etrayalogs | 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⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

And Rin keeps holding Asuka and gently stroking her hair as long as Asuka will have it. Of course, she might disappear from Etraya someday. It's happened before -- people just vanishing. Rin doesn't know where they go. So much of Etraya is still a mystery to her.

But that's -- well, it's not okay. Rin just has to think of it like the time when she didn't know where Manji was. Where things were uncertain and she had a mystery to uncover. If what Aurora says is indeed all true and not some giant ruse for some kind of nefarious experiment, then it's on a much grander scale... but this is the only way Rin can look at it and not lose her mind.

That can come later, though. For now, she and Asuka are just here, in this moment, together.

MISSION 004 WRAP-UP

no subject

no subject

no subject

cw: mentions of suicide

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject