Intro Log: Faceplanted

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for October
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: October 10th-14th
Warnings: Newbies, spookies, and evil trees!

If it's your first time here, congratulations! You get the lovely, unique sensation of eating dirt as the Door knocks you facefirst into the ground. You'll probably be a little woozy at first, so take your time getting up- meet some folks, introduce yourself, don't be weird about it. Welcome to Hadriel! You're not the only person who just got to taste alien dirt firsthand, though- there are several people in the same predicament as you, so feel free to say hi! Probably shouldn't spend too much time talking though, because the lovely trees that you thought were just scenery are starting to creep ever closer the more you let your guard down.

All around you is a forest of spooky evil trees- it seems to be just a normal sort of forest at first, but the more you take your eyes off of them, the more they shift around you and close in. Or is that just your imagination? If you move too close to one, look out! They're rather determined to pick you up and stick you into the ground so you might take root- and if you resist, well, a severed bud can still serve as a seed, right?

If the trees tear your clothes though, don't worry, there's plenty of extras to be found lying around the arena if you don't mind them being a bit dirty. Lying on the ground and sometimes hanging off of these tree branches are some free shirts, yours for the taking! You know, if you'd be caught dead with one...

But hey, after you've met new friends and found a new aesthetic, 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 October 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

Yusuke Kitagawa | ota

[wantsnudes]

i. arrival: colosseum

[Yusuke, while rather a graceful individual, has a decidedly ungraceful arrival. After dropping out of the Door, he faceplants straight into the dirt with a slapstick-worthy thump. He would have probably gotten a mouthful of dirt if not for the kitsune mask helpfully covering his face, although that's the least of his worries right now. He pushes himself up to a sitting position, clutching his head as if dazed by the impact.]

Ugh... How undignified. [He staggers to his feet, taking in his unfamiliar surroundings.] That was a rough landing. Is everyone all ri--?

[The question dies on his lips when he looks around, and realises with a surge of alarm that none of the other Phantom Thieves are here with him; the only people he can see nearby are complete strangers. Yet this is neither that horrible casino, or Mementos... He can feel a creeping sense of panic welling up as he pulls out his phone, checking the Nav app. Surely this is some kind of mistake, and he can just undo it and return home... Right?]

ii. arrival: trees

[Yusuke's luck doesn't get much better when the trees around the colosseum begin to spring to life. They're Shadows, he assumes, and even if he's fighting alone, he isn't afraid to try fighting his way through them. He draws his katana, cutting and slicing at branches and tree bark, and occasionally, an ethereal figure seems to fight with him, slicing his way through dozens of foes in a single attack, or summoning ice magic.

Yusuke's attacks don't seem to be doing much damage, however. When he begins to debate the merits of running, a root snakes forward and seizes him by the leg, pulling him off his feet. He grits his teeth, trying to kick the tree off him, but its grip only tightens.]

What do you want from me?! Is it money? [He's... trying to negotiate with a tree. Unlike Shadows, it doesn't seem very inclined to want to talk back, though.]

iii. exploring: houses

[After finally escaping the colosseum and the threats within, Yusuke's no longer wearing his thief outfit, and in fact managed to snag a sweet new shirt on his way out. (He doesn't really get the joke, but hey, clothes are clothes.) He takes a tour around the city to scope out the area, marvelling at all the strange sights. Even Palaces mostly had resemblances to reality, but this... Yes, seeing this, he could truly believe he's in another world altogether.

One of the sights in particular that garners his attention is the spire-shaped apartment blocks. He stops to admire the bizarre architecture from a distance, making a frame with his fingers as he contemplates whether they'd be a fitting subject for his next painting.

Unfamiliar situation or not, there's nothing that ever stops Yusuke thinking about art.]

treeeeees

[hot_mes]

[Like clockwork. Law only came down to see if it really was true, the Door opened on a set day and sure enough, there it is again. For the most part he's been simply lurking in the upper tiers of the coliseum, though, not risking himself unless he has to. Most of these people seem pretty capable, but once in a while...

He spots the dangling individual and decides it's a good time to step in - from that same distance. The Room he calls up is so large it can't be seen, giving him plenty of area to work with. One good slash outward of that long nodachi (yes from several rows up, really) sends a cutting rush of air down to sever the root a good foot or so up from where it's wrapped around the stranger's leg]

You'd better run if you know what's good for you.

[ooh, free shirts. Don't mind if a few teleport into his hand from there]

[wantsnudes]

[The masked boy hits the ground for a second time that day, and he doesn't need to be told twice to run, rolling and scrabbling to get away from the tree's reach before it could grab him again. He has to duck under branches and leap over roots intended to trip him, finally making it to the edge of the arena close to where Law has been watching.]

What's going on?! Do you have any idea?

[Part of Yusuke thinks it might be more wise to just hightail it out of here, but this is the first person Yusuke's seen who's likely to have any answers.]

[hot_mes]

Yeah.

[Law comes down the steps all nonchalant, even though it's only been two months so he has no right to be so matter-of-fact about it.]

Short answer: this is another world and the thing that brought you here tends to also bring in creatures that would just as soon eat you as ask where they are, so the best course is to get the hell out of this coliseum first and then check your pocket for a phone.

[which probably makes no sense, but rather than explain, he takes advantage of his long reach and slashes a few more branches to give the trees something to worry about.]

[wantsnudes]

What are you talking about? Of course I have a phone--

[Yusuke glances over his shoulder, tensing and ready to bolt. Law's fending them off for now, but the trees are still closing in, so he doesn't have the luxury to stand around and chat.]

--Fine, I'm leaving. If you can meet me outside to speak further, that would be a great help.

[hot_mes]

Sure. Looks like everyone else is taken care of.

[and just to be a jerk on top of everything else, he uses the Room to teleport himself outside. Definitely showing off.

So when Yusuke makes his way out, Law's already standing there just outside, his sheathed sword on his shoulder just in case any of the trees decide to take a walk.]

[wantsnudes]

[Definitely a show-off. Yusuke has to head out the old-fashioned way, and by the time he's out, he's a little out of breath from sprinting, but otherwise none the worse for wear. He stops with his hands on his knees, puffing as he gets his breath back.]

That was close... They're not going to follow us out here, are they?

trees

[the_fourteenth]

[There aren't too many other people in Hadriel that thinks it's weird if someone tried to haggle with a monster for money. He's slicing through the trees with his own katana, and he's even got a helper who is slashing and gnashing a path through the branches.

Raidou saw that demon casting spells at the trees, though. Or since it disappeared, maybe it was a "persona" like Akira used... Or maybe something else entirely. You could never tell with all the people that showed up in Hadriel.

When he comes upon the dangling Yusuke, Raidou traces it along until he can find a spot he can reach with his sword and start cutting.]

Watch your head!

[wantsnudes]

[The tree unceremoniously drops Yusuke in response to Raidou's attacks, who has to roll to cushion his fall and avoid getting dropped on his head. He staggers to his feet, eyes wide at the familiar Persona fighting at the stranger's side. Or is it a Shadow under his command? It isn't going away...]

I'm in your debt. [He turns his attention back to Raidou. He can ask about the Nue later; it ought to be the least of his concerns right now.] We should flee this place -- there's too many to fight them all.

[the_fourteenth]

It's nothing. But you're right. This way.

[Raidou points to where he and Nue had just come from. The trees were closing in, but there was still a path that had been cleared. Nue lopes off that way, clawing the way clear again as he ran. Branches reached for them, but Raidou was quick enough to catch them before they could grab a hold of him.]

Things will be clear once we're outside the coliseum. I can explain then.

[wantsnudes]

[Yusuke likewise keeps his blade at the ready, cutting and deflecting any branches reaching for him as they make for the exit.]

Right. Allow me to help our escape. Goemon!

[He summons his Persona, which casts Masukujaka on the pair of them as well as Nue, increasing both their evasion and accuracy. Dodging the trees and getting away quickly would be much easier, with the spell in effect.]

[the_fourteenth]

[The trees had the element of surprise at first, but not much beyond that. They're a little slow, so between the two boys, the boost spell and their monster helpers, they get through pretty quickly.

Raidou recognizes that spell. This has got to be one of those Personas, then; this guy was even calling his out like Akira did.

He has no problem leading them to the nearest exit, either. He'll give them a moment to catch their breath, since it gives Raidou time to think of how to explain to this a newbie. He hasn't had to do that yet.]

So that was the usual greeting of running for your life. Welcome to Hadriel.

[wantsnudes]

[Yusuke definitely needs a moment to catch his breath, and he adjusts his mask just enough to wipe the sweat off his brow. That was definitely not the kind of welcome Yusuke had anticipated, but then, it could have been a lot worse...

Exhaling, he offers Raidou a wry smile.]

Thank you for the kind welcome. Does this kind of thing happen often?

exploring!

[jocoeur]

( it was that time again, when new arrivals were supposed to start popping up in the cave. akira had counted himself among the lucky to have found ann not that long ago but this time, it seemed, fortune wasn't in his favour. he hadn't run into anyone that he knew in the colosseum, though he had been a bit late. how else was he supposed to make an entrance though?

wandering through the housing district, he turns a corner — stopping with an audible ) Ah...? ( as he spies a familiar head of hair on a tall lanky body... though that shirt is definitely new.

pausing, and smiling, as he takes note of yusuke framing the landscape ahead, rather than announcing his presence, akira decides to have a little fun...

it's thanks to all those expert thieving skills that he sneaks away, dashing forward into the scene. peeking around one of the buildings, he's sure that he must be directly in his friend's line of sight when he suddenly...

jumps into view!! striking a jesus chirst pose! )

[wantsnudes]

[Yusuke is so intently fixed on contemplating the beauty of the architecture that Akira sneaking up on him goes completely undetected. When he jumps into view, Yusuke gives a startled gasp, though it's not one of fright, so much as because he's received a sudden burst of inspiration.]

Yes! That's it! Akira, please stretch your arms further and hold that pose.

[He crouches down to change the angle, his face scrunched up in serious concentration as he takes in the sight before him. Guess it'll be a while before he intends to stop and say hello...?]

sorry for the delay!!!

[jocoeur]

( not... exactly the grand entrance that he had been hoping to make, but then, shouldn't he have expected nothing less from yusuke?
akira does as he's told without missing a beat, stretching his arms just a little further, sure that the master with his eye for art would tell him if it was too little or too much.

and here he waits.
and waits.
probably longer than any normal person would wait and then...
he waits a little more.

before finally... ) Ah... Yusuke?

no worries!

[wantsnudes]

[Yusuke had been intensely contemplating the scene, imagining a piece with the towers as a backdrop, foregrounded with a figure stretching their arms towards the sky in parallel. But would it be better as an abstract piece, or realistic? Portrait or landscape? He'd just been contemplating a theme when Akira's voice finally brings him out of the Art Zone.]

--Ah! I apologise. I just remembered I haven't brought my sketchbook, so you can drop that pose for now.

[He gets back to his feet from where he was crouching, dusting himself off, when he has another delayed realisation.]

Wait-- Akira! I had been looking everywhere for you! [He just got... sidetracked...] Are you all right?

`

[jocoeur]

( same old yusuke... but then, he sort of set them both up for that one, didn't he?
relaxing his arms, and pushing his glasses up his nose as he does so— akira offers a quiet chuckle of non-surprise of how this all went down.

there's a simple nod in response to that question too. he's just fine really, so— )

I should probably say, "welcome to the cave" about now.

[wantsnudes]

Yes, some of the others explained our circumstances here. It's quite bothersome...

[Not that it stops Yusuke from making the most of it, but it couldn't have come at a worse time. He shakes his head, smiling.]

I'm just glad you're all right. After everything that happened at home, and someone mentioning that you were caught up in a fire, I was concerned.

exploring!

[cakebuffet]

[Though she's aware of the fact that Akira is also out looking for familiar faces, Ann figures the two of them might cover more ground if they search separately. She spots Yusuke in the housing district sometime after Akira has literally jumped in to make himself known, though at the moment, he's nowhere to be found-- but Yusuke is someone she would recognize anywhere, the same as she would recognize any of their other teammates. Of course, he seems to be completely engrossed in-- what? The architecture?

Okay, yeah, that sounds about right.]

Yusuke!

[Her entrance is much less dramatic than their leader's had been, waving from a distance as she picks up speed and runs in his direction.]

Hey!

[wantsnudes]

[Ann's decidedly less stealthy entrance actually makes Yusuke stop and look around, distracted from his artistic contemplations when he hears a familiar voice shouting his name. He looks around and spots her, offering a small wave as she gets closer.]

Hi, Ann. Have you come to join me in admiring these magnificent towers?

[Akira must have told her what he was doing and she was just eager to join in. It makes perfect sense to him.]

[cakebuffet]

[He is way too calm about this. Of course she's happy to see him, and it seems like he's happy to see her, too-- but not surprised? She wonders if he knows something she doesn't, or if this is just Yusuke being Yusuke. He always was an odd duck.]

Well, not exactly--

[She rubs the back of her neck momentarily as she slows to a stop beside him, following his gaze up towards the nearest tower.]

I didn't even know you were here! [Her attention is back on him immediately, lips pursed.] You don't seem all that surprised to see me.

[wantsnudes]

Ah, well, I already knew you were here. First I arrived in an arena filled with trees, and a stranger who came to my aid suggested Akira was here. I ran into him only a short time ago.

I would have come to find you, too, but I admit I became distracted. This city is breathtaking.

[And decidedly less ugly than the Metaverse, though no less interesting a place for a source of inspiration. Yusuke turns to look back up at the towers. Right now he really doesn't care where he is, so long as it's a good place for his art.]

Hmm... Yes. I will come back to this spot, so that I may capture this view in a painting.

[cakebuffet]

[Well, doesn't she feel left out of the loop, even if it definitely wasn't on purpose.]

He didn't say anything to me!

[Though it's entirely possible that he just hadn't had time yet-- and of course Yusuke got distracted by the cityscape. If anyone would, it would be him.]

You're really taking all of this in stride. I guess it is kind of pretty, if you don't think about the whole kidnapping part.

[Spoilers, she's definitely thinking about that part.]

[wantsnudes]

Yes... I suppose the kidnapping is a problem. Though admittedly, I've been somewhat relieved since I arrived here, because now I know Akira is safe.

[He was sure he would be, assuming nothing went wrong with their plan, but everything that happened back at home still made it impossible not to be worried. At least here, one of their closest friends isn't at the mercy of police brutality, or the person who tried to kill him.]

We simply need to find a way to escape and return home, correct? Even if it hasn't been done yet, I'm sure we can find some way.