Intro Log: Eight Legs No Heart

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for June.
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: June 10th-15th
Warnings: Spiders. Soooo many spiders. New people. Probably swearing.

For once, the new arrivals to Hadriel will not be waking up on the cold hard ground of the colosseum. Oh, sure, you'll still awaken in the arena - but this time the Door has been kind enough to ensure that you wake up comfortably arranged in a very nice chair. Or maybe not so comfortably. Some of those look pretty awkward - hopefully you didn't wake up with a crick in your neck! And hey, feel free to try to drag some of these super cool chairs to your new homes. They're probably not cursed or anything.

As you make your way out of the arena, be careful getting to close to the walls - well, except that's the only way out, so good luck! Chilling up on there waiting to get the drop on you are Skulltulas. These funky-looking spiders have squishy underbellies, but their upper exoskeletons are hard and very difficult to break through. They really just want to nibble you a few times, and maybe suck out all of your blood. No big deal, right? Have fun!

Have you conquered your arachnophobia and managed to escape? Great! Feel free to go explore the rest of the city! Find a house, find a new monster, or simply scavenge for supplies. Good luck, and enjoy your stay in Hadriel!

► This log covers June 10th-15th.
► Feel free to make your own logs as well!
► All characters arrive with phones that have network communication.
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!

Comments

[unknowable]

[The dog, like his master, is wary and careful with people. Like Chainsaw, it's a dream creature - more attuned to Adam than a normal animal would be, protective and devoted. It looks to Adam, and Adam places a hand on the dog's back gently and shakes his head.]

I don't remember giving you permission to feed him anything.

[And he doesn't trust Amos any more than he ever has.]

[amos_moses]

[Amos winces a little, but stays crouched there for a moment, treat in hand still offered out, and tips his head back to look up at Adam. In a wounded tone, he says, quietly:]

I wouldn't hurt him. Or any animal.

Not when I can hear 'em like I do.

[unknowable]

You can speak to people just as easily. Does that stop you from hurting them?

[Adam assumes that to Amos it's different, somehow, but it doesn't seem any different to him. Hurting people and hurting animals is all too easy for someone who's used to hurting people, and Adam has no intention of allowing anyone or anything he cares for to be hurt if he can avoid it.]

[amos_moses]

When I can. I don't like to fight.

[And this is true: Amos is a pacifist at heart. But his job is often violent, and in order to protect his life and the lives of those he cares about, he does often hurt people. But after Arya, he's quite certain Adam won't agree with him. Animals are one thing: they live simply. People are more complex, and Amos believes the world is fundamentally broken, that there can be no peace in this life.]

[unknowable]

[He puts a hand gently on Aspen's back, and the dog leans into him, loyal as a dream can be.]

He isn't going to take any food from someone I don't trust.

[amos_moses]

[Amos, ever hopeful, sets the treat on the ground before he stands up, weary resignation on his face.]

I'm sorry you don't trust me. I wish I could change that.

[unknowable]

Don't take it too personally. I don't trust very many people.

[He looks at Amos, even and calm.]

But you did do something to deserve it, in any case.

[amos_moses]

[Amos grimaces and shakes his head, and slightly miffed tells Adam:]

Might please you to know she did get the better of me, then.

[No matter the age difference, the combat experience, Arya's determination and sword had made quick work of Amos and his little knives. He's not particularly dismayed: he's always know he's survived thus far more on sheer luck than anything else, as he avoids most fights as best he can. That death at Arya's hands only proved it.]

[unknowable]

[He looks at Amos measuringly for a moment, and then he answers honestly:]

It does, a little.

[Because Adam is not necessarily a good person. He has a ruthless streak, and when it comes to his friends being hurt that streak gets far more difficult to ignore. If Arya was able to pay Amos back, he is pleased, though he knows he shouldn't be.]

[amos_moses]

[Amos's smile is small and tight.]

I'm glad my death brings you joy, then.

[He very nearly says 'stick around and it'll probably happen again', but that's cruel and while stung Amos isn't hurt enough to be that mean. So instead he keeps his mouth shut, offers a shallow bow, and turns to walk away. Better to leave and not say anything he'll regret than linger and make his relationship with Adam worse than it already is.]

[unknowable]

[It's not that it brings him joy, of course, but rather that he thinks it's fair. But he doesn't stop Amos - he doesn't think there's any need to point that out. Adam knows he can be cold, and while sometimes he's not happy about that, he knows it's part of him.

So he lets Amos walk away.]