Intro Log: Welcome to the Snave (snake cave)

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for March
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: March 10th-15th
Warnings: Snakes! Snakes! It's a snake!

Good morning, new arrivals! Or, well, it's probably morning. The sun is up, anyway. Okay - not the sun, but that ball of light at the top of the cave that functions as the sun, anyway. Whatever. The point is you've woken to find yourself on the floor of Hadriel's colosseum. You may be wondering where you are and what you're doing here, but what you should be wondering is how fast you need to run to get away from a three-headed snake.

You're not the only one who just woke up. Also to be found in the arena, angry and confused, are Runespoors - large three-headed snakes. Only one of the heads is venomous, but all of them are perfectly willing to take a bite out of you if you get too close - or if you annoy it. If you're lucky, an attacking Runespoor may distract itself via infighting between the three heads, giving you time to run. If not, well, let's just hope you can fight off all three heads at once!

But that's not the only thing you might find. Also scattered around the colosseum floor are what look like tasty snacks. Popsicles, cheese, even toast! Unfortunately, if you get hungry and take a bite, you will quickly discover that each and every one of these is actually soap. So that's great. Maybe the Door thinks everyone needs to shower more? You can also find a few that actually look like soap, and if you're really lucky, you might stumble across the rare and coveted 'pile of baby hands' soap.

With luck, you didn't get eaten by a snake or accidentally eat a piece of soap. Once you find your way out of the colosseum there's plenty of other distractions. 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 March 10th-15th.
► 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

[daemonized]

[(Maybe Ardyn's already "gotten his", achieved what he wanted not that long ago. Maybe all of this is just a frustrating romp through repetition and uncertainty, as he attempts from afar to make certain that the young man stays motivated to return to Eos. That his anger remains flickering under the surface, just prevalent enough to be sparked into an inferno, with enough motivation.)]

Come now, don't think I don't find my own ways to keep entertained. [The response is flippant, though in his mind Ardyn is churning over Noct's words, dismantling them piece by piece. He comes to a conclusion, which he tests.] Don't tell me you're still sore about Zagnautus? But we had so much fun.

[He laughs; it's airy yet cruel-sounding at the same time, like only the (ex) Chancellor can manage.]

And forgive me for thinking that you'd be so eager to gather food for your friends as well. Prompto, Gladiolus. Even your own father, having escaped the grasp of death itself.

[Because guess what, Noct? He's run into them already.]

[kittycaterer]

[ Instantly, he knows what this is. What he's trying to do. Noctis is hardly a fool, wayward and young though he may be. And his time in Zagnautus had a hand in teaching him that much. Ardyn is calculated, clever, and Noctis should be careful what he says and does. He realizes that even leaving abruptly is really no option. Though his body must feel hot to the touch at this point, he keeps a calm and unwavering expression. Much different to their past encounters, and that's purely from realizing how futile this situation is until he finds a way back to Eos. ]

[ Noctis inclines his head, allowing the slightest of a smirk. And it's fake as all hell. ]

Oh, I'd actually completely forgotten about all that. Definitely a good time. I'd go back in a heartbeat if I could.

[ at that last part, however, he makes the slightest pause. Noctis' heart sinks, stomach twisting yet again at the mention of the guys and his father. That's a dangerous enough threat laced in Ardyn's words... But Noctis finds some comfort in the absence of mentioning Lunafreya. ]

Guess I got lucky.

[ Smirk is still there, though his brow slightly twitches. ]

[daemonized]

[Ardyn's been doing this for a long, long time. He knows that Noctis is being frustratingly unaffected on purpose. (He would know, because Ardyn is an expert in such a tactic.) This doesn't spark irritation in him, but rather a sort of wry amusement that reflects Noctis' fake smirk.

Because Noctis can exude false confidence towards him all he likes, Ardyn knows he has the advantage where foresight is concerned. It's just a matter of gleaning the details from familiar faces that were a bit... resistant to answer his questions.

He debates on which part to respond to first. Both are avenues of interest to him, and both provide opportunities to toy with Noctis just a tad. He settles on the second, for now.]

I can only imagine the heartfelt reunion that followed. I would enjoy it while you can, Noctis. A return to Eos guarantees his departure from your life once more.

[It's not cruel, the words on their own. It's the way Ardyn says it, with such casualness, as if he's speaking about the weather, that might be interpreted as offensive.]

Now then, I'm going to ask you a question, and we could play this game all day, dancing around the truth. But if you answer honestly, I'll tell you a little secret of mine. So, what is it you remember last, Noctis? Be specific.

[There's always the issue of trust where promises like that are concerned, but, well, that's up to Noctis to decide whether or not what Ardyn is willing to divulge is worth it.]

[kittycaterer]

[ Gods, that blatant smugness damn-near kills him. Noctis has to fight against not visibly seething. And while he succeeds, it takes everything in him. His hand only briefly clenches around the strap of his backpack, before loosening to drop at his side. This is a game to the chancellor, that much is clear. And while the obvious mention of Regis disappearing to death upon Noctis' return, he doesn't dare show the disgust he feels.]

[ Instead, he focuses on the question, and he keeps himself standing straight. Unwavering. Noctis is intrigued by the offer, but he's not about to fall victim to his mind games (but he might) ]

And why should or would I even be interested in that?

[daemonized]

[He steps forward even closer, as if testing the tension in the air. Wondering just how far he can pull, seeing if it'll snap.

Though, to be fair, the question might be presented as a game, but his answer to Noctis is quite legitimate, if one removes all bias from it. (Impossible as it may be.)]

For the same reason I'm interested in your answer. Clarification. Surely that's motivation enough for you to be truthful. We may disagree about many things, Noctis, but surely knowing where each stands in terms of what was remembered last benefits both parties.

[He makes a vague gesture with his hand.]

After all, what good is it if we both remain in the dark? [ha. ha.]

[kittycaterer]

[ Gods, his voice is like literal claws along his back. It makes him sick, and so does the blatant smugness that he carries. But he can't necessarily disagree with Ardyn's point. Knowing what they last remember is not necessarily harmful, given that it doesn't change things. It wouldn't change how Noctis feels about all this, and it wouldn't change what's happening right now. Noctis is rather confident in where he came from, knowing Prompto is close. Alive. And that much was confirmed when they found each other here. He didn't have to find him in the Keep yet to know. ]

[ As Ardyn takes a step closer, Noctis cranes his neck just a bit more. For posterity. To show he isn't scared or too effected, though the latter is about if a lie. His shoulders square themselves, and he takes a careful breath. As if he's speaking with the devil. ]

Funny.

[ At the "dark" reference. But his remark is flatly delivered. Unamused. ]

Fine.

I showed up here in the middle of running through your ridiculous maze in Zagnautus Keep. Almost miss it.

[daemonized]

[In the middle, echoes the words in Ardyn's mind. It only confirms what he had believed before -- what he had gleaned from speaking with Prompto prior -- that Noct had not even found his friend, that he had not even found the Crystal. That certain revelations were beyond him.

It's simultaneously amusing, in a sadistic sort of way, and frustrating. Steps to be taken all over again, depending on what the situation may be like if there was a return to Eos. He wonders if his goals would be reset, like they have been now, or if he would return to a state of nothingness once more. A rest in all its finality.

It's enough to add an edge to his words than weren't there before.]

A shame that we can't put you back there and continue your little trek through that winding gauntlet. Don't pretend that you didn't enjoy my constant encouragement; I certainly did.

[Encouragement being a very liberal use of the word.]

My secret, then, and do with it what you will... [He offers this only to make matters more disconcerting, as it's little skin off of his own back. He'll not go into detail. And so:]

I'm a bit ahead of all of you here. Years, even. What you speak of is but a distant memory for me, Your Highness.

[kittycaterer]

[ He immediately regrets giving Ardyn even a shred of what he wants, though he's not at all aware of the gain that he's gotten from it. It still seems minuscule in the grand scheme of things. But there's a slight shift in Ardyn's tone that makes Noctis far more uncomfortable than he had been before. He's prepared to make a jab at his ridiculous little prod towards the prince's "enjoyment", because it was far from that, but he's distracted by the bait that Ardyn so cleverly dangles in front of him. ]

[ he knows he's a fish in front of a line. He knows it. But that doesn't do anything for his temptation. Noctis' lips slightly part, brow perked in an interest he can't hide. Ardyn could very easily be lying, but he could easily be telling the truth all the same. What has he to lose or gain if he's seen everything pan out? What would arise from him asking? If Ardyn has gotten that far... ]

[ The prince's eyes narrow, and he regrettably takes a step forward. With this place leaving him in limbo... information is gold. ]

How distant are we talking?

[ Bevause, let's be real here, Noctis was in that Keep long enough to think there may have been no end to it. Literal days had passed. ]

[daemonized]

Ten years.

[The answer is immediate, and he lets it dangle before the boy, in all its implications. Ardyn debates saying more, but even in his sadism, his desire to make others writhe with a truth they'd rather not hear, he bites back the words. There's only so much he's willing to tell about a future that hasn't yet happened for Noctis, for his friends, for anyone else here he may stumble across from their star.

And yet, how easily Noctis takes the bait for information. He supposes, if he were to be fair, he would do the same. Being stuck in a world far from home, in a state of limbo as the days crawled by in a dreary haze -- this little tidbit must be truly tantalizing, despite how Old News it is to the Usurper himself.]

Needless to say, you have a bit of catching up to do when we return.

[When. Not if. When.]

[kittycaterer]

[ Noctis would hate to admit it, and he doesn't, but those two short words burn him like no other. Ten years? Ten years, and he isn't even certain if the problem has been resolved. Or where things have ended. Such a short reply could mean so much. And in Noctis' shattered pride, he still can't find himself prepared to ask further. Ardyn gets exactly what he wants in essentially torturing the prince with this idea that all of their hard work has presumably no end in sight. But he has no clue what occurs after the Keep. ]

[ So it's because of this that Noctis starts to look strained. His eyes glaze over, body tense as he fights not to allow his breathing to hike. Instead, he takes a sharp inhale, forcing himself to roll his eyes as he adjusts his backpack. He's tempted to leave, and it's hard to consider that when the risk of Ardyn finding out where he lives is a possibility. ]

Yeah. Bet you're just sick to your stomach being even more stunted and useless here.

Good to know. Now if you'll excuse me...

[ His tone is almost strained, forced to sound prim and proper in an attempt to brush off Ardyn and suggest this hasn't bothered him. But it has, and honestly? Though he tries to walk away, he probably won't be able to. ]

[daemonized]

[Ah, there it is, then. A reaction, pained and laced with a burgeoning realization. Ardyn feels that spike of sadism, lets it intermingle with the way his smile sharpens and his words become languid and lingering, as if trying to amplify Noctis' obvious discomfort even more. And so naturally, the boy's own attempts at lashing out with insults loses its potency.

Because while Ardyn Izunia is many things, useless he is not. He does not plan to sit idly by and let the days pass, hoping for a solution to land in his lap. He's a shrewd man, and even this terrible prodding has its uses -- to remind Noctis that Eos still awaits him, that there's unfinished business that remains for the Chosen King. Whether he has to instigate that idea with rage, or sorrow, or something even worse, well. It's certainly not below him, either way. But motivation is always key.

Pain is just a bonus.

Noctis can try to walk away, and Ardyn won't make a move to stop him. But he'll not let him go without his words stinging at his back, if he does manage to.]

Is that all, then? [He opens his arms wide, as if to question Noctis' reaction to this figurative bomb drop.] Not even a single question regarding the trials and tribulations that you might come to expect? What your friends may have to suffer through in those long, ten years?

[Now he's just being cruel, because he does not intend to answer any of them.]

[kittycaterer]

[ He got it. He for exactly what he wanted, and Noctis is fully aware of that. In the time spent within Zagnautus Keep, Noctis learned very quickly that Ardyn's sharp tongue is difficult to ignore. Possible, but difficult. Remaining poised and prepared does not come easy when facing the chancellor, and it seems even having most of his friends here doesn't help ease that burden much. In fact, it's worse. Worse because Lunafreya and Regis are here, and it's only a matter of time before Ardyn finds out the Oracle is close by. Under the same roof, close to her promised prince, and just as alive as the king. ]

[ While Ardyn is only harmless in terms of where Eos is concerned while they are here? He is still a threat. And those words still burn him from the inside, out. Noctis stops in his tracks, thinking over what he's about to do or say because he honestly isn't sure. He just recognizes this game, and knows that this is what he'll be dealing with so long as Ardyn is here. ]

[ The curiosity is there. The temptation is there. But when Noctis turns around and comes walking straight for Ardyn? He doesn't question it. The prince only comes close enough to leave a shred of distance between them, and his calm composure is back where it belongs. ]

I'm not naive to your games, Ardyn. I know full well what you're getting at and what you're trying to pull. All of this? It's moot, because you and I are both stuck here until a way out is found.

And in that time? This?

[ he gestures between the two of them. ]

Is a waste of time, and stops here. I'm not interested in your fortune-telling. Go ahead and run your mouth all you want, but you're not off the hook just because we're stripped of our obligations in this universe in the middle of nowhere until we get back.

[ is that a threat? Absolutely. ]

And I will get back. That throne is waiting for me, and it won't be cold long.

[daemonized]

[When Noctis closes that space between them, Ardyn doesn’t move. He looks down at him, that immeasurable condescension etched onto his features probably all the more prominent from being this close. And there’s something about him, frustratingly so, that seems almost pleased to hear Noctis speak to him in such a way. It may be baffling, but it could also be easily chalked up to the fact that the man merely enjoys seeing Noctis so riled up, so frustrated, so angry.

(When it’s really his determination that pleases him the most. This is what he wanted to see — a spark of fire, something for him to keep well alive with his wheedling and prodding and biting criticism.)

He actually tilts his head down at him, his lips twisted into a skewed grin.]

Oh, don’t mistake me, Noctis. Our obligations have gone absolutely nowhere. It’s merely the setting that’s changed.

[At the threat, Ardyn actually huffs out a laugh. What irony. It’s almost too much to bear.]

If you wish to reclaim your throne, I do hope you intend on becoming stronger than what I had witnessed in the armory. A weak, vacillating King is no King at all.