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

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

i. All's well that ends well

[ The fact that he found himself in water was enough to startle Caramia, but the fact that it was so cold and so dark was even more alarming. Luckily, this wasn't much of a problem, since he was nocturnal, but that didn't seem to be the case with other people here.

Because there was, in fact, other people here, wasn't there?

Caramia carefully stood up, shuddering because water was so not fun. Considering the commotion (and the fact it was very unlikely anyone would climb into a well this cold and deep for funsies), he figured out rather fast he wasn't the only one dazed and confused. He knew he needed to get out of here fast, however. After all, it was cold, and it was wet, and he couldn't risk getting sick now of all times.

It wasn't in his nature to just abandon people when they needed help, however. It seemed to be bustling with too much energy for Caramia to demand attention, and really, he thought that was for the best this once. Instead, he found himself offering hands out to those in his immediate vicinity. ]

Do you need a hand?

ii. A Dull Town

[ Seems there's someone who decided they'd use their time to sit on the ground, with his coat and suit jacket both lying on the ground. Upon further inspection, one would notice he's shivering and sneezing. Who could honestly blame the guy? After being inside that well, and with how cold it is here, it's more of a surprise this isn't how everyone's reacting.

He's muttering about how he hates water to himself. What a loser. ]

iii. Red

[ Caramia's used to bricks. Red and yellows ones, to be exact, but not colorless ones. Still, it didn't surprise him that he was drawn to this place before the others. It was important to explore your surroundings. That was how one learned things. And right now, with as lost as he was, it was important to try learning as much as he could, and what better comfort than to explore things that one knows well? Even if bricks were the only thing to go on, it was better than nothing.

Oh! Whoops. He must've been too lost in thought. He bumped into someone completely unaware. Idiot... Honestly, this was just causing more trouble for these people-- and they were already just as lost and worried as he was. Right? ]

Ah, scusa, I must've dozed off. Are you okay?

iv. "Roomies"?

[ These houses really needed some work. Okay, more than "some". They were horrendous. However, here Caramia was inside of one of these godawful houses. It smelled familiar here, and it was no wonder why. Underneath a laptop was an all too familiar guitar of his. It should've been some kind of comfort, but he was extremely uncomfortable from the mere fact it managed to get here...

But, hey, at least he smiles warmly enough to whoever walks through the door, right? ]

Ciao. Did your things come here as well?

3

[doublecrowss]

[ Well. In between having to deal with rude scrub who was unwilling to cooperate, having some idiot knock him right down in the cold water - and, of course, let's not forget having ended up in that weird well, to begin with - a bump was hardly the worst that could happen to him. Considering recent events, it wasn't even an inconvenience. ]

Don't worry about it. [ He offers a smile, a charming attempt despite the water dripping from his shaggy bangs. Looking a bit like a wet dog, he's sure. ] One light bump after being confined in such a crowded space like we were earlier... It almost feels like a refreshing change of pace, haha!

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

That's one way of looking at it, but I should really be more attentive.

[ Still, his concern is ever prevalent, even if Akechi tried to convince him he was okay. This time, of course, for new reason. ]

Aren't you cold? You could catch something if you're not careful...

[ Caramia's face lights up for a brief moment, and if you squint really hard you could probably even see the little idea light bulb above his head. Okay, not really, but he uncoiled the coat he'd been hugging to drape around the stranger's shoulders. It wasn't dry by any means, but it wasn't really wet anymore, either, so it provided a good bit of warmth. ]

Ah, here! It won't do a great job since it's still a little damp, but I dried it off the best I could, so it should help some. At least until you're able to dry off.

[doublecrowss]

Ah--!

[ Contrary to the sudden warmth around his shoulders, Akechi is frozen to his spot, utterly disarmed. Did a complete stranger - an adult, no less - show him compassion for no reason other than maybe some mild-at-best feelings of guilt over having bumped into him? Was he really willing to part with his only possession, if only momentarily, out of genuine concern for some nobody kid who just happened to cross his way?

... what the hell kind of stupidity is this? ]

I... [ He falters for a second longer, but somehow manages to regain some of his composure. ] I appreciate the gesture, but I don't think I can accept this.

[ And yet, he makes no motion to remove the coat, either. Is he still stunned out of action or does he just not want to give it up...? ]

Can't believe his own son thinks he's stupid smh.

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ There's a smile accompanying Caramia as he waves off the boy's concerns. It is a little endearing to see someone so surprised by his small gestures of kindness. Even if this place might've been a little scary, he could still help, in the end. That was a comfort on it's own. ]

Don't worry about it, signore. I've had a little help back in the center of town to dry off, so this is the very least I can do to help. You can return it to me once you're not dripping anymore, okay?

[ As if to emphasize, he reached his hand up to brush aside Akechi's wet bangs. Not that it would help too much, but not having water constantly dripping down your nose had to be something. ]

I was honestly going to have a look around to see if I could find some blankets or something of the sort anyway. Would you like to join me?

2

[windeity]

[Ah, yikes. That seems like a bummer and when John sees Caramia sitting on the ground he approaches (walking, for once) with ease and glances down.]

Are...you okay? [Like obviously not but also it's probably the polite thing to ask first.]

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ Oh. Was he in someone's way? He hadn't thought about that, merely finding the spot that was warmest (not that it was warm at all, but he tried) to attempt to dry off a bit. Whoops! ]

Cold and wet, for now, but I will be. Scusa, am I in the way?

[windeity]

Huh? Oh, no! I mean I don't think so? This town is pretty big even if it's empty. It's just that most of us have spread out already so...[He mostly wasn't sure if Caramia just gave up or if he was hurt or if he was waiting.]

You woke up in that well, too?

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

I can't say I'm surprised. With us all practically piled on one another, I'm sure they'd want their space.

[ He gave a sneeze, turning his face away to do so into his hand. After an annoyed sniffle, he returned his attention to John. Boy this was abysmal. The cold sucked. ]

Yeah... Unfortunately. I believe we all did. I didn't hear anyone outside the well.

iii

[parodeity]

Yeah, no problem. [ dave shrugs, but steps out of reach - or at least out of range of someone walking into him again... ] I think most people here are kinda distracted by, y'know, the entire fuckin' situation at the moment? So I am giving everyone who runs into me a pass for the week, as long as they don't blatantly abuse it.

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ Oh, that made him feel a little worse. He was just a kid. Teenager. Same thing. ]

I don't see why anyone would. With the situation we've been put in, being understanding is the best shot we have at this point. Ah, speaking of, are you holding up alright? Have you found anything out? Did you need any help?

[parodeity]

Uh... [ give him a second to be thrown by an adult (?) showing concern (????) over him. this is weird and totally unprecedented. ] I'm fine? I mean, this is weird as shit, but what isn't, really? At least nothin' seems to want us dead so far, which is maybe a plus.

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ All these damn kids not knowing how to deal with concern. Come on, children, it's like you're trying to give Caramia a heart attack. ]

At this point, I'd be a little glad to find anything else here beyond us who appeared in the well. Preferably without wanting us dead, but...

[ He gestures vaguely. People wanting him dead wasn't news, so he'd handle it rather well anyway. ]

iv

[murdery]

[Henry's just poked his head in the door to scope the place out and, oh wow, someone's already here! Fancy that!

He doesn't seem too disturbed by the idea. If anything, his grin gets wider.]

Hi! Dunno, I just got here. Doubt I have anything to come, though.

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ We're just going to ignore the birds in the room. Caramia's used to strange collections of them. These ones were far more pleasant, too, since they didn't talk and therefore couldn't spew insults. ]

I didn't think I did, either, but this place just seems full of surprises. [ That might've sounded a little bitter, but he quickly amends that. ] I'm glad to see a friendly face, though.

[murdery]

[Oh, they can spew insults. It's just only Henry can understand them.

He notices them the moment he stops talking, and goes to the windowsill to let one hop onto his hand, apparently so wrapped up in the reunion that he's heedless of what Caramia is saying.

Until he says friendly face, that is.]

Who? [He looks around obviously, almost in an exaggerated way, like he's making a joke. He isn't, though.]

Oh, you mean me? Are you sure?

II. A dull town for a dull lion

[crowsigliere]

While it would have been impossible to find him while they'd both been in the well, once they were out of it... well, it's impossible to miss the huddled disaster of a man, even without his coat on.

"My, my, what have we here?" While there was a distinct edge of relief to his voice, he didn't bother to hide the soft laugh that escaped him. It was light and bubbled forward in a way that didn't suit the situation at all, but that could just as easily be chalked up to hysteria, now couldn't it? "A water-clogged idiot, by the looks of things. Caramia, if I'd known all it took was a well to get you to bathe more frequently, I'd have had one installed ages ago."

Of course, he was still soaked as well, jacket and all. But hey, details.

Gross no one wants a scarecrow

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

The familiar voice earned a sharp head-snap in the direction of Kyrie. Caramia instantly stood once more and darted his away over, catching Kyrie in his arms. In the process, he may have knocked him off his balance, but he made sure to keep Kyrie steady against him, if that were the case.

"You jerk. You're so selfish and cruel."

He tightened his hug around this stupid, dumb scarecrow. Despite his insults, he was relieved, and that much was apparent. However, this didn't last long, and soon he's pulling himself back so he can bury his face in his arm to start a small coughing fit. Though, now, he just seemed to be staring at the ground.

"You idiot," he mumbled into his arm.

Apparently this sap does, wtf is this??

[crowsigliere]

Ah.

It didn't take much to topple him, so it was a good thing the one bowling into him had the foresight to make a brace of himself as well. That didn't stop Kyrie from reaching up on instinct alone, prepared to hold on to save himself the hit to his ego or to grab for the pistol he ought to know wouldn't work, it didn't much matter which, but regardless it was an effort made in vain.

This... stupid, unbelievable idiot. How could someone be so predictable, and yet still manage to catch him so off guard...?

He held completely still, perhaps due to the shock of their situation catching up to him, perhaps for a real, total loss of what to do, but by the time Caramia retreated, his consigliere could only stare, frowning at the cough that followed. That water had been more than cold enough to pose a threat to anyone's health, especially given the chill to the air on the surface. For Caramia, though...

"To be called an idiot by an idiot..." He laughed, though there was little humor in it, and then took a breath as if to steady himself; to his credit, when he spoke again it was with nearly the same tone as he'd had prior. "You'll catch a cold out here like this, you know, and personally, I don't feel like playing nurse. We should at the very least find some shelter, don't you think?"

3

[brightlyshines]

[Unfortunately, Estelle wasn't exactly looking Caramia's way when he ran straight into her, so down she goes with a yelp, landing hard on the ground butt first. She rubs at her back, grimacing a little.]

Ooooow...! Geez....

[Today was just getting better and better, huh? She lets out a sigh before she nods.]

Yeah I'm ok, I think.

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ Goodness, Caramia, you should really watch it. He hadn't realized he had knocked her over until it had been a little too late, but he immediately attempted to fix this. He bent over to hold out his hand frantically. ]

My sincere apology, signorina!

[ Boy, he really messed up. ]

I'll make this up to you, you have my word.

[brightlyshines]

[Estelle seems... well, pretty surprised at how flustered this guy's getting over a simple crash. It's not something she's used to, that's for sure. Any irritation she felt for the fall is gone just from that, really.]

Sigorwhata...? Uh... it's fine, really! We're all a little distracted right now, I think.

[She'll accept the hand up with a sheepish smile, levering herself up with her staff as she does to help the process.]

ii for now

[ultimagi]

[ Everything about this is eerie, but it's hard to put all her concern on their surroundings when her thoughts are even grayer than the world around her. The fog hasn't abated at all, even coming into daylight, and even as she tries pushing through that haze as she walks, it's to no avail. It's frustrating, and painful, and it doesn't seem like anyone else has lost themselves in the same way she has, so there's a strange sensation of distance, too. It's frightening, and saddening, and she doesn't know what to do at all...

Wandering the plaza around the well isn't clearing up her thoughts, but it does give the distraction of other people. It's then that she comes across the older boy, half-undressed and shivering in the open.

Maybe she isn't the only one suffering ill-effects. ]

Hello? You okay?

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ One can't help but feel that that question answers itself.

Still, the sound is enough to make him lift his head. He did his best to put on a smile, even if it didn't feel very genuine. He figured that'd be alright. Things kind of sucked for them at the moment... didn't it? ]

A little cold, but I'll be okay. Grazie, signorina.

[ It was probably pathetic, shivering on the ground like this. Caramia couldn't help but be a little apathetic to that fact. He just wished he could warm up faster, or dry faster. He absolutely hated this. Wait, but, everyone else did, too, didn't they? ]

How about you? You got out of the well without hurting yourself, right?

[ultimagi]

[ shhhhh

The expression the boy wears seems a little strange. Why is he smiling if he's miserable? She doesn't get it. Her brow furrows a little at that, confusion clear on her face, but he keeps going, so she lets it go. She shakes her head at the question. ]

I didn't hurt myself... but...

[ Her attention strays again; it's difficult to meet people's eyes, when she's feeling so uncertain. When she catches sight of his clothes again, wet swaths of fabric on the cold ground, idea sparks. ]

If you're cold, we could build a fire.

[ But that requires something to catch the fire, and hold it... what can she use... ]