Logs:In Which the Sewers of New York Get Some Cheerful New Light

In Which the Sewers of New York Get Some Cheerful New Light
Dramatis Personae Bug, Lumin, Nick, Taylor
In Absentia	2024-04-21 "We take care of each other, is the point. You don't gotta make yourself small." (set a short While after Lumin & Taylor meet.)
Location <MOR> Welcome to the Freakshow - Morlock Tunnels
Wider and more spacious than many of the surrounding nooks and niches, this chill cavern is the central hub of the Morlock's underground network. With tunnels branching off in many directions, it takes a while to learn to navigate from here to where you want to go, but there's generally plenty of more experienced people around to teach newcomers the ins and outs of the pathways. Here, though, is a safe place to come and relax, for what value of relaxation can be found among moss-covered walls and the occasional stagnant puddles on the floor. There's been furniture brought in, a mismatched assortment of crates, mattresses with busted springs, a few broken and subsequently repaired chairs, a folding table in a corner. Shelves along a wall hold entertainment; books, a smattering of board and card games, sometimes snacks. There's even electricity, wiring none too safe and visible in places where the wall has been broken open; the naked light bulbs flicker often and the lone outlet has had so many power strips attached it is undoubtedly a fire hazard. Nick is singing while he cleans--though at the moment he's so into the singing part that the broom is serving for his microphone and not for sweeping. "So put your best face on, everybody, pretend you know this song everybody," he belts, not completely off-key, "come hang, let's go out with a bang!" It's an open question whether Nick knows this song, since once he gets past the refrain he is kind of mumbling half the words, though that does get him back to actually sweeping again. He looks like nothing so much as a werewolf, six-ish feet of thick brown fur and muscle dressed in a pair of cut-off jeans and a black leather vest, the back of which is patched with "MUTANT MONGRELS MC" above a canine skull and "EMPIRE STATE" below it. "Bang, bang, bang, here we go!" Does that even go there in the song? It does now, as he dances across the floor playing air guitar on the broom. It has been a somewhat labyrinthine trek through abandoned subway tunnels and sewers, convoluted and a bit confusing, but at the least there's been no unfortunate booby traps or surprise steep drops. Taylor is chatting amiably to his colorful new companion as they finally make it into the central den of the Morlocks. "-- hella confusing at the moment but once you been here a while you'll get the hang of the way 'round. Real important to bring someone who knows shit with you till you learn your favorite ways in and out good else you might be down here a minute and, also, some of our traps are not playing around -- YO, NICK." This last, as they emerge into the cavern, is broad and cheerful. "We got a fresh one, get'cho tail over here and say hi." One of his smaller arms is pointing towards the dancing werewolf. "That's my boy Nick, we ride together -- you ever see anyone with one them jackets, you in a bind, tell 'em you my g --" Here he pauses and looks at Lumin kind of uncertainly, redirecting from what he was going to say to, "-- fam, those dogs'll help you out." "Bang, bang, bang, I'm-- oh?" Bug is trying to pretend that he knows this song as he sings along with Nick during his own efforts to help with the cleaning. He is a fair bit smaller than this werewolfy fellow, though his buzzing voice is still enough to contribute (even though most lyrics have ultimately been replaced by more bangs). The hood on his worn grey hooded sweatshirt is down, his irridescent eyes shining beneath the lightbulbs. As he tries to dislodge a stubborn spot on the ground, his voice reduces to just the buzzing and humming, though his attention is drawn towards Taylor and then Lumin. Multiple reddish bee-wasp-looking bugs launch from his shoulders to get a closer look even as he approaches. "Ohhh? New person! Hi, new person!" Lumin had been nodding along to Taylor, trying to both pay attention to what he was saying and somehow keep track of the labyrinth of tunnels. “Oh- that’s good to know-“ Their eyes widen as they enter the Morlock hub, and offer a hesitant wave. Lumin is probably quite a bit shorter than the 6ft giants in here, reflective stained glass skin shining dully against the walls. Their left hand seems to be straight up missing, sharp shards in its place, and they carry a ratty drawstring on their back. They take in the werewolf dude, their glass features raising in surprise, and seem to be about to say something, but startle at the bugs rapidly approaching. They take a small step back, a bewildered look on their face, “Ah…hello! Heh. I’m Lumin.” They seem unsure what to do about the bugs, so they stick a hand out towards them, as if to shake their tiny bug hands??? If Taylor can sense it, Lumin is mentally face palming themselves repeatedly. They’re also already committed to shaking these bugs hands and can’t back out now. "Yo!" Nicks perks up and sets his broom aside to lope--then very deliberately slows to a walk toward Taylor and the newcomer, though there's still a restless bounce in each step, his tail swishing behind him. "Hey Lumin! Don't worry about them." He waves one furry, taloned hand at the insects investigating Lumin. "They're Bug's bugs." This with a toss of his muzzle at Bug. "Welcome to the Freakshow! You must get this a lot but you are so shiny." "I know, right? Come in handy you go through some them pitch-dark tunnels, too." Taylor's chin lifts to Bug, his smile wider. "Buuug. -- This Bug. He know errything and got eyes all over this place, you do get yourself lost lost, good chance one'a him will be able to find you and set you right. -- Anyway Lumin stopped by the cafe today, needed a place. Hopefully we got a mattress 'least somewhat dry we can shove in an empty cranny somewhere." Taylor does not, this far away from the upworld, have his mental ears open, but he's looking at Lumin's offered hand to the Bug-bug with a clear delight all the same. The smaller bugs seem equally bewildered by this hand approaching, and at least one of them extends their forearms uncertainly, ready to simply climb onto the nearest finger for investigation. Bug himself seems less uncertain, though, and says, "Yeah! I'm usually around all over the place, so if you ever need help, just... Yell it, I guess! Or if you see any of these kinds've guys." He points towards one of the insects on his shoulder, "They like helping! I like helping too, and I do actually have a good sleep spot ready. And yeah, you are like, so pretty! I hope that's not weird! But wow!" Lumin allows the tiny bugs to investigate their hand before pulling away. They nod their head in Nick’s direction, “Yes I suppose I am shiny! I appreciate that, glass all the way through will do that.” They smile brightly. “And I’m sure you get this a lot, but you’re very fuzzy.” At Bug’s compliment they laugh, maybe a bit stiffly, but a laugh nonetheless, “Thank you, although I’d argue your eyes are prettier. And your bugs seem very nice.” They pause, then quickly add, “A-And you guys too! Not just the bugs. Heh.” They look around at the mattresses and supplies, and raise their hand, “I appreciate you all taking me in, but you don’t have to worry about me, seriously. I don’t take up much resources, and I can be useful! Probably!” They say, a bit of a nervousness tinting their voice, “I won’t just be shiny dead weight, promise.” Nick does the snap-and-point at Bug's assessment, even if the snap part is mostly from his claws clicking together. "It's the bogs who make it weird but unfortunately the world up there mostly bog. But we're all freaks down here!" His smile is big and toothy and happy. "Don't worry about no 'being useful' right now. You just settle in and learn your way around first! If you get cold we got extra blankets and stuff. If you have any dietary needs or whatever let me know, I'll make sure to pick up stuff you can eat when I go topside next. What else..." He's looking to Taylor. "We take care of each other, is the point. You don't gotta make yourself small." "You just get your bearings first, huh? There plenty places 'round here to pitch in, don't worry, you'll find your groove." Taylor kind of absently is snaking one arm way -- waaay -- across the cavern to pluck up the broom he'd distracted Nick from. "Think a lot of us get into habits up top, 'bout where we fit. Where we don't. Down here you can just be who you be. We ain't --" He hesitates over what he wants to say, his brows creasing a moment in thought. "Like, a charity. We just a community." "Oh! Yeah, I've got good eyes!" agrees Bug, without a shred of modesty on the matter, "Plus lots of the little guys are super pretty. Some of them..." He pauses, and one of the bee-bugs on his shoulder (fuzz relatively patchy and uneven, red lines not neat) beats its wings irritably at what's coming. "Less so." He looks between Taylor and Nick and then nods agreement, grinning brightly. "We all just do our best to take care of each other. And when you're settling in, that's the most anyone can ask you! It takes a lot of work to get situated-- Oh, yeah, food! Do you. Eat? I do have a honey stuff that some people like, but also some people are a bit hesitant about eating--" His voice drops a couple pitches, nose wrinkles. "--Man honey. But anything you need, we'll figure it out." Lumin looks between them, looking maybe a little thrown off. "Habits huh?" They seem to consider, then nod finally, "Y'know, I heard rumors about monsters in the sewers from real high places. Never thought I'd get to be one of them." They grin. "And a whole community too! Much more organized then they give you all credit for." They look at Bug, "And ah- Well as far as I know I can't eat. So, no man honey for me unfortunately. I did used to enjoy cooking...but it's a whole lot harder when you uh, can't really taste it. Or smell it....." They trail off, and look to Nick, "But! I figured out I do need to stand in light every so often? I don't think that can be made into food form, so maybe I'll join you for the topside trips then to get my fill." Nick's ears prick up. "Oh! You eat light? You should meet Mister Jackson sometime, he's like a connoisseur of light. He does glass art, too!" The hair at the back of his head fluffs out a little and he hastily flattens it back down with one hand, sinking a couple of inches in a way that would be uncomfortable for most but quite natural for his digitigrade legs. "I don't mean like he would do art with you. I'm not sure what I meant, just figured it might be nice to have some photosynthesis solidarity. Anyhow I'm happy to show you around topside whenever." He bounces back easily enough from the awkward interlude. "Oh, and if you do ever feel like cooking, I volunteer as taste-tester. I got an amazing sense of smell, too." This is also not particularly modest, though he adds, "I don't always enjoy how amazing it is, down here, but it's home." His smile cracks open again. "And this community is worth it."