hadriel_logs | Intro Log: Welcome to Your New Home

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Intro Log: Welcome to Your New Home

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for December
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: December 10th-12th
Warnings: New folks, fire everywhere, and there are still killer robots on the loose

As far too many others have in the past, you wake up on the sandy ground of the colosseum, the stone ceiling of the cave stretching high overhead. But this is probably the first time this has happened to you - and even if it isn't, things are even more chaotic than usual right now. You've come at a weird time, friend.

The first thing you might see when you wake up is a salamander, or maybe a lot of salamanders. These amphibious creatures may be kind of cute, they're also incredibly flammable. Anything that brushes up against them has a very good chance of lighting on fire, so keep your distance, and make sure all your stuff keeps its distance too. Oh, and maybe keep them from crawling into the city to light that on fire, too. And in case that isn't enough warmth for you, you can also find a collection of different socks scattered around the arena. So that's... nice.

Of course, you've come at a remarkably bad time. A whole army of evil AI robot creatures recently attacked the city, and all you newcomers have arrived just as the attack is winding down. Does that mean you're not in too much danger? Of course not! There are still Null running around, and while they will ignore you if you ignore them, the second you attack them or deliberately get in their way they'll turn on you too. On top of that, the city itself has been devastated by the attack, with buildings destroyed and people killed. Welcome to Hadriel, let's hope no one tries to use you as a distraction while you're confused and frightened.

Once things calm down, the city's going to be on a different world - but you'll still have a life to live. You can 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 December 10th-12th.
► 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She doesn't need to call out. The moment she appears in the caves, he knows it. He has to grab onto a chair to support himself - to regain his breath - before he is racing out of his home. The stars help anyone who even thinks about standing in his way. He absolutely refuses to stop.

The fires are ignored; they aren't new and he lashes out with his lightsaber at the beasts, cutting them or hurling them with his power. Then he sees her, dressed in...a medical gown? His brow furrows and he skids to a stop before her, face paling.]

Padmé... What's happened? We need to get you to a safe place. [He holds out his hand.]

[Finding her way is oddly easy, despite the fact that she's barefooted in a cold, slimy cave filled with giant lizards that appear to glow. In a way, this is something she's done before. At least it's not as bad as the droid factory on Geonosis.

That feels like a lifetime ago though.

But seeing him in front of her makes her stop. A part of her wants to run to him and hold him. He is a sight for her sore eyes. She knows what good still exists in his heart, in his tormented soul.

However, she hasn't forgotten Mustafar. She hasn't forgotten what Obi-Wan told her about the Jedi Temple of Coruscant. And she's scared. Of him.]

Anakin. What... [Her hand goes up to her chest, trying to control her breathing. He knows her well enough, too well. If she's not careful, she can set him off again. But she can't stop it. So, she'll have to fake it.] Where are we?

[Her fear isn't missed - he has earned it (and so much more) - but it bites and tears at him, setting his nerves on edge. He scowls, but the expression is directed at himself. How can he have let it get this bad? She isn't even wearing shoes.]

Don't worry. [Well that's laughable. Anakin approaches her, carefully, slowly, putting his lightsaber away.] Hadriel. I'll explain everything, but let's get you somewhere safer.

[He bends to pick her up. She is easy to carry - so light and fragile. He has to protect her. Nothing is more important than that.]

Padmé, I won't hurt you.

[She isn't comfortable around his scowls anymore. Not enough to let herself breathe easier now that they are together. Without a buffer.

Suddenly she wishes that one of her handmaidens, the other senators or Obi-Wan were there to help her.

At the mention of "safer", she feels an uncharacteristic bubble of hysteria attempt to take over her. She quashes it with a vengeance that only shows as a strained smile.]

I'm not familiar with the system that Hadriel is located in.

[When he attempts to touch her, she takes one small step back before moving forward and past him.]

I can walk.

[A slap from her might have hurt less. Hell, he would have preferred a blaster shot. But he knows that things go wrong between them, somehow, and he loses her. As long as they are alive, he won't stop watching over her and trying to reach out to her.]

Neither am I. [He sighs.] It's hard to tell anything when you can't see the stars.

[The caves had artificial starlight, but that was hardly the same or a mirror of what could be seen above.]

Padmé, whatever I do...whatever I've done...it hasn't happened for me yet. I just want to help you.

[Despite everything, she couldn't raise a hand against him. Yell, scream, shout, cry, reason, whatever she can think of, she isn't adverse to trying it all to get him to come to his senses.

But she doesn't think it will work. Not unless Anakin wants to listen to her. And she knows that. He's.... he's always been that way. She's only had as much influence as he's allowed her to have and that isn't quite as much as she thought it was. Talking about it is hard for her. Which is ironic, considering she's spent her entire life talking as her life's work.]

That seems almost impossible.

[They exist in space. Not seeing the stars is nearly anathema. But there are bigger Hutts to shoot, especially with his next few sentences.]

I... [But then she looks closer, focusing on his face and eyes. In a way, she's always been drawn to them the most. He's always been smart and charming and...just a little damaged. But he's always loved her. And that's what scares her. He's loved her and his mother too much. Done too much in the face of that love.] I don't think that now is a good time to discuss this. If it's as unsafe as you say it is, then we should get somewhere else.

However, I can move under my own power, Anakin. So, lead the way.

Look around you if you don't believe me. [His voice is quiet, unhappy, his arms falling to his sides. He can only convince himself that she isn't pushing him away so many times. It is horribly frustrating to not know - fully - what he might have said or done, though his mind can supply him with many awful scenarios.]

I'm trying to get you somewhere safe, but you won't even let me touch you. [No, he will not raise his voice. His temper might make some of the rocks nearby shake, but he quickly puts an end to that with a stiff wave of his hand.]

It's this way. [Because they are both incredibly stubborn and he won't touch her without her permission. No matter how much he longs to...or how much he has missed her.] The monsters enter the city itself sometimes, but we are able to fend them off. You shouldn't worry about them now that I'm here.

I never said that I don't believe you.

[It still pains her to hurt him. He wears his emotions on his face and she would have to be blind to not notice his unhappiness. Before, that's always something she's considered a blessing and a curse, but now it's just another pain added to the innumerable ones she's carrying with her.

Although, the shaking ground is not anything she wants and she stands very still before taking a deep breath. Showing more fear isn't going to get her anywhere and isn't going to do any good. In true form, she holds her head high, the heavy braid of her hair hanging lower down her back.]

Have you been here long? [She might not be ready to let him touch her right now, but that doesn't mean she doesn't see the wisdom in asking him questions about what this strange world has in store for her.]

You imply it. (But he can't fight with her. He can't be angry. He has to hide it like he has been doing for months. It's...better that way. Keeping some happiness is better than losing everything.

The tremors under his feet irritate him further and he closes his eyes, fighting to find his center. His calm. Her presence helps and when he looks back at her, he is awed by her self-control. Her bravery.)

Yes. Over a year. (He matches her pace, letting her choose the speed with which they walk. He even moves some rocks out of their path so she does not accidentally step on one.) Its...

It hasn't been easy. This place plays on your emotions. It can make you feel so angry you feel like ripping apart the world or so sad that you wish for it all to end.

The good part is, once you get a taste of the extreme emotions, you can build defenses against them.

[She doesn't continue the part of the conversation about her supposedly implying that she didn't believe him. It's stupid, petty, and something that neither of them can afford right then. They have reasons enough for the distance she's keeping without adding to it.

She listens to him as they walk. She can hear the anger slowly abate to bubbling just under the surface. Something she'd gotten used to over the years, she realizes.]

How have you fared in the year you've been here? [It's obvious that he's learned some semblance of control. Something the Order hadn't managed in over fourteen years.] Is anyone else here from Coruscant?

...not well. [He wants that to be obvious to her. She is so important that a year without her can't have gone well. And it hadn't. He had done things he wasn't proud of and the deities had egged him on.] I've been miserable. I look forward to fighting the monsters because they can be...distracting.

I've had visions of the future - mine specifically - and it just makes me not want to sleep.

[Licking his lips, he shakes his head.] No. There have been some from our galaxy, but I'm not sure they're around anymore. Besides Luke.

Fighting is only a temporary distraction.

[Her voice is low, but not accusatory. Just...sad. She's not sure she wants to know about the future where she's dead and he's alone. That's always been his greatest fear, being alone.]

I'm sorry to hear that, especially if things are as bad as they appear to be.

[She steps carefully, but she's still barefooted and the cave floor is cold. Her toes feel like ice blocks. However, she's too proud to ask for help after rejecting him. It's always been her biggest fault, pride.]

Are we close to the end of this cave? I don't like the look of those strange lizards.

Unfortunately, you're right.

[He can't run, he can't hide, he can't let himself get tied up by intense emotions that are not his own. So that leaves facing himself and he doesn't exactly like what he sees in the mirror.]

They get worse, but you don't have to worry about it. [His voice softens, a mixture of sorrow and affection.] Do you think I would let a little lizard hurt you?

[He flashes her what he hopes is a charming smile, though it is brief.]

We are near the city and I'm sorry to tell you that there is no end to the caves.

In our experience, I normally am correct more often than not, Ani.

[She wants things to be easy, but they aren't. However, if she can fake it with the Senate for over a decade, she should be able to squeak by with her husband for a few moments.

And his own struggle is as obvious as it ever was. And she loves him for it still.]

No, you would protect me from everything if you could. I've always known that. But this is more than just a few Separatists I would wager.

Most of the time. [He agrees, amused until she gets to the heart of the matter. That's her power. She can find the heart of anyone - as long as it exists.] I can't even tell you who is in charge. There are gods for different emotions - Hope, Rage, Sorrow - and then something else entirely called the Null - which might be the absence of emotion?

Either we're battling the emotions and their hold over us or we're battling the Null because the emotions give us a better existence...

...even if they mess with us sometimes. It's a difficult existence, but we have most of what we need to stay alive.

[She's always had the gift of cutting people to the quick with words. Because she's intuitive and intelligent and observant.

When it comes to others.]

I don't believe in gods. It sounds like silliness.

[Emotions and the lack thereof, however, she understands all too well.]

Do you wonder what it would be like if you were affected by these Null, as you call them? Have others been touched by their abilities?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Intro Log: Welcome to Your New Home

Arrival

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