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

[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?

[hornrims]

That depends on you. I'm not a nice person. But I can be decent if you give me reason.

[He doesn't return her smile, only looks at her with a flat line of a mouth and hard eyes.]

My name is Richard. And I'm nowhere close to Gilly.

[dogsanddaughters]

Hi, Richard.

[She just keeps on smiling. He's dangerous all right. Not lying about killing people. Sometimes you can tell. Usually Miriam can tell just fine and she knows a few things already just by looking at him. Maybe he needs glasses to see, but he's fast as fuck and twitchy besides. Maybe he'd shoot at Barnaby if it came to a fight, which Barnaby would dutifully survive, but maybe he'd be smart and just shoot her first.

Miriam, unlike Barnaby, is not bullet-proof. And she has a feeling Richard would go for a headshot, which makes her jacket - armored though it is - completely useless.

Yeah, probably shouldn't play games with him.

Miriam tips her head to the side.]

How'd you know? Gilly was an engineer. He was pretty badass when he wanted. But you can't be too scary when it's two on one and they've got guns.

[Gilly was a whole lot of things once, including a hooker and possibly friends of a lot of people he shouldn't have been, and now he's just dead.]

[hornrims]

I know because I'm not your babysitter and I also know that you can't turn off survival instincts if you expect to live.

[He does respect engineers. In fact, Richie had always thought that if he hadn't been groomed for a life of crime since birth he might have gone into engineering. One of his regrets in life was that he hadn't been able to go to college and pursue the education he wanted.

But there's no way this girl could have known that.]

So who are you?

[dogsanddaughters]

I'm not looking for a babysitter, buddy.

[No sir, she's an independent lady and all that shit. She gives him her best smile, the charming one, and sticks her hands in her pockets. Not to go for a weapon, just for something to do. She hates holding still, wants to bounce on her heels and resists - barely. Stand up straight, oh yeah, make a good impression. Isn't she an impressive lady?]

I'm Miriam Day. Best finder you ever did see. Handsome dude's my main man.

[Barnaby chuffs.]

I bet you need friends, huh? Everybody needs friends. These be strange times.

[hornrims]

I don't have friends.

[The idea of leaving himself open has always made Richie uncomfortable and was one in several factors in not becoming close with someone outside his family. But he can't deny that Miriam and Barnaby would be useful, and not only that, they are interesting. He's not about to surround himself with someone who has nothing more to say than inane chatter about the weather.]

I could use an ally though.

[He looks to the dog.]

Two if Barnaby's good with it.

[dogsanddaughters]

[Friends, allies, whatever. It's not quite the same but it's close. Somebody to help you play the game. Barnaby picks up the monster's severed arm again, giving it a good shake. Miriam grins.] Hell yeah. Barnaby's down for it.

[Barnaby, for his part, is currently more concerned with eating his food before it goes cold.]

This ain't the place to do the lone wolf thing. That'll just get you in bad. [She beams at him.] We're gonna get along just fine.