hadriel_logs | Intro Log: Puddle Jumpers

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Intro Log: Puddle Jumpers

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for September
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: September 10th-13th
Warnings: Fresh meat, lots of rain and angry ogres

If the rain on your face isn't enough to wake you up in the colosseum, maybe the thundering footsteps and- well, thunder- is. The first thing that you may notice is that it's incredibly wet around here, with winds that could knock you over if you aren't careful and thunder that brings with it a torrent of constant rainfall.

That's all fine though, because the gods saw fit to help you out on your way in and now everyone will be waking up wearing a rain coat! These coats are a little odd, and some of them are downright silly, but we trust that you'll make do. Of course, a few of the raincoats have additional sleeves, neck holes, and entirely too many buttons as well- but hey, it's the best we could do.

Wait, what was that about thundering footsteps? Oh right, as you're navigating your new fashion choices, there are some monsters afoot who will want nothing more than to grind you into a pulp and eat you- well, if you're organic, that is. If you're not organic, then they still want to grind you to a pulp, but maybe not so much the eating part.

Ogres are from many fantasy stories, but these in particular are from the Dragon Age series. With incredible strength and stamina and massive horns, fangs, and a bloodlust for violence, these monsters won't stop until everyone around them is a blood smear on the ground. They're also not too happy about this rainfall either, so be careful not to slip in the puddles as you run away from them!

Once you've splashed around a bit, feel free to run off into the stormy abyss of our islands. 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 September 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Sal snickers a little.]

Don't worry, I've already pun out of them.

[He normally doesn't go so hard with the puns, if at all, but Tyki's reaction was pretty funny and he likes to make people laugh. Especially now, it just seemed like an ideal time for laughter.]

Okay seriously, that was it.

[Tyki is still smiling. Sal really made him happy, if just for a moment. He's a good kid, Tyki decides. A good kid that's not an Exorcist so he doesn't have to die. And having one person that's tolerable that he doesn't have to worry about killing is a thing to treasure.]

A fine finish. [Tyki sighs, but it's not melocholy. Just a quiet little sigh with lowering shoulders as he looks out the splatters of rain against the windows.] It's pretty, if nothing else. Nothing feels as cleansing as rain. It'll be good for the ground and plants, once it passes.

[Sal passes a glance outside to the torrential rain. He hummed thoughtfully.]

Yeah, you're right. [Spoken as if he hadn't thought of that before. He didn't hate rain but sometimes it made him feel down. It always rains in his nightmares.] It's better than a drought. I think that's harder to come back from.

[Then again he doesn't know anything about plants.]

Exactly. [Tyki doesn't particularly love or hate rain. But it feels familiar. Like somehow he's under the same sky as his loved ones. It's not likely, and he's pretty sure that's not how it is. But he likes the idea of it anyway. It gives him something to hold onto, in this very foreign place.

He does think it'll help. It's certainly better than drought. Then again, Tyki knows as much about botany as he does about healthy relationships. Which is to say, absolutely nothing at all.

But he'd like to think that this will pass soon, and that in it's wake a green and vibrant city will emerge. Wishful thinking, but it's better than rolling about in ones misery.] So what now? Think we can just wait it out?

It seems pretty safe as long as you're in doors.

[He paused, underneath his mask his features twist a bit in uncertainty, not to be seen of course, but the pause is very obvious.]

Annnd as long as none of those demon guys show up. But they seem way too big to fit into a store so, hooray?

[A little hopeful rise in tone at the end there, just wanting to find a silver lining. Honestly, he hasn't seen any since the Colosseum so he definitely feels good about things right now.]

Then all we have to do is use common sense. If we're careful, we'll be right as rain! [Oh god, not the best comment to make in a storm.] Well. [And Tyki laughs a little then, the pun was terrible and unintentional.] Now I'm doing it. And mine wasn't nearly as funny.

[Tyki shakes his head at the mention of demons. He had no issue with them, they were a fun diversion and cheap therapy for his anger at his arrival. So he's fine with them and unafraid...

But he's not a teenage human. So that's another issue to think about. It's hard to keep both sides intact, sometimes. And the side of him that loves humans knows far too well how fragile they can be.]

Certainly too large. And I don't think they're clever enough to figure out doors anyway. [He looks a little concerned for a moment.] You have some way to defend yourself, lad?

[Sal laughs at the pun anyway. The unintentional ones and the looks on people's faces when they realize they've done it were just as good, to him.

At the question, Sal gave pause. He already knew the answer, of course - a big fat resounding no, but he started to think if there were other types of demons, or if these were it. So many questions.]

Uhh, that depends. Running for your life is a form of defense, right? Because I can do that.

[Sal didn't even defend himself against other humans, and he's had plenty of opportunities. Fighting back was never a thing that occurred to him. Well, maybe when he was young, briefly, but the point was he's so out of his element in every way when it comes to self defense. Bringing demons or monsters or whatever those things were into the mix...that's a liiiiitle worrying to him. Even running away he barely managed to survive without help.]

[Tyki has no issue with running, only fools think on things like courage and honor in battle. Especially when it's less battle, and more giant monsters on the loose.]

Running is smart, it's a survivor's tactic. There's no shame in it. [Tyki tries to remember the little saying that he'd heard once, about the issue.] I think there's a saying, those who fight and run away? Live to fight another day. Better fleeing than a corpse, certainly.

[It'd be nice if that always worked. If no one could follow once you'd chosen to run from the fray.] But you can't always run. [He doesn't know how he can help, honestly. He just met the boy, and although he rather likes him and would like to keep him alive, it'd be easy to offend. He doesn't want to seem creepy or pushy. So he's not sure what he can do to keep him safe. Or safe enough, at least.

Then it comes to him. Tyki reaches behind him, and seemingly pulls a butterfly out of nowhere. In all truth, it came from his own body, but it's best not to show how different he is.

Then he offers it to Sal.] Do you want it? It's not a blade or gun, but it'll keep you safe in a pinch. [Against almost anything with organs and skin and bones. It's a beautiful little monster, and it's one of a legion. Even if he gives away a hoard of them, he can always breed more.] It's worth having, I assure you.

[Sal certainly won't argue with that. Just as he always thought there was no shame in not raising a fist to another person, no matter how crazy people think you are for refusing to fight. Or letting anyone fight on your behalf. It's not the same thing, but he appreciates the sentiment.

"You can't always run"; having the thought vocalized gave him a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach, even if it was true and he knew he needed to address at some point, and the slouching of his shoulders showed just how much he didn't like the sound of it. However, when the butterfly is just brought out of nowhere - as far as Sal is concerned, he straightens up, brows underneath his mask raising and eyes widening a bit in surprise.

He tilted his head to the side as he leaned in to inspect it. Yet again, soooo many questions.]

Whoa, cool. [So awed, and grateful, even if he didn't really know what was going on right now. He hesitantly raised a hand to it, not really sure how to...accept??] What does this little guy do?

[Most people might find this a dubious form of help but Sal is intrigued and curious, having had his world view kind of shifted to extremes lately, almost anything seemed possible now. He's grateful that Tyki is offering help at all.]

[Tyki is rather relieved that Sal seems willing to accept. So it's time to sell the Teez at it's best, and leave out the worst of the details.]

It's called a Teez. [The Teez, this one a spade suit butterfly, moves delicately onto Sal's offered hand. It has no real features of a traditional butterfly, it seems to be more wings than anything else. It flutters a little, before finally settling down.]

What does it do? I like sending it to deliver messages and carry things. It's stronger than it looks. A bit comical, depending on what you want it to carry. [While he does have them do those things from time to time, he usually just has them devour his enemies from within by eating holes in their organs. It's their best use, in his opinion. But that's another issue entirely.] It's not meant to be a combatant, but if push comes to shove it'll buy you time with a nasty bite. Or if you want, you can send it to come for me. [Tyki smiles encouragingly.] It's a rough place, isn't it? So it's nice to have something in your corner.

[Sal watches the Teez as it settles on his hand, head tilting to a clear indication that he was fascinated.

Then as Tyki goes on and Sal shifts his gaze up at him, surprise yet again sparkling in his eyes, along with a clear gratitude that laces his words.]

Really? [Sal never gave up on people, but whenever he comes across someone who offers him some kind of help instead of anger, it's always enough to remind him...to just remind him.] You know...it is. It really is. I - I appreciate it. Thank you.

[As much as he tried to take things in stride this situation was admittedly terrifying. And he didn't have his friends, his dad, or even his cat - it was nice to know there was someone already in his corner.]

[For someone without much in the way of visible expression, Sal certainly gets his point across. It's in his stance, his words, his eyes. Tyki can almost feel it, it's like he radiates emotion in a way that's almost overwhelming, and Tyki swears he's in too deep already. Tyki can handle brutes, liars, the arrogant and awful. But young people with good hearts break him.

Without his traveling band of worker friends back home, his white side bordered on an act from time to time. It's far easier to detach from the real emotions involved when there isn't a human worth enjoying the company of. But once he has someone to attach to, things get a little more complicated. Unpleasantly complicated.

It's his own fault, he chose to play nicely. And now he actually cares more than he'd like. And the white side has a focus again.

Tyki's smile is entirely sincere, as are his intentions. And that's a rare combination indeed.]

Really. It's all yours. Not much of a pet, but it's better than nothing. [The tiny golem is no replacement for Gizmo back home, but it's animal company that will fight for Sal and that's something.] Don't worry about it, lad. You're good people, so I'd rather keep you in one piece.

[Somehow, the rain doesn't seem quite so daunting and this world doesn't seem quite so inhospitable. Tyki is monster and murderer. A sacred abomination. Sal might be safer with what he left back in his world.

But if nothing else, it's always better to have the monster on your side. And Tyki thinks that if he has a friend, this place will be far more tolerable.]

['Not much of a pet', he says, while Sal is low key already thinking of naming it. Aside from it being a sort of symbol of safety - as well as literal safety, it is a nice and comforting thought that it would make a good companion for when Sal will no doubt feel alone again. But Sal always connected with things like that...living or dead. Not that he knows what this falls under - he assumes living?]

Aren't you going to miss it, though?

[And his attachment to things shows in that one question.]

[Tyki would be thrilled to find out it's that cared for, that Sal will name it and actually interact with it. He quietly adores the Teez, but usually just uses them for their intended purposes. Which aren't really all that pleasant or endearing to most.]

I've got quite a few of them. This one? I think it'll be happier with you.

[And maybe it will. Tyki has never actually taken the time to study them outside of them being ordered directly. And golems as a rule are sentient. To what degree, Tyki doesn't know. Simply because he's never taken the time to find out.] Maybe with you it'll will grow and thrive. It has some older siblings that look different, after all. So perhaps it'll change with better company to influence it. Let me know if that happens, will you?

[Not that Sal wasn't going to before, but hearing this now he is definitely going to make sure it's well cared for. Just give him a few days and It'll have a name, a little hand-made home probably, and Sal would have already had a bunch of one-sided conversations with it.]

Really? Wow. I'll for sure keep you updated. [He went back to examining the Teez with a smile underneath his mask.] I think I'll call him Manateez. Or Butterfly Effect? Oh wait, maybe Teezer Trailer: coming soon to a butterfly near you.

[Don't mind him...excited teenage boy shenanigans are at work here.]

I feel like I'm missing something. [Manateez he gets, it's clever enough. He saw some of those creatures of holiday once. Butterfly Effect as a theory is after his time, but it seems right enough. But Teezer Trailer has him lost, he's a bit too old school to get those kind of references.

Tyki thinks for a moment, trying to see if he forgot something.] While it doesn't need to eat to survive, a bit of meat provides a nice treat for it. It might make a little noise from time to time, too. Don't be bothered if it's unsettling sounding. It means no harm.

Don't worry about it.

[Maybe someday he'll explain movie trailers.]

I'm sure I won't mind. [Once you hear a ghost shriek in your ear and gurgle as a form of communication your threshold for unsettling sounds gets a little higher.] Does it need to live in like...a special kind of environment? Cool temperature, warm temperature - stuff like that? Not that most of that can be controlled well around here, I'm guessing. But if I can do whatever I can to make it more comfortable I will.

Good. I'd hate for you to be bothered by a little noise. [That goes without saying. A little gurgling almost-speech is far less disturbing than the sight and sounds of the restless dead. Tyki's seen them, repeatedly. And although he's not disturbed they're hardly on his chosen company list.]

Hmm... No, I think it's fine anywhere. They can live without food and oxygen. They're most used to body temperature I think, but anything else is fine too. [Tyki gives Sal a confident smile, as if he has total confidence in Sal's golem care taking abilities.] Honestly? I had it living inside of my body with the rest, sleeping. So I think anything you do will be spoiling it rotten.

[Because this is totally normal and just... what people do. Apparently. If he thinks there's anything odd about the situation, it doesn't show in his stance or expressions.]

Edited 2018-09-20 03:31 (UTC)

Oooh, cool. I'll make sure it's -

[There's a brief pause after he cuts himself off and cants his head at Tyki.]

Did you just say inside your body?

[He sounds more confused than anything. Like, how does that work?]

That sounds like it would be uncomfortable for you.

That's right.

[He's pretty sure it would come up eventually. If not with Sal, someone else. There's no reason to hide all of his abilities in a place like this. He's met so many people that wouldn't exist back home, it's a very different situation than what he'd been dealing with. He's already had to use his abilities, so it can't hurt to share a little secret. One that doesn't hurt anyone to tell, at least.]

I don't even feel them. Once I pull them in it's like they're not there. [He opens his hand, and a sort of void opens on his palm. It's hardly visible for a moment before very large butterfly wings slip out. This Teez is far larger than the one that Sal has been given.] It's a convenient little trick. It's not painful, and it keeps me from losing things. [He'll never have to worry about lumpy looking pockets or having to carry a bag. Anything he really wants to hold onto he just slips inside of himself, easy peasy.

Unfortunately, easy peasy doesn't make it any less weird.]

[Sal's still trying to wrap his head around the concept when Tyki actually holds out his hand and shows him. He's seen some weird things, sure, both here and at home - but he's still a fifteen year old boy. Stuff like this is going to leave him in awe for a while.

His eyes widen as he inspects the wing coming out of a hole in Tyki's hand. It suddenly makes sense when he seemed to pull it out of nowhere earlier.]

Hoooly crap. That's so cool! That's like...that's really amazing!

[Sorry, he doesn't know what to say beyond gushing how cool that is. As someone who carries around a load of random stuff at all times he can definitely appreciate the ability.]

[Tyki is honestly taken by surprise by Sal's reaction. He's used to horror at his abilities. People hating him. And honestly, he doesn't really blame them for it. Until recently he's never had any reason to use his abilities benignly. This is new too. Not using his powers mainly for violence, and not being hated by those who witness them.

He's sure that if Sal knew more, that if he was given insight into the ancient battle between the Noah family and Innocence and humans, he'd probably hate him too.

So he can't have that. At all. While he's more than willing to share a few secrets with Sal, his murderous nature isn't one of them. Especially since he thinks he can hold back, without Innocence or Exorcists here. It's not his home world after all, so he really doesn't have to end life...

But holding back from an instinct he innately has could be easier thought about than implemented.]

You think so? It's rather convenient, but I never thought of it as all that impressive.

[A small, skull face that attaches to the wings slips out for a moment, and gurgles at Sal. Then it slips back into the hand and disappears entirely. No hole, no Teez, just smooth white glove.] That's what I meant about some of them looking differently. I hope yours evolves well.

Really? [Sal laughs at the thought that something like this could possibly not be considered too impressive, but...different worlds and all, right? That would take a certain amount of getting used to. But Sal isn't going to pretend like that wasn't cool as hell.

His eyes are still wide and sparkling with awe as the skull face...gurgles. Then he looks back to the Teez settled on his hand.]

I hope so too. Especially if that means it's well cared for. I know it's not the same as a cat, but I like to think I'm a good caregiver, still.

[Gizmo is spoiled as hell, though he's still not sure if that's good or bad? Well, he's happy. And that's good.]

[And Tyki is almost in awe of this odd human. Unafraid, lacking hatefulness that most would have, Sal is something that a person just doesn't come across often. No matter how many lives one leads.]

Well, he's all yours. He's not as cute as a cat, but I'm sure you'll do fine with him. [Tyki thinks that Sal would do better than he did, honestly. He's used them mainly as weapons, until arriving here the most creative he got with the poor things was courier work.

But something else comes to mind, then.]

So what will you do now? We're in our new home, like it or not. [He doesn't.]

He's still pretty cute.

[Sal is already falling in love with it so it's safe to say it will get the Gizmo treatment.

But that question, that was the question wasn't it. He hums thoughtfully, idly lifting his hand to let the Teez sit atop his messy blue head as his arms fold across his chest.]

If weather like this is at all common...I guess the smart thing to do would be to find a place to stay? Or sleep, at least. [That sounds less...permanent?] And to get to know the town...er, city? And its people.

[That's probably the most important part, honestly. Other than that he might just see where the metaphorical wind takes him.]

What about you? Do you have anything planned out?

Intro Log: Puddle Jumpers

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Mentions of flesh eatin' butterflies and the flesh eatin' business

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Body horror?

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