Intro Log: Don't Wake Tonberry

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for September
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: September 10th-13th
Warnings: Cute monsters, a way to pass the time, and plenty of newbies!

Waking up in Hadriel certainly has its down sides, but if this weird murdercave city is good at one thing, it's keeping people entertained. As you awaken on the hard ground of the colosseum, you might see a rectangular cardboard box lying near you. Ignore it for now, as you get your bearings, but if you get bored? Well, you'll find these exciting and unique board games will keep you entertained!

But how could you possibly get bored, when there are plenty of cute monsters around to keep you company? Sharing the colosseum with all the new arrivals are Tonberries. In addition to their natural cuteness defense, they also carry very large knives. They're slow-moving and look innocent and even friendly, but be careful - one strike from that knife and you'll be a bloody mess. They won't attack unless you get too close, but who doesn't want to hug a Tonberry? And of course, if you attack, they'll counter with extreme prejudice.

Managed to resist the urge to hug a Tonberry? Safely escaped from the clutches of the colosseum, new board game in tow? 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 September 10th-13th.
► 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

A

[dogsanddaughters]

[There's a low growl right before the impact, and then a large dog slams right into the Tonberry, jaws clamping down hard. The monster squeals. Barnaby does his thing.

'sup new person. Meet Barnaby, the cypernetically enhanced death machine. He likes belly rubs and bones with the meat still on them.

Miriam, for her part, just stands back from the carnage and claps, giggling cheerfully. She's holding a stun baton just in case.] Get 'im, buddy! Fuck his shit right up!

[The dog barks happily, blood on his muzzle.]

[hornrims]

[Richie only has a second to dart out of the way before the... dog? He supposes it's still a dog, makes quick work of the Tonberry. Just like Barnaby's owner, once Richie has stepped back and out of harm's way, he grins. With every tear of flesh and rupturing of an organ, Richie's smile grows wider and wider.]

Finish him off. Go for the throat.

[He can't help but get a little caught up in the moment. Though Richie's a fan of the carnage, his voice remains level.]

[dogsanddaughters]

[The dog obliges.

Miriam laughs, clapping to the carnage. Baby boy's been so good lately, he deserves a treat. And it's fun to watch him against the larger monsters. Not the bad ones, who might actually hurt him, but the small ones, they're okay. They squirm and thrash a little before they die. Miriam likes that part best, when they're flailing and realizing they're fucked.] Yeah! You got 'im, buddy!

[Barnaby sits down triumphantly on his kill, tail wagging.]

Treat time!

[Miriam giggles again as Barnaby settles in to eat. Dinner time. She grins at the new dude.] 'sup, mister. You're new.

[hornrims]

[Richie is not the best with kids, and when the girl speaks to him, he first regards her with wide eyes. He's surprised that she wants to talk to him at all, but with a dog like that she can't be entirely terrible, right?]

Yeah. Pretty sure this isn't Mexico. [He nods toward Barnaby.] That dog come with you?

[dogsanddaughters]

What's Mexico?

[Maybe it's on Earth? Miriam tips her head at him, trying to size him up without looking like she's doing it. It helps if she smiles.] Huh? Oh yeah, baby boy's with me. Say hi, Barnaby!

[The dog trots over, tail wagging, and gore all down his front. He's carrying the monster's severed arm in his mouth.

Dutifully, Barnaby offers a paw to be shaken.]

[hornrims]

Hey Barnaby.

[Richie takes the dog's paw, grinning as he's reminded of having a dog as a child. Though Peaches was never trained for anything like this.]

You're a good dog, man. Hope you know that.

[He then releases Barnaby's paw, wiping his hands down the front of his pant legs. The knife retracts and Richie places back inside his jacket.]

Mexico's a country, south of where I'm from. Guessing you're not from Earth.

[dogsanddaughters]

[Barnaby grunts politely, then returns to Miriam's side.] I mean, I know where it is. But nobody goes there anymore except the tomb raiders and they're crazy.

[She tips her head to the side. Look how cute and harmless she is.] You're not crazy, are you?

[hornrims]

[It's that word. The one he never expects to hear and yet each time it shoots through his mind like the sharpest blade.]

I'm not crazy.

[The words are quick and reflexive. Logically he knows that she and Barnaby just saved his ass, but the question sparks Richie's paranoia.]

Why would you ask me that?

[dogsanddaughters]

[Now that's interesting. Miriam just blinks up at him.] To see what you'd do.

[Apparently she found a sore spot. Whatever should she do with it? Press harder or back the fuck off? Decisions, decisions. Miriam curls her hand through Barnaby's harness just in case.]

[hornrims]

That's clever. But not smart.

[Now that Richie is no longer reacting out of pure instinct his words come slow and pointed. He has no reason to hurt Miriam and he doesn't want to, but he also intends to put a stop to whatever it is she's trying to pull]

Do you always try to provoke people you don't know?

[dogsanddaughters]

Sometimes. Otherwise I wouldn't know. [And you have to know with people. Some of them will kill you for looking at them funny. She tips her head to the side, still watching.] It's okay. I know bad people. Crazy ones too. Long as you don't hurt me or my dog, we're okay.

[hornrims]

I'm a bad person. Is that what you wanted? [His voice is cold, distant, and very unappreciative of her trying to prod at him.]

I've killed more people than I can remember today, and now I'm here. I've got no reason to do the same to you or your dog. Don't give me one. Got it?

[dogsanddaughters]

[He probably is. Miriam tips her head to the side, wondering if maybe she shouldn't just try and hit him with her stun baton. Fuck him up a little bit and let Barnaby do the rest. But maybe he's fast. Maybe he'd hurt Barnaby if she tried that. Maybe he's got freaky powers.

Probably shouldn't try that, then.

In the end, Miriam just shrugs, keeping her face calm. Not quite blank, but not afraid. Just aware of where she happens to find herself.] That's okay. My mom kills people. She choked a guy with her belt until his eyes went all waaaah and then boom.

[She mimes the bug-eyed expression with startling accuracy.]

I'll be nice to you, mister. I'll be real good.

[hornrims]

[There's a slight upward tick at the corner of Richie's mouth.]

Your mom sounds like a badass.

[He eyes her carefully.]

I know that you're always nice, you've proven that. But I'll hold you to your word.

[dogsanddaughters]

The baddest.

[Miriam puffs out her chest when she says it, though it's not quite true. Her mom is just one person and she's not here. But nobody else needs to know that just yet.]

All right. Guess that's fair.

[Miriam flicks Barnaby's ears.]

And it's not Earth, anyway. Never been there, but other people have and apparently this ain't it.

[hornrims]

[The revelation that this isn't Earth doesn't shock Richie. Instead it actually helps him process things a little easier. He'll protest the gods, but no Earth? Makes total sense.]

I believe it. Doesn't look like anywhere I've ever been. Where are you from if not Earth?

[dogsanddaughters]

Echo Six. It's okay. Nobody else here knows where it is either. [Miriam wrinkles her nose.] It's a space station. Apparently that's cool. It was kinda on fire when I left, but those are details. What's Mexico like?

[hornrims]

It's hot, got really good food. That's not where I'm from though, just where I was. I'm from America. Kansas, if that means anything to you. [Probably not.]

[dogsanddaughters]

[Miriam brightens.] Like from The Wizard of Oz? 'No place like home' and shit? Cool! Is there corn everywhere?

[hornrims]

Yeah! That's the one. [The exclamation comes out a little too excited for Richie's liking, but he's never been very good at tempering himself. It's not the recognition of his state so much as the movie reference that makes him perk up.]

How is that you don't know Earth but you know The Wizard of Oz? There's corn in the more rural parts, but I'm from Kansas City. Not exactly farm country.

[dogsanddaughters]

[Oooh, he knows movies! That's awesome. Miriam wiggles a little, eyes bright and wide.] We got movies and shit. I watch lots! And Gilly really liked that one. It's like a metaphor for politics or something. Or it was way back then. I just think it's a cool movie.

[hornrims]

The politics stuff first came from the original novel. The metaphors changed depending on the time period and political climate with each interpretation. I always liked the part when you see that The Great and Powerful Oz is just some dude. Pretty good twist.

So who's Gilly?

[dogsanddaughters]

I dunno about that stuff. [She doesn't read much. It goes too slow and she gets bored.] Oh, Gilly's my friend. He took care of me. The Sons killed him.

[There's a moment - maybe half a second - of genuine sadness in her face before it vanishes beneath the onslaught of another brilliant smile.]

Your glasses are cool.

[hornrims]

[It's strange to see something real in this girl who seems to try extremely hard to deflect anything that doesn't come easy.]

You miss him, don't you.

[It's not a question, and one of Richie's hands rises to the side of his face as if to protect his glasses from being taken from his face.]

[dogsanddaughters]

[Miriam just keeps on smiling. Look how small and cute she is, with her girls and the girlish grin. Someone like her couldn't possibly be a threat to somebody like him - not somebody big and scary and all twitchy, no sir, that would be silly. And he is a little scary, got a temper behind those glasses and part of Miriam - the part of her that likes to watch things burn - wants to call him crazy again. Just to see what he'd do.

But that would be a bad idea, wouldn't it?]'

Uh-huh. You need 'em to see?

[Probably does, reacting like that. There's no need, really, he's too tall. Miriam bats her eyes at him. If she smiles, then it's a game and it can't possibly hurt.]

Gilly was nice to me. Then he got fucked up and now he's dead. Are you gonna be nice to me, mister?