Intro Log.

[awashmods]

Ding, dong, bell, Pussy's in the well. Who put her in? Little Johnny Thin. Who pulled her out? Little Tommy Stout. What a naughty boy was that, To try to drown poor pussy cat, Who never did him any harm, But killed all the mice in the farmer's barn.

ou wake in knee-deep water, cold as ice and stagnant, in a space that is far too echoey and spacious. It feels like a massive cave, but looking up... there's only one small, circular opening that shows grey sky and shines any sort of light. It looks like a long trip upwards, a small cylinder with walls of brick that's just a little too high to reach, even when jumping. Getting out is probably going to be a bit of a task, especially considering the water is more than cold enough to make limbs go numb. The dark makes it impossible to see much further, but the space seems large, all filled with water, but with no other way out, stone walls the only thing for an intrepid explorer to find. But most importantly of all... you're not alone. Welcome to Awash's first intro log, everyone! Please review the FAQ and rules before playing. Characters have all woken at the bottom of the well in the middle of the town (which seems a lot bigger on the inside, somehow), and it looks like they'll have to put in some work to get out. Once out, they'll be free to explore the various locations the Town has to offer at will. Just try not to die on any of the far-too-rickety walkways. Further information can be found here at the OOC post, and don't forget to greet your fellow players here!

Comments

[heartsteals]

[ secret identity struggles are real... Lupin remains ignorant to his. ]

Now you've gone and piqued my curiosity. Do you think it has something to do with our being here?

[bufudyne]

[Yusuke frowns under the mask, staring upward at the opening to the well...it's so far away...]

I thought it a possibility... less a reason for us being here than the actual location we're in. They're places.

[heartsteals]

Places with very deep wells, I assume. [ a beat. ] Are you okay up there?

[bufudyne]

[Lupin, please don't laugh at him but--]

...I think I may be stuck. Give me a moment.

[heartsteals]

Er, stuck?

[ this doesn't sound like a problem he can help with... unless Yusuke can only un-stuck himself by dropping down. If it were a little brighter, he'd try and tell him where to grab next, but he can hardly see where he's going. ]

[bufudyne]

... [Yusuke fidgets a bit, trying to extend his hand one way... then the other... hmmm.]

I'll get it.

[...He does manage to go up a bit but. He seems stumped.]

[heartsteals]

[ let's see... what can an illustrious gentleman thief do to help a brother out in this situation? Lupin rubs his chin, deep in thought. If worse comes to worse, the boy could always just drop off and have Lupin catch him, but he's made enough progress that it feels like a waste. ]

Try going to the side, maybe. There might be another path you can't see. And if there isn't... Well, I promise I'll be there to catch you, or my name isn't Arsène Lupin.

[bufudyne]

[You're such a gentleman, Lupin. However, mentioning his name in the midst of Yusuke shifting to the side is startling enough that his fingers slip and DOWN HE COMES.

rip

Thanks in advance, Lupin.]

[heartsteals]

[ Fortunately, he was actually serious about being there to catch him - even if he wasn't expecting his word to be put the test so immediately. The moment Yusuke slips, Lupin makes a small noise of alarm before darting directly underneath him. His footing isn't the steadiest, what with the knee-high water, but he manages to catch him without falling over nonetheless, though he does stumble a bit. Thanks, great core strength.

you're welcome, Yusuke, you're now being princess carried by mr. true end. ]

-- Ha ha - what did I say? Are you all right, there?

[bufudyne]

[Listen, man, you can't just spring on him that you're Lupin! How is he supposed to take that?? You should be being a persona right now, wow, how dare you walk around as an actual person.

not a super fan of being carried princess style, why is this a thing]

I'm-- fine. [Wiggles he will stand like the mighty and proud Yusuke that he is.] Pardon me, but what did you say your name was again?

[heartsteals]

[ Naturally, Lupin lets Yusuke down right away - he's a gentleman thief, after all! Which, as it so happens, seems to be something Yusuke knows, as well. He bites his tongue; he shouldn't have said that, probably, but with the situation as confused as it is at the moment, he hadn't exactly been thinking too much about protecting his identity.

Whatever. Time to roll with it. ]

Just Lupin will be fine, monsieur. [ a half-smile. ] Were you that surprised? I've stopped plenty of women's hearts, but I think this is the first time I've seen a man swoon over me.

[bufudyne]

[Yusuke's eyebrows, even partially visible as they are with the mask, visibly furrow. Then, dismissively:] I didn't swoon.

I was startled to hear that name, that is all.

[...Not just because it's Akira's persona, but because Arsène Lupin is not quite real in history, is he? If he is, he should have died long ago. His mind is in turmoil!!]

[heartsteals]

[ WELCOME TO THE CONFUSION CLUB YUSUKE. He just waves off the younger man's dismissal of his swooning (it was totally swooning as far as Lupin is concerned) and continues on. ]

It was only a matter of time before someone recognized me. [ in his sorry, soggy state, he'd rather not be seen, frankly, but there's nothing he can do about that. ] You've heard of me, I suppose?

[bufudyne]

...Indeed, [Yusuke answers, almost cautious, unsure what he should reveal.]

Though in nothing more than stories.

[heartsteals]

[ of course, he assumes he means "stories in the newspaper," because that makes more logical sense to him then "stories of my deeds from 150 years in the future." ]

Hah. They write some interesting things about me... But I promise you that only the flattering parts are true.

[ an amused smirk. now, how to deal with this... He brings a finger to his lips. ]

Let's keep the details between us for the time being, shall we? A thief keeps his cards close to his chest - besides, you owe me one.

[bufudyne]

[yeah ok let's go with that]

Hmm.

[But he nods at last, accepting, and adds:] I appreciate your help, but I will keep it quiet even if you had not done so. As a... thief to a thief.

[HE'S THE PERSON WHO AKIRA'S PERSONA IS MEANT TO REPRESENT, HE HAS TO BE LEGIT (yusuke is that even correct)]

[heartsteals]

[ same hat?? he raises an eyebrow at Yusuke's comment. That's a strange thing to admit, even if it's true. ]

You're a bold one, foxy. I think we'll have plenty to discuss - after we get out of the well.

[bufudyne]

Not foxy, [he corrects.] Just Fox.

I have... well, another method we can get out of this well. I did not want to use it yet, but it'd be the fastest.

[Gonna do the Persona thing. Because he doesn't want to be stuck here forever.]

[heartsteals]

Oh, I was close!

[ he was just goofing around, but he sounds a little proud that he accidentally got it anyway. ]

Well then, Fox. Show me what you've got.

[bufudyne]

[was it the fox ensemble, lupin, did that give it away]

Very well. [...] Do not panic.

[Okay? Please be impressed thief senpai. Because he lifts his hand to his mask, turning away as he pulls it off (JUST SHADOWS BENEATH, HIS IDENTITY IS SAFE) and uh Kamu Susano-o appears in a flash of blue.

And the Persona waves his sword. All up the wall of the well spikes of ice suddenly appear, in an ideal way to climb.]

[heartsteals]

[ LET HIM HAVE THIS HE'S PETTY ]

Wh --?!

[ so Fox told him not to panic, but that's about it - and this is not even remotely close to anything he could have expected, even if he'd been told he was about to summon some kind of spirit monster to freeze the walls. He immediately jumps back, sloshing through the knee-high water with somewhat surprising agility (or maybe somewhat familiar to someone who's seen Joker move.) ]

What the hell is that? Did you do that?!

[bufudyne]

[he's staring at lupin a bit tbh look at how fast he jumped back, he is thoroughly reminded of Joker. Hm. Hm hm.]

Yes. I apologise, my warning probably wasn't sufficient.

That was my Persona. It is like... a facet of myself, I suppose you could say.

[heartsteals]

That huge guy was a part of you?

[ this sounds like some magic bullshit. However, he definitely just saw it happen, and there are definitely still huge shards of ice on the wall, so... it was real magic bullshit? If this is a dream, at least his friends will get a kick out of it when he wakes up. ]

[bufudyne]

Yes.

[good explanation, yusuke

And now he bends his legs a little, hopping up to one of the icy outcrops. They don't provide the most grip but one can still perch on them.]

Are you coming?

[heartsteals]

[ thanks yusuke

the curt non-explanation makes Lupin's expression flatten somewhat, but he figures he can ask for an explanation later. He's not sure he trusts any of this. Sure, he may be a fellow thief, but only an idiot would actually trust a thief not to play tricks. Especially one that uses some kind of magic he's never seen before. After a few seconds of contemplation and calculating backup plans, he does follow Yusuke up to the first step, leaping carefully to avoid a slippery landing. ]

And these giant icicles? Are they part of you, too?