etrayalogs | OCTOBER MINGLE

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OCTOBER MINGLE

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⏴

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Hob didn't expect anyone to approach him, and he's not in the mood for dancing, but when he sees a stunning figure moving through the crowd in his direction, he can't help but look. Or stare, is more like it. The identity of the man doesn't register right away, but he's such a striking figure, Hob can't help gazing at him.

And then the man approaches, and speaks, and his voice is all too familiar. Kind of hard to mistake it for someone else's.

"Uh..." Ahem! "I guess I was hoping to see a friend." And he has.

Well, that is where Hob is mistaken. Even without being sure of who he is, Loki is drawn to the man in the lovely blue suit and he can’t imagine anyone not being equally as interested. It doesn’t hurt that he can feel the other man staring at him as he approaches. Loki knows how well he wears a suit.

As he gets closer, there’s something familiar in the way the man holds himself and he wonders just what kind of luck he might have to be drawn to someone he knows and likes already.

Much in the same way, when Hob speaks, Loki recognizes his voice and cannot help but smile widely. Still, he decides to keep up the charade. “It is kind of hard to recognize friends at a masquerade ball, but I would not mind being your friend for the evening, if you would like.”

Very well. Loki wears the suit very well. He sort of takes Hob's breath away as he crosses a crowded dance floor.

And then there's that winning smile, which removes every shadow of a doubt. Not that he really had one, but Hob would know that smile among a thousand.

Hob smiles in return as Loki plays the part of the masked stranger. "Are you the type of friend to offer me a drink? Because if so, I think we could be friends."

Even with half of Hob’s face covered, Loki can see how he looks at him. It makes him feel warm and content in a way he hasn’t since before his ascension. This is a dangerous game he’s playing considering he’ll have to leave as soon as he can make that happen, but at the same time he can’t seem to resist.

It’s looking more and more like he’s going to be stuck here considering how hard it has been to get any contact with whoever is actually running this place. Why shouldn’t he enjoy himself a bit while he’s here? Though he supposes if anything is to happen between them, he’ll have to tell him everything and allow him to walk if it’s too much.

Gods he hopes it’s not too much.

All of these thoughts run rampant through his mind as he approaches. He’s likely being selfish, but that really isn’t new. And somehow the mask is giving him more confidence to flirt at the very least.

“Oh, I am definitely that kind of friend. What can I get you?”

Getting attached to people here felt like a bad idea, but the longer he's stuck here, the more Hob has come to realize it's inevitable. Unless he wants to shut himself away in his room, of course, and even that is impossible because of the trials they're forced to participate in. Already, he feels the loss of two friends who disappeared. It would be painful to lose another, but it would be even worse to not have friends at all.

Normally, he might want a glass of whiskey were he leaning at a bar, but he's trying to put on sophisticated airs tonight. "Wine, if you would?"

The worst part of getting attached to anyone at any time is the thought of losing them. The only thing that has kept him going this last while is that he can keep an eye on those he cares about. Watch them grow and thrive, even if it is a bit sad to watch them move on with their lives, without him. He just hopes they haven’t forgotten him. Unlikely, but still a thought that crosses his mind from time to time.

Loki hardly thinks Hob needs to put on airs for anything, but he wouldn’t connect anything like that to a drink order anyway. “How does a nice Bordeaux sound?” There’s a flash of green and suddenly Loki is holding two glasses of a deep red wine. “I can change it if you would prefer something else.”

Hob hasn't seen Loki pull many magic tricks yet, so the sudden appearance of two wine glasses gets a delighted and amazed smile from him.

"Nono, that will more than do. Thank you." Hob accepts his glass.

Sometimes, he sort of forgets about this side of Loki. He is a god, after all, but they've become such friends, he thinks about Loki as just being.. Loki. His friend. Hopefully, that won't become an insult or a reason for the god to get mad at him like a certain Dream lord did.

"You, um, you look very handsome tonight." As if Loki couldn't tell.

Hob’s reaction to his magic only makes him smile. Loki doesn’t think he’ll ever tire of impressing people with his tricks. And that first time someone sees it is always his favourite.

“You are most welcome.” Loki swirls the wine around in his glass before smelling it and taking a small sip, as if he were a true sommelier. It’s quite good and Loki looks at his glass for a moment, impressed with what this place has available for him to conjure.

He might be a god, but he’s shed much of his beliefs about being superior. He’s learned so much since being taken by the TVA that he no longer believes he is better than anyone else. Merely different. He might have some skills that allow him to be better at certain things, but that is all.

Loki preens just slightly. No matter how much he’s learned, he does still love a compliment, especially one coming from such a handsome man. “Why thank you. I have to say though, you are giving me quite a run for my money. I am sure there are many eyes here on you in that suit.” Loki’s included.

As far as Hob is concerned, Loki is as classy as any noble Hob has ever met. More so, even, though Loki does not act above others, making him far better company.

He takes a sip of the wine and finds it's quite good. Hob is pleased with it, judging by the look on his face, but he could be sipping water and still look just as happy to be in Loki's company.

"Oh, no, hardly." He doesn't think he's particularly noticeable in a room like this. Loki, on the other hand, stands out.

A lot has changed in Loki’s life, but that has never really affected his manners. At least not when he’s in full control of his faculties. It also might have a bit to do with wanting to impress Hob. He’s been so nice to him, even when he wasn’t being himself. It makes him want to be on his best behaviour.

Loki feels rather pleased when Hob clearly likes his choice in wine. Somehow any time he manages to do something that Hob likes makes him feel rather pleasant.

“Humble too? My oh my, what have I done to make friends with someone as lovely as you?” His smile widens. Was he flirting? He might be flirting.

Being there for Loki when this place is messing with their heads is the least Hob thinks he can do as a friend. And he believes Loki would do the same for him.

Is Hob picking up on that flirtatious tone? Maybe. He's not entirely sure if Loki is flirting or if he's just reading into it. Loki does joke around a bit, so that could be all it is? Either way, Hob does laugh sheepishly.

"I'm not sure what I ever did to be friends with a god. Especially one as impressive as Loki of Asgard." He's going to imbibe more liquid courage.

Loki doesn’t know what he’s done to deserve such treatment, or such a good friend, but he’s not about to turn it down. He’s been feeling so terrible lately that it doesn't even occur to him that almost no one here knows his past. They only know how he’s been here and that perhaps that person might be likeable.

He is flirting, but Loki also doesn’t expect anything to come of it so he’s also putting a joking edge on it. It’s a bit of a defence mechanism, but he hardly knows he’s doing it.

“Impressive? Well I can’t say I don’t enjoy hearing that. But it seems all you had to do was be yourself. I think many of us could learn much from that.” Loki included.

Hob smiles down into his wine, licking his lips in thought. Maybe it's the party or the wine, but he can't resist asking.

"Do you dance? I mean, would you like to? With me."

Just in case his meaning had to be clarified that much. He doesn't think Loki will turn him down, but he's nervous up until he hears the answer, anyway.

There’s a moment when Loki thinks maybe he’s misheard or misunderstands. He looks at Hob, a little surprised for a moment before a smile spreads across his face. He’s still torn on if he should get close to anyone here, but he’s starting to think that it might be a little late for him when it comes to this man in particular.

“Yes, I do, indeed, dance and I would love to dance with you.”

Loki holds out his hand to lead him onto the dance floor. “Would you like to lead or shall I?”

They've both been here long enough that it's difficult not to get attached to others. Hob already grew attached to several people, but they left. That was hard. It doesn't make him want to stop getting to know people, though, especially not Loki.

He reaches to gently take the glass of wine from Loki's hand and sets both of their drinks down on a nearby table.

"Why don't you start, and I'll take the next one?" One dance has already become two.

That is a way in which Hob is a much stronger person than Loki and it is something he really appreciates in him. Perhaps he will take a page out of his book and make more of an effort with some of the others here. He has had pleasant enough conversations with a few others at least.

Loki hands over the glass, smiling at Hob as he then holds out his hand so he can lead him out to the dance floor. “That sounds like a good a plan as any.”

Loki’s dance still is rather old fashioned to most, and he hopes it is something Hob knows, though he trusts he can lead well enough for Hob to follow.

Hob is definitely accustomed to old fashioned. So long as the dance is something that resembles what they do on earth, he should pick things up quickly. He has lived through many centuries where dancing has changed, but nothing beats a slow dance close to his partner, in his opinion.

"Did you do a lot of dancing back home? I'm sure there must have been parties."

The dance is fairly simply and similar enough to a basic waltz. All it really requires is for Loki to hold Hob close, one arm around his lower back and the other holding his hand. Maybe, if he's feeling bold (which he usually is) he might try to spin his partner or even give him a dip.

"When I was younger, yes," he replies, leading Hob out onto the dancefloor. "There were many feasts and celebrations I was," he pauses, "required to attend. Duties of a prince and all that. But that was quite some time ago now. And none of my dance partners were quite as nice as you."

It occurs to Loki that he can't quite remember if he mentioned being a prince to Hob before. It's a part of his past he doesn't think much about anymore, even if he thinks of his family more than ever.

The fact that Loki is a prince was shared, not that it mattered to Hob. Prince or not, he thinks Loki is pretty spectacular. Still, he figured a prince would have to attend the occasional party.

As they move together, Hob's hand on Loki's shoulder and the other held, it's hard not to spend time admiring how handsome the god is up close. The compliment gets a smile from Hob.

"If I told anyone I ever knew that I'd one day be dancing with a prince, none would believe me." Hob can hardly believe it, himself.

Hob not caring about such things might be one of the reasons Loki is so drawn to him. His former title makes him feel a little awkward now because it’s a representation of who he once was and is so different from who he is now. Princes and Kings and ruling this place or that had once been something he found very important, but since taking the multiverse on his shoulders, he’s found all that to feel almost foreign to him now.

But Hob, he doesn’t mind or care about any of that frivolous stuff. There are some, he assumes, who might think him more important than he is simply because of his former title, and Loki doesn’t really know how to react to that sort of thing.

Loki can’t help but smile at Hob. It’s nice to be this close with someone. And not just anyone. He really thinks Hob is someone special. After all, it’s not like just anyone catches his attention. And as much as Loki has tried to keep everyone at arms length, he simply hasn’t been able to do so with this extraordinary man.

“Oh? Are you sure they wouldn't be more impressed with you dancing with a god?” His smile and his tone are a bit teasing, but there’s also a fondness there. Besides, Loki still uses the moniker of ‘god’ as opposed to prince.

Four hundred years ago, Loki's status probably would have mattered a great deal. Hob has had plenty of years to grow beyond the mortal obsession with wealth and status. He's seen how quickly one's fortune can take a turn. In the end, it's not all that important. What's important are people, and Loki is a person Hob has grown very fond of.

"They wouldn't believe that, either. Unless they mistook the words as my way of complimenting you." A god. A prince. But in truth, the real thing and not a figure of speech.

That kind of lesson is something that can only truly be learned with a long life. Things that most mortals would find important suddenly do not feel so important when you live many of their lifetimes. It could be why he did not appreciate the lives of humans for so long, but really that would just be an excuse. Loki knows that there was much more to how he used to feel about other species. He's glad he's grown since then though. There is much to be learned about life and people in general, and he's glad he has been given such a chance.

Without it, he never would've had the chance to meet Hob, after all.

"Well, I hope I one day get the chance to show them the truth of it, though I would not mind the compliment either." He smiles at Hob, a glint of mischief in his eyes, and an honest smile on his face. He swung Hob around then and dipped him slowly before drawing him back up, his smile widening into a grin.

Hob knows Loki has a past, but it would be hard to imagine him so callous towards others. Not when he's been such a warm, lovely person since Hob met him. Hob finds the man endlessly charming in a way he's never experienced before. It's hard not to keep smiling around him, especially as they dance.

When he's dipped, Hob's face turns red with a blush, his arm securing itself around Loki's shoulder some more. When he's lifted up, his hold has them very close, his other hand on Loki's chest.

"It wouldn't take much convincing once anyone meets you. Though, I don't really have anyone to brag to these days."

Knowing Hob thinks of him like that would actually be a bit of a relief. Loki is confident in how much he's changed, or he was with his TVA friends. But now that he's back out in the real world, for lack of a better term, where he could and has met people who knew him before, but obviously not after could cause him much strife. Warranted strife, he knows, but the idea that someone who didn't know all the details about what he's done sees him as good in any way is simply wonderful.

Loki laughs good-naturedly at Hob's blush. He did hope for a reaction and what he gets is so much better than he imagined. Once again a voice in the back of his head says he shouldn't be doing this, shouldn't be flirting or really getting close to anyone, but he simply can't help himself. Hob is irresistible.

"I suppose it is a good thing I don't require such attention anymore then. Though I admit it would likely be amusing to see the look on their faces if they were to meet me."

"I'm certain the look would be jealousy. They'd wonder what someone as incredibly handsome as you were doing hanging around with me." Hob doesn't think himself ugly by any means, but Loki's looks are on another level entirely.

Hob is quite common in many ways, but that's part of the reason why he was chosen. He can't really represent humanity unless he's a lot like the rest of them.

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abit_ofboth - 2024-12-27 23:28 (UTC) - Expand

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