logsinthenight | INTRO LOG: APRIL

INTRO LOG: APRIL
MAN ME A SAND

characters: everyone.
location: the harbor, as well as the rest of town.
date/time: april 1-3.
content: beacon's newest batch of residents arrives on the ferry. explosive sand bottles send everyone careening into the dreamy past. some forest spirits learn a couple unhelpful lantern-haver words.
warnings: n/a.

welcome to beacon.

It's dim, and the room won't stop swaying, gently rocking you back and forth. A loud sound startles you fully awake, a deep, moaning call: a foghorn. As your eyes adjust, you note faint red light streaking through the room from a tiny, round window.

You've found yourself in a private room, lying on a bed. The last things you remember are the events that led up to your death. Beside you is a folded tablet and a lantern glowing with a healthy flame.

You're on a ship. And that ship is docking.

Making your way to the deck, and eventually the pier, you find only moonlight to greet you, and a dark forest beyond. There are other people here, each with their own unique lantern, and many of them look just as lost as you are. On the ferry you've just disembarked from, the speaker system begins to play a song.

In the distance, across the waters of the lake, you can see the tall silhouette of a lighthouse, its red light slowly turning.

•••
Scattered throughout the ferry are colorful bottles of sand! They're sitting atop packages in the cargo hold, lining the railing of the deck, even rolling around on the deck itself or nestled in bed in the newcomers' bunks. They're all over the place, and they're pretty! You feel compelled to pick them up, to check out those neat sandy patterns or take one home as a souvenir. Heck, maybe you just want to kick the rolling bottles out of the way so no one slips.

But when you get too close to the bottles, they burst like little firecrackers, showering everyone in the vicinity with sand. Contact with the sand doesn't seem to do much at first! But whether the effects hit you after a few minutes or a few hours, you'll start to feel in desperate need of a nap. And hey, a quartet of forest spirits has made their way onto the beach to sing along... in their best approximation of lantern-haver speech! Pretty cool that these forest spirits have picked up a couple of genuine words instead of hoots, but, uh, attempts to talk to them will just get them riled, and they'll croon about man door hand hook car door more loudly. They're singing in your weird language, what more do you want?

Anyway, once you've come into contact with the sand in the bottles, you'll need to lie down and sleep soon or run the risk of passing out on your feet.

Once asleep, you'll find yourself in the sunshiny Beacon of the past! This may feel familiar to some of you, but don't worry, the spirits don't seem to have any nasty tricks up their sleeve this time.

You're welcome to spend as much time in dream Beacon as you like, but once you're ready to head back to the waking world, all you need to do is hail a cab.

•••
Luckily for all the newcomers who may find themselves confused by their sudden arrival here, their tablets and the town have some resources available for getting acquainted with their new situation! In fact, as soon as they're prompted to enter a network username, an app containing all sorts of useful welcome information will launch. Newcomers can always check out the weekly bulletins and the records in town hall as well, and everyone's welcome to get in touch with the NPCs through their inboxes.

please turn on your sandy hands.

BONFIRE SQUARE

It's winter in Bonfire Square, but though the path underfoot is caked with snow and a gentle breeze whistles through barren trees, the sun shines bright overhead with only the occasional cloud to interrupt its warmth. It's chilly, but pleasantly so, and it seems you're already wearing the appropriate outerwear for the occasion! How thoughtful.

Real, live people meander around through the square, though they all seem to be wearing gas masks—unless they're one of you, of course. The dreamy extras don't seem to know you're there, even if you shove them or scream in their faces. They just go about their business, carting grocery bags from the general store or ordering another pint in the Invincible. At least they're not bothering you.

The bonfire crackles in the center of the square, magnificent as ever, and someone's laid out a whole table of goodies to roast over the fire! Marshmallows and s'more supplies, hot dogs, chestnuts, pie irons... If you've got a wintery snack in mind, you'll find the supplies to make it at the table. There's even a hot cocoa stand set up next to it.

DOWNTOWN

Downtown Beacon is bustling on this lovely autumn afternoon. There seems to be some sort of outdoor festival happening! Booths line the street, selling handmade goods and treats as musicians and street performers entertain the mask-wearing crowd. None of the residents seem to notice you're there, but that could be a blessing given that you don't have any cash to exchange. Instead, you're welcome to pluck woven bracelets and hand-painted ceramics right off the tables. Enjoy them while you can, as they can't leave the dream with you.

Food trucks sell tacos and bar food and pasties, and Kickaxe Brewing Company has an outdoor booth selling craft beers, including root and birch beer for those not interested in a buzz. If you'd like to get out of the brisk autumn air, you're welcome to catch a movie at the Delft or grab lunch at the soda fountain.

THE VILLAGE

The village is alive and experiencing a breezy, peaceful spring. The odd elderly can be seen on their porch, lazing in a rocking chair. Children scamper along the road, laughing muffled cries of joy. Although they don't notice you, following them will lead you right to the main source of fun: Boneset Park has come alive! Outdoor sports equipment of all kinds are available in different bins, the baseball field trimmed and chalked. Families dot the bleachers, sporting cracker jacks, hot dogs, and ice cream. Get a whiff? The familiar ice cream stand is stocked as a full-blown snack bar, and all available flavors and condiments are surprisingly, well, normal!

The library is appropriately quiet, but lively, with townsfolk bent over a good book or quietly studying as a group. Happy readers of all ages can be found around the village, and the collection is pristine in its maintenance. The rec center is bustling with activity, indoor sports equipment available for use in the gym, spectators on the basketball court just as they are outside. There's plenty of room to grab a seat or join in for yourself!

THE HARBOR

Down at the harbor, it's summer! Mask-wearing beach-goers are sunbathing on the sand or splashing around in the waves, taking full advantage of this warm summer day. Kayakers and the ferry tour the southern cliffs, with the ferry stopping by the dock every now and then to pick up tourists. Take a ride, if you like! The boathouse is also equipped with extra kayaks, canoes, fishing gear, and any sort of beach necessities you might need to enjoy a relaxing day.

The massive ore dock looms near the mouth of the river as masked children play along its foundation, some carrying ice cream cones from the ice cream stand on the dock. How they're eating it is a mystery, but it doesn't seem to melt despite the hot sun. None of the masked beach-goers seem to notice you, but you're more than welcome to join in the festivities.

On the cliffs to the north, the lighthouse gleams, its bright white pain shining in the sunlight.

ooc.

Hey there, wonderful players, and welcome to In the Night! We're thrilled to play with you.

If you haven't already, you might want to check out the April gameplan and the recent mod announcement to get acquainted with the game! There's also the game history page to check out, where you can find all the plot info that's been uncovered so far. The game history page is due for an update, and we'll be getting the March update posted as soon as we're able!

And of course, go ahead and introduce yourselves on the OOC intro, as well!

DELIVERIES

The following packages can be found in the cargo hold:

The monthly store restock
A lot of medical supplies. The supplies are plentiful enough that everyone may handwave finding common first aid supplies that will help to triage injuries sustained during the Wild Heart event. The supplies won't immediately cure wounds, but they will help to prevent infection and ensure proper healing. There's even an assortment of painkillers, ranging from over the counter pills to IV morphine (though, hm, it seems each character will only be able to find one dose of the hospital-grade stuff, no matter how hard they search)
For kidnapped characters: A small package containing a bottle of over-the-counter painkillers, a bag of rice to be used as a hot/cold pack, a week's supply of Xanax, a coloring book and markers, a blank journal, a bag of Epsom salt, a lavender-scented bath bomb, a plush blanket in their favorite color, and a book titled PTSD SURVIVAL GUIDE
For Sora: Three crates full of assorted breakable pottery, four large tarps, and a pallet of large, flat sheets of plywood
For Matt: Three 12-packs of various brands of ginger ale, a braille scanner, a bouquet of orchids, and a very soft blanket that seems to somehow be made of smoke though it's very touchable and warm
For Carmilla: A cooler full of individual human blood packages, a personal-sized telescope, a box set of the entire Series of Unfortunate Events, and a crate of Zoobooks

If you submitted an item request last month and we've missed it here, let us know!

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Todoroki steps forward and walks his way, ready to follow him back. Still, he keeps a few feet of distance between them while they head back. "You cook?"

Edited 2020-04-05 18:11 (UTC)

The space is welcome. Soldat tends to keep out of arm's reach of most people, kids or not; touch is still danger, in most cases, according to their brain. "I do. I enjoy it. Mrs. Maisel did the daily lunches before, but she's gone now, and it was a good thing to have, so I took them over."

Todoroki looks up. "Does everyone show up?" He'd like the opportunity to take account of everyone here if possible. So, that alone, he'll attend.

"Not everyone. But a lot. Different ones every day, sometimes. There's also weapons practice and lessons every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the rec center. I teach there." Figuring Todoroki might want to meet people, look for ways to get involved and maybe talk to Fjord and Kuai about their patrols, a routine to settle into.

So, he'll have to attend multiple times to get a feel for the people here. For one, he has no idea who this Mrs. Maisel person and second, how was she gone? Did she die? Todoroki had more questions than he knew what to do with but there is one string of thought that he latches onto.

"That sounds like Hero training. Are you a Pro Hero?"

He could believe it with all that he'd learned about him up to this point.

Edited 2020-04-05 20:04 (UTC)

"Am I a-- what now?" Soldat glances at him with clear but amiable confusion. "I'm an assassin. Closer to a villain. Or I was. I'd really rather not do that anymore. I teach so people can defend themselves, to stay alive if the green-eyes make another siege. Or the Wild Hunt decides they want to get rid of us."

"A Pro Hero. Someone who fights villains, rescues people from natural disasters, prevents petty crime and generally puts the public at ease."

It's exactly how Soldat presented himself so it's not such a leap to categorize him as such, but when he confesses the opposite, Todoroki instantly tenses and jumps back a few feet away.

Edited 2020-04-05 20:30 (UTC)

He raises his left hand on instinct, ready to hurl a blanket of ice at the slight inkling of an attack.

He's fought villains on multiple occasions and was at last killed by one during their raid on their headquarters so to hear someone he was slowly coming to trust was actually a villain - for a moment, his muscle memory takes over. All the hero training drilled into him since he was a child snaps him into action before his brain has a chance to take in the rest of his words.

Edited (grammar) 2020-04-05 20:34 (UTC)

Todoroki isn't the only one who's had responses drilled into them. The sudden leap has Soldat leaping away, as well, almost faster than one can see, landing in a crouch with a knife in hand the flesh hand, and the metal arm between them like a shield. "The fuck-- calm down, kid! I don't do the assassin thing anymore!" Their handlers here are very keen in not killing people, and honestly, so is Soldat at this point.

"You expect me to just believe an assassin?"

He doesn't stand down. He might be naive, but he's had a lifetime of hero training to simply believe the word of a confessed villain.

Ouch. Jesus. Well, he's not wrong, they suppose. "Whose word will you believe. I have two handlers, I can bring you to one of them. Or one of my friends." They slowly put the knife away, making it clear what they're doing, though the metal arm stays up between them. "I don't kill people without orders, and no one here gives me those kind of orders. I don't want them to."

He watches his slow movements but still doesn't drop his guard. He can feel the cold building up inside him, ready to unleash.

"Then, you confess you'd still kill."

By this point, Todoroki doesn't care about these so-called friends or handlers. For all he knows, they're all part of the same villain organization here. Was that what the patrol group was? Why there were so few of them? Was he-- Was he being recruited?! It's that thought that hardens his mistrust. They'd done the same to Bakugou. Kidnapped him and tried to get him to join the League of Villains. Bakugou hadn't listened to their lies and neither would he.

"Why aren't you in jail?"

It's the one thing that keeps spinning in his head. Did this place even have a jail? Was that why he could roam freee?

Because Minimus doesn't actually know they're an assassin and war criminal, probably. "I'm more use out helping people. I can't protect anyone from jail. That was my punishment: to help people instead of hurt them." Technically, it was punishment for crashing the ferry, but at this point it's just... atonement for everything. "Everyone in Beacon is safe from me. My handler ordered me not to kill people. Orders are for following."

Damn, that one just popped out. They haven't made one of their rote obedience statements in a long time. (There was the one with that Gregor guy. That was a slogan. That was worse.)

He only has one question that matters at this point.

"Who is your handler?"

He'd have to speak with them and check for himself whether he could trust anything that he'd said to him.

"Inspector Javert gave the order. My other handler is Misty Day." Because they have no desire to lie, here. They trust both their handlers-- an amazing thing, at this point, because the Asset never could have trusted a handler, ever-- and are sure they'll corroborate everything. Misty probably would be offended on their behalf.

They finally, slowly, pick themselves up out of the defensive crouch, watching Todoroki carefully in case they need to remove themselves further or dodge any spontaneous attacks.

There's a short but firm nod at the two names. He'll find them and make up his own mind, until then -

"Don't follow me."

And just to make sure, he throws his right hand out to direct his powers, and a wall of ice sweeps across the divide taller than the trees cutting them off.

Without looking back, Todoroki leaves the area and uses his lantern to navigate through the dark forest back to the Landmark Inn.

Soldat stays put for a long moment, just forcing themselves to think of origami folding, calming down. That was... demoralizing. But probably something that ought to happen more often, honestly. It's not like they've properly paid for what they've done.

They wait until they can't even hear his footfalls or breathing, then move around the ice wall to head back to the Invincible. Lunch still needs to be made. That will help, too.

INTRO LOG: APRIL

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