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Entry tags:
INTRO MINGLE
cittàgazze: week 0 intro
the city of magpies
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
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
private conversations ✨ murder proposals ✨ curfew ✨ daemons ✨
private conversations ✨ murder proposals ✨ curfew ✨ daemons ✨
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fine. if xie lian is any more or less embarrassed by the presence of someone else, his face doesn't show it, mostly because he is just scarlet red. he looks a little surprised, actually, and then just - isn't sure whether to laugh or to cry... ]
...did you also wake up in these strange clothes...? I was looking for a shopkeeper to purchase something else, but...
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[She looks slightly away from him with great sympathy.]
I suppose if the shopkeeper is out and left his door unlocked, he must not be particularly concerned about theft. Perhaps if we were to borrow a few items and leave a note. . .
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he makes a little noise of agreement, still frowning as he glances around the shop. ]
Mm. That isn't a bad idea. Even if there's little currency, perhaps we could trade a little work for the clothing - it seems they could use a little help cleaning up...? [ these goody two shoes. his daemon seems to like this suggestion - he wriggles from xie lian's neck and stretches out a bit towards susato and her daemon, sniffing the air curiously.
xie lian nods. ] I think that might be alright. Let's see, there ought to be a paper and brush in here, somewhere....
[ time to go snoop. he's also never seen any manner of clothes even remotely like the things on the shelves in this place, but that's fine....... ] I think there's glass on the floor, so, be careful.
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Aha - I think there is a pen here behind the counter.
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[ good teamwork! and, well, upon inspection - his daemon makes a chirpy, cute ferret noise, and then very suddenly shifts forms. there is now a white rabbit sitting on xie lian's shoulder as well! san lang hops down to join the other daemon to say hello, and xie lian glances over his shoulder at it, then pauses as he's offering susato the pen. ]
Oh... [ they're the same? cute? ] ...This is the first time I've seen them interact...
[ ... it is pretty cute... ]
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[She will just. . . write out a brief note in English in her small neat handwriting. And then will glance at the daemons.]
How cute. And. . . Ryutaro must have all of the manners, I have yet to introduce myself. I am Susato Mikotoba, a visiting student from the Empire of Japan.
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xie lian looks a little confused, for a moment, before he clears his throat and dips his head in a polite bow, putting his fist to his hand to do so. ]
It's nice to meet you. I am Xie Lian. From - [ a beat. his bunny's nose twitches a little where it's settled. ] ... from Xian Le.
You were able to read the notes too, weren't you...? Even if they were odd?
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I was. It struck me as very odd - I couldn't tell what language they were written in, but I could understand them perfectly.
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Some sort of magic, I presume. I thought this place may have been the lair of some sort of creature, but I'm not entirely sure that's the case, any longer. [ who knows! strange kidnapping. he's gonna start rifling through the clothes, now. ]
Though, it seems as if perhaps the people who wrote it were expecting us, which is even stranger.
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. . . Well, it does seem as though some sort of strange force has brought us here. Recently, I was reading of the possibility of teleporting human beings across distances. But to think such a thing is actually possible.
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[ your people can't just teleport??? ]
Are...there not any, in your 'Japan'?
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Cultivator? Does that mean something like farming?
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[ sometimes it means farming.
... wait. he shakes his head, and then puts his hand gently against his own chest. ] In our realm, a cultivator is one who trains in both martial and mystical arts in order to perfect their craft and eventually achieve immortality. I...
[ xie lian trails off for a moment, and then frowns. ] ... I have known many of them, and was one, for some time, but it appears I can't use many of my abilities in this place, even if I try. How strange...
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he looks thoughtful, for a moment, chin in his hand. ] ... Hmm. I'd thought perhaps some sort of high level demon or ghost - it is not uncommon for them to create large illusions to trap people in. But, the kids here don't have the tells of those illusory or disguised places - you can clearly see the detail and definition to them in ways you wouldn't be able to otherwise.
[ at this point, he's at least going to start looking for clothes to borrow, also. please god no more sexy nun. ]
...Though - when I spoke with a group of the children, they mentioned something called 'spectres'. Supposedly, these 'spectres' are why any adults left this place. Then, supposedly, after these spectres arrived, there was this storm that has caused these weather conditions... and at some point during the storm, some of the children claim to have seen figures like those on the tower. The winged ones?
[ angels, ]
...I was wondering if perhaps those are those who may have written us those very same notes. The children I spoke with said these winged figures told them to be careful, and they had things to take care of. Similar to the wording of those notes, don't you think?
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. . . What did these spectres do to them? To the people here?
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xie lian shakes his head, though, expression pulling into a frown. ]
...That, I don't know. They wouldn't tell me much beyond that. They said that the spectres only go after adults, though, and leave children alone.
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But then. . . many of us may be in danger as well.
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[ his thinking precisely. ]
I suppose all we can do right now is wait for those mysterious figures - whoever they are - to return, and do our best to protect ourselves as a group until then.
[ ...there's a beat, and he glances down at his uh. outfit, and then huffs a little. ] ...and certainly exchange our clothes for something easier to move in, just in case. Have you found anything...?
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[Grabbing a large jean jacket from somewhere after a bit of rummaging.]
Things like this - it will likely keep warm, but I shall feel a bit silly.
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I think perhaps we'll feel silly no matter how many pieces of clothing we pick through, here...
[ but the material of this little outfit is very scratchy and also it's incredibly revealing, so, that's probably okay. ] The warmer the better, though, yes? I'm the same - there's not a thing here that could even begin to compare to a set of robes...
[ rooting around, he pulls up a jacket made of swooshy material and then frowns at it, shaking it. it continues to make that swooshy noise. ]
What is this...
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[No.]
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[ no ]
Ah, but, I always wear white, so... perhaps not for me. Do you want it? [ holding it out!!! ]
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[It's definitely pretty big on her, though, if it would have fit XL.]
If you prefer to wear white, we must find you something to keep warm. How about -
[Oh, she found a white jacket]
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I've worn clothing with all sorts of decorations before, but never anything quite like this... [ the jacket has so many fringes. it can't be any worse than the god pleasing prince costume though, so. ] I think it will do, though. Thank you, Miss Susato! This was very helpful indeed.
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