etrayalogs | MISSION 004 WRAP-UP

Entry tags:

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

⏵ 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⏴

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"Some of them do... there's still older style houses around, too. And modern architecture varies a lot," Asuka purses her lips. The white blocks of apartments. The shining towers. Steel and concrete.

But in the end had it mattered that much? There was nothing for them to do.

"It's a mix. There's a lot of things going on... I wish I could show you a bit better, honestly."

"Hmmm," Rin thinks about it. "It is kind of a shame we're all here from all these different worlds, and yet we can't show it to each other. Unless the forces keeping us here decide to take us on a not-so-fun trip down memory lane." A wry smile appears on her lips. It's so strange to be here, and to have all these mixed feelings about it. She supposes there's a part of her that can't help but grasp at straws to find the positives in things. Even with a very... stretch definition of "positive".

Just a little bit, to help her go on.

Having Asuka here, in her house... she supposes that's one of those things. "Thank you again for coming. It's... nice being here together." No longer an empty house, belonging only to her and its ghosts. "Hey, do you have any ideas about how to decorate, once it's all clean and repaired? I don't know, maybe I could go for a little bit of change."

"Well, what was I supposed to do? Leave you alone to handle it by yourself?" Asuka sniffs, as if it isn't a big deal. The act that she offered and followed through probably means a lot, though. After a long moment, she settles into a thoughtful pose, her gaze distant.

"Decoration? I dunno. I feel like all of my suggestions wouldn't fit - like posters or lights or anything. It's got a totally different look from my apartment or any of the places I grew up in."

"Hmmm," Rin hums. "I don't think I'd mind that. Though I imagine putting electric lights in would be complicated." Because Rin comes from pre-industrial times, so her house is utterly devoid of any kind of electric appliances. Lanterns and candles are the lighting implements of choice here.

"What kind of posters would you choose?" Rin says, smiling. What does a teenage girl from so far in the future like? It's interesting to think about.

"Electrifying a house is possible... but I don't know naything about that, I didn't work on that kinda stuff," Asuka waves a hand and shakes her head. The next question makes her sit up a little and she scratches her cheek.

"Well..." She has to pause before continuing, "Maybe something with football? It's a sport. Or... art, I guess. Something you wouldn't mind looking at everyday or that tells people something about your space."

"You like sports?" Rin is mildly surprised. Mostly because she know so little about Asuka as of yet; the girl is not particularly forthcoming with details about herself. Rin leans back and thinks for a minute. "You know, at home, I had some houseguests. One of them took it upon herself to... redecorate a little. She didn't ask me beforehand, though. First morning she was here, she put a hole in the dojo wall!"

Rin laughs now, thinking about it. That was so long ago. "I was so mad! And when I told her to repair it, she made a door out of it instead. And then she put up all sorts of decorations. From her village, I think. Now I'm thinking... wouldn't it be nice if I put up some stuff from my friends here? Not... that I have many."

Another laugh, more awkward this time. She's not here to make friends; indeed, she wants to spend as little time here as possible and get back and help her friends at home instead. Yet she's become fond of some people here, and something within her thinks the house could use something to liven up the place a little. Not too much, not too too much different than how it was when her parents died. But a few knickknacks here and there shouldn't hurt.

"...well, yeah. I don't get a chance ot play a lot of them because I don't have time. But I followed them when I could," Asuka responds, falling silent as she listens to Rin laugh and talk about an old friend who had once been here - in this place - and made it a little bit of her own. It's not a bad story. Even if it makes her feel a little unsure about what to call herself or even if she had friends like that in the past. She shuffles her feet a little, looking distant.

"...I don't know if I'd want that. Or if that's something I could do. It's just - other people. I don't know how to deal with them."

Which is a bit of an admission, coming from her.

"Or putting pieces of them into... my own space."

Now, Rin isn't always the most sensitive person. But right now, she's sensitive enough to feel that the mood has shifted, and she glances over at Asuka carefully. Ever since they met, Rin had the impression that Asuka's been through a lot, though she's never been very open about what exactly that was.

"What do you mean, you don't know how to deal with them? Uhm... do you wanna tell me?" Look, she knows that's an awkward question to ask. But it's also a topic that touches something within her. "I'm... not sure where exactly I stand, either, you know. I mean, I can talk to people? It's just that I haven't felt part of, like, normal society for a long time now." Well, it was a little over two and a half years, but that's a long time when you're seventeen.

"There's nothing to tell," Asuka mutters, "...people always leave you. Or betray you. And I don't want them or need them, anyway."

Contradictory? Yes. That's just how Asuka is, honestly. Especially right now. Especially after everything.

"None of us know what's really going on inside someone's head, you know? Everyone sees a fake version of us. I don't know the real you - I just have version of you I've built from watching and talking to you. But that's not you. That's not who you really are."

Oh, this is messy.

Asuka's words take Rin by surprise -- they're certainly deeper than she expected this conversation to go. And not really something Rin's really heard anyone phrase quite like that. "Yeah... yeah, I guess." What else is she supposed to say? Asuka is right. "But, like, that's normal, right? Don't you have things you don't really share with anyone else?"

She looks at the ceiling and worries at her lip, thinking it over. It's not like this hasn't even occurred to her, but honestly, mostly in terms of someone would turn out to be out to harm her or others. Is that what Asuka's afraid of? Is her homeworld that dangerous? One of Rin's hands finds its way to the other arm, and she absentmindedly rubs it up and down. "Hmm, the thing is, yeah. Sometimes people I knew turned out to be different than I thought they were. In ways that conflicted me. But for the really bad ones... sometimes there's a vibe, right? Or... really, their actions should tell you who they are up front, but for some reason you don't believe that feeling." She still for a moment as she thinks of Shira. That man had shown his violent tendencies right from the beginning, if she's honest. The truth was simply that she'd thought she could still learn something from him. Thinking back, she rues the fact that she ever did.

"I guess... I guess all we can do is gather experience. And try to find the people who are trustworthy."

"Well. Yeah. But I don't want to trust anyone. I wish I didn't have to. I keep telling myself I'm better off alone, that I don't need anyone, and then it just hurts-"

Asuka groans and flops onto her back. Why is she talking about this?

"...it just hurts to be alone, but it hurts to be close to people. No matter what I do, I get hurt. So I'd rather just not have to deal with any of it. That's what I think. That this is all shit in its own way and there's no good answer. Just... different ways of being hurt, so you have to choose."

Wow, Asuka. That's bleak. Rin vaguely thinks of Doa, who, for all her brash demeanor, apparently talked to all of five people. Including Rin. She doesn't quite know what got Doa to that point, but it must not have been good. Probably the same reasons that made her so quick to draw her sword.

"From the way it sounds... your life must have been very dangerous, up to now." She taps her thumb on her arm. "Mine's been, too, for the last three years. I guess I got lucky that I found some people I could rely on." Manji, for sure. Hyakurin. Master Sori, on those occasions she can find him.

Yes, she supposes she should count herself very lucky.

"...even when it's not dangerous, it's the same way. People don't understand. They can't understand. And I hate them."

Her voice runs into something bitter. Something a little cold and hateful.

"I hate everyone and I wish I could just - I wish I didn't need them."

It's hard to grapple with this in the moment. It's hard to really say what it means and how it all matters to her. There's a lifetime of hurt wrapped up in all of that and a desperate want for people to love her even as she tries to push them away.

Hearing these words pouring out from Asuka, Rin goes very still. This conversation just got surprisingly deep, and Rin isn't quite sure how to move forward. The sentiments Asuka speaks about are not very familiar to Rin. Wishing she didn't need people -- maybe in those moments where she felt she shouldn't always depend on everyone else, but she feels like that is different than what Asuka is talking about.

"What don't people understand?" She asks, tentatively, keeping her tone neutral and her expression open. She doesn't know if she'll understand, but hey, she can try.

Faintly, she thinks back to Doa (who's still stuck in that dungeon), who was much less forthcoming with her innermost thoughts and always on the attack. Rin never fully understood why she was so eager to grab a weapon. Well, besides the fact that her precious toshu was probably encouraging her. Go figure.

Who knows, though. Maybe Asuka isn't the kind of person who usually talks about this stuff. This place tends to bring it out, after all. Seems rather designed for it.

"Everything!"

Asuka almost yells the word.

"Everything about me! Everything about what I want or what I need!"

The words tear out of her; it's... painful. But it's the truth she faced in Third Impact. The truth she knows. She squeezes her eyes shut for a moment trying to just clear the buzz in her head. Anger and resistance to saying any of this; anger at himself.

"They see what they want. They ignore what they don't like. That's all there is to it... all of the adults. What do they care?"

Most of all she hates herself. But she can't say that. Not now, not yet. Maybe not ever, to anyone else.

Rin jumps a little at Asuka's outburst. Asuka's pain is palpable, filling the space between them. She looks, away, licks her lips, then says: "Well, adults have their own things to worry about. That doesn't mean they don't care." A pause, then she adds: "The ones I know, at least."

Of course, Rin is in a strange situation at home. She's a few years older than Asuka, and while the adults around her treat her like a child, as far as Rin is concerned, her childhood ended on her fourteenth birthday. Since then, the person she has spent most of her time with has been Manji -- thinking of him sends a stab of pain through her heart -- and, well, should she expect a grown man, and a man like him at that, to fully understand her? Rin doesn't think so. But he accepts her desire for revenge and helps her through it, and that is more than she thought she'd get out of life for a long time.

Well. Since Rin is at least somewhat of an adult, maybe she can help. "What do you want, Asuka-chan?"

"Well, all the ones I know can go die," Asuka spits vehemently. She has apparently had a lot of shitty adults in her life. Enough so that she's going to be painting with a broad brush, no matter what Rin says. No matter what Rin does. She doesn't trust that easily; she doesn't know what else to do, how else to act, because there's no good frame of reference. It's all bullshit, as far as she's concerned. he's only fourteen and it's been miserable - absolutely miserable. So...

"...what do I want?"

What a question. She wishes she knew.

"I want everyone to leave me alone. I want them all to stay away from me."

Rin just watches now. She's not that experienced with being the older and responsible person in a situation, though she's had some practice with Doa. Is this what she looks like to Manji, to Hyakurin?

Because right now, she's mostly thinking: Then why are you here? If Asuka wanted eeryone to stay away from her, she'd hardly have taken Rin's invitation, or so Rin thinks. Or maybe Rin doesn't count as "an adult".

Either way, it's a little tough to navigate.

"You know, I actually was left all alone at fourteen. Before that, sure, I had some moments where I hated my mom or my dad for a few hours -- because they told me no on something or made me do chores when I wanted to go play or whatever. But, being all alone... really all alone in the world... I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

Asuka is a girl of contradictions, at war with herself as often as she's at war with the world beyond her. Don't look for too much logic here. It's all vibes and emotions and lashing out. It's a minor miracle she's still here, honestly.

"...it sucks," She finally replies after a long moment of silence, "...maybe it is awful. Maybe being alone is terrible. But isn't that better than having people tell me I'm not needed? Or wanted? Isn't that better than having to suffer through people leaving if you're going to end up alone anyway?"

Those words catch Rin by surprise once more. Not needed? Not wanted? Who says something like that to a child's face? A child that, Rin presumes, is under their own care. "The people who took care of you said that to you? That's awful."

It's not something within Rin's experience. Her own parents loved her. As their only daughter, she had all their attention to themselves; and Grandfather's, too, while he was alive. She thinks she can see now, why a young girl would end up with such conflicting feelings.

"...my mother forgot who I was. She killed herself in the end. And she 'killed' the doll she thought was me."

Asuka spits the words out. Or grinds them out, by way of explanation.

"My father was more interested in my stepmother after that. And then when I wasn't sueful anymore, everyone at NERV decided to forget all about me-"

Which is... not quite the truth. But it's her perspective, right or wrong.

All color drains of Rin's face as she hears this, and she acts without thinking. She slides across the floor to Asuka and puts her arms around her.

"I'm sorry," is all she can say. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that."

Admittedly, she doesn't understand everything about what Asuka just said, but now is hardly the time to ask. Maybe at a later time. For now, she just holds Asuka.

Asuka stiffens as she feels Rin's arms wrap around her. She's tense and for a moment she lifts her hands to shove at Rin before she relents and her fingers curl into her clothes instead.

"...don't apologize."

She mutters the words, throat tight.

"It doesn't mean anything, anyway."

For a moment, Rin is silent in contemplation, still holding on to Asuka. "I suppose it doesn't," she finally says. Of course, she's not one of the people who hurt Asuka this deeply. And she knows all too well that recompense can only come from those who actually did it.

One of her hands absentmindedly strokes Asuka's hair. She'll let go if Asuka insists, but for now, she just feels like a hug is appropriate.

Who knows, really. It's not like she knows what she's doing here.

Asuka doesn't pull away. A part of her wants to, but another part of just wants to have this - this moment of comfort where she can lean on someone. Even if she's terrified that Rin is going to leave her like everyone else, that this is all just another trick, that there's nothing for her but more loneliness.

So she's quiet and curls into Rin's side, trying to make herself as small as possible.

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revengeisalie - 2024-12-10 22:15 (UTC) - Expand

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MISSION 004 WRAP-UP

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cw: mentions of suicide

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