OCTOBER MINGLE

[etrayamods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: October 25th - Early November
WHERE: Etraya
WHAT: The arrival of newcomers, and some holiday fun!
NOTES\WARNINGS: Supernatural elements, temporary physical alterations, mild horror and jump scares, spooky scary skeleton robots, mild suggestion of compulsion or loss of control, mild body horror.

⏵ arrival ⏴ Welcome to Etraya! Everything is fine now. 😊 Arrival goes expected - or it does for the most part. Aurora greets newcomers in the hospital as they awaken, offers a brief explanation and gives them their earpiece so they can communicate with one another. Around the hospital and outside of it, Companion Bots are hard at work decorating the city for Halloween—complete with festive touches like pumpkins, cobwebs, and glowing ghost decorations. The atmosphere is fun, light-hearted, and maybe just a little spooky. 🎃👻 Some carry buckets of candy, and offer those they come across a trick or treat. Except both options are, in fact, treats. 🍬 Tricks are treats specifically wrapped in a green wrapper that very clearly declares that they are tricks. Treats are wrapped in orange, and labeled with treat! Companion bots will recommend that those who do want to take a trick take them when they're beside their friends. There won't be any permanent effects from these, nor will they be terrible tricks - just fun ones! All effects last roughly 24 hours. Giggle Drops cause uncontrollable giggling that bubbles up randomly, even during serious conversations. Beasty Bites cause characters to grow small fangs, and they will begin craving red foods - apples, cherries, etc. Bat Gummies cause small, bat-like shadows to follow characters around wherever they wander. These shadows are harmless, and super cute. Pumpkin Puff is a cotton-candy-like treat, that causes their voices to change dramatically. Either becoming significantly deeper or perhaps very high-pitched, as if they've recently inhaled helium. Floating Fudge gives characters the ability to float in the air! Just a few feet off the ground, but it's still fun. Right? ⏵ getting spooky! ⏴ Etraya is embracing the season - and maybe even going a little overboard. Around the hospital, a few small pop-up shops are manned by festively dressed companion bots. They offer samples to everyone - although sampling isn't really necessary. After all, everything here is free! Candy Shops: Perfect for stocking up on sweets and treats for the upcoming trick-or-treating event. These will not stock the tricks the companion bots offer around Etraya, but instead only carry harmless sweets. They do take custom requests, too, and are happy to create the treats others want! Costume Shops: Find the perfect costume for Halloween! But beware... rumor has it, if you wear a costume, you might become whatever you dressed up as for a few hours. Those who put on vampire costumes may find themselves suddenly craving blood and growing fangs - those with werewolf costumes may find themselves feeling a little wolfish. These effects may last a few hours, up to a few days. ⏵ masquerade ⏴ In the spirit of mystery, Etraya will be hosting a Masquerade Ball outside the hospital through the nights of October 26th and 27th. Dance anonymously with other attendees and make new friends under the cover of your disguise. Everyone receives a single rose they can exchange with someone else throughout the evening. At the stroke of midnight, the roses will reveal the true identities of your masked dance partners. 🌹 ⏵ all hallow's eve ⏴ On October 31st, multiple companion bots set up shop along one of the walkways through the larger island towards the center. With chairs and small booths set up, they offer candies out to trick-or-treaters who wander around through the first part of the night. Some of them will request trick-or-treaters to do a trick for them, to earn a bigger treat! They may ask characters to dance, sing, or show a talent unique to them. Can your character bend themselves into a pretzel? They want to see it, and will offer them a nice bracelet in exchange! Can they whistle super loud? Maybe they'll get a nice piece of kevlar armor after showing off. This can be anything within reason - bike parts, small weaponry, armor pieces, toys, canvases for painting. Please request these items HERE. Not everything is as light-hearted as it seems, however. Aurora issues a warning to the citizens of Etraya: Do not stay outside after midnight. Strange happenings have been reported, and those who disobey may start seeing visions of past loved ones. The visions are compelling—guiding people away from the safety of the buildings and into the mysterious mist surrounding the outskirts. But be careful, these spirits may not be as friendly as they seem. If you come into contact with these ghosts, you’ll feel a chilling cold, leading to hypothermia-like symptoms. The longer you’re exposed, the worse it gets. Treatment? You’ll need to be warmed up quickly. ⏵ skellys! ⏴ The Companion Bots wanted to join in on the fun, so they painted themselves with glow-in-the-dark paint to look like skeletons. But in the dead of night, for those already suffering from the chilling touch of the ghosts, seeing glowing skeletons approach from the darkness might not be the most comforting sight. 🤖💀 Stay safe, warm up, and enjoy the festivities! ⏵ NOTES ⏴ For all questions relating to this log, please refer to the mod queries comment. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ. ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

[ornithologist]

I am familiar with Tokyo, [ he says very politely, rather than pointedly. Likely Harold's been there a couple times to pitch IFT products, though that was so long ago now it feels like a different person. ]

I'm from New York. I did think Japan celebrates Halloween, though.

[abit_ofboth]

You are not wrong about that. The whole thing is rather silly, and we all have more important things to be doing, I am sure. [Loki certainly does, but seeing that what this place seems to want is what he was already trying to do, he’s considering trying a new tact while here and actually attempting to complete missions while also trying to get a word in with the real powers that be.

Yeah, wish him luck on that.]

My advice would be to enjoy what you can while you can until we can get out of here. Save your anger for when it matters. As satisfying as damaging that robot might be, it hardly helps your situation. Though I truly do understand how satisfying it would have been.

[ornithologist]

It's fair to say I've studied extensively. But I'm not sure I'd like to start the conversation at all.

[ Maybe that's too blunt in content, but he sounds mild, at least, tilting his head as he looks at 37 quizzically. ]

I'd be more interested to hear about you. My name is Harold Finch, and I believe you met a colleague of mine who assisted you. Making you Ms. 37? [ The question tone is to invite confirmation. ]

[abstractly]

Ah, so you are a being within the Abstract Transcedental World!!

( that causes her eyes to widen, this sort of confirmation that makes the world beyond this world truly exists. that all those years of dedication and study wasn't for not, that it is made up of contents that the world of matters attempts to recreate through shadows.

but where are his shapes, she would have thought of him to be more ... triangular. )

Heaven is an odd name for it. I've heard of the concept, but only through the lens of those from the World of Matters.

( there's many things to question that she doesn't quite get, nor does she understand what he's eating. she stares at the candy corn with a confused expression, her eyebrows knitting together before returning to the conversation at hand. )

Are you both borrowing the body of an Imaginary Number?

[ingestion]

( he doesn't need to say anything else, the implication and sadness in his tone immediately hit her. as someone with a deceased parent, she could only assume but she wouldn't ask more. instead she offered a soft smile and held her arm out to a bench nearby. )

Why don't we get you seated for a moment? I think this place is messing with all of us.

it's good one of them is

[levelshift]

.............................................................................................

[Accelerator is very quickly learning he should not expect help from 6. Making an exasperated noise, he nods and starts off after 37.

The Roxx is large and crammed with racks upon racks of clothing. Styles from all over, from all different eras litter the place. It's an easy place to get overwhelmed.
Once the three of them are inside, Accelerator stops and looks around, making a mental list of everything they need. Chances are, these two need some additional warm clothes like sweaters and coats....]

Everything in here is free, so you can just take what you want.

[aimsforknees]

John has to think on that. Everything about him is so slow right now. His thinking, his movements. After a bit he opens up his channel. "Five minutes? No more than ten. The mist is thick, it's hard to judge landmarks. Over."

He's fairly confident he's going in the right direction despite the lack of visibility, and while he loses track of time somewhat, he's pretty sure he makes it back to the apartments in the promised time frame.

A wave of warmth hits him the moment he walks in and there's an immediate sense of relief to see Harold waiting for him with a blanket and a mug. John is shivering in his suit. "Finch," is all he says by way of greeting.

[ingestion]

( she remained silent as she watched him check the safety and put away the gun, her eyes like a hawk. her father had taught her a lot and drilled into her the importance of being in control but careful with weapons.

soon though, her expression relaxed a bit and she offered a smile to the person in front of her. she was happy to see him, to see who she really was without the effects of food or curses holding her captive. )

Please, just use Heather.

( ms. mason made her feel old [not to insult him]. )

A friend? From here or your world?

( not that he had to answer that, she did avoid his own questions after all. )

[ornithologist]

Harold is usually quite physically reserved, but not if John is literally shivering from a supernatural malady that made him hallucinate the ghost of Jessica Arndt.

"Mr. Reese," he says in response, expression tight with worry but in control. He steps forward to hand John the mug before reaching up to drape the blanket around his shoulders, and afterwards he remains huddled next to him, mentally running through the protocol for hypothermia. One of the many things he's only learned since starting to work with John.

Silently, he assumes they won't discuss anything possibly sensitive out in the lobby, and asks the only pertinent question.

"My place or yours?"

[ingestion]

( with a roll of her eyes, she decided she wasn't going to play this game. there was no sense in arguing with a technically dead man. what it did really was bring to attention to the fact that he hadn't changed at all.

he had been given another chance at life and this was how he was using that gift. to taunt her. still, she could try couldn't she? to get to him? was it even worth it?

all feelings and thoughts she felt as she watched him closely. )

What are you doing here anyways? Needed a new outfit?

( he did dress rather...victorian. )

[ornithologist]

[ Apparently she wasn't kidding about knowing how to use guns, he realizes silently. Harold doesn't say anything to the request to use her first name, largely because he's not going to follow it. He has a penchant for courtesy but also an explicit desire to keep as many people at arm's length as he can, however futile that turns out to be in practice at times. ]

From home, [ he answers, without further qualifying their relationship. Friend is, of course, apt. Anything beyond that starts to get... complicated. ]

Given our limited numbers, you may meet him. His name is John Reese. [ John hasn't been giving out his surname, but Harold thinks he's being ridiculous, so he's not going along with it. Being withholding only works as a strategy if you also give something away. ]

Have you been alright since we last spoke? [ This is a genuine question, Harold sincerely wanting to know the answer. ]

accelerator needs to learn from 6 so he can enjoy himself too

[abstractly]

( she does not need their help in searching for clothes, all she has to do is figure out how sophia would do this for her. it's hard when 37 never really paid attention to herself and sophia would do everything else.

it's like a jungle in here, the metal limbs are like the extension of trees, and the fabric their leaves. 37 slips underneath some clothes to come out on the other wise impressed by the miraculous color change. )

What would she choose...

( she mumbles to herself, it's the only reliable source she has in terms of her personal betterment.

while she should be looking at the shoes, she's too busy picking up a shirt with too many frills as she brings it up to her own clothes to decide which she likes best.

spoilers: she likes her own best. )

[ingestion]

I'll keep an eye out for him then.

( a friend of harold's was a friend of hers, regardless of whatever complications they had. she knew that far too well-

her own friend was certainly proving to be troublesome after all. )

Yeah I'm okay, that whole thing with the food was annoying really. I ended up being free from it once I ate at all the trucks thankfully.

( she won't tell him about the nightmares she had after their encounter from the next stop, but she seemed alright for now. )

Hey...those numbers I heard you rattling off. What was that anyways?

[sleepfan]

[ Linhardt sees no reason not to take the man at his word. He had asked and he had received an answer. Each answer would have had its pros and cons: Corresponding via the written word would allow for more complex questions, but it also would have introduced a period of delay into the conversation, and Linhardt wants to ask his questions immediately.

How could he not?

It's a fascinating topic. He smiles for a scant second, a very small quirk of the mouth, before his facial features retreat into carefully maintained neutrality despite his internal restlessness.]

'Uncommon' would be an understatement: While such things have been theorized and I'm aware of beings who can take the shapes of people and forcible transformations, I've never seen or met anyone who could move from one form to another at will when those forms are so different. Such abilities are only spoken of in a handful of stories, and my taking them seriously was considered rather odd.

So seeing you do so felt very vindicating.

Can you assume other forms, or are you limited to that of a bird?

[ If Linhardt were forced to pick a single other form, a bird would be high on the list. It isn't a poor choice at all. If it was a choice. Another question. ]

i kind of like him cranky

[balanced]

[ yeah, that's a bit much to expect of 6. he's more of a bystander — an observer, even. but 37 is quick to disappear into the racks, weaving her way between the colours with a stubborn pout on her face, and 6 is not in such a hurry, pausing alongside accelerator as they step inside. ]

I owe you an apology. [ he has at least that much sense. ] It was not my intention to cause conflict.

[ he thought it was like, a he's old thing, not an accelerator hates friends thing. it makes him feel a little bad for 37, who had clearly gotten her hopes up. ]

She has gone through great losses, and there is still much for her to learn, but...

[ most importantly: ]

She clearly appreciates your company, so I made an inappropriate assumption.

[sleepfan]

I think I understand, but I cannot say that I entirely agree. I do agree that there is more to the world than meets the eye - in response to your question, I would say that I see the points as representation of part of a spiral of the golden ratio, but of course the points aren't truly necessary for the spiral to exist. Similarly, the spiral continues far beyond the arrangement we've just made, pleasing as it is. It is only a representation.

Beyond our actions, there are the other, existing patterns in the world around us. For example, it's quite clear that Etraya is an artificial world of some sort: There's no unity to the patterns here. The buildings all use different foundational equations and ratios, and the natural web of intertwined relationships between all things is missing.

It's...sterile, and the patterns are isolated from one another in a way they shouldn't be.

[That is as good a word as any. In truth, Linhardt hadn't explicitly identified what feels off to him about this place until this very discussion. He isn't sure he'd be able to explain to anyone else why the replica of Garreg Mach shouldn't be where it is, but something tells him this woman would understand: Etraya is like a chessboard of expressly delineated squares, separate from one another, rather than the cohesive web of interwoven patterns and designs that accompany actual nature.

Now he is the one threatening to go 'off topic'. But it's important not to lose the thread of the conversation: That he sees what she says but disagrees.]

I would not consider the patterns themselves to be more true than their manifestations, nor inherently more beautiful. Each half is less on its own than they are together. What is the point of beauty if not to be beheld with enjoyment? The smile a blooming flower evokes in an observer and the understanding of its symmetry are both components of its beauty and its being. To call either a shadow is to diminish its complexity and its wholeness.

[abstractly]

( it is not as though 6 is wrong, 37 did say that she would venture out into the phenomenal world to live and learn of all that it had to offer. though, it stings to be asked if she had forgotten, it doesn't mean she should forget her teachings of apeiron either. even if the transcedental law has shattered, that doesn't mean it has in her heart.

briefly she parts her mouth only to close it, soon her eyes drift from 6 to chrollo, to chrollo's wink then back to 6. what's this? some sort of unspoken conversation and a ploy against her or something?

she doesn't say anything, but there's something disheartening about it. what did she do wrong, why is the phenomenal world so frustrating that she can't navigate it easily-- vertin was far more accustomed to this than her, sophia had a grasp on the art of this too.

she takes a steady and deep breath, everything is new again, she has to restart all over again. )

I don't want to shake your hand.

( she doesn't shake anyone's hand, she doesn't even shake 6's hand. )

Fine! I shall meet you halfway through phonetic symbols. ( she crosses her arms so he's unable to take her hand again in case, and looks him dead in the eyes. ) 52.

[balanced]

[ the wink is met with the same impassive look as ever, and though chrollo's point isn't flawed in and of itself, 6 finds that the balance of the scale seems to be tipping.

it is exactly the reason why he finds conversation to be so difficult, why outsiders are not permitted on the island, and why he remains so quiet now. 37 at his side is puffed up like an angry and threatened cat; her tangled hair would be bristling if it were something she was capable of. she has to settle for a stubborn look, brows furrowed, instead. he's almost concerned that in her confidence, she won't meet him with a compromise at all.

she does, but all the same, 6 looks troubled. ]

[abstractly]

How rude. What did I do to be disliked!

( perhaps the ghosts hates teenagers as they tend to do, too lively, always up to something... it would make sense.

that makes what she thought correct though, that's the name he said, and it means their surroundings is doing something. do they take from their memories? play as their loved ones? it almost makes her want to turn back in case it tries to play with her, but... )

...A ghost, was it really a ghost?

( wouldn't that indicate she's dead, but rather than bring it up, she shakes her head thinking that can't be right. if there are ghosts, then she knows what must be done. )

I will protect you. This is my turn, I think. I won't let a ghost anywhere near.

( she didn't help the dragon mother and egg, but she is willing to help him because the circumcision are the same, but the reasoning is different. )

[bookofpowers]

(the math is not mathing, 33+30 is definitely not 52, but then again, arguing with her further is an unnecessary exercise. poor six.

for a second here, he's glad their own phantom troupe child member, while younger at their whole 12 years old, he supposes, is an obedient, calm, in control, murdering child and part of him would find it immensely funny to watch them attempt to interact with 37.

alas. impossible.)

I suppose I'll leave you to your endeavors before she has a heart attack. Would that be alright?

[abstractly]

( if he's aware of this then why won't he start that conversation, it's what she has so much information on that she was excited to explain.

there's a subtle change in her expression, a little sad that they can't, but her smile returns with ease. )

I'm not sure. I've met many, do you mean the Irrational Number, or the Fraction, Imaginary Number? Maybe there was an Integer.

( with how numbers mingle here, it's hard to tell. )

[abstractly]

Instead of fleeing, why not learn how to understand.

( there is one thing that is familiar, it's that people never stay for the lesson. she doesn't expect him to understand, but she does expect him to learn, because he said it himself moments ago.

she is to teach. )

52 spells hello. If you take the Phenomenal World's alphabet and count, you obtain the number. I was greeting you, which must be common in your world, is it not?

[balanced]

[ 6 watches quietly, not responding to chrollo yet — he dare not disturb the balance — but observing how he might respond to this olive branch. ]

[venatoris]

Not your fault, man.

[ this stupid city. He likes a lot of it, but there’s also a lot he doesn’t like. Shit like this falls heavily into the dislike category. ]

I’m not making you cold too, am I?

[ It’s a worry, transfer of curses and all. Magical STDs. Dean chews his lower lip and fixes his gaze on the little pebbles, shivering again, heart squeezing in his chest. ]

sorry about the creepy ass icon i needed it

[bookofpowers]

(he did try to understand many minutes ago, miss!!! but he's nothing if not a patient man. the olive branch will be responded to in kind, with a notebook and a pen put between them.)

Would you show me?