hadriel_logs | Event Log: The Hope of a Child

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Event Log: The Hope of a Child

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.

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[that's Laura--super duper pretty. which has always been the problem, but those problems aren't for children's ears]

I can see that. It's very good. You must've worked hard.

[she smiles back] Moats are important. But where are you gonna get the alligators from?

[Barry beams at the compliment, chest puffing up with pride. He did good! He did work very hard!]

Thank you, ma'am!!

[It's not often adults are so nice to him when he's playing. Most of them just ignore him. They don't get down on his level and ask questions like this lady does. Like that very good question about the alligators. Barry hums thoughtfully. They had only been imaginary alligators, but now that she's asking, he has to come up with a smart answer. Where'd he get tiny alligators from...]

Um... M-Maybe baby alligators. Those are tiny, right? [He measures an inch and a half with his fingers, demonstrating.] We just gotta find a mommy alligator first.

[she grins at his reaction]

It's no problem. And call me Laura.

[those adults must be rude and/or allergic to cute]

They are tiny, but eventually they grow up. But, where would we find a mommy alligator?

Laura. Okay! I'm Finbar! [A determined nod.] Mom calls me Barry, but that's stupid.

[... the lady makes an excellent point. Baby alligators would grow up eventually. They'd be too big for the moat then.]

U-Um. Alligators live in the water, right? So maybe in the lake? [Barry points in the general direction of the closest body of water. He hasn't seen any alligators when he was there earlier, neither mommy nor baby, so maybe that's a wash.]

Hmmm... I dunno. What would you put in the moat, Laura?

Then, I'll call you Finbar since you like it better.

[if anyone had ever told Laura that she would be the voice of reason, she probably would have laughed at them]

I've heard that the lake has monsters, but I've never seen an alligator. [she's also never seen any of the lake monsters, either, but she's not going to risk it]

Let's see. . . maybe spikes? So no one could try to swim across?

Thanks! [Finally, an adult who gets it!

Barry considers her words carefully. Wouldn't wanna go someplace with monsters. That sounds dangerous. And if she's saying there are monsters in the lake, it has to be true. Adults wouldn't lie. Then Laura suggests spikes, and Barry's whole face lights up.]

That's brilliant! [That's what people say when they've had an amazing discovery, right? What's the other one again?] Eureka!! [That's the one.

The boy pushes up his sleeves and starts shoveling sand out of the moat, digging it deeper.] With spikes at the bottom, we don't even have t'worry about feedin' any animals! That's so smart, Laura.

It's not a problem. [if that's the name he prefers, why wouldn't she call him by it?

wouldn't want to go anywhere with monsters with her especially. she's a very normal, everyday, squishy human with no self-defense skills to speak of. and ordinarily, Laura would lie, but there's something disarmingly cute about this kid. see the way his face lights up?]

Thank you. [she gives him a warm smile]

And if someone tries to get in by the drawbridge, all you'd have to do is push 'em off. Then, they'd get skewered.

[Wow, she's super smart! Barry hadn't even thought of that! The boy bounces excitedly, nodding with agreement.]

Yeah! No one can get in then! Everyone in th'castle would be safe. [He's gonna have to go scavenging for nails and screws later, so he can put them in the moat and make them look like spikes. Details matter!

Barry looks up at Laura then, quietly considering her for a moment, almost shy all of a sudden. When he speaks again, it's a proposition in a bashful mumble:]

Wanna be the queen of the castle?

[she grins at him. his enthusiasm is adorable]

It would be the safest castle in the entire world. [she'll help him look later on if he wants her to?

and, wow. she was honestly not expecting that. she's not used to people being good to her, so it takes a moment to answer] Finbar, I would love to be the queen of the castle.

[She said yes! The little boy looks elated, a huge grin splitting his face, his hands knitting together into little fists. His excitement shows with every little part of his body.]

C-Cool! [Smooth, kid.] You'll be perfect! E-Every castle needs a queen! Or a king. [He shrugs, like the idea of a king is super boring.] I don't wanna be king, that's way too much pressure. I um, I can be-- um--

[Decisions, decisions. He's certainly the architect of the castle, but what else could he be? Well, suppose he'll ask the one in charge:] Um! Which spot on your court w-would I be best at? [Oh! Almost forgot:] Your Majesty?

[his happiness is infectious and she finds herself grinning at him back. she wants to ruffle his hair affectionately, but she stops herself, always unsure of what to do in the presence of genuine kindness and acceptance]

I'll need a fancy dress if I'm gonna be the queen. And I understand why you don't wanna be king. It is a lot of work, ruling.

[his question makes her think a moment, but then she has the answer. in what's meant to be a regal tone of voice, she says] You shall be my chief advisor. Every queen needs one of those.

Yes! A huge fancy dress with-- with ruffles and silk and lace. [Do dresses have those? He's pretty sure.] And a big crown, and a big sword, so everyone knows you're the queen!

[He waits on pins and needles as she ponders, so excited and carried away with the game that he doesn't notice he's bouncing a little where he's sitting. Then she proposes that he should be the chief advisor, and Barry puffs up with pride, trying to go for a serious look but completely unable to contain his happiness for long.] I'll be th'best chief advisor you've ever had, your Majesty!

... Um, what-- what's a chief advisor even... do?

I'll look like a fairy-tale queen in a dress like that. [she's from 1989, all dresses have ruffles and silk and lace. and shoulder pads] Then, I'll need to learn how to use a sword. Or maybe just hire a knight.

[she notices the bouncing and it's precious. so is the puffing up with pride. all in all, he's just plain adorable!]

You'll sit in on all of my councils and give me advice when I ask for it. You'll do great because you're really smart.

Wh-Where I'm from, all th'queens and princesses wear dresses like that! Some of'em wear armor too. [He nods seriously.] We can send out a call for knights t'come to your castle if you wish.

[Laura calls Barry really smart, and the boy's face immediately darkens with a deep red blush. He shyly ducks his head, fidgeting with some sand.] Th-Thank you, yer Majesty... [It's mumbled, the boy clearly a little embarrassed by the compliment. He is smart, he knows that, but such a nice lady just telling him outright...] I... I'll give you a-all th'advice y'need t'rule yer kingdom.

I'd rather go with the dress. Armor sounds cold and I don't know how to fight, anyway. [she nods back in agreement] We'll have to get knights. Knights from everywhere.

[now that's downright adorable. she wants to ruffle his hair, but figures that would be embarrassing for him, so she doesn't] You're welcome. [she gives him an encouraging smile] You'll do a great job.

[Another great point, armor does sound cold! Barry wonders why a lady so smart would want or need a chief advisor, but... hey, he'll take it.] Y-Yeah, knights from all over. There's, um-- There's a lotta strong and brave people around here, I think we'll find someone you'll really really like. I don't know how t'fight either, so.

[Thank goodness she doesn't ruffle his hair, he might actually melt with embarrassment. Instead he tries to straighten up, tries to shake it off and not let his emotions run away with him, like his mom always warns him about.] Um... First I-- I advice we finish construction of th'moat, your Majesty. So that way, invaders won't get in!

[because Laura Palmer specializes in making Bad Decisions for herself. she's slightly better when others are involve, though] Then we'll need to find plenty of people who can fight for both of us.

[it's still tempting! don't think for a moment that it's not! and she gives him a regal nod] I am taking your advice because it's good. Now, how d'you wanna finish it?

Yeah, that's real smart. I mean I-- I don't like fightin', but... [It's still smart to have someone around to protect you when you can't protect yourself.

Barry hums a little, tapping a damp, sandy finger to his chin as if deep in thought.] Well... th'moat is all dug out... What we really need are spikes. Maybe um-- Maybe we should go lookin' for nails! O-Or screws! Um, th-those look like spikes, right? And they're small, so they'll go right in th'moat.

I don't like fighting either. [exactly. they're too cute to be fighting, anyway]

That should work just fine. Maybe we'll get lucky and the stores will have nails or screws. My only worry is, what if someone messes with our castle.

[Too cute, too smart. They're a good team!

She makes another excellent point. Someone could come by and wreck their castle if left unattended... Previous experience tells Barry as much. Some kids are just mean.] Maybe, um... Maybe we can just pretend there're spikes in there for now. O-Or maybe one of us can defend th'castle while the other one goes lookin'.

What do you wanna do, your Majesty?

[a very good team!

yes, other kids are awful. little brats who'd ruin Finbar's sandcastle and she'd honestly feel bad about that]

How about I go looking while you guard the castle? I know the stores and where to look for supplies, so it won't take long.

[Barry breathes a sigh of relief, trying - and let's be honest, completely failing - to make it obvious. He really didn't want to be the one going off in search of nails for the moat. He doesn't know where a lot of the stores are, and he runs the risk of running into more mean kids, like that elf boy who called him names the other day. No thanks!]

If-- If that's okay with you, your Majesty! [Barry nods, doing a little salute.] As chief advisor, I'll keep your castle safe and runnin' smoothly in your absence!

[understandable. Laura knows the town, knows where the stores are, and isn't likely to be messed with by anyone. even if someone insults her, she'll just insult them back. and if someone tries to attack her, she'll just run away]

That's fine with me. [she gives him her best smile] And I'm sure you will. You're smart.

[Laura is incredibly smart. She knows what's up. All things considered, Barry could stand to learn a thing or three from her - both at age eight and age forty-eight, honestly.

Even though she's said it once before, Barry still goes all red and wriggles shyly on the spot, clearly delighted that she thinks him so smart she'd say it twice.]

Th-Thank you, your Majesty. I-- I'll do my best!

[no, no, no, Laura is like the opposite of good ideas. she's gotten herself into so much trouble in the past and done so many bad things. or at least morally objectionable things.

she pats him on the head, ruffling his hair a little]

I know you will. I'll be right back.

[and off she goes to the stores]

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Event Log: The Hope of a Child

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