hadriel_logs | Intro Log: Arm Yourself

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Intro Log: Arm Yourself

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for August
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: August 10th-15th
Warnings: Stalkers, newbies, and cute loot!

Sleeping on the cold dirt ground of the colosseum is enough to make anyone uncomfortable. It might be a little worse this month than others, as some of you may be waking up on top of or around various self defense devices (btw: that last one is a taser).

Come to think of it, you'll probably need those. Also in the colosseum and already stalking you are... uh, well, stalkers from the Borderlands game series. Stalkers come armed with claws, teeth, and sharp tails- and what's more, they can turn invisible to sneak up on you. Zap them with your newfound taser or stab them with your jewelry comb knife or just run away screaming- we won't judge, but you have to do something or else they'll kill you and eat your corpse and all sorts of unfortunate things.

Good luck finding a way out. Maybe you can make some friends along the way.

All done and escaped from the clutches of the colosseum? Awesome! 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 August 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!

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I don't know yet. It isn't later.

[ Rose can't decide if that's worse or better. Storage was... horrifying, but it didn't feel so final. There was the hope that she could back to her friends, save them someday. Rose liked hopes she could hold onto like that.

But maybe things being finite would make it easier. Rip off the band-aid, as it were. ]

That's unfortunate. Who runs this place?

Gods.

[ A hollow laughter rings at the mention of that. Gods. Yao had been the absolute rulers of their world... It's strange to have actual deities now in control.

Judging from their names, she guesses not all of them are benevolent. She's used to that though. ]

This isn't my first rodeo. I was... somewhere else before here. I just can't believe it's happening again.

[ I thought I was done. I thought I was dead. ]

Haven.

[ The way she says it indicates it's anything but. ]

It wasn't underground like here, but it felt... similar. It had been something before but we never did find out entirely what. We were trapped behind a barrier that we couldn't pass. It expanded, after a while, but I was there two years and never saw it fail.

[ The next part gives her pause, but she eventually does spill out: ]

They experimented on us about every couple months. Ran 'tests' that ranged from a zombie virus to a versus to a labyrinth. Sometimes did individual testing.

[ Her eyes gloss over as she recalls some of the more horrific things done to her friends. To her. ]

-Sorry. [ she finally breathes out after a sharp inhale to refrain from getting weepy. ] It's. It's hard to talk about it some of it, still.

["Mostly" under control only sounds mostly comforting, but to Bruce's credit, he doesn't seem like he's in any immediate danger of making L regret his decision to share close quarters with him. Maybe the fact that L is able to assume that it's probably true is a testament to the reality that, slowly but surely, he is getting used to this place and its absurdities.]

Can you tell me who might know more, so that I can start to better understand, myself? I'd like to leave. Soon, if possible. I'm willing to dedicate a lot of work toward that end.

"Uhhh, like the thing we just fought. C'mon, I know you saw it, too." Point blank to him, you're in for the lingo now. "You're an Exorcist, right? What's your Meister? I've never seen anybody do that! Or... are you a really cool familiar?"

Rin looks over the Hedgehog as he tries to think of what this guy is. He's heard mixed demons can become Exorcists, but he's never seen one look less human. Hmmm...

It wouldn't surprise him too much if Shadow is a familiar. He has a level of demon telepathy that helps him communicate with most nonverbal demons, and there's even a bunch of demons that can talk on their own.

"If you're a familiar, where's your master?"

"Yes, I've spoken with Dr. Banner. It seems he's been running the local medical team. Doing what he can, of course, and that's admirable. I'm looking forward to being able to give them a hand." He pauses for a moment, trying to parse exactly what Souji is asking, but while he thinks what escapes might be slightly more acerbic than intended.

"Sorry, do you mean the part where capricious godlike beings have dragged us here to feed themselves on our emotions, or the part where they also summon horrific monsters to eat us?"

I appreciate that. I don't like sugar coating.

[ Not anymore. So it's... similar. Not the same. It isn't. She has to keep reminding herself of that fact. This isn't Haven, it isn't.

Gods, she hopes it isn't. ]

At least I know what to expect, I guess.

It's a very tempting offer, and if it were just him, he would. But there's his sister to consider, and even though she seems to be improving every moment they stay here, lucid periods lasting longer than he's seen since he found her, he doesn't want to try and provoke any spells. So he follows, to examine the facilities, but he's already shaking his head.

"I appreciate it, but my sister has, ah, a phobia of medical facilities. We'll find someplace close by, though. I don't want to leave you short staffed."

The thought that any of them could vanish just as they appeared is chilling. What kind of people have that sort of technology? It's beyond anything he knows, and all things considered, it's not a nice thought. What could beings with that sort of power want with River? "I'll remember that," he says, forcing the thought to the back of his mind. "You're right. Never know when you're going to need someone else to operate on you. Do you have any sort of educational program already in development?"

"Yes, actually, it would," he answers, and the general responses he's gotten to that fact go a long ways toward making him okay with where they've ended up. At least here, so far, the monsters all look like monsters, and the people need a doctor. "I've spoken with Dr. Banner at the clinic, I'll be helping out there once my sister and I get settled." He rests a hand on his own bag, the med kit having been stowed safely at the clinic minus the rarest of his medications. He wants to be trusting, not stupid.

"I could see it from back that way," he says, gesturing behind him, then waving vaguely in the direction he'd been headed, "but once I got down here, I lost it. I suppose my sense of direction isn't all that great."

Hmm-

Mello, again, is a very good bet. He's quiet, but he's a systematic thinker- a mind like a steel trap, you get the sense. Same is true for Doctor Tam, and a few of the men on the watch.

Wanda Maximoff has a better understanding of universes and reality than most. I'd speak to her- though she's new as well, so this might mark just the beginning of a collaboration for her.

"We did initially, a couple of one time classes, on things like basic first aid and slightly more advanced courses on stitching up cuts. But, they could stand repeating. There's been enough population turnover that I think they'd be useful again-"

And;

"You should offer them, if you're feeling capable. We should introduce you to the city, and build your relationships with the community as much as possible. People here are skittish, and the better they know you the more comfortable they'll be coming to you."

Familiarity, yeah. I've got more than my fair share of familiarity with spirits- [ He says it at least with a modicum of amusement. ]

But uh, if it helps- i've heard this place makes some people corporeal.

"I'd be happy to. I'm not exactly a teacher, but I'll do what I can. Once we get settled I'll start on compiling a written reference guide, as well. I'm presuming at least paper and pen of some kind can be found in the shops, and it's less likely to vanish than a communicator, presumably."

Although the mention of introductions and building relationships does make him a little nervous. He's been out of crowds for a while now. He does offer a slightly crooked smile to Bruce, something a little self-deprecating. "I'm no stranger to being a stranger. Bedside manner might be a little rusty, but I'll do my best."

"You'll be fine."

He assures him, much more quietly now, with a real air of certainty to him.

"Hawkeye did wonderfully, and he was as caustic a man as I've ever met in my life. Which reminds me- you'll have to meet Doctor Frankenstein, he's here most days as well. He's even older historically than I am, but he's very capable."

Gansey looks pleased. The clinic hasn't had a real medical doctor in all the time he's been here, which actually is some time. He's lost track of exactly how long, it being not he easiest thing to keep track of time here. But it's been many months, and while Dr Banner has done his best, Gansey knows that it's not precisely his field.

"I volunteer there sometimes," he says, with a little shrug. "I'm very much a learner, basic first aid. So are most of us. I'm sure we'd all be grateful for your help."

And as for direction...

"And don't feel bad. It's easy to get lost here, we've all done it. It's not like we have GPS anymore. If you're ever lost, try to make for the centre of the city. Hope gave us paints once, and I made a map on one of the walls like a mural. It's not as good as having one in your hand, but it'd be better than nothing if you were stuck."

"Frankenstein? As in, Frankenstein's monster? The fictional story?" Sorry, that's going to take a moment. Of course he's no stranger to the name, having been through medical school. Some things just stick no matter how many centuries pass. Although, maybe it's a valid name. Maybe the man has absolutely nothing to do with that. After all, it was just a story, written way back in Earth-That-Was' history.

He can already see where time might start to get a little fuzzy. Maybe you count it in cycles of new arrivals, after a while, but who knows exactly how far apart those are by any other standard? It's the same way in space. He used to mark time by Osiris' calendar, but after a year on Serenity, well...time seems to matter less. "Volunteers are a help, I'm sure," he offers. "I spoke with Dr. Banner some about starting up lessons once we're settled. Basic first aid, triage, maybe more advanced techniques once folk are ready for them. And I've got some equipment with me that your clinic doesn't have, limited, of course, but hopefully it'll be of help."

The idea of a map as a mural is actually quite a good one, and he looks visibly impressed. "That's considerate of you, to make something for everyone's benefit. I'll look for it if I get lost again. Though it doesn't look like there's too much to get lost in out here." He hasn't explored the caves, and that's probably not something that's going to happen, honestly. Not for him.

"I don't know, and at first I thought it would be rude to ask, because I was sure he'd get that joke all the time, but now I'm not entirely convinced, only it's been far too long for me to bring it up?"

He admits, readily, as he leans in.

"So if he tells you anything about it, please clue me in. Please."

Rin happily shakes her hand. Cool, I learned all this new stuff and got to meet someone cute. Today's starting pretty good!

Even still, his stomach reminds him he has other things to do, as he feels the nagging groan.

"Awesome, thanks for showing me everything. Hope to see you around, Jo!" He flashes another smile before he wanders away to go find housing while he munches on the fruit, curiously looking around at all the fascinating scenery.

[Shh Cecily just accept it and go with it. Especially since the ice alien can be very choosy about the company he keeps--it's a clear sign she's doing something right!] Ha--do not worry. It took me quite some time to decide to join, myself. I'm not used to working with other people, particularly not other humans. But... there are people in this place that have become important to me... people whose measure of me actually matters... [And here he gives a small, amused snort to himself. What would the him of a few months ago think of the being he has become today?] I wanted to do whatever I could to protect them. I wanted to live up to their expectations of me. Whatever you decide to do, I am sure it will be for good reason.

[He lets that lay between them, listening quietly as Cecily carries on. When she's finished, he gives a nod.] Yes, we were. And it was a confusing, miserable time, being dumped into an arena with no idea of where you were or what was going on and being immediately attacked by monsters. Escaping that, only to discover you were being held against your will to be tormented... [Glacius sighs, shaking his head. That all hits particularly close to him Because of Reasons, but he knows you don't have to have a troubled past for such things to begin pulling you under.] Leaving other people to deal with that on their own... it doesn't sit right with me. Nor does letting the gods get away with whatever they want.

Which, as I stated before, is understandable. There is much information to process about this city and the circumstances in which we now find ourselves... and that is not easy to do when you are fighting for you life. I do not mind going over it again... or I can let you go your own way and get used to this place in addition to regathering your thoughts, and then we can reconvene for whatever questions you may still have.

"No longer in my world? What are you talking about?" Rin looks confused. Sure, he's never seen a place like this, but he figures they're just on a trip somewhere else. He's still not grasping it. Sorry, dude.

"C'mon, man." Rin looks a little annoyed as he feels like his intelligence is being questioned. "That thing was obviously a demon. I'm not stupid, y'don't have to pretend with me."

Most of what Shadow is saying is going in one ear and out the other.

"Huh? Your world's? Like Hell? Are you a demon? Or are you made in a lab?" Rin's trying to keep up, he just doesn't understand you. So sorry. Rin gives a huge grin. "I'm Rin Okumura, and I'm an ExWire! I'm going to become a Paladin!"

[Bruce isn't lying about Mello's mental ability. L knows better than anyone the truth behind the claim. He takes note of the other names, but feels a twinge of accomplishment to know that Mello's brand of maverick intelligence is modeled closely after his own.]

How new? Even a month longer than I've been here is a considerable amount of time to learn the ropes. I suspect that swift adaptation is a large part of the key to survival in this place.

He can't help a smile at that, maybe the first real smile he's had since arrival. Curiosity is pretty universal, he guesses. "Absolutely. Once I know, you'll know. Although if this Victor Frankenstein is also a medical doctor...well, it begs the question, doesn't it?" He shakes his head, still grinning. "It's as believable as everything else about this place, I guess."

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Intro Log: Arm Yourself

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(Call it a wrap?)

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