INTRO MINGLE

[grigori]

cittàgazze: week 0 intro the city of magpies

40 Remain

Whatever you were doing previously, wherever you were, you come back into yourself very abruptly, after going through a haze. Quite literally, as it turns out. You and your daemon are left to wander through a thick, cloying fog, where sights and sounds are muffled. All attempts to call out don't result in much, and your voice is just swallowed up. At least you're not alone—no matter their form, you know who and what they are, and they stick close to you, just as without answers as you are. How unfortunate.

But your feet carry you until, finally, the actual fog clears—at least, enough to let you see the street you walk along—and now your surroundings are a little more apparent. Even if you're far from home, maybe in less than ideal condition at the moment, at least you're not alone in this? Turns out it isn't just the two of you. As if they've walked right out of the fog, themselves, there are others on this long boulevard lined with palm trees, breathing in the stormy sea air, just like you.

Hard to say where you've wound up, and just when in the day, with the storm overhead. It's not night, that's for sure, and it's some sort of city, though it looks a little... worn down. Abandoned. Weird. Where are all the people, besides you? There's movement, occasionally, but whoever it is skitters away and disappears before you have a chance to get a closer look—at first, anyways. Maybe you can catch them after exploring a bit?

... though, maybe you want to change, first? ( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ) Wow, you're really dressed up for... well, what sort of occasion would warrant this...

Some further walking on the boulevard leads you along storefronts of various kinds, but one in particular stands out. Looks like there's a message that's been posted up on a shop bulletin board, standing out due to intent. Just pinned in place, after the rest of it was obviously cleared out in a hurry, with some pages having been torn off and leaving corners and bits behind.

The note's colors seem to change dependent on the angle you're looking at it from, either shimmery gold or silver, with a faint sheen of another color that varies depending on the penmanship.

In handwriting that barely seems legible will read the following: I hope you enjoy my gift!! And don't worry you're ALL beautiful. ;)

In loopy but legible handwriting, with little hearts for the dots over their I's: We'll try to get some answers for you guys, since I'm sure you have a lot of questions. For now, check out the shop for some bags! I'm sorry that it's not much, considering the situation, but if there's anything else you need—there's plenty of other shops around the city. Looking forward to seeing you all soon!!

Just below that in neat handwriting that almost looks straight out of a text book: I know it might be scary to find yourselves in a new place, but I promise that things will be okay. We'll make sure it's okay. Maybe there's something here that you can find out before we can get to you. Try to get along the meantime—we'll talk to you as soon as we can.

And in bubbly handwriting at the bottom: Sorry we can't welcome you in person yet, but we'll be there soon! We're trying to work out some things right now, like how to get your stuff back to you. You're in a safe place, though, so try to take it easy and stick together until we get there, okay? See you soon!

Inside the shop, it's as the message says: there are bags neatly lined up. There's something... enchanted about them, almost, that leads you to the one that is apparently yours, and prevents anyone else from picking up someone else's. (Literally, like they weigh a ton, even if you're normally capable of lifting said ton.) The enchantment wears off once you've claimed your bag. Each one contains:

★ a travel size first aid kit, with bandages, gauze pads, and a little tube of antibiotic ointment
★ a small dessert box of edible sugar flowers
★ a coupon for a meal at the Hotel Nido di Gazza
★ a golden coin, specific to you and your daemon alone

Attached to the side of each satchel is one of those small, single-person umbrellas that come in a variety of patterns and are prone to turning inside out in a stiff breeze or yeeting off the handle when the button is pressed when used too frequently or not just right. There's a note attached in that loopy but legible handwriting saying: sorry, there weren't any better ones in the city. :(


At present, a thick fog and threatening thunderclouds have encased the city. Rain is intermittent, as are the flashes of lightning, but it's a rather oppressive atmosphere to welcome you in with. Any attempts to leave the city walls, or to step off of the boulevard into the unknown (even if you can clearly see the sand of the beach, hear the waves beyond, see a beacon of light cutting through the thick fog), will be met with a feeling of dread and your steps turning you back around into the city proper again. Your daemons may even tug at your clothes with a self preservation instinct that kicks in for the both of you. Isn't it safer here?

welcome to cittàgazze

Hello, everybody! Welcome to the start of the game—please enjoy the weekend zero intro to the fullest, as we get everyone settled in, and feel free to explore the setting to your heart's contents. Additionally, please note two things of particular interest as your characters familiarize themselves with their new home away from home:

The first, of course, being that IC profiles are not ICly available yet. Once they are, we'll let you know. Just make sure you're filling them out this weekend!

The second is that your character does not have their item from home or canon changes of clothes yet. If you'd like to change out of the clothing that you've been so graciously given—why? They're nice, aren't they? Don't you appreciate them? But I guess you can raid the homes and shops of the city, if need be, until further notice. Clothing styles are 90s function over fashion you might find in a humid climate like this one, though there are some... outdated, if simple, trendier styles available.

Let the mods know if you need anything, and enjoy!

full navigation ✨ locations ✨ statuses ✨ profiles ✨ audiences ✨
private conversations ✨ murder proposals ✨ curfew ✨ daemons ✨

Comments

[reflash]

a - acquire

[Yukio is handling this. He's being professional. This is not the first time he's worn a skirt. This is fine.

He crouches down next to the row of bags, quickly checking through the bag. He looks mildly concerned, a frown creasing his brow as he inspects the first aid kit. He's doing this all mostly one-handed, his left arm bound up in a sling and bandages.

There's a smallish dog sitting next to him, with a somewhat worried expression. She looks over when a stranger enters the shop, but doesn't move towards them.]

b - boundaries
[He hasn't gotten a change of clothes yet, but that can wait (what is he going to do, steal some?). It's obvious, isn't it? They've got to find a way out. Unfortunately, he... can't. He gets to an edge, a boundary, and just... stops. There's a feeling of dread that paralyzes him, and his daemon pushes against his legs, pushing him back.

And yet, he doesn't move.]

a

[perspire]

Oh!

[ bertolt gasps as he looks at yukio. on his shoulder is a bandicoot ]

Are you alright?

[reflash]

Yes, thank you for your concern. [It's said with a pleasant smile and sort of air that makes it fairly obvious he's used to being asked. This isn't a new injury.]

I was just looking through these supplies, have you found your bag yet?

[perspire]

No, I haven't.

Are they labeled?

[reflash]

Not exactly, but... try and pick one up.

[perspire]

Huh? Alright...?

[ he walks over to one and tries to pick it up and oh god it's heavy????? [

b

[cranelike]

(And along comes one Tsurumaru Kuninaga, dressed in a color-block sweatshirt, jeans, and.... the heels from the nun costume. The heels are fine? There's that feeling of dread but he carries on, pushing through it until he sees Yukio up ahead. He stops a short distance away, giving Yukio and his Daemon plenty of space but he calls out lightly,)

You should come back.

(There is a magpie on his shoulder and it takes off, shifting into a crane by his side instead. Both watch Yukio carefully.)

[reflash]

I don't think so. [Yukio's dog looks over at the newcomer, but doesn't come closer.

Yukio's still looking out, past the invisible barrier.]

Since we've been brought here against our wills, we should be looking for ways out.

[cranelike]

Then see how far you can go.

(He tried to help!! So now he'll just be an enabler. He'll wait here.)

[reflash]

[For a moment, he looks like he isn't going to rise to the bait. Maybe he's already reached his limit.

But then he turns and forces himself to take another step before going still.

His daemon whines, and starts backing up. If he won't get the message from her shoving at him, she's going to get as far away from him as possible to force him back another way.]

[cranelike]

(we move)

a

[sponsoredby]

[ He looks over at the kid rifling through the bags and his own tiger seems to be settling in nearby Kotetsu as he looks over the scene and keeping an eye on the dog. ]

[reflash]

[The dog doesn't approach, just sits quietly as Yukio finishes his investigation of the contents and... stands up again. That involves more wobbling than it should but these sexy nun costumes are extremely bad and Yukio's never worn heels before.

He nods at the man with a slight smile, but doesn't approach. He's looking around a bit more inside the shop, for now.]

[sponsoredby]

Pretty strange place, isn't it?

[ He's got a bad habit of not letting people have their peace and quiet. ]

[reflash]

It is, [Yukio says, friendly.]

I haven't experienced anything like this before.

[sponsoredby]

I've seen some strange stuff happen, but nothing quite like this, either.

b.

[booksleeves]

[She's been hanging around near the boundary, getting out of the rain, when she sees him freeze in place.]

. . . Are you alright? Please be careful.

[reflash]

[He does take a step back, and that feeling of dread recedes slightly. He smiles at her, politely.]

I'm fine, thank you. I wanted to see how far I could go, but it's... rather uncomfortable.

[booksleeves]

It is. I tried a little earlier, and couldn't get more than a few feet.

[reflash]

[Yukio's daemon takes a few steps away from the barrier, and he follows her almost without thinking.]

It's unusual, I've never encountered anything like this.

[booksleeves]

Neither have I. It seems entirely psychological, but it is so powerful as to be unable to break through by will alone. I suppose I have read about hypnotism techniques that can cause powerful psychological compulsions, but nothing of this sort.

b

[burnstrike]

[ Yeah, she's still in her vinyl outfit with ripped-off sleeves too. She'll hit up a store eventually.

She'd tried this herself a little bit ago, after those kids told her where the adults were supposed to be, with the same results. She stands back a ways this time because of it -- she's not too eager to feel that again. ]

Pretty weird, isn't it?

...I think your friend there's trying to get your attention.

[reflash]

It's... not exactly a pleasant experience. [He says, turning back slightly. Even that slight movement makes things better, and he takes an almost involuntary step back towards her.]

How far did you get?

[burnstrike]

Eh, a few steps further, but he wasn't having it after that.

[ Pointing with her thumb back at the red-furred dhole behind her. ]

I don't usually let stuff get to me too much, so it was pretty jarring... especially since there wasn't any actual reason for it, as far as I could tell.

[reflash]

There doesn't appear to be an actual reason for any of this, as far as I can tell.