Intro Log: The Joys of Composting

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for September
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: September 10th-14th
Warnings: New folks! Bugs! Weird stuff!

It's that time again! Or, well, probably the very first time for you. It's not that often that you turn up in a different world - unless it is. You awaken on the ground of a large arena, a stone ceiling stretching high above you. Welcome to Hadriel! Don't worry, you weren't the only one who woke up here. So did a bunch of other people - and so did some monsters.

Yup, crawling around being incredibly gross are quite a few Jauchekafers, large beetles that feed off chemical and biological waste from humans. When upset or alarmed, they're perfectly happy to swarm and attack people, so hopefully you didn't wake up in the middle of them. Being about two and a half feet long, their bites can do quite a bit of damage, and that's not even counting the toxicity that might be passed on from their diet!

Speaking of their diet, those beetles aren't the only trash that's washed up in Hadriel this month. While making your escape from the arena, you might stumble over a interesting table or a possibly comfy chair, or even a piece of art. A lot of it's pretty cool, but you're not gonna find anything that isn't made out of trash. But hey, maybe that's your aesthetic?

Don't get too distracted by all this trash that has been turned into treasure. After you've find your way out of the colosseum there's plenty of other distractions! Feel free to go explore the rest of the city! Find a house, a new monster, a project to help with, or simply scavenge for supplies. Good luck, and enjoy your stay in Hadriel!

► This log covers September 10th-14th.
► Feel free to make your own logs as well!
► All characters arrive with phones that have network communication and the newbie guide installed.
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!

Comments

[restinglichface]

[It was almost funny how a three-bedroom apartment housing four people and one giant canine-like thing could go from feeling overcrowded to feeling startlingly empty and too damn quiet overnight.

The loss of Magnus was a hit that none of his friends could have been prepared for, the giant man's infectious enthusiasm such a constant in Lup's life for the last forty-seven years that his sudden departure just made everything seem dimmer. Feel less warm, less inviting. They'd lost him in the past, sure, due to his own martyr complex and constant need to be a Big Damn Hero, but they'd always known he'd be back at the end of the year, always with the same black eye from their last night on their home planet. Always smiling and ready to try again on whatever plane they ended up on next.

But Magnus disappearing from Hadriel was different. There was no outright guarantee of his return, no promise they'd ever seen him again. He was just gone without a trace and none of them knew for sure if he'd ever come back.

And he'd left his damn dog behind for them to deal with too.

Still, like clockwork, Lup's there when the newcomers arrive, ready to stomp through and light up any beetles that get in her way. The best kind of distraction from the emptiness she felt even walking into their apartment as of late. But she's barely into her first sweep of the arena when she catches sight of an unexpected, but entirely familiar hulking figure tugging his spear free of beetle corpses. Lup's frozen for only the briefest of moments before she's racing forward, hopping over stray beetles to catch up with the figure who could only be Magnus. And okay, it may not be the safest of options considering he's wielding that spear, but Lup launches herself at him anyway, forcing him into the briefest of hugs possible before she's pulling back with a start.]

You asshole! [Lup laughs anyway before aiming a punch at his shoulder, even if his armor probably negates all damage.] I can't believe you fucking ducked out on us for a week. And leaving your stupid dog behind too! I won't get back that time I spent walking her! You owe me, pal.

[armcollector]

[Magnus catches sight of Lup as she launches herself directly at him, and he hurriedly moves the Lance away to avoid hurting her. It's the most welcome feeling in the world, the feeling of utter familiarity as she pulls him into a hug, but it's over too soon.

The punch bounces off his armor, but he makes it look like it hurt a little, for her sake, rubbing his shoulder.]

Hey! I didn't try to get caught up in the Door's bullshit wormhole or whatever! I never asked to... Wait, hold on, I did ask, I totally asked to go home, but not like that.

[Wait a second, something she said totally distracts him from all that.]

Wait, holy shit. Peanut! I can't believe you walked her and everything, I-- You guys didn't get rid of her??

[He feels the tiniest tear come to his eye at the swell of love that he feels in his chest at the revelation that they took care of his dog while he was gone. They all hated her, but they still watched her and even walked her for him.

Maybe they don't hate her as much as they pretend to. Or maybe they just really care about him that much.

And after a century together, maybe that's not so surprising. He pulls Lup into another hug.]

Nope, don't fight it, we're gonna hug this out real good, I've got some really fucking good news for you, Lup.

[But he doesn't share right away, hanging onto it as an excuse to pull her into the tightest bear grip he can without actually hurting her. He's so happy to see her right now.]

[restinglichface]

[Magnus playing along with her punch is such a silly gesture, but it's just the confirmation that Lup needs that he remembers meeting her in Hadriel before. Try as she might to ignore it, there had been just the slightest touch of doubt swirling in her mind that this would be a different Magnus entirely from some other timeline, another that didn't have a clue who she was. So, he may not remember their century spent together, but honestly, Lup's just grateful that he remembers their time together here.

It's enough.

Lup's mouth twists into a wide smile, the kind that stretches so far it almost hurts her face, but happiness is just swelling in her chest. She feels too joyful to care about a few sore muscles.

Magnus getting emotional over them taking care of his dumb dog is just so Magnus. Lup rolls her eyes, but the gesture loses some of it's snark when she's beaming so brightly up at him.]

We kind of had to. Pretty sure she would have eaten all of us if we hadn't gotten her outside a few times a day. [She's definitely not commenting on how they could have easily kicked Peanut out in his absence, but had all just silently come to the same agreement to just continue taking care of her, wanting to believe that Magnus would be back before too long. Would they have kept her forever if he hadn't come back? Not likely, but they would have kept her at least until their hope had run out.

The second hug is unexpected, even if it shouldn't have been, and Lup lets out a soft 'oof!' when Magnus wraps her up. But she doesn't fight his affection, knows there is no reason to even try, so she just rests her chin against him and waits for it to get out of his system.]

Gross, [Lup grumbles into his armor, but even her tone sounds like she's still smiling. Doubly gross.] And what's that? I'm off dog-sitting duty for good?

[armcollector]

[She doesn't have to tell him they could've kicked her out. It's one of the first things he worried about, coming back -- he took on the responsibility of a dog so recently before suddenly leaving that she could just be gone now. But she's not. She's safe, and good, and so is Lup and (hopefully) everyone else.

Honestly, there's no better news he could hope for, unless during his absence they finally managed to deal with those fucking gods/turboliches/what-have-yous. But that probably isn't the case.

Magnus pulls away from the hug, patting her on the head, careful not to ruffle her hair 'cause he knows she hates that.]

Yeah, that's part of it. I'm back, I have my fish, [He gestures to Steven, who is swimming happily in his glass orb at Magnus' hip.] and I'm ready to fucking party. No more dog-sitting.

[He tries to think of a good way to bring up the real good news, though, and he opts for a more subtle approach.]

Hey, remember that time we went to Puppy Town, and you all had to pry those puppies out of my loving hands to get me to leave? I've decided to forgive you for that. Finally.

[restinglichface]

[There's been no progress made on ousting those gods/turboliches/what-have-yous, but their friends are still as safe as can be in this place, and with Magnus back, they're together again. Still missing two of their family, but so far there's nothing they can do but wait and see if Barry and Davenport join them in Hadriel or not. If Barry is even still alive out there...]

Oh!-- [When Magnus pulls away, one of Lup's hand flies up to bat his away from messing with her hair, before the elf's attention is shifting to the fish at his side. She leans in closer to give the glass orb a quick tap with her fingernails, as if to check if Steven was real or not, before she's straightening up to shoot Magnus a grin.] Aw, it's cute! Sorta plain compared to Peanut, but I'm deffo not complaining. That's a compliment, little guy! [Honestly, she's delighted for a pet in their house she doesn't have to walk or guard her shoes from.

Magnus is so subtle, in fact, that Lup almost misses out on what he's even talking about as she slinks forward to link arms with him, attempting to guide him out of the arena. Sure, they could stick around and blow some bugs up, but the rest of the newcomers seem to be handling themselves just fine. Best to reunite the man and his dog. And, y'know, tell the rest of their gang that he's even back.]

Are you freaking serious? Mags, that was literal decades ago! If I'd known you were gonna hold it over my head for years, I wouldn't ha-- [Oh. Lup stops abruptly to look up at the taller man, eyes wide and mouth gaping just slightly. Her points at him with her free hand, looking like she's at a loss for words. Oh.] Wait. You... You remember Puppy Town?

[armcollector]

[Steven seems to appreciate the compliment, or at least, that's how Magnus is choosing to interpret the fish's pressing his mouth against Lup's tapping finger through the glass. It's very cute.]

He's magic. He doesn't need to eat or poop! He's the perfect pet!!! Not that Peanut is anything less than perfect.

[Magnus follows Lup out of the arena, waiting to see if she notices anything about what he said. When she suddenly stops, though, he can't help the sly grin that creeps over his face.]

Of course I remember Puppy Town. How could I forget? Seeing you playing with that baby Australian Shepherd is gonna stick in my mind forever.

[restinglichface]

[Lup snorts at that, rolling her eyes fondly at the man at her side. She knows that if he had his choice, Magnus would just fill up their entire house with all sorts of wild animals to keep as pets. Up until Fisher, they hadn't really had much of an opportunity to keep animals onboard the ship, not with it's limited space, so even if his pets can sometimes be a bit much (Peanut, not Steven), she's just glad he's getting the chance to live his best life as a pet dad. Since he'd been gifted that giant heart of his, he may as well put it to good use.

That sly look, so adorable on Magnus' goofy face, is all Lup needs to see to understand what he means.

She looks shocked, completely taken aback. This is pretty much the exact opposite of what she'd been expecting to hear from Magnus when she'd first spotted him across the arena. It takes the woman a second to fully wrap her head around the overpowering rush of emotions that quickly floods her senses, but then her mouth presses together into a thin line, leaving her looking like she's about to cry.]

You fucking jerk. Way to bury the lede, jackass.

[armcollector]

[When Magnus sees Lup about to cry suddenly, a wave of guilt instantly rushes over him, and he almost apologizes. But after a few moments, he figures the tears that are threatening to fall are just happy tears. Probably? Fuck, now he's second guessing himself. He laughs hesitantly, unsure how else to react when he can't pinpoint her emotions at the moment.

He's seen her cry before, but it's never been his fault. At least, that he knows of.]

Don't-- Haha, don't cry. I don't just remember Puppy Town, the whole, the whole century. Everything. And... you're not dead. I thought you were dead for a hot minute, don't get me wrong, but we found you.

[He reaches out and squeezes her shoulder gently.]

Taako found you.

[restinglichface]

[Well great! Now she really is going to cry, Magnus!

Lup is still fighting back tears when the man reaches over to squeeze her shoulder, the elf meeting his gaze as an unmistakable warmth floods her chest. Despite her frequent bitching, Hadriel hasn't been all bad. She's missed Barry endlessly, missed the sunlight, missed the freedom they were given on each plane they traveled to. But the moments she's spent with Taako and Magnus and Merle here have meant something special to her, too.

And it's been great to build up an easy friendship with Magnus all over again, the man as accepting and sweet as ever, but there's something about him remembering her, remembering their years together, that just makes everything about Hadriel seem a little brighter.

She wants to punch him again, in payback for the tears, but what Magnus says next changes absolutely everything. Magnus doesn't just remember her from before, he remembers her from his present as well.]

I knew he would, [her voice manages to stay even, but Lup has to wipe a few errant tears from her face before continuing.] Where did he find me?