OPENING LOG.

[enjoyers]

Characters: Everyone!
Date: August 11th
Rating/Warnings: Nothing as of yet. Mark anything that qualifies a warning in your subject line!
Summary: Arrivals.
You want happiness. A company called RECOVERjoy has offered it to you, so you've signed up with them. Gaining happiness can't hurt, right?

Suddenly you're in a room, an apartment, with three other beds and unfamiliar faces. This is your assigned room, and it's quite crowded. You don't get much of a chance to think as your phone beeps--it's not your phone, maybe you've never had a phone, but there's one in your hand so you check it. It's a smart phone, nothing special about it, but now you've received a text from RECOVERjoy.

Welcome to Joywick! We're so happy to have you!

You've arrived in your assigned room, we hope you like it! Don't worry, you can move out once you've collected enough joypoints. Speaking of, if you'd like to check your balance, there's a special application that tracks it for you right on your phone! Handy, right?

... Did you check? If you did, you'll notice you have no joypoints. But don't despair! We're giving you a special mission. Make three (3) friends and get 200 joypoints! Gee, that's easy! Of course, we can't put a level on something like friendship, so just get to know people. Don't miss out on these easy points! We'll give you more information about joypoints once you're done.

Wishing you happiness,
RECOVERjoy : )

You're in this for 1 million joypoints, aren't you? Might as well get started.

(AFTER THE MISSION HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED OR ONCE 24 HOURS HAVE PASSED)

You receive another text from RECOVERjoy.

Great job on the mission! Or not so great job for those who didn't do it. : (

Well, you probably want more joypoints either way. Here's how! Look for another person. I bet they look fairly happy, right? Why are they happier than you? Because they've got the joypoints you need! The only way to get those joypoints is to steal theirs. How? Take their happiness away. It's easy! Maybe a rumor here, an injury there... but if you want the big points, be creative!
You want to be happy, don't you?

Wishing you happiness,
RECOVERjoy : )

... Not quite what you expected when you signed up. You can't leave, though, you still owe RECOVERjoy 500 joypoints and, well, you came here for a reason.

Comments

[outfoxing]

Hopefully! I wouldn't mind having a little less than the maximum occupancy though, if I'm entirely honest. [because seriously how is he going to be able to start an out-of-home counseling service if "home" is cramped and shared with four people? it's just not a good fit.

That question distracts him from the thought and he's quick to give a wave.] Of course, feel free to ask whatever you would like. I lived in Japan prior to coming here. What about you?

[varmint]

[Elijah doesn't respond to the question right away because now he's thinking about Japan.] Japan...that is...

...very far away. [wow. For whatever reason he says this kind of GRAVELY, and drags out his cigarette a bit more. Yes, things are going to be much different here.] As for me...Australia. In Melbourne.

Haha, I know when to push and when I am simply being nosy. Unless you prefer not to, you're free to ask whatever comes to mind as well!

[outfoxing]

[what kind of dramatic declaration was that it actually gives him pause for a moment because he really wasn't expecting it...

But he's good at the whole rolling with bizarre conversations thing, even if he still looks just a little amused when he speaks again.]

From Australia, certainly! This is already shaping up to be quite an interesting stay, I can only imagine the tremendous mesh of citizens that will be here. [It's a pretty exciting prospect to him, all things considered.

He hums thoughtfully, and then:] I'd like to know how you've enjoyed Australia, in that case. I've never been outside of Japan myself, you see.

[varmint]

[Elijah vaguely wonders what Kudou has heard of about Australia, and if it's anything like his first experience when he moved to Melbourne.] I've enjoyed it immensely. Especially the city...the way it just so happens to draw in countless strangers and cultures of very variety. It's very refreshing, if not startling at first.

I don't like the rain, though. [He cradles his cheek on a palm.]

Does Japan share a similar likeness? [It's hard to admit that his knowledge of Japanese culture is limited, from their rigorous universities to their...liquor. And geishas.]

[outfoxing]

A breath of fresh air, is that it? It sounds like a good place to be. Everyone needs a little change of pace, right? After this is over, I don't think I would mind moving to a place like that. [It's accompanied with a laugh but he doesn't really sound like he's joking. His current area of living is getting a little... stale, after all.]

Does it rain often, then? That's pretty surprising, everyone seems to talk about the desert areas when they mention Australia.

[He leans forward a little, lacing his fingers together and resting his elbows on his knees.] That depends! If you're looking for a place like Melbourne, Tokyo would be your best bet. The further you get away from major cities, the more peaceful and quiet the locations become. Granted, the rural lifestyle has its own set of good points.

[varmint]

[He nods at that.] I originally came from Perth, and believe you me it was very dry! The real downpours are in the city, haha. But, yes...there is always plenty of talk of Tokyo in Melbourne, surprisingly. That one I remember. It's suppose to be "devastatingly" busy from what I hear. Not that I'd mind.

I'd consider visiting if my time would allow it. That and days on a ship... it's a terrible amount of work.

[oh.] Oh! [He places his hands over his knees.] You don't live in Tokyo? I have to admit...I can't quite envision you living somewhere as rustic as Perth, or the peaceful locations of Japan.

[outfoxing]

Devastatingly busy is a decent way of phrasing it, actually, but I think the sort of people who live in Tokyo would be upset by the comparative lack of things to do in any smaller location. [But the mention of a ship has him arching a brow, his head canting slightly to the side.]

Is flying out of the question for you?

[and then a quick wave of the hand.] Ah, well, I'm afraid I don't know anything about Perth, but the place I live isn't exactly rustic! There are more superstitious people in the area than you'd find in a larger town, but all in all, it's very suburban.

[varmint]

Superstitious? [He pinches his cigarette between his thumb and forefinger, looking occupied again, but only because delving further into this conversation has made him feel misplaced again. Or for lack of a better word...unbalanced.]

Then...you could also count me in that category. [He pulls out his phone, and gives a hard look. Then, he looks back up at Kudou, and smiles sheepishly.] Although, I don't believe I could ever hope to fly in my lifetime! That's a very funny thought!

But that is the new dream, isn't it? Planes hopping around, country to country, across oceans...

[outfoxing]

[He's keeping a keen eye on those actions and expressions good sir, even if he seems completely immersed in the conversation.] Oh, you know... It's the kind of place where students still like testing their courage after hearing horror stories and people avoid places that ghosts visit. That sort of thing.

Is that so? [What a perplexing guy. The phone check earns him a somewhat curious look, but chooses to remain silent about it. If it's something he wouldn't mind sharing, he'd talk about it, and more importantly...]

Melbourne is a big city, isn't it? Don't they have at least one international airport?

[varmint]

[Elijah pauses half way into putting his phone back into his jacket. He gives Kudou a peculiar look.] Airport?

Ah, is that something they've already achieved in Japan? Although I have to admit I don't believe I've heard of it before...

..or of this, now that I think of it. [He weighs his phone in his hand.] I gathered it's...a kind of phone. [He finally laughs.] Am I close?

[outfoxing]

[whoops yep now he's showing his confusion in full.]

Airports are fairly common across the globe, from what I know. [And then he gives that phone a look, pulling his own out of his pocket to check it as well, even if he already knows he won't find anything particularly outstanding about it.]

As are cell phones. You don't have either?

[varmint]

[Elijah watches Kudou's face for a few brief seconds, unanswering, then briskly turns on his phone and scowls.] I don't. I wonder why that is?

[It could have been any number of reasons, really...oh, it couldn't be. And honestly, Elijah didn't catch anything particularly surreal or supernatural about Kudou, but the situation itself was giving way to that very tension. He shrugs his shoulders in some attempt to dismiss the feeling.]

How funny, really! I suddenly feel so much older! I may not just be keeping up with the times.

[outfoxing]

[The possibility that's presenting itself in front of him right now is, frankly, the most interesting thing he's seen since arriving. Different places is one thing, but this...

He unfolds and refolds his hands, now using them to rest his chin against.]

Age does seem to creep up on the best of us, doesn't it? But I do have to wonder... International airports have seen heavy use since before the 1930s and cell phones have been very popular since at least the start of 2000.

[varmint]

Ahaha, see, I didn't even think to-

["2000".]

...[Elijah gives an incredibly strained smile towards Kudou, and all of his doubts and fears have been realized. Figures.]

Aha, that's all very interesting...but this doesn't add up. [He frowns, really frowns this time, and finally pockets his phone.]

1921. That's correct, isn't it? [But he already knew, somehow, it wasn't.]

[outfoxing]

[Oho, definitely interesting. If it wasn't quite clear that his conversational partner was having a difficult time getting over this particular hurdle, he'd probably clap his hands together in a display of enthusiasm.

As things are, he adopts a suitably unobtrusive posture, wanting to lessen any potential negative impact this information might have. He's even doing a somewhat decent job at keeping that amusement out of his smile this time!]

It's the year 2010 for myself, actually. It seems that "different places" doesn't quite cover it, hm?

[varmint]

[It's pretty safe to say if Meredith were here, Elijah would be tossing one hell of a fit, and it's only by the will of his own resistance does he actually not. throw. a fit...]

It doesn't, and I'm sure whoever decided it would be interesting to warp vast instances such as time must find it very funny. [Elijah takes a long drag of his smoke and rubs a temple.] But...

I suppose this doesn't really change anything. [At least not anything he's planned.] I feel like some wayward character in a science fiction novel...

[outfoxing]

[HE'S IMPRESSED. Or he would be, if he knew what kind of restraint was playing into this conversation right now... Instead he just kind of laughs, shifting again so that his arms are folded over his chest.]

That's exactly it! I can't say becoming part of a science fiction novel has ever been a goal of mine, but it says something about the company hosting this, doesn't it? [Those fantastic promises they made might not be quite as impossible as they seem given the sort of abilities they've already displayed, and the prospect alone is fascinating.

A glance toward the two empty beds, and then:] I would have liked to greet everyone upon their arrival, but I don't think we'll find anything particularly interesting sitting here, either.

[varmint]

[Oh, yeah....he kinda forgot there were suppose to be two other roommates bunking in with them. He had to wonder exactly which decade or century they were from, and the idea of finding out sooner or later wasn't entirely reveling. Kudou, despite the little "hiccup" in their conversation, seemed to have been taking it well too...not that Elijah expected anything less from him. He knew well enough not to, either way.] Perhaps not.

I'll head out eventually, now that it's quite obvious I have a bit of...catching up to do. [Elijah almost smirks, but it doesn't reach his eyes.] Particularly with our new convenient little phones.

Are you planning on familiarizing yourself with the rest of the city?

[outfoxing]

[There's a clear note of sympathy in his voice when he speaks next, carefully delivered in a way to avoid sounding patronising.] If you have any questions, you could ask me as well and I'll certainly do my best to answer. I can't really imagine how shocking it must feel to find yourself in the wrong era, but there's no reason to put yourself through extra hassle if it can be avoided, right?

[That said, he stands and slips his own phone back into his pocket.] It seems like a good use of time. I'll just take a quick look around for now to get an idea of the layout.