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

Quentin Coldwater; the Magicians

[filloryfanboy]

Arrival

Waking up in the hospital causes a kick of panic, a frantic memory of the last time he thought he woke up in a medical setting with no knowledge of how he got there. (And of course he'd, he'd considered it when he realized the library wasn't part of Brakebills, of course he did, he's not an idiot. Of course, he doesn't know who would have possibly trapped him in a dream again or why, and the level of consistency, the lack of nightmare elements eventually made him dismiss the possibility that this was just another Scarlatti Web.) But no one's keeping him here, he's not trapped. And while he's not sure how much he trusts Aurora's explanation, he spends plenty of time with her, asking questions, getting information. At the end, he takes the earpiece and goes looking for an exit.

When he finds the spread in the lobby, he hesitates. He's hungry, yeah, but he also doesn't trust it. It's a little too Alice in Wonderland for him; what if it's drugged? So he perches at a table with a plate and a croissant. There's a spell for detecting poison and other dangerous ingredients, and pretty much every Cottage student knows it by heart for safety reasons. His main concern is that he doesn't know the Circumstances for the proper casting - but then, if he tries it and it doesn't work, that's information, too, isn't it? If he's somewhere on Earth, then maybe he can triangulate where he is from what went wrong (if you were that good at magic, his brain helpfully reminds him, that idea's more Alice Quinn-level shit).

He decides to go for it, anyway, muttering a couple words and moving swiftly through a couple sets of complex-looking hand gestures. The spell's supposed to light up the item if there's something dangerous in it; instead, the whole thing goes on fucking fire, and he jerks away from it. It's a small fire, admittedly, and there isn't much for it to feed on, but he still rushes to a table to grab an entire pitcher of water and douse it.

"So - so not Earth, I guess," he says aloud with a shaky voice.

Chocolate Bliss

There's probably some irony to the fact that the medically-diagnosed Ball of Anxiety gets the Valentine that makes him feel Chill As Fuck. Admittedly, he's aware enough to realize that he's been affected by something (contact high? something he ate, maybe?), but he also can't muster the right emotions to worry about it. Because everything feels pretty great, actually? It can't be that bad if it makes him feel this good.

Unfortunately, the valentine also says to pass it on to someone else, and he can't think of any good reason not to (because it just makes you feel good, right? that's not a problem), so he's currently surveilling the area for someone who looks like they could use a little holiday love. Maybe it's you he's heading towards now.

Bring Your Own!

[tag him with an original starter or contact me to plot out something else!]

Arrival

[shadowsincryo]

As Quentin rushes to grab the pitcher, Kaeya turns back to the tables. He walks over and flicks his fingers. Ice snaps up around the pastry to prevent damage to the table. “Not a name familiar to me. But, this isn’t anywhere in Teyvat either. According to our benefactor we’re very far from our homes.”

He looks over the pastries and picks up a cookie. “You weren’t looking to toast that, were you?”

[filloryfanboy]

That was - much quicker and tidier magic than he expected to see. Even if manipulation of ice (or water?) is this person's Discipline, a finger snap isn't exactly a spell.

"It was, uh, supposed to test it for poison or drugs." He still pours some water on the painfully burnt croissant to get the fire out faster, though it would've run out of fuel pretty soon with the ice surrounding it. "I cast it with the wrong Circumstances."

[shadowsincryo]

"And I assume that's a necessary component to your workings." He pulls out the chair and drops into it. His ice glows with a faint blue light. "I'm not sure she would. Neither the message I heard when I arrived nor the one here has that impression." He taps the ice, and it all breaks apart into motes of light that fade away.

"But that could be hoping for reason and logic in chaos."

[filloryfanboy]

"Well, I don't think I woke from a natural sleep in the hospital, so - "

He's just saying. He wasn't sure he'd expect to be poisoned because that seems like Aurora would have gone through an awful lot of effort just to kill him. Mind-altering substances, though? Maybe. The fact was forced on him recently that even people you trust can sometimes do shitty things to you, and he doesn't even trust Aurora.

chocolate bliss

[leewards]

Quentin is not the only one raiding chocolates.

Well, Ithaqua would have, but it seems they're running low on supplies, thus he's just lurking for new ones to come. He may have never had chocolate before coming here, he can't go back now-- he's fairly sure he won't be able to forget the taste of it.

He sighs, resting his back against a wall, his boots flat on the ground for once and his stilts strapped to his back with the axe. His mask is still on, so his expressions are hidden away, but he's noticed someone coming, and he's waiting.

"You look like you have a purpose, little one."

[filloryfanboy]

It takes him a second to realize that he's the one being addressed, given that he's not used to being called little one (he's an average height, okay, not short), but any thoughts he might have about that or about Ithaqua's appearance slide away like any other thoughts of anxiety or worry.

"Oh, um, the Valentine? It says to pass it on."

[leewards]

"Oh~?" Immediately, he looks at the man's hands. Then back at his face, head moving in an unsubtle manner. He's clearly asking what the plan is without putting any of it into words.

"Very well! I shall humour you."

Now he straightens up, and shakes his clothes off righting his hood as he does so.

[filloryfanboy]

Oh, this is normal. What a deeply, incredibly normal thing that his Valentine's drugs are working very hard to keep his usual levels of anxiety from spiking over. He just. Blinks up at Ithaqua and hands over the little paper Valentine that smells like chocolate and is definitely coated in something psychedelic.

"Uh. Happy Valentines?"

Arrival

[snapp_crackle]

Obviously there's only one reason for there to be fire suddenly indoors! The teenager dressed like some sort of fantasy wizard yelps and jumps out of his seat, a intentional fireball flaring to life in his hand. He's knocked his coffee over and will be embarrassed about that later.

"What's going on, are we under attack?!"

[filloryfanboy]

It's not that Quentin can't empathize with being on something of a hair trigger, but now that he's staring at a fireball in some kid's hands (which is, incidentally, some very impressive spellwork), he might understand why his anxiety gets on people's nerves?

"No one's under attack! It was an accident, and you should probably put that out!" he calls out because one unexpected fire was more than enough.

[snapp_crackle]

"We're not? Right, no problem-"

Popp's eyes dart towards the outdoors - there's a lot of snow, what if he just. No, there could be people out there, okay, new plan! He puts his other hand on top of the fire and presses down. There's some internal magic interplay going on here, but the main logic he's working off of is that he is more fireproof than most of the things in this room.

Phew... he's really glad that this worked (it did) and that it looked very natural and professional (it did not).

"No problem at all!"

[filloryfanboy]

The kind of spells that would create a fireball in your hands also typically include some kind of secondary spellwork to fireproof your skin and prevent injuring yourself, so it's maybe not as startling to Quentin as it would be to someone else, though he definitely recognizes the awkwardness in putting it out.

"You're, um. You're okay? I didn't mean to scare you."

chocolate bliss

[tinflower]

Does looking utterly confused by a selection of flower bouquets make a person seem like they need to chill out? This guy is wearing a pretty heavy brow at he just...stares at the flowers.

He also happens to be a half-orc, 6'6" in height, but dressed in a hoodie and skinny jeans that would make him fit well in any American street, as long as they were also used by half-orcs. But these flowers seem like they must be the most foreign thing out here in the world, and he doesn't know if anyone is approaching him until they're up close.

And it's only then that Quentin doesn't get to speak first, but instead: "Hey, uh, do you like-- sports? Cool stuff? Being cool?"

Important questioning, first!

[filloryfanboy]

Magical creatures do exist. Quentin learned about them at school. Fairies, river dragons, whatever - and while he doesn't remember receiving confirmation about orcs, this seems. Reasonable? Though weirdly, the fact that he's dressed in a hoodie and jeans somehow makes him look even stranger than if he was in the kind of fantasy garb Q would normally envision an orc wearing.

"I, uh - I'm not really known for being cool but I... know of sports?"

[tinflower]

Gorgug looks at him, blinking at his response; black scleras upon white pupils, and his expression is one that looks blank momentary. ...or maybe longer, even as he asks:

"Okay, so... if I gave you flowers, or if you gave me flowers..." Slowly, slowly does it (this line of thinking he's trying to make happen, that is). "...is that cool?"

[filloryfanboy]

Yeah, he's. He's totally lost, now.

"Are you asking if you can give me flowers? Because, uh, I guess?"

chocolate bliss

[maximumlegend]

Poor Quentin. He's approaching Fabian without any ill intentions, and despite the fact that Fabian doesn't even know Quentin, he's already pulling a very agonized face over here. Just by watching the other approach. Before he's even heard Quentin say a single word.

"Oh no," Fabian even says. Audibly. "This isn't part of the-- the whole hearts nonsense, is it?"

Well, at least that statement clarifies that it's less of a personal problem with Quentin, and more with something else.. Even though Fabian sure is still making that agonized facial expression.

[filloryfanboy]

Well.

Due to the fact that Quentin still has social anxiety somewhere hidden under that heavily-medicated exterior, he pauses, not - not wanting to make this guy unhappy. This wasn't supposed to be about making anyone unhappy. "I just, um. I thought you might like this?" he says, hopefully holding out the Valentine that gave him a contact high.

[maximumlegend]

The worst part here is that Fabian doesn't even immediately take it. Not even now. He's just staring at Quentin and the other's Valentine for a moment, and only after what might seem like an agonizing eternity from the other does Fabian take it from his hands, letting out a sigh as he does so.

"Why are you even doing this?" He asks - sounding a little exasperated, but without any directed annoyance. "I mean, you don't even look like you are having a good time right now."

[filloryfanboy]

Why is he doing it? Honestly, he hadn't really thought it through, and he gives an awkward shrug in response. "I guess I felt - obligated? I'm not sure." Apparently, he'll earn... something for it, but he's not too clear on what that entails.

chocolate bliss

[clavesregni]

'Deliver a flower to a stranger' is the instruction on the paper that Caitlyn's holding. She's standing uncomfortably in the street, holding a single carnation and looking around for someone to give it to, when she spots someone she doesn't recognise approaching. Perfect. The smile on her face doesn't reach her eyes — she doesn't go around doing this sort of thing, it's new and unusual and, frankly, more than a little awwkard given that this holiday is apparently meant to be romantic — but it's perfectly sincere.

"I've been tasked with giving a flower to a stranger, and I don't believe we've met."

She holds the carnation out to him.

[filloryfanboy]

This is honestly probably one of the nicest, most benign interactions he's had so far from this whole Valentine's mess, and the smile on his face is probably at its most genuine. It's a nice carnation, and he takes it with care. "Thanks. I'd, um, I'd give you one back, but I don't have one?"

If only he had his magic working correctly, or he could solve that easily. "I'm Quentin."

[clavesregni]

"Quite alright. I don't believe that's required." It's not a requirement of her task, certainly, or the little piece of paper would have said as much. And, as far as she's aware, it isn't a requirement of any sort of social convention related to this holiday, either.

"Caitlyn." She holds her hand out for a rather stiff, formal handshake. "Is this something that exists in your world? I'm afraid giving flowers to strangers as part of a holiday celebration is new to me."

[filloryfanboy]

"Well, it's not usually strangers who get flowers on Valentines? At least not, not the way that I've heard of it celebrated."

And Quentin hasn't really been in a relationship long enough or at the right time of year to celebrate Valentine's as a couple. Not that he really wants to think of that right now. He's in too good a mood for that.

He accepts the hand. "It's usually couples."