Event Log: The Hope of a Child

[hadrielmods]

Who: All characters participating in the event
What: The event log for the The Hope of a Child event
Where: All over the city!
When: January 23rd-Feb 1st
Warnings: Youths

By now, the gods have probably done enough weird crap to you while you're asleep for you to be a little suspicious- but it's not like you can just not sleep, especially when there are a few supernatural forces making your eyes droopy and your body feel heavy.

And now, when you fall asleep, you'll wake up somewhere else and you'll likely have quite a different temperament- you'll be younger, maybe a little more naive and innocent, and you won't exactly remember all the wild stuff that's happened to your adult self. Maybe now you'll be a little more trusting and emotional, hm? The gods could definitely use a little boost in power, and what better way to do it than to harness the power of overemotional kiddos!

Or maybe you aren't affected at all and find yourself surrounded by youths. What are you going to do when your best friend doesn't know how to cook for themselves? Or your bitter rival is throwing a temper tantrum because they broke their favorite toy? Nobody asked for this kind of responsibility, but think about what would happen if nobody was around to take care of these babies...

► This log covers January 23rd-Feb 1st.
► Feel free to make your own logs as well!
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If you trip over a kid and die, please let us know here.

Comments

Lup.

[restinglichface]

i; you were so young, young and dumb [Child]

[One moment you’re strolling through Hadriel alone, but the next, you suddenly have a shadow.

Wherever the unfamiliar face is headed, Lup seems intent on following along, her tiny hands curled into fists at her sides, eyes darting up and down the stranger's back.

For those who have come to know Lup in Hadriel, this young elf may not be difficult to identify. Though her hair is dark and her usual sharp cheekbones are obscured by baby fat, she still has the trademark long ears, the tan freckled skin, and the same defiant look in her eyes that her adult self sports. And despite being dressed in dirty clothes that look a little too small on her skinny frame, she holds her chin up haughtily like she's royalty instead of a street urchin, eying the figure in front of her with a frown.

When Lup finally speaks up, her voice is childlike with just a hint of a squeak, but it still manages to hold a surprising amount of indifference for her young age. She sounds bored.]

Why do you dress like that? It makes you look stupid.


ii; you were the baddest, the biggest, the bestest, burned out one [Adult]

[Nothing in Hadriel could ever just be normal, now could it?

There's always been a handful of kids running around Hadriel, usually all way too mature for their age, but still just a few among the sea of teenagers and adults that seemed to make up the population of the city. But now, overnight, that balance seems to have mysteriously shifted for the worse.

And Lup wants absolutely no part of it.]

Go away. [It doesn't matter how big and sad their damn eyes are, the elven woman gives a little wave of her hand towards the first kid that tries approaching her, making a shooing motion.] I'm way too hot to be your mom. Now skedaddle.


iii; you filled a bill, you kept it fun [Wildcard]

[OOC: Hit me up at meyggy or at my plotting comment if you want to do something else! I'm up for ANYTHING. I want baby Lup to make all of the friends and for adult Lup to become an unwilling mom to like everyone.]

One

[requiemshark]

[Terrence is currently eleven years old, skinny as a rail, and nearly vibrating with energy. Staying still is boring. He wants to be on the move constantly, bouncing from one idea to the next. Sometimes it feels like there are balls in his head just ricocheting off the walls and the balls are ideas and things he's supposed to remember, but it takes so long to remember. So he goes to a new idea, and then a different one, and the one after that.

Life is exciting.

Terrence puffs up his chest. He's wearing charity clothes, the ones his foster parents get from the UNSC every three months. None of them really fit.]

You look stupid!

[He squints.]

Your ears are weird.

[restinglichface]

[Said ears flatten while the young elf aims a pout the stranger's way, a hand rising to trace the length of her ear to the pointed tip, her eyes never once leaving his face.

Together they must look like quite the pair, both dressed in secondhand clothes that are just too small for any recent growth spurts. Lup's hand drops from her ear and she crosses her skinny arms over her chest instead, rocking back on the heels of her bare feet.]

My ears are normal, dumbass. You're the one whose ears're too small for your head.

[requiemshark]

[He touches his ears, eying her suspiciously. Just in case they turned weird since he last checked.

Nope. Still normal shaped.]

Are not. Who took your shoes?

[It happens sometimes if you get cornered by the bigger kids and they take your stuff. But then you get your feet burnt on the pipes and that hurts. Terrence has duct tape wrapped around his to make them fit. He's faster than most of the big kids, they can't catch him if he's smart.]

[restinglichface]

[The strange boy reaches up to touch his ears and Lup's face splits into a wide, toothy grin, like that's exactly what she wanted him to do. Ha!]

Don't got any. Ours got too small an' we had t' ditch 'em. Why are yours all weird?

[She steps closer and squints down at his shoes, the duct tape keeping them together.]

[requiemshark]

Oh.

[Sucks for her. Terrence sticks out his chin. He's taller than the weird girl, so there.]

Didn't fit right. Now they do.

one;

[barold]

[Honestly, Barry hadn’t noticed someone was following him at all. His attention had been elsewhere, mind kept busy making a mental map of this strange city, seeing as the strange house he woke up in this morning didn’t have one anywhere. Every building, every landmark, every street had been diligently noted and labeled in his head, connected to others with every corner he turned. No better map than your memory, like his mom would say.

When someone suddenly speaks, shattering his concentration, the boy jolts back into awareness and stops in his tracks, looking around for the source of the voice. The only other person around is an elf girl. She looks like an urchin. She’s staring at him.

She’s beautiful.

Barry’s eyes go wide behind the thick glasses resting on his little nose, his shoulders drawing all the way up to his reddening ears as he stands there, looking back at her. Why would a stranger be talking to him? Why would a girl be talking to him? What had she even said..?]

Wh… Wh-What?

[His voice is just barely lower than hers in pitch when he speaks, made quiet by the realization of why she even addressed him in the first place. She insulted him. Barry looks down at his denim overalls, hems rolled up around his chunky boots, sturdy suspenders hooked over his shoulders, clasped to the little iron buttons on the bib covering his round belly. A plump little hand reaches up to fidget with one of the straps.]

But… B-But they’re my bluejeans... They’re not stupid...

[restinglichface]

[For Lup, the strange environment and the lack of an overseeing adult is exactly what she's used to. It's the disappearance of her brother that has her more on edge, but knowing Taako, her twin was never too far off, likely working a con all on his own to make sure the two of them were able to eat before night fell.

The sudden thought of food leaves her stomach rumbling softly in protest, a fist unfurling to press against her stomach as she silently wills the familiar aches to go away.

But her hunger pangs are quickly forgotten when the boy that she's been following suddenly turns, Lup's eyes narrowing curiously just as his go wide. The elf doesn't hide her stares, sharp eyes trailing across his shorter frame. The boy looks chubbier than most of the other kids she's ever known, surprisingly round and soft, with better fitting and nicer looking clothes than she's seen in some time. There's no holes in his sturdy boots and he looks clean, the familiar smell of soap and clean cotton a luxury the twin elves haven't had since they'd taken to the streets.

And he's red, round cheeks quickly flushing while she stares him down, the sight of which leaves Lup feeling smug for some reason, like him being flustered just automatically means she has the upper hand in this exchange.]

That's what I said, isn't it?

[Lup slips close enough to teasingly pluck at one of his denim suspenders, her mouth finally stretching into a small smile.] They make you look like'a big dork.

[barold]

[The tall elf girl moves closer to him, grabbing at his clothes, and Barry stiffens even more under her gaze, her touch, her teasing smile. The kids back home would tease him too, make fun of his clothes, his smarts, his mom, his name, everything, but... none of them had made him feel like this before. He'd just been scared of those kids, scared and ashamed whenever they'd shove him or say mean things about him.

But this barefoot girl in rags, with wild dark hair and dirt on her pretty face, is making his stomach do weird little flips. His cheeks go all red, not because he's embarrassed or upset, but because of something else. Something he doesn't have a word for yet.]

... 'm not a dork. [He moves away from her, a single step backwards, indignantly straightening the suspender she had been picking at. She's too pretty to be cruel, Barry decides. So he'll just tell her like it is.] And jeans aren't dorky! They're comfy and easy to wear!

[restinglichface]

[His response leaves the girl laughing, eyes crinkling and her mouth opening up wide showing off her teeth. It feels strange, to laugh this big around anyone who isn't Taako, but his words combined with those red cheeks is just too much.

Barry takes a step back and Lup immediately follows, either not picking up on his discomfort or not caring.]

You're so weird. [But the way she says it makes it sound like she doesn't completely mind.] Comfy an' easy to wear, huh? Do you have any more? I want some.

[barold]

[She's even prettier when she laughs.

Barry takes another tiny step backwards, his heart beating super fast in his chest as the girl just follows him, staying so so close to him. For some reason, he's struck with a weird urge to make her laugh again, to reach out and grab her hand, to give her a huge hug. He doesn't get it.]

I-- U-Um, I have m-more at home. [Tons more. His mom only ever gets him jeans. He fidgets, fingers playing with the sturdy cotton fabric over his chest.] Dunno where that is r-right now though.

... You-- You can come see them, maybe! When mom picks me up, y-you can come with.

2 i have like no child icons for Gren whomp whomp

[murderpotato]

[Gren follows people at a safe distance, with the wariness of a wild animal. Which he sort of is, technically-- this is the first time that he's ever seen another person that isn't his own mother. Hell, if his mother hadn't actually told him that there are other people, terrible people, he would've thought that they were the only ones in the entire world.]

[He also looks like one of these weird people? Which is also weird, but he doesn't know how to explain that so he's not going to worry about it right now. He's dressed kind of like them, too, but with his feet and chest bare, skin dirty, hair wild. Looks a little like one of those feral children that people make documentaries of, the ones that are raised by wolves or whatever. He's small and skinny and his limbs are all gangly, as if he hasn't grown into them yet.]

[One of the people that he's trailing speaks, probably to him. She-- is it a she? Gren's not really sure-- is facing him, anyway. Gren's briefly surprised by the revelation that other creatures can talk before he replies. No one's better than his mother, after all, so he has to set the record straight.]

Not really. My mom's prettier than you.

my weird son

[restinglichface]

[Lup meets eyes with the unfamiliar boy at his retort, her lips pressing into a thin, angry line while she stares him down...

Before her mouth twitches once, twice and the facade suddenly breaks as she's left laughing, way too amused at the sass on this boy to actually be offended. Most of the children running around Hadriel just seem to cry whenever she doesn't immediately dote on them. Lup's much more impressed with a kid that reminds her of herself at that age. Stupid, sure, but also stupidly brave and with way too sharp a tongue.]

Alright, not bad. For a tiny brat. What are you, anyway? A mama's boy?

fake mom

[murderpotato]

[There's a few moments when Gren's forehead wrinkles up as he considers that last question. He gets that there's a meaning behind that phrase that's more than the sum of its words, but he doesn't get it.]

Isn't everybody?

[If you exist, you have a mama, ergo mama's boy. But, whatever, it's not important.]

[Gren approaches, a little warily, like he might bolt at any sudden movement. It's probably dangerous and his mother would scold him, but he doesn't know where she is (or where he is, really), and he's never gotten to talk to other things before. Curiosity wins out over caution in this instance.]

What are you? [He circles around her. When he's at her back, he reaches up to tug at the hem of her shirt to see what it's made of.] How come you can talk?

[restinglichface]

[Lup opens her mouth, clearly ready to drop some knowledge on this kid, but he's suddenly approaching her, circling her, tugging at her clothes. There's a part of her that wants to be irritated by the sudden gremlin cutting straight into her personal space, but something about the kid's appearance just resonates too strongly with her. Especially after this week.

Especially after reliving her childhood after so long.

So the kid tugs at her shirt and Lup just rests her hands casually at her hips, letting him poke and prod for the moment. She remembers how flighty she used to be, how cautious and distrusting of everyone. She doesn't want to make any sudden moves and frighten the little guy off.]

I'm an elf. Duh. Haven't you ever seen an elf before? [She shakes her head only to highlight the long ears she sports. Check it.] Also, natch. I think the better question is where the heck did your shirt go, kiddo? How long have you been runnin' around half-naked?

[murderpotato]

No.

[Her head shakes and he freezes for a second, watching the action with distrust before it's clear that it's harmless. Her hands haven't moved, anyway, so it seems safe enough. And he's probably strong enough to take her? He can't be sure, though, because he doesn't know how strong elves are. Maybe they're tougher than they look.]

[Her hair is nice, though. It's shiny, and it looks soft, and it's pretty much a complete contrast to the rat's nest that's on his head.]

[Gren's aforementioned mess of a head tilts at her question, a quizzical, birdlike motion. Or like a confused dog.]

I dunno. What's a shirt? [A question for a question is fair play, right?] Why do you have all that stuff on? It's hot.

ii.

[dedikated]

( It couldn't, but at least Lup might recognise this particular child from a dream that seems all too long ago. And, if she doesn't, the brown braid piled into a bun is almost exactly the same as it is on Kate's adult self, except in her natural hair colour.

You know what's also familiar? The look on Kate's face as Lup tells her to go, less sad and confused and more defiant and irritated. Why is she stuck here and why can't she find Marc? )

Y'think? ( If a voice could manage to exemplify the irritated smack of someone chewing gum, Kate's somehow does it. ) Weren't askin' you to be my mum.

( She had a mum. A perfectly great one. Who-

... Well. She's not there anymore, but somehow the circumstances escape Kate when she tries to grab for them. )

[restinglichface]

[Well, shit.

No one can blame the woman for being a little snippy when her twin brother and her husband both have been running around as children all day, but Lup recognizes her mistake almost immediately, just the same as when she realizes just who she's talking to.

The elf isn't good with apologies, and is really not good with kids, but knowing Kate as well as she does, the thought of just letting her run off with Lup's words ringing in her ears just doesn't sit well with her. Her expression softens, ears drooping just slightly.]

Shit. That... That wasn't meant for you. 'Cha girl will take the blame for that one, kid.

[dedikated]

( Uh. Right. Sadly the brat has no idea about... well, about most things, but especially about her actual, adult self. Instead, her brow raises in another smooth and familiar motion. )

Whatever. ( Weird lady, help her out here if you're going to be weird. )

This place, like, drags people here, aye? Why'd it pick me?

( The stress on the word me might sound like it means her specifically, but she's more concerned with why it's jut her, alone. )

[restinglichface]

[She's always weird. You'll learn that soon enough, mini Kate.]

Can't really say for sure. This place really picks and chooses all on it's own. It's all a mystery to us. [Which is the least helpful answer Lup imagines she's ever given.]

But stick with me and it'll be fine. The name's Lup. I'll teach you the ropes, kid.

[dedikated]

( Well... This is dumb. But she's stuck here anyway, so she supposes she may as well find stuff out. )

There anything fun here?

( At least this place doesn't appear to have a school. )

i

[storyseeker]

[Elena crosses her arms and glares at the little girl with the enormous ears. Wow. Super rude.]

You look stupid. Cuz you're a jerk.

[restinglichface]

[She gets that a lot.]

No, I look awesome, 'cuz I am awesome. My brother says so all the time. Does your brother say you're awesome?

[storyseeker]

No. Why does yours?

[She only has the experience of older brothers, who are largely uninterested in the fashion sense of tweens.]

Anyway, I don't look stupid. And who cares what I look like when I just time traveled here?

[time travel. The obvious conclusion.]

[restinglichface]

All the time!

[But really, if there was any way to divert the conversation, it had to be that. Lup's eyes go wide, her ears perking up in interest.] Whoa. How? You time traveled?