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

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha is used to assholes. It's a thing.]

Superheroes, huh. So you realize I have to ask now—that mean you?

[devilsavocado]

[ He laughs. That's totally not a suspicious laugh or anything. ]

Um, you've seen me, right?

[ He waves a hand in front of his face. ]

I'm blind. Kind of hard to fight bad guys when you can't see.

[outstandingbalance]

I noticed that, yeah. But you brought up superheroes. You can't blame me for being curious.

[And it would make more sense, wouldn't it? At least it might be a reason for certain people to be targeted.]

What do you do, if not beat up bad guys?

[devilsavocado]

Well, I'm from New York. The Avengers made a pretty big 'impression' on the city.

[ Dammit, Matt, you tried so hard not to be That Asshole. ]

I'm a defense attorney. Nothing fancy, mostly litigation and that kind of thing. Me and my partner had just opened up an office and gotten a few cases under our belt before I wound up here.

[outstandingbalance]

[Considering Natasha had a pretty good idea he was from her world—and New York—from the moment she heard his name, they might both be That Asshole.]

Does that mean they left an impression on you?

[As likely negative as positive, considering the public reaction. Her tone isn't defensive though. It's almost resigned; at this point, she's not going to argue that the messes they've left behind them.

Her tone is more wry when she adds:] Maybe I'll look you're way the next time I need a lawyer.

[devilsavocado]

You could say that.

[ He smiles, just as wry. ]

They kind of took a chunk out of Hell's Kitchen, but at least the rent's finally gone down.

[ There you go, Matt. You can totally make nice and be That Asshole. ]

I'm sure Stark has a team of lawyers on retainer, but feel free to look us up if you ever need. [ He may have his reservations about the Avengers, but their money clears checks way nicer than Fisk's does. ] Nelson and Murdock: that's our firm.

[outstandingbalance]

To be fair, the Chitauri helped.

[Her tone isn't defensive. She doesn't need to defend herself. They certainly had a hand in it too.]

Don't know how up on current events you are... [Especially considering the fact her current and his might not exactly match up.] But I won't be looking for Tony to foot any bills of mine any time soon.

[One brow quirks up.]

You really might not want to go offering, actually. I can almost guarantee taking me as a client would be more trouble than it's worth.

[devilsavocado]

[ Yeah, he's not going down that road again. ]

Oh? You guys have a falling out?

[ Matt, you never explained how you know that Natasha is an Avenger....... ]

Probably. [ He shrugs. Black Widow is definitely a murderer but she's hot too. It's a coin-toss. ] But taking impossible cases is kind of our thing. Plus, Foggy would kill me if I ever turned down anyone who knows Captain America.

[outstandingbalance]

[There's a lot of assumed knowledge going in here, isn't there? He seems to notice a lot for a blind man.

Really, Natasha's not sure it needs too much explaining at this point. The fact he's not angry or starstruck, despite the fact he's claimed to be a lawyer just starting out is almost refreshing, though.

She can take a little snark.]

It's complicated. But you could say that.

[A pause, followed by a snort.]

So it's all about who I know?

[devilsavocado]

I imagine Tony Stark isn't an easy guy to like.

[ Like, even from what Matt's read, the guy doesn't strike him as the kind of person he'd get along with. Dude has enough money to fix all of New York and what does he do? Build more Iron Man suits. Thanks, Tony Stark.

But ah yes, you can thank Foggy for this one, Nat. Matt laughs. ]

My partner-- business partner, I mean. He's a big fan of the Avengers. But especially Captain America. He'd probably try to squeeze an autograph out of you if he could.

[outstandingbalance]

Consider yourself shrugged at in response to your first statement.

[She'd started to shrug before remembering he can't see it. Gestures like that aren't so easy to stop just because her conversation partner can't appreciate them.

But liking or disliking Tony was never the issue. Natasha can work with people she doesn't like, and fight people she does.

It's a talent.]

As for your partner—[Think she didn't catch the no homo, there?] If he shows up, he's free to try. Least I can do for someone who's just been kidnapped.

[devilsavocado]

Thoughtful of you.

[ Matt smiles. It really is, he isn't being sarcastic. ]

That sounded a lot worse than-- I mean, we're best friends. People just... assume sometimes. [ That they're in love or something, which is arguably the case if you asked anyone observing, at least Foggy's side of this friendship, but y'know. ]

I'm sure he'd appreciate that, if he ever shows up. [ he'll hold you to that, Nat. ] Which I'm really hoping he doesn't. Kidnapping one of us is bad enough.

[outstandingbalance]

No assumptions here. I'll let things speak for themselves.

[And the only reason that Natasha would have to assume Matt and Foggy are more than friends is that he brought it up in the first place.

She won't leap to conclusions though.]

So is it my voice that gave me away?

[She's been on the news, so the possibility is real. There were enough mics on her when she gave her speech on the hill.]

[devilsavocado]

Thanks. I'm sure they will.

[ Haaaave you met Connor? Because yeah, Matt's 0-2 on the straight roommate scoreboard. ]

Little bit. [ He shrugs. ] I wasn't super sure at first, but I recognized your voice.

[ Oh sure he recognizes her now. ]

[outstandingbalance]

[She has, but she hasn't seen enough yet to tell he's smitten. They he did mention Matt was a 10.]

Congratulations. A lot of people miss that one.

[devilsavocado]

[ Wait till you see his abs, that's when you know he's a total 10. ]

I'm guessing if I could see your face it'd be more of a dead giveaway.

[ Not exactly the best at the secret identity thing, Nat. ]

[outstandingbalance]

[Look, she did pretty good at this until aliens invaded New York. Sometimes covers get blown.]

Maybe. You'd be surprised how easy it is for people to miss what's right in front of them.

[Or maybe you wouldn't.]

[devilsavocado]

[ Matt chuckles. Wow, it's like you're speaking his language here, Nat! ]

Believe it or not, I know more about that than most people.

[ It takes more than just a face to recognize someone. ]

[outstandingbalance]

Yeah? Tell me about it.

[She's genuinely curious. Could be insight from someone who can't see, or someone people make a lot of assumptions about.

She guesses the latter.]

[devilsavocado]

You can kind of get a read off of people when they know you can't see them. The way they act, move or talk says a lot about a person.

[ And he picks all that up by sound and smell, certainly not thanks to his superpowers. ]

[outstandingbalance]

How they move, huh? [Natasha leans on the bar, angling toward him.] You can get a read on that?

[devilsavocado]

I can hear it.

[ Matt leans right back. ]

Your elbow on the bar, for one. But usually it's things like how people step, or what kind of shoes they wear. There's a lot most people don't think about.

[outstandingbalance]

I don't disagree. [She's taken advantage of it herself. Most of not being noticed is knowing how to move like you belong somewhere. Most people don't even notice what they're responding to, but they react all the same.]

Should I tell you if I'm smiling, or can you hear that too?

[She has a pretty good idea of the answer.]

[devilsavocado]

I'd have to get to know you a little better to tell.

[ He smiles. He can definitely tell thanks to his radar sense, but. ]

It takes a little while to hear the difference.

[outstandingbalance]

Does it? Makes sense. Have to get a feel for a person first.