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

[pocketspa]

[It's a cultivated talent to look this calm, but he did work out a lot of his explosive hype in the arena. Besides, just because the world now knows him and most of his shit doesn't mean he knows them. Even if Angus is... as close to an exception as anyone from Faerun barring like, Kravitz. He's not just going to suddenly become all schmoopy, basically.]

Oh that? It's chill.

[He'll wait there for a bit, in absolute indifference, before his face cracks into a grin and a laugh.]

Oh man, your face is classic. Nah, we killed it, Hunger's gonezo, it was a whole thing.

[hellosirs]

[ The plate that Angus was holding drops to the ground and shatters, and Peanut is there in an instant to gobble up the scattered cookies. At least they won't have to worry about leftovers!

It's a testament to how stunned Angus is by that answer that he doesn't instantly jump to clean up the mess and start stammering apologies. He just stares at Taako for a few dumbfounded seconds, eyes wide, before he slowly breaks into a face-splitting grin. ]

... Are... are you... you really mean it? We did it? Everything's ok?

[pocketspa]

[He can't even begin to give a shit about the plate or that Peanut might currenly be devouring some ceramic, not with the face Angus is making. He gives him a little finger gun and a wink.]

Would I lie to you? Please, Ango. I'm wounded.

[He kind of knows that he would, though, so he's gonna clarify.]

Yeah, no, it's all good. Really. We crushed it. Everybody's alive, world's saved. Boom.

PRETEND THIS IS A HAPPIER ICON

[hellosirs]

[ Angus has picked up a lot of skills from Taako - magic, slightly more biting sarcasm and passive-aggression, lots of practice at reading cagey body language - but chill is not one of them. Angus has no chill, and unless he has time to prepare himself for a stressful event, he isn't very good at keeping a lid on his emotions. And who would have guessed, finding out that your friends save the world and prevent the apocalypse after months of drawn-out fear and worrying that everybody was going to die is very emotional!

... Which is to say that Angus tears up, despite his best efforts, and launches himself across the couch and into Taako's midsection. Let's be honest, there's no way Taako was going to get out of this without getting hugged by absolutely everyone in the household. ]

Th-that's... that's great! [ He regains some of his composure with a huge, watery sniffle, and grins into Taako's shirt. ] That's great news, sir!

SWEET BOY

[pocketspa]

[Angus absolutely has no chill. He might never, because that's just who he is, and-- Taako's a little grateful for that? It's hard to deal with emotionally, sure, but sometimes it's those little things of what makes Angus Angus that makes him feel loved.

Of course, that doesn't stop him from letting out a hard oof as Angus smashes into him, and smack his head back against the armrest before he finally looks up again. Plus, now that Angus is in hand range, he can give him a noogie.

Not enough to get him to leave, though. Taako likes this. More than he wants to admit.]

Yeah, yeah, get your whole cry on, can't believe I have to deal with this twice in one day, yeesh. Come on, my man, you're gonna be there for the whole deal. Or like, most of it, anyway.

[hellosirs]

[ Now that he's been given permission, the floodgates really open, (although there is a brief, watery giggle at the noogie) and... yeah, Taako's gonna have to Prestidigitation this shirt dry, sorry buddy. This is a ton of pent-up anxiety and mortal terror and sheer relief coming out of his tear ducts, Angus needs a minute! ]

I-I didn't know that 'til about ten seconds ago, sir! I just... I... h-hang on!

[ It takes him a few false starts, but he gets a hold of himself eventually, and sits up to start cleaning off his glasses. ]

Sorry about that, sir, I got a little emotional for a second!

[pocketspa]

[It's still damn hard for him to be okay with these big displays. He remembers being Angus' age, having to suck in his words and his tears and pretend to be strong and adult. He sees a lot of it in Angus. He doesn't pretend to think Angus is gonna be a normal kid after this- kids like him aren't just normal, don't just stop. But there's gonna be more. There's gonna be Candlenights dinners and late lunches in Goldcliff, sleepy breakfasts in somewhere far away with everyone bumping elbows in a tiny kitchen. There'll be more fucked up cookies and dogs and tears and in years and years and years he will learn to accept these things into his heart.

But for now, he just lets up on nooging Angus to rest a hand too gently on his head, a moment of his eyes closing around Angus' hysteria, and he decides this is the first of those moments for all the time he has.

By the time Angus is up, Taako groans, waving his hand so all the tears and snot are magiced off his shirt.]

Seriously, my dude, you went hard there. What a crybaby.

[But he winks. Because it's a joke, now. A real one.]

Don't worry kiddo, you'll get to go back and do all the glory shit real soon.

[hellosirs]

[ Back when he was a full-time detective, Angus would never have let himself get so weepy in front of a co-worker, because being seen as a child rather than the World's Greatest Detective would have jeopardized his career and independence. He'd only really started letting himself relax at the Bureau, and his friends there had stopped being just co-workers a long time ago - hell, by this point, most of them are family. Being able to just let go like this is liberating.

He hiccups a bit, still focused on wiping off his lenses, though he hasn't actually moved. He's pretty much just sitting on Taako's legs at this point, so hopefully Taako doesn't have plans to go anywhere! ]

I don't care about the "glory shit", [ of course he actually does the fingerquotes! ] I'm just glad that there's gonna be a home to go back to. I really wasn't sure for a while there!

[ He doesn't just mean 'home' in the Faerun sense, either - this is more than that. ]

[pocketspa]

[Nah, he kinda lives on this couch now, so that's what's up. Not a bad place to be. He'll make some comment if his foot starts falling asleep.]

Pssh, you doubted us? Please. We fuckin' nailed it, natch. Never a question about that one. I mean, got dicey for a little bit there, but you were kinda rollin' with the best crew to get this sorta thing done, soooo.

[He pokes at Angus' chest.]

Besides, you were getting magic lessons from yours truly, so you were like, super prepared.

[hellosirs]

[ Excellent, because Ango isn't planning on moving anytime soon!

He just shrugs, looking a little sheepish at the poke. ]

I mean, yeah, but I'm not really sure that's the sort of thing you can prepare for. And from what I remember, my wand had just been snapped in half? Which seems like a big stumbling point, because I'm not so great at casting spells like Lightning Bolt with my bare hands?

[pocketspa]

Yeah, yeah. Listen, you're gonna fight, and you're gonna win. That's just what it is. And that's a Taako original, just keep that in your head. It's fine.

[He'll shift a bit to get slightly more comfortable, but doesn't knock Angus off.]

And you don't even need to deal with that yet. For now we got naps in hellcity alpha to handle, y'know?

[hellosirs]

[ GOSH, WHAT A STIRRING AND INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH! It's almost as if Taako has started multiclassing and gained a couple of levels in Bard! Angus's eyes are shining, because, as always, he is a very receptive and easy audience. ]

I don't think that's what this place is called at all, but yeah, naps sound good!

[ That said, it's probably easier to nap without a child sitting on your legs. Angus shifts his weight a bit, glancing away. ]

Um... I can move, if you want to sleep?

[pocketspa]

[Yeah, Taako's just incredible huh?? What a good mentor you have, Angus.

Before Angus can think to move, Taako shrugs, reaching out and nudging Angus by the shoulders to just lie down. There's space, even if it requires Angus to almost be lying on him.

If you say words you'll lose this Ango, just take it without him having to explain, 'kay?]

That sounds like doing things, which I am, uh strictly against happening in my vicinity, so.

[If anyone sees him he will deny everything, but right now? Fuck it. He saved the world. He can do whatever he fucking wants.]

[hellosirs]

[ It takes a few seconds for Angus to realize what's actually being said here, but once it clicks, he gives Taako a big, crooked grin and a sagely nod. ]

I can't really argue with that logic, sir.

[ It's a good thing that Angus is so scrawny! He just barely fits between Taako and the back of the couch, although yeah, he's basically half sprawled across the elf. He props his glasses up on his forehead and folds his arms under his chin as a pillow, and it won't be long before he falls asleep with the side of his face smushed into Taako's chest.

It's been a long day... hell, a it's been a long year. They deserve some victory naps. ]

[pocketspa]

[See, now that's how you speak Taaco. Everyone on the ship had to learn it, and if anyone's gonna have to pick it up quick, it's Angus. But he's getting better every day.

That's his boy.

Taako means not to doze off, but he finds himself slipping, and someone can likely catch him on the couch not much later turned a bit on his side to curl around Angus. He's safe now. They're safe now.

They have so much ahead of them.]