etrayalogs | APRIL MINGLE

APRIL MINGLE

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: April 25th - Early May
WHERE: Etraya
WHAT: The arrival of newcomers, spring activities, and feathered friends!
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.

However, if they are arriving from Aphaia, it's a little different, though mostly through means and familiarity. They will still show up in the hospital of course, but how can vary. Either through Aurora offering a portal for escape, their own demise (however it might have happened), or even a simple blink of their eyes and they're in the hospital. They had been given the briefest explanation last time they were here, but at least Aurora can better answer their questions now. No time constraints nor rushing them off to a dying world, this time!

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, spring is sprung, it is warm and comfortable. Flowers have bloomed, and everything is in a sharp contrast to Aphaia—there is life within the bubble, and even the myriad wildlife seems to be basking in the glow of it all. Almost as if a celebration of that life itself.

Bees are buzzing, birds are—warking?

⏵ Birds of a Feather ⏴

Etraya has always had its interesting assortment of critters, but there seems to be a particularly colorful array of birds wandering around. Those familiar would know they are named Chocobos, those less so familiar, well, these are some strange looking ostriches, or whatever large bipedal bird equivalent fits. While the birds all seem to be of the same species, there are certainly some variety in their features. Some with friendlier faces and others looking a bit more eagle-like.

They are not particularly congregated in any one spot within Etraya, seeming to stick to groups, while others don't, yet even some are accompanied by newly hatched chicks. The observant might be quick to notice that their colors dictate some level of behavior, or even where their little groups mingle:

Colors	Behavior and habitat
Yellow	Can be found just about anywhere in Etraya, they don't necessarily stick to self-made groups, and typically are more likely to be friendly to people. However, if they are in the company of a newly hatched chick, they can become wary, though easily won over with some greens.
Green	These Chocobos are mostly found in grassy or woodsy areas, almost always in pairs, and sometimes found in the trees themselves. They are more wary than their yellow brethren, though if they see someone struggling or in danger, they are quick to offer assistance in what way they can. Doting like motherhens.
Blue	Most often found by bodies of water, these Chocobo seem content to keep to themselves. Three to a group, they are not so easy to approach without being noticed. Their skill and love of water is clear, however, and it's not unusual to find them flapping about or swimming. Though they may flee to the water if you spook them.
Brown	The most skiddish of the Chocobo, they can be found throughout Etraya, though further away from anything occupied by people. They stick to groups of four, though they have a clear leader who sports blue and green feathers, but seemingly is not of the other two types. Should they catch sight or sound of someone approaching they are like to run off, or they might attempt to defend themselves.
Red	There seems to be only one of these running around. Highly aggressive to anyone who dares to approach it. Best to avoid it. Very likely to hurl comet-like balls of fire your way. Untamable.

The birds all favor these strange cabbage looking plants that can be found out and about in the wilds of Etraya. Some proving a little overeager in their voracity to eat the leafy greens. One should be careful, with those large beaks of theirs.

⏵ Gift Hunt ⏴

It isn't only the birds that have shown up out of nowhere. Small to medium sized boxes, wrapped as if they should be under a tree, and maybe not hidden in a tree, have also appeared. For whatever reason (possibly the same reason eggs were given out over winter) there seems to be gifts hidden all over Etraya! Some in more difficult to find locations (in trees, on top of a roof, on snake island), while others look as though whoever "hid" it gave up halfway through and simply dropped it on the ground and put a leaf over it.

For those who need a little extra help, well, certainly your fellow Etrayans could lend a hand, however there are also perfectly capable birds about for those still left wanting. Certainly that blue chocobo could assist with crossing the river to obtain that perfectly balanced gift on a rock! Or what about that green chocobo roosting in a tree not too far from that gift stuck in the branches because it has entirely too many ribbons?

With that said, there might also be some dangers in trying to take one of the myriad gifts from a chocobo's nest, especially if there's a chick presently sleeping next to it. Perhaps befriending them would be a good idea first, besides, isn't friendship with a big bird the truest gift of all?

On the tag of each and every gift box says the same thing:

To: You
Love: 💋

Each gift has a random assortment within. Some contain candy, others contain alcohol, make-up...maybe even a pair of socks, very perfunctory gifts with very little thought or feeling put into them. However, there is at least one gift that is personally relevant to each character in Etraya. This item will be the equivalent of a 5 point AC reward, and does not have to be found by the person it is intended for.

What better way to break the ice than to give someone their gift which you opened!

⏵ NOTES ⏴

Welcome to Etraya newcomers and happy spring to everyone!

It appears that someone is trying to correct her previous mistake of handing out eggs during the winter holidays, and now there's a hunt for gifts accompanied by a bunch of lovely birds to help out!

Some notes in regard to Chocobos:

-Each color can be tamed except for the red one, he's a free spirit. Should someone wish to harm or attack this chocobo, let us mods know. There is only one of him, after all.

-The others will just take various amounts of work to win over, however, but they are loving and cute companions for those who are willing to put in the effort! And who knows, maybe more colors could arise with time and patience...

-Feel free to pull from all the designs of chocobos throughout the Final Fantasy series. If you fancy FFXII's, for example, there are some that look like that. Variety is the spice of life!

Concerning the personal item, be sure to plot out and get permission when finding someone else's item. This is meant to encourage possible new CR and mingling, but the choice of the item should ultimately be within the hands of the player who is receiving it.

If you are uncertain if your item is appropriate for the reward cost, feel free to ask here!

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⏴

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[ Shakily, Fio scrambles back onto her feet, another arm clutching at her bag. In a panic, a few books slip out from the supply bag and scatter onto the grass.

She lifts her eyes, looking up at the massive birds. Even if she had attempted to flee, it would be impossible for her to try outrunning two adult chocobos with her small legs. Her gaze drops down, seeing the hedgehog that keeps the birds from getting any closer.

It's a surprise to see that he had come back. She was thinking she would have to catch up to him on her own. Although she's been trying to avoid comparing him to the other, she can't help thinking that both are actually... very kind. ]

...That was scary. [ She admits, yet covers up any sign of fear with a shy smile. ] Thanks, Shady.

[ Holding up her bag, she tries to show the nearby birds what remains inside. That was her last supply of greens. All that remains are books, along with a couple of pressed flowers stuck between the pages. Despite the danger they just posed, she does look apologetic for not having enough to fully satisfy them. ]

No more, okay? I'm sorry...

[ She nods a bit absently. She's pretty used to different worlds and time travel, as well as going on missions, so a lot of this isn't really a shock to her. But she could understand how it might be a lot for someone who doesn't usually do things like this regularly. ]

So what do you usually do around here when there aren't any missions or weird stuff going on?

Hmm... to be honest, I don't remember exactly? I was only half-awake when she went through a pretty quick explanation. She said something about helping a world falling apart, and surviving, but I didn't really get much of a chance to ask before she pretty much shoved me out the portal.

Outside of the missions and the random scenarios around here, there’s really not much to do in this place. Sometimes, people like to host parties or do their own investigation on Echo and other things. Basically, we had to pass the time before the next mission comes around along with a new batch of arrivals. But sometimes, not everyone would be around to see that through.

If Aurora's asked about the presents, will she say they're not from her and her bots?

And if so, if a box is scanned for magic/biology/oddities, etc, will anything show?

[there's a slight eyebrow raise to that, but Knife catches themself before showing too much interest.

while their head is on a swivel:] Seamstress? [shared skills or interests? possible connection beyond the obvious everyone's been abducted thing?]

[said WARK carries down the laminated hallways so starkly that Knife nearly jumps out of their current skin and into a new one. their heels skid on the tile as they half-spin to look back in horror.

What the fuck. LEAVE ME ALONE!!

before mysteriously speedy bird can get too close, Knife ditches the pillowcases full of junk to free up their hands for some Assassin's Creed wall acrobatics (15 (8+7)) in order to juke it just before a sharp turn and head back the way it came.

thoroughly weirded out, they draw a knife out of their coat as they run, now fully intending to do some bloodletting to get some peace. it's too much, you know! new place, new stimuli, no friends...now plagued by being chased by animals they barely understand!

should they hear encroaching birdsteps, they'll spin and fling the knife with shocking deftness (25 (18+7)) toward the thickest part of a body.]

[ "they're"? his eyes look to the chocobo before returning to them standing there unwilling to move. ]

Hm.

[ these will be constant reminders, the truth of the matter they always will be. whoever is gone may or may not come back.

... ]

They come back. Whether you like it or not.

[ it's the letting go that is the most difficult part. ]

After you decide what to change, in time.

Oh, another one of those angry guys. This place definitely needs more of those.

[There were a lot of angry kids around these parts, which lead him to believe that much of what they were doing here was just show and not to save their worlds. He was actually surprised people weren't out there more often beating each other up with the amount of rage that was around this place.

He sensed the hesitation, and he turned his head to observe the bar in case he had to rise and give Jason the space to not answer under an excuse that he made rather than awkward conversation stalling out on the subject.]

Ah, we have plenty of those. What do you mean by terror for fun?

They're dead! She's dead-! [There's no coming back, just constant reminders of his failures, his existence being a curse onto others. Was it different for them? Or had they truly overcome what had happened to their Maria?

He slowly opens his eyes, staring at the ground before him. Ears falling forward. Hands slipping down, gripping his arms as he held himself.]

...She's died, because of what my powers brought. [A name doesn't need to be said. The other already knows. They know and perhaps, that's how he finds himself quietly confiding in his guilt, his fears. Why he can't see what the other does. A way forward from this.]

[ Ah yes, the cat. Henry is rather glad that they could meet now on equal footing. It had been terrible the circumstances of their first meeting though they have navigated somewhat precariously, and maybe that was called survival. ] You are still blue however.

[ And the eyepatch, but he was bred with much too manners to call that one out. ] I think at this point I have not found anything with my name on it, which is alright, I cannot even begin to think of what I would find. [ He picks up an unnamed gift bag with which he gives it a shake. ]

My sister and I would shake presents like this all the time, the key is to do it gently the first time. By the first gentle shake you can determine if another shake is required.

[ this one is a thump, like a package within a package. ]

Don't call me that. [The nickname just makes him feel like he's suspicous, shady. And if she starts saying that to others...he just doesn't want to deal with more nosy people.]

My name or something else. [Or just his name. Why did he add "something else"?

The birds lower their heads, watching Fio show them an empty bag. A few sad warbles when they realize she really doesn't have any more treats. Their interest going elsewhere, leaving them both be. His attention can turn to Fio properly now. He looks at the books scattered about. Why is she carrying all these books? To read somewhere in the forest? But he sees something sticking out of one of them. Curious and not caring if she minds or not, he goes to pick it up. It's...a flower? Carefully, he opens to the page.]

We could check yours out. I did a sweep of mine. And you could trap it if you’re not sure.

[This will be a problem for someone else not him.] Would you like some help with that?

She sent us to a dying world. Our objective was to survive. A secondary objective was to aquire something called a data stick from the casino.

[He offers. Details stick in his mind like pages to a bound book.]

Grab what you can. [the rest, if there is any rest to grab, will be snatched on a second trip.

they do pretty well balancing their overbearing load! (17 (10+7) but...the door is a situation they have to negotiate - and they do, rebuffing polite help in favor of shouldering the door open and scuttling out into the daylight.

once on the pavement outside, they peer this way and that past their little tower to get their bearings.]

...Where's the nearest bridge from here?

Five active, including myself. One retired, makes six.

( Yeah, he includes his older counterpart. )

Dick didn't return from Aphaia with us. His contact doesn't work either. Sometimes people leave here and return to where they're from. We don't know why or who gets picked to leave, never mind who gets picked to come here.

[What the fuck?! Scott immediately tries to back away from the energy spear that's pointed at its neck-- nearly burning it and if he bumps into a table behind him and spills all the food onto the ground, he thinks he can be forgiven. Because what the hell?!]

Fuck-- forget I said anything!

[And he doesn't feel charitable enough to try and help Shadow any longer, even if he is looking for this girl. He can go searching on his own. Maybe the other Shadow will help him. And fine, maybe he'll still continue to keep an eye out for a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, but Scott's pretty much done right now. Being threatened like this isn't the way he wants to start his first day in this world.]

Clearly I'm not helping you, so just forget it. I don't know anything about her. [Should he be giving this level of attitude to someone that could kill him right now? No, but too late.]

[Scott watches Shadow for a moment, noting his upset demeanor before looking back at the box that's still within his reach. If he doesn't immediately pull away, the mutant will reach out to take the box back from the other.]

How about I hold onto it for you then? If it blows up while I'm sleeping, I'll just haunt you later. [He's joking. Mostly. He doesn't think these 'gifts' are actually bad, these pair of roller skates are definitely safer than the candy that he's shoved into his mouth from them and he hasn't died from that yet. Maybe he should stop doing that much at least.]

Just in case you change your mind later, okay? [Since this item really is important to the hedgehog...]

[While he hasn't really heard of that exact maneuver, he thinks he might get the gist of what it is. Maybe he's just sort of following along with Dion's train of thought, nodding a little at the 'suggestion' that this will take more than one person. Yeah yeah, he's already signed up for this. He's not taking it back now.

Man it's going to be really disappointing if nothing is in that box, but... now it's just the principle of the matter. Solving this without causing trouble. He's honestly feeling kind of determined about this.]

So, we approach on opposite sides, correct? Hopefully get some of the chocobos to follow you while the others follow me. Split the group and no trampled present. Anything that I should worry about when dealing with these giant birds?

[Since they're native to wherever he's from. Might help to just have extra information in case something goes wrong.]

Huh?? Are you worried that he'll eat you? He didn't peck at me at all.

[Totally a comforting answer as the chocobo walks closer and closer to An Zhe. And as if to emphasize how big it actually is, the bird straightens up as he stares down at the totally normal boy that isn't a mushroom or anything like that. Scott doesn't seem to notice anything all that odd, although he is watching all this with one raised eyebrow.

He'll encourage all this from his spot here.]

Just don't make any wild movements.

[ the poor thing wanted the food, but if this junk so happens to have what it's looking for then it'll slow down. it sifts through what's on the ground, finding that nothing is there worth taking, and now has to try and... find where knife has disappeared to.

there's a sad warble that comes from the bird afterwards, it only wanted to eat.

...where shadow is, the hedgehog has finally started to move from where he stood, walking towards the window to look outside. they're still camped out there, but some of them have laid down which gives the idea that they're sleeping.

...

...

it's one dash outside that shadow picks up one bird, relocating it somewhere else within the forest before another, and another, and another. these things are easy to do when no one can see him do it.

...

...

the bird? it's searching. those feet going TAP, CLACK, TAP, and when it does find them... and the knife stuck within it's body... it's going to flap those wings, feathers flying everywhere, and begin running in circles to get it out!!! ]

[ he groans, eyes watching the other reflect while visibly showing their pain. there's nothing he can say because he can't confirm or deny, he wasn't there, he doesn't know. what he knows is what happened during his own past, and even then he was unsure, but the hate in his heart orchestrated by another to guide his path is what helped him before his would started to scab over.

it's not entirely healed, but he knows that it's there. ]

...

[ while they don't have to say a name, it's clear as day, and there's nothing shadow can say to make them feel otherwise. ]

What do you remember of her?

Strangely, it's more common than you may think. We're all just weird.

[He's met like... 3 telepaths since coming here. Which isn't quite the same thing as telekinesis, but still falls in line with the whole 'mind powers' thing that Silver just mentioned. Scott can't help but wonder how the other mutants would react to the hedgehog. They'll probably be fine with it, whatever mixed feelings he has about them aside. The complex shit he has going on with them is his own, it doesn't apply to others. So yeah, they'd probably be okay with him.

Guess they should meet sometime. Maybe.]

But it's nice to meet you Silver. I'm Scott, Scott Summers. And just wondering... are you related or share the same species as Shadow?

[Wait the hammer wouldn't fit in a giftbox?? Scott blinks a few times as he lets that thought settle in his mind, just trying to picture how big this hammer actually is. You know, it's better to just ask. Scott tilts his head, curiosity apparent.]

How big is this hammer? I'm assuming it's specialized for you?

[Since she has a name and everything for it. And huh, okay, if she's carrying a large hammer as her normal weapon, that probably explains the strength of that grip she just gave him. He wonders if she has super strength or something... the other hedgehogs he bumped into have powers.]

"Encephalization and neurochemical production is increased in sentient species, and, well. Dietary requirements being what they are. You bite off a few heads and you get a certain reputation," Sleeper explained.

Not that they tended to eat people, but considering the entire symbiote species, it was a little more tricky.

"I tend not to go for anyone who I can hold a conversation with unless they've chosen to make themselves meal-worthy. Not all of my family is so respectful of species that could either be possessed or consumed. It's similar to why I choose to go without a host, although that does mean I don't have a convenient renewable supply of hormones and neurotransmitters to eat."

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APRIL MINGLE

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