escordvi | Log 3

Entry tags:

Log 3

Who: Shadow the Hedgehog and anyone else!
Status: Open
Where: Wherever the prompts take us.
What: Catch-all for the month.
Warnings: Violence and being an intolerable asshole.

I. Corsairs of Victory: Nikke!

A) [A crowd has started to form around the shooting range, around one particular individual who has been hitting all their shots. If there was one individual who exudes a gun ambassador, it was Shadow the hedgehog. Or should we say, the Ultimate Gun Ambassador? But he wasn't here in search for glory. He doesn't need to prove himself to anyone. He was seeking other talents that this world had to offer. Who else should he be aware of that knows their way around a gun? So far, he's been disappointed. It seems the most he'll get out of this is keeping his skills sharpen and learning how to use different kinds of pistols that exists in this world. As he empties another round from the provided pistol, he slides it over to one of the handlers, a hand extended for them to bring him something else. He's grown bored of that one. Give him their most tricky pistols to master. At least that might make things a little more interesting, until someone can prove they can hold a gun.]

B) Ask someone else. [Obviously with an impressive performance like that, he's going to end up with a crowd of people lining up to learn from him. His response is always the same. To shove it. If they need to ask him for help, they're already a lost cause. He huffs, growing tired of this needy crowd and starts to look for the exit. Even as the host runs up to stop him, telling him it's the ambassader's duty to train others.] I didn't agree to anything. [He's no one's ambassador, and this place has nothing else for him to offer.]

II. No Sin Unpunished - [Closed to Arlecchino]
[It seems there are still a few stray experiments left roaming about from the mad alchemist. Even a bounty has been placed on one of them. Interesting. Does all it can do is speak? Or is there something more to it that makes it worth being marked? Eitherway, it needs to be taken care of.

As night arrives, Shadow follows the trail of information he had been gathering or overheard. Though it feels like he's being led in circles. Was he getting closer or was it actually across town? A click of his tongue. It doesn't matter, he has all the time to locate it, if not tonight, than tomorrow night.] Which way? [He'll thrust a photo of the creature at the next person he comes across. If they don't know what he's talking about, he just keeps moving on without another word.]

III. Wildcard
[OOC: Make your own starter or reach me

noletters, game discord or PM if you want to plot something out!]

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No, but the other children who dwell along the streets have spoken more of this creature; it seeks them out to play, or lingers near.

[Children who had no home to go back to spoke more of things going on that the more fearful adults. As if some of them knew something but wouldn't quite say it.]

As if familiar with them- but they cannot give a name as a few had gone here and there.

[...As expected. Information he doesn't want to hear more of. But it seems their next objective is made clear.] The children that are familiar with it, do you know where they would be?

[It's possible the creature could come out of hiding once it's certain it wasn't in danger. And this woman seems...familiar with the more unfortunate souls that roam the streets. He would assume she would know where those kids like to play then.]

[Most never paid attention to children near, more so whenever they seemed to be little more than urchins.]

I do. [A simple answer that could bring up further questions.] It wasn't simply bait I picked up earlier, after all.

[The implication was even clear; she had planned to visit these children already, to see what more she might be able to collect before going on the hunt.]

[At that, he says nothing more other than nod. She knows where they're going, so he will follow her lead. The sound of the town's bustling becomes distant as they head into the more seedier parts. Nothing here, but whispers and the sense that someone is always watching.

Just as they move pass an alleyway, he feels something pat his head. Immediately he turns, grabbing the arm of whomever tried to approach him. There was a yelp, from one of the children of the streets.

"Ow ow ow, you're hurting me mister!"

His grip was firm, painful. Because he didn't know if the arm belonged to a threat, or a foolish child who doesn't know any better. Probably looked like a cool cat to them or something. But he was with the nice lady, so they thought...

As they whimper in pain, begging for him to let go, he eventually does, staring at them as they stumble backwards. A frighten expression as they held their arm. It's not broken, but a bruise will surely form there later.]

Difficult to put your guard down.

[No question, just an observation and left at that as her attention turned to the child, a hand resting just on top of their head; the only thing that looked gentle about her-]

Ah, a lesson to simply ask before you touch. You'll be fine, and a brief reminder of it. Better a bruise than startling something that bites. More so when some have been vanishing until a time ago.

[Action had consequences, and sometimes a child who could walk away from any altercation needed that hand to accept and let it pass. There was also a box being passed. Slips of paper within that could be given to the bakery in exchange for a warm meal and a place to earn some if extra hands were needed. There was a group of these children, some older ones to watch over these young.

Hopefully it would be a step to help them with how none wished to leave their make-shift family-]

Has your strange and lonely 'friend' been spotted today?

[A sideglance to their observational remark, but nothing else besides a huff. He crosses his arms as she watches her handle the child. As he expected, a better handle with them then he would be. With a sniffle, they nodded to the woman's words. Certainly brightening up quick when they recieved the box and realized what was inside. They nearly weren't paying attention to her inquiry.

"Oh, you mean Lulu? She's down by the lake today! We told her she was getting snelly, so maybe she went to get herself cleaned."

They've given it a name. Or maybe that's the name it gave the kids. The kid looks to Shadow, an apologetic expression.

"S-Sorry for not asking first...your fur looks really soft."] Hmph. [The apology isn't necessary.]

[She had a long talk with the owners of the bakery, and the workers as well. There was a promise that would be kept; the young ones would get the warm meals and light work if eager, and the older would be given work they could handle.

A little training, and perhaps all would be given proper jobs once old enough. Warmer beds and more security would come before.]

Ah, the fur likely does catch more dirt of the day than anything else.

[At least it meant a lesson learned.]

I do hate to bring this up as well, but anything new of that strange man some of you have seen lurking when Lulu is near?

["The creepy glasses man? Uh, no we haven't seen them for a while...sorry. I don't want anyhting bad to happen to Lulu, but...she might take you to him. If you ask nicely."

...

Shadow lowers his arms, taking a few steps away, his back to them. They've gotten enough of a lead to start locating that creature. He'll wait for their conversation to finish.]

No reason to be sorry, whether he has or hasn't doesn't reflect on you and telling he hasn't is just as valuable as if he had been. [That light head pat, same as before. She did mean her words despite there seemingly being only slight emotion in her tone; that simply was her nature and the children had gotten that.

A tap of nails against the box the child held-] There are three times as many as last time, given the owners were very pleased with how well all of you helped out. The taller husband even said they were able to create room for you all to eat inside when more than five of you come together.

Tell Henry that they would be happy to train him in making croissants with how interested he seemed as well. [Standing up straighter then as she let that be the parting words for now. Belle and Beau would likely come by to visit and ensure their protection was still ongoing as well.

She turned to stop just beside Shadow.]

We can be off now.

[The kid's expression brightens at how much was being given and how well they've been doing. Maybe not all grown ups are that bad.

"I will! Thanks again Miss R!" They beam up at her before running off with the goods, disappearing into the backstreets once more.]

...We don't need to worry about that man anymore. [He'll speak up once the child was out of earshot. He starts to walk.]

Is that so? [A glance back, but no move with it; a parting glance at most just to make sure all of them had gone back. Likely planning when and ho to use those slips, along with spreading the news coming with them.]

Good. We still need to find the creature, and perhaps see how much of the girl is left; I want to see if we can identify the father, in case that is one more miserable excuse to be rid of before giving what was created... some form of peace that will come from ending it.

This lingering will only bring pain, no matter how these children care for it.

...I have no intention of letting it live. [She need not be concern for his sake when the time comes. The kids mention a lake, so there must be one nearby. He glances expectantly to "Miss R." This area is not familiar to him.]

Neither do I, as unfortunate as things are. That creature is... nothing more than a partial, lingering ghost forced to have a solid existence.

Nothing should be forced to linger in a cycle. [Some peace was needed. What the children knew was whatever remained, and it sounded as if after a certain number of days that there was just a repetition rather than something new.

Arlecchino tipped her head, heading in the direction she knew there would be a lake. Outside of the town, where there were rolling hills. Nothing close, a quiet valley.]

[...Why does her words invoke memories of her? Suffering from an incurable illness, day in and day out. Hoping he would be the cure. Failing. Continuing. Failing. The days she would be bed ridden were the roughest. But she still kept a smile on her face everytime she saw him. Even the short them they spent together in that white space, she held herself up and kept pulling him out of the darkness. But he still couldn't end her suffering.

He wordlessly follows her, his feet moving him forward while his mind is elsewhere. Eyes distant. They will eventually reach the lake, his mind returning to the task at hand. He stops once the lake is in view. As the kid had said, it was there. Laying beneath a tree. Almost at peace. Was it sleeping or had it already passed?]

[It reminded her of the ghost her own bloodfire created simply due to the amount of emotions running through her when she killed Crucabena. Clervie as a child, haunting the House of the Hearth but doomed to always forget; a shade that could not see the truth due to being trapped still in a past where Mother was in control.

... having to finally take care of freeing her, even if she still never got to say goodbye despite telling her how much things had changed. Being reminded Clervie always knew she would make a fine King--

This child deserved freedom, a release from something forced upon them.

Arlecchino stopped, watching for a moment; her voice was so strangely soft.]

... We should observe before making a move. If part of the child still lingers, we should try speaking before we put an end to what was made. A final happy moment deserved, if possible.

. . .[He starts to head down to the lake. His steps slowing when he gets closer to the creature. His footsteps make enough sound to get the creature's attention, ears perking up, then it's ghostly eyes opening up beneath it's fur, hair covering them. He'll stop once he got it's attention, the beast slowly raising it's head to stare at him.

"F-Friend...?"

A new scent. Are they friend? He'll kneel down, eyes still watching. Unassuming. The abomination shifts to stand, staring back, tail wags slightly. Curious, wary.]

[No attacking upon approach- body language that of an animal, wary but not threatening. It gave a better look at the long fur... mixed with long hair.

The air about Arlecchino remained calm as she followed just a moment after, moving to kneel herself just within reach but still remaining near Shadow as well. A better look at what face could be seen- someone so very lost.

A hand was offered, palm up—]

Friends of some friends, you could say- they call you Lulu, don't they?

[Mixing how one would approach an unsure animal, and a child.]

[Shadow does not copy the same gesture as Arlecchino, watching, waiting instead. The creature's nose wiggles, taking in their new scents. A small whimper as it slowly comes towards the hand.

"Lu...lu."

Yes, the other kids call her that. She doesn't remember if she had any other names prior and has just been responding to Lulu. Certainly has a more positive memory than anything else others have called her when they ran into her. "Lulu." More affirmatively, tail wagging with more enthusiam. It seems to act like a code for her, that these people who know her name can be trusted.

...It's certainly no Bio Lizard. Whatever mangled soul is within this creature has a more gentler spirit. A living, functioning creation, existing without creating violence.]

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Log 3

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