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

[leastdramatic]

[Jason relates to that sentiment all too well. Witnessing the endless cruelty toward innocent lives is a large part of what shaped Jason's ethics]

It's easier to criticize when you haven't been at the ground level. But for one reason or another, others don't believe in an eye for an eye.

[sonofzod]

I do.

[ For now anyway. He's not really dealt with the push back to that ideal yet. ]

[leastdramatic]

Yeah, I get it. There's a certain logic to it, especially when you see enough injustice for long enough.

[sonofzod]

[ He doesn't say anything to that. Not at first. Injustice was part of his formative years. Hernan knew it well enough. But a moment later, he glances in Jason's direction. ]

How much injustice have you experienced, Jason?

[leastdramatic]

[Jason huffs out a humorless laugh]

By the time I was 12, I already knew how to solo steal tires off of cars and what a person with a drug overdose looks like. No kid should have to go through any of that to survive.

[sonofzod]

[ Jason would find no disagreement here. He's seen his fair share of suffering - his own and others - and it made him hopeless once. Now he's determined to end it. ]

You're right.

[leastdramatic]

And some people don't leave that kind of life because they can't. I was just one of the lucky ones to be given some hope despite all that.

[Another short pause as Jason considers how to phrase his next comments]

What gives you hope or motivation?

[sonofzod]

[ the concept almost makes him laugh. It was taken from him as a boy and he didn't need it as an adult. He could have his way if he truly wanted it. So...]

What do I need hope for?

[leastdramatic]

Technically it’s not needed but sometimes it’s better that instead of running on pure spite and bitterness.

[A painful lesson that Jason has had to learn]

[sonofzod]

[ He wasn't bitter. At least, not in a way that motivated him. Instead, he remembers that girl. The one who smiled like Valentina. ]

My sister. She told me I could help people. I believed her.

[leastdramatic]

[Jason listens thoughtfully and thinks about how the other heroes he knows are motivated or what got them started. There’s always a key person involved]

It’s something. What’s a protector without people they care about?

[sonofzod]

[ Nothing. Nothing at all. There he was, thinking things he'd rather not again. He's grateful when their destination comes into his line of sight. ]

Jason, thanks. I think I can take it from here.

[leastdramatic]

[Jason nods. He’s done enough poking about some possibly sensitive topics for now]

Anytime. Just be aware there are some more people who would recognize a Superman, even if it’s not you specifically.

[sonofzod]

[ He shrugs and smiles at Jason. ]

That's fine. I am the only Superman that matters.