etrayalogs | MISSION 008

MISSION 008

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: March 14th - April 11th
WHERE: Aphaia
WHAT: Mission 008
NOTES\WARNINGS: Survival horror elements, violence, (mild) body horror, potential death.

⏵ APHAIA ⏴

At the request of those inhabiting Etraya, Aurora has adjusted the mission schedule a little in order to send everyone into a world that is actively dying. Which means that, on the morning of March 14th, everyone will be directed to a glowing, purple portal situated just outside the hospital. Aurora will recommend that those with pets leave them behind; given the mission parameters of survive, she anticipates that it will not be a place for companion animals to accompany their owners to. She will not, however, force this: people are welcome to bring their companions if they'd like!

Once they have stepped through the portal, it will become clear that survival will not come easily. The sky overhead is fractured into a kaleidoscope of neon colors, artificial stars blinking in and out of existence among shards. Towering structures resembling stadiums and coliseums stretch endlessly into the horizon, their surfaces plastered with massive holographic advertisements displaying the face of past "champions" - many of whom appear to be long-since deceased.

From the moment they step through the portal, cameras whir to life around them, zooming in on their expressions while loudly announcing their names, their specialties, and what they are capable of. Applause echoes through unseen speakers when talents worth the excitement are announced: those with fighting capabilities, unique extraordinary powers, or odd talents seem to get the loudest reaction.

And once introductions are complete, a loud, booming voice cuts through the noise:

WELCOME, CONTESTANTS! ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEE WHO AMONG YOU IS THE SMARTEST, THE HOTTEST, THE STRONGEST, AND THE SHINIEST? ONLY THOSE AMONG YOU WHO ARE WORTHY WILL SURVIVE. KALI TYCHI!!

There is no introduction to the voice. No explanation.

Welcome to Aphaia.

⏵ SURVIVAL SPOTLIGHT ⏴

Aphaia is a dying world. Once vibrant, now it is little more than a stage - an arena where survival meets spectacle and death is a form of entertainment. Cameras are everywhere, their mechanical eyes dissecting every action, hesitation, every moment of weakness. To the residents of Aphaia, it's all a game. After all, they know they are living on borrowed time - why not make it fun?

Towering holograms flicker with advertisements for upcoming challenges, massive leaderboards shift constantly, tracking the contestants' popularity in real time. Every move is judged, and every breath is measured.

Participation is not mandatory, but refusal comes with some hefty consequences. Those who refuse to play fade into the background, their scores slowly dropping closer and closer to zero.

And when it does bottom out? They disappear. No body, no remains, just - erased entirely from existence.

Now, survival is not just about brute force (although there is some of that too!), but about entertainment. Contestants are not simply fighters, but performers earning the favor of other contestants.

Each contestant has a score, visible using the HUD of their earpiece. Scores range from 1-100, with 80+ reserved for crowd favorites. The moment scores hit zero, they disappear, presumed (and are) dead.

New contestants start with a randomized score, assigned the moment they step onto Aphaia's surface. From there, their survival depends on strategy, skill, and showmanship.

Nanotechnology laces the very air they breathe, embedding itself into their bodies. It monitors oxygen, tracks food intake, measures every potential need for everyone, including alien species whose needs differ. Supplies are scarce - meaning only those who keep their scores up receive rations, shelter, and medical aid. The lower one's score? The less they get.

And there are no second chances.

⏵ DISTRICTS ⏴

Aphaia is separated into four districts.

The Colosseum is where blood is currency. A high-tech battle arena where combatants are pitted against each other for entertainment, the Colosseum is always prepared for any battle one may wish to take part of. The floors shift, and the environment changes at the whim of the audience. It's built to support any challenge that requires physicality: the floors will break into massive labyrinths meant to confuse individuals, or the walls will raise to create rooms that are difficult to escape to test one's intellect. Within the Colosseum, contestants are invited to battle one another and others for glory. Are you a warrior? Built for combat? Do you have capabilities that shine through with physical action, rather than mental stimulation? This is the place for you.

A place of luxury, the Symposium is where alliances are forged - and broken. Here, the highest-rated contestants (those who rank Luminary or higher) are invited to partake in fine dining and lavish parties. Violence is not permitted within the walls of the Symposium; while this may provide the false illusion of safety, it is anything but. Whispered betrayals are passed between contestants within the walls of the Symposium, with deals struck to ensure that those who rank high enough to enjoy all the benefits it offers continue to be able to visit.

In the heart of Aphaia is the Agora. Pulsing with flashing billboards featuring the faces of many past and current contestants and live polls of the current scores of those who are still alive, the Agora is where contestants are invited to engage with the public to shape their own narrative.

In the streets, many contestants can be found putting on quirky performances, participating in challenges, or conducting interviews with other contestants. Charisma can be just as valuable as brute strength, and this is the place for those who rely on their ability to sweet-talk others to make sure their points remain high. This is where the facilities for the non-physical challenges resides, such as Echoes of the Past and Tychaios.

The Agora contains the housing district in which contestants reside. There are a few massive apartment towers stacked to the sky. The high-ranking live in luxury, enjoying rooms up to two bedrooms with plenty of space - the lower ranking individuals reside in smaller apartments, with significantly less amenities.

On the edges of Aphaia are the Backalleys, where rules are meant to be broken. A maze of shadowed corridors and hidden tunnels, there are multiple "convenient" corners where camera blind spots can be found. Here is where people come to converse between one another outside the eyes of the audience or to find temporary sanctuary from their lives being consistently narrated. However, it is also well-known that while they may be able to find areas where the cameras cannot reach, the Gamerunner is also aware of these blind spots.

⏵ RATED & REVIEWED ⏴

While the highest rated contestants get to go to The Symposium, those middling or in danger of falling off get invited to only the finest of trashy talk shows.

Anyone can see how this daily, midday TV show plays out. Stand in front of a television long enough and you’ll see reruns of bruised competitors hashing it out in front of an audience over failed plans, ruined alliances, and broken friendships. If you want to see the worst in others Kathiki Pidón is the show to watch.

Though one might wonder why anyone would ever go on this thing, it is a nearly universal guilty pleasure. There is a chance to raise one’s own rating without risking one’s life. But say the wrong things, and you may become more unpopular than ever. It is a desperate place to go- but they do always give a hot meal to anyone who agrees to come on. It might be your only chance to recuperate.

This is also a great opportunity to try to lower someone else’s ranking by airing out private grievances very publicly. Was the only reason you lost because you were tricked or betrayed? Is there a secret alliance you want people to know about? Or perhaps you need a platform to earn a little sympathy.

Kathiki will be more than happy to host you, donning his usual black and gold suit and holding his slim microphone for you to speak into.

For those who are a little shier, Kathiki has a private booth in the back of the studio where you can pour your heart out in front of a camera. This can have the same benefits, but it may be edited in very unfortunate ways before the public sees it.

⏵ NOTES ⏴
Please use our NPC Threads toplevel on this post for any NPC interactions you'd like! This includes Kathiki.

For all questions relating to this mission, please refer to the plotting post. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A corner of Kirk's lip twitches, keep his hand on Vander.

"Only if you want it too," he replies quietly. "Surprised you want a second round. I was afraid I did too much."

As successful as their last encounter was, Kirk is still afraid of letting loose too much of the beast in him.

He shifted so he was leaning more on the wall, resting his arm there as if they were talking about nothing more complicated than the weather. He was still keeping his eyes glued on Kirk though.

"If you need a friend, I'm here," he replied. If Kirk needed it, Vander wasn't against providing it. He was concerned that the other avenues weren't as freely available. "Oh, you were afraid, huh? You and your little lamprey mouth holding on for dear life while I did us a service. You ever had a good time like that in an alley before?"

They would probably have to sell it more. They couldn't just have a repeat or else the audience might figure out the ruse. They needed to believe.

"Never," Kirk admits. What's he done in alleyways is far from passionate. Instead, he's snatched plenty of criminals into alleyways before beating and biting them.

He leans forward, pretending he's ready to be more intimate again.

"Why? Ready to teach me?"

That did not surprise him in the least. He thought of asking so he could gently tease Kirk about the number of friends-to-lovers scenarios that Kirk had had. It didn't seem the time in the place with the other man leaning in on him.

Vander turned his head, nudging their noses together on purpose, dipping himself down even as he turned them so he could block the view of Kirk with his body again. He made a point of dropping his hands to the other man's hips on purpose.

"Oh, I have plenty of lessons I could teach you, Lamprey..." He met Kirk's gaze, letting the other man know he was going to be changing it up. "You don't mind if I kiss you, hmm?"

Kirk's heart pounds faster and harder when his red eyes meet Vander's gray-blue ones. It's been a long time since he was this intimately close to someone, even if this time was just a ruse. He understands why though. They can't keep doing the same moves, otherwise people will be suspicious.

So Kirk makes a small nod as he wraps his arms around Vander, signaling him to come closer.

He sidled in, confident and certain, closing the distance of their bodies so they were nearly touching. He nudged their noses a second time, corner of his lips tugging in a smile before he closed the distance to press their lips together.

He kissed with experience but without pushing too quickly in case it overwhelmed Kirk. His fingers massaged Kirk's hip at the same time.

At first, Kirk is tense. He's so very inexperienced at this and he feels self-conscious about how much colder he is compared to humans. But he then he finds himself enjoying Vander massaging him and he's deeply appreciative of the older man not being too pushy on the kiss.

Much to his own surprise, a soft moan escapes his lips.

Well, the tension and the almost seeming awkwardness from Kirk told him everything that he needed to know from the man. He had been with inexperienced people, but that had been a long time ago, so Kirk was the first one he had run across lately to need to be lead through the steps. His lips pulled in a bigger smile and he lifted a hand to cup the side of the other man's neck, using his thumb to nudge Kirk's chin up.

He parted his lips, making the motion slow and transparent. That moan felt against his lips, and his tongue moved to gently and teasingly brush on the line between Kirk's lips.

Then he slowly pulled back to peer at the other man. "You okay? I know it's an alley but relax. This isn't my first entanglement in a place like this. A bit different with kissing, isn't it?"

Kirk hopes the alleyway is dark enough to hide the pink flush rising to his cheeks. He's well aware of how close they still are to each other and what he's feeling as Vander teases his lips.

"It... it is," he manages to say. "I trust you."

He raises a hand and runs it through Vander's hair as a way to tease back.

The flush was a nice touch, and his thumb stroked along Kirk's jaw in reply to seeing it. Body heat radiated off of him in comparison, but he remained undeterred. He was dying to ask if that had been Kirk's first kiss in awhile, but now was neither the time nor the place. They had a crowd to please.

"And I trust you," he replied warmly. He did; he had to given that he let the other man bite and drain his blood.

He leaned back in with the encouragement of a hand in his hair, pressing their lips together again. He pressed them harder and parted his lips faster so he could tease Kirk's lips with the tip of his tongue, seeking entrance.

Kirk obeys and parts his lips, letting Vander in. His fangs also reveal themselves. The side of him that wants to overthink about what he's doing is weakening. A more... primal part of him wants to revel in the sensations Vander's giving him. They feel so good and for now, are enough to keep him from reaching for a bite.

He moans again, this time a little louder.

He carefully navigated around the fangs, stroking the tip of his tongue against the roof of Kirk's mouth instead. After that, he moved to flick his tongue tip against Kirk's to taste the other man. Kirk's mouth was cooler than his, but it didn't bother him in the least as he pressed Kirk harder against the wall behind them.

For effect and because this did feel nice, he replied with a low rumbling moan of his own and slid his hand from cupping Kirk's jaw to the back of the other man's head, tangling his fingers in the short dark hairs back there.

It's been a long time since Kirk had anything remotely close to what he and Vander were doing now. As he lets Vander's tongue explore his mouth, he forgets that this is supposed to be just a cover for the audience. His tongue flicks back. Everything just feels so good and warm.

Without much though, Kirk's hips also twitch against Vander.

His eyes closed, allowing himself to enjoy this interaction between them. He shivered as Kirk seemed to settle and relax into their little make-out session. His tongue flicked and teased around Kirk's mouth before withdrawing to trace the other man's lips.

He noticed the shift of hips because he still had a hand on one side, which he now moved so he could curl his big arm around the small of Kirk's back to pull their bodies flush together. Another moan sounded from him in response as he parted his legs to better set his balance.

Kirk shivers and moans when Vander presses their bodies together. In response the tracing and while being careful not to use his fangs, he very lightly nips at the other man's lips.

One hand hand toys with Vander's hair while the other slowly slides down against his spine.

He shivered at the nip, rumbling a sound of pleasure in response. The hint of danger that came from Kirk having fangs certainly churned a pleasant heat in his belly and raised his awareness that this was unfolding rather differently than his bathroom. He liked that they were taking their time, drawing in the audience that has been lead along.

He rolled his body against Kirk's and his hand slid down the back of the other man's neck and over to feel and tug at the bandage around his neck. They would need to keep it, as he hadn't brought another, but for now, it seemed they might have opportunity now that they has set the stage for a second 'tryst' in the alley.

Kirk instinctively moans and grinds back against Vander. All the physical sensations are stirring something deep in him. There was still the ever present beast that was his hunger for blood. But to have someone like Vander all over him despite knowing what Kirk is is making Kirk want something. It's not just blood.

Even with the bandage, his enhanced sense of smell catches the undeniable scent of blood. He'll still need to take care of that. That's what they were here for in the first place.

Without using his fangs, Kirk begins to leave light nips on Vander's neck.

"You sure about this?" He softly asks.

It was clear that Kirk was sensitive about his condition, but it didn't matter in the least to him. Kirk was his friend, and for him that's all that was important. The growing eagerness was distracting of course, and it was only experience and knowledge they were being watched that staved off a physical reaction from him from making itself known.

He shifted them, easing further into the alley and out of camera range. He didn't believe they weren't being monitored by whoever organized, but it was enough a tease to the audience. The bandage off and tucked into his coat pocket for now, he ground himself back on Kirk as he felt those nips along his neck. His eyes fluttered closed and he sounded a growling moan in reply.

"Don't be a tease, Lamprey," he rumbled affectionately. His hand pressed in between them so he could drag his fingers down Kirk's front, once again seemingly prepared to make the scene seem more sexual than it was. Of course, this time it was a lot more sexual, and that felt good.

The hungry beast in Kirk rumbles with anticipation when Vander takes off the bandage and the blood scent becomes stronger. He softly huffs out a laugh, fangs now visible. The nickname was still ridiculous but it still works. It adds to the narrative they've been working on anyway.

He then moves forward and bites on the wound. It hadn't fully healed so Kirk forces himself not to clamp down too hard. This is meant to be just a snack, not a full-on meal. Just like with the first ruse, Kirk is fighting against his primal instincts. The temptation to go further and to go for a critical artery is strong. But he keeps reminding himself that Vander is a... friend, not an enemy and not prey. The reminder is almost like a prayer.

Vander experienced a similar shock to his system when Kirk's fangs pierced his skin, inciting a sharper pain with the four-day old injuries being penetrated again. He made an audible "ah" sound of pleasure, enough for the cameras to pick up. He shuddered, fully aware of the process by now, and he knew that this remained a dangerous endeavor.

He trusted Kirk.

He did, however, decide to change things up as his hand moved to curl around the other man's back rather than pretend another handjob. No, he pressed Kirk harder on the wall and grabbed a handful of ass as he ground their groins together. He panted and moaned in the act, his breathing upticking as a result. What was a little fake - or not so fake - clothes on stimulation between friends?

As usual, the flow of warm blood gives Kirk a sense of bestial pleasure. When Vander presses him harder against the wall and grinds and gropes him, Kirk feels how aroused they both are. For Kirk, it's not just the pleasure of drinking blood anymore.

He knows what they're doing is dangerous but he still wants to go further. He moves his hips against Vander, trying to match his pace.

It was a strange mix of pleasure, pain and danger that awakened the want of risk, of accepting that if Kirk lost control, he could potentially either be irreparably damaged or killed in the process. That was half the thrill and raised the stakes as he used his hand to help them both grind on each other, the stimulation adding the feel of Kirk's lips sealed on his neck.

There was no hesitation, no fumbling, just motion. He felt a little lightheaded and leaned his weight on Kirk and using the wall as a support. "...such a crowd pleaser."

Much to the beast's displeasure, Kirk forces himself to pull his lips away from Vander's wound. The temptation is still there but the more human part of Kirk still remembers he can't allow himself to take too much.

The rest of his body is still pressed against Vander though and the man's scent is still so very strong. He's almost dizzy with pleasure.

"It takes two," he mumbles. His hips then sharply jerk against Vander.

He shuddered when the bite came to an end, and he couldn't tell if it had been shorter, longer or the same amount of time. He honestly wasn't paying nearly as much attention this time as he had been last time, much to his chagrin at this moment. There was a definitely higher level of fatigue and light-headedness, but that could be other contributing factors.

He huffed a sound of amusement as he dropped his forehead down onto Kirk's shoulder, still grinding and seeking that pleasure for the moment. He had to lock his knees to ensure he wasn't about to collapse. "Two to tango is a saying, Lamprey. Still holding on for dear life on my neck there for a time... I must be a good dance partner."

Kirk hums against Vander.

"Didn't know we had it in us," he says. His tone suggests he's not complaining though.

He then shivers as they continue to grind.

"Almost..."

MISSION 008

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CW: Explicit description of a vampire feeding

cw: just a guy living his bite kink life

cw: Welp. Just two people being very kinky here now

cw: enjoy the view, hernan

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