subdivided | INTRO LOG

INTRO LOG

Week Zero
32 in Competition

The transition from unconsciousness to the waking world is practically seamless. Though you're certain this wasn't where you meant to end up, for a few brief moments it's hard to grasp the situation and take in your surroundings.

A soft twilight lights your way, casting a glow over the sprawling village that fans out around you. Just outside of the large meeting hall you'll find yourself awakening among several others who have found themselves in this place. There's a sense of peace that looms over the area, the only sounds being the cheerful chirp of a stray bird or two and the babbling brook that runs through the village itself.

Stand up, dust yourself off and set out. There are plenty of places to explore and should you venture far enough you'll even find several little houses throughout the village. It may take some time, but as you check out each house you'll soon come across something that belongs to you...along with something that doesn't. It seems that this new residence is yours to share. As for the village itself, the other buildings appear open and well-stocked, providing you with a variety of amenities to utilize. The paths leading out of the village, however, are guarded by four ornate wooden gates. No matter how hard you try, they will not let you past. It seems that the time isn't right yet.

Speaking of, the only way to truly track the passage of time is by charting the movements of the sun but that can prove to be quite difficult as well. As the sun dips below the horizon and the night sky fills with stars, the bell at the shrine rings out to signal the end of your first day. No one else has arrived. It's only you and these strangers for now.

It seems as though you'll have plenty of time to get acquainted with your fellow companions. Make yourself comfortable; when the time is right, answers will appear.

Welcome to the soft intro of Subdivided! This is your intro mingle and the current conditions will last through the weekend until Monday, June 3rd at which point the weekly log will go up. Your characters will not know anything about the partner system, how powers work or any plot-relevant information until Monday. However, characters are free to discover their power through trial and error and will have access to their item from home immediately.

Please note that an additional top-level to introduce NPCs and Game Mechanics will go up on Sunday, 4 PM EST.

main navigation.

locations ✧ powers ✧ profiles
private conversations ✧ audiences ✧ faq

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ they shake their head at that, expression falling a little, though they try to keep their jaw stiff. ]

That's impossible. It'll die if it touches me. [ they stare down at the speckled fish some more, then turn their head to face him, glittering hair falling to the side. ] You should stay away, too.

[That's a little different. Naturally, it means he's going to press a little.]

Why? [It doesn't look like they're that dangerous.] Just don't push it that hard.

[ Cinnabar is quickly learning that humans like asking lots of questions. A lot more than gems do. They feel a little sick, but they make themself answer, if only because they think he might leave if they do. ]

I'm poisonous. Living things die just breathing the air around me. I'm sure... humans are no exception.

...wouldn't that mean all of us would be dead by now? [Thats very discomforting thanks.]

That's why I told you to stay away.

[ the look of discomfort is one they're intimately familiar with... they just frown, looking back to the water again. ]

[He should go. He's clearly intruding on a private moment of wallowing and possibly sentencing himself to death, but... ]

...I'm studying the plants here. [Sort of. ] And all of us have been exposed anyway. How soon would we know we've been poisoned?

How would I know? I've never seen humans until now.

[ they've never had to see the results. ]

... Just don't get close. If you touch me, you'll get contaminated for sure.

[Okay. He just walks backwards a a little before he crouched down not too far away but with some distance. Let's just look at the fish.]

No humans ever? Then what are you?

I'm a gem.

[ they could add some snarky comment about how it's obvious by looking at them, but considering they've never seen a human before, it's reasonable that a human would have never seen them. Even if they are "the bones" of humanity. ]

[Well he's not a dumbass, so.]

What kind? You don't look like a ruby. [Does Kaoru know how gems work? Not really but he's seen enough high-end jewelry and art to kind of figure.]

[ they seem a little surprised that he even knows what that is, and they perk up, slightly, for a given value of "perking up." ]

No... I'm Cinnabar. There was a Ruby, but they were taken a long time ago... [ staring at him again, partly wary, partly curious. ] You know about us? How?

[He shakes his head because this isn't exactly a misunderstanding that seems fair.]

I don't think I know about you specifically, but gems like you are an important part of our culture. [Sort of. He doesn't really know how to explain it.] They're a sign of fine art or wealth a lot of the time.

[...] But that's your name then? Cinnabar.

[ and Cinnabar doesn't really understand that, either. Wealth? There's no money in their society. They kind of understand the art part, but only in the most basic sense - and they can't figure how gems would figure into it. Gems are known as the beautiful people, so maybe humans liked to draw them or something... that's all they can figure.

Theoretically. Gems and humans shouldn't be coexisting at all. Their brow furrows at his explanation, but since he asks a question, they move on. At least all the information seems to have distracted them from being too crabby for the time being. ]

That's right. So?

[Well that's good, he didn't know how he'd explain that gems don't talk or have physical forms like theirs where he's from. There's a half-grin. ]

Nothing. Wanted to make sure, that's all. [He looks at the fish, hand creeping toward the water.] ....Kaoru.

[Just to be even. ]

Kaoru.

[ they repeat it, watching him with the wary eyes of an unsure feral cat. The last time they introduced themself to anyone... it must have been hundreds of years ago. They don't really bother meeting the new gems anymore, at this point. It feels... ]

... I don't get why you're still here, [ they mumble, sinking to sit on the grass. ] You must be a plant maniac.

[It's fine. He doesn't mind. He's still here, just dipping his fingers into the water to try and lure the fish closer.]

Truthfully, I'm avoiding my roommate. [There's a hint of a grin.] Besides, it's a good idea to know what plants are good and which ones aren't. [Just in case. Plus, he's bored. He's taking stock in case he gets bored enough to actually start making flower arrangements.]

[ avoiding your roommate mood... they nod, expression easing into something a little less angry for a moment for the first time in the conversation. They sympathize, apparently. (For no reason. They haven't even met Nana yet!! But.) ]

"Good?" [ a pause. ] Humans eat plants?

[Thanks Cinnabar. Kaoru scoffs a little, both judgmental and amused at the same time.]

There's one human in particular who seems to want to eat the plants. [Minato.] But plants can be used for other things, too. Like medicine and tea and such. And it's closer than the farm anyway.

[ Medicine? Tea? Farm? They just feel more and more out of place the more they talk to humans. Their lives are so different...

glumly: ]

Am I supposed to know what any of that is? [ sigh. ] I hate being here...

[...huh.]

Your...world didn't have those things. [Even the phrasing is awkward because he's trying to cope with the idea there are other worlds, period, but. An attempt.] Then what did you have?

[It should be obvious to him what a farm or medicine are, but. Look he's spent a year and some change having to educate Haruhi. There's a little tolerance built up.]

[ it's ok they totally get it (even if they offer no sympathy, as usual) ]

Does it matter? Neither of us are going there.

[ they stare at the fish as they grouse; after a second or two, they answer, anyway, mostly because they're curious, too, even if they won't admit it. ]

... There's a school. And a pond... and fields.

[It doesn't matter, but Kaoru's nosy. The fish swim around his hand and he focuses on that as Cinnabar replies.]

Fields. [He's thinking of the fields here by the farmlands, and also some of the less urban areas of Japan.] It sounds kind of nice. [Which is the least insulting thing he can say.] ...the place I was in before this is very different from home, but they're bigger than this. I'm trying to understand why we were brought here.

[ they don't know if it's nice or not - it's all they've ever known for a thousand years. It's about as nice as this place is, they guess. Maybe better, because they didn't get kidnapped and there were other gems around. ]

So is everyone else. You'd be stupid not to. [ they can't be nice for more than one comment ] We might not ever find out.

[Fair.]

Well it would be stupid to be here without figuring out why. Someone has to tell us. Or we're missing something outside of those gates. [A beat.] Today, plants. Tomorrow…everything else.

[ they can't exactly argue with that... ]

The gates are invulnerable. I tried to break one open earlier today... Normal wood shouldn't be strong enough to withstand my weight.

[ so there must be another way to open them. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject