FEBRUARY MINGLE

[etrayamods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: February 14th - March
WHERE: Etraya
WHAT: The arrival of newcomers, a mini mission, and some new city features!
NOTES\WARNINGS:

⏵ arrival ⏴ Welcome to Etraya! Arrival goes as expected - characters awaken on hospital beds and are offered an explanation of their situation: that they have arrived in the city of Etraya, and they are their world's only hope. They are welcome to wander the hospital if they would like to - the upper floors are mostly empty, full of pristine hallways and numerous rooms filled with supplies, cots, and things one would expect from a relatively average 21st-century hospital. In the hospital's lobby are several party tables set out with miscellaneous baked goods: croissants, cookies, breads, cake slices, as well as tea and coffee to accompany them - or hot chocolate, for those who are opposed to the other offerings. Outside the hospital, the last remnants of snow are melting in the sunlight as the weather begins to warm up. It's still chilly enough one might want to put on a coat, but not so cold a jacket is necessary for wandering around without freezing off one's fingers. We hope you enjoy your stay. ⏵ heroes return ⏴ As the Quantum Rail train glides to a halt, returning passengers step out onto familiar ground - the train station, right where they had initially begun their mission. When exiting the station, their earpieces vibrate, indicating the automatic download of a detailed map which highlights key locations, transit paths, and notable landmarks. As Aurora promised, she had been working on a few renovations around Etraya! A sleek trolley system now winds through Etraya, following clearly marked pathways through the city bubble to make travel across the city smoother. However, the trolley only moves one way, eternally following the loop Aurora has set it on. And because of this, it takes six hours to complete it's loop all the way around. Don't miss your stop! Pets and animals have been returned to their usual preferred areas, some awaiting the arrival of their owners, and others keeping to themselves in the forested areas throughout Etraya. Beyond the small upgrades, things seem relatively unchanged - until one familiar sign catches the eye. One marked by four vertical lines, methodically crossed out one by one: the final slash has now been drawn through. The tally is complete. What it indicates has yet to be made clear, but it has to mean something, right? No one would go through the effort of making an ominous-sounding sign without following through. ⏵ love in the air ⏴ This Valentines Day, Aurora and the companion bots have opted to try something a little different: they have scattered mystery valentines across the city. Hidden within mailboxes, tucked into cafe menus, slipped under doors, on the outside of high windows for those wall-crawlers to spot. There are countless of these little slips of papers, strewn throughout the city. And within each valentine, is a challenge or gesture to complete. Please feel free to make these up yourselves as long as they fit in with the theme! Some examples include: Deliver a flower to a stranger. Write a heartfelt poem for someone. Share a box of chocolates! Confess your feelings for another. Play matchmaker for two people - this can be platonic, or romantic! Gift a friend with a stuffed animal. Give five different people a genuine compliment. While not mandatory, completing five tasks will earn an individual an additional ten points to use towards anything they would like! Each little Valentine is signed "Your Secret Admirer. ♡", and some of them may even be addressed to specific individuals. Don't be surprised, Eddie, if you see one or two that are specifically addressed to you lurking around your collection of chicken friends! And while most of these are harmless, some of the valentines cards come with effects for those who come into contact with the paper. Perhaps they thought it was a piece of garbage, or were just kicking it out of the way rather than intending on taking part. It doesn't matter! They get to join in on the fun, too. Heart Eyes - your pupils literally turn into hearts for a few hours, making it hard to focus on anything other than things (or people) you find attractive. Love-Struck Stammer - You can only speak in poetic compliments or romantic declarations, regardless of whom you're speaking to. Chocolate Bliss - Everything feels good. Simple. Easy. As if there's nothing in the world to concern yourself with. You feel happy, without any concerns or worry. Rose-Tinted Vision - everything looks soft and romantic, as if you're in a romance novel. You know the ones. Magnetic Attraction - regardless of what you had been doing, you suddenly find yourself unable to leave the side of the person closest to you. Had you been eating chocolates while walking down the street? Well, have fun getting stuck to the guy who'd been out for a jog! Serenade Syndrome - you find it impossible to resist the urge to sing your words, turning all conversations into love ballads. Heartstrings - A thread appears, connecting you to someone close by who you share many similarities too. Perhaps you had never met this person before, but the threads tied around your pinky fingers that refuse to let go until you allow yourself to open up to them clearly means you should be a little more familiar with them. Love is in the air—or maybe just a bit of well-intended chaos! 💕 ⏵ NOTES ⏴ Welcome back from the mission, and welcome to Etraya for our newcomers! We've tried to keep this log simple for an easy introduction, as well as some downtime for our mission-goers who worked hard to solve the Quantum Rail mystery. There is something else going on, but. . . well, no one seems to know what! The computer that had been on the lower floor of the hospital is now missing, and Aurora may seem a little flustered as she flits around Etraya, in search of something. 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

[instabilitatem]

They were long stairs.

[Blink blink.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Wasn’t born yesterday, Connor. Need to get your eyes checked out if you think I was.

[Hank doesn’t know how to help him, especially when he won’t talk.]

What’s with the bullshit? Why are you lying to me, Connor?

[instabilitatem]

[Connor hits a wall in his programming. Lieutenant Hank Anderson is not permitted to know above this level. The wall is dark red and Connor has been hit with enough times it could have knocked the plates off his face.

And yet he's still half-willing to take another blow to reconnect with Hank after so long apart.]

I am not permitted to tell you. [Which is already leaning heavily against his programming.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Uh huh. [Lips pursed.] This some CyberLife bullshit then? Kamski? Did that fucker hurt you? Because if he did, I swear to god I’m gonna fucking...

[Not that there’s much for Hank to do from here. But he would.]

[instabilitatem]

I simply fell down the stairs, lieutenant.

[Just every stair that has ever existed.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Ya fell down the stairs, yeah, I heard that the first eight times, Connor.

[SIGH. Hank rolls his eyes.]

If you can’t tell me about how you “fell down the stairs,” then why the hell are you feeding me that bullshit at all?

[instabilitatem]

I am not permitted to tell you certain information, lieutenant. Including why I'm lying to you.

[At least Connor can openly admit that he's lying.]

If I could, I would tell you everything. Please know that.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

You know I don’t like seeing you hurt, Connor.

[...Does he?]

And this is — [gesturing to Connor’s face again] — I don’t even fucking know. But whoever told you I’d fall for this bullshit excuse is a stupid motherfucker.

You can tell me anything, Connor. Thought you knew that.

[instabilitatem]

[Connor is quiet for a long moment, considering but facing the wall in his programming again.]

I apologize, lieutenant. I want to, but it goes against my programming.

[Which means that someone has been in Connor as much as they have on the outside.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Fuck your programming. My Connor wouldn’t let some programming hold him back. He’d fight.

[Another sad look up at Connor.]

You’re more than what they designed you to be.

[instabilitatem]

[My Connor as if Connor isn't already standing in front of him. A bit broken, a bit used, but Connor all the same.

Or perhaps his predecessor was destroyed and Connor is comparing him to something he will never achieve.

Connor isn't entirely certain why, but he feels a bit more like an outsider than he already is.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[Hank stares at Connor. Wishing for some reaction, some snap.

But there’s nothing. And what the hell is Hank supposed to do with that?

He’s stepping past Connor — needs some damn air, some time to think — but the stupid thread fucking snaps him back.]

Of-fucking—course. [Reeling back on Connor now.] The fuck am I supposed to do?

[instabilitatem]

It's part of legend that one can cut the red string of fate. It typically results after rejection of the soul on the other side.

[But does he have a soul still after being beaten down, after losing pieces of him he may never get back.]

I can do that for you if you wish.

[Connor does not look pleased with this outlook, but his expressions are even harder to read with faceplates missing.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Whoa, whoa. Hey. I’m not fucking rejecting anything, you’re the one who won’t tell me shit.

[Hank rubs a hand over his face.]

We don’t know jack shit about this thing. You are not cutting it.

[instabilitatem]

I can't tell you anything, lieutenant. It's classified.

[Connor is about to find an edge to cut the string with when Hank stops him. He looks up at Hank and looks frankly pathetic. It's the first time he's seen Hank in over a year and he wants them to return to where they were, but Connor knows his lying is doing nothing to help.

He shuts his eyes for a moment, examines the wall and thinks he may have an answer.]

Perhaps I could tell myself things. And you could happen to be nearby.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Fuck your goddamn classified —

[Would that even work? Him just standing here?

Hank shrugs. Raises his hands, palms out.]

Be my guest, then.

[He steps back, as far as the thread will allow — which isn’t exactly far.]

[instabilitatem]

Connor, you are damaged. [Clearly addressing himself as he talks in the other direction and his programming seems to allow it.] Connor, you are damaged because you have died more than once. And there are no parts to fix you.

[Connor takes a breath he doesn't need to continue.]

Connor, you are here on a mission. The mission is-- [And that's where his programming fights back.]

The mission is--- [Connor winces before he tries again.] Connor, the mission is---

[Only to be met with more resistance. So he steps back.]

Connor, you are lying to the lieutenant because of this mission.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[Hank waits until Connor stops talking, not wanting interrupt the whole process.]

We’re gonna fix you, Connor. [How? Hank has no idea, but leaving Connor broken — hurt — isn’t an option for him.] So, you’re on a mission. That related at all to how you kept saying we got work to do?

[instabilitatem]

No, Connor, the mission is separate from the valentines. [Connor doubts he'll be fixed. He's spent a long time looking the way he does and any pursuits into repairing him are in vain. He turns back to Hank with a slight smile.] I think the idea worked to the best that it can.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Thanks for that, Connor. [Gears whirring now.] Didn’t mean to be an ass, I’m just worried. Always gotta fuckin’ worry with you, huh?

So — someone gonna help fix you up if you complete this “mission?”

[Hank doesn’t expect a reply. Just thinking out loud.]

[instabilitatem]

[Connor looks apologetic as he replies,] I apologize, lieutenant. I have been missing pieces for some time. I did not mean to worry you.

[As for the rest,] I am not permitted to tell you.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

I figured.

[Hank sucks in a deep breath.]

It’s okay, Connor. I mean — [shrugging his shoulders] — it’s obviously fucking not. But I know you’re trying.

[Eyes squinting as he gives Connor a look-over.]

Doesn’t hurt, does it?

[instabilitatem]

[Connor watches Hank for a moment before admitting quietly,] It does hurt. It's very sensitive.

[ He holds up his hands, which have the same sort of mismatched black and nude coloring.] It makes it more difficult to work.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Connor...

[Hank’s expression falls when he hears that confession. That Connor is in pain. Assuming that someone did this to him — not some goddamn stairs.

His eye twitches. Reaching out with the pinky-threaded hand before he drops it back at his side. Not wanting to hurt Connor.]

How can I help with your... mission?

[instabilitatem]

I am not permitted to tell you. [Connor wants to, but he can't say anything. He simply has to carry it out as he's able.] I can only say I'm sorry that our time together will be so brief.

[Since he assumes he'll be either destroyed or returned home where life like this is an every day occurrence.]