week one | arrival

[marriagebroker]

The characters will arrive one by one, in whatever vehicle suits them the best to the front of estate. It's a beautiful estate filled with plants and trees and little ponds and all kinds of little hideaways. But it all cumulates at the main house, where they will be dropped off and greeted by a familiar face who stands outside the house and welcomes them in. They will be able to bring one suitcase with items and clothes as well as their pet(s?).

The main thing to notice when you step into the house though is that cameras are everywhere. Despite the many little hideaways of this house, there's no privacy whatsoever. Oh well!

When everyone is gathered together, the host from earlier will greet everyone with a merry:

"Welcome, my affection seeking friends! This is where you'll be staying the next few weeks. Find a place to settle in and get to know each other! I'll be around, in case you need anything."

He genuinely seems to mean it, at least?! But that seems to be it, he'll slip away in the meantime and leave you all to it.

A few things to note, of course:

• There is only one "bedroom" which is a large room, with a closet full of futons to roll out and use in said room. Sleepover time!


• There is an extra, extra, extra, extra large futon for Messmer.


• In one of the rooms of the estate, there is a lovely piano ready for use. Feel free to ask for more instruments, if you'd like.


• The kitchen is filled with food of all kinds and modern appliances so folks can cook whatever they'd like! There is also a bar in the kitchen, stocked with alcohol.


• In the living room, there is a screen showing everyone's profiles. It is touch screen, so feel free to swipe through!


• There is, of course, a banner in the living room reading 有緣千里來相會 (which, for the keen-eyed, translates to "Fate brings together those that are a thousand miles apart"). This was definitely written by the host.


• There is a welcome cake.

Boom Boom Room | Property Damage
Truth Booth Voting | Match Ceremony Voting

Comments

[hexensabbat]

[Ringo's never been one to wait or be patient, but it does remind her a little of Figue, which makes her smile.]

Hmmm... the devil summoner bit, or the world saving bit?

[researcherstory]

If they have anything to do with one another, then pick the more fun to speak on.

[ Saving the world seems to be a small trend here, right now. ]

[hexensabbat]

Yeah they're pretty much one and the same for me.

Devil summoners do exactly what it sounds like! We deal with devils and demons. Make deals, chat 'em up, use 'em in battle, fight them when they're causing problems... it's pretty fun, to be honest!

[researcherstory]

There is no proof that demons nor devils exist where I am from, so this is very intriguing. Are you able to summon them still?

[ She wants to see... ]

[hexensabbat]

Yeah, I brought one of them with me.

[A shrug.]

Didn't think I'd need more than one in a place like this. Wanna say hi?

[researcherstory]

Certainly.

[ See, this? Better than kiss research. ]

[hexensabbat]

[Disagree.

Regardless, she just shrugs a bit, and holds a hand out. The diamond-shaped tattoo on her leg lifts up from it, transforming into a gun. This is actually her COMP. Don't worry about it.]

Right then! Come on out to say hi, Jack Frost!

[And with a flash of light, there's Jack Frost.

It waves a stubby little arm. "Hee-hello, ho!"]

[researcherstory]

[ The fuck is a gun.

Nevermind, what an objectively adorable bright creature. Don't mind if she circles them both for a moment. ]

It even speaks. Hee-hello, Jack Frost. My name is Odile.

[hexensabbat]

[And, in pure Jack Frost fashion, it goes into smiling aggression.

"Of course I spea-hee-k, lady, ho! What do you hee-take me for?"

... Ringo just shrugs, arms spread. That's Jack Frost for you.

"I'm Jack Frost, ho! I'm a local celebrit-hee!"]

[researcherstory]

Are you, ho? I can hee-see why. You seem like you would be popular with children, ho, and at part-hees.

[ Mind, her voice has not changed at all. She is straight faced doing this. ]

Are you and Rin-ho partners, or would you say she-hee is your master of a kind?

[hexensabbat]

[Ringo just mouths "Rin-ho" to herself in disbelief.

Jack Frost does a little twirl.

"We-hee've got an understanding! So-ho right now, I listen to her directions, ho. Who knows, though-ho! Someday mayb-hee I'll be the one giving the orders!"

...]

Uh huh. Sure. Keep dreaming.

[researcherstory]

No-ho, let him spea-hee-k. I like the cut of his jib.

[ What a fun little guy! ]

He reminds me of Boniface, a child we were taking care of while the country was in danger. Thank you for introducing us, Ringo.

[ And to Jack Frost: ]

Let's talk again, shall we-hee? It has been mo-ho-st enjoyable.

[hexensabbat]

[And then, as if to cast the greatest of insults, Jack Frost nods with his ever-present grin and:

"Sure, ho! But you sure talk funny, lady!"

THE INSULT. THE CRUELTY.

Ringo is stifling a laugh as Jack Frost returns to her COMP.]

No self-awareness at all... guess you can't expect much else from a demon.

[researcherstory]

[ Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Definitely like Boniface. ]

Or a child, for that matter. Very interesting manner of-- summoning, did you call it? We haven't any Craft that mimics such, though it appears more... Magical, than that.

[hexensabbat]

[Ringo lets go of the gun, and it disappears, returning to its form as the diamond tattoos around her right leg.]

Yeah? Well, before we dig into that, let's start with: what's a Craft?

[researcherstory]

Do you want the easy to understand version, or the more technical explanation?

[ ... There is going to be a lot of words in the second one. ]

[hexensabbat]

I think I can handle a technical explanation.

Hit me with it!

[Sorry.]

[researcherstory]

[ This would be easier with writing utensils, however...

... Odile can demonstrate well enough, when it comes to it. For now she folds her hands into her sleeves, comfortable. ]

I'll warn you now, I'm not much of a teacher.

[ But, with that given... ]

Every person where I come from is born with the innate talent to wield one of three Crafts: Piercing Craft, which excels in all manner of blade use, Protecting Craft, which excels where ones hands are concerned, and Creative Craft, which I was born with. Anything to do with paper tends to be our specialty, and these three Crafts encompass a general sense of both regular crafting and willful Crafting.

[ ... It is hard to tell, but there is a difference, which is why she explains it as such. ]

One can craft without Crafting, but one cannot use Crafts without crafting. This applies to Restorative, Regenerative, and Revival type skills as well, though they aren't bound to any particular Craft and can be molded to fit ones' flair. One of my companions takes inspiration from empowering young women who transform into heroic forms with the power of friendship, love, etc, and another's chosen medium is puns.

What matters is that each Craft has its own somatic and/or verbal components. Do you follow so far?

[hexensabbat]

[Ringo listens pretty intently, and then nods at that question, though she raises a hand for a moment to ask:]

Just to make sure I'm following--that's "one can craft-lowercase-c without Crafting-uppercase-C, but one cannot use Crafts-uppercase-C without crafting-lowercase-c", yeah?

[researcherstory]

Correct. You're doing well for someone who's never heard of it before.

[ Haha. Maybe she isn't so bad after all. ]

Any other questions before I continue?

[hexensabbat]

Nope, so far so good.

[Ringo beams, nodding along.]

Keep going!

[researcherstory]

While fighting has only become a necessity recently, each Craft has its strengths and weaknesses in battle, and their roles are decided much the same. You can remember it easily through our mediums of choice: Rock, Paper, Scissors.

[ ...

Yes, really. Really really. ]

Protecting, Creative, and Piercing Crafts respectively. They even have their own distinct scents: Rock Crafts smell like wet rocks when you use them, Paper Crafts smell like old books, and Scissor Crafts... smell like scissors. That metallic sort of thing. It has long been looked into why this occurs, but no satisfying reason has surfaced. It is clear where the more colloquial names came from, however.

Setting that aside, those who use Rock Crafts hype allies up and punch enemies down. They tend to be stocky and durable folk, who don't hesitate to put themselves between their loved ones and a foe. Scissor users specialize in dealing damage with finesse, striking at weak points. They're quick and quick-witted, and seem to have a higher number of those who are able to easily use various skills beneath the Healing Craft umbrella. Lastly, those like myself specialize in minimizing an enemy's abilities in some way, be it to lessen their damage, slow their speed, and so forth.

[ A regular RPG party... She'll pause for any questions. ]

[hexensabbat]

Aaah, gotcha. It's not too different from the systems we use back home when fighting demons.

[She grins, tilting her head.]

Funny that some things are a little universal. It sounds like a cool set of skills, though!

[rpg mechanics...]

[researcherstory]

Indeed. As a side note, while most people are born with only a single Craft they can best hone, some are born with two. A companion of mine wields both Scissor and Paper flawlessly; no matter how hard I may work to be able to wield all three, I will never have her level of mastery.

[ It is possible, though. ]

You seem to have kept up well enough. One of the few advantages of formerly being an amalgamation of data, I imagine.