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

[digiorno]

[A satisfied smile tugs at Giorno's lips once Akira makes his decision. That's the one he was hoping for. It might not be Akira's taste precisely, but he feels there's enough of him in it and enough nods to Akira's aesthetic that they've found a solid compromise.]

[He blinks in surprise at the request, though. That is unexpected. Not that unexpected is bad, just — he looks down at the other mask he's holding and feels a moment of irrational panic. It's stupid. It's just a mask. It's just symbolism, for god's sake—]

[But he doesn't like that it will cover his mouth.]

[Turning the mask over, examining it from all angles, he considers his options. The idea Akira has presented seems, frankly, like a challenge, one he doesn't want to back down from. It also seems like it'll be fun. And it's clever, to turn this back around on him. That's the Akira he saw before, quick and clever and, right, ever so shy. He still hasn't decided if he believes that or not.]

[He does want to do this. But he doesn't want to wear this mask.]

[So, taking hold of the lower right hand edge, he rips the section covering right jaw and mouth off entirely. The excess falls to the ground, ignored, as he holds the mask up, first facing himself and then facing Akira, framing his features. It looks jagged, but then it already did. That was the nature of the beast.]

All right, [he agrees, as though that was normal behavior; then, as an aside,] We may need to leave with some haste afterward, but that's all right.

Should I pick something else? [Since this is Akira's party now, too. Might as well ask.]

[scaling]

[ He doesn't think much on the request before making it, but it clearly merits much more consideration on Giorno's end. The impending answer remains unclear at first as the silence hangs—only to be torn through with the sound of the sturdy, decorated material being wrenched into two pieces.

Akira's eyebrows shoot up behind his mess of hair. Yeah, no, that's not normal behavior. At the same time, he doesn't question it. They all have their hangups, right?

Besides, the idea of making a quick getaway right off the stage is fun, in a nostalgic sort of way? ]

Sure. [ As per usual, when he decides to sink himself into a task, Akira commits fully to it. If they're going to do this, it's going to be by going all out.

He gestures with his forearm to indicate the jacket draped over it. ]

Something that's opposite of this? [ It's more a suggestion; Giorno is the self-proclaimed fashionista here. Still, looking at the two masks, Akira's struck by the dichotomy of their appearances: one dark and alluding to nature, the other bright and with the feel of something manufactured. ]

[digiorno]

[That's an interesting request. A fitting one, too; as much as Akira's uniform might as well be shadow, his might as well be light and color. Illumination. His expression goes thoughtful, almost shuttered, as he retreats into thought and turns towards the garment rack.]

[After a few moments, a grin creeps over his face as he realizes that whatever he picks, he's taking it with him. Ah, theft. Let's see — he cards through the rack a little too quickly in his excitement, pulling things out and draping them over his arm before scurrying wordlessly behind a curtain to change.]

[Okay? This is happening now. Poor Akira. Poor Akira's eyes half a minute later as Giorno emerges again, all moving color and sharp teeth peeking out in a grin underneath the broken-off lower half of his mask.]

This is fun, [he declares, thumbs in his pockets, loose and easy posture except for his shoulders, which are pushed forward and tense with anticipation.] You're fun. I'm glad I picked you.

Shall we?

sorry for the delay, it took me exactly this long to get over that outfit (jk i love it)

[scaling]

[ He can't quite get a solid glimpse of the things Giorno grabs, only registering the bright, bold colors before he swishes off behind the curtain.

Well, Akira might as well change, too. His don't require privacy, not when he can just throw the jacket and mask on over his regular outfit. The belt goes on over the jacket, only he does it up properly. Despite that casual air that surrounds him, Akira's style is pretty clean-cut. He doesn't do fashion; how's he supposed to know it's meant to go on a stylish slant?

So when Giorno emerges, he's already in full garb. Golden eyes widen, framed by the mask. ]

Wow... [ Is that a clown on his shirt? Clowns exist here? The more you know... ] That's a look and a half.

[ Akira sounds approving, though. Isn't that what this is all about, making a bold statement and snatching as many gazes as possible? Maybe he is getting the hang of it, after all.

With a nod, he steps up to Giorno, ready for him to lead the way. ]

I'm glad you did, too. [ This is proving to be more exciting than he thought it would be, even if they have yet to do the actual modelling part. ]

that's honestly extremely fair and valid

[digiorno]

[It's a look and three-quarters, thank you so much. Giorno has a certain self-awareness that it's totally ridiculous, the shirt at the very least, but at the same time, as is his custom, he adopts a fake-it-'til-you-make-it attitude that applies to all facets of his life. Including fashion. Or whatever the hell this is.]

Thank you.

[Probably. Actually, the thank you is regardless, whether or not Akira means it, although Giorno does get the sense that it's genuine. Despite being dragged into it, the other boy's flair for the dramatic is real.]

[Looking over him one last time with a scrutinizing gaze, Giorno reaches over and yanks the jacket a bit more askew. Not completely, but a little. Clean-cut except not quite. Then he nods approvingly and offers Akira his arm.]

Let's kill the runway and then run like hell.

[So saying, he leads them out into the lights, mentally counting in his head to how long it'll take until someone notices he's absolutely, certainly taken something he's not meant to have taken. And broken a mask. It's fine.]

[scaling]

[ Fortunately, there's a mirror at the right angle to catch a decent, albeit somewhat distant, glimpse of his adjusted outfit. Not bad. There's something subtly defiant about it, an air that suits him.

Well, the escape they're going to make will be anything but subtle, judging by Giorno's description. The buzz of anticipation, at odds with the waning nerves about getting out on the runway, rises inside of Akira at the prospect. With a grin, he links his arm through his new partner-in-crime's. ]

The getaway is the best part.

[ Akira can't say anymore, though, leaving it at that statement as they emerge onto the stage. The festival crowd is momentarily washed out by the magically maintained brightness. The last time he was blinded by lights this bright, they were silhouetting a riot squad; the adrenaline that pulses through him is much different than what he felt that time but no less potent.

Some cheers and claps echo around them as they proceed down the runway in long strides, shadows catching Akira's outfit as dramatically as Giorno's mauled mask glitters in the light. He thinks he's beginning to see the appeal in this—the awed attention it commands is a little bit exhilarating. ]

[digiorno]

[Adrenaline is a powerful force. It makes objectively ridiculous ideas seem amazing, sometimes. Or at least funny enough to carry out. After all, sometimes doing stupid things is worth it, just for the sake of blowing off a little steam.]

[It's been a while since Giorno allowed himself to feel that way. He's not practiced at it; his own solitary efforts at playfulness end up more malicious than they should, and he hasn't had friends for long. Even those he has are at home, or are Zelda, who . . . would not do this. So this game isn't new, but it is one he hasn't played in a little while.]

[They look good. He can tell as soon as they hit the lights. Even if it's not everyone's thing, it's appealing enough that the sound of the crowd pulls at his ego, lets his lips fall back to show a sharp-toothed grin. Neither the grin nor the walking arm-in-arm is precisely on brand for modeling, but who cares? He's not a model, and neither is Akira. Nonetheless, they command attention. What they are is . . . sleight of hand, probably.]

[Tipping his chin up at the end of the runway, he pauses, shoulder leaning against Akira's as he poses, showcasing the awful suit and his broken mask, the glitter of it shimmering into the darkness of Akira's cloak — it's good. It's a good look. And when they turn to head backstage, he hears it, just as he thought he would: the slowly-dawning Hey . . . of a proprietor realizing that something's not quite right.]

[It's all right. It'll take them a few minutes yet. There's plenty of time to run. Or just speedwalk out of here.]

[scaling]

[ Even when they step out of the lights, they remain in Akira's eyes, gold glimmering bright with the rush from that brief walk. He keeps his arm in Giorno's as they proceed into the backstage area once more, flashing a grin to his side. ]

I'd say that's a success debut. [ He likes to think Ann would be proud of him—maybe not for the lack of technique but at least for the enthusiasm. ] We turned a lot of heads.

[ They do have a head start on whoever is inevitably going to come after them to fuss about ruining the pieces, so there's no need to sprint away from the scene. Akira's stride is long but relaxed as they weave back through the dressing room, pausing just long enough to collect his bag.

As for the outfit, well... He could leave it here if he really wanted to, but the trickster part of his brain finds no fun in that. ]

Now let's get out of here.

[digiorno]

[Hm. He's happy, Giorno thinks, and smiles back. That's a good result from someone who certainly wasn't excited about the prospect a short while ago. Laughing lightly, he matches Akira's stride (though he's not quite as lanky, he can make it work, okay).]

We certainly did.

[If he takes pride in making a commotion, at least he's in good company? Look, most of the other models aren't even that into it. He has definitely sold this garment that he is about to steal.]

Time to go on the lam for fashion crimes. [Wow he thinks he is hilarious.] I have no idea where I'm going to wear this shirt. It's horrifying. [GLEEFULLY.]

[scaling]

I'd say we can ditch the evidence somewhere, but I want to see what you figure out. [ Akira looks over again, as if he has to get another eyeful of the shirt to truly believe it exists. ] You kind of make it work.

[ As well as it could? Like Giorno somehow coaxed it into cooperating—or maybe wrestled it into submission, considering how much... personality it has. ]

Besides, I like this.

[ "This" being the mask that he reaches up to touch lightly as they slink away from the area. It'll make a good souvenir. A good reminder. ]