MISSION 004 WRAP-UP

[etrayamods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: August 9th and going forward
WHERE: Returning to Etraya
WHAT: End of Mission 004 Log
NOTES\WARNINGS: N/A

⏵ there's no place like home ⏴ On the morning of August 9th, every Etrayan’s earpiece receives a message from Eos: FAIL or PASS in big, bold letters with no further context. Players are free to choose which response their character gets; if they were able to go through Moorecroft without letting on that they were from Etraya, or another city bubble in general, they will receive a PASS. Those whose identities as Etrayans were spoiled, will get a FAIL. This response has no bearing on whether or not they participated in the midnight breakouts, nor what condition they’ve managed to get themselves into. It wouldn’t be the first time some kids from Moorecroft tore up the town looking for answers, even if it is the first time in a while they’ve managed to get as far as they had and cause as much damage as they have. Regardless, any responses sent to Eos will bounce right back to the original sender, with a RECEIVER UNAVAILABLE error: it seems that, shortly after sending through their results, all of those from Etraya have been disconnected from Eos’ network, and reconnected to Aurora’s by the friendly companion bots stepping through another portal in the middle of Moorecroft’s park. They’ll offer waves of their hands, and usher everyone back to Etraya proper. They’ll offer explanations similar to what Aurora would give to newcomers arriving to those who were dropped in with Eos, as well as offer to assist them in getting settled in Etraya. The companion bots will allow Etrayans to step through the portal with items they can carry, minus the smaller android babies. If they insist, it will be explained to them that, much like the companion bots native to Etraya, these babies are meant to assist newcomers in settling, and they cannot take them from Eos. Welcome home. At the very least, everything looks normal on this side. ⏵ whispered secrets of the night ⏴ Or it seems normal enough. While previous excursions outside of Etraya have featured environmental changes, the city bubble now appears exactly as it had before everyone left. Buildings stand as pristine as ever, animals have been fed and cared for, and everyone is invited to return to their homes for a quick rest. But as you meander through the familiar streets and over bridges, an unsettling stillness clings to the air. The usual sounds of Etraya–the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, and the chatter from the companion bots– feel slightly off. Shadows stretch a little too long, lingering in the corners of your vision, and the light, although warm, seems to cast an unnatural tint over everything. It’s as if the city itself had been holding its breath in everyone’s absence. As days pass, the eerie stillness begins to ebb. The animals gradually resume their usual activities, and companion bots return to their routines, chatting with Etrayans as they wander the city and help set up new facilities. Yet despite the return of normalcy, a sense of unease lingers. The city feels different as if it’s been touched by something while you were away. There are no curfews on Etraya, unlike Moorecroft, but those who wander in the dark may be unable to help but notice that it almost feels as if something is watching you, waiting for you to let your guard down. Etraya appears to be the same, but something has changed, shifted. And it’s only a matter of time before that change reveals itself. Those who wander outside at night during their first several days back will feel like they are being watched, but will be unable to find what is watching them, regardless of the method they use to try and discern what it is. ⏵ sea la vie ⏴ The unsettling sensation of being watched gradually fades over the next few days. Etraya begins to feel more like the place you remember: slightly empty, but comfortably so. The weather shifts unpredictably, with cool breezes one day and almost stifling warmth the next. The companion bots, seemingly oblivious to any lingering unease, appear to be in full vacation mode. They spend a significant amount of time on the two small, sandy islands that are just south of the hospital, setting up for what looks like the perfect beach day. Chairs are arranged in neat rows, colorful towels are spread out across the sand, and a small shack has been built just off the side of the bridge that offers swimsuits and any other beach-related item that they could need - or most of them! The narrow river means surfboards are out of the question; instead, the bots provide massive tube floaties, perfect for lazily drifting down the currents. ⏵ polaroid pandemonium ⏴ Everyone receives an invitation to Corrine’s Cafe, along with a table number. The invitation may arrive via a companion bot delivering it to them physically, or as a direct message from Aurora via their earpiece. The invitation instructs them to meet at the cafe at a specific time and sit at a designated table. At each table, two envelopes sit in front of two chairs, each containing a collection of photos. These images capture significant moments from your history - events you may have forgotten or ones that have shaped who you are. On the back of each envelope, instructions for the task await: discuss the moment featured in the photo with your partner, and share what it means to you. Whether it’s a memory of a terrible ordeal, or one of your happiest times with your loved ones. The choice to participate is yours; however, Aurora and the companion bots make it clear that your place at the table is pre-reserved whether you show up or not - meaning, your photos may still be viewed by others, even if you decide not to show up. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ This log marks the end of their visit to Moorecroft! Characters return to Etraya on August 9th regardless of what shenanigans they were getting up to within the other city bubble. We'll be following up with the mission: breakout threads, as well as continuing to follow through with NPC threads and provide further information for those still participating in plotting. For any questions relating to the contents of this log, please use the mod queries thread. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ. ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

Kate Bishop | Marvel 616 | ota

[notthatstraight]

⏵ there's no place like home ⏴(locked to the family)

[When Kate's earpiece went off, she'd been getting ready for work. There's a moment of confusion before she shrugs it off and heads to the kitchen for breakfast.

Maybe someone else has an idea about the message?]

Coffee.

[She's not very articulate before caffeine.]

⏵ sea la vie ⏴

[There's nothing like a day spent at the beach, so Kate can be found spending several days there. Lazing along the river on a tube, walking Lucky along the sand, or just enjoying the sun and the view from under an umbrella.]

All we need is some beach volleyball or a Frisbee and this would be perfect.

⏵ polaroid pandemonium ⏴

[Whoever comes along to join Kate at her table will find her already peaking at one of her photos. The smile on her face says a lot about the image she's looking at. It's obviously a good memory, or so it seems. She'll worry about the other one in a few minutes, after she greets her partner for the game.]

⏵Wild Card⏴

[ooc: add your own or let me know, and I'll write something.]

sea la vie.

[rowd]

( sam's not out in the water, but he is crouched low in the sand, a pair of black swim trunks and a ripped tank on rather than his usual leather jacket ensemble, and while he doesn't move to get himself up from the low crouch, he does whistle towards her. )

Where'd you find a dog?

( he loves dogs. )

[notthatstraight]

[The golden Lab comes trotting over to Sam. He sits down, then cocks his head to the side, good eye out, to look Sam over. After careful evaluation, Lucky lifts a paw up signaling he's expecting pets and soon.]

Like everything else, I took him from Clint.

[She laughs, but then the truth is what it is. The name, the bow, and the dog...yep, she took it all.]

This is Lucky. We actually share him, but Clint can barely take care of himself most days. He's got a great heart, though, and he saved Lucky from some real assholes.

[rowd]

( he can handle pets. sam's hand extends out, the back of his palm out to lucky so he can get a good sniff in first before his hand raises to scritch the top of lucky's head. )

Lucky's real cute.

( of course he is, he's a dog. sam - contemplates that for a moment, then tips his head to look over to kate, brow raised. )

So I wasn't off the mark at all.

[notthatstraight]

[Lucky is freaking adorable, Sam, and don't you forget it. ]

It's complicated. [Kate drops to sit next to Sam, burying her toes in the sand.] I was given the name and bow by Captain America when everyone thought Clint was dead. Tried giving them back, but proved I was good enough to carry them, and we decided the world could handle two Hawkeyes.

Lucky, on the other hand, goes where he wants to.

[rowd]

( it's an inherited name, then. the whole dead but then not dead thing is a problem sam's recently become quite familiar with, but they can get into that later. captain america sounds like an even stupider name than hawkeye, but honestly, he doesn't care all that much. people have gone by weirder names. sam focuses on cupping lucky's face between his hands so he can lean in and - gently rub his forehead against the dog's own.

lucky is the best boy. )

Why'd you want the name Hawkeye? Kate's fine.

[notthatstraight]

[Lucky accepts the attention with all the humility expected of a bundle of fur. ]

It's a hero thing. Everyone has a codename. For some, it protects those they care about. Separates them from the danger, so the bad guys don't go after them. Others, the name shows what they stand for.

When I started, I joined up with a group of other teens. Everyone was based on an older Avenger in some form or another. They were trying out different names for me since I was carrying around a few different weapons at the time. [Mockingbird's battle staves, Swordman's sword, and Clint's bow... she was a mess.] None of them felt right until Hawkeye.

I know it might sound lame, especially after talking to him, but Clint was, is, my hero. When I was a kid, I was saved by the Avengers. [No need to go into the fact that it was due to her dad being one of the bad guys and her own fault she was caught.] A super solider, a man in a metal suit, an actual god, and I looked up and there's this normal totally human man standing up there with them doing amazing things with nothing more than a bow.

If he could do that, then so could I. It's all I've wanted to do since that day.

[rowd]

It's not lame.

( he sounds genuine, because he is being genuine. he gets it - maybe not in the whole masked hero way, but - )

I've got a friend back home - reminds me a lot of you. Strong, courageous, doesn't give two shits 'bout what she's facing against, 'cause even if she is just a normal, squishy human, she'll power her way through it. 'cause she knows it's right, and she knows she can.

( a loose lift of his shoulders, before sam starts scratching under lucky's chin. lucky is his new favorite. )

She's one of my heroes.

[notthatstraight]

[She knows many people meet Clint and only see the lazy county boy, but there's more to him than most people will ever know. Sometimes she thinks he does it on purpose -- to throw people off. Other times, she's not so sure.]

She sounds great.

[They also seem to agree that Lucky is great. Kate reaches up to stroke Lucky's head]

Anyway, the name thing is just... My parents named me, Katherine. I choose to be called Kate, but I earned Hawkeye.

[rowd]

I get it.

( sam moves his hands off lucky, instead raising himself back onto his feet. he slouches over a little, more out of habit than anything else. )

I mean, no one does the whole hero thing where I'm from, but I get the whole - earning your name shit.

( not that it's something sam has ever been all that concerned over. names are just... names. )

I was named Samil. Just Samil, last names aren't really a thing for me. Some've my friends call me Sammi, which's fine, but I chose to be called Sam.

Polaroid Pandemonium

[abit_ofboth]

[It’s very apparent from the look on Loki’s face that he is none-too thrilled to be forced to do anything, though really he sees the merit in at least meeting some new people. There seems to be a number of people around with powers, and he knows there are a couple of Avengers at least. Essentially, the kinds of people around that can possibly help him get home so that the Multiverse doesn’t actually fall apart.

Really, he just hates anything mandatory. He got enough of that with the TVA.

With his envelop clutched too tightly in his hands, he sits at his assigned table across from a young woman he does not recognize. His posture is prim and the mask on his face denoting his best ‘I couldn’t care less’ attitude. The truth is though, he’s rather terrified of what his pictures might be. He’s not who he once was, but he also is very aware that there are some who would not like him to forget his past.

Though he notes the smile on the young woman’s face and has a bit of hope that not everything in his envelop will be bad.]

I take it you got something good, then?

[notthatstraight]

[Kate looks up at the man joining her and turns the picture around to him.]

My first team, version two point oh. It wasn't all good, but we made a great team. Had a lot of adventures. A lot of fun.

[She misses them even if they weren't together anymore. They still talked to each other a couple of times a week, or more when they could. It was hard with Billy and Teddy out ruling in space. ]

[abit_ofboth]

[While at least pretending to feign interest, Loki glances at the photo the woman is showing him… and immediately freezes. His eyes go wide for a moment as he sees a young version of himself smiling up at the camera, surrounded by, what was she saying? A team? Friends even?

A variant from a timeline where he was on a team? Truly, anything is possible.

He clears his throat a bit awkwardly before getting his mask firmly back in place and smiling at her.]

It does look like you are all quite happy there. You are all still friendly then?

[And if there is a little too much emphasis on the ‘all’ as if he expects her to say that Loki messed up and no one likes him anymore, well, he’ll deny it.]