logsinthenight | INTRO LOG: AUGUST

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INTRO LOG: AUGUST

characters: everyone.
location: all over beacon!
date/time: the first part of august.
content: a few new faces, the teleporter is up to old tricks, and overall just loving not being trapped in an underwater science station right about now.
warnings: n/a.

welcome to beacon.

The first thing you're aware of as you come to is the glow of a lantern, just within reach. Hazily, you start to recall the events leading up to your arrival. You died, somehow, but how does that equate to you being wherever you are?

The second thing you're aware of is that you're being handed a slice of cherry pie by a six-limbed masked creature with a hairnet. Looking around, you find yourself inside a school cafeteria. The school looks to be in decent condition, despite being dark and clearly abandoned - except by whatever this creature is. Stick around long enough and they will also serve some chicken nuggets and a box of milk. Wander a bit, and you may find a memorial wall for dozens of unfamiliar names and faces. Where is this?

A few answers can be found if you pick up and look through the tablet that's settled right beside the lantern. Some of the information is a little out of date at this point, but the most important details are still there: yes, you're really dead, keep your lantern close, and watch out for the spirits. You might notice mention of a ferry, but that's odd, especially if you're nowhere near the lake...

Leaving where you are and using the provided map on the tablet will help you find your way to town, and along the way you might find some out of place items, like crates of food or toiletries or clothing. Feel free to grab what you find as you make your way there, your new neighbors are sure to appreciate it.

Luckily for all the newcomers, the tablet 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. It's still a little messed up (maybe someone might want to record a new message?), it has plenty of important information to share. Newcomers can always check out the weekly bulletins and the records that were thankfully saved from the bad storm a few months ago. If that's not enough, there's many long-time residents of Beacon that will be happy to share how things go around here. If not in person, network works too.

hide and seek.

The teleporter repair team has been hard at work, and their hard work has paid off. Items have arrived in Beacon aplenty! Only, the aiming protocol is still a little off and it's still all over. Whoops. While anyone with a specific request will find a spirit guide to help them find their wares, everything and anything else is fair game for a little fun.

The spirits are in a playful mood, and have taken the liberty of locating all these lost sundries and supplies. And of course, after that, they chose to hide them around town. Spirits vary from great at hiding things (lining a hollowed out trunk with swim trunks) to downright terrible (is it really "hiding" that sheet of plywood when you put it behind a streetlight that is smaller than it is?), though they seem to enjoy the experience either way.

Need something in particular and don't know where to start? Don't worry, spirits will be happy to give hints. If you can understand their esoteric forms of communication, that is. Others give away the game in the fact they hide with the items themselves, and find the prank so hilarious that little snuffles and giggles are an easy clue to the stowed stash. If characters play along long enough, the spirits will give up the game and will show the poor things with no seeking skills what they've hidden. Still, why not have a little fun with it? The spirits sure are!

ooc.

Hey there, wonderful players, and welcome to The Next Night! We're so glad to have you with us, both new and old. For a run-down on what's upcoming in August, please see the August gameplan, or check the calendar for a quick overview!

As a reminder, things like newcomer arrivals, item deliveries, and lantern repair all depend on the help of the characters in the game! If your character would be interested in assisting with the equipment at Dr. Solis' Lab in any way, please let us know!

DELIVERIES

The newly ported in items have arrived, but as in July, they're still kind of everywhere. Learning to use this portal technology is hard, and more hands helping out are always appreciated! As mentioned above, the spirits will readily help find people's personal requests, but the general resupplies? Guess you'd better be willing to play the spirits' latest little game. The following can be found, one way or another:

The monthly store restock, which provides enough food, general sundry items, and basic supplies to comfortably last the group a month. You can check what kind of items to expect in a monthly restock here.

For Elektra Natchios: several slightly oversized t-shirts and sweatpants made of comfortable materials, a bottle of black nail polish (chip resistant), a bottle of whiskey with a slight odor of sewer when the bottle is opened (though it tastes fine), and a teddy bear.

For Rosinante Donquixote: 4 boxes each (25 rounds per box) of shotgun and flintlock pistol ammo, except in every box two of the rounds have been replaced with nerf darts that some poor kids probably lost long ago.

For Fitz Kreiner: A limited set of lockpicking tools and a set of locks to practice on, and some paper umbrellas which may require some disassembly before they can be used.

For Matt Murdock: an assortment of 14 lovely rings (not all pictured here) as well as 6 rings to share with his friends!

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

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"If it's on a human, we usually call it hair. If it's on an animal, we usually call it fur." There's a technical difference between the two, like the structure or the root or something, but Soldat has no idea what it is.

Weapons don't have souls, Merwen, c'mon. Those get beaten out of a body after a while. If they'll admit they used to be a person, they can maybe admit at one point they might have had a soul, but it's surely been warped beyond recognition at this point.

It was difficult. We've had to overcome a lot.

( it's been a rough road, and they've lost a lot of people. to him, that's a bigger loss than a bit of infrastructure. that doesn't make it any less sad to have the village in shambles, though. it just didn't feel important enough to be a priority when there was so much else to focus on. )

I'd say we were focused mostly on resolving things in the Helix Station. Now we're in a bit of flux. Finishing restorations at the lab, figuring out our next step. I'd speak with Cao Pi if you were looking for more direction than that.

( he's not quite the authority in Beacon, as much as he'd like to be, but Cao Pi was certainly gifted in delegation and sharing knowledge. )

Ivy is easily frightened, a cautious creature even with plenty of time around humans. Still, they are much better than they used to be, and manage to blink owlishly at the strange purple woman without cowering.

They do run off to hide shortly after, but that's in the spirit of things, so nothing to take personally.

"Self name. So it's something you picked for yourself?" Impatience is not the most flattering of words to pick to describe oneself, but it does make sense once she explains it is a feature she hopes to overcome. His expression is mildly thoughtful as she explains the nature of her name, and her people. "Not many people so easily admit they're impatient, even if it's true."

You're not wrong there.

( this place is full of the inexplicable. in fact, that might be one of the few constants around here. Matt can't claim to be used to it... though he does know well enough to expect it at this point.

Matt grazes a hand across the box, offering a nod. ) Thank you. I'll take it back to town. Have you made it as far as Beacon proper yet?

( he's around town enough that he figures he would have noticed a newcomer... but he could be wrong. )

Not in any... extended visits. [He's walked through town, but made all his treks there short and exploratory in nature.] It's safest for everyone that I avoid others for the time being.

[Though the longer he does, the more he gets the sense that it's futile. He feels the same as always (minus the deep, consuming sense of existential despair, and the questioning his every thought, feeling, and sense.) There have been no signs that anything, or anyone, is going to send him haywire. Nothing specific to him, anyway... the spirits apparently prove such a danger to everyone.]

I am more than capable of fending for myself. Once I'm more certain, I'll see if I can be more useful to the group at large.

There's a chance there's more information down there somewhere, then. That might be something to look into.

( maybe not him since, uh, he can't read. but you know, people with eyeballs that work. maybe they could. )

As am I.

( He doesn't seem to be overly forthcoming with information. For several minutes, Javert is silent, chewing on his food and falling into a bit of reverie. His voice is gruff when he speaks again, continuing from where he left off, )

It will only be much worse when we fight one that's fully grown. We are fortunate that this one's abilities were not so potent, and that it was trapped.

[ the seriousness of that tone and the blunt, concise way it's said- that catches lorem's attention. it reminds her a lot of laura, whenever her friend had to come across as serious as possible to impart how grave something is.

and so lorem commits her first improtant lesson about beacin: the green-eyed spirits? ones to avoid at all costs. (and she takes the time to remind herself to see how she can communicate with the other spirit. there was something in the tablet, wasn't there? she hasn't had enough time to properly go through it yet.) ]

I see. [ she inclines her head as a sign of respect, a grateful smile on her face. ] Thank you. I'll keep that in mind if I plan to interact with the spirits here.

I hope this isn't too strange of a chance of subject but- Are you planning to go anywhere after this? Since I'm new here, so I would love to have a travel buddy of sorts and get a better idea of Beacon. [ she adds, casually enough, after noticing it, ] I can carry the package as well. Maybe it'll deter the spirit from taking it again if I hold it.

[ because the spirit is still lurking nearby, watching. for some reason. (are they always like this?) ]

Maybe by then we'll have gotten those potions better. The ones that make the visions less effective. Protect us all better.

[Then Soldat, too, can fight. Though they've accepted, now, that it's probably for the best that they didn't. Somebody needed to stay behind and look after people who needed it, and that was valuable, too.]

Or we can find some way to use the portal to send them to a dead universe, and we don't have to get close to them at all.

[They still really like that idea. It should be possible, shouldn't it?]

[ it's a good lesson to learn quickly. they hadn't made themselves known to the citizens until a few month into her time here, and then they'd remained mostly quiet until they'd kidnapped half the town's citizens and dragged them to the hospital to perform experiments on them. but that can be gone over later; elektra's pretty sure the details on that have been documented, too. ]

Of course. [ she nods to the woman, who then offers to carry the package she's been holding. ] I was just heading to town. Whatever's in there is either something I requested or supplies that are meant for everyone.

[ the spirit, still watching from the trees, ducks behind the tree again when they notice elektra looking back. she shakes her head a bit, then turns back to the woman. ]

I'd appreciate that, thank you. And yes, I can fill you in on some of the basics. What have you already learned about?

[ Her brain freezes for a moment at “fusion cell ammunition” because what the fuck does that look like? Firearms in general though? She can do that. ]

Can do. Got a good eye.

[ She says, tapping her sunglasses, her amusement at her own private joke threading through her voice. ]

And oh don’t worry I got a thingy.

[ This is fucking freaky. She takes another step back, wanting some distance as her mind races, pulling and discarding possibilities. Parallel universes? Those are definitely a thing. It also means she isn’t like… alone. Not completely anyways. Granted, meeting another her might implode shit but like.

She wonders if the other her was also killed by her best friend.

Hope not. Wouldn’t wish that on anyone. ]

Fair… Cor—

[ Her mouth shuts with an audible -click-. Oh fuck. Name.

She stands there, frozen, for a long moment as she debates what to do. ]

--al…

[ She finishes lamely with a wince. ]

Coral. That. Name. Mine I mean.

[ Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. ]

[ Another moment of silence as Coraline also tries to decide what the fuck to do or say. She definitely wants to just walk away. Other-her’s relationships aren’t her problem, but also like… it feels mean? To do so?

Fuck. Fuck having feelings. ]

… Hi… Sorry. It’s like, chill I guess. Probably as weird for y’all as it is for me so like. Fuck.

[ She finishes lamely. ]

[Shit, poor girl's spooked, isn't she. Well, he would be too, he's sure - it's some bizarre circumstances to walk right into.

Good thing he's used to playing simple. He did that for years. He smiles and shrugs, apparently just accepting the name like it's no big deal.]

Nice to meet you, Coral. You know, it's funny, there's a friend of mine here who calls me Cora. Sounds sort of the same. If you hear a guy with black hair and a white fuzzy hat with spots shouting that, he's looking for me.

Ah! That's a good idea. The last thing I want to do is offend them with any implications of that. [ with how the group is so small, lorem has a feeling they're a tight-knit group by this point. ]

Hopefully, I can get a few lessons on how to throw a good punch along the way. That'll be helpful. [ she smiles wanly at this point, clearly nervous at the thought of having to get said lessons but.

it is necessary.

judging by some of the things she's read on the network, it seems... conflict is something to expect. ]

Noted! I'll ensure the list is snappy yet informative for those who weren't present during the fight. Would you be willing to look it over before I finalise it? So you can give your input on how I word it?

[ at the question of her name, lorem smiles easily enough and provides both an answer and a straight face, ] Lorem Laurel.

I'm okay with being addressed as 'Miss Laurel' or 'Lorem.' 'Lady' is flattering but I'm only here to help, sir.

[ elektra shrugs again, about as unsure of how to handle this as she is. ]

Beacon has a way of making things weird for everyone, especially the newer arrivals. Has anyone explained things to you yet?

I am also dead. Why is my half-life worth more than theirs?

[Her tone remains even, regardless of his bluntness.]

Perhaps 'hasten death' is not the most appropriate turn of phrase, but I have no word for the death of something that is already dead. That they hold different meaning for death than we do does not make it right that I should choose that for them.

"Hair, fur. Why make the distinction at all?" Merwen shrugs expressively. "Are they different enough to need different words? What does 'fur' imply that 'hair' does not?"

Look, words are kind of her thing, let her muse on this.

Also, a warped and wounded soul is still a soul.

She watches Ivy run off, pleasantly amused.

"That is why it is a mark of adulthood," Merwen says. "A child does not self-examine. An adult must know herself if she hopes to speak wisdom to her sisters at a Gathering. My lovesharer is the Inconsiderate One, the daughter of my womb is the Intemperate One. Our other daughters are the Screamer and She Who Spits Up Her Food, but, well." Her expression flags a little. "Normally children who are so young do not take selfnames, but... there were unusual circumstances, for them. They will bear those names as a mark of what they experienced, and perhaps that is the most truthful selfname of all."

There's a lot of pride in her voice, and a lot of love, and honestly any excuse to talk about her daughters.

"But if we are learnsharing, would you share with me the meaning of your name?"

They are the natural aggressors. Is it right for them to take our lives when we do not strike them first? Is it immoral for us to defend ourselves?

( His voice takes on a more emotional tone, no longer even or practical. He may not be certain what's right or what's wrong anymore, but after having lost so many already, Javert's not willing to lose anymore. He doesn't know what he would do. )

If you wish to die so terribly, then so be it. I, at least, will not allow the rest of us to perish before we're able to save this place.

Edited 2020-08-25 22:00 (UTC)

Is it right for us to take their lives? Will it be right for them to take our lives after we have taken theirs? Where does that end?

[She looks at him for a moment, her expression more concerned than anything else. She's clearly touched a nerve, and honestly that doesn't speak well to her choice of words.]

I have upset you. This is a matter of suffering for you, something close to your heart. I am sorry, and I share your pain. This is close to my heart, as well.

"I... really don't know," Soldat admits sheepishly. "There's a lot that I don't know." There's a lot they do know, sure, but it's not relevant for Merwen in this moment. "But. Plumage is for feathers. Those are very different from hair and fur."

And that, they can offer an example for. They swing their lantern around from their back to show her the charm dangling from it, with a couple of Owl Friend's downy feathers attached to the beads and leather. "These are feathers, see?"

Merwen looks at the feather with open curiosity, then back to Soldat's face. "This the sort of body covering on -- I do not know the word, but they fill the sky on Valedon. I have never seen a 'feather' up close like this. It is so intricate, in the way a leaf is, but grown from animal flesh rather than from a plant."

Her face is aglow with delight. This is an entirely new thing. "But why does the word 'plumage' only apply to this, and not to other body coverings or ornaments? You have so many words for these, and I have only one."

Hmmm. I suppose the pros outweigh the cons for some when it comes to their choice of lodging.

[ ... which might include lorem. possibly. she's wondering if it's possible to fortify her residence with what she can scrounge up and-slash-or ask from others.

something to follow up on her own time. right now, she's speaking with somebody else and she should keep on the subject. ] If persuading them to move doesn't work, do you think they'll be amenable to the idea of chipping in? With the attempt to repair the other cabins?

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INTRO LOG: AUGUST

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//finger guns we can make this work!

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yes we can!

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//reaches out in 'ah geeze' solidarity