Event Log: Old Friends And New

[hadrielmods]

Who: Characters in Hadriel and all Fourth Wall attendees
What: Fourth Wall Event!
Where: All around the city
When: The Door malfunctions and brings folks from all different worlds into Hadriel. The more the merrier!
Warnings: None

The city is a little more... crowded than usual. Throughout the week, you may see a few more faces around, some familiar and some unfamiliar- you may even witness certain characters just popping in and out of existence as the Door flexes its uncertain power. Luckily, this seems to be the only effect of the Door's experimentation so far, but that's not to say that the worry ends here.

Some of you may find friends from home, others may find enemies, or just new allies or people you really don't get along with. Either way, it's time for a party as the gods scramble to put some sort of gathering together so that you can all take care of one another and the gods don't have to deal with another mass influx of people when they aren't ready for it. Aren't they nice?

So enjoy your music, your food, and the random assortments of items you may be able to find in the shops. The kindness won't last forever, but the gods are fairly certain that this explosion of new people is just temporary, so enjoy it while you can!

Due to the Door's meddling, some of the new people may enter the city already aware of their predicament. In order to cut down on some confusion, new visitors from the door may find that they're already aware of the conflict they're a part of, the city they're in, and have some vague idea of the gods they're surrounded by. They may even be aware that their stay here is temporary- still, there's no reason not to find shelter and food and a few allies to help you ease the way.

► This log covers October 22nd-30th.
► Feel free to make your own logs as well
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If a new person is actually pretty terrible and kills you, please let us know here.

Comments

lucretia adventure zone (crau/ota)

[scholiast]

01. back at it again (rocky beach)

(Oh, okay, so it's going to be like this huh. Something or someone isn't quite done messing with her place in the timeline; despite having lost a solid year's progress to some other planet entirely, Lucretia still opens her eyes and finds that she is not yet back in Faerûn. This is some kind of bullshit now, honestly. The portal had promised to put her right back where it took her from.

So where is this?

This isn't anywhere. She's standing out upon the rocks, staring out at the ocean. When she slowly turns in place, she notices the end of a road behind her. The edge of it is cracked and broken, giving the impression that it was cut off at that place rather than being consciously ended there.

She has the staff, which is a surprise to her, but she does not have the messenger bag that she left with. A sense of hopelessness briefly steals over her; Lucretia closes her eyes with a soft sigh, letting her shoulders drop. She doesn't know how she knows that this is just another pit stop on the way back home, but she's innately aware that she won't be here for long. Perhaps something out there intends for her to partake in a little self reflection before she returns. Fine, she can play along. What's a couple more days?

She stares at the waves for a while longer, then picks her way down the rocks and to the shore. The way the light plays on the ocean makes her want to paint. She hasn't painted anything in a long time.)

02. remember me? (closed to taz fam)

(Despite her better instincts Lucretia has not entirely ruled out the possibility of this being a dream. Why else would she come to find herself in the middle of what looks like a thoroughly lived in house, and being enthusiastically met by the dog that lives there? Well, she says dog, but this is a... very special, strange dog. Okay: it definitely isn't a dog, but she doesn't have the word right now. Honestly, if she hadn't seen things of this ilk back in the Quarantine quite often she might feel a little more wigged out right now, but for now she's more than happy to let the animal push its face into her hands. It's nice to be met with kindness. She rubs the leathery skin of its neck with her knuckles, glancing about herself.

Perhaps she is meant to stay in this house while she is trapped here. She's probably not supposed to think of it like that, but... Lucretia can't quite help it. She had been ready to go home, she'd psyched herself up to returning to that, facing all of it. Now she has to find that strength for a second time. It won't be easy, but then again, when are things ever easy for her? This seems to be the theme of her life right now.)

Yes, yes, (she says, and has to push the dog away as it attempts to slobber all up on her face,) I know. Do you live here with other people...? Surely it isn't just you.

03. wildcard

(hmu w anything! i'll match format :) )

2;

[restinglichface]

[Lucretia's right on track. Peanut, as welcoming as she is, isn't the only one living in this upside down home.]

Taako?

[Lup's voice rings up from one floor above where Lucretia and Peanut are sitting, her soft footsteps moving right over the pair's head before she's coming down the stairs, adjusting a dangling bracelet around her skinny wrist. The elf takes the steps without even looking up, eyes on the clasp she's trying to one-handed fix against her wrist, not even noticing Lucretia until she hits the bottom step.]

You better have not forgotten you were doin' my hair tonight. I swear to - Lucretia?

[Even with her natural elven grace, Lup missteps on that last step and stumbles slightly, just barely catching herself as she lays eyes on the other woman, mouth open, long ears pinned back.]

[scholiast]

(The sound of Lup's voice ringing out above her doesn't startle her in any way. Honestly, it makes her feel relieved. This makes sense now; Taako had left at the same time she did, Lup slightly before... and now they're all here, in a house, and there's a dog.

Cool. Cool cool cool.)

Oh, (Lucretia says, glancing up with a roll of her eyes,) good, you're here too. Did you know there was a second stop before...

(She finally notices the way Lup is staring at her, her mouth open, ears back. Her hand stills on Peanut's back, then darts away.) ... I– don't know where it came from, it was just here when I got here.

[restinglichface]

[No. Not cool. Not cool at all!!

Lucretia looks so completely unimpressed, like Lup is the odd one out here for looking so surprised when this is so not the situation she expected! Newbies have always arrived in the coliseum, always on the tenth of the month. For Lucretia to just appear in Hadriel and somehow end up in their home? No way, this has to be the god's work.

Probably just another one of their weird ass events.]

That's Peanut, she's ours. Been ours for a year plus now. [The 'dog' perks up at the use of her name, tongue lolling out, butt waggling so enthusiastically her whole back half wiggles back and forth.]

You though. Been pretty long time since I've seen you, Luce.

[scholiast]

Peanut?

(Magnus. Probably Magnus' doing. The dog, made perhaps over-excited by both hearing her name and the presence of two people in the room immediately takes advantage of Lucretia's distraction to go in for a slobbery lick across her face. She hunches her shoulder with a little 'eugh' and stands up, wiping her cheek.)

What do you mean you've been here for a year. I just saw you, you... (she trails off, still rubbing her cheek.)

Don't you remember?

[restinglichface]

[Absolutely Magnus. Pan knows Lup would have picked something more exciting for her own dog. Like Acid.

Even as her ears flick back in obvious concern, there's no hiding Lup's grin as Peanut gets a good attack in on Lucretia. Unfortunately for the both of them, matching up their timelines is going to be a little trickier a process than usual.]

I mean, I remember home, I remember seein' you at home, duh, but this place makes time a lil' funky, Luce. It's like, while we're here, time outside of this place is frozen. So yeah, I saw you back on the base like two days ago, but I've been in Hadriel a lot longer than that.

[scholiast]

(acid is a bit much.........................)

On the... base?

(She blinks, and her arms go down, hands clasping in front of her as she thinks. Like, at the... oh, shoot. What did Taako call it? The Bureau of Balance? Or is she talking about the Starblaster? She does not want to say the former if Lup isn't aware of it yet, she's not gonna have that conversation if she doesn't have to.)

Wait. How long have you been here, then? (Lup's surprise upon seeing her makes a little more sense now.)

[restinglichface]

[UM EXCUSE?]

That's what I said. [Lucretia's soft, puzzled reaction is so off base with what Lup was expecting. Unlike the other Lucretia's dragged into this place, who had latched onto the strangeness of Hadriel and the suddenness of appearing here, this one seems to focused on something else entirely.

She's seen some shit, though Lup can't say she's completely sure she knows just what shit that is.]

'Bout a year. Year an' a half, I think. 'Ko and I've been here for a long ass time, the others kinda followed along after.

[scholiast]

... This doesn't make any sense, (she confesses, shoulders slumping with a soft sigh. She's trying to think. If the Quarantine officials had promised them that time stood still while they were living there, how is this at all possible?

Lup looks confused too, halting.)

They said I would forget, once I left. (That had been the only thing softening the blow of leaving behind the good friends that she'd made, but Lucretia finds she remembers everything with crystal clarity. She bites the inside of her cheek. Maybe some people don't forget after all.)

2

[nodogsonthemoon]

[Magnus hadn't heard anyone entering the house, too focused on his current carving to have heard the door creak open softly. The dog suddenly making some excited sounding noises though was something that did catch his attention. It hadn't been that long since he had taken Peanut for a walk, but hey maybe nature was calling again.]

You doin' okay there, Peanut? Need to go out and tinkle?

[He puts his tools down and heads toward the main room, his footsteps being audible even from the floor above as he makes his way down. He turns the final corner, his gaze down low to see the dog but it doesn't take him more than a second to notice someone standing there and when he looks up-]

Lucretia?

[And that's all it takes before he crosses the room and picks her up in a officially certified Magnus bear hug (TM TM TM).]

hi!!

[scholiast]

Magnus–

(She sounds very relieved to see him, and stands automatically to meet his embrace. She's pretty used to the ol' Magnus bear hug routine. Even the being lifted up part.)

Oh, right off the floor, okay– Magnus, when did you get here?

(He had left the Quarantine quite a while before she did... has he been here the entire time? Uh oh. Lucretia had been told she wouldn't be staying here for long, but perhaps she had been naive in assuming that had been truthful.)

heey!

[nodogsonthemoon]

It's not a real hug unless someone gets picked up.

[He gives one final squeeze before putting her back on her feet.]

Well, I entered the room like five seconds ago, but if you mean Hadriel I got here a few months ago. But apparently there were other mes here before I got here, but I try not to think of that too much cause it makes my brain hurt.

[All the memory bullshit from back home was confusing enough when he had to remember it, having the idea of there being several different versions of yourself being here at different points just added to all that.]

[scholiast]

Oh, natch.

(Lucretia gives his back a pat before he sets her down, unable to help smiling. She's missed him so much, despite it only being a handful of months. It's always hard not to miss Magnus when he goes.

His explanation doesn't seem to weird her out though, she simply looks thoughtful.) Okay. But– Magnus, they told me at the gates that I would only stay here for a few days. How have you been here for so long?

[nodogsonthemoon]

There wasn't anyone at the door thing when I got here, just a bunch of monsters to fight.

[And he has the stab wound scars to prove that.]

But weird shit happens here all the time cause of all the dumb gods they have here, so maybe they're messing with the door and bringing more people in?

[It had been odd that a ton of people had suddenly shown up at the end of the month all of a sudden. He hand't been here that long (at least compared to some), but that at least seemed consistent.]

Hell, there's lot of us from back home that have been here way longer than me. Though I don't know who got here first...guess I never thought to ask anyone.

[scholiast]

Alright.

(This is... pretty vague, even by Magnus standards, but that's fine. Lucretia can do some snooping on her own, see what she can figure out. First things first: it seems as though this is some how not the same Magnus that came to stay in the Quaratine with her and Taako and Lup. It is a different Magnus all over again. She pinches the bridge of her nose.)

I was actually on my way home... uh, to Faerûn, I mean. I was told I would be returned there immediately but I suppose– well, something else had to go wrong first, didn't it? (She drops her hand and looks at him, deadpan. She looks very tired.) Otherwise it wouldn't be my life.

[nodogsonthemoon]

[Honestly, their 100 year journey sometimes felt less confusing and overly complicated than this place did on even the best of days. Magnus wasn't going to pretend to be an expert on shit that still made his brain hurt.]

Yeah, none of us from the Starblaster seem to have great luck.

[Unless you're Magnus rolling nat 20's.]

So where were you before you got here if you weren't back home? Last I saw you we were about to kick the Hunger's ass on it's own stupid hell plane.

[scholiast]

(yeah griffin doesn't fake his dice rolls so lucretia's sol)

Was I? (She takes a moment to bask in the idea of that. About to kick the Hunger's ass, huh... that's the dream, right there.)

Cool. Good. Uh, I– it's complicated. I was sent to a planet by way of a portal against my will, and made to reside in their Quarantine for the duration of my stay. (It feels strange to talk about it so candidly, as if she didn't come to appreciate it as a sort of home while she was stuck there.) I was there for little over a year before the portal realigned to... to send me home again.

Though not without complications, apparently.

2 ofc :v

[pocketspa]

[Taako hasn't really caught the memo of what's going on yet. Shit's been going wild all month- emotions are on the fritz, items are dropping in on their heads, monsters are popping in and out. He doesn't care, especially. He's well armed enough to handle anything that gets tossed at him on a ground level, and he's picked up some new weird shit for his collections of garbage forming in his and Lup's room. He's in there now, hanging up a new bit of crystal so it hits the light, when he hears Peanut doing some dumb shit a floor above him. Taako sighs, dropping shoulders and walking out, already talking as he's making his way up the stairs.]

Peanut, I know you don't understand fucking language, but if you're eating the oven again Magnus will not find out what happened to you so fucking help m--

[And he stops when he actually sees her at the top of the stairs. He just stares at her for a few seconds, before just moving to flip his wrists towards her.]

Oh you have got to be kidding me. Did Lup do this? Did Lup bring you here? I kinda figured I made my position pretty fuckin' clear on this one.

come fight me in the pit wizard boy

[scholiast]

(Oh, it's Taako.

Lucretia doesn't look at him, because the dog– Peanut?– has her full attention right now. She is narrowly avoiding a thorough face-licking. What Taako is saying does not hurt or surprise her. Where she's just come from they had finally fallen into some facsimile of an understanding. Months of fighting it out constantly had left them tired; sometimes Taako just doesn't want her around, and Lucretia gets that, and she is fine to play keep away. Sometimes he'll come around to her place and they'll talk for hours and watch whatever looks the stupidest on television and pretend that nothing is wrong. It's fine, so long as neither of them bring attention to it.

The razzing, however, happens regardless of which mood Taako is currently in. So this is just another day ending in y for Lucretia.)

Lup had nothing to do with it, (she says, and pushes Peanut very firmly back as she stands up, brushing her slacks off,) I just got here. And I was informed at the gates that I'll only be here for a few days, just like you, so you can unclench.

hes GONNA

[pocketspa]

[He squints, because this... isn't right. He's seen Lucretia twice in this place; one when his wounds were incredibly fresh, but she was young and confused and he had to be the bad guy in his pain and start the fire in her. Two when she was older, Madame Director, when she had known what she'd done and had crumbled under the weight of him. But this one ... isn't. Maybe it's better that way- after the rift he drew with him and Barry, him and Lup after that fight that he had to reseal, he doesn't know if he really wants her crying at his feet. But the boldness is a shock and something he feels the need to rebuff, and he snorts, cocking his hip and slotting his hand in the curve.

He's blocking the only exit. He's gonna leave it that way.]

So what let you get the visitor's pass? On some kinda sightseeing tour? Hopping between worlds again solo this time so you don't have to take anything?

[Oops he's still on this. A year mostly without her has helped, but it's gonna take way longer than that for his grudge to drop off.]

SQUARE TF UP

[scholiast]

(Yeah, so the difference this time is that Lucretia isn't going to let it get to her. Too much has happened between them for her to get upset over a couple of catty comments. Yeah there's still a certain degree of tension between the two of them but Lucretia's been gaining back the distance inch by careful inch, and she's grateful for that. Grateful that they've figured out where the line is and how to respect that. So this really doesn't bother her at all.

She adopts a thoughtful expression even as Taako faces her down from the doorway into the living room.)

Nope, (she says eventually, and shrugs a shoulder,) Honestly, I'm getting a little too old for that shit. Are the others here too? Did you know there was going to be a stop off between the Quarantine and home? You think they would have, uh, included that on the... 'terms and conditions', so to speak.

(ง'̀-'́)ง

[pocketspa]

[Okay, this is-- this went from him being only slightly out of his depth to having fuck all idea what's going on. He squints at her as she speaks, bringing his hands out like he is beyond lost.]

Okay, now you're just fucking with me. What are you talking about? Like, okay first off, you don't just nope me, that's not how this works. Second, I'm not answering shit, and three, where the hell were you that you're getting out of quarantine? Did you get arrested?

[Normally he'd play this a little cooler, but he's just so off base he wants answers right now.]

ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)

[scholiast]

(Woah, don't look at her like she knows what's going on! Lucretia is very quickly realising that neither of them are on the same page for some reason. If Taako weren't so obviously frustrated and confused, she'd laugh outright at the look on his face.)

The Quarantine, (she repeats, staring at him as he spreads his hands in obvious bewilderment,) Riverview? The planet were were both just on for nearly two years?

(you know?????????)

Did... did you forget? (They're supposed to have forgotten. The portal guards had assured them they'd be returned to their original time none the wiser. Lucretia hadn't been happy about that price of admission but had resolved, of course, to pay it. She had to go back home no matter what, and fix all she had broke. So if she's able to hold onto those memories here, why hasn't Taako?)

( ๑‾̀◡‾́)σ»

[pocketspa]

[This is the problem with knowing her so well, even and especially when he doesn't want to. Her face goes from confusion to concern, and he can tell from the progression that she isn't lying. He swallows as he tries to find his bearings again against this genuine assault and he crosses his arms, cocking out his hip like he doesn't care.]

I've been right here for a year and a half, my dude. You're the one who's been seeing things on some weird planet somewhere. I mean, I know it must be lonely without cha boy, but that's kinda much don't you think?

[Don't make him remember she cares, ugh. At least he's back to having the upper hand again. She's thrown off and he knows exactly where he is, which is where he wants it. Plus, he has backups- the Door must have just been fucking with her.

Unless, of course, those other worlds some others have talked about exist. At which point he's really starting to hate what he doesn't remember.]

*(‘﹏*๑)

[scholiast]

A... year and a half?

(Wait wait wait. Lucretia's immediate leap to conclusions is that time is messing with her, that Taako has both forgotten the Quarantine, and really been here for such a long time without her. Then, she pauses for a moment, giving herself a second to really think. It's not as if she hadn't seen other versions of the people she knew and loved while stuck in the Quarantine... there had been Magnus, for starters, popping up with no recollection of who any of them where.

Maybe this is another Taako. Not the one she walked through the portal with, hand in hand.

It's a disorientating thought.)

No, I... (she sighs, and pinches the bridge of her nose. Why can't any of this ever be simple?) I was there, with you and Lup and Magnus and Barry. I was told that I was going back to Faerûn, and that I wouldn't remember being away, but... now I'm here, and I still remember everything.

(Beverly. The thought strikes her like a lightning bolt and she glances over her shoulder distractedly, as if she might see her standing behind her. Beverly was going to come back with her.) Am I the only person who has shown up in your house like this?