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

[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.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Not even permitted to get help? [Hank shakes his head.] Fucking hate this mission, Connor, and I don’t even know what hell it is.

And you’re — [pausing to suck in a breath] — not gonna tell me what the fuck that’s about either, huh? Our time together isn’t going to be brief.

[Another cope — more for himself than Connor.]

[instabilitatem]

[Connor pulls at the programming, really tries to fight it, but gets knocked away. He curls his hands up under his arms and shakes his head.] I am not permitted to tell you, lieutenant. I apologize.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Quit apologizing. I know it’s not your fault. [He knows now. Although he wishes his pushing would’ve helped. Useless.] Just don’t get what the hell I’m supposed to do to help you.

[The thought of not helping Connor isn’t even an option. Whether it’s with his mission, or figuring out an alternative way of getting him fixed up.]

Guess we really were fated to meet like this again. [Stupid goddamn thread.] Shit’s not the same unless I got you to worry about, huh?

[instabilitatem]

Perhaps worrying about something operative like the valentines will help.

[Not that Conner has any real confidence in following the tricks of another world.]

What does the card say? [Connor looks down to the little card and tries to read it.] "Tell someone you care."

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Well, that’s real easy, at least. That’s all?

[A little surprised that it’s not saying to do something weird.

And it doesn’t matter to Hank whether him going along with it helps, but the words are easy to say, regardless:] I care about you, Connor. I care about you a lot.

[instabilitatem]

[Connor blinks at Hank as he speaks, a slight smile spreading across his lips. It's something timid, sheltered, as if he's worried Hank might hurt him if he appreciates the sentiment too much.

This is a wounded animal Hank is talking with.]

I care about you, too, lieutenant. I wish I could tell you more about my circumstances.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

I know. [Hank meets Connor’s smile with his own sad one.] Wish I could hug you.

[A pause, then, before Hank clarifies, perhaps unnecessarily:] But I’m not gonna. You don’t gotta worry about me. Last thing I want to do is hurt you, Connor.

[instabilitatem]

I do not think a hug would hurt me, lieutenant. [Connor does steel himself for the pain, but he has such a need.] The missing plates are all on visible surfaces.

[Which, before Connor can do more, he spots another valentine.]

Unless it would make you uncomfortable. I have spotted our next valentine.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[Hank isn’t sure he entirely believes that — that it won’t hurt — but for his own sake, maybe, he decides to trust Connor.]

We’ll figure this out. [Pulling Connor into a hug, avoiding his skin — if that helps? Hank has no idea. Closing his eyes as he awkwardly pats Connor’s back.] Not uncomfortable. Just don’t want to hurt you, like I said.

[The hug isn’t satisfying, not like Hank needs, but he doesn’t want to push it. Stepping back now, rolling his eyes to grab at Valentines tucked in mailboxes.] You really determined to do this shit, huh?

[instabilitatem]

[Connor silently winces as Hank closes his his arms around him. It does hurt, but it's so... nice? Comforting? Safe?

All feelings he shouldn't be having. Androids don't have feelings.

Connor is growing more worried he won't be able to leave at the end of his mission if he lets too many feelings in.]

I confess, I would rather do something in your presence than my compatriots.

[He moves over to the little heart and pulls it out. The string disappears and instead it seems that a magnet is pulling the two of them together!]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Well, good. ‘Cause you’re not getting rid of me that easy. Suppose you can’t tell me about these “compatriots” either, yeah?

[Hank can feel the odd pull, and again he has to mutter and groan about all the bullshit with Aurora’s games.]

You’re killing me, Connor. You keep poking around these things and we’re gonna end up with something even weirder, I fuckin’ guarantee.

[instabilitatem]

I am not permitted to tell you.

[Connor slides right up against Hank and it hurts. Trying not to wince, Connor opens the card to focus on instead. Except what he reads is... considerably more salacious than the last one.]

Of course... Daddy.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[Connor sliding up next to him is one thing; it’s like they just snap together. As inconvenient as it is, trying to pull away just makes Hank tired.

But then he hears that word coming out of Connor’s mouth, and it’s like a record scratch.]

Connor, what the fuck?

[Hank is mishearing things. Obviously. Connor did not just call him “daddy.”]

Do you even know what that — you know what? No. [Tugging his arm back ever so slightly but now that Connor’s next to him, it’s as if there’s no give.] Just had to go and get your hands on that stupid card, huh? Just had to do it.