Intro Log: Arm Yourself

[hadrielmods]

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!

Comments

[infinite1up]

If he wasn't already basically squinting... "No, no, simply that nobody would have survived that crash. I died for the first time that day, and that was when I discovered I was something more than human."

Sato's earlier seriousness eases a bit here. "I get the feeling that we're not quite speaking the same language, are we? Perhaps you could clarify what exactly the situation is around your own immortality? After all," he smiles, "we're both blessed in much the same way."

[foundafamily]

Now, if Firo hadn't been killed by this guy, he might easily pony up the information. If this guy drank the elixir like him, then he needs to know, and no amount of evasion will really help. If the guy didn't, then he has nothing to worry about. Well, at least not on the front of being eaten. People can still cause a lot of trouble for immortals; his friends the Gandors figured that out quickly.

Yet Firo still chooses to be a little opaque. Wariness, maybe, but mostly he doesn't want to make things easy on a guy who took him out. He's petty like that. "Blessed?

"I don't know about blessings. I came by mine... well, not honestly, but it didn't come down from the heavens or anything," he finishes with a hint of mocking.

"Is that how you got yours?"

[infinite1up]

Mock all you want Firo, he doesn't take it personally. "Could be."

"Ah, now don't think I'm being facetious here. It's just that nobody really knows. You can be a demi-human all your life, and never know until your first fatal accident. And then you come back, sometimes better than you were before." he explains. That was certainly true in his case.

"On the other hand, it sounds like you went to some sort of effort to be immortal? How interesting."

[foundafamily]

It definitely sounds different to him; all the immortals he's known can recall the moment they became immortal. Even those who did so accidentally realized the moment they drank later.

He's not getting much new out of this guy beyond that, and he wonders if the man will be more forthcoming if Firo himself is. Time to spill, he supposes.

"Not really. I just got into some booze that turned out to be the elixir of immortality. It's a long story, but I got some off a guy I ran into."

Not so much a long story as a story that involves Firo robbing an unconscious elderly man. Let's just call it a long story.

[infinite1up]

"Isn't that the lucky break? You'll have to tell me more... although maybe some other time, when we're somewhere a little less monster-infested." He'd gotten so caught up this interesting little confrontation that the matter at hand -- exactly where he was -- had fallen to the wayside.

He's not overly pertubed, but it might be better to at least feign a little confusion when he talks to the kid, adding, "Actually, I'm still not sure that would be. I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto."

[foundafamily]

Maybe his caution wasn't so necessary, in this case. Firo nods, knowing that he wouldn't be too disappointed if such an opportunity didn't come up.

The movie hasn't come out by his time, but, thanks to his friends and his rather odd contaiulo, Firo's familiar with the books. He folds his arms over his chest, frowning. "Cute, but I'm not Toto."

He scans the area around them and beckons for the man to follow as he takes the first few steps away. The man's right; there are better places to talk. "You're not wherever you were before, though. This city isn't normal."

[infinite1up]

"Hmm. I was starting to get that impression," he agrees, following in Firo's footsteps. "Are you from around here, then?"

[foundafamily]

"No way. I'm from New York. On Earth." He tacks on the last part reluctantly; it still doesn't feel natural to specify.

"I got dragged here the same way I'm assumin' you did. It happens a lot."

[infinite1up]

It definitely doesn't feel natural, but the fact that Firo even has to specify is some information all on its own.

"I'm not sure what how that happened either. One minute making coffee in the morning and the next, waking up in a coliseum full of monsters." Still, it's not like he sounds that upset about it overall.

[foundafamily]

Firo turns down one of the winding streets. The bar--that's always a good place to take people to talk, and he's sure a new arrival especially needs a drink.

"That's how it usually goes. No warning at all."

He rubs the back of his neck. "You're probably not gonna get back to your coffee any time soon--I've been here for months, and I know people who've been here much longer. Sorry."

[infinite1up]

Sato peers around, keeping track of their route through the city. Where on earth is this? Or, he supposes, not on earth seems to be a possibility if he's inferring from Firo's words correctly.

"Oho. I wouldn't mind something new and interesting to kill a few days, but I don't think I can hang around here that long. Things to do, you know," he replies lightly, finally sticking the pistol back into the waistband of his pants.

[foundafamily]

Firo laughs; it doesn't have a hint of humor in it. "Join the club." He needs to get back now--or several months ago. Speaking to Victor about Ennis's situation mitigated some of his urgency, but how could he know if he could really trust the FBI agent's word?

"What've you got to take care of?"

[infinite1up]

If circumstances were different, for instance, a friend with a hidden tranquillizer rifle and a few steel barrels around just in case, Sato would happily share details. But as it is, he doesn't even skip a beat in skimming over the issue.

"Some friends of mine will be expecting me to give them a hand later," he says lightly. Even if the city is pretty run-down looking, this is definitely much more than he was expecting. "I suppose it's not that important, but still... nobody likes to be confined. Even if their prison appears to be surprisingly large."

[foundafamily]

Having just come from Alcatraz before he wound up here, Firo understands that line of thinking completely. He snorts, "You can say that again. The bars look different, but they're still there."

"Plus, it's not like how it is at a real prison, but they do screw with us a lot here. You've gotta watch out for that. Sometimes it's just stupid stuff, but other times they send monsters all over the place."

[infinite1up]

"Like the ones we saw earlier... or do we get attacked by geth and goombas for a little variety?" he asks cheerily, checking out the cavernous ceiling. It's still a little funny to talk about monsters in the sense of actual creatures.

[foundafamily]

When they reach the bar, Firo steps inside and looks over his shoulder at Sato as he holds the door for him. He puffs out his cheeks. "Are you makin' fun of me? I have no idea what those things are, but I'm not kiddin' about the monsters here. The ones that went after us before are new, but there's all kinds."

It's a playground for someone who likes those things, but Firo is not one of those people. It's more of a pain in the ass.

[infinite1up]

Sato chuckles, looking around for a nice quiet corner table. That's always the best spot for a nice private conversation. As he eases himself into the seat, he can't help but ask pleasantly, "Why does it bother you? Why not make the best of a bad situation and have a little fun with it? You're immortal too, after all, so there's really no harm done in the end."

[foundafamily]

"Bother?" Because nobody likes being made fun of, obviously, he wants to protest. It's just that when he opens his mouth to do so, he realizes that this guy's probably talking about something else. His jaw's left hanging open slightly as he tries to figure out if he really means what Firo thinks he is.

But figuring stuff out is for losers, so Firo gives up after a second and shakes his head. "What the hell're you talkin' about?"

[infinite1up]

"The monsters. No matter what they do, they can't kill you, correct? So what I'm saying is that you shouldn't be so worried about them. Go out and have fun. Live a little and enjoy your immortality," he smiles, pointing out what is, to him, the obvious.

[foundafamily]

He's one of those, then. Firo's mouth thins to a line as he comes to that realization, and he curses his luck for running into yet another weirdo. Does he have a neon sign on his head calling them from far and wide? If he believed in such things, he'd wonder if he's cursed.

He leans back in his chair and shakes his head. "Sorry, but I think we might have different ideas of 'fun.' If you wanna go raise hell and get shredded, be my guest, but dyin' for no reason doesn't really appeal to me."

A beat. "And I'm not worried about 'em."

That might make people think that he's scared of them, and Firo just can't let that stand. Besides, he's gone toe-to-toe with them before and come out fine.

[infinite1up]

"Oh, of course. My mistake." Sato replies easily. He's not really that interested in an actual drink, so he settles in the chair, leaning back. Firo's basically useless, then. Everyone always needs a reason.

He'll figure out his plan of attack once he;s used to the place.

"How many times have you died, if you don't mind my asking?" he adds curiously.

[foundafamily]

That's a very forward question. Firo only raises an eyebrow, though, because he thinks that he's beginning to learn that this guy's boundaries probably aren't normal. "How many?"

He considers a moment, both estimating the times and wondering if this is information that's safe to share. What can the guy do with it, really? All the same, scanning through all his memories of death isn't exactly fun, so after a moment he just shrugs and gives up. "I don't really keep track--it just happens in my line a' work. Not like it happens every day, but it's definitely more than 10 by now."

To give a big underestimate. Once he knew he couldn't die, he did start adapting his fighting to take advantage of that when necessary. And sometimes you just can't help getting gunned down.

"What about you?"

I could have sworn I replied to this

[infinite1up]

"Oh, I've been around," Sato says pleasantly, leaving it widely open for interpretation. He assumes Firo's being honest though, since, well... "It's hard the first few times, but you get used to it."

[foundafamily]

Firo pouts like he's just been insulted, because he thinks he has. Never mind the fact that he did make a fuss about being killed--Firo's conveniently forgotten that in favor of letting his very ruffleable feathers get ruffled again.

"I know that. It's just a pain to have to deal with when it's not necessary." He gives Sato what he thinks is a very pointed look before he rises to grab a bottle and two glasses from the bar.

"You told me how you found out, but how long did you know you were a--whatever you called it?

[infinite1up]

Sato completely ignores the look and chuckles, "Demi-human. As for how long I've know, oh, that's been a while too now, hasn't it. A couple decades or so, I suppose." Not a lot of straight answers, but it's easier to keep the story vague. He's not really the kind of man to dwell on the past, anyway.

"Actually, I was hoping you could fill me in a little more on this place," he says, shifting the subject away from his own personal details. "Wherever exactly it is."