Intro Log: A Moody Landscape

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for October
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: October 10th-12th
Warnings: New folks, pretty flowers, mood swings

A new day, a new world. Totally normal, right? Maybe not. Welcome to Hadriel!

You awaken on the sandy floor of the colosseum, a cloudy gray sky stretching above you, and around you - flowers. Hey, this isn't so bad, usually new people wake up to monsters! This time, the colosseum is filled with Echo Flowers. Echo Flowers are bioluminescent blue plants that have the ability to repeat the last sound they were exposed to, echoing it for a time before descending into static. These flowers might echo the words you said when you awoke - or they could say something more familiar, something you remember and that they should never have heard.

That's not all, either. Scattered across the ground of the colosseum can be found a variety of mood jewelry straight from the mid-90s. These will come in handy, because as soon as you arrive in Hadriel you may start experiencing extreme moods and mood swings, all thanks to the Door. With your very own yin-yang mood ring, you can learn... absolutely nothing, because it's cheap plastic jewelry that cannot actually tell your mood.

Once you've listened to the flowers and picked up a new accessory or two, feel free to look around. 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 October 10th-12th.
► 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

lup l open

[restinglichface]

i; colosseum

[Everything is so different from the last time she was pulled into Hadriel.

Lup's last return had been explosive, a red-robed lich lighting up the cavern ceiling with dancing flame, the energy from breaking free from her decade long imprisonment coursing through her every movement. Even if she couldn't feel as a lich, the freedom she'd been granted had been simply intoxicating, skeletal hands stretched out while she'd laughed, burning through monsters and connecting to her friends in the same breath.

But this time feels so much more subdued.

The elf returns a year from when she left and for the first time that she's ever seen, there are no monsters to fight.

Lup's wrapped up in a red cloak, long ears pinned back, a curious look of unease dancing across her sharp features. The flowers don't look menacing, and seem to be leaving all of the actual newbies alone, but that doesn't throw off the woman's suspicion completely. Not yet. Not after everything she's seen.]

So what's your whole deal? [On instinct, her hand catches flame, before she nudges at the flower with the toe of her boot.] Gonna explode? Strangle me with your vines? Throw out some poisonous spores? C'mon, don't play all coy with me.

[But the flower, tall and bright and blue, only glows under the abuse. Before it speaks back with words all too familiar to the woman:]

You’re kind of full of dogshit sometimes.

ii; Out and about

[After settling back into a routine she's long left behind, Lup looks to reacquaint herself with the islands, to seek out her old friends and reconnect like the last year didn't even happen.

Which, she thinks quietly to herself, really didn't for them. Which is such a fucking trip.

But whatever moodiness is going around, it hasn't affected the elf yet, because no matter who she comes across, friend or casual acquaintance or absolute stranger, she'll be greeting them with her usual grin, sharp and wide. That friendliness comes easier now than it ever has before.]

iii; wildcard

[OOC: Hit me with that wildcard! If you would like a closed top level or want something more specific, hit me up! I'm happy to write anything special for her cr!]

i, duh

[pocketspa]

[Of course he's here the moment the Door opens.

Everyone's been trying to keep busy in their own way- Barry has research, Magnus and Angus mess with Peanut, Kravitz always seems to have a plan. And he's-- well, he's seen people. At least one person. Elena helped, as much as he's loathe to admit it. But out of everyone he could've lost for the last week, Lup was the worst. He knows she's going home to something good, to a victory and a party and a reunion, but there's still an uncertain future.

At least this time there's no forest to navigate through. Just people, and flowers, and a sightline right across the Coliseum to the woman who shares his face.

Taako pushes off the wall he's leaning against and just yells across the place, not giving a shit about the others present.]

Hey! It was your night to do dishes! If you think disappearing from existence gets you out of chores you're fuckin' wrong!

[He's smiling, though. So undeniably happy to see her. Thank goodness, to have something back.]

[restinglichface]

[Lup barely has time to scowl at the flower's perfect imitation of her own voice before she hears her twin calling for her in the distance. The defensive raise of her shoulders, the tension along her sharp features, all of it disappears.

It's barely been any time since she saw her twin - what was it, breakfast that same morning? - but Lup knows how significant this is for him.

She wastes no time in calling back to her brother, raising a hand to cup over her mouth, amplifying her voice as she yells over the heads of complete strangers. As far as she can tall, there's no one else but just the two of them.]

And yet here I am bettin' that they're already done. Tell me I'm right.

[pocketspa]

[He's already moving, not worrying about the flowers underfoot. It's just more convenient that it's not monsters this time- keeps the distance between them less. A week was enough. A week was so beyond enough.]

You think I'm not petty enough to leave that shit in the sink for a week and a half? I'll goddamn leave it there, you know I will!

[He doesn't waste any time crashing into her arms, wrapping her up in him, trying to quell the beating of his heart. See, she's back. See, he was right. See, there was never anything to fear.]

So you got to the bomb ass party right? Tell me you got to the we saved the world party.

[restinglichface]

[Taako reaches her just as Lup is throwing her head back and cackling, already opening her arms for her twin to crash right into her embrace.

Even after that horrid week apart, it wouldn't take very long for Taako to realize she's at least a little different from how she left him.

For one, her hair is long again, flowing down messily against her back, the same white blonde as his, matching Taako's in everything but style. There's also the few scars she's acquired while fighting in Hadriel that have all completely vanished, even the sharp one cutting across her forehead from the last Null invasion. And then, maybe more importantly, where she's normally radiating warmth, there's a certain coolness to her skin instead.

But what do a few little changes like these mean when they are reunited again?]

Same petty asshole. A week an' a half didn't change that. [Not that she'd want it to. Not that she'd ever want Taako to ever change.

Her arms wind around him, tugging him close, her forehead to his, eyes open and shining. Whatever she'd seen back home, it had been good.] Sure did. And lemme just say, you really missed out.

i hello hello

[itsnotaonesie]

[Peter's gotten into the habit of hanging around the colosseum around that newbie time of the month, since there's usually freaky monsters hanging around being a pain in the ass and attacking people. Not so much this month, which isn't necessarily a bad thing and Peter really shouldn't complain, but boy howdy is it ever boring. He can't just bail though, because what if someone does end up needing help? Being responsible sucks sometimes.

So yep, here's this spandex'd weirdo perched on top of some rubble or something and watching this elf lady try to goad a flower into a fight?? Probably??? That's almost as entertaining as fighting monsters would be.]

That's not a bad strategy, you're off to a good start. Try some yo mama jokes next, maybe that'll get 'em.

[restinglichface]

[Lup's seen a lot over the two centuries she's been living through so far, but this? Some skinny kid done up all in red spandex, perched atop some stray rubble like a freakin' cat, goofing at her like it's as casual as anything? Well. This is new. Even for her.

Her worry over the flowers momentarily slips away, both of her long ears perking up as her sharp gaze hones in on Peter. Lup's mouth quirks into a grin, hands falling to rest at her hips.]

I pop out for a spell and this is what I come back to? What, Hadriel get a uniform change while I was gone? Or is this little number all on Fear? Cuz that's def the emotion runnin' through me lookin' at you.

[itsnotaonesie]

[This is completely casual for him, to be fair. And hey, since there doesn't seem to be any horrible monsters around trying to eat people this month, he might as well hang around and bullshit with people for a while.]

Is that right? If only I could strike fear into the hearts of my enemies this easily, I would be unstoppable.

[restinglichface]

[Bullshit is kind of her brand. This is a good fit.

The elf snorts at that, mouth twisting sharper, mirth so obvious in the way her long ears twitch.]

Enemies? [her head tips to the side, hands falling to rest at her hips.] And you have a bunch of those runnin' around here, thug? Should I be worried that Hadriel went to shit while I was gone?

ii.

[outofthefire]

[Laura's on her way from the Bakery to the Speakeasy when she sees Lup wandering through town. the moment their eyes meet, Lup gives Laura her usual smile.

she's really glad to see that smile again.

Laura grins broadly and rushes over to Lup and throws her arms around her for a big hug, rocking them both back and forth in place.

she pulls away long enough to say] Holy shit, you're back! I thought you were gone. [then hugs her again]

[restinglichface]

[The hug is unexpected, especially the sheer force of it, but Lup's arms eventually find Laura's back. The sudden return after a year away, even if it's only been a week for the folks in Hadriel, has left the elf a little shaken.

But knowing Lup, she'll be back to normal within a few days.]

I was gone, for a bit. But you know me, just couldn't stay away. What would all you nerds do without me here to liven the place up?

[outofthefire]

[she loosens the hug a little big, enough for her to pull back and see Lup's face. it might have been only a week, but the place just wasn't the same without her.

and if she ever needs to do any venting, Laura will be there]

Be bored. Be very, very bored.

So what were you up to while you were away?

[restinglichface]

[Laura's good like that, a kind friend, someone Lup missed dearly while she was away.]

No doubt.

[Now that's quite the question, isn't it?]

Just a year this time. Not s'bad. 'Ko said I was only gone from here for a week or so, so I'm guessin' I didn't miss out on too much bullshit.

ii

[storyseeker]

[Elena knows that people come and go from Hadriel, and the fact that they've gone doesn't mean they won't come again. Taako had reminded her of that, but she'd already known—she'd just been afraid to hope and get let down.

It's been a heck of a one-two punch, losing her husband and her best friend almost at the same time. She's tough, though, and with the exception of one night getting utterly wasted on elf-made edibles, she's borne up pretty well. She's Elena Fisher and she rolls with the punches.

So it's pretty surprising that, when she spots Lup on the street, Elena bursts into tears.]

Lup?! You're back!

[restinglichface]

[Not at all the reaction that Lup had been expecting.

She was going to call. She was, really, but her reentry back into Hadriel had been so completely overwhelming, those memories flooding back to her in such a dizzying rush that she'd just needed a little time to take it all in. Even if this time she's come back with less time under her belt, the significant events she's been through make it feel like even longer.

How has it only been a year?

But the elf catches Elena's eye immediately, familiar warmth blossoming in her chest, right before the other woman simply bursts into tears.]

Elena - Babe.

[Lup's touch isn't exactly the same as it was. When her palm comes up to press against her friend's cheek, the small scars and old burns remain, but her hand is cooler, not radiating the warmth she might remember. But her touch is strong, affectionate and firm, holding the other close.]

I'm right here. Right here, hun.

[storyseeker]

[She's mortified. And happy, too, because she is mostly happy. Happy, surprised, relieved...all good emotions, in this context, because she hadn't been sure her friend would ever come back. So what's up with the tears?]

Sorry. [She swipes at her face opposite Lup's hand, even as she leans into it.] I don't know what's gotten into me—I've been all over the place this week.

[She hooks her other arm around the elf, pulling her into a hug.]

Welcome back. We've missed the hell out of you.

[restinglichface]

[Elena takes one side and Lup takes the other, thumb affectionately brushing her tears away before she's leaning in to press her forehead up against the other woman's, bumping just enough to reassure that she's real.

She's whole, a little changed, but still so fully Lup. That's all that matters.]

No apologies needed, hun. I know - I remember what was going on before I left. [Nate's sudden disappearance, Lup's constant reassurance that she would never go the same way. But Lup caught sight of Nathan Drake among the newcomers in the arena. So at least that's been taken care of as well.]

But you're good. We're all good.

i

[braveoff]

[ Drake arrives at the colosseum armed up as usual, and is extremely wary when all he sees are flowers scattered around the handful of people. No monsters? Surely they're traps, then. They'll attack somehow, vines or poison or something like that. But folks seem to already be poking at them and nothing's happening. Huh. He steps in and glances around, confused, until... ]

I fucking knew it!

[ It's shouted out like an accusation, sharp and unrestrained but more than anything? Relieved, and when Lup turns from the flower she'll see Drake looking very happy, in an almost smug way. Not quite, but. He was right and he's glad but also he was right. He strides right up to her and drags her into a big hug that betrays more emotion than his voice, which doesn't have a hint of his repressed worry that maybe she really was gonna be gone, at least for awhile. ]

The timing was just too weird, I called it. [ Maybe it was also a bit of denial, that he would've had to give up if she hadn't been here today... except that she was. ] You think you can pull one over on me, Door? Nope.

[restinglichface]

[It's his voice she hears first.

Lup twists away from the flower she's shooting questions at, her hair - long again, as if she never took kitchen shears to it - whipping around with her long, red cloak, both of her long ears lifting in surprise.

The memories are back, the immediate flood of them still a little overwhelming, but there's nothing in the world that could ever keep her from recognizing one of her dearest friends.]

Well shit. Now that's a sight I didn't even remember I was missing.

[Drake Holloway looking smug, happiness curling around his expression in the same way it dances in her eyes. And for once, he's on her before she can get him, strong arms wrapping around the slender elf, enveloping her with a familiarity that almost knocks her aside with how strong the feeling hits her. This is right. This feels right. How did she go a whole year without this dork?]

Fuck that door, am I right? Too bad we're too friggin' smart for it. [Lup leans into his touch, into his familiar warmth, which Drake may notice she's now lacking. No body heat. No heartbeat. Just a little more undead than before.]

[braveoff]

[ He huffs against her hair, which is now long and flowing again, and gives her a tighter squeeze. It'll take him a little longer to notice that she's cold, probably skin contact to feel it. ]

Also fuck that not remembering anything when we leave bullshit. You're not allowed to forget us. But once I realized it'd been exactly a year since the last time you vanished I knew it'd spit you back today.

[ When he finally pulls back it's just enough to kiss her forehead, and then he notices she feels a bit less alive. ]

...okay that's different, though.

[restinglichface]

What, no shit?

[Having been the one disappeared, Lup hadn't even made the connection of it being exactly a year since she was last dragged out of Hadriel before being tossed back in. That... That seems pretty damn important, doesn't it? Is she the only one to have something like that happen annually? Maybe it's time to do a little asking around.

But even that little realization is not enough to wipe the smile off her face as she curls in closer, an arm slinking around Drake's neck. Even his smell is familiar.]

Couldn't agree more, though. Getting my memory tampered with is a big no-no, 'specially if it's to dig out the memories of my closest friends here. Like, just fuck off, Hadriel. Don't touch that. That's mine.

[Funny how easy it is to step back into this with Drake, how even when he goes in for the kiss, she's lifting her forehead for him, eyes closing under the touch.]

Hm, not following.

[That smile means she's a big, ol' liar.]

i 👏👏👏

[barold]

[Like he needed an excuse to be here the moment the Door opens. Like he even needs to pretend he's here for "research" or "fragment observation". After blowing up Lup's phone with concerned and frantic text messages, the only reason Barry's even at the Colosseum today is to confirm once and for all that his worst nightmare hasn't been realized.

There's a glimpse of a bright red robe and thick, flowing blonde hair tucked behind two pointed ears sparkling with jewelry. Barry immediately feels a hundred pounds lighter. It takes every muscle in his body to hold himself back from just barreling into her. And not break into relieved, guttural sobs.]

Weird, huh? They kinda just spit back random phrases in different voices, seems like. [Barry grins as he approaches her, nudging a flower with his boot, making it blurt out You didn’t leave me one ass? in a confused, rough approximation of his own voice. Man, that seems like forever ago now.]

Wait, who's full of dogshit?

😂😂😂

[restinglichface]

[Like Lup should have expected anything else.

Lup's only just begun to get a grasp on her Hadriel memories - this is the part that fucks with her the most, of course, having memories wiped from her mind without even knowing they'd been tampered with - when she hears Barry first, the woman turning immediately after him with a wide, toothy grin.

She's literally only just seen Barry, it had seriously only been five minutes earlier, but something about the sight of this Barry leaves her breath hitching softly, the slight thrill of anticipation tingling through her whole body. It's still Barry, still the man she spent a hundred-some years together with, he's just a little further back in the timeline. Just separated a little bit longer from her than she'd been from him.

(Lup hopes for his and Taako's sakes it really hasn't been too long of a wait.)

He looks like he's close to bursting into tears, both of her hands dropping to the gentle curve of her hips, resting there while she waits for him to close the distance. Because she knows Barry. He won't leave her waiting long.]

Pretty sure the answer is obviously you since you aren't over here yet. What's a girl gotta do for a proper welcomin' party here? This whole arena thing is overdone.

😘😘😘

[barold]

What, a whole damn Colosseum isn't proper enough for ya? L-Looks like yer trip home got ya in a demandin' mood.

[He's teasing, sure, but he can hear his voice wavering, feel his smile getting shaky in the corners. Seeing her again makes his knees feel weak. Barry had been unable to sleep for days, scared out of his mind that Lup was really gone, that he wouldn't get to see her again.

In the dead of night while he and Taako tried their best to keep their spirits up, Barry had been laying all sorts of plans in case Lup really didn't come back. Plans to force-activate the Door, plans to steal every fragment for himself and cause something surely apocalyptic to happen. Anything to get thrown out of this piece of shit dimension he's trapped in.

Anything to get back to Faerûn so he could be with her again.

But seeing her safe and sound makes all those far-fetched plans crumble into dust. When he gets close, he feels like he can breathe again. Draw air deep and hard into his lungs and become enveloped in her presence.

Barry can't help himself, now that he's close again. He pulls her into his arms and hugs her tight, hiding his face in her shoulder, her familiar long, long hair, and just breathes her in.]

Missed ya.

[restinglichface]

Hey, I know what I'm worth an' I expect the best. Don't blame me for not settling.

[But she grins while Barry trembles before her, sounding so much like he's going to shake into pieces at the relief of their reunion. And really, there's no keeping him waiting when her husband looks like he's seconds away from falling to his knees and just weeping.

They meet in the middle, arms winding around one another, Barry's head tucked against her shoulder and Lup's chin affectionately perching in his hair. She's just like he'd remember her, though her skin doesn't radiate the same warmth it once did, but everything else is the same, down to the smell of her shampoo, the floral scent warring against the smoke that always surrounds her.

She huffs out a laugh against him, keeping him close, the rest of the world forgotten.]

I bet. Taako's not much of a replacement. Kicks too much at night. [She says like she doesn't.] Did I keep you waitin' long? Hopefully I didn't beat my old record.