Intro Log: Fly, My Pretties!

[hadrielmods]

What: The intro log for May
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: May 10th-14th
Warnings: Flying monkeys! New friends! Prosthetic limbs!

Here in Hadriel, we do introductions right. That means dumping you on the ground of an old Roman-style Colosseum with a bunch of scary monsters and also a bunch of weird shit. Your monster of the day happens to be Winged Monkeys, more commonly known as flying monkeys, from the Wizard of Oz and affiliated stories!

As you may have been able to guess, these creatures can fly and they're rather intelligent- intelligent enough to wield spears and daggers as crude weapons and strong enough to pick someone right up off the ground and fly with them to a perch, where they'll... you know, stab them with their knives and stuff.

Why? We don't know. It's Hadriel.

Just in case you lose a couple of limbs in the process of escaping these critters, we've got you covered. Scattered around the newbies are prosthetic limbs for various body parts. These limbs are all fully functional, even if they look a bit... odd, so if you've lost an arm or two, or a leg, or even a pinkie finger, feel free to grab one and try to figure out how to use it!

Good job dealing with those monkeys! It's kind of a weird thing to be threatening, but clearly someone was afraid of them once. Once you're done, 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 May 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!

Comments

Rey. | OTA

[circumitus]

I. Speakeasy.

For once, Rey is fashionably late to the welcome night at her own bar. Just one look might tell anyone who knows her why.

Unlike months prior where she spent most of the evening downstairs drinking her feelings away, Rey can be found upstairs sporting a rather modest green dress, tailored by Hadriel's own Margaery Tyrell. With Atem's help, her appearance overall is much more comely than the look she tends to present herself in: Her hair is brushed and fashioned the best her short mahogany mop can be. If one looks a little close, they might notice a hint of... Is that makeup?

Say it isn't so.

Of course, you can bet she's wearing her signature combat boots underneath that. She doesn't compromise when it comes to her footwear.

It's not like she's never dressed up before, or that she's even adverse to it. Making herself appear physically appealing is something she's always had complicated feelings about, so tonight she keeps to herself for the most part. Leaving the volunteers to help with the bartending part most of the time, Rey helps herself to her own home brewed bourbon and slides into one of the booths, across from the dancefloor. She's remiss to seek out conversation with any patrons, especially like this.

II. Game Room.

Before long Rey takes refuge upstairs. Anyone passing by might freely notice Rey sitting at a table with a checkerboard in front of her, along with some red and black circular pieces on the squares. She's got a drink with her and she might have had too many when she is finally the one starting conversation.

"Care for a game?" Rey asks, holding up a red piece from the checkerboard between her middle and index fingers. There's an actual hint of a grin on her face.

She might have had too much to drink -- or maybe not enough?

I. lmfao im sorry about him

[killthisparty]

[ He's been in here before. Quiet and reserved, or loud along with friends, but he takes a moment when he notices how full it seems to be this time. But-- that's just how this place is. If he keeps running away from crowds, he'll have nowhere to be but the desert.

...which, you know, doesn't sound like that bad of an idea.

Anyway, he's here now. And unfortunately for her - he seems to be staring. Maybe not for the reasons she might assume he is, but he's also not exactly...sometimes, he just stares. That's just a thing. Specially when he's trying to figure out something about someone.

So there's that. He's staring at her from a couple of feet away, from a little too long, tired and small and messy, apparently thinking some pretty intense thoughts.

He's good with people, clearly. ]

never be.

[circumitus]

[Clearly. Hell, this guy is almost even worse than Rey is at people skills. Though she can't deny that she has a staring problem herself sometimes. Sniper habit.

[What she isn't habitual to these days is being watched herself. Not that she isn't used to it, but the feeling gets under her skin. Makes her stomach turn and head ache.

[Or maybe it's just doing that on its own. Hard to tell lately.

[Rubbing her forehead, she eventually draws the stranger a sharp look out her peripheral vision.]

You got something you want to say? [Rey finally snaps once enough time has passed and she can't take it anymore.]

Re: never be.

[killthisparty]

[ He just blinks. In a way, it looks like he wasn't really thinking about having a word with her - not that he thought she wouldn't talk, he just...hadn't thought that far -, but his vague expression doesn't change much. ]

We talked.

[ They have, but he wasn't sure it was her. She looks so different, he was having a hard time figuring out if it was her.

That's why he was staring.]

[circumitus]

[Wow, this guy is actually worse than Rey at this. That takes some actual talent.

[She just arches a brow.]

Have we? Talk to a lot of people around here. How is that surprising?

[At least she doesn't gawk at every familiar looking person like she's about to magically get laser vision. Or x-ray, in this guy's case, maybe.]

[killthisparty]

Y' look different.

[ She couldn't be blamed for taking the vagueness of his tone as something negative, even if it's not. It takes a while for people to get used to the slow quiet process of the rare times he actually thinks. There's rarely a middle ground between impulses and long, silent stares.]

Face got more colors.

[circumitus]

[Oh, great. He's going to be one of those sketchy types. She just squints at him.]

All right, you're observant. [/dripping sarcasm]

[killthisparty]

[ He can be sketchy, indeed. But possibly not in the way she's thinking.

He twists his nose, put off by her tone. Not that it's the first time someone talked to him this way. He's done to to tons of people as well.]

Fuck. Couldn't tell, fuckin' chill.

1

[abbatis]

During the two months that Edgar had resided in the city of Hadriel he had also become somewhat a regular at the Speakeasy.

Only somewhat.

So far he's made it to a habit to visit the place several times within week. Sometimes slipping quickly in and out, without letting anyone see him to move in the shadows. The other times he sat in the corners, watching and observing others and joining into few casual conversations. Nonetheless, he had become quite used to the place and it's people-- appreciating that no one seemed to question why someone as young as him spent time in a bar.

This was one of the times when Edgar had came to the bar to stay instead of a quick, unnoticeable visit. Just like always he avoided being in the center and stuck to the quiet corner tables. That's also where he notices one of the hosts, looking very different to than her usual self. She looks almost, well, girly but appears to behave more like a shy wallflower rather than the belle of the ball. Or at least that's what he gathers from her silent withdrawal.

"Looking nice." He eventually says when the night is turning late and they're alone near the counter. They've never talked before outside of the network and even then Edgar had kept quiet about his identity.

"Can I ask what's the occasion?"

[circumitus]

Compliments are perfectly normal, Rey tries to remind herself even before entering here. There's nothing weird about it.

Though clearly she struggles to heed her own comfort levels, as her face flushed under the light layer of makeup Atem had prettied her face up in, as well as her hair and braid. She doesn't mind the style; it's well cut and stays out of the way. However, she never quite got the appeal of makeup.

She still doesn't. She'll have to check that off on normal things she's attempted, and didn't get with her.

"No occasion, unless you count your friend showing up insisting on giving a makeover to be one." Hell, some people probably would call that an occasion on its own.

Sigh.

[abbatis]

He wouldn't even need to be a vampire, or any other supernatural being for that matter, to be able sense the uneasiness in the woman. One could cut the tension with a knife, that strong and thick it was. But he didn't let that to bother him or show up in his demeanor, instead he kept smiling at her with a polite and charming eyes.

"That sounds nice of them," he nods even though she hardly answered to his question. There still must have been some kind of reason or a story behind such act of kindness and attention. "Or do you not agree?"

[circumitus]

Rey's eyes widen a moment before she shakes her head. No, she isn't about to trash on Atem's goodwill. He didn't have to do this, and it clearly wasn't for a good laugh. There are other ways for that.

"It's not... It's fine," Rey quips. "Everyone could use a good cleanup every now and then, right?"

Who needs a special occasion for that? Not her, no sir.

ii.

[outofthefire]

[tonight, Laura is working the casino, doing her best to help the patrons have a good time. and her best is pretty damn good, if she says so herself. she circulates the room, dealing blackjack for one set of patrons, dealing cards for poker at a table, spinning the roulette wheel for someone else.

in her rounds, she finds Rey sitting at a table with a checkerboard and a drink. she decides she can take a break and joins Rey at the table]

Sure, why not? I haven't played checkers in years.

[circumitus]

[Rey has noticed Laura's work, and appreciates all the help she's gotten here. Managing the Speakeasy on its own can be a handful, but both floors would be a disaster.

[So she doesn't mind when Laura takes a break for a game. They all need one, just as Rey does for herself.]

Thank god you're not someone who needs a crash course on the rules, then. [She finishes setting up the board.] Red or black?

[outofthefire]

[if there's one thing Laura knows, it's how to help others have a good time.

she's been on her feet in heels for a while, so she definitely appreciates the chance to take a break]

Nope, I'm pretty sure I remember how it goes. And I'll go with black.

[circumitus]

[That's why Rey is still wearing the boots. When it comes to her feet, she doesn't mess around, even if she is prettied up in a dress.]

Good, good. Red goes first. [Rey makes the first move and lets Laura to next. They can talk and play at the same time.]

[outofthefire]

[Rey looks great, even with the boots, but Laura would rather be in pain than wear one of her dresses without heels]

Yeah, but I like black. [as evidenced by her little black dress. she moves a piece in response to Rey's move]

[circumitus]

[Meanwhile red is a fairly common color for Rey. Or maroon, more like it. And other earthy colors. But black's a good look for Laura. It seems fitting for her.]

Sometimes it pays to see your opponent take the initiative. There are advantages to that. [Rey steers the concept away from fashion and more to what she knows best.]

[outofthefire]

[Laura wears red, too, when she's being Nighttime Laura. she's not. . . exactly Nighttime Laura right now, though. she likes Rey too much for that]

Yeah, you can get an idea of what their plans for later might be.

i

[hasitsthorns]

Okay, Rose. Atem asked you to use your make-up for this reason. You knew Rey was going to look awesome, but like- Play it cool. For once in your life, actually be cool. This is easy. It's just like it always is, right? Harmless fun flirtation that's practically second nature by now. Only it doesn't feel quite the same, somehow. It feels a bit more serious? She's not sure why.

Anyway, uh. She probably needs to say something before it gets awkward how long she's been here and hasn't said anything. Wow, this is a lot of pressure? And harder than she anticipated???

"I like your dress, by the way. It compliments your eyes. Which, I mean, you know. I'm sure that was the reason for the color? Probably totally the reason. Yeah."

... Nailed it.

[circumitus]

For what he had to work with, Atem accomplished a remarkably good job. Not just with the dolling up, but getting Rey to go out in a dress again at all. At least this time she isn't found sulking in the cellar like the last time Rose found Rey in one.

Considering that the makeup Atem had borrowed had also come from Rose, Rey would be surprised if they didn't conveniently bump into each other again (no more than they usually do, anyway. Since they both work here).

Unlike the last time, Rey had also been prepared for Rose's comment, so she isn't as taken aback by it as back then. Besides, she isn't the first one to compliment. Just the first one Rey didn't mind hearing it from.

"Is it? Guess that'd make sense." She cracks a strained chuckle. "Um, thanks, though. Yes."

[hasitsthorns]

The dress doesn't certainly suit her better when it's put to good use. When Rose can see the way it sways when she walks and how well it compliments her figure; it's kind of like poetry in motion, as cliche and cheesy as that sounds. It's a side of Rey she doesn't often get to see but had never really doubted was there.

She wishes she would have worn something nice, too. Maybe... Maybe next time they can coordinate. Make it a formal sort of date. Not, like. A date-date.

"I mean, I bet you'd look great in any color. But green really does look good." Okay, that was. A little better! Maybe she's got this after all, working out some of the kinks. She might still be smooth after all! (No.) "So, what's on the agenda for this evening? I figure if you're all dressed up, you might have someone to impress."

[circumitus]

At least Rose is dealing with an easy subject -- Rey wouldn't know 'smooth' if it smacked her in the face. And they've established that it isn't some empty compliment that's Rose doles out to anyone and everyone, so...

It's welcome. This is fine.

Rey curls one of the messy yet groomed strand of hair behind her ear, under the braid on the side of her head. It's clear that she's just got a trim on top of the style.

"Nothing, really. Atem showed up before I was ready to head over and..." Well, she can't say he made her, because Rey sure as hell could lift the twerp and place him aside if she wanted. "Just felt like it, really. Don't get many chances to clean up."

[hasitsthorns]

Nothing, huh. Rose isn't sure what answer she expected, but- The fact that this one is almost relieving is telling.

Not that she's going to listen to what it's trying to tell her. She's been down that road before and, well. She can't honestly say she's ready to travel it again. Not just yet. "I can, uh. Do it more for you? Or teach you some tips? I used to wear a lot of it before Haven, so... I can at least pass on some pointers, if you wanna' start wearing it more regularly. Or for, like, at least the newbie night."

[circumitus]

Rey snorts.

"Well, you're sure as hell not going to catch me on a stroll in a dress. Not where anything can happen." It's more for the sake of not wanting to ruin any more clothes than she already has due to her rather... unsavory lifestyle. "But, um. Sure? If you want. The makeup might be a bit much, but..."

She toys with the end of a loose strand of hair. This, she likes. It can't hurt to brush every now and then, at least.