Intro Log: I'll Cry If I Want To

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for December
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: December 10th-14th
Warnings: Angry crying ladies and a bunch of newbies

Good morning, new Hadrielites! What a joy it is to awaken on the hard ground of the colosseum, with absolutely no idea where you are or what's going on. As you wake up, confused and possibly a little terrified, you may be angry. You may be frightened. You may be hungry, if you didn't eat a good lunch. You may want to cry.

And it looks like you're not the only one who wants to cry. Along with the newcomers, a number of Witches have come to Hadriel. They stand in one place or wander, crying bitterly, as if their boyfriend has broken up with them or they've lost their puppy. Maybe you're a good person who wants to see if they're okay? Well, you might want to rethink that. Disturb a Witch - which is pretty easy to do - and they'll fly into a rage, attacking you with their sharp claws and tearing your guts out. Good luck trying to get out of the colosseum without running into one!

Don't worry, though. Scattered around is also some stuff that's a little more fun! The Door's theme this month seems to be 'stuff stressed-out executives would put on their desks', and since we've got so many of those, surely you can find a toy or two to play with!

If you've managed to avoid getting clawed to bits and maybe found a cool new distraction or two, congrats! That's the first step to becoming a productive member of Hadriel society! Now, feel free to go explore the rest of the city! Find a house, a new monster, a project to help with, or simply scavenge for supplies. Good luck, and enjoy your stay in Hadriel!

► This log covers December 10th-14th.
► Feel free to make your own logs as well!
► All characters arrive with phones that have network communication and the newbie guide installed.
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!

Comments

[foundafamily]

I'm just realistic.

[He shrugs.]

I don't know anyone who bit it that way, so I couldn't tell you if they come back or not. I don't think it'd be that common--but there are a lotta people who come in new. Like you just did, I'm gonna guess.

[outstandingbalance]

I'm not speculating about what happens to them. Just... clarifying the order of events here.

[Her brows twitch at his explanation. Not exactly satisfying, and somewhat ambiguous.]

I'd imagine everyone who shows up, shows up new.

[foundafamily]

[He nods to her last statement.]

That's the way it's been for everybody I know. I mean, I'd remember if I wound up in a place like this before. It's not the kinda thing you forget easily.

[outstandingbalance]

[Ergo, no way to know what happens when they leave one way or another. Natasha doesn't care for not knowing, but she doesn't press.]

I figure people try to get out all he time though. Am I wrong about that?

[foundafamily]

Try, yeah.

[No success, he's sure she can guess from that.]

Back when I first got here, I thought the tunnels might be the way out. But no matter how far you go, they just spit you right back out in this place.

[outstandingbalance]

You gave up on that. Makes sense.

[She doesn't blame anyone for giving up on a method that's shown no promise, but giving up on the goal...]

So what does that leave?

[foundafamily]

[He slips his hands into his pockets and rocks back on his heels.]

You tell me. The only other way I could think of would be to dig through the ceiling, but nobody can get there.

[outstandingbalance]

That might be a little too literal.

[Even if they could do it, they'd still be in the wrong reality... if the guide was to be believed, which is still a matter open to discussion, but the evidence supports it.]

We got here somehow.

[foundafamily]

You mean that Door thing?

[Maybe that's where he should've started, it being the "official" way between the worlds and all. Firo's skeptical, though.]

The gods say they're working on it, but if you ask me, I wouldn't trust their word on that. It's a crapshoot, anyway--they keep saying the next god might know about it, but so far nothing.

[outstandingbalance]

Believe me, I'm not in a hurry to trust any of this. Just getting the shape of things.

[Convenient, isn't it? Free the next god. Maybe they'll be the one who can send you home. She's clear on the fact that the gods "feed" on the people they bring here, so it must be nice having a reason you can't let anyone go yet.]

[foundafamily]

[As he nods, he even smiles just a little. More people who're wary is always good.]

Makes sense. That's about all I know about how to get back home, though.

[Speaking of not trusting, though...]

Besides the gods, there's also the guard you've gotta watch out for. They're a bunch of people who decided to keep an eye on the rest of us.

[outstandingbalance]

The guide overlooked that.

[And the omission gets a cocked eyebrow.]

So when you say keep an eye, what are they looking for?

[foundafamily]

[Firo snorts--that's not surprising to him at all.]

Who knows? Probably anything they don't like.

[Paranoid? Firo? Definitely.]

[outstandingbalance]

[On the one hand, Natasha sympathizes with paranoia. On the other, it doesn't sound based on much.

Either way, she'll look into it further.]

But nothing you've noticed?

[foundafamily]

I've noticed them following around people for no reason, if that's what you're asking.

[Sorry, Shadow, throwing you under the bus.]

[outstandingbalance]

That would fall into that category, yes. Broadly speaking.

[Though it's still not much to go on. Interesting that they weren't mentioned, though.]

[foundafamily]

They write stuff down too. Never said what, exactly, but what the hell do they need all that for anyway? It's definitely suspicious. We've got enough trouble here without cops stirring more up.

[He'd almost thought he'd get a vacation from the law, but alas.]

[outstandingbalance]

Doesn't seem much like a guard.

[Musing, only. She doesn't doubt he has his own biases here.]

I expected more killing monsters.

[foundafamily]

That's how people like this always operate.

[He shrugs; that's just one of the facts of the world to him. Of course the people claiming to 'guard' others would only ever act for themselves and never actually protect people. Even Edward--such an upstanding cop he'd put a straight arrow to shame--wasn't actually protecting normal people. At least, that's what Firo'd argue.]

Not that a lot of 'em don't kill monsters too, but everybody here does that.

[outstandingbalance]

You sound like you speak from experience.

[The invitation is clear, if unspecific. If he wants to talk about his opinions, or what formed them, or if he wants to segue in another direction, her prompt is to keep him talking more than to direct him.]

[foundafamily]

I know people back home who're the same way.

[The guard haven't given him nearly as much trouble as Edward and Victor, but Firo supposes it's only a matter of time.]

So watch out for 'em. Other than that, I guess you've already read about most things going on here. What's your name, by the way?

[outstandingbalance]

Natasha. [She inclines her head slightly, offering a nod and a slight smile along with her introduction.] Natasha Romanoff.

And you are...?

[foundafamily]

[He nods in return.]

Firo Prochainezo. No offense, but I hope for both of our sakes we're not here long enough to get to know each other better.

[outstandingbalance]

I'll take that in the spirit it's intended.

[She has no intention of being here longer than she has to be either.]

What do you think our chances are, though?

[foundafamily]

[A smile flickers across his face, but it fades quickly at her question.]

I wouldn't put money on us getting out any time soon, even when all the gods are back.

...Actually, especially when all the gods are back.