INTRO EVENT ;; OPEN

[nosotros]

Who: Everyone!
Where: All over the city!
When: June 19th
Summary: The newcomers to El Sera have arrived.
Rating: PG-13ish, likely!

For everyone who arrives in El Sera that day, it's the same. Whoever the newcomer might be, when he opens his eyes, he's alone in a calm quiet room. In front of him is a box. In his hand is a letter:

Hello. I'm sure you've got a lot of questions, so I'll do my best to answer them.

To start, you aren't on your home world anymore. You're in a city called El Sera, in a country called America, on a planet called Earth. A lot of you might recognize the name Earth, and you might even be from it, but if you're reading this then I can promise you one thing--this isn't the Earth you're thinking of.

Magic exists in this world, and that magic is what pulled you here. It's given you magic of your own, if you didn't already have it, and the ability to defend yourself from the monsters that inhabit this world. I want to ask you to take a more proactive role in fighting these creatures and do more than just defend yourself, but I'm a transplant from another world myself. I understand some of what you're going through and I won't force you into it, but it makes it easier for us -- Xochipilli -- to find a way to send you home.

Whatever you decide, whether to join us or strike out on your own, is up to you. I only ask that you keep your magical abilities and status as, well, an alien hidden. Xochipilli will do its best to hide and protect you, but there are limits to what we're capable off. This city is a bit of an odd one, so simply behave like you belong and most people won't give you another glance.

Sincerely,
Jackson Rau

The box primarily contains any objects or clothing of the newcomer that would draw undue attention in their new, modern surroundings. However, it also holds a phone complete with instructions, a key to the recipient's room, a map to their apartment or dorm (with an attached note reminding them that their roommate is probably a normal person and that they should maintain their secrecy), and a plastic debit card.

Whoever arrives here, the setup is the same: In front of him is a set of double doors, leading into a room filled with milling Xochipilli employees. Any questions he has about the city can be answered here--and if he's discrete enough about asking, he can even get some basic instruction on how to use their magic.

Behind him is a door labeled 'EXIT'. Should he choose to step through this door, he'll find himself in a deserted stairwell that opens up into an alleyway.

The choice is up to him.

The Welcome - The Festival - Roommates - Around the Town

Comments

[estranges]

[Kain... he's taking it all in stride. He knows how to blend in, has the clothing these people of Earth tend to wear, but he feels very naked without his armor, or at least something to cover his head. But the lack of security his armor brings him doesn't bother him as much, because he learns as much as he can (or at least as much as this 'Xochipilli' will allow him to have) before deciding to retire to his rooms.

Or well. Shared rooms.

He knows the feeling of sharing quarters, remembers that much of his early life, but he knows this is different. He is a man far too used to battle, in both lifetimes, and living with someone he has never met does not sit will with him.

So he strides into the rooms without preamble, as if he owns it, intent on ignoring anyone there, if there is someone there. He just wants an empty room to hide his personal belongings in.]

[crotesque]

[From Will Graham's perspective, Crawford could have tried a little harder on this prank. If he was going to take advantage of Will's bouts of disassociative sleepwalking, then he should go all out. He hadn't even really bothered to disguise his name. Although where he came up with Rau and Xochipilli, Will can't even guess.

He does rub his eyes, however, looking exasperated as he stares tiredly down at the letter. El Sera in America. He's never heard of El Sera, but his mind runs over the word, a root word for "late." He's not going to go so far as to think Jack is trying to punish him in some way, this was too elaborate for a man who liked to shout as much as Jack Crawford did. So it isn't Jack.

So he's just losing his mind. He's cynical enough to jump to that, and also enough of a detective that he stuffs the letter in his pocket, takes everything in the box with him out the door. He's being led towards something. He doesn't believe it's magic, or the fate of the world, but he'll find out what's going on, one way or another. The first clue he has is the map and the key.

He comes in after Kain, looking around at the empty apartment with a furrow between his brows. An empty apartment is not what he liked to see, he couldn't read anything from an empty apartment. There was no intent, no explanation. He takes his glasses off and rubs his eyes again, pushing down the creep of anxiety.

Where is he. What has he done.]

[estranges]

[Kain looks up when the door opens behind him. Oh, that must be him. The man he is supposed to share space with and keep everything a secret from.

At the very least, Kain is good at keeping secrets. He hardly ever speaks nonsense to spill a secret after all. Though without his armor on him, even just his helmet, he'll have to do a little more. He's too used to lying with a helmet on.

The other man looks stressed. Perhaps because he'd just moved in to the city, not like Kain who'd been dumped in here unceremoniously like those that fashion themselves the powers that be in this realm. Should Kain care? He will be in fact living with this man, and he probably should make things a little more bearable for both of them.]

Hm. If you are feeling ill, I have little way of assisting you right now. [Smooth, Kain.

He may have a bit of an British accent, though not exactly. People have been telling him about this since he arrived here, even though he doesn't know what a British accent is.]

//will is very keen to details, let me know if you'd rather he not notice something/vice versa!

[crotesque]

[A voice. It takes Graham a minute to respond, mulling over the comment one more time before smiling bitterly behind his hand. Yes, he supposes he is feeling a little bit ill. He has been feeling a little bit ill for quite some time now, all of his glue coming undone.]

I'm fine.

[He decides that after a moment, and with a deep breath lifts his head to examine the other man. He looks... as if he feels out of place. As if he's used to carrying himself in a different manner.]

You must be... [Will glances down at a slip of paper disdainfully.] My roommate.

[He isn't particularly obliged to play this game of secrecy, maybe because he doesn't understand that others have had this 'prank' played on them.]

got it, thanks o7

[estranges]

Indeed.

[It's as if he's not the only one unhappy about the proceedings. Kain though, he's not interested in letting anyone know that, so he holds on to his cool, distant demeanor.]

Just arrived yourself, I see.

[But that's a problem-- Kain knows nothing about this world and lying about where he'd come originally will not be easy, especially since he doesn't remember his formative years.

... Unless of course he can use his lack of memories to his advantage. Well, he'll see how well that will go should he be asked.]

sorry for the delay!

[crotesque]

Something like that.

[There's a sarcastic bitterness at the edges of his voice, it's not directed at who he's talking to, not even really at himself.]

Do you know how far Virginia is from here?

[Not to make Kain's life hard, but Wolf Trap VA is home base. If he could get back there, things would just be better.]

no problem!

[estranges]

[And there's the thing he's been dreading. Questions about the locations in this world. It's not about where he's from, thankfully, but things like this are difficult enough as it is.

People here comment on his 'British' accent a lot, and judging from their own speech, it's something not common in 'America'. He supposes he can use that to his advantage.]

I doubt I'd be very helpful. I've never been elsewhere in this country.

[Not a lie, of course, because he's never been anywhere in this country. As of a few hours ago, he'd never even heard of such a thing.]

[crotesque]

[Will supposes that might be true, inhales.]

What brings you here, then?

[estranges]

[Aside from being forcibly taken here? Nothing.]

A change of pace.

[crotesque]

Right. [It certainly is that, but Will doesn't know if that's a good thing or not. He relies on the stability of the same place to feel... safe, but maybe it was also strangling. He doesn't know if he's ready to think about all of this right now.] That sounds nice.

[As if he isn't here as well. He's still working on wrapping his mind around it, still feels like he's just woken up from another too-real dream and is reeling, wondering where his feet have taken him. There's a long pause from Will, he looks tired and strained, but after a moment he shakes his head and asks something benign to cover it over,]

Do you like the apartment?

[He is uninvested in the answer, but it gives him a moment to breathe.]

[estranges]

It's adequate. [To put it mildly. Nothing like he's ever seen before, but then again, this entire realm is new to him.

At first he considers repeating his comment about medicine or supplies, because the man looks tired, at the end of his rope, but Kain desists. He's done so once, he wont repeat himself.

So he falls silent after that and opens a door to a bedroom. Let the man deal.]

[crotesque]

[Will takes note of the other man's reticence. It doesn't offend him, truthfully. At the moment, it's probably even a relief. Still, it's noted, filed away, Will can't help but take notes on everyone he meets. It's why he hates meeting people.

He does decide to follow Kain's lead, however, and heads inside to lie down on one of the empty beds and just let his mind go quiet for a little while.]