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

same goes for me, so no worries at all! <3

[maximumlegend]

Fabian does ask to see what she's got, and.. he looks a little surprised when she lays it all out like that. Not that he thinks the clothes are weird or bad - he definitely likes some of the pieces quite a bit - but he didn't exactly expect to see this cohesive of a theme. She sure knows what she likes, apparently. Kind of a goth type, huh?

"I see," he first notes, still staring at the clothes and nodding as he takes it all in. "So-- One important thing to know first."

He finally looks up from the clothes, turning to look over at Gaia instead.

"Is this you settling for something you only like a little bit, or is this a style you would actively like to go for?" Considering there is still a gap between what she's wearing and what's being laid out here. Maybe she'd prefer to stick to what she knows?

After a second, he does add: "Though I do have to say I think you could definitely pull off a more cool contemporary look with these clothes. You've got the looks for it!"

[hammerbearer]

Gaia doesn't really blame the guy for the look of surprise. But she doesn't seek to excuse herself further as if needing to prove anything either. It'll be obvious soon enough that she knows what she's doing once everything is properly tested, coordinated and arranged.

Though her eyes do narrow with speculation as she waits for Fabian's important question. This eases a bit, though Gaia remains mindful of how he reacts to her answer.

"This is definitely what I prefer to wear." No hesitation there. "I've only just arrived, so I planned to select a few things while taking care of necessities."

Thus it was definitely a good idea to aim for things she's used to over spending hours more in the realm of exploration. But Fabian's suggestion of guidance in dabbling a little deeper is not going to be dismissed entirely. Gaia crosses her arms. It's not that she isn't flattered by his comment about her looks. But she isn't going to necessarily be swayed by it either.

"And what, precisely, does cool contemporary mean to you?"

A 'modern day fashion' is often styled on one's society and time period after all.

[maximumlegend]

"Well, most of what is sold here."

He gestures at the shop around them. Sure, it's true that there might be a few pieces that aren't very in line with what modern people would consider current fashion, there is quite a lot of consensus here. Fabian has figured that it's since he has seen a whole lot of new people show up in this sort of style. It must be a relatively common trend among worlds, if not the most common one.

But clearly not universal. He sure knows that, and Gaia's fashion is proving that once more.

"But if you feel like it doesn't suit you, then that shouldn't be a problem either! We can technically ask for anything we want from back home." Sure, there's some caveats to it. That's why he's saying 'technically.'

.. well, that, and Fabian's own complicated feelings about this place and its systems. But he figures there's no need to immediately go into that with a new person. Surely Gaia's got enough on her mind already.

[hammerbearer]

It's impressive in that respect that Gaia found anything close to what she was accustomed to on the First.

"That explains a great deal," she admits with some chagrin. It's not frustration so much as resignation. But she rallies quickly. "I suppose it's too much to ask that something for 'free' covers every possible reality one comes from."

There might be no sign of a bespoke goods shop, but she can't complain about the quality of the clothes in general compared to what had been available on Kamurkia. Though in fairness to that world, it'd been recovering from the brink of calamity and going on winter.

But another important thing she learned from that previous world is that the cost of drawing something from her world is never free. Fabian's phrasing doesn't escape her and the youth is cast a wry and knowing look of complete understanding.

"I'm hardly surprised. And I'm sure we have to 'tow the line' as they say, to earn such credit."

The mood of how things work in Etraya is a lot less gentle than Kamurkia. And since she was turning into a dragon against her will at the time, that's saying something.

"Well, perhaps you can tell me what those caveats are, if you want to introduce me to some ideas for this contemporary fashion that might suit me in your opinion."

This is totally all about the information on the system of Etraya and not at all to do with maybe shopping a bit more and trying out a few things.

[maximumlegend]

He huffs a little bit. It takes effort to not let annoyance slip into it, but he manages. After all, he doesn't want Gaia thinking that he's annoyed at her when this is literally the first time they are ever meeting each other. It's just his natural frustration at this place that threatens to flip into his way of speaking and his body language the moment he does as much as think about the topic.

"The main caveat is the kowtowing, but you seem to already have guessed as much." Which might not take a genius, given their situation. But Fabian does think some people can be horribly naive about this place, so he's definitely giving Gaia credit for picking up on this much. It's good to see.

"I know I don't feel comfortable asking this place for things when it has actively kidnapped us. I imagine you might feel the same way. I have just been making do with things I am able to find in these stores because of it, rather than asking for my wardrobe from my world."

[hammerbearer]

Gaia does appear to understand. She hasn't had a great upbringing or a time of it on her native world. And now she's been pulled to not one, but two other worlds and come to have a full appreciation of what the Warrior of Darkness and all the Scions went through.

But though she nods with no surprise at matter of having to kowtow to one's captors, Gaia's arms cross as Fabian continues. A small frown mars her features briefly while her brow furrows. Arms crossing, she fainlly speaks after a moment of considering how best to say what she wants to convey.

"I agree it's not pleasant or something I like. And I have my doubts about what we're really here for."

Someone's reality might be dying, but it's not necessarily hers. It could well be they're just disposable pawns to plan out contingencies on how to solve other factors without risking their own personnel.

"And I don't blame you for wanting to not request luxuries like basic clothes just because you can." Sure, she misses her own wardrobe and the cosmetics and other products she's used to having.

"I personally think there's no harm in the occasional ask for small things to keep up morale. Though I'd probably fill out the practical things first."

Armor. Weapons. Things like that.

"You're at least open to that much, right?"

[maximumlegend]

The reply isn't immediate, but it doesn't seem like the young man necessarily needs more than just a moment or two of thought before he's already got his answer at the ready.

"It's something everyone has to make their own personal decision about." In other words - no matter how Gaia feels about it, he won't judge her. Mostly, anyway. There are some rather extreme examples in this place he can't help but judge just a little, but so far her perspective seems more nuanced than that.

"But of course I'll eat the food here, and I'll take the clothes that appear in the store. That's just essential to living. But I am not going to ask for my clothes from back home."

He was kind of looking at the clothes again as he was saying that, but now he turns his head fully towards Gaia again.

"I just have to keep my principles, no matter what. I have a legacy to uphold, even in this place."

[hammerbearer]

Gaia doesn't appear impatient or even upset when Fabian finally offers his answer. Though her expression grows thoughtful, there isn't a sense that she's rethinking her own position so much as considering the young man's own.

"No, well. I can understand that much at least." She looks up again and offers a slight smile, wryly adding. "There's certainly a difference between want and need. And given these circumstances..."

She shakes her head and this seems to bring her out of the more thoughtful pose and into the present again.

"Besides, legacy or not, wouldn't surprise me that your clothes are literally brought here. And if you get sent back or somewhere else, I doubt they'll be so kind as to return them."

While the joke seems to make light of the seriousness regarding Fabian's mention of a legacy, Gaia doesn't seem to mean it as such; instead, that she isn't going to pry about what that is.

She might be curious but they've only just met.

[maximumlegend]

Fabian stares at Gaia.

A second later his jaw drops. It seems that something she said caught him off guard - though only momentarily, since the surprise quickly starts to switch into a much more bothered expression on the young man's part.

"Ugh, I did not even think about that yet! Of course this dumb place totally has a chance of doing that!"

Hey, it has proven to be very petty in other ways before. Why wouldn't it just keep their stuff?

"On top of the kidnapping and everything else, they might just be robbing us too! You're right! I better not catch them attempting to put their grubby little hands on any of my stuff!"

[hammerbearer]

Gaia hadn't thought she'd said anything particularly shocking or worthy of such a revelatory experience. So Fabian's reaction catches her a little by surprise.

Oh.

"...Sorry I didn't think it was that personal," she finally responds. Granted, she has a couple of things she would be extremely upset losing. Very personal things. But while she does have some favorite clothes, she'd be able to move on past those with a minimal bit of annoyance.

"I don't think of it quite like that if you had asked for it, but... yes, I don't know if it would take less aether for the people in charge to grab your possessions or make copies."

She'd presume the latter, but who knows how anything works here?

[maximumlegend]

Sorry, Gaia. The possibility is going to live inside of this guy's head forever now..

But at least he seems willing to not throw a giant stink about it at the moment. His dramatics for a moment ago seem to leave him as he lets out a sigh, like they fly out of him right alongside the air he breathes out.

It makes Fabian sound a little calmer as he looks at her to ask: "Is aether some sort of magic in your world?"

It's what it sounds like to him - though they just call it magic, so he's not too sure. Fabian doesn't look too surprised about the concept of magic though, even as he's asking.

[hammerbearer]

It should! Let's face it, one really has to think about whether or not the stuff they request is their stuff, someone else's stuff or a clone when it comes to these things.

Gaia, with exactly one previous 'summoned to another reality/world/something' experience on her belt, is a veteran. Clearly. What would they be leaving behind if they get pulled somewhere else or ostensibly sent home?

Anyway the other thing this previous experience grants the girl is understanding that not everyone knows or comprehends 'aether' in the same way she does.

"Where I come from, it's a fundamental part of life. Yes, it's what can be manipulated to use magic, but it's also part of what makes you a living person or a world habitable."

After finishing her explanation she crosses her arms.

"And it can cause various phenomenon. I'm not a scholar, so I don't know all the terms and analogy."

[maximumlegend]

Fabian huffs a little bit, though it seems to be good natured, since he adds: "Don't worry about that. I am many things, but also far from a scholar."

By which Fabian means, in more colorful wording than necessarily, I wouldn't understand even if you did try to explain it in a scientific way. He's definitely not part of the nerd smarter half of his group..

"I guess it's just.. fascinating, in a sense. It's strange to think of how certain worlds need a certain thing to exist, but others do fine without it." And even though Gaia isn't a scholar, she does seem willing to engage in conservation like this, clearly. So he can't help but throw her a curious look and ask: "Do you think it means anything?"