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!

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It got the least votes, but there were good reasons people did vote for it -- it was where they made first contact, and the first world attacked. Apparently cold fucks up the Null's scanners or something, too, so they probably wouldn't find us unless they went all the way out to check and there might still be valuable information there. Then there was a jungle planet with enough life to hide us, but that life would've been dangerous. I voted for the water, mostly because Sorrow said the Door was here. And it is -- we've found some pieces of it already. I've got no idea if everybody that went out can be trusted to hand them over, but they're being found.

[ Whoops. He didn't actually mean to start the infodump now, Ephemera needs to rest. But he didn't say anything upsetting, at least? ]

A lot's happened.

[ Okay, that makes more tactical sense. Ephemera nods slowly, considering. ]

I would've made that call, too. Don't suppose anyone actually knows how to use the Door, if they manage to find all the pieces?

No... but having it is definitely a step up, right? It must be. Lance said the piece his group brought back was engraved, kinda? The carvings might have been decoration but Sorrow will probably know.

That's if he knows and if he decides not to lie about it, [ Ephemera points out. He sighs a little. ] Sorry. I'm an asshole pessimist sometimes. You can ignore me.

It's fine. I'm not the gods' biggest fan right now, either. It just seems pretty stupid for us to hold on to the pieces thinking we can make them do what we want safely... and I'm sure someone's gonna try.

[ His mouth quirks despite the topic, though, because Ephemera being back means he's not giving up. ]

When have I ever ignored you?

Be nice if somebody knew what they were doing, for once. [ It's said a little wistfully. Ephemera doesn't like constantly being on the edge of understanding something, only for it to blow up in his face later. Magic barely makes sense to him. He huffs a little. ] Never. I'm just. Trying not to see the bad side of everything first.

[ Thus far, results has been mixed. ]

Heh... yeah. I'd say when pigs fly but that wouldn't even be weird, here.

[ Drake ducks his head a little and kisses Ephemera's shoulder, feeling selfish for keeping him up but also... it's been a long time now of wishing he was around to talk to and now he is so. ]

Sorry. I told you to rest and then I kept talking. I'm just glad you're here. And somebody needed to use all these pillows.

Nothing surprises me about this place.

[ In good and bad ways. Ephemera shifts again, settling against Drake. ]

Talk as long as you want. I'll listen. And hog all the awesome pillows, thank you.

I kept thinking "when he comes back..." and that did turn into "if" but I never hit the point I was willing to let go of stuff. Even though it's just stuff. You could've gotten more paint and pillows and whatever.

[ He shrugs; it's sentimental and he knows it's better not to surround yourself with reminders of a loss, but had just tucked things away to help with that. As if the whole apartment wasn't a reminder. That, he hadn't been willing to give up. Not the art. ]

Figured if you never came back but we got the Door working, I'd bring you some things from here. Try to help you remember, or at least more likely to listen. It was a shitty plan, but...

[ He was willing to start over, if that's what it took. ]

...you would've gone after me. Into Chorus?

[ Into that shithole and the bastard he'd been in those days. God, he'd been an asshole. There's no way around it. Ephemera shivers just once, then takes Drake's hand. Just to hold. He shouldn't be surprised, really. Given the option, he would have done the same for Drake. He would've gone without his armor if that was what it took. ]

Thank you.

[ It's the only thing he can think to say. ]

Yeah. I know we'd... you were thinking about trying my world, but like. I was already willing to try Chorus? I don't need shit to be easy and Wash made it sound like there was a window. Between when you would've gone back and it being too late.

[ It was probably a stupid idea, thinking he could show up and change anything. He'd probably have been killed immediately too, with everyone bewildered as to where he came from and why he wasn't wearing armor, but. Drake takes a slow breath, suddenly feeling like all of this is hitting him at once. He has to squeeze his eyes shut against an odd sudden pressure, thinking of how it might have gone. What he might have had to see. ]

I had to try, that's all. Even if I couldn't stop it, even if you didn't know me, at least you wouldn't have been alone.

[ The worst part is, Ephemera gets it. He understands and, given the option, would have done exactly the same thing. He's planned it out a few times in his head, trying to work out what he knows of Drake's world with his own sense of tactics. How he'd find the building, how he'd take it. How he'd probably get himself killed trying to get down to the sub levels, but he'd have to try. There's no other way it ends.

Ephemera breathes. Exhales slowly. ]

Maybe there was. I don't know. There was a lot of stuff I didn't want to see. But I get it. I, uh. Sometimes, I'd come up with assault plans for that lab you were trapped in. Just in case. Maybe half had a shot in hell, but I would've tried.

[ Oh. Something twists in Drake's chest hearing that. Even though it would've been too late for him. Unless maybe if Rita had still been in Hadriel... she would've gone back to a little earlier, Drake thinks. It's hard to say, he hadn't had a calendar in the basement, only an estimated timeline based on what Rita and Liv had told him.

He doesn't really want to think about either of these scenarios anymore. It's over for them both, going forward is something different. And now, if either of them disappear again...

As hard as he tries to curb it, his breathing hitches and he can feel tears welling in his eyes no matter how tightly he's got them closed. ]

...shit. I'm sorry.

[ Sorry he's dead, that Ephemera needed to think about it in the first place. Worse, that he was alone himself. That Drake was stuck here and couldn't stop anything. ]

Hey. You got nothing to be sorry for.

[ Ephemera shifts again, bumping their foreheads together. This, right now, this is what matters. ]

's okay. Whatever happens, I've got your back.

[ What if it's not okay?

They have no control over who comes and goes. Ephemera had just vanished, then Rita, who Drake had promised to save. It's not a question of what they might have to fight or suffer through. They can't watch each other's backs if they cease to exist.

A huge part of Drake's entire existence has been not giving in to fear. He'd always been the brave one. If he couldn't ignore being scared entirely, backburner it for what's more important, he'd take it as motivation for what needed to be done. But he'd never felt as useless as he does here, when people just disappear. Dying wasn't so bad because it served a purpose. He'd saved people. In this case?

He shakes his head a little, struggling for composure and finding none. When even was the last time he cried? Fuck. ]

I'm going to duct tape you to this dimension or whatever it is.

[ It's a weak joke. There's nothing he can actually do, and no way for either of them to promise they'll stay. But he's holding on a little tighter again, which means he doesn't have a hand to wipe his eyes. The tears just seep into the pillow as he tries to even his breathing. ]

You're getting kinky on me, [ Ephemera teases softly. He reaches up and touches Drake's face with his hand, tracing the line of his cheek. ] I like it.

[ It's impossible not to notice how hard Drake is holding his eyes closed, or how much he's kept to himself. And he does know Drake, in the end. Even with Ephemera gone, he would kept still, kept quiet, done his fucking job. Kept on being steady for other people. ]

's okay. I've got you.

[ He squeezes Drake's hand again. There's no missing the tears. Ephemera doesn't think he's ever seen Drake cry before. He wonders if anyone has. ]

I've got you.

[ That helps. The teasing as much as the contact, how Ephemera's not making a big deal out of it. It's not something Drake does -- not something he lets himself do, admit when he needs a break. He'll lean on an offered shoulder but human or zombie, civilian or cop or guardsman, he's still a person. Sometimes the walls need to drop.

He lets out a little huff of amusement and opens his eyes, gives a little nod at the words. ]

I know. Just let me hold on for awhile, okay? I'll get my shit together.

I can live with that.

[ Ephemera taps his finger against Drake's nose lightly. They've got each other. Always have. How many times has Drake come to bat for him, through all the bullshit and crazy? Too many. The least Ephemera can do is be there for him right now, when the chips are down. He's cried in front of Drake. Lost it more than once in front of him, too. ]

C'mere. Let's listen to the rain.

[ Okay. One last shuddering exhale and Drake finds his center, scooting even closer so he doesn't have to hold on as tight. They're both tired and sore, and maybe Ephemera isn't the only one who could use a nap before they call anyone else. Drake's feeling a little wrung out now, and they haven't even hit recent events that affected him personally.

Later. Everything else can just happen later. ]

If I fall asleep and you need to get up, wake me? I don't want to wake up without you.

I can do that.

[ Ephemera's expression is soft and serious. He runs his free hand through Drake's hair. ]

Whatever you need.

[ Mm, that's nice. He smiles gratefully, some of his tension easing at the reassurance. ]

Thank you.

[ Then he's closing his eyes and, as suggested, just listening to the rain. ]

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Intro Log: Puddle Jumpers

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