Intro Log: Please Remove Metal From Luggage

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for August
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: August 10th-13th
Warnings: New folks, metal falling apart, fun stuff

As you wake up on the sand of the colosseum, gazing up at cloudy gray skies, you might wonder what you're doing here. Where are you? How did you get here? You'll figure it all out soon enough, so try to clamp down on that rising panic, or you just might end up in a dangerous situation.

Because, of course, you're not the only thing that arrived. The Door has also chosen to pull in some rust monsters. These monsters may look a bit like insects, but they're much larger, with a rather vicious bite. You can fight them, but be careful - anything metal that touches them instantly begins to corrode. Your sword, a bullet from your gun, even your robot friend. Might want to keep a little distance.

And that's not all. Scattered across the ground of the colosseum can be found a variety of unique and delightful musical instruments. If you're the musical sort, maybe you can figure out how to play one - or maybe you already know. Hopefully no rust monster has wandered too close to the one you want to try, or you might find that it's missing important metal bits.

Once you've found a way to express the song in your heart, feel free to leave whatever bit of safety you've found. 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 August 10th-13th.
► 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

[abyssalarcana]

[Ah yes, a good look. Very attractive.

Not that Caedra seems to really care all that much; she's once again a little bewildered by how enthusiastically he greets her, though at least he's not racing over this time. Tentatively, she decides to take a seat, hoping this isn't a terrible mistake.]

Me, worry about you? No - as I recall, you're quite the hero. I'm sure you can handle yourself in this savage place.

[Said dryly, but there's a wry smile there. Hard to know what to think about this one, really. Most people she's able to form quick judgments of as to whether they're worth keeping around or not. She's still debating just how much she's willing to tolerate Sanji's personality in return for the potential of having someone to order around.]

[deviledlegs]

[He'll calm down some once his head cools - once he acclimates to this place, these people, and his situation. But when "calming down" means he'll slow his roll just enough to not collapse from exhaustion every night, it's not nearly as impressive as it sounds.]

Yes, yes, yes! I could even slay a dragon if only you asked me to!

[For now though, he's got his hands full with just this one kitchen. Once she's chosen her spot, he swoops in to clear it of plates before soaring back to the kitchen to set them down. He still doesn't have anything worth serving her though, and he wants to scream for it.

Instead he pokes his head out once more.]

Any preferences?

[He really will leave right now and bag her a fucking dragon if that's what she wants.]

[abyssalarcana]

Well, I don't think there are any dragons here, though they're very good eating. I've seen at least one dragonborn, though. Little thing. Yellow scales. Would probably be quite good seared.

[Actually, she hasn't run into Alphys since that strange dream. Where does she spend all her time?]

I don't know what you have back there, so - something savory. Grilled, if you can manage. No sweets.

[deviledlegs]

[Sanji knows nothing about Alphys, would immediately retract his words if he'd known she's a female dragonborn. But as things stand, he already jokes enough about eating his talking reindeer crew mate. A dragonborn, whatever that is, can't be so different. He hums, contemplating his limited options while eyeing the messy, chaotic state of this kitchen.]

First, you cut the meat into small cubes and sear the cubes for utmost flavor. Then you cook them under medium heat with potatoes, onions, carrots, and celery for hearty dragon stew!

[He laughs when an idea hits. There are still a few fruits and vegetables he hasn't set aside for his experiments. He was going to eat them himself tonight, but after all this taste testing, he doubts he'll have the appetite.]

But for lack of dragon meat, why not try a grilled vegetable salad? I know just the combination of flavors to use too. It'll be ready in no time!

[abyssalarcana]

[Stew? Peasants' fare, a way to throw things together that are about to go off; a way to use low-quality meat to make it more tender and mask its lack of flavor with spices and vegetables. She's starting to frown at the idea when he abruptly announces his backup plan, which she considers, the nods.]

All right. Go on, then, I'll be interested in the result.

[If it's not good enough, she could just kill him and eat him afterward. Not that she needs to, but it would prove a point, wouldn't it? He looks awfully lean, though, on second thought.]

[deviledlegs]

[He'd frown if he heard her speak those thoughts aloud, tense with the frustration of realizing that even the most beautiful of women can have no appreciation for the value of food. It's too similar to the destructive, elitist attitudes of his own flesh and blood brothers.

As it is though, he's more than happy to begin preparing the vegetables immediately. He'd recognized the stove top for what it was as soon as he'd entered the kitchen, the one familiar piece of equipment in this backwards restaurant. No matter what bastardized shape the thing was created in, it would always be the appliance that could produce flame on its surface. That knowledge combined with what little he's learned about the alien language occupying the appliances' displays is all that makes even this simple dish possible. He has to substitute a few traditional ingredients, but having already tasted each of the vegetables, he remembers which will give the dish just the right texture and flavor. He even uses one of the fruits in order to extract the oil and add a contrasting element into the mix.

Thirty minutes later, he presents her with a colorful plate of grilled vegetable salad. Topping the dish off is a splash of wine and light seasoning. He hums.]

For the lovely lady.

[abyssalarcana]

[That half hour is spent perusing the network on her phone for all of five minutes before she grows bored of the thing and pulls out a notebook. It's her main method of killing time here, and there is a lot of it to kill. Most moments on these islands are not exactly filled with excitement. And there's a particular set of lines on this poem she's stuck on; finding just the right words to match not only rhythm but her intended visual pattern is difficult when writing in Draconic rather than her native Abyssal, but she wants to practice to keep her skills up. There aren't many dragons here to speak to, after all.

She holds aside the scrawling mess of runic writing as he arrives with the dish, and her eyes widen a little in surprised delight as he sets it before her.]

That's - thank you, that's actually quite beautiful. You have a gift for presentation, don't you?

[Look and smell, after all, are all part of a fine meal and it seems that despite his earlier suggestion of stew, he understands how to do food right from the first impression. Time to taste and see if it holds up under scrutiny.

It does.

Whatever challenges he may have been having with the tools he has to work with, his underlying talents are immediately evident in the balance of flavors and textures, and Caedra eagerly has a second bite of something crisp and tart and savors it.]

I haven't had anything like this since I arrived.

[deviledlegs]

[The more she says, the bigger he smiles, until his toothy grin is as wide as the ocean is vast. Hearing someone compliment his food will never cease to make him the happiest man on Earth. He leans back against another table, his laughter ringing clear like crystal.]

It may not be my best work, but even with table scraps, I'd never allow myself to make a subpar meal. Certainly not when a lady is waiting for me! Food should be a delight to all five senses, even hearing and touch.

[abyssalarcana]

[Her praise can only last so long. It is good food. It could be better.]

Mm. It's a shame that it's a little insubstantial though, isn't it? Delicious, but imagine it topped with seared steak as well. You'll have to do better to find some meat, and not just fish, either.

[Still, she smiles as she said it. It's a suggestion, not scolding. He looks to be so happy - and some of these people are more willing to bend to her wishes when in a good mood. Creative energy, or something like that.]

[deviledlegs]

Certainly!

[His agreement is immediate, ever eager to please. It's something they'll need anyway to round out their diet at sea, and he's already planning on scouring the islands for any potential food: bought, gathered, or hunted.]

I'll get right on that! As soon as humanly possible! With me in the kitchen, you'll want for nothing!

[But for now, it's his duty to wait until she finishes.]

[abyssalarcana]

Good.

[And finish she does. After a few last thoughtful bites, she swallows, and nods, and seems to think for a moment.]

Yes, satisfactory. But not perfect. It would have gone well with something to drink. And meat, certainly, for a woman can't sustain herself on vegetables alone. I trust that the next will be better.

[It was excellent.]

[deviledlegs]

[He drops, one knee to the floor as he looks up to her and makes his promise.]

I vow that each dish will be more delectable than the last until even the angels in heaven are jealous of your taste buds!

[He's serious. He already puts his all into every meal he prepares. Now he'll just have to ignore the rules of percentages altogether and give even more.]

[abyssalarcana]

[She smiles, though it's more directed at her visions of future misuse of this devotion than at him directly. Still. At least he's appreciated?]

As they ought to be. Now, go on then. I'll leave you to your work.

[She nudges her plate in his direction because there's no way she's helping clean up, and stands to take her leave.]

[deviledlegs]

[That appreciation is all he really wants. If she's happy, he's happy. Have fun, Caedra.

He easily slides a hand beneath her plate and swoops it up as he stands too, stepping back to give her room.]

Yes, Miss Caedra! My heart races for you, and as soon as the dishes are done, so will my legs!

[He's got meat to scavenge.]

[abyssalarcana]

Then I'm sure I'll be seeing more of you soon.

[He's going to have to do an awful lot of racing if he's really that determined to catch her. But if she gets to be both the carrot and the stick, then so be it. Whatever keeps him under her influence.

She gives him a nod of appreciation, turns to glance at her reflection in the window, fixes her hair, then leaves the little building with a wave.]