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etrayalogs2024-08-09 10:32 am
etrayamods) wrote in etrayalogs2024-08-09 10:32 am
MISSION 004 WRAP-UP
WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: August 9th and going forward
WHERE: Returning to Etraya
WHAT: End of Mission 004 Log
NOTES\WARNINGS: N/A
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 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 ⏴ 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. 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. |
all good, i know how that goes
[ Still, pretty impressive. She wouldn't have guessed that was the way it worked if she'd sat and thought about it for awhile. ]
And I would call you a pretentious dick if you said that so you've saved yourself a little name calling.
[ How fortunate for you, Krouse. ]
Next trick, I wanna see a rabbit out of a hat.
no subject
[ Part of the trick is getting people who know there's a trick - almost everyone over the age of seven or so - to look for the trick where it's not.
That's his real pretentious take on the whole thing. There's an art to lying to people in a way that they know you're lying, and still end up believing something other than the truth. ]
And rabbits out of hats take more set up. I need an empty box, a rabbit, a hat, and a week to train the rabbit to be calm in the box.
Doable, though. If that's what you're looking for.
[ He leans over his knees, smiling, and tilts his head at her. ]
But that's enough of my intensely suave, interesting childhood hobby. What about you? Did you have any cultivated middle school talents to dazzle and amaze?
no subject
[ God, had she? It's sometimes hard to remember that far back. Jessica leans back, legs stretched out in front of her while she tries to recall something on the level of magic that she might have been interested in. ]
I think I like softball at one point.
[ Did that count? ]
Didn't really follow through on it. I didn't like running that much.
no subject
Maybe that's for the best. ]
I can't believe you weren't an athletic, sporty child. Your glow of health really makes it seem otherwise.
[ Jessica looks like she lives in the basement of a goth detective agency, in a relatively easily sharp way Krouse kind of envies. ]
But then, I wasn't much for running either. One of my several regrets.
no subject
I know. My healthy pallor and toned muscles really make me look like I should be some professional athelete somewhere.
[ She makes a face at him before rolling her eyes. ]
Maybe I should try that here. Start up a softball league.
no subject
Yeah, it'd be great. I've got one guy training me for his version of rugby from the fantasy universe where you can legally turn into a bear or cast fireball mid-play. Softball would be a welcome break.
[ He smirks at her, raising his eyebrows. ]
Actually, if you opt against the effort of organizing a whole league of your own, maybe you could come try out for bloodrush. You'd be allowed to throw people. I'm sure Fabian would love it.
no subject
[ That sounds intriguing but also messy. And if it's a team sport? Well, she'll be terrible about that. But still, she's curious. ]
Fabian? He tasked himself with finding me a new hobby. He'd probably love to see me there.
no subject
[ Krouse pulls a sympathetic face, as if the prospect of two cynical individuals like themselves being subjected to all that 'enthusiasm' and 'friendliness' is a terrible burden to bear. ]
I'm sure he would. [ A beat, then: ] Did he have any specific old hobby he was objecting to?
no subject
[ Or something. She shrugs. ]
And I might have told him drinking was a hobby of mine. That might have put him on this impossible task too.
no subject
[ Krouse nods, trying to obscure the fact that he also maybe doesn't think having drinking as a hobby is fantastic -
But who the fuck is he to judge? Having powers isn't easy, and Jessica has been through something she hasn't had to explain to him beyond her reaction to the scrap of purple that fell out of the sky to understand is something that left her fucked up. They're all fucked up. It comes with the gig. ]
Fabian doesn't get it.
[ He shrugs, the matter settled in his mind for now. ]
He's a popular rich kid with charisma, a genuinely and annoyingly sparkling personality, and a dogged sense of optimism. You can only hold it against him so much, unfortunately.
Still. It can be a pain in the ass.
[ Then he smiles again, tilting his head, and puts a hand on his chest. ]
...wait, does this mean we aren't friends?
[ He doesn't care if she says they aren't, mostly because he assumes that's what she'll say. People can get along just fine without being friends.
Neither of them have a great track record with friends, anyway. ]
no subject
[ Don't go repeating that to anyone, Krouse. She does have a reputation to maintain and she can't go making friends with just anyone now. ]
What, were you worried? That we weren't friends? That's cute.
no subject
And then he's confident again, laughing and planting his hand back on the sand. ]
Worried? Not at all. Everyone knows that if you show a person how a card trick works, you're bound by the magician's creed from henceforth.
I was just checking if your universe knew about that yet. No need to say more.
no subject
[ But she knows that admitting this is a vulnerability especially to a place that she doesn't understand. It's a weakness that can be exposed easily so she hopes she doesn't regret saying what she says.
Jessica sighs. ]
Just don't ask me to wear a friendship bracelet. I'm not really one for jewelry and I'd probably lose it, break your heart.
no subject
[ Said in the flippant teenage tones of: Krouse would rather be set on fire for real than engage in something as wholesome and adorable as friendship bracelets. It's just not their mutual aesthetic. ]
But seriously. [ He seems to struggle, for a second, with lapsing back into the dangers of 'visibly giving a damn'. ] Likewise. For what it's worth.
[ And now look at them. Sitting here like a couple of friends. The multiverse is going to hell in a handbasket. ]
Anyway. Before we start making eternal vows of brotherhood, I think I'm going to see if there's anything in the water that will kill me. I'm assuming swimming isn't on your agenda?
[ Admitting to one whole non-cynical human experience in a day is plenty for Krouse, and he assumes plenty for Jessica. They need to get out of this tailspin of emotions before they start having a heart to heart, or something hideous like that, as far as he's concerned. ]
no subject
[ The only way she's going to end up in the water is if someone throws her in there or she has to jump into some body of water just to save her life. Otherwise?
Nope.
But, she does shoo him towards the water so he can have his fun. ]
I'll play lifeguard while you go in and have your swim.
no subject
[ Krouse laughs, unslinging his towel and dumping it on the sand before he gets up and stretches. ]
Feel free to practice your shuffle. Or not. Maybe we can convince Fabian your new hobby is magic. He's a born mark, so you could be dazzling and delighting him in no time.
[ There's a serious offer in there, if she wants to pick up a handful of tricks, but not so serious he expects her to take him up on it unless she's genuinely interested. Either way, he'll not waiting for an answer - she can think on it as he gives her a flippant salute and heads off for the river. ]