them, though it will feel different from what they're used to - in fact, everything does. You're certainly not the only ones here, however. On the first floor, with the doors wide open behind them in the foyer, is a small group headed by two individuals. As people begin to arrive, to come from the higher floor, they're waiting - and they're waiting for you, and your questions. Explore the rest of the mirrored halls you've now found yourselves in, or proceed to the foyer? Leaving the Looking-Glass House makes it obvious that the clock striking three was for 3 AM - the night sky is faintly cloudy, but the stars are dim in the face of two moons, even so close to the new moon as it is. The Looking-Glass House is rather nondescript two-story cottage made of grey brick, sitting at the edge of The Coven's courtyard; stones which glow as you step on them mark the path to and from the two buildings. While fairly small and plain on the outside, the inside has been enchanted to be the size of a large library, with hundreds upon hundreds of mirrors hanging, standing, and resting inside its walls. Some are broken, some are cracked, and some seem completely uninjured - but all of them are just as plain as the cottage itself, showing age in the silver beneath their glass and in the greening of their metals... Well, all except a character's personal mirror; to characters, one mirror - the one they came through - will be decorated lavishly with metal-and-wood-wrought reminders of home, and the surface will be as clear as a brand-new mirror.

II. THE WELCOME PARTY Whether you've decided to find a way out of the building you've arrived in, or decided to explore the rest of the Looking-Glass House - and perhaps finding a few familiar faces among the crowd - you feel a pull towards the foyer of the first floor. It's like a firm suggestion, as if to take you by the hand and draw you to where it begins, and the source of it becomes quite apparent upon finding one's way to the front room: a tall, comfortably-dressed older woman and her even taller wolfish companion, along with those which feel to resemble yourselves in a world-traversing sense: Mirrorbound, they're called. "My goodness. In the middle of the month! We weren't expecting you, we weren't!" The woman smiles broadly, with her Bonded glancing over the newly arrived and those who may have followed them in to volunteer explanations and assistance to the newest addition of their Mirrorbound bunch. "Let's get through the introductions, shall we? This here's Mhairi Ainsley, ambassador to the Parliament, and of course, my Bonded. And I'm Nerissa Bell, Head Witch of the Coven -- but you can just call me Miss Nessie, you can," she adds with a wink. "I know you must all be tired and confused after all that. We're here to help get you settled, dearest. Let me just..." With nothing more than a wave of her hand, rows of seats are summoned; despite their wooden nature, they're all sturdy and comfortable, filling the foyer and spreading out a ways into the lawn behind them, making room for all of the new arrivals as well as the previous batch. After all, they'll find this just as interesting. The Witches and Monsters that accompanied Nessie and Mhairi move to make room, and some disperse into the building itself to see if there's anyone who needs tending to. Mhairi steps forward as the chairs materialize. "Please, those who are able, join us for a moment. There are many questions that I'm sure you have. We will do our utmost best to answer them, and you may take any that we can't as a promise to find some sort of solution or answer." NOTE: If you wish to handwave interaction with Nessie and Mhairi, please comment here. All responses will be summarized answers rather than an IC thread. For those that'd like a more player-based interaction, Aefenglom has its own Welcome Wagon! These are players who've volunteered for the role, and those that didn't sign up may assist as well if they'd feel their character would -- have fun, and make friends. Additionally, those with notable injuries or sickness will be attended to ASAP by Coven-based witches, and should anyone be curious about what they are -- namely, if they have magic potential or not -- then this can be done during this and the general hour or so the new arrivals are within the Coven's grounds. There are ongoing classes on magic, monsters, and Bonding as well, though they take place more during the day than at night. Feel free to have your characters attend them at any time!

III. THE HAVEN After an hour or two of general chaos, questions that the natives attempt to help with, and injuries tended to for those who arrive in poor condition, it's time to make the trek to where you'll be staying. As you're leaving -- with Coven and/or Mirrobound escorts as guides -- you'll be given a peculiar-looking device. It's a very special watch, the native Witches explain, compliments of Parliament. These watches are passed around to all the new arrivals, who are given a quick rundown on their functions and encouraged to test them out when they can. They can even do it as they make their way out of the Coven's courtyard and to the Haven. Formerly part of the Aristocratic District, The Haven is just as well-kept and brightly-lit as the district it hails from. The houses err on the tall and ornamental side, large enough to fit several families (or, according to the upper class, their one family, several dozen servants, and guests), especially closest to the Aristocratic District. They become a little more modest and smaller as one gets away from the realm of high society and nearer to the Residential District proper. Newcomers are shuffled here and invited to find somewhere to live, free of cost. The Coven is currently handling expenses for the houses themselves in a program implemented by the Parliament, though if your character wishes to have anything extra -- like maids, chefs, and so on -- they'll have to pay for them with their own earned money. Much of the landscape and fixtures are the same as in the Aristocratic Districts, though it lacks formal emergency services. Much of the housing already has furnishing as well: standard items such as kitchenware, couches, beds, etc. were left behind by the relocated owners for those moving in. Though some are fairly newly-unoccupied, the dust on the floors of other houses suggests they were left long before the new arrivals even showed up -- a reminder that the Cwyld can strike just about anyone, regardless of standing. Another portion of this district has been opened up to the new arrivals: the barracks, the row of buildings pressed against the very edge of the Bright Wall. As the city's military force no longer has the same presence it previously did, the barracks have gone into disuse, and a cleanup effort has been in place since before the new arrivals came through the Looking-Glass House. For those who desire something a little less opulent, the barracks might just be the answer. The barracks can also be used for business, for a welcome center, a communal space, for anything that the residents of the Haven see fit to use them for -- so long as the legality isn't questionable, at least on the surface. To help with filling up the larger houses -- and even some of the smaller ones, or the shared rooms in the barracks -- the Coven put together a little roommate finding service, on a smaller scale from the grand opening of the Haven a while back. For those who aren't entirely sure who they want to shack up with, they have a small survey for them to fill out and post on the board they've magicked up in the center of The Haven. The board also very helpfully reads aloud each form for everyone to hear in a cheerful, monotone voice. It isn't able to be shut up, nor is it easy to ignore, being imbued with a kind of amplification magic. It simply reads the information you've offered up yourself -- or that someone might have written up for you, should that be their idea of fun.

Welcome to the intro log! While mingling on the log itself is highly encouraged, feel free to make your own logs if you prefer! The network system is free to use once characters have their watches as well; information on that can be found at the bottom of the Setting page, while any extra questions about it can be found in the FAQ index. Quests can be picked up throughout the month as well! While new characters will have to get settled in, you can go ahead and put your name on some by replying to the October's Quest Pickup thread on the Quest Board. Finally, if your character is getting into any Shenanigans or if you have any other questions, just let the mods know here!

Comments

[chefalier]

[Lechy character??

Sanji can almost feel an arrow go through his entire person when she layers him with that sort of description. But!! It's to be expected from such a cool and beautiful lady like her! The blunt words... it just adds more to her presence!]

The only thing I worry about is assisting you~~

[But despite Sanji's words, his flirty behavior seems to lose some of that energy, because yeah, there are a lot of things on his mind.]

[tsukky]

[ She could probably admire his persistence - if only he was channeling it into something else. Although she doesn't fail to notice that slight change in energy level with his demeanor.

She peers at him through the haze of smoke she just exhaled out. ]

You a monster or a witch? [ Not that this has anything to do with "assisting" her, just that it might distract him from flirting with her for a minute or two. ]

[chefalier]

[Her gambit seems to work, because Sanji stops noodling around her, the change almost instantaneous as Tsukuyo's question rests in his mind. She's still a shining diamond in this shitty area, but even Sanji can be serious enough in these sort of moments.]

Monster. Not sure which kind, but imagine that will be answered in the upcoming months.

[Assuming if everything is true. Sanji has some suspicions about the information they've received, but at the same time, he doesn't think they're flat out lying. He really wants to believe Nessie for one!]

Ah, and if I may ask, are you a monster or witch?

[tsukky]

[ Tsukuyo nods, looking at him with just a little more interest - only because she might be trying to get some kind of inkling as to what kind of monster Sanji might end up being. It doesn't seem to be clear with any of them right now. ]

Same as ya - monster, don't know which yet.

[ Perhaps the realisation that she could start turning into something horrifying in the not too distant future might actually put him off a little. But then again, the case is true for him as well. ]

[chefalier]

[So, she shares the same shitty fate as him. Maybe not the same monster, although, wouldn't that be poetic in its own way...! Ahh, it would certainly be destiny!! Two strangers meeting in a weird ass city, inevitably turning into a monster, but the same sort of monster!

Those hearts suddenly return full force, with Sanji noodling next to her again. Guess that seriousness lasted for a good 30 seconds.]

Whatever you turn into, you'll still be beautiful as ever~~

[tsukky]

[ Oh god, The Noodling.

She's never been good at handling compliments and this is just something else entirely. ]

...Did ya actually listen to the descriptions of some of these monsters?

We could end up half human, half tick or somethin'. [ She's thinking of the Arachne in particular here. NOBODY COULD PULL OFF THAT LOOK... ]

[chefalier]

No transformation in the world could blemish your appearance...!

[The only thing that might get Sanji is a lady with the appearance of a spider or tick, but he's not going to think along those lines! After all, a real man should love a lady no matter what she looks like. Even if she has eight legs and becomes hairy with a bunch of eyes...]

...

[Somehow, Sanji actually becomes serious on his own, as if a sudden thought has crossed his mind. Replacing his flirtatious behavior is an expression of genuine concern as he looks at her.]

You worried about it? Transforming?

[tsukky]

[ he is truly relentless

And it's not like her to admit that she's worried about, well, anything really. Even if the prospect of possibly turning into a half human, half tick mutant who potentially wants to snack on other arrivals is slightly troubling...

She sighs, before taking another drag of her pipe and slowly exhaling another long plume of smoke. ]

Can't say that I'm exactly lookin' forward to it.

I'm findin' a way out of here before I'm too far gone. [ The whole find a bond or face losing control thing? Yeah, no thanks. ]

[chefalier]

[Her determination is something Sanji truly admires. The sort of confidence that she'll achieve her goal and leave this shitty city before anything terrible happens to them. It's... possible. Oh, he has his own doubts, but he doesn't voice them out loud.]

Ah, of course...! That would be the best outcome.

[Sanji's encouragement isn't as supportive as it could be, mostly due to his own concern about transforming into a monster and hurting others. He's definitely willing to work hard to find a way out, but a backup plan might be necessary here.]

[tsukky]

[ She knows how it is, she's a rational person (most of the time) and the more she hears the more it does become obvious that they might very well be stuck here for a long while... but ]

...Best to at least try and be positive for now, right?

[ Even if this whole thing is one big slap in the face and she will need to start considering it if she needs a back-up at some point. ]

Yer name? I just remember you're cook one. [ And the lechy one - but she'd already mentioned that.

Then by way of explanation because it's becoming clear that other JUMP characters react weirdly when she knows them. ]

...You're uh, famous where I come from.

[chefalier]

[Before Sanji can comment about how it's easy to remain positive as long as her lovely presence is around, Tsukuyo's comment honestly catches him off guard. It's a little strange to hear that she knows that he's a cook without knowing his name beforehand. Usually it's the opposite sort of thing.]

If I may ask, where are you from? Are you a fan of the Baratie?

[He's so distracted he even forgot to answer her question...! Sanji is going to berate himself later but he's trying to make sense of this.]

[tsukky]

[ Gross, Sanji. please stop. ]

I'm from Yoshiwara - near Edo. It's... far away. [ And as an after thought: ] Too far away to visit the Baratie. [ Whatever the heck that is - she's not an avid reader like Gintoki okay. She can practically hear him screaming in dismay all the way back home in Edo at her lack of One Piece knowledge. Test her on Dragonball, she's much better at that. ]

...But I like I said, you're famous where I'm from. Ya and the rest of yer crew. [ Gosh why don't all of the other Jump characters here even know that they're in it? Anyway, pirates are bound to expect some infamy, right? She can totally play off that some woman from a distant land has heard of him and avoid breaking his brain, right? ]

I'm Tsukuyo.

[chefalier]

[Edo? The name is unfamiliar to him, but that's not all too unsurprising to Sanji. Could be some place in the New World, maybe even in the South or West Blue for all he knew. Really not a big deal, heck, he's definitely far from being upset that a beautiful lady already knows his profession..! Even considers him famous.

So, he's not going to think about this too much. Instead, a large smile spreads across Sanji's mouth, and somehow, he's not overblowing this again.]

I'm Sanji, it's nice to meet you, Tsukuyo-chan. Since I'm apparently a famous cook, let me create something for you in the future.

[tsukky]

[ Sanji! That was it. She remembers now.

Tsukuyo says nothing for a moment in response, just stares with that cool gaze of hers before suddenly looking distinctly less "cool" as she focuses on the ground in front of her and her pipe. ]

Instead of cookin' for me... [ She clears her throat a little, as if contemplating whether or not she should actually say this. ] ...Could ya... maybe give me a lesson?

[ Hey, as long as she's stuck here a while and with nobody from home to find out about it and mock her for it she might as well occupy some of her time. Maybe when she finds a way to bust out of here she can finally stop Hinowa from teasing her anymore about not being to cook "to save her life" - that's Tsukuyo's own words though. She knows his character and who better to ask. ]

A private lesson. Tell nobody about it.

[ WHO IS EVEN GOING TO KNOW OR CARE, TSUKUYO?

Also - She means absolutely nothing out of the ordinary or coded by saying this - she literally just wants a cooking lesson and nobody to find out about it because pride but she's totally leaving ample room for him to spiral off into oblivion over this... And not clarifying any further. ]

[chefalier]

[It's a miracle that Sanji doesn't combust upon hearing private lesson. Normally, that might've resulted in a nosebleed of sorts, but the cook manages to maintain some composure.

...Okay, he might've turned into a statue for a solid few seconds as he keeps repeating those words to himself, but it doesn't last long, with Sanji eventually blinking and smiling at her in response. If a lady wants to learn how to cook, he'll be happy to help!

If there's one singular thing that Sanji is very serious about, it's cooking. Sometimes it even manages to override his more perverted thoughts.]

I'll help you as long as you want it. I will even keep it a secret! Whatever you need from me~ Cooking is a sacred experience.

[Besides, cooking is best when he can work with a beautiful lady! Not that doesn't enjoy having an entire kitchen to himself.]

[tsukky]

"Sacred"?

[ Oh boy. Then what the hell is he going to think of her skill set in the kitchen then? Or lack thereof. Sure, he must have some idea that she's not great or she wouldn't have asked for lessons but- ]

...I guess I should tell ya that I can't really cook to save my life then.

[chefalier]

Ah, when I mean by 'sacred,' I mean that a cook must put their entire heart in each dish.

[Among some other rules, like never wasting food. Treating each utensil with a lot of care. He'll get into those things later on.]

It's okay to make mistakes. Part of the process of gettin' better.

[tsukky]

[ She almost- almost- smiles at that. It's kind of obvious that it's not an expression she wears very often. In any case, it's a wry, rueful smile if anything. ]

In that case, with all of my mistakes I'm sure that I'll get better in no time then.

[ The tobacco in her pipe has long since run out by this point and she tucks the implement back in her kimono sleeve. ]

I guess nobody knows where they're gonna end up livin' at this point but assumin' I don't manage to bust out of here before then, I'm sure I'll run into ya again.