Intro Log: Busy Little Bees

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for July
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: July 10th-16th
Warnings: Fun for kids of all ages!

Another day, another mysterious transportation to a strange and alien city inside a cave surrounded by monsters. Or maybe that's not normal for you? Weird! You awaken on the ground of a large arena, a stone ceiling stretching high above you. Welcome to Hadriel! Oh, but you aren't alone. That 'surrounded by monsters' bit? Yeah...

Do you hear a buzzing? Better start running now. Along with all the newbies, the Door has brought in quite a few tracker jackers. Wasps are already horrible, and these things are even worse. Bigger and much more dangerous than the insects they were genetically modified from, tracker jackers will sting anyone they think is a threat. Their stings cause extreme pain and hallucinations, and if you're stung too many times - well, that's it for you. You can try to calm them down with smoke, fight them, or just run like hell. Maybe you'll get lucky.

It's hard to fight if you don't have a weapon, though. But hey - you're in luck! Rage, who usually supplies the city with weapons, is currently gone, but the Door has provided you with some instead! That's right, you might find a sword, a gun, a bow and arrow, or an exotic foreign weapon to defend yourself with! Of course, they're all made of plastic and completely incapable of hurting anything. Have fun!

Let's hope your legs are faster than those wasps, and you survive your first few minutes in Hadriel. After you've 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 July 10th-16th.
► 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

Will Graham | OTA

[feelslikeimspilling]

c o l o s s e u m

Face down, in the dirt. Iron and blood were all he could taste and the sound of a bone saw echoed through his mind, making his ears ring and startling Will to life. Gasp! A rigid awkward sound left his mouth as eyes cracked open slow and fearful, like a child hiding under the covers, daring to peel them back and take a look at what monsters or shadows the night may have bred.

A cold hard dampness greeted Will. Fingers clawing and pushing into the chipped and chalked old asphalt of the Colosseum. He knew this place, like a dream or a fevered memory in a brain that was once so swollen it caused him frenzied, haphazard misadventures. Yes, Will knew where he was and for a brief second, he was actually relieved.

Feeling up under his jacket sleeve, fingers caressing his shoulder where a bullet had been freshly plucked by skilled, surgical hands. Hannibal had fed him a broth of mixed herbs and oils, marinading him in his morphine-addled state. Yes, that's right! A hand shot up, feeling the right-hand side of his forehead. A faint cut, just a flesh wound, the saw had only grasped before Will was taken, plucked from his time. Will's shoulders dropped and he sank to the floor once more. Shaking his head and exhaling deeply. That was a lucky escape indeed, maybe he'd have to be a little nicer to the Gods this time? After all, they did just save his life.

There was little time for celebration, Will knew fine well that monsters and strangers would be arriving alongside him, so as fast as he was able, he gathered his composure and made his way towards the nearest exit. Fishing through his pockets, looking for the phone he knew he'd have been given. In his distracted state, pleased to see a few names still in the index, Will was oblivious to the small swarm of insects that had taken an interest in following him.


A r o u n d T h e C i t y

Making his way through the narrow streets and familiar alleyways, past the run-down stores and various Temples, Will headed home. It was so strange, being back here after all this time and yet he could recall everything that had happened to him here, as clear as day. The bad, the rare good times, the people, the conflicts... Jill, Hannibal, Maketh, Rose, Pell... His head swam with memory after memory, painful and pleasing alike. It was too much for the empath, so he decided to rest on an old worn down bench.

His head hanging low, wringing his hands, lost in thought. His mind like the reel of an old film, playing back, over and over. His heart was heavy, the loss of life he'd seen. The betrayal. The heartbreak and now Hadriel to contend with again? All Will wanted to do was either crawl into a dark corner, hug Winston and pretend like everything back home hadn't happened. The other part of him wanted answers.

W i l d C a r d
(*Feel free to interact with Will at any other location you want! Your choice!)

colosseum;

[pellameno]

A stream of fire takes out the swarm of wasps, quick and easy but coming rather close to Will's head, close enough that he feels the heat of it and should flinch away lest he be singed. The flame comes from a delicate outstretched hand attached to someone familiar -- he hasn't noticed that it's Will yet, just that they need to be paying more attention. These may look like just big wasps, but Pell knows better that if it's come through the Door it's trouble. He calls out.

"Look up and run!"

[feelslikeimspilling]

Look up and run... The words sank into his ears, a familiar voice, yet Will struggled to put his finger on just who it was? Maybe the searing hot wave of fire that only just cleared his head had something to do with that?

Still, it worked! Will ducked down and moved to the side in an instant. Looking up and slightly backward as he did. At first, he assumed it was the flames lashing above him that he should be fearful of, it wasn't until they died down some, that Will spotted the giant wasp-like creatures.

Scampering forwards, realizing the danger he was in, Will almost fell to the ground. He was in a bad way, sure, he'd been in worse but his body was still sore. He'd been pushed from a moving train, shot in the shoulder and was about to have his skull cut wide open. So forgive his Bambi-like legs if you'd be so kind?

"... Pell?" There it was, the recognition and for a moment, Will simply stood up and stood still. A smile fought its way onto his confused expression, mouth parting as if to say more yet nothing came.

[pellameno]

"--Will? Will!" And then Pell is the one running, a huge smile on his face as he closes the distance between them and flings his arms around Will, holding him close. "What is all this? God, what happened to you?" He eases his hold, lifting one hand to cup Will's bloody face, frowning worriedly. "Are you-- oh, not now," he snarls at the oncoming buzz of wasps, flames flaring around them to ward the vicious bugs off. "Come on, we have to get out of here."

Everyone else can fend for themselves for a moment.

[feelslikeimspilling]

"Hey, hey! Easy, watch where you're-" Cut off when Pell flung his arms around him. It was nice, it hurt but it was nice. To know he had been remembered and dare he say missed? It had been 2 years for Will and yet Pell looked just as young and healthy as he did the day Will vanished. Strange...

This aching body, the rattled ribs, and bruised bones could deal with a little more pain, Will hadn't died yet, he was sure it would take a little more than Pell's slim body to push him over the edge. So, with grit teeth and a held in breath, Will wrapped his arms tightly back around Pell. It was good to see a happy, familiar face. Shame about the oversized wasps though.

Nodding, their reunion could wait, it wasn't safe here, not for either of them. "I never realized you could make fire on command?" A smile, a jovial tone to his breathless voice as they made their dash towards the exit.

[pellameno]

"Another skill I've honed since being in Hadriel," he explains on their way out, holding tight to Will's hand with one of his own, as if he's afraid if he lets go Will will vanish again. "I've never had to use it around you before."

He does now, though, his free hand extended before them clearing the path to the exit. As monsters go, these have been the easiest for Pell to deal with, though he'll have a hell of a time at the clinic later healing those who were stung. But for now there's just Will to worry about -- once they're outside and a safe distance away he leans up on his toes and presses in for another hug, this one much more careful.

"I went to call you last week and you were gone, and this..." He shakes his head a little, sinking back onto his heels and looking up at Will, considering the damage. He's got his medical bag with him, hanging at his hip, and is planning to heal the worst of it now if Will lets him.

Around the City

[toiletseat_girl]

George is out for a walk, doing it not necessarily because she wants to but due to a lack of concrete things to do. She's letting her eyes wander as much as her feet since this place is still so new and strange to her. She does notice the haggard-looking man sitting on a park bench and considers leaving him be, but she's ultimately too nosy to not ask.

"Hey, mister. . . you okay?"

[feelslikeimspilling]

Will was currently replaying a particularly untasty memory in his mind as George approached and addressed him. His face, twisting and contorting with the thoughts that plagued him, causing a physical reaction that had Will closing his eyes and tipping his head aside.

That's when he spotted her. A shadow from the corner of his closed eye. For a moment, he thought she was someone else. Someone who looked very similar, only healthier and sounded sain. "G-Georgia? Is that..." No, no it couldn't be, could it? Will turned to pay the girl his full attention now. A curious furrow formed over his bloody and bruised brow as he regarded her. No, it couldn't be her, she was dead... The fire in her oxygen chamber saw to that.

Will shook his head and raised his hand. "I'm sorry. I eh... You just looked like someone I thought I knew... Sorry." Ignoring her question, he was good at that, but despite his front, Will wasn't okay, not in the slightest.

[toiletseat_girl]

This guy is definitely not okay. George thinks to herself as she watches him close his eyes and tip his head.

George's interest has definitely been caught. Here's another guy she's never seen before in her entire life (or death) who knows her name. "...yeahhhh. The name's Georgia. But most people just call me George. You think you know me, too?"

"It's cool. You're not the first person to say that to me." She plops down on the bench beside him. "You look tired."

[feelslikeimspilling]

"I fell off a moving train." Or rather he was pushed but she didn't need to know that. "And I have a real bad headache." Rubbing his fingers in small, massaging circles, into the fresh wound that graced the right-hand side of his forehead. The wound was precise, it had been inflicted with intent. Again, she didn't need to know.

"I knew a Georgia once. Georgia Madchen." He paused for a beat, waiting to see if it was the girl's surname. She looked so similar and to share her first name too? Will assumed this was some kind of punishment for delving into Hannibal's dark and twisted world, freely and willingly.

Reaching out, without realizing what he was doing, Will went to touch her hair. Withdrawing at the last moment, realizing how strange it would be for her. He looked guilty then. Eyes down to the ground, his head hanging low soon after. "Sorry..."

Around the city

[tablewithoutpity]

Hannibal has been splitting his time between the clinic, the kitchen, and wandering the streets of Hadriel, stopping by the river to visit and feed the nugs and to sit by the water, remembering his friend. Hannibal had endured years apart from Will, but even from within his glass cell he had some ability to influence Will, even if it took an extended period of planning. Now, Will was entirely out of his reach, and Hannibal was finding life without him to be shades of grey, with little color. He wondered if there was any way to leave Hadriel, to go back to the world he came from, where Will was. But there was no guarantee that he would even still be alive after the fall off the cliff.

He was wandering when he caught sight of someone on the bench. It was so like when he first saw Will in Hadriel that for a moment he wondered if it was merely a memory, his mind palace bleeding into the present. But when he approached, and saw Will, saw the condition he was in, and the laceration on his forehead, and Hannibal knew it was him. And time had passed.

"Hello, Will," he said softly.

[feelslikeimspilling]

2 years had passed for Will. 2 long, hard years. Everything he had experienced back home was still just as fresh as the wound at Hannibal's hand that graced his aged forehead. Still, sitting here, in this dark, meaningless cave, all of his memories from here started to pool to the surface like blood oozing out from a submerged body.

He couldn't bring himself to speak. Sure, he heard Hannibal's voice, and though he wished he could, he couldn't ignore him. He'd tried ignoring him, it was impossible, it was like trying to hold your own breath, you could only do it for so long before the need took over and you were breathing deeper, faster, longer than before. It would be so easy to suffocate in Hannibal, in the memories he gave Will. In the thoughts and feelings.

Twisting and contorting his face, wringing his hands and bouncing the toe of his shoe rapidly in an unconscious twitch. Finally, Will set the points of sore elbows into the tops of his thighs. covering one hand with the fingers of the other and resting his face there by his chin and lips. Eyes closed and face aimed downwards.

"Did you miss me?" A genuine question, if not a little confused. It was clear Will was angry with his dear old friend, but there was an honest curiosity to his sarcastic sounding question.

[tablewithoutpity]

Hannibal tilted his head, taking in everything about his friend, from his posture to his tone to the slow leak of blood from that wound. It must have been freshly inflicted, which means Will must have been drawn directly from that table in Florence, perhaps before they were seized and carted off to be delivered to Mason Verger. How curious. Hannibal understood why his friend would be angry, but felt no remorse for what he had done at the time. Would Will not have gutted Hannibal with his harpy knife had not Chiyoh put a stop to it with a well-placed bullet?

"Not a day has gone by that I have not thought of you, and longed for your presence." He regarded that wound again. "I remember giving you that. It was three years in the past for me. Will you allow me to stitch it for you?"

[feelslikeimspilling]

Will was struggling with his feelings. Back home, he'd been so certain that he was finally going to kill Hannibal. Slash his stomach wide open, let its contents splash the streets of Florence in such a pretty shade of red. A visceral attack seemed only fair, after all, if he survived, they would wear matching scars that when pressed together would fit like puzzle pieces.

No, Will was furious. The lies, the death, the pain. Abigail. Will was convinced he'd killed her, Hannibal back home lead him to believe so, yet here Hannibal told him it wasn't Will's fault. Still, none of that made up for the fact that his dear friend had taken her life that night back in Baltimore. Will's fist balled up until it was white at the knuckles. Ready to strike.

He shook his head, still struggling. Tears were there, but unlike before they didn't fall, only added a glaze to Will's eyes. Yes, he nodded, indicating his agreement, he'd allow Hannibal to stitch up the mess he'd made, it was the least he could do. Moving over so his old friend might take up the seat beside him.

"Do you regret not eating me, Hannibal?" Knowing there was still a small amount of time between them, Will realized he might already be dead? Hannibal's answer may confirm that for him. If he could stomach his anger a little while longer, Will would have more clarity of their relationship. As it stands, the only thing stopping him from pulling the gun out from his pocket and unloading in Hannibal's head right now, were the memories of this man from here. Intamite memories.

City

[mismanagement]

[It's that time again and like clockwork the monsters have come staggering in along with the newcomers. There's trouble, of course, there's always trouble, but Maketh's guards know their duty. They perform it admirably.

No one has died yet. The injuries have been dealt with.

Nonetheless, she patrols. All hands on deck.

She's not expecting to see Will there. He looks--

Different, somehow.]

What are you doing?

[She shoulders her rifle with a frown.]

Are you hurt?

[feelslikeimspilling]

[ Lost in a sea of thought, that is, until Maketh broke the silence of his mind with that matter of fact tone of hers. Even now, after 2 years he still remembered her and the special way she had of talking to him.

Will smiled with closed eyes, tipping his head back to listen to her voice. A small, silent laugh made his shoulders shake and before he could respond, Will was chewing down on his bottom lip trying to hold back the words that sat pretty, on the tip of his tongue.

"You were right about me." "I was more dangerous to others than I thought." Yet none of them left his mouth. It wasn't a good idea to rile Maketh, he remembered that much too. ]

I'm just catching my breath, Maketh. Had a bumpy ride.

[ Finally, he looked over to where she stood. That alien rifle over her shoulder, that hard line her lips made, just as hard as her brow. ]

I've seen better days... Everything is hurting all at once is all.

[mismanagement]

[She narrows her eyes, watching him carefully. Something feels off. She's learned to listen to those instincts when it comes to Hadriel. Will is unpredictable. Not in control of himself.]

Hurting where? Be specific.

[feelslikeimspilling]

Heh! Maketh, I was thrown from a moving train, I've had my head almost sliced into. Look!

[ Pulling open the jacket of his suit, showing her the freshly stitched bullet wound under his blood soaked shirt. He winced as he put his arm back, leaning against the bench and sighing. A flash of his gun when his suit hung open at the bottom. ]

Of all the people- And with this headache, it had to be you.

[ Amused, laughing a little as he smiled at her. ]

colosseum

[survivethis]

Another month, another group of poor souls ripped from their homes and dropped into a cave. Sometimes people came from worst circumstances. Jill knew that. Other times, it was just cruel, since people left friends and loved ones behind. Back home, Jill didn't have too many of those. She had friends, but most thought she was dead, since Chris had only just rescued her from Wesker's influence. Now? That felt almost like a lifetime ago. At least she could do some good here as part of the city guard.

When dangerous monsters infested the colosseum, Jill was there of course to help fend them off so people could get to safety. She had a crossbow with her that shot down some of the large insects, but she also had her side arm. When she saw the back of a familiar figure making his escape and two tracker jackers giving chase, Jill trusted her aim with her gun over the bow. Two shots rang out, one for each, both insects hitting the floor. With the immediate threat gone, Jill lowered her firearm and went to meet him.

[feelslikeimspilling]

The two shots sounded far too close for comfort. At first, Will assumed it was someone firing off out of desperation and fear, trying to fend off whatever monsters the Door had brought in with them this time. However, something made him stop...

It all happened just as he was thumbing over names in the contact section of his phone device. His finger hovering over Jill's name. He should call her, let her know he was safe, he was back. Such mixed feelings as all his memories of her came to him as if they only happened yester. Yet yesterday Will was being fed a soup that would make him taste better and it all felt like such a long time had passed.

As she grew closer, Will turned around. Curious about the source that had made him jump a little. When he saw her face, he almost dropped his phone. The smile on his lips was wide and true, moving to meet her, a breathless laugh passed his smile and within seconds of being close enough, Will cupped her cheek and greeted her with a kiss.

[survivethis]

Jill was glad to see him. When he disappeared, she naturally feared the worst. There'll be time to talk about that, but not right now. They needed to get out of the area before he became another target for the insects. Guess there was time for a quick kiss, though.

When the kiss parted, Jill frowned with worry. "What happened to you?" Her fingers reached for the injury on his face but didn't touch it. It was pretty unusual. "Guess we can talk about that later. Come on." She offered her arm to help him make it out of the colloseum.

[feelslikeimspilling]

Will was in shock. Both from what was just happening to him back home before the Gods saw it fit to drag him back here, and from the surprise of seeing Jill again. He'd hardly paid any heed to the wasps, assumed the buzzing was all just in his head, his ears still ringing from the bone saw Hannibal had been assaulting him with.

The kiss finished and Will felt instantly at home. Oh how he'd missed Jill, it had taken him almost the whole of his 2 years away to get over the fact she wasn't there with him. So being reunited with her now felt like a heaven send, despite the conditions. He took her arm and nodded, he knew that if anyone was able to get them out of a sticky situation like this, it was Jill. "I'll fill you in about all this later." Uttered as they hurried along, Will limping a little and wincing from the freshly stitched bullet hole in his right shoulder.

Colosseum

[filmthenight]

Tatara isn't capable of much, and it takes a bit of focus on his part to summon his Flame. But seeing Will in danger, he has to do something quick against this swarm, and it doesn't look like something just a simple look out will solve. He has to be quick. The goal is to make these things feel threatened.

He focuses on creating a phoenix and aims it to weave through the swarm, to try and lure them away. Another moment and Tatara runs up to Will and tries to grab his arm.

"Come on, before they get any bright ideas," he says with a smile as he pulls, running as fast as he is able.

[feelslikeimspilling]

A little apprehensive at first, after all, he had just had to duck out of the way of a... A giant bird? So when the man responsible for it came rushing at him and tried to take his arm? Will was taken off guard.

"Whoa, whoa!" Pulling back a little before going with him all the same. No matter how long he'd lived here before being sent back home, Wil still found it strange, the things the residents of this City could do.

The smile and the mild pulling on his arm, has Will raising a brow. "Just what exactly was that back there? And I'm referring to the Dungeons and Dragons stunt you pulled not the giant, insect things..." Wow, he was confused and disheveled. Maybe that cut on his head went a little deeper than he realized.

[filmthenight]

"Hmm? Oh, that." As if he didn't know. "It wasn't anything important. You could call it an illusion, if it helps."

All harmless smiles.

"The more important thing is to keep running, though. I don't know how long they'll keep looking for it."

He's pretty sure the phoenix is dissipated by now. Trying to focus that flame while running? He'd have fallen over by now for sure. Which means the Jackers are either hunting a ghost, or have returned to try and find their path.

Though, when they get a chance to take a break, Tatara is totally fatigued. He breathed heavy with his hands on his knees and laughs a little lightly between gasps for air.

"Think we're safe for now?"

If they're not, Tatara's totally screwed.