hadriel_logs | Intro Log: Ugh, Talk to the Hand

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Intro Log: Ugh, Talk to the Hand

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for February
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: February 10th-14th
Warnings: None

Welcome to Hadriel. Your first glimpse of your new home is maybe not the most welcome - you awaken on the floor of the colosseum, surrounded by sand and walls and... trees? Yes, trees. Along with you and the other newcomers, a number of Territorial Oaks have arrived in Hadriel. They look just like normal trees, except for those welcoming smiles - oh, and they don't like you at all. They move fast, hit hard, and if you manage to bring one down it'll go out in a large, dangerous explosion. This may have you rethinking your stance on clear-cutting.

While you're trying to avoid the trees, you might come across a few of the other things the Door has deposited in the colosseum for your (its?) entertainment. Namely, a bunch of toys that no one has played with in years. But maybe one of them will tickle your fancy?

Once you've finished indulging your 90's nostalgia, 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 February 10th-14th.
► 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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[ Cecily is just passing through, herself - not one for paperwork unless Josie mandates it - and so she sees Ignis while at headquarters and slows, smiling. ]

Busy day? [ He doesn't seem to hear at first, though, and so she tilts her head a touch before trying again: ] ...Ignis?

[ Something's clearly on his mind, but that's more likely to happen around the time that the new arrivals are dumped into the coliseum, when the Door throws its monthly choice of beast at them. ]

[He doesn't hear her the first time, and barely the second, only noting her presence and looking up just soon enough to catch his name being spoken.]

Oh. [Was he really so distracted? He pinches the bridge of his nose to fend off the oncoming headache caused by his admittedly negligible sight defect, takes a deep breath in through his nose, and holds it for a moment before letting it out and focusing his full attention on her.]

Cecily. Yes. I apologise. My mind was entirely elsewhere.

It's alright. [ She's watching him now, though. Ignis is the "always quietly aware" type, or so she's gathered. It's odd he'd be distracted...but, then again, he's only human.

Right? ]

Anything I can help with? [ Cecily asks lightly, planting her hand on the surface of his desk. ]

Not unless you happen to have a pair of glasses that match my prescription. [Ignis responds with a tight sigh, putting his pen down with a little more than the necessary force and pushing the paper in front of him away several inches. For a moment, he just looks at her hand, then flicks his eyes up to hers and gives a small, weary-looking smile.]

I'm sorry. I've... I have a lot on my mind.

[And in truth, he shouldn't really be here at all.]

Were you heading out?

I...don't, sorry. [ Interesting. ] Do we have some sort of glasses-maker anywhere in the city?

[ Hopefully, for his sake. Otherwise, someone who could magic up a new pair for him would likely work just as well. ]

It's all right. [ ... ] I...was, but I could be easily persuaded to stay and chat if you'd like to get some of what's on your mind into words.

Perhaps. I haven't looked into it yet.

[Because Ignis doesn't use the network himself, only to monitor what other people choose to post on it and give the occasional response. He's just going to have to take the long way around.]

No, no. If you're going out, I'd like to come. [He's finding himself of little use here, too mired in his own thoughts to concentrate on what he should be doing.]

We can talk while we're out.

That's fine then. [ She waits for him to rise before starting again toward the door, holding it for him as she goes. ]

So, whatever you're willing to share, I'm listening. [ ... ] Or we can walk circles 'round the city, if that's enough to help. I've found it reassuring, sometimes, to just keep going until I've started wearing tracks into the ground.

[Ignis only nods silently. He's sure it will end up being a little of both. Cecily is good company, yet not quite so close to him that he would find it easy to simply speak what's on his mind.

But the company will be appreciated, as will the distraction.

He passes through the door as she holds it open, pausing to wait for her before they begin their route through the city. For some time, he's quiet, only conducting small talk but keeping his attention ahead. Then, finally, he offers;]

I had a short trip back home. [He says, frowning slightly.] It... brought a lot of things to light. I've been finding it difficult to concentrate, with so much time to think them over.

Ah. [ That explains it. She sighs and cocks her head, considering her own experiences with...that. ] You know, I'm quite familiar with the concept. I went back to my home twice and found them...challenging, when I returned.

[ The first time had been after the defeat of Corypheus, which wasn't bad at all, except that returning to Hadriel made her miss her friends from Thedas very badly. ]

But your trip home brought you answers? Maybe...some more difficult to deal with than others?

['Challenging'. Ah, but that's a word for it. Ignis glances across to her, pressing his lips together for a moment as if about to speak, but thinking better of what he was going to say. Her questions draw a soft, almost bitter-sounding chuckle.]

Many answers... and many questions to replace those that they matched to. [He pulls in a breath, holds it a moment, then sighs it out as he pinches the bridge of his nose.]

But you're correct, of course... the answers were not easy ones to take.

I guessed as much. Your experience - forgive me - isn't unique.

[ It sounds cold, but her expression softens into something she hopes is reassuring, or at least sympathetic. ]

You don't have to bear this alone, you know. I can think of at least one person who would gladly share in that burden. [ Wait for it... ] Kate is brilliant that way.

[ She kids! Cecily flashes a little smile and glances sideways at him, amending: ]

And a few others might lend an ear, if you choose to share your mind.

[He doesn't take badly, and even laughs a little at the way she chooses to phrase things... and her mention of Kate.]

It isn't that simple. My situation may not be unique in terms of being a difficult one, but... [Here, he trails off and sighs. It's clear enough - whatever is in his mind is something that he can't even consider sharing with Kate.]

Have you ever withheld information from someone, in the hopes of protecting them against having to fear an eventuality that they cannot change?

Yes, actually. [ She replies promptly, but not lightly. ] Someone from my world arrived without knowing that...how do I put this: she doesn't exist in all versions of our world. Just as I don't.

[ Cecily doesn't look bothered by this fact, and instead tilts her head to the side thoughtfully. ]

Because of that, things in my version of our shared world - and in all others, save for her own - aren't the way she remembers them. I think...knowing that fact could break her. [ The Inquisitor glances down, expression soft and sympathetic. ] She's very young, but she's been through quite a lot.

[Ignis can sympathise a great deal with going through a lot at a young age. How much has he been through already, and only at twenty-two years? He wonders briefly who this girl might be.]

I already knew things I should not, thanks to meeting people here who came from my future. [Noctis... almost ten years older than him, so tired, but still so very much like his younger self. He still winces to think about it.]

And now... I know more, and I can't speak of it to anyone.

Can't, or won't? [ She tilts her head to peer curiously at him. In some ways, Ignis reminds her of the kind of person Solas could have been, were he not an ass and a prick and a potential-destroyer-of-worlds. ] I can keep my mouth shut, if that's what you mean. And I'm sure I can come up with a secret or two to trade if it will make you feel better.

It isn't that I don't trust you, Cecily.

[Can't? Won't? Shouldn't, is more the truth of it, but not being able to tell the person the facts pertain to feels like it puts an irremovable seal on the entire thing. No, he can't speak of it to anyone else until he can tell Noctis, and he can't tell Noctis.

Not when he's suffered enough already.]

But if I can't tell the person it involves, how can I justify speaking of it to anyone else.

You don't have to justify it, but you also don't have to tell me. It's certainly not my business. [ The Inquisitor rolls her head to the side, considering the situation, thinking of the heavy secrets she's kept over the years. ] ...Just know that you have shoulders to lean on should you ever need them.

[ And ears if he ever wants to spill the beans. ]

Burdens like that aren't meant to be carried alone, tempting though it may be to try and keep that pain and hardship from others.

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Intro Log: Ugh, Talk to the Hand

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