APRIL MINGLE

[etrayamods]

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⏴

Comments

[keepitgoing]

[That's kind of a bummer to hear. Wanting a gift is a pretty big deal! Obviously people don't exchange presents enough around you; back in Peter's world, he was at least used to getting little gifts from May or Ned or MJ... Tony even bought him a new phone once. Or did he just pull one out of a pile of phones he probably has in a box? Whose to say.]

Uuhhh. Well...

[Still climbing down the wall, he stops in front of Loki where he stands and thrusts his hand out, offering the gift.]

A gift for you! Potentially.

Who's to say.

[shoplifter]

[Laura's eyebrows raise.]

Axel has friends?

[RUDE OF HER, but also a very normal question. She looks him up and down, notes his business-look, and holds out her hand with pointed firmness. Sophie had shown her how handshakes actually work on the last mission, and he seems like someone who handshakes.]

It is very nice to meet his friends.

[leastdramatic]

So for over twenty years you were alone? Not including Ace.

[That... is a depressing amount of time]

[hyphanated]

Okay.

[Honestly, a lot of people treated An Zhe as a child back in his world, so it wouldn't be entirely surprising...as it is, though, he takes Silver's hands, obediently focusing on his face, while the chocobos around him rustle their feathers and wark curiously at the pair.]

[knightowl]

[ Bruce doesn't answer. But the silence is probably enough of an answer. ]

[fireboost]

[ he moves through this greenhouse as naturally as if he traversed it every day, but blaze's attention is quickly pulled to his words instead. ]

Well, and better now that we have crossed paths. I thought that it would do well to be familiar with our surroundings here.

[ hence, why she's in your greenhouse. she seems appreciative of it though, glancing around momentarily as if to emphasize the familiarity part of what she's said. but give her a moment, and her gaze returns to dimitri, warm and friendly. ]

I trust that you are the same?

[ both doing well, and exploring a little? ]

[fireboost]

[ well blaze doesn't know about all that. what she knows is only what she can observe from here, so if he's tried to offer them food and leave only for them to continue to move with him, she can only assume that he must have done something for them. or perhaps it was the grazing itself that made them so fond? ]

I would offer you an enclosure to keep them in, but I fear they may fare better in the wild.

[ but now he at least knows it exists, should he desire to go that route. otherwise, she has little else she can offer him in the way of solutions. ]

[fireboost]

[ yep, it's the same trim alright. right down the the precise colour—blaze is satisfied with that, sitting up straight once more. ]

I think it looks wonderful.

[ or perhaps it's more like the bright smile fio wears with the cape on her shoulders is wonderful. the point is, it makes blaze smile too, and she nods approvingly when fio gets up to show it off. while the memories blaze has tied to this cape are hardly ones she's fond of, she's sure that this little girl will make much better ones with it. that's why all blaze can wish for her is: ]

Make sure to take good care of it, alright?

[fireboost]

Then that's something we have in common.

[ even when she had achieved relative peace in her own world, there was still sonic's to look after, after all. ]

I suppose you could say I'm already familiar with travelling between worlds, though this one seems to be even more different from mine than the one that I visited.

[ they're a little behind technologically, it seems, but she's willing to embrace this if it means that her world will continue to see the day where they do reach such things. ]

[fireboost]

Blaze opens her mouth momentarily, before thinking twice and closing her mouth. She pinches the bridge of her nose between two fingers.

"Then I'm sure you are sorely in need of one, and I believe I know where to find them if you'll come with me."

[definecat]

[Sleeper reaches out with their beak and nips one of the tendrils.]

You should befriend one first. The birds aren't anywhere near as dumb as chickens. [Seriously, Venom, one shouldn't just pounce without introductions. The birds won't like it.

Somehow this version of their parent isn't really good with the manners.]

I think I'm about the same height in my humanoid shape.

[fireboost]

It doesn't seem that there are any who you could call local, but there are those who seem to have been here for longer than ourselves.

[ clear that up right now. the only locals they're going to find are aurora and the birds.

but she can still answer the question. ]

I have met someone who seems to be well-versed in this place though. His name is Accelerator.

[fireboost]

That's fine with me.

[ to think there was a time where she would have turned down even silver's help—especially with how useful his talents will be in this coming challenge. now, she can look forward confidently, with a smile on her face as she indicates the direction with a pointed finger. ]

It was just a few blocks that way. I'll do a sweep of the perimeter and inside, and we can spread out from there if we don't find it.

[definecat]

"None of it really meets those predatory urges, however. There's something special about hunting intelligent prey."

They don't, but the temptation is always there. Sooner or later there would probably be someone nobody would really miss.

[fireboost]

[ blaze shakes her head. ]

I've only just arrived, I'm afraid, but I'm sure that the others are faring well.

[ she doesn't see shadow nor silver being ones who would so easily find themselves considered "unworthy" of continuing this trial they've been given. she can only hope to extend that sentiment to the other shadow as well.

though she will spare a glance to the room around them. ]

Though I will admit, I already feel like this world is quite different from mine.

[godsandbats]

Kirk's neutral expression doesn't break but he's surprised by how forward Sleeper is about the darker impulses. They're impulses Kirk always has and what he always has to keep in tight control. Even after inventing artificial plasma that could act as a meal substitute, he still went after criminals if he felt they deserved it.

Shortly before arriving in Etraya, Kirk had agreed to follow the Justice League's new approach of not killing. What else was he supposed to do? Hernan is his best friend. However, how well Kirk could follow that new rule has yet to be determined. The beast is always threatening to break through the surface.

Kirk gives a small nod.

"It's primal. The basic Darwinism rule of survival of the fittest," he replies, still keeping his monotone.

[fireboost]

[ blaze observes him as he stirs his drink around, the foam beginning to become one with the rest of the tea, and as he offers his verdict as well.

truthfully, if she were at home, she would never consider to imitate another so openly, unless perhaps it were her staff instruction her on how the drink should be tasted. but now, she isn't home, and at his comment, she'll peer down at her own cup, using the straw to stir the foam into the body of the drink, and then take a sip. hmmm. ]

Yes, that's much better.

[ she'll accept it. it wasn't what she expected, but it isn't bad by any means. ]

[fireboost]

It's not addressed to me.

[ whatever's in it, she's sure she isn't too attached anyway. she has her most important belongings on her person.

more importantly, she tilts her head. ]

Should I not be able to speak?

[definecat]

"Technically, going after a relatively even target is not very good for long-term survival. But I won't mention the temptation if you prefer."

Sleeper isn't human, but they've been around enough of them to have an idea of how most feel. Even if Kirk isn't precisely human. Learning to thrive surrounded by species that are simultaneously potential hosts, prey, and rivals doesn't leave one with a lot of illusions.

"I suppose I should probably take that home. Wouldn't do for just anyone to pick it up. Pretty sure the seals won't work, though."

[rudelanguage]

"Uh, sure." Like they'll refuse free stuff. Though...it is weird-feeling to have said stuff foisted upon them, rather than them just outright gnabbing it. Charity is rare, seldom trusted, and often laden with terms and conditions.

They use their long arms to sweep junk (plastic cutlery included) into a manageable pile they can stuff back into a pillowcase, slinging it over their shoulder as they stand back up, ready to follow like the odd, ugly duckling they are in the moment.

[limiterrings]

Hm. I know him.

[ he can answer that at least, so they have the same form of communication. then that works.

if he's well-versed in this place, shadow should follow up with him. ]

There's a child I've forced to understand the mapping of this place, he'll be useful in time.

[ child labor... ]

[godsandbats]

Kirk offers the container to Sleeper.

"Might as well. You're probably the one most familiar with it," he says. He doesn't know how many others are from Sleeper's world.

"You said you've gone after deer?"

Perhaps it's a sign of how far removed Kirk has become from his former humanity but there's a strange comfort in talking to someone who understands the temptation of preying on humans.

[definecat]

"Yeah. It's a bit of a challenge but they taste better than rats and mice. I don't usually have the leisure to be picky, but this place has certain advantages to New York."

Like a decent amount of green space. And plenty of wildlife if one goes looking for it.

[devota]

You are a miracle from God.

[Claudia is, absolutely, a priestess of the Order.]

For you to have a mind of your own is God's will. I wouldn't dream to interfere.

[godsandbats]

"At best, rodents are snacks," Kirk says, understanding. He hasn't forgotten what it was like when rats were the best meals he could get.

"Given the physical size difference it makes sense for deer to be an improvement."