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

[Of all the things Hadriel has sprung on them, this ranks among the strangest. Ephemera isn't sure how to process it, or how to react around the sudden influx of children. Many of whom are actually smaller versions of people he already knows. It wouldn't be so bad if all they had to contend with was the strangeness. But a place like Hadriel is dangerous at the best of times, and kids are small and stupid. They die easier than they should.

Ephemera shakes his head, helmet tucked under his arm. Focus. React to the situation at hand.

Mainly, groceries. He's on the way to scrounge around for food when a kid runs up to him.

Ephemera pauses. The kid has a familiar sort of face. He squints a little. Is that...?]

Drake?

[ The sound of his own name freezes Drake in his tracks and his expression turns instantly wary. He doesn't know anyone here, after all, why should anyone know him? Maybe he was kidnapped? He looks up at this stranger, at his strange armor and the ruin of his face. Together it's nothing he's ever seen before but that doesn't seem to be what's scaring him. No, it's that the guy knew his name. He takes an awkward step away. ]

...I don't know you.

[Ephemera goes very still. It's Drake. A very young version of him, looking wary and oh so careful. Ephemera breathes. Counts on the exhale. Don't raise your voice. Don't make sudden movements or you'll be a threat. You cannot be a threat to him.]

Sorry. You look like one of my friends. His name is Drake. He's older than you, though.

[ There's no way it's a coincidence, nope. Kid's not buying it. But he knows he can't just turn and run, either, he wouldn't get far. If this guy is a kidnapper that'll set him off, right? He didn't wake up bound, he doesn't want to wind up that way. Not that any of this makes sense. Why would anybody want to take him in the first place? ]

Okay... I just need a telephone, sir. Do you have one?

[Ephemera breathes. Counts on the exhale. Don't you dare freak out. Don't you dare be shitty to Drake, to any version of Drake. You're the adult, so fucking act like it.]

Yeah. But I can't call anybody from home. It's something this place does.

[He offers his phone out.]

You can try, if you want. Maybe it'll work for you.

I need to call my ma. Tell her where I am.

[ The stranger holds a phone out, and that's definitely not a kidnapper move so Drake steps forward slowly, just enough to reach out and take it, then skitters back again. Cradles it in his hands. ]

...where are we?

I know, kid.

[That won't be happening. Ephemera wishes there were an easy way to break the news, but there's just not. He watches this strange, young version of Drake curiously. He's so careful. So polite. Nothing like Ephemera was at that age.]

It's called Hadriel. I woke up here like you did.

Hadriel. [ He pronounces it carefully -- has definitely never heard of it, but geography's not his strong suit. Still, it must be somewhere real far from Seattle, to be in the desert. ] Okay, thank you.

[ He focuses on the call now, but the strange phone interface isn't helping matters. And when he does get to the screen he can dial on, nothing connects. Of course.

This is. Really bad. Don't freak out, don't be a baby. Just try it again... ]

[It doesn't connect, like Ephemera knew it wouldn't. He exhales. Runs a hand through his hair.]

It's okay, kid. I know this fucked up, but nobody's gonna hurt you here.

[He won't let them.]

[ Drake looks back up at the stranger, who seems earnest enough but. He's heard that shit before. He's used to liars. To men who seem nice enough at first but wind up leaving their mark all the same. He just wishes he were big enough to keep it from happening. And this guy? He looks like a sci-fi soldier, someone from a comic book. He could do some real damage. ]

I don't believe you.

[ He should be playing nice, staying on this guy's good side, but. It's just such obvious bullshit. Odds are he was brought here for a reason and no fun ones come to mind. ]

[Ephemera nods, sadly. He knows why Drake wouldn't.]

You got no reason to. But I was brought here, same as you. Same as everyone else. And I won't let anything bad happen to you.

[He'll kill anyone who tries to hurt Drake. No matter what version of Drake it is.]

[ He doesn't really believe that, either. Mostly because this guy has no reason to protect him. There's no reason for Drake to trust him. ]

...why are we here? And why should you care what happens to me?

Somebody powerful wants us here.

[It's better not to lie, Ephemera thinks. He watches Drake carefully. Wishes he knew the right things to say. Wishes this could be simple. But it's not. And here they are.]

Because I made a promise to my friend to watch after the people here. Especially the ones who don't have armor.

For what? They're sure not getting any ransom over me.

[ It's just the truth. They don't have it. And he's a fucking ten year old, it's not like he can actually do much of anything to be useful.

Then the man mentions his armor, and Drake is briefly sidetracked. ]

That's all real?

It's complicated. But they need something from people, something they can't get from themselves.

[It's a blatant deflection, but it's not a lie.

Ephemera nods, lifting up his arm so Drake can see the gauntlet.]

Uh huh. You wanna see?

[ Yeah, 'it's complicated' is not an answer, and little Drake doesn't look satisfied at all by it. He considers the stranger, and whether or not he should push it. He settles for: ]

I need to go home.

[ His ma will seriously flip out, and that means so will her newest asshole boyfriend, and that means... well. Bad things for him, usually.

The armor does pique his curiosity, though, enough that he risks taking another step closer and reaching out questioningly. Is he allowed to touch it? He wants to knock on the plating, see how thick it is. ]

[Ephemera hums, hoping that maybe, just maybe, the armor will distract this younger Drake for a moment. The rest of this is complicated, and there aren't any easy answers.

Not one for praying, Ephemera gives it a try. He prays that this won't hurt either of them.

Then he nods, holding out his arm.]

Go ahead.

[ Drake makes a fist and raps gently against the metal covering Ephemera's arm. It feels awfully solid. ]

Must be heavy.

It is. But I got used to it.

[He flexes his hand a little, showing Drake how the difference pieces move together.]

It keeps me safe.

[ He just watches for a moment, letting his hand drop. His expression has closed off a bit, that bright curiosity fading in the face of some other emotion. ]

Wish I had one.

[ Not that it would be a guarantee of anything, he's still just a kid, but. A super suit for protection would be nice. ]

[Ephemera exhales slowly. Yeah. That.]

When you're bigger, I'll show you how to wear it.

...really?

[ When he's bigger he might not really need it but it sure looks cool. ]

When did you get yours?

From the military.

[Technically, it's not a lie.]

Used to be a corporal.

Oh. [ That sounds like an important title, but it's not one Drake's ever heard of before. He doesn't know anybody that's been in the military. ] Did you have to go to war?

I did.

[He tips his head to the side.]

It's over now.

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