intro log: august

[faileas]

Intro Log: August

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 brighter with the absence of the sister moons in the sky - it's the new moon, after all. 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. "There's always a right lot of you coming in, aren't there." The woman sets her hands on her hips, with her Bonded casting a glance at those looking confused - newly arrived - and those who may have followed them in to talk to the newest addition of their mirrorbound bunch. "About time for introductions though- this here's Mhairi Ainsley, ambassador to the Parliament and my Bonded, and I'm Nerissa Bell, Head Witch of the Coven - but you can just call me Miss Nessie, you can," she adds, winking. "The lot of you must be as tired and confused as the last batch - hullo to those who've joined us, too! - so just a moment, dearests, I'll set all you right up—" With nothing more than a wave of her hand, rows of insanely colorful seats are summoned; half of them are wooden (sturdy and comfortable besides that), with the rest being misshapen and bag-like. Regardless, the seats fill the foyer and spread out a ways into the lawn behind them, making room for all of the new arrivals as well as the previous batch, should they have come to check on things. 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 interact with Nessie and Mhairi, please comment here. You have the option of handwaving the IC interaction to OOCly ask what questions your character might have for them, for us to summarize an answer for, or you can request an IC thread. Simply specify in your comment's subject and we'll respond accordingly. 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 - if they have magic potential, or if they swing a different way - 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 a trek through a bit of leftover ice and snow to where you'll be staying while Nessie and Mhairi continue to search for a solution to the situation. As you're leaving with a few Bonded for guides, peculiar-looking devices - watches, the native Witches explain, compliments of Parliament - are passed around to all the new arrivals; they're given a quick rundown on their functions and bid 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 - 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 themselves 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 due to its roots as part of a district that already did. Much of the housing already has furnishing due to the speed at which homeowners were relocated; they were given enough time to collect their valuables, but standard furniture such as kitchenware, couches, beds, etc. were left behind for those moving in. Other houses appear the same, but the dust on the floors suggest these houses were left 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 it for - so long as the legality isn't questionable, on the surface. To help with filling up the larger houses - and even some of the smaller ones, and the shared rooms in the barracks - the Witches put together a little roommate finding service, on a smaller scale from the grand opening of the Haven. 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 reads simply the information you've offered up yourself, or that someone might have written up for you, should that be their idea of fun.

IV. LÙNASA Just like three months ago, those new to Aefenglom have found themselves brought to the city in the middle of a celebration. From dusk of Aguril 1st to the dusk of Aguril 3rd, Aefenglom celebrates something fairly special: Lùnasa. Traditionally, Lùnasa celebrates all kinds of traditional marriages sanctioned by Parliament, generally of the arranged kind, and handfastings, a ceremony based more on love and how long it lasts. The Coven's Bonds err on this side of things, though some Witches do have official spouses - Miss Nessie and Mhairi are an example of this, though not everyone marries their Bonded, either. Many of them are made during this festival, prompting the city to dress for the occasion just in case they find themselves in the middle of a ceremony, and just as many of them are formally renewed. Like during Litha, shops offer lovemaking potions, but only to those renewing vows or taking them; smaller fireworks, like sparklers and fountains, are also a common sight. Lùnasa is also home to the city's largest fashion show, showcasing fun and upcoming trends in the city. No experience is required to sign up to show off designs or to model them, and hundreds of tailors and needlework experts come together to quickly make dreams into reality for the end of the festival, when the show happens in genuine. The clothing is often wild and sorted into three categories: children, where those 14 and younger can submit their designs and model them as well; popular, where those 15 and older can do the same to try and vie for the judges' vote on what's in and what's out; and bonding, where all ages aspire to modify and make personal the traditional garbs of marriage and handfasting. While circumstances might be a little weird - and the month is a little cold coming in, given the snowstorm that happened at the end of last month - there's plenty to do, plenty to see, and plenty to take your mind off of just what a weird experience this all might be. Though those who have been in Aefenglom for a while now might notice something different over the course of the festival: they're a little more powerful than before, almost similar to the free-feeling that Boaltinn encouraged. Spells can still go awry, but the results will be much bigger - but it's frowned upon to use magic during festivals. Then again, characters will feel as if they're about to burn up if they don't use it a little... Well, just one spell beneath the shadow of the new moons wouldn't hurt, would it? a. JUST IN CASE While the city is dressed up on the off chance they might be roped into an impromptu wedding ceremony - it's likely that those who aren't native to Aefenglom don't have such luck. Thankfully, the tailors of city are offering free clothes on the caveat they advertise for them by wearing them around the festivities - they're long yet breathable garments, with colors that are fairly muted oranges and reds, not unlike the coming fall. It'd seem the fear of red skies from Litha has started to fade as nothing else too terrible has happened to the city at large, at least on the surface. And as it turns out, those offers might be better timed than they think: characters will be pulled into ceremonies at random to act as witnesses, to serve as dance partners for lonely folk, or just because they really needed someone to even out the numbers. b. ON THE CATWALK An annual occasion, the Aefenglom Fashion Show is always a bustling, bright time for those young and old to strut their stuff and try their best to either follow the latest trends, or spark them into being. Unfortunately, they're running a little low on models this year - many of their other ones decided to try their hand at sewing themselves - and so they're accepting volunteers! Willing or not; many of the more aggressive youths aren't above dragging those they deem perfect enough to wear their clothing to the back of the stage set up in the center of the Shopping District and pushing them out onto the catwalk dressed to the nines in all sorts of ridiculous-looking styles. c. EYE-CATCHING A few of the newest fashionistas in town have tried their hand at some rather... peculiar-looking clothing - but none so peculiar as those found in Precogstitchin' or Arwel's Tailory, in two completely different ways. While those who try on a piece or two of Precogstichin's wares will find themselves the center of attention due to their rather avant-garde shape, color, and pattern choices - not to mention accessories and rumor of being made of arachne silk! - those who try on Arwel's wares will find themselves being stopped quite frequently in the street despite the rather plain and dull colors and formless shapes the tailory provides as free samples. d. NEW MOON RITES While native Witches bemoan their weakened magics - some even expressing relief the new moon happens to land on a festival this year so they don't have to notice just how weak they are, mirrorbound Witches will find themselves feeling just the opposite: they're stronger. For those that chance a little magic despite the unspoken rules of the festivals in Aefenglom, they'll find the expelling of energy to be very relieving, as if a weight lifts off their shoulders. For those that refuse the siren's song of release, however, sparks of magical energy will fly from them, with a myriad of results - enchanting inanimate objects, transforming animals from one thing to another, starting small fires, creating illusions of the person or creature they fear the most... and so on.

Welcome to the intro log! While mingling on the log itself is highly encouraged, feel free to make your own logs; take the prompts offered and go wild, go crazy, go stupid, have fun. 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 now 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 August's Quest Pickup thread on the Quest Board. Finally, if your character is getting into any Shenanigans, let the mods know, and if you have any questions about the log, ask them here!

Comments

[proficience]

I. Arrival

[These mirrors are interesting, certainly, and Dazai soon finds himself exploring around to look at as many as possible. He's a little lost in thought, for a moment, as he wonders exactly where he is and how he'll return home. After all, his presence is pretty much needed there, even if he'd like to claim otherwise.

He'll spend a few minutes around the mirrors, but will eventually head to the foyer, and outside, looking up at the sky. This isn't Earth, that much he's figured out.

He does feel a little more tired than usual for some reason...]

Hm.

[If you're outside as well, he may approach and initiate conversation.]

What a strange place we've found ourselves in, huh?

II. Welcome Party

[Dazai listens to the Q&A, asking a few questions of his own, but the primary fact he leaves the room with after the discussion is that there are bonds that are encouraged to be made, here. He's still not completely sold on the idea, so he may try to squeak his way out of trying to find one anytime soon, but --

This pairing off (or a derivitive of such) is enough to spark even more curiosity in his mind. What is their endgame here, anyhow?

He'll leave soon after all questions are done, and may be seen wandering out of the room with a thoughtful expression on his face.]

IV. Lùnasa

[Are you a beautiful woman, perhaps? Or a man who could pass as one? (Honestly, even if you aren't:) If so, Dazai will end up near you, his charm levels tuned to over one-hundred. He's a flirt, through and through, and he can't pass this opportunity to potentially find someone to woo over.]

Oh, you captivate me! Truly! [He'll have a drink in hand, nearly spilling some of it over the rim of the glass as he props one arm on the back of the nearest object, be it a chair, table, or whatever.]

If I keep running into beauties such as yourself, I'm never going to want to leave!

V. Wildcard!

[OOC: plot with me on discord (Celes#5178) or plurk (danger) if you have any ideas! i'm up for anything, really, since dazai is a newbie :3]

I.

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Moving to the foyer is the obvious option, but Everett lingers in the hall of mirrors. He wants to explore as much as possible before being forced into progress. He's the man who looks in every corner of a map before proceeding to a new area.

And he finds a familiar face, smiling to Dazai before offering a handshake in greeting.]

Once more, it does so seem. Well met, sir. [This time, Everett is fully human in appearance. His ears are no longer long, fluffy affairs fighting with his glasses. There are no horns curving out from his hair. It's a bit of a relief and a bit of a disappointment to have them gone. Everett had found them most curious.]

This feels far less like a dream, does it not?

[proficience]

[Familiar faces can be a good or a bad sight, but Dazai's previous interaction with this one wasn't bad at all. Save for thinking back on his own former partner, which always leaves a sour taste in his mouth. Thank goodness he's not here, at least.]

Hm. Not sure about that. How else would you explain your transformation? [He leans closer to the other man, his eyes clearly focused on his appearance. Seeing him without the horns is -- well, interesting.]

Speaking of, do you miss the horns? They seemed cumbersome to me, but maybe you were getting used to them.

[rollfordiplomacy]

[As Dazai inspects his appearance, Everett twists and turns his head, showing off the lack of horns and odd ears. A puff out of his nose follows, the little display amusing.]

I do rather miss them! The oddity was most striking, was it not? Though... [he reaches his gloved fingers to his hair and feels about where they had been. In their place... little nubs in his skull? They're rather tender, he can't help a slight wince to touch one.]

... I feel some lumps beneath my hair. Perhaps they really will grow in, as they were. Most curious. [this is all most curious, of course, but that went without saying.]

iv

[prayerwheel]

[ Oh no. Not one of these guys. Laslow was enough. And she doesn't have any clear material to dunk on this guy with. Fuck. ]

Compliments like that are a dime a dozen, you know. Pretty words mean nothing if you say them to everyone you fancy.

[ Because that does sound exactly like something Laslow would say. Is there a handbook they all read from??

Her face is a little red, though. Cheap compliments or not, she doesn't get them often. ]

[proficience]

[This time, Dazai actually does spill a little of his drink, nearly missing his leg. Thankfully, the alcohol just falls to the ground, avoiding an actual mess.]

But I don't say these things to everyone I fancy! Only the very captivating ones I've come across. Which -- if I have to be honest, you're the first one I've felt that way about since arriving here.

[He'll take a (somewhat) careful sip from his glass.]

What's your name? I'm Dazai. Dazai Osamu, but I prefer the former.

[prayerwheel]

Of course I am. [ doubt!

If she were more prone to threats of comical violence, she'd say something like "The Lady of the Lake, which I'm about to go drop you into." But alas, she just keeps frowning at him. ]

Azura.

Are you so inebriated you can't properly hold onto your drink? What exactly are you looking to get out of this interaction, Mr. Dazai?

[ She will sit here and chat with him if it keeps him from bothering other girls, but lord. ]

II

[clothes]

[ when he hears that familiar voice asking a few questions here and there, he desperately wanted to rush over to dazai's side and assault him with questions of his own-- but he waits, listening to the rest of what others have to say before finally tailing after the other man once the group in the room disperses.

akutagawa shoves past several people, distributing glares when necessary, before calling out. ]

Dazai-san!

[ he knows better than to approach dazai quietly or attempt sneaking up on him; akutagawa would like his first stay in a post-apocalyptic wasteland to not entail him getting karate'd to the ground or some shit in self-defense. ]

[proficience]

[Still absorbing the answers he'd been given, as unsatisfying as most of them were, Dazai takes a moment to register that someone is calling out to him. There aren't many who call him Dazai-san, and this voice clearly doesn't belong to Atsushi.

Which means that it's Akutagawa. Why is he here? Who else could be around? Clearly, Dazai isn't the only one from his world here, and now he's going to wonder if Chuuya is somewhere, lurking, waiting to ruin his day.

Ugh.]

Oh, you're here.

[Does that sound enthusiastic enough for you, Akutagawa? Dazai will turn around and smile, regardless.]

Spot any other familiar faces yet?

[clothes]

[ akutagawa may be a total dunce, but even can tell dazai was hoping for, well, literally anyone besides him. at least he's not nakahara-san??? akutagawa wants to believe he at least has that going for him... ]

Correct.

[ akutagawa gives his head a small shake, his hands sliding into his coat pockets. ]

I have yet to run into any mutual acquaintances of ours, nor does it appear there are other ability users such as us. We were the only ones from Yokohama abducted to this place.

V

[notawriter]

[They'd somehow missed each other in the Looking-Glass House, but Oda spots his friend somewhere outside as he explores the Haven. The same friend he'd advised not so long ago from his perspective, though seeing Dazai now calls back to a dream from what feels like a lifetime ago.]

Dazai? [The voice that calls out seems a little hoarse and tired, and it seems even a little foreign to Oda even though it's his own.]

[proficience]

[Luckily for Oda, Dazai isn't in the middle of schmoozing with a poor, helpless woman when he's called to; on the contrary, he's not doing much of anything at all, save for scoping out his surroundings.

When he hears that hoarse, but still familiar voice, he turns to face the source with a quick wave, then heading right over next to him.]

Odasaku! I'm not sure how we've managed to miss each other in that building, but I'm glad to see you again. Find out anything of importance, by chance?

[notawriter]

[Even if Dazai had been preoccupied with engaging an attractive lady, Oda simply would've waited his turn to speak with Dazai. Unless that turn looked like it wasn't ever going to happen, in which case he'd apologize for interrupting before trying to address any business with Dazai. But seeing as that isn't the case—

Dazai seems well enough. Oda clears his throat a little before taking on a more business-as-usual tone.]

Hardly. They've got plenty of answers but nothing on what really matters.

[Something dark in Oda's expression makes it clear that Oda knows he should be dead if not caught in an endless cycle of chasing Gide down and killing him again and again somewhere in hell. But rather than addressing that, he turns the question back on his friend.]

What about you? Got anything more than their little welcome spiel?

iv

[sing_for_me]

Ah, watch out--

[ Her hand reaches out in reaction to his drink almost spilling, but he seems to still have some control over actions despite his flamboyant tone. She hadn't even heard him approaching.

Had he maybe had too much to drink? It's like if he wanted to, he could make himself sparkle. ]

Are you um..new here then?

[proficience]

[Oh, he certainly could make himself sparkle if desired! But --

He is just a tad too inebriated to do anything of the sort right now. Grinning, he nods.]

I am! And I'm already enjoying my time here quite a bit. [He'll sip his drink, making a point to try and avoid spilling another drop.]

My name's Dazai. Dazai Osamu. And who do I have the pleasure of meeting?

[sing_for_me]

[ He might be the first person she's met who actually seemed happy about being pulled into this place. ]

Alex..Benedetto.

[ She's still wondering how things must have been for him to want to be here. Though that was too personal a question, wasn't it? ]

You're really okay with suddenly being brought here?

IV

[thirdbeauty]

[It's just Natsuru's luck that she's still stuck in that stupid so-called uniform and hasn't found new clothes just yet. She's trying so hard not to draw attention, but...]

Huh?

[For a second, Natsuru just gazes blankly, unbelieving, in the man's direction. It takes a moment for it to truly dawn that she's being hit on.]

Y-Yeah, sure...

[Ugh. She's just going to try to ignore him and... step around... if she can...]

[proficience]

[In all honesty, it would have been very difficult for Dazai not to have tried to hit on this young lady, considering her attire. Which, upon a second look, appears to be some sort of -- strange uniform?

Nothing like anything he'd seen back at home, save for some of the uniforms the employees would wear at a certain nighttime establishment he'd very rarely peruse.]

Why don't you join me for a drink? [He grins a little wider, gently patting the seat next to him.] Or just to chat. Either's fine by me, but I'd be sad if you just walk right by without at least saying hello!

[thirdbeauty]

I don't really drink.

[She tries to leave it at that, without acknowledging that he left another option open. And obviously is making no move to sit in that seat he'd indicated.]

i.

[rightfoot]

[ Louis has been taking in the surroundings. It's been an interesting series of events that seemed to speed by quickly. He wants to explore more and more, despite what his instincts are telling him he should do. He feel likes knowing the lay of the land gives him some sort of advantage. Or, at the very least, it will help him to better understand the circumstances of this. ]

What a strange place we've been abducted to, you mean?

[ Okay. Abducted to. Dragged through mirrors to. All of the above apply, right? ]

[proficience]

[Oh, a familiar voice! Dazai finds himself turning around quickly to meet the source, smiling with a gentle wave of one hand.]

That could be said for our case, yes. Though I'd personally love to know who abducted all of us, and why. I have no use here! [He's lying. If anything, his skills in planning and organizing events and gathering information are more than enough to deem him 'useful.']

See anything interesting since our initial meeting, by chance?

[rightfoot]

[ Louis returns the wave as he moves to stand next to Dazai, so that he can appropriately talk to him. After all, he didn't want to be rude with someone he met when they were all dreaming. He was the only person that Louis had met so far that he knows. ]

I'd bet about the same as what you've seen. Mirrors. A lot of mirrors.

[ Shrugs. ]

I mean, are you worth any money? That could also be a reason to abduct you.

IV (for the lulz!)

[hisui]

[While Nagare might fit the delicate, good-looking category by certain pretty boy standards, it's not like he is actively aware of it. It also probably doesn't help that his clothes just make it a tad harder to properly tell his gender when approached from behind.

Partly because he wouldn't expect to be hit on, and partly because his mind is off somewhere else, it's the stranger's act of propping one arm on the back of his chair that grabs his attention, more than those words.

Is he impressed? Not really. But he is mildly surprised by this sudden and direct approach.]

My apologies. Were you speaking to me? I was distracted.

[proficience]

[Yeah, Dazai certainly thought that this guy was a woman, partly due to his attire and hairstyle and partly due to how many drinks Dazai has had. Which, specifically, were two. Working on a third.

And of course, that third drink may have started to spill from the side of the cup when Dazai tilts his hand as a reflex, of sorts, when he hears this guy's voice. Clearly, he is not a she.

Whoops!]

Oh! I -- [He'll just take a sip from the cup that somehow still has some liquid left inside and step back, chuckling softly.] I was! But I believe I was slightly mistaken. You're not a woman at all, are you?

[hisui]

[Were Nagare a judgmental person, he would probably be giving this man a half-disgusted, half-incredulous look, but alas, he doesn't even look offended.]

Negative. I am a man.

[He has never directly interacted with a flirt before, so curiosity settles in.]

Why do you ask?