Nightshade Malto (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
strigiformer) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
ph_logs2023-08-23 08:55 pm
strigiformer) wrote in ph_logs2023-08-23 08:55 pm
[OPEN] August Intro Log + About Town
Who: Nightshade Malto (strigiformer) & YOU!
What: Arrival and a general thread for interactions! Open to and eager for all CR!
When: Late August but before the Pumpkin Hollow Shuffle event.
Where: All over the island, tbh!
Warning(s): Battle/fighting, abduction (including of children), unfair imprisonment, government corruption, mind control, and death may come up in conversation; if there's anything else it'll be warned for in the subject lines!
0. Opening Act
"You died." That was what the strange, possibly-not-human woman had said.
That meant that they had failed.
It was a heavy thing to realize, and Nightshade had politely held onto the warm mug without sipping at it, not at all sure it would agree with their internal systems. It had kept them grounded, though, as they had listened to her explain, had given them some comforting point to focus upon.
But they had rallied, as they always did; as they had come to do each time, they fought back any personal despair and refocused because people still depended on them. Because they hadn't truly failed if there was, as this woman said, a way to come back. If they refused, they would truly die, and that was unacceptable, but accepting this offer of a temporary new life... It would give them another chance. And if they had another chance, that meant their family, and every single Cybertronian on Earth, did as well.
They were still counting on them. How could Nightshade do anything other than accept?
Finding themself on a ferry upon agreeing to the woman's terms was a different kind of shock, and as they proceeded towards the island, they could feel some that heaviness leaving them. It was being replaced by curiosity. Through their meetings with the man named Yorick and Mayor Hellen Poe -- during which they realized that they had somehow changed size, and not only that, changed appearance in some odd ways they didn't have an immediate opportunity to politely take stock of -- their curiosity and sympathy grew, and they let it displace the much more negative feelings they'd awoken with.
"I will do what I can to help you," they promised the mayor, taking the map from her. "Thank you for your help, Mayor Hellen, and for your trust in me."
2. Pumpkin Hollow, Hello
There was yet another new arrival to Pumpkin Hollow, that much was obvious. Anyone would remember having seen a robot like this one around before! Though Nightshade had shrunk from their usual height, they were still a full seven feet tall; though they were less armored (and not at all sure why), they were still fully made of metal, much of it patchwork shades of green, with a few unnecessary cogs they were still vaguely trying to figure out and talons they were still getting used to a little bit.
Sometimes they were walking around normally; sometimes they could be spotted with their wings out and flying along without apparently needing to flap them. The way they were exploring the town like a tourist made it clear that they were just another new citizen, though. It was a nice change to just be able to walk around like a normal person, not in hiding, and they peered into shop windows and examined bulletins with obvious interest and even enthusiasm.
Besides being open to being approached themself, if they spotted anyone looking upset or having some sort of difficulty, they were just as likely to go over and try to help.
3. Isle of Adventure
Yes, Nightshade had heard that it was best to be inside by dark. And they weren't looking to break that rule and put themself in danger, not really.
But they were willing to expose themself to a bit of danger by going off the beaten path and exploring the island proper, away from the towns and even the dirt roads. They didn't venture out over the water -- at least not yet, though they made a note about the mainland in the distance, intrigued -- but instead were trying to get a feel for the place, to figure out where things were.
And if they lingered out into sunset, before actual night, well... If there were stragglers, people late getting back into town and at risk of being attacked, Nightshade was always happy to act as a protector and guide. They wanted to help the people here, if they could.
4. For Mayor Hellen Poe (and anyone else at the Town Hall)
Now that Nightshade had gathered themself and felt a bit more settled and familiar with their temporary new home, they couldn't help but remember what the mayor had said about taking up work, and undercurrent of near-desperation with which she'd spoken of it, of helping each other. And they had made a promise.
So they headed back to the Town Hall the next day, ducking politely to enter and looking around for someone to speak to. "Excuse me, but may I speak with Mayor Hellen? She told me to let her know if I was interested in work."
5. WILDCARD
[Feel free to PM this journal or contact me on Discord (mxkit) if you'd like a custom starter; we can figure something out! Or of course you can go ahead and start anything basically anywhere on the island and I'll tag you!]
strigiformer) & YOU!What: Arrival and a general thread for interactions! Open to and eager for all CR!
When: Late August but before the Pumpkin Hollow Shuffle event.
Where: All over the island, tbh!
Warning(s): Battle/fighting, abduction (including of children), unfair imprisonment, government corruption, mind control, and death may come up in conversation; if there's anything else it'll be warned for in the subject lines!
0. Opening Act
"You died." That was what the strange, possibly-not-human woman had said.
That meant that they had failed.
It was a heavy thing to realize, and Nightshade had politely held onto the warm mug without sipping at it, not at all sure it would agree with their internal systems. It had kept them grounded, though, as they had listened to her explain, had given them some comforting point to focus upon.
But they had rallied, as they always did; as they had come to do each time, they fought back any personal despair and refocused because people still depended on them. Because they hadn't truly failed if there was, as this woman said, a way to come back. If they refused, they would truly die, and that was unacceptable, but accepting this offer of a temporary new life... It would give them another chance. And if they had another chance, that meant their family, and every single Cybertronian on Earth, did as well.
They were still counting on them. How could Nightshade do anything other than accept?
Finding themself on a ferry upon agreeing to the woman's terms was a different kind of shock, and as they proceeded towards the island, they could feel some that heaviness leaving them. It was being replaced by curiosity. Through their meetings with the man named Yorick and Mayor Hellen Poe -- during which they realized that they had somehow changed size, and not only that, changed appearance in some odd ways they didn't have an immediate opportunity to politely take stock of -- their curiosity and sympathy grew, and they let it displace the much more negative feelings they'd awoken with.
"I will do what I can to help you," they promised the mayor, taking the map from her. "Thank you for your help, Mayor Hellen, and for your trust in me."
2. Pumpkin Hollow, Hello
There was yet another new arrival to Pumpkin Hollow, that much was obvious. Anyone would remember having seen a robot like this one around before! Though Nightshade had shrunk from their usual height, they were still a full seven feet tall; though they were less armored (and not at all sure why), they were still fully made of metal, much of it patchwork shades of green, with a few unnecessary cogs they were still vaguely trying to figure out and talons they were still getting used to a little bit.
Sometimes they were walking around normally; sometimes they could be spotted with their wings out and flying along without apparently needing to flap them. The way they were exploring the town like a tourist made it clear that they were just another new citizen, though. It was a nice change to just be able to walk around like a normal person, not in hiding, and they peered into shop windows and examined bulletins with obvious interest and even enthusiasm.
Besides being open to being approached themself, if they spotted anyone looking upset or having some sort of difficulty, they were just as likely to go over and try to help.
3. Isle of Adventure
Yes, Nightshade had heard that it was best to be inside by dark. And they weren't looking to break that rule and put themself in danger, not really.
But they were willing to expose themself to a bit of danger by going off the beaten path and exploring the island proper, away from the towns and even the dirt roads. They didn't venture out over the water -- at least not yet, though they made a note about the mainland in the distance, intrigued -- but instead were trying to get a feel for the place, to figure out where things were.
And if they lingered out into sunset, before actual night, well... If there were stragglers, people late getting back into town and at risk of being attacked, Nightshade was always happy to act as a protector and guide. They wanted to help the people here, if they could.
4. For Mayor Hellen Poe (and anyone else at the Town Hall)
Now that Nightshade had gathered themself and felt a bit more settled and familiar with their temporary new home, they couldn't help but remember what the mayor had said about taking up work, and undercurrent of near-desperation with which she'd spoken of it, of helping each other. And they had made a promise.
So they headed back to the Town Hall the next day, ducking politely to enter and looking around for someone to speak to. "Excuse me, but may I speak with Mayor Hellen? She told me to let her know if I was interested in work."
5. WILDCARD
[Feel free to PM this journal or contact me on Discord (mxkit) if you'd like a custom starter; we can figure something out! Or of course you can go ahead and start anything basically anywhere on the island and I'll tag you!]
#4!
"She's on lunch at the moment, I'm afraid," Dahlia replied with an apologetic smile. "But I can help you! I have all the employment forms. You're--- Nightshade, right? The only automaton currently on the town registry, so I assume that's you?"
no subject
"That's right. My pronouns are they/them," they added, because they'd never been on a town registry and wasn't sure if that information was already on there. They tended to share it whenever they first introduced themself in any case. "I'd like a job helping people -- or creating things."
no subject
no subject
no subject
"Metalworking!" She clasps her hands together at a familiar concept. "We need someone who can make things like weapons and tools and other useful metal fixtures. Is that something you could do?"
no subject
"I'm certain I can," they agree. "I've never made a weapon before -- on purpose -- but I'd be happy to learn to create whatever people need!" Yeah, just brush cheerfully over that middle part, Nightshade.
no subject
no subject
no subject
She paused a moment, considering something before speaking again.
"Do you enjoy learning new things?"
no subject
"I do," they admitted. "Particularly how to make things. But I also enjoy reading." Stories were something else that people made that they admired!
no subject
3
"Hey there!" he calls out with a wave. "You're...uh. Definitely new, right?"
no subject
"Yes, I only just arrived this morning. My name is Nightshade," they volunteered. "My pronouns are they/them. Are you a native citizen of Pumpkin Hollow?" It feels possible, with how comfortable he seems here and how he can tell Nightshade is new!
apologies, the weekend kicked my butt lol
"Lucas Kovach. I'm an outsider like you, but I got here a few months ago is all." It's sort of his new normal by now, even if the crabs are still very much not. "I bet you have a lot of questions?"
no need to apologize, i got kicked myself |D;
"Oh, I see! You do seem more at home here. This all must take some getting used to," they say, and it's an admission as much as anything, that they're still a little overwhelmed. "What is it like, having lived here for so long?"