hadriel_logs | Intro Log: Welcome to the Snave (snake cave)

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Intro Log: Welcome to the Snave (snake cave)

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!

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[Mettaton bites his tongue, almost hard enough to feel it.

He can't keep doing this, can he? He can't pretend much longer, because his entire being wants to get this over with. For better or for worse.

But he ought to twist the knife, right? Not to Blooky, but to himself.]

You'd think that family would want to help you embrace potential corporeality.

[But then, Napstablook hadn't ever expressed a wish to become corporeal. Nah, that was just the rest of the blooks, really. They wanted something better. Blooky? They were happy with their lot.

It was...admirable, all things considered. It didn't make them selfish.]

it's all right... i never asked them too... and i couldn't expect them to stay behind for me...

[Napstablook couldn't expect their cousins to stay there with them and be unhappy, when they all wanted bigger and better things for themselves. Only Napstablook stayed, because they didn't want change. They didn't really dream big, did they?]

i didn't really have to deal with it until i got here... i guess gods did it? i don't know why...

Still.

At least...at least you could have been told.

Napstablook, can I tell you something? It is a secret, but where I'm from, you already know it. It...might be difficult to comprehend.

[It had been. He remembered the last time. He had hoped that he would never have to deal with something so difficult again.]

[Napstablook doesn't look like they understand, but they offer a little nod.]

sure...? if you want...

[Alright, so far so good. It doesn't hurt that much yet!]

I should have told you years ago, Blooky. I should have come home and apologized long before I became popular.

[Mettaton turns away, and he appears uncharacteristically vulnerable as he grips his knees closer to him. Like a child who knows that they've done something terrible, and that they're going to be punished for it.

That's why he's here.

That's why he has to endure this anew.]

It's me. I... I'm so sorry...

[And there it is.

An apology, and the affectionate name that only one person in the Underground knows to call them. The realization hits like a train, but they're struggling to put it together.

Their cousin left, and Napstablook didn't know why. There wasn't any kind of trace of them left behind, just a run-down home with a few of their things in it. And the house next door, empty and abandoned. Napstablook didn't bother going in looking for clues. Their cousin had reasons for leaving everything behind, they told themselves.

And the person before them right now, apologizing for not coming home was...]

i-

i don't-

i don't understand?

[The words spill out too fast, a little bewildered as they put it all together.]

I know.

I did say it would be difficult.

[He doesn't know what else to say. He doesn't have the confidence and the fortitude to do this again. So when he continues, his robotic voice breaks ever so slightly. Words spill forth before he can even rationalize what he was saying. It was all raw and painful...]

I didn't--I shouldn't have left like that. But I--just--

[He shakes his head, looking fit to cry.]

Blooky, it was selfish. I did it for me. I wanted to do something for me and no one else, because I was offered my one chance, and--I couldn't let it go. I didn't want to upset you, and yet that's all I ended up doing because I was a coward...

...oh...

[They're not really sure what to say. It stung, sure, but Napstablook knows it's all on them. Their cousin always wanted something more than a tiny house in Waterfall and a snail farm, while Napstablook was content with staying.

In the end, the choice was obvious.]

so this is... it's really you?

It's me, it is.

[He cautiously glances at his cousin, just for a second, before looking away again.]

If you want, I can show you. It's not as if I'm bound to this body anymore. Not since I...

[He shakes his head.]

Not for a while.

you're... not?

[I mean it's a problem their angrier cousin struggled with, but "anymore" makes it sound like Mettaton was bound to his body and he's... not? Anymore?

Napstablook doesn't understand, among the many other things they don't understand here.]

... i don't want to make you do something you don't want to do

....... i believe you

I was. I'd been for a very long time. But now...I am not.

[It still hurts, knowing that he'd lost something he fought so valiantly for. His corporeality. His individuality.

Now he's just a stupid ghost, and no one will care about him but Blooky if they see him this way. Hell, even they have something which he can't, even if they don't like it.]

Blooky, for you, it's not something I don't want to do. We're family. You can...you can see me that way...

[Napstablook struggles a little, torn between wanting to see their cousin for real and being painfully passive about it. They want to ask how - it was probably too personal?

But god they wanted out of this body.]

if... if you want to... it's okay if you change your mind...

[If Mettaton had any reservations, he certainly didn't show it. His body slumped as he phased over the top of it, and for a few long moments, he glows as his magic reorients itself into the shape they--no he. The shape that he had once called his own.

He'd barely considered this a true form for so long, it felt awkward.

And Mettaton absolutely hated his natural voice. Perhaps he was projecting these thoughts, but it sometimes felt as if no monster had ever known him until Alphys had given him his body.

Blooky though...Blooky knew him in all ways now. Turning, he exposes himself and probably surprisingly (maybe not), his visible eye is watering.]

...Do you believe me...when I say I missed you?

[Napstablook, surprisingly, hadn't cried all that much during their conversation so far. There were the emotional, watery eyes for sure - but no outright crying. It was a little weird, but then again, they couldn't cry like they did when they were a ghost.

Seeing the pink shape in front of them - their cousin as they last remembered him, there and real...

Real human tears were so messy, so much liquid, but they bite their lower lip as their eyes start to really water. And it's too late, there's a painful hic and suddenly there's too much water in their eyes to see properly.

For the moment, they can't say anything.

It's just crying.

It's just a lot of crying.]

[Mettaton floats to his cousin, exerting his magic in the way he knows will make him just solid enough to hug them. He holds them tight, even as he himself cries freely.

It didn't matter if human tears were messy, it didn't matter if he looked like an unimportant little ghost, what did matter was that they were family and that they were together. It was...so important to Mettaton right now to know that Napstablook was here.]

[The crying doesn't stop for a little while, and for a while it's just loud and ugly sniffling. But it doesn't stop them from hesitantly reaching out and wrapping their arms around him too.

It didn't really feel right, like this. Not with their cousin much smaller than them now. It wasn't like any kind of reunion Napstablook had thought up in their head.

But there's a strange kind of warmth to this. They don't look down, they sit there clinging onto Mettaton in the same way an crying child clings to something to feel some kind of security.]

i'm.... i'm sorry...

[They finally get words out, and of course, it's an apology. It could be for anything really. Their arms loosen a little. Their cousin doesn't exactly need to breathe, but it occurs to them they probably should loosen their grip anyway.]

i... i missed you too

Nnnn...

[Mettaton can't help it, he only cries harder at that. It's probably unnecessary, but whenever he's like this, all of the sorrow he's accumulated seeks the only outlet it can, and..he just can't stem the flow. He can't stop crying.

Despite how undignified it is, he does force himself to respond. It's important to tell them this.]

N...no, Napstablook. You shouldn't be sorry for anything, I was the one who left you. It doesn't matter why, I still left you.

[He sniffs, glancing up at them pitifully.]

I broke my promise...I'm sorry, I'm sorry...

[Again, he buries his face into his cousin's chest.]

Ah...hah. I cannot stop crying. Please, Blooky. Forgive me, I have to go back to my body...

[Napstablook shakes their head, wanting to cry more as their cousin apologizes again and again. They lift a hand to rub at their wet eyes, but it doesn't really do much in the end.]

i'm.... i'm not mad

[They don't hate him. They'd wouldn't.]

thank you... for showing me

[And with that, Napstablook lets their arms fall. Mettaton's free to go back to his body.]

[Mettaton floats back, fading out of sight and reappearing over his lifeless body. He knows he needs to cry, and that it might be better to just stay out for a little while, but he can't bear to look so pathetic for as long as he needs to get everything out of his system.

So he just decides he's got to literally crawl back into his system. Phasing through the metal, he finds his way to the core, and it takes him a few long moments to reorient himself into the core, possess his body and stretch himself out into it again.

Once he does, he decides he'd rather stay on the ground like this, his limbs splayed out a bit haphazardly.]

...Would you like to lay on the ground with me, sweetheart?

[There's a small tug of a smile at the corner of their lips, but they nod.]

yes... that sounds nice...

[And they flop down too, next to Mettaton. Their body making a heavy "thump" as they connect with the ground, and Napstablook letting out a small oof as they fall. It's not very graceful, but Napstablook is not a very graceful human.

They wiggle a little bit until they're completely on their back, stretching out and looking up at the cavern ceiling.]

it feels like it's been a long while since we did this... it's nice...

[Mettaton reaches a hand out, casually putting it over Blooky's. He doesn't look at him as he does it. The contact is enough; his gaze keeps upwards. But his face...expresses at least a very small sliver of calm.

Because this...this is familiar. This is what he missed.

They are what he missed, and his SOUL, just for this moment, doesn't feel as if it can't handle the burden of continuing.]

It is nice.

...I missed being with you, you know. Every day.

... i did too...

[Napstablook's eyes water a little more, but Mettaton's hand over theirs grounds them a little.]

i wouldn't have been upset if you wanted to come back...

i just thought you were happier out there... that's what you always wanted to do...

[Not like anything happened between then and now, right Mettaton?]

I was happy. I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy myself. Being a celebrity, and finally feeling like myself just how I've always wanted.

But...

To say I never missed you would be a lie. I just...

[His fingers curl in a little, gripping harder around Napstablook's hand.]

I didn't know how to come back. I was too proud...and I felt too terribly for having left in the first place, but. Mostly I think it was just the pride.

[And it hurts to admit it, but hey, he deserved to hurt. He left them.

He left them to rot in Waterfall. His family had been fine, he said. He told Chara as much too!

But Blooky hadn't been fine. Had they?]

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Intro Log: Welcome to the Snave (snake cave)

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I had to upload a new icon for this

slkdfj god

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