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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Barry looks up from the squares he's drawn out in the sand, the numbers he's currently carving into each square, one by one. The sight that greets him makes him drop the stick he's holding on the ground, eyes going wide.

It's a lady. A really pretty lady. She looks a little like the elf girl he met a couple of days ago. The also really pretty one, with the huge smile and cute laugh and dirt on her face. This lady doesn't have dirt on her face, though. She's way taller, way older, and her hair is so bright unlike the really dark hair the elf girl had.

Maybe Barry just thinks elves in general are pretty. But that can't be right, that other elf girl he met wasn't nearly as pretty as this person...]

Um... [He shuffles shyly, pushing some sand around with his foot.] Y-Yeah? I guess? [Even though he's all red and his stomach is doing those weird flips again, Barry looks up at the tall elf lady, considering her thoughtfully.]

Can adults even play hopscotch..?

[Softening her oftentimes abrasive personality around children is a little difficult to do, but Lup's trying to keep the teasing that comes so naturally between her and Barry to an absolute minimum, just because she does not want to make the kid cry.

She does not need this sweet, round boy's tears on her conscience, thank you very much. Lup will never live it down.

Instead, she just pairs a grin with a slight shrug of her thin shoulders, reaching out to retrieve the stick he'd dropped before holding it out to him. Barry's just so young, still red-faced and bespectacled, but tiny too, with plump fingers and the damn cutest nose she's ever seen.]

Well yeah. What, think I can't jump? I've got legs, don't I?

[Barry's not sure he believes that. What kinda adult knows how to play hopscotch anyway? That's a kid's game. His mom doesn't play with him, she's way too old. His teachers don't play with him, they're too busy. Adults have other things to do than learn how to play hopscotch, more important things to do than hang out with little kids.

But she is right. She does have legs.]

... Y'gotta jump on one foot. That's the important part. [Barry nods gravely, taking the stick as she offers it to him. The court is all set up. All they need now is a lucky. He supposes a rock will do, since he's just explaining the rules for now.] And y'gotta jump over th'squares with the lucky in it, on just the one leg.

[He picks up a rock and hands it to her.]

It's pretty hard. It's okay if y'can't do it.

[Lup takes the rock from Barry and quickly rises back up on her feet, huffing like she's truly offended. Which honestly, she kind of is! How dare her husband-turned-child think she can't fucking win a game of hopscotch. She's agile as hell! He's so sleeping on the couch for this.]

You're gonna be eatin' your words, kiddo. Just you wait. Let ol' Lup show you exactly how it's done.

[She tosses the rock onto the first square and lifts a leg, preparing to soar over to the second square.

And completely biffs her roll, stumbling on the landing and catching herself with both feet, just outside of the box. Well, fuck.]

[Lup?

But... But that's the same name as the beautiful elf girl. But that doesn't make any sense. Barry doesn't know many elves, but he's read about them. They live for many hundreds of years. By the time the elf girl is an adult, like this Lup, Barry would be old and grey, like his mom. Maybe even dead, like his dad. Maybe Lup is just a really common name for female elves? Maybe elves just look really similar? Maybe they're related?

Too many questions. Too many incomplete hypotheses based entirely on conjecture, not enough evidence. Completely baseless. The only hypothesis he's able to immediately confirm is that adults aren't as great at hopscotch as they claim.

Barry is thankfully able to hold back a giggle as the woman fails, but he can't quite wipe the little smile off his face.]

It's okay, ma'am. [Barry pats the elf lady's thigh a couple of times, trying for reassuring but maybe ending up more condescending than anything.] I know it's real hard. Can I try? Maybe I can teach ya!

[R U D E.

Barry approaches to pat her leg and it's only because of his absolute cuteness that Lup doesn't bite his head off for that condescending gesture. But instead of kicking the stone away and throwing herself a good ol' adult tantrum, the woman sighs and accepts the child's kind smile. She's still going to destroy him in this game, but, y'know, may as well give him a little lead so he isn't too devastated.]

Yeah, yeah. That was just my warm up, alright? You go and then I'll really bring it next round. Just you wait.

Okay, ma'am. [Barry doesn't really believe her, but he knows from experience that adults have a really hard time admitting defeat. Especially to a kid. So he'll just let her deflect. For now.

Picking up the rock, Barry gets into position at the foot of the court and, once Lup moves to the side, he gently underhand-throws the rock into the first square. He lifts a leg, slowly bends the other, and jumps, landing with a tiny skid in the soft sand of the second square, but righting himself up after a few seconds. It's really hard, keeping your balance and jumping on one leg, but it's fun!

He jumps the rest of the court then, doing what he envisions to be a cool full-body twist on the home base at the end, before jumping the rest of the court back to the start. This time, he just barely makes it over the square with the lucky in it, stumbling a little and catching himself on both feet, but he didn't fall! When he turns to the lady, he's panting but beaming.]

See? It's-- It's fun! Now you-- you try.

[Barry turns to her, out of breath but beaming, and Lup can't help the way her lips twitch into a soft smile in return, something disgustingly gooey settling within her.

Ew she's not supposed to care about kids. Even if it's her husband as a kid. Stomp those maternal feelings down and crush the kid.]

Alright, alright. You've got some good moves, but watch this.

[Lup uses Levitate to lift the lucky up to eye level so she can swipe it out of the air and give it a careful toss back on the first square. This time she manages the first leap with ease and the rest of the hops are nothing, all the way to the end where she leaps over both the first and second square all at once to reach the end.]

Pretty baller, huh?

[She's a wizard.

Barry stares as she makes the rock float before absolutely crushing the hopscotch course, making it all the way through and even jumping two squares at a time. Her finesse at hopscotch isn't nearly as mind-blowing - he'd just shown her how to do it, naturally she'd be better this time around - as the magic is. Barry loves magic.

When she stops and looks at him, he starts clapping really loudly, eyes huge and shining with excitement.]

That was so cool! [He bounces on his feet, hands curled into excited fists.] Do it again, do it again, make somethin' float again! Please?! Please, please can I see it again?

[Lup assumes Barry's absolute awe is all because of her bomb hopscotch skills, but when he bounces and shoots her a look that the woman sees so much of his adult self in, her own smile goes wide and fond. Her memories of running around as a child may be a little fuzzy and vague, but it would be impossible to forget Barry's excitement at the spells she'd showed him earlier.]

Pick out somethin' to send flyin' then, little man! Unless you wanna float. Think you're brave enough for that?

[The lady is agreeing. Barry has never been more excited in his whole life. A real wizard is gonna show him real magic! He! Can't wait!!

He starts looking around for something she can levitate for him, before she suggests levitating him. The tiny human boy stares up at her, eyes wide as saucers, mouth gaping. His whole body seems to be vibrating with excitement. While the classic Bluejeans Nerves are certainly still present, Barry at age eight seems to be much more fearless than Barry age fourty-eight. Anxiety is apparently something you grow into.]

Can you really do that, ma'am? C-Can you make me float..?

[Lup's only answer is a grin before she's wiggling her slim fingers--completely unnecessary, but it just adds a little something to the effect--and the boy's feet are suddenly hovering just an inch over the ground. Barry may not even notice it until he looks down.]

[Barry is too busy bracing himself, fists curled tight, legs bending at the knees, watching the lady intently as she wiggles her fingers in the air. Any minute now. Any minute, and he's gonna be floating, he's gonna be flying, positively soaring through the air, just a couple seconds now, just a few mysterious magic words, and he's gonna be off the ground--

A tiny shift of his foot is enough to tip him off. Where he expects to feel sand shifting underneath his chunky boot, he just feels nothing. The boy stiffens. He glances down, both feet wiggling, meeting no resistance.

He starts squealing. Initially it's hard to tell whether he's excited or terrified.]

Higher! Higher!! Please can I go higher?? [Barry giggles, a shrill sound of nervous joy as he moves around in the air, trying - and completely failing - to control his movements and do a cool flip. Instead he just kind of wobbles, arms flailing, his little legs kicking fruitlessly.]

[Holy crap Lup's never been more happy to be Barry's wife than right this very instant. He's just so fuckin' cute. She's going to smooch the heck out of him when she sees him all adultified again.

It takes everything she has, but Lup manages to not laugh at Barry's adorable reaction, the tiny boy nearly tumbling over his own feet in his effort to do something? A flip? Goddamn. Lup's never exactly been the maternal type, but she's aching to wrap this sweet boy up and stuff him full of some homemade cookies.]

I dunno, kiddo. Only real brave kids can handle anythin' higher than this. Think you're brave enough, hun? I'm gonna need your word that you won't get all scared on me.

Y-Yeah! Yeah, I-- I'm super brave!!

[To anyone who's ever interacted with Barry J. Bluejeans, that is just a blatant lie. It's laughably obvious to anyone who's spent even a few seconds in his presence. Barry isn't made of tough stuff, never has been. He's also a terrible liar. It's written all over his face that he's making it up, trying way too hard to look tough and strong and brave where he's stuck in mid-air, shakily wobbling.

But if he has to lie a little bit in order to fly higher, he'll do it. Because this is heckin' rad.]

I promise I-I can take it! Super mega promise! Please, ma'am, I wanna go higher!

[A careful addendum:] M-Maybe not super high.

[Alright, Lup does laugh at that one, the smile curling at her lips softening just slightly before she does just as he instructed, raising Barry in the air until he's closer to eye level with her. That's still pretty far up for such a tiny kid, but if he gets too worried, she's right there to ground him.

She holds out a hand for him to take, to give Barry something sturdy to push off of while he's stuck floating in mid-air. Try and give that cool flip trick another shot, kiddo.]

Y'know, if you keep studyin' magic real hard, you can grow up to be just as bomb a wizard as I am. Got any spells under your belt yet, little man?

Edited 2018-03-05 03:51 (UTC)

[Barry squeals with frightened delight as he's lifted even higher off the ground, floating on his belly, looking down at the sand below. It is pretty high. But she's a bomb wizard! She can keep him steady and safe!

Especially with that hand extended his way, one he takes and squeezes a little harder than he'd intended. He doesn't push off of her to do more flips - he's way too high up, what if he gets queasy?? - but just holds her hand in his, shakily kicking his legs like he's swimming in the air.

Her hand feels nice. Weird.]

Y-You think so? [Barry grins, as nervous as he's excited.] Um-- not yet, but! I've been readin' a lot about cantrips. They don't sound that hard. There's one that makes a ghost hand, and one that makes a skeleton hand, [he sounds pretty enthusiastic about that one,] a-and tons more! I almost cast Light once!!

[There's no missing the way that Barry's excitement peeks through at the mention of Chill Touch, the corner of Lup's mouth twitching upwards as she holds back a laugh. It shouldn't be surprising that her husband was into necromancy even back at this young age, but it's amusing to think of this baby reanimating corpses at least four times his height.

Maybe that thought should be more morbid to the woman, but Lup just thinks it's funny.]

Oh dang. [She whistles, low and in awe.] That sounds baller, my guy. You must have some real natural talent to already be throwin' a few cantrips around.

[Without even mentioning it, Lup steps forward, dragging Barry along with her in the air, smiling back at him while she tugs his round body behind her.] What else? What spell are you most excited to learn?

[Lup starts walking, still holding his hand, and Barry just floats after her with a loud, excited giggle. His feet kick a little. It's like he's a balloon! Weird! And fun!]

Um... I-- I dunno. I've read about a lot of'em, but not every single one. That's what I'm most excited about, I think! Learning all of'em!

[Ambitious even from the start. There's not a lot of books about necromancy in his house or his school, of course, but there's no denying that he's curious. Everything he's heard about it is so exciting! And the fact that it's mysterious and forbidden makes it even more exciting.]

Th-There's a spell called Weird, isn't that cool? I wanna learn that one. And I wanna learn how t'shoot fire, a-and teleport places, and fly! Can you do those?

[Yep, this is her nerd all right. Eager to learn absolutely anything and everything all at once. It's not so surprising to Lup, who can see so much of Barry's adult self within this sweet kid, but it's a special kind of insight into his childhood that only feels fair after he'd gotten to see so much of hers earlier in the week.

She keeps walking, never once breaking stride, just to let Barry float on after her, his stumpy little legs kicking in the air behind them.]

You'll get there, little man. There's a hella ton of studyin', sure, but for folks like us, magic comes easily. We've got a knack for it.

[Huh? Is it strange that a kid is most interested in a spell that deals with calling upon someone's darkest, deepest fears? Naaah.]

Maybe. A lady doesn't give away all her secrets right at once. Didn't your mom teach you that?

[Little man. Even though it's kinda patronizing, hearing her call him that makes Barry feel really good. Like he's a lot more grown up than he looks, a lot smarter than his age would make you assume. A cool, pretty, talented, bomb-ass wizard lady thinks he's got a knack for magic.

Barry blushes.]

Th-That's okay. I l-like studyin'.

[The lady puts him in place and he immediately concedes, eyes going wide, sputtering where he's being dragged behind her like a chubby, denim-clad balloon. His mom did teach him better, and he completely forgot all about it. What kind of gentleman is he?!]

Y-Yes, ma'am, she did! I'm sorry! I'm real sorry, I-- I didn't mean t'intrude or nothin', I was just-- j-just curious!

[Barry goes red and sputters out an apology, looking so intensely flustered for a young boy floating through the air like that, that Lup turns to face him, immediately reaching for his other hand so she can drag him closer.]

I was kiddin'. You're fine, hun. It's not much of a secret when I'd tell you way too eagerly in the first place. I can do all of those and more. Evocation's my speciality, but I've got spells from all schools.

[And then a touch softer, the woman's voice lowering conspiratorially, like this was meant for Barry's ears alone.] Hey, can I tell you a secret?

[Lup takes his other hand, and Barry squeezes real tight, letting her ground him and pull him in closer. Okay, good. It was just a goof. A gag. She's not offended or anything. Phew! Gentleman status still intact!]

C-Cool! You're r-real talented, ma'am. [Nailed it.

She basically asks if he can keep a secret, and his eyes somehow go wider, his mouth drawing into a thin, serious line. Can he ever. He's a gentleman, after all, very trustworthy and a great listener! Barry nods eagerly, soft fingers squeezing as he holds on. He needs to stay close for this.] Yeah, o-okay. I promise I won't tell anybody.

[What a little gentleman. Angus could really learn something from him!

The boy nods, squeezing her hands softly with his plump little fingers, and Lup leans in, grinning as her voice lowers down to as close to a whisper as she's capable of.] I know you. The grown up you. I'm from the future.

[Excuse! Angus is his gentleman-in-training role model! A handsome boy in such fancy clothes? He must be a gentleman!

The woman starts whispering, and even though Barry strains to hear her, he's sure he must be mistaken. Th-The future? The boy's eyes go wide, his little mouth dropping open. That sounds like his fantasy stories! People from the future! It must be true, because Angus said they're on an alien planet, and that also only happens in his fantasy stories.

Barry is having the best week ever.] That's--! Th-That’s so cool! Um--! Am I a w-wizard when I grow up? Am I cool?? How do you know me?

[Another huge gasp, his round little body shivering with excitement in the air.] Are you really th-the elf girl I played tag with..? [The one who kissed him..???]

Edited 2018-04-13 21:41 (UTC)

Event Log: The Hope of a Child

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