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]

I primarily need plates to cover the exposed wiring. That would reduce the amount of pain I’m experiencing.

[Connor looks up at Hank.]

Do you have a residence here?

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Un-fucking-fortunately.

[Hank doesn’t elaborate, just starts making his way to the elevator.

Voice softening as he says:]

If it’s too much for you, just... give a holler. [The leash of their little string thing is starting to piss him off, though.] The fuck are we supposed to do with this? And no, we are not cutting it, Connor.

[He remembers what Connor had said about rejection, so...]

How do we do the opposite of all that? Not gonna cut it, not gonna reject you.

[instabilitatem]

Perhaps we should return to your residence, then.

[It’s not as if Connor can investigate Aurora while he’s tied to Hank.]

We can determine the course of action for the string.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Yeah, I’ll show you my residence, all right.

[It’s not as if Connor is wandering off the way Sumo does sometimes, anyway.

Regardless: up the elevator. Tapping along his thigh with his free hand till they get out and head down the hall to Hank’s apartment.]

Not sure I’ll have much that’ll help.

[Or anything, really. But Hank will just have to figure that out when they get to it.]

[instabilitatem]

I am confident we will find something helpful.

[And if not, Connor can encourage Hank to break the string. It will possibly cause further damage, but Connor is already quite damaged.]

(Hank voice) not the string Connor NO !!

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Guess that makes one of us. [Hank pauses at the door.] I’ll try to keep Sumo off you, just... be careful. He’s a fuckin’ giant oaf, but you know he loves you.

[He doesn’t really give himself time to wonder if this Connor knows that — if this Connor ever really got to spend time with his dog, even — before Hank is opening the door.

Sumo raises his head from his food bowl before moseying on over. Greeting his duo with a soft “borf.“ Thwapping his tail against the ground until Hank is able to get him lay in his bed instead of crowding Connor.]

connor yes

[instabilitatem]

[Upon seeing Sumo, Connor’s expression brightens.

Hello Sumo. I remember you. It’s been too long

[Over a year on Connor’s clock.]

🥺💔

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[Sumo ignores Hank’s commands — which isn’t anything new — to turn and drool in Connor’s general direction. Then he’s stretching out in his bed at the corner of the room, watching Connor and Hank with a lazy expression.]

It’s not the same. [Hank says this idly, stepping further into the apartment. Taking off his jacket and laying it across the back of the couch, dooming it to a flurry of dog hair.] Shit’s never the same without you.

[instabilitatem]

I apologize, Hank. [Connor at least does appear sincere or as sincere as he can.] I did not mean to be absent for a year.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

That’s not what I — [mean, he almost says, but then he’s turning back to Connor.] Where the fuck have you been for a year?

[Assuming Connor will pull the whole “can’t talk, I’m on a mission” thing again, but Hank at least tries to ask.]

[instabilitatem]

I am not— [Connor pushes against the programming trying to find flexibility somewhere. And he thinks he’s found a spot. He pushes and there’s a tiny fracture.]

Solmara.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[Hank presses his lips together in thought.]

And you’re not gonna tell me what “Solmara” is, are you? Or where?

[It has a weird sounding name, though.]

Not on Earth, yeah?

[instabilitatem]

I’m not permitted to tell you.

[Connor feels the programming push back against him, but the fracture remains.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

I know, Connor. Just figured I’d try some process of elimination.

[Shrugging his shoulders. Unless “Solmara” is some weird kind of club name back on Earth, then...?

It just raises a million more questions. Things Hank doesn’t want to think about, like Connor getting sent to some weird alien planet too — although the last Connor had been on Etraya for who the hell knows how long.]

Let’s try and get your pain figured out first. That’s more important than wherever you’ve been. [A pause, then:] Is it bad now? The pain?

[instabilitatem]

[Connor shakes his head, but looks around for a seat.]

No. It is mild now.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

All right. You just make yourself comfortable, and I’ll — [Hank raises his hands] — do something useful.

[Or he’ll try. Hank really doesn’t have much in his apartment, but there has to be something. Something Sumo hasn’t chewed on yet.]

[instabilitatem]

[Connor finds a spot next to Sumo on the couch.]

I can’t tell you where Solmara is. Only that I was there for a year before arriving here.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

I know, Con. [Hank sighs.] Not your fault. You can tell me once your mission’s done, yeah? I’m not mad at you for not being able to tell me, just... mad at everything else.

[Mostly Solmara now, and whoever there is making Connor do all this.]

A year’s a long time. [Longer than Hank knew any of his Connors.] Wasn’t all bad there, was it? I hope.

[instabilitatem]

We won’t have much time after my mission is complete.

[Connor finds that the programming won’t stop him from talking about his experiences.]

I have been destroyed twice and been unable to repair myself. It is difficult to find food for people. People are struggling.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Well, now we’re getting somewhere. Even if that somewhere is shit, apparently.

[Which just goes to show that Hank could have it worse here. A lot worse.]

Why d’you — I mean, you don’t want to leave, do you? After your mission?

[instabilitatem]

I have to leave after my mission. I can’t stay, Hank.

[Connor looks over at Sumo, quietly wishing he could stay.]

What I want is not important.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

You’re staying, Connor. No “can’ts” about it. If someone wants to take you back, they’ll have to go through me.

Saw you standing downstairs all goofy and fucking with cards, and that was it. You’re here, and that’s that.

[Between the lines, what Hank is trying to say: “Don’t make me go back to before you. Not again.”]

Are you allowed to tell me what you want, or is that on the weird list of banned topics, too?

[instabilitatem]

I would like to stay.

[He wants to stay, but his mission will not allow him to. Connor runs a hand over Sumo before turning back to Hank.]

I don’t have a choice.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[Hank’s shoulders sag in relief. Had part of him thought Connor wouldn’t want to stay...?

Yeah, part of him did.]

Glad to hear that, Connor — about you wanting to stay. That’s all there is to it. If someone tries to take you, like I said, they can go through me. Or...

[Hank looks at the wall, at Sumo, at this weird little home he’s had to make for himself — before his eyes snap back to Connor.]

Did they program you to force you to leave?

[instabilitatem]

[Connor presses against that tiny fracture in his programming and tries to find more room to maneuver.]

I am programmed to leave.

[Connor watches Hank, wishing he could say more.]