kaisou | intro;

intro;

WHO: Yuu and... you!
WHERE: Their Labyrinth, then the city and the network.
WHEN: 2/18
WHAT: Isekaiception time
WARNINGS: Shouldn't be any except for Yuu's horrifically low bar for how they're treated

A: Let's... leave Wonderland?
[Something's wrong.

Well, that becomes clear basically immediately. One moment, Yuu's walking to class with Grim, Ace, and Deuce, and the next...

Silence. Unnerving silence.

Grim, Ace, and Deuce aren't there. Actually? Nobody's around. Which is strange, given the time of day? Classes should be starting. But then... the more Yuu walks, the stranger things become. This isn't right. No... no, that supply closet's not in the right place, and this hallway doesn't turn there just yet...?]

Grim?! Ace?! Deuce?! If this is someone's idea of a prank, it's really not funny! [But as they keep walking...]

... Anyone?! Please... someone...

[What's with this sinking feeling in their stomach...]

B: Let's look beyond the door...
[And after that ordeal, Yuu finally finds their way out, one way or another.

They don't recognize this city at all, but it... seems to be Earth? Hm.

With the smartphone in hand, Yuu finally makes their way to a coffee shop and... okay, they're not going to order anything, but they're just going to see about getting this phone set up... If anyone approaches, Yuu's going to look up and greet them with a polite smile.]

Hi there. Need something?

C. Network, video; un: reallyfarflung
[This video opens with a pale-haired teenager squinting at the camera.]

... Ah, okay, it is recording! Um. Hi, everyone.

My name's Yuu. I, uh... just got here? In Kaisou. This is... very much where I wasn't before, and I'm guessing there isn't really a way for me to get back there. So... if anyone can like... point me to where a twice-displaced teenager can stay for the time being, that'd be appreciated?

And this is a long shot, I figure, but if there's anyone from Night Raven College around... maybe point them my way? Thank you for your time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hi Yuu, see the catwoman on your screen!]

I believe "Zodiac" may be able to help there. They're helping all of us in the "isekai group chat" whatever that actually is and "not being from here" seems to be a commonality between us all.

Edited 2022-02-19 00:17 (UTC)

[Oh, catwoman. That's almost a little familiar in a way and it's kind of reassuring... even if it's for where they just were and not, you know, actually home.]

Err, "Zodiac"? [A beat.] I wasn't even aware there was a group chat... But it's nice to know I'm not alone in this mess at least.

[They sigh and shake their head.]

I can't believe this, for it to happen once was bad enough, but twice...

Twice?

I'm originally from a version of Earth. I got whisked off to another world with no way back a while ago. [They glance away from the camera.] I was still in that world before I ended up here.

[Oh you poor thing.]

This entire situation gets more and more complicated the longer I'm here, and I've been here maybe a week. And you're certain this isn't your "Earth"?

Not... entirely, I'll admit, but, uh. Knowing my luck, I'm not getting my hopes up.

[Fair enough.]

Well, either way I think "Zodiac" may be the best option for helping you. They at least have apartments for some of us.

[The idea of trying to call their dad is... daunting. If nothing comes of it, it'll all feel a bit too real that this is their situation and that's just entirely too much for the moment. They're scared.]

I see... Thank you, then. Do... do you know where I can find them?

Yes! I wrote it down here somewhere...ah.

[Rattles off the address!]

If they can't help you, please try to reach out to me. My name is Rhel Fashonti.

Okay, thank you!

[And with that, they'll bow as best as they can towards the camera.]

[This is Hunter's first labyrinth since his own, and he has to say, he isn't impressed. Of course, that should be par for the course - if the discussions he's had with other people are right, then these things tend to be tailored to the individual, and this is clearly someone he isn't familiar with.

Probably. It's not like he's close with many people.

Anyways, he's here to check the thing out, decked out in his Golden Guard uniform (including the mask) on the off-chance he was to run into someone from the Boiling Isles. There's also the small fact that he feels infinitely more comfortable wearing it, like he's doing official Emperor's Coven business instead of floundering at finding a way home.

It's fine. He's fine, and he's wandering the halls, his cardinal tucked away in his hood for safety. Rascal gives a little chirp at the sound of someone's voice echoing from around the corner, and he figures it's safe enough to go check it out. So he does, rounding the corner, then folding his arms and leaning against the wall.]

If you keep yelling you're probably going to attract some flesh-eating monster.

[Yuu slows to a stop when Hunter rounds the corner. Their first instinct is to bolt--especially with that get-up, it's more than just a bit intimidating. But... this is the first person they've seen since their friends vanished.

(At least they hope this is a person and not something taking the guise of one.)]

I'd be incredibly concerned if a flesh-eating monster managed to find its way into Night Raven College, buuuut I have a feeling I'm not there anymore... [They pause.] Who are you, anyway?

[Good, great!! This outfit is supposed to be intimidating and it pains him every time someone just thinks he's wearing a costume or LARPing.

And hey, he's got a name for this place. It's a school, that makes perfect sense from what he's seen.]

The Golden Guard. [What is giving your name. At least he can be a little helpful and waves a hand at their surroundings.] We're in a labyrinth that's been constructed specifically for you. It might be some kind of bridge from your realm to the one the rest of us are stuck in - still working on figuring that out.

[Yuu's quiet, tilting their head as they listen. A labyrinth... fantastic. Great.

When everything sinks in properly, they frown.]

Well, at least it's not a prank... didn't figure my friends were powerful enough for that, but I wouldn't put it past one of the upperclassmen. [Or Crowley, but it doesn't feel right to say that while they're still in this twisted mockery of the school.] But... just to make sure I'm understanding you right... This place... lets out into a different world?

[They're already not sure whether they want to laugh or cry, and they have a sinking feeling whatever the answer is isn't going to help.]

[Hunter straightens up, no longer leaning against the wall.]

Yup. Straight into the human realm, into a city called Kaisou. That name doesn't mean anything to you, right?

[He doubts it does, but he might as well ask. They've got human ears and all, so they're at the very least not from the Boiling Isles.]

[The human realm... They don't want to get their hopes up, but...]

The city name doesn't ring a bell, but if it's Earth, there's plenty of cities I've never heard of. If it isn't... well, it doesn't matter. [They pause.] Either way, I'll take this over my introduction to the last world I ended up in that wasn't my home.

It's Earth. An Earth. [He's been able to read that much, buuuuut suddenly that's becoming a whole lot less important.]

Wait - last world? You've done this before?

An Earth...

[They nod.]

I didn't get a weird labyrinth thing like this last time but yeah. A version of Earth is, at least, kind of familiar. [They hope.] Knowing my luck, this still isn't home, but...

And you ended up here? [He waves at their surroundings.] That College? Or is this place located in your home?

Oh, Night Raven is definitely not located anywhere near my home.

[They laugh a bit.]

It's specifically a school for mages, which I very much am not.

Mages? [Okay, he hasn't run across someone who's mentioned a school of mages yet.] You mean people who can use magic? Humans, I'm guessing?

People who can use magic, yeah. Not just humans, though... There's beastfolk, and I've heard rumors about fairies and merfolk attending, too.

[Beastfolk? Well, that might mean demons.]

What about witches? [He's mostly just curious here.]

I've only heard the term used for one of the Great Seven... [They pause, before elaborating--] They're some semi-local historical figures that inspired the different dorms at the school. One of them's referred to as the Sea Witch.

[He raises an eyebrow behind his mask.]

Sea Witch? Wow, back home you'd have to have some real power to get a title like that.

[And he looks around, down one of the halls.] So which way do we go?

Yeah... I'm sure she had to be pretty amazing...

[To be held at the same level of reverence as a literal deity? Yeah. The rest of the Great Seven had to be seriously incredible when the group included a god of the dead.

Yuu looks around, humming to themself thoughtfully.]

Unfortunately... I'm not sure. The layout's all wrong... Professor Crewel's classroom should be somewhere around here, but I haven't spotted it at all. Which way did you come from?

[Hunter will gesture down another hall.]

Thataway. I didn't come across anything interesting, so I doubt it's worth backtracking.

I dunno, an exit would be nice. At least, I assume one could get out the same way you got in? Since we seem to be coming at opposite ends here.

[They cross their arms and glance around.]

Though... there might be some interesting stuff if we do find Professor Crewel's classroom. Though I'm not sure where exactly he keeps the potion ingredients.

[He can't really argue with that. Getting trapped in here for all eternity would be terrible... but on the other hand, potion ingredients from another realm. Behind his mask his eyes light up, and he turns, looking around.]

Potions, huh? Look, if there's an exit around here it's probably not going anywhere. [After all, he got through his labyrinth, and so did everyone else in Kaisou.] Let's check out this professor's classroom instead.

If we can find it. Like I said, the layout here's all wrong.

[But they're not actually objecting to seeking it out, especially since if this place is as abandoned as it feels, it won't be like they're actually taking things from Crewel.

They'll pick a direction and start walking.]

We'll find out, won't we?

[He'll follow after them, looking around as they walk. It's a labyrinth, so he isn't expecting things to be straightforward.]

So what kinds of other magic did this place teach?

Let's see... There's ancient curses, defensive magic, magical analysis, conjuring... there's also magical pharmaceuticals, but that's a subset of alchemy, I think? That's a higher level elective, though. Flight is part of PE with Coach Vargas. [They pause, thinking.] Oh! And there's an animal linguistics class, too.

[They open a door to peer inside and--nope. Supply closet. They close the door.] ... And way more classes than that, I'm sure, but I'm just a freshman.

[Wow, that's quite a bit of magical variety. And it's categorized differently than the Coven System, but it being categorized at all makes him think it doesn't sound quite like wild magic....

Definitely things to mull over later. He leans over to take a look inside the door when Yuu opens it, disappointed that it's only a supply closet.]

So you're just starting out. Do you pick some kind of specialization as you take these classes?

Mostly some place to sit down and guzzle down some soda. I have had a long, looooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng day.

[Pasqualo does, indeed, look exhausted. She hasn't had any sleep in something approaching 24 hours at this point, and no matter how durable she is, she is really starting to feel it.]

[Yuu offers her a sympathetic look and gestures to the seat across from them.]

You too, huh? Feel free to join me, then. Company sounds nice anyway.

[They'll set their phone down for now--they can fiddle with it later.]

[Pasqualo has nothing so refined as an espresso or even a coffee. She takes out a bottle of Mt. Dew and immediately slugs down a few sips to get some of her energy back.]

I guess you could say I'm really new in town, and... hooooboy. My first day was really overwhelming.

And I still need to figure out a spot to sleep. This coffee shop looks like it has a really nice dumpster; do you think I could crash there?

Edited 2022-02-20 01:50 (UTC)

Oh, I'm new in town, too. My name's Yuu, what's yours?

[... Oh, hm.]

I've been told there's been folks helping people who are new in town, but, uh... I'm not sure how much it applies outside of some very particular situations...

[And Yuu's not sure how much they should say beyond that. The whole 'other world' thing...]

Pasqualo! It's nice to meetcha. [She pronounces it in the Italian way, somehow.]

I mean, but circumstances are... pretty weird...

[Even weirder than what's normal in Runoff Falls.]

But I'm not sure anybody would really believe me if I talked about them. They're pretty, well, unbelievable.

Likewise.

[Weird, unbelievable circumstances, huh... Well, worth a shot.]

What, like world-hopping? If so, same hat.

GASP!

How did you-

[Volume, Pasqualo! She lowers her voice.]

How did you know?!

It was a guess, admittedly, but I'm in the same boat.

[They offer a sheepish smile.]

That being said, I guess this means we can go find these people together? I've been told this group called 'Zodiac' have been providing apartments for people who've gotten stuck here.

[... It's definitely suspicious, but Yuu doesn't really have any better options, as far as they're aware. They don't really want to sleep on a park bench or something.]

An apartment does sound better than a dumpster, I guess.

...

But just the name Zodiac sounds real weird, right? Like that's either gotta be a MLM thing or some kinda conspiracy.

I mean multi-level marketing, not gay dudes. Gay rights and all that, haha!

Yeah, I figured that's what you meant.

[They snort.]

But you are right, it's super suspicious. But it's this or a park bench. Or couch-surfing, but that seems pretty dangerous at this point.

Park benches are perfectly fine beds! My friends use them all the time!

["Friends" being homeless men she barely knows the name of, but still.]

...they're not super comfortable, though, so you're probably right.

Not super comfortable, and also exposed to the elements. [...] But hey, I got the shady group's office address, so maybe we could head that way together once you've had a bit of time to rest a little?

[Since hey, not going alone sounds way better than going alone.]

Sounds radical!

Now, if you'll excuse me, juuuuust give me five minutes. Pour some of my Dew on my head if I don't wake up.

[And then Pasqualo, at Yuu's invitation, passes out, her head bonking against the table.]

[Yuu winces a bit as Pasqualo's head bonks against the table, but they're...

... Well, honestly, they're going to give it more than five minutes, since that's definitely not enough for a nap. They'll pick their phone back up to fiddle with it some more in the meantime.

Once twenty minutes have passed, they'll go ahead and give Pasqualo a light nudge.]

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intro;

video | un: fashonti (prompt C obviously)

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