hadriel_logs | Intro Log: Rock This City

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Intro Log: Rock This City

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for January
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: January 10th-14th
Warnings: New folks, rockin' dudes made of rock, and collectible friends!

This time, it's different.

There's no cave, no stone walls looming up around you and overhead, no stifling air or artificial light- not that you'd appreciate it, seeing as to how you've probably never been here before. And still, when you land facefirst on the dirt ground of the colosseum, you may not quite appreciate all the improvements and steps we've had to take to get here- after all, you're still surrounded by strangers in a crumbling city on an alien planet in the middle of nowhere.

Oh, and you're being attacked by Earth Elementals. These creatures are tall, between seven to ten feet, and made of solid rock, capable of punching through all the squishy bits of you- and for whatever reason, they definitely want to start punching. They're incredibly strong and, seeing as to how they're enchanted alive and have no internal organs, they're very difficult to kill.

But don't let that scare you off. For all the collectors in you, you can also find a very special array of beanie babies all scattered at the ground at your feet. Do you know that some of these things will be worth a lot of money someday? Better find the rarest one and stockpile it while you can! You might run into the rainbow crab, the platypus, or the sought-after bald eagle, or many more! Be sure to never take the tag off and never ever let anyone play with them so they don't lose value.

Once you've got your kids' college fund squared away, it's time to start exploring! 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 January 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ag, he missed Swift. Even when he was being distant and information gathering. It was nice. The familiarity of it all, Swift figuring out what the problems were and what possible solutions offered what.He was so different than Cal. Maybe he could appreciate that more now, after spending so much time with him. Cal was reactionary. Swift had learned to be the polar opposite of that, he had to.

He smiled at him, despite everything and how irrationally upset he was at everything and much he wanted a damn cigarette. "I missed you." It was true.

"Pretty much. I'm not sure if the Door has control or these gods do, or who is telling the truth. No one wants to own up. And we can't exactly interrogate the Otherlanes and ask them why they took us." He paused. He tried to avoid using words like 'abduct' or 'kidnap' but 'took', well, that was bad too.

"It means they put us through various events, things that are meant to provoke a certain emotion, which they feed off of. Each has a different kind. Hope, Rage, Fear, like that. But..." Seel paused trying to figure out how to tell Swift about the Null. "These gods seem to have made some enemies, who then targeted us. Eliminate the food source, starve them out."

It made sense. That was the entire point of a siege, after all. It was a cruel but effective strategy. He shouldn't have been thinking like that, but he couldn't help it, really. He wasn't even certain whose side he was supposed to be on. Although with what little information he had, he was leaning toward the ones keeping their food around and alive. Since that was apparently the one that kept the prisoners up an moving.

However Seel had managed a smile was a mystery, but he could at least give him one back. It was small and not very enthusiastic, but it was there. At least he didn't have to do this alone. Neither of them did. Anymore, apparently, but better late than never? Maybe?

"Of course not. One way they look incompetent and the other malicious. Not saying anything at least leaves several other possibilities, even if they're only speculation." It's probably what he would have done, if he'd been inclined to kidnap anybody.

He lost the smile, though, listening to Seel continue. "Events" sounded terrible enough, never ind that they were provoking people.

"I don't like that. It sounds...manipulative." It sounds like Thiede.

It almost felt like old times, like they were back in Forever, solving some problem. A Varr legacy that hadn't gotten squashed yet. Fixing the leftovers. Or the larger problem they weren't going to talk about. Or rather, the one Seel didn't want to talk about. It had been eight months and he still wasn't ready.

"It is manipulative. Blatently. They once made me think I was married to Cal and I stayed home and cooked him dinner for days. A week, maybe two? I can't remember how long it lasted. And then one of the humans I'm currently living with gave me extra pie every day because she felt bad Cal was rooning Pell. What happens here is messy. Can be messy. Sometimes we're lucky and it's something more simple. But if you want to discuss it with the gods, they have temples. I'm sure they'd enjoy hearing from you."

Maybe Swift would get somewhere with them. Or maybe he'd tell Fear not to give him any damn cigarettes.

That was disturbing enough to bring Swift up short and he stared in shock for a long time before he could make his brain work again. Even then, it wasn't exactly that smooth or articulate.

"They...what?" That level of manipulation was...he didn't even want to think about being subject to anything on that level. What Thiede had done already was more than enough. And yet here he was--here they both were--with strings being pulled with some serious power behind it. They'd had more than enough of that.

"I might have to talk to them. They actually listen?"

It was pretty disturbing. Had Seel just gotten used to the constant level of shock that he wasn't that surprised anymore? He was thankful Swift was so shocked, it helped him remember what was normal.

"I guess I've gotten used to it." It was worse than Thiede had pulled. He at least hadn't messed with their sense of self.

"They have temples all around. You talk, they talk back. You can go to the temples and they might appear, or you can use one of the comm devices, they're a little like the long range comm devices we use at home. I can show you."

Seel turned into one of the buildings and up some stairs and opened the door. "Here we are."

"You shouldn't have to be used to it." Nohar should, but as much power as he did have, he didn't have too much of a say over that. He couldn't be everywhere and stop everything. The best he could do was try to come in after and clean up the mess sometimes. Learning to accept that had been painful.

"Thank you. I think I'd better learn sooner rather than later." Communication was doubtless going to be important long before he thought it might be.

He stepped inside the open door and glanced around the room, all but resigned to the fact that he'd probably have to get used to this place and living in it. He supposed whoever brought them here didn't care that he had more important things to worry about in Galhea right now.

"Now. Are you actually alright?"

What a question, and one Seel wasn't sure he knew how to answer. Idly, he reached into his pocket to play with one of his remaining cigarettes, a comforting fidget. He'd been asked that before here, but it didn't have the same effect as when Swift asked it. He couldn't lie. He couldn't brush it off with an instinctive 'I'm fine'.

He stayed silent for a while before he found the words. "I don't know." There was a brutal honesty he had to face, Seel wasn't actually sure if he was alright. How much had this strained him? Mentally, physically? He was smoking again, he'd rooned Cal more times than he was comfortable with in retrospect(it was always so good at the time) and he had been stuck here on alien worlds for months without Swift.

"I'd like to say yes. But, I'm not sure if that's a lie or not Swift."

In some ways, it was easier when Swift wasn't there. Ignorance was comforting, even for a har who thought himself above such things.

He glanced back at the door to make sure it was closed before they started in on this. It definitely called for privacy. And probably a lot of time, too. It wasn't as simple as a hug or a kiss or a roon even, and then everything would be better. It already sounded complicated and they hadn't even gotten to the good part yet.

Now that they weren't walking, he stepped back up to Seel and slid his arms over the har's shoulders and held on to him. Both of them needed the comfort, apparently. Seel probably needed it more.

"That's a start, at least. You don't have to tell me what happened. What do I need to do to help?"

Seel practically melted into Swift's arms, and for a moment he could have sworn he was back in Forever and all the stress he didn't realize he had been holding onto was gone. But if only it was that easy. He wasn't in Forever and the problems he was having, they both would have, hadn't gone away. He slipped the cigarette back into his pocket. Maybe Swift was enough right now.

"Just be you. I just need you, Swift. I'm sorry you got dragged into this. But we're getting back. We don't have a choice. I'm not spending the rest of my days here."

He paused, knowing he should be supportive to Swift, who was probably realing from all the information and the situation. It wasn't fair for him to carry him. "How are you doing?"

For a moment Swift just held onto him, running a hand up and down Seel's back and trying to be as comforting as he could. Something had happened to Seel and he hadn't been there to help him. He felt irrationally guilty for that, even if it hadn't been his own choice. Seel had needed him and he wasn't there.

So he didn't answer--at least not verbally--instead leaning up to share breath with Seel and hoping that it was enough to convince him that he was there. And not going anywhere of his own free will. After a few moments, though, he had to pull back to answer Seel's question.

"I'm alright. Confused, but fine." That was probably a lie, but for now, at least, it was as close to the truth as he could get. He didn't know what he was feeling--what he was supposed to be feeling. The whole thing was overwhelming, not to mention what he'd been trying not to think of from home.

So many things had happened to Seel, and he wasn't sure if he knew which ones they were that affected him more than others. Maybe it would be easier to show Swift, but later. When he was less confused. It wasn't fair to push all that on him within five minutes of his arrival. No one was that put together, not even the head of Megalithica. Seel fell into the kiss, sharing breath with Seel, hoping he still tasted the same and that his experiences hadn't colored him too much.

Feeling more grounded and much less like he needed that cigarette, his muscles relaxed, replaced by that happy, giddy feeling in his gut. It was almost like Law's fingers in his brain, but without the invasiveness of the whole thing.

"I'd say I'm sorry you're here, but I'm glad. It's been hard without you. I should tell you..." If it wasn't completely obvious. "I started smoking again. I'm trying to quit with the help of a human doctor here." And because he only had 2 cigarettes left.

"Seel..." But he sighed and stopped himself before he could say anything else about Seel's bad habit. Could he really blame Seel if Swift hadn't been here? He hadn't seen how bad the place could be yet, but with Swift missing, it had to be a thousand times worse. And with no one to stop him and no reason to...well. At least he was taking the effort now.

He stayed quiet for another long moment, just enjoying the stability of holding on to Seel. Something solid in a world that was feeling increasingly less so. If someone can yank him out of Forever unawares, he didn't want to think about what else they could do.

"It's alright. Or it will be, I suppose." Maybe.

He'd tried to quite before while he was here too. Hopefully this would be different. If for no other reason that he couldn't get the damn cigarettes. Also Cal wasn't there offering him one and Swift was. And he knew how he felt about his habit.

Seel held Swift, happy that he was holding him back. This was real. He was here. Softly, he nuzzled his neck, kissing the spot where his shoulder and neck met.

"It will be." It was so easy to believe that now, Swift by his side. "I love you, Swift." It had been ages since he'd told him that....

Swift's eyes drifted closed almost on their own. He might not have remembered being apart for all that long, but he always appreciated the closeness, how it felt to be holding on to each other. It always made him feel stronger--like they could take on he entire world.

"I love you too, Seel." He had a feeling that Seel hadn't had a chance to say that for a long time and he wished they could just stay like this forever.

"What do you need me to do?"

"Just be here with me. Just let me touch you for a little while longer." He didn't want him to go away, and he just wrapped his arms around him a little tighter, and inhaled that lovely scent that was innately Swift. His eyes drifted to the papers Swift had been carrying when he came in, and he let out a soft chuckle.

"I see you brought work with you." Seel was actually happy about that. He'd do just about anything to look at those papers, drink some sheh and relax on the couch. He took a breath and parted from Swift reluctantly, but reached out a hand to touch him. He needed touch.

"Alright. I can do that." Easy enough, really, and exactly what he wanted too. He was half afraid that the moment he let go, Seel would disappear and make this even more a nightmare. As long as he was touching him, Seel was real and solid and there. If it helped Seel too, that was all the better.

Swift glanced down at the papers in his hand and laughed a little wryly--he'd forgotten he was carrying them. "Apparently. I was in the middle of something when I woke up here." Or whatever it was. "At least I'll be prepared on these when we get back."

Seel smiled at that, still looking at the papers. The things he would have done to just have been able to read a report again. Now he could. He actually stared at those reports hungrily as if they were a luscious dessert Yarrow made. How wonderful simple things he'd once taken for granted seemed now.

"Those papers are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Except you." A little piece of home. "Here, let's get you settled into my room. It's not exactly Forever here. It's a little crowded."

Seel made sure he was continuously touching Swift while he led him into his bedroom. It definitely wasn't Forever.

Swift gave him a wry smile and shook his head. Just that mental image was inordinately funny, but with everything they'd gone through--their surroundings, the history Swift had missed, all of it--he couldn't quite bring himself to laugh at the thought of being barely more beautiful than a handful of reports.

He didn't get a chance to respond, though, before Seel moved them both into a bedroom. Forever it wasn't, but at least it was a room. He couldn't ask for much more than that.

"Crowded? Who else lives here?"

"A bunch of other people. Currently Pell and some female humans, George and Jo. There are four bedrooms." He left Cal's name out of it. Hopefully that would be unspoken and Seel didn't have to say his name again. "There are other places around, I suppose but," Seel shrugged. "Aruna. And Pell cooks."

Did you really want him cooking, Swift? "I've figured out the basics, mostly. How to boil water, make pasta." As long as it was in a box, he could maybe figure it out. Hopefully it had directions. "Most of the food here is provided by Hope. Or at least was provided by Hope. Food's been a problem here with Hope not being injured at the moment."

A bunch of other people? Pell and some women. He wasn't sure how much sense that made, but at least Seel hadn't been entirely alone? He had to be thankful for that. Even if he wasn't certain whether they qualified as friends. Better than nothing, though. It made sense that he would stay around other hara too. There really should have been more of them.

"We might have to be nice to them." Not really a problem for Swift, but he gives Seel a look before shaking his head again. "I suppose it isn't a bad place to stay if we have to stay."

It was better than being alone. And since Seel had no desire to eat things out of a can, uncooked, well, he was trying to be nice at least. Not always succeeding.

"It's not bad. It's not Forever, but it's not bad." Seel sighed at Swift and sat down on the bed, letting go of his hand, finally. He knew what that was targeted at. "I'm nice." He paused. "Sometimes. You know, I enjoy not being so damn courteous all the time."

Swift did not sit down, instead opting to stand by the door with his arms folded over his chest. After that remark, he wasn't going to encourage him. It probably said something that Swift had been here for less than a day and they were already starting the fight.

"Enjoy it or not, it's what polite hara do." He shouldn't be feeding into it. He really shouldn't. Seel had a way of making him. "You don't make friends being terrible and something tells me we need those around here."

The fight. How many times had they had this one, in some iteration or another? They went round and round, Swift claiming Seel had to be nice and behave and Seel maintaining Swift thought he was a better har than he actually was. It was almost comforting having it again. Like not so much could have changed because this always remained the same. Then again, fights should not be safety blankets.

"Why do you always have to be right?" Seel was frustrated, he wanted throw something, but the only thing he had on him was a pillow and his cigarettes.

Swift was not stupid enough to move any closer, either, and he stayed where he was, standing over Seel and glowering down at him. He didn't want to make Seel upset, but when he was behaving so badly, he didn't have much of a choice. They needed friends and Seel wasn't helping with that. He could only imagine what he'd done before Swift arrived.

"I don't know, Seel. Why are we here? Why do we even need to have friends?"

Seel wanted to explode. He wanted to swear and hit but he couldn't with Swift standing over him. He wasn't close enough to hit, but Swift made his point.

"I hate when you do that." Hey, at least he was communicating. Seel's hand went into his pocket and fished out a cigarette, playing with it. He could light he. He could light it and take a few puffs and put it out again. That would be nice. And it would piss Swift off.

So he did it.

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