etrayamods: (Default)
∎ ETRAYA MODS ∎ ([personal profile] etrayamods) wrote in [community profile] etrayalogs2025-04-25 12:17 pm

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

knightowl: (068)

[personal profile] knightowl 2025-05-13 06:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The move is noted and Bruce makes his. The other knight. Again, there doesn't seem to be any consideration behind the move. ]

I'm guessing.
laserguy: (we're seeing him again)

[personal profile] laserguy 2025-05-13 06:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Pretty sure most of the people in Etraya have been here longer than us. They're probably the best sources of information.

[He really hasn't gotten the chance to ask about all that stuff yet. Most of his focus was surviving on that other planet, and now that he's here... he pretty much only really talked to Aurora and some other recent arrivals. The quickest way to gain information is probably asking through the earpieces, but.

Too risky?? Scott sighs lightly, hands still in his pockets as he just wanders around without any real direction. Or just following Shadow, because he's his hostage--]


She's just a hologram though. Like she's not actually here. Probably working with that Echo person she mentioned.
abit_ofboth: (arms crossed)

[personal profile] abit_ofboth 2025-05-13 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[Loki sighs deeply, crosses his arms and rolls his eyes. He really shouldn’t be letting this kid get to him, especially since his life in Etraya is actually a pretty good one, despite the missions they are sometimes sent on. But thinking about New York always puts him off a bit. He’s never really had the chance to apologize to people he hurt back then and it still bothers him.]

I did not actually look into your mind. No one should do that without permission. I did think children of your generation were better with sarcasm, but I suppose I was wrong about that.

[Unconsciously, Loki mirrors Scott’s stance as he also stares moodily out into the middle distance. He stays like that for a bit before shaking his head to himself, acknowledging that he is being ridiculous. Scott hasn’t done anything to him, not really, and he hardly deserves Loki’s petulant side.]

No, I have no intention of doing that. What is good for some is not good for all. And I can certainly understand not enjoying being kidnapped or ripped from your home. That sort of thing never gets easier. Unfortunately, there is not much we can do about that immediately. Except for explore all possible ways out, and perhaps by trying to have a little fun in the meantime.
keepitgoing: hypoplasias @ ij (pic#17199924)

[personal profile] keepitgoing 2025-05-13 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well, it's a good thing he can handle it. With an almost comedic pop, the chocobo's head is free. It wobbles around on shaky legs as Spider-Man sits back from the much bigger hole left (where there's an obvious gopher quaking in the bottom, to which he says 'sorry' with sincerity).

Once the chocobo seems to have righted itself, it proceeds to give Spider-Man a few unkind pecks to the head before it starts limping off — in Shadow's direction, of course! Spider-Man gets up and rubs the crown of his head while calling out:]


Hey! Easy! Relax!
ingestion: (pic#17598902)

[personal profile] ingestion 2025-05-13 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
A spy-network?

( oh she was this close to nearly slamming the sandwiches down onto the counter and telling them to get out. with a more annoyed expression on her face, she began to walk closer to them and took one look up at them.

clearly they were just as awkward as gorgug but had none of his funny wit and charm. )


Hey who do you think you are? I'm giving you free food and offering you a place to sit and you call me a spy? That's so....so rude! Didn't your parents teach you any manners?
rudelanguage: (pic#17730072)

[personal profile] rudelanguage 2025-05-13 08:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[to Knife, the hostility comes out of left field (they're not that self-reflective), prompting a bristle and straightening of their posture as they gawk down at this angry short person.

confusion.png:]
We...don't like spies here? [did they do a bad? fucking how? next time they breathe someone's going to arrest them, holy shit.]
thelightshines: (fucked around and found out)

[personal profile] thelightshines 2025-05-13 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[You nurse that head of yours costume guy. Shadow won't run as the chocobo comes hobbling in his direction. The jets in his shoes come on as he flies at the chocobo, hooking his arm around it's neck and sends it back, forcing them to lay onto the ground.

It warks in a panic, feet scrapping the ground to find some footing to get back up. It's tired from all it's struggling to get out of the hole though to get proper traction. So it flails like a cornered animal, making noises and flapping it's wings to knock Shadow out of his grip. He keeps a firm hold despite that. Not the gentlest, but it keeps the bird from going anywhere.]
You, I need you to come here!
strumpet: (pic#17736817)

wrapping this up here ♥

[personal profile] strumpet 2025-05-13 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
( as he spoke, she threw the shawl around herself and gave one last bright smile to the chocobo. if she truly could, she would have offered more than the greens but even she was still establishing herself here in this strange new world.

at his words, she turned to face dion and gave him a polite nod in reassurance to his words. while she wasn't in a rush for his sake, she was for her own. tea and the preceding ceremony wasn't just a ritual for her clients-

it was a way for her to relax and ease herself into things. )


It's no trouble at all, for you see it's more for my sake really. Nothing quite eases me into welcoming a new day like a cup of tea. I appreciate your help by the way, even if the gift was a bit of a dud.

( she's far from upset by it really, still smiling at her new acquaintance. )

Well I should get going, that water really did seep into my clothes far more than what I was expecting. A pleasure again Dion, I'm sure we'll see each other again soon enough.
devota: (⚖ i’m in it for the beat)

[personal profile] devota 2025-05-13 09:35 pm (UTC)(link)
That is good to know.

[She pets at this new one, too. Fascinated by how relaxed the animals are.]

Did they just appear here?

[Having only just arrived, Claudia has no frame of reference.]
laserguy: (yeah sure man)

[personal profile] laserguy 2025-05-13 09:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[He glances over at said birds for a moment. Big eyes meet sunglasses covered eyes... and he thinks they have agreed to some sort of treaty. Yeah.]

Yeah, sure. They seem fine, as long as they don't shit on me.

[Friendship over at that point. But they seem relatively calm right now and minding their own business, pecking at the greens below them. They really do seem fond of Shadow in particular though, maybe it's an animal thing? Even though space hedgehogs are different from birds.

But deciding to speak through action rather than just words, Scott opens his bag of sour cream and onion chips, snagging one before offering it to Shadow.]


If you're gonna run off again, at least try a chip. They're good.
thelightshines: (But listen carefully)

[personal profile] thelightshines 2025-05-13 10:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[Careful. Shadow might know how to get these birds to shit on command, Scott. You never know. He stares at the bag of chips, the chip being offered. An unfamiliar, pungent scent coming from it.]

Where did you get them? [Yea, he's eating them and seems fine, but Shadow is still wary of putting anything foreign in his body.]
ingestion: (pic#17598901)

[personal profile] ingestion 2025-05-13 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
That's not the issue! I'm not spying on anyone or taking notes of people's problems to be weird about it. I'm offering my heart out to people who need help and don't have anyone else to turn to.

( she's this close to taking the sandwich and shoving it in their arms, pushing them out the door even if they are almost three times her size. despite that, she simply shook her head and calmed down a bit.

what would her father do or say in this situation? wouldn't he tell her to try and understand where knife was coming from? to win friends over with peace rather than assumptions?

so she sighed a bit, placing a hand to her temple before she peered back up and took a more neutral tone of voice. )


Don't you come from a world where people care for each other? Help each other during difficult times?
Edited 2025-05-13 22:58 (UTC)
rudelanguage: (pic#17730078)

[personal profile] rudelanguage 2025-05-13 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[the passion being thrown at them is baffling and, weirdly, scary? like, this girl's brandishing a sandwich, not a sword or a wand, but it must be that...weird, teenage passion that's giving them the feeling of being held at knifepoint.

the whiplash from the outburst to a relenting sigh leaves the orcish shape frozen in place, breath held, expecting a second shoe to drop.

at the ask, their expression scrunches; one corner of their lip twitches over a tusk.]


Uh, maybe? [they don't even sound sure.] Other people? [but not them. Soliton's an outlier, there's...history there.

where's the history here? simple courtesies without the expectation of payout doesn't make sense in the context of Knife's life.

Knife has no idea what answer this girl wants, so they default to:]
Sorry? [people like apologies, right? that...fixes shit?]
ingestion: (pic#17598602)

[personal profile] ingestion 2025-05-13 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
( with the air still heavy between the two, heather gave knife one last intense glare before she finally turned around to retrieve the sandwiches she had set aside. she lifted up his plate and handed it to him before pointing her head towards the direction of the door.

in her time here she had been on a mostly positive journey, shedding behind the negativity that same with being hunted by a cult for nearly two decades and the surrounding after math of being drawn into that town. she had met wonderful people here who encouraged her growth and encouraged her to do this sort of thing for other. a man from her world even told her that she had saved his life by offering him her listening service.

so it didn't quite dawn on heather that something like that would be a true mystery to someone new and while she was somewhat justified in being annoyed at being accused of having ulterior motives, all she could do was give up.

she wasn't in the best mood to deal with this given claudia's arrival after all. so she gave knife their plate and waved her hand a bit. )


It's fine, don't worry about it. Just go eat your sandwich outside or whatever. Enjoy, it's on the house.
rudelanguage: (pic#17730072)

[personal profile] rudelanguage 2025-05-13 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Uh... Okay...

[flummoxed, Knife takes the plate, standing in place for a beat half-expecting a 180 demand to not fucking move. after enough space is given between themself and the unhappy girl, Pending steps backward two paces before feeling safe enough to turn around and make for the door.

What the hell was that about?

they blink, then grimace into the daylight outside.

Wait a second... "On the house?" Bullshit! I got served sandwich with GUILT! Why do I have to feel bad for breathing?!



the sandwich winds up being tasty, at least.]
devota: (⚖ i’m in it for the beat)

[personal profile] devota 2025-05-14 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
Certainly. Tell me what you think of her.

[It's clear Claudia has no real opinion, having only briefly spoken to her briefly before Apaia.]

Given our circumstances, I would prefer to think the best of her.
zauneyete: (pic#17674609)

[personal profile] zauneyete 2025-05-14 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
A scientist?

[ He questions, but it's not... truly questioning, but more like parroting it back to him, to see how he takes it. Silco watches everything about the man. His expressions (or lack thereof) and what he watches for. Silco, after all, catches eyes no matter where he goes, even in Etraya. It's the eye, the scars, the hunched way he walks and the way he seems to have a chip on his shoulder at merely existing.

This man is different. He is cool. Aloof.

He reminds him of the doctor, actually. Quite a bit. Something about men of science, he supposed.
]

Mind, I am no intellectual [ He says, though it's self-depreciating in tone ] but from what I understand, there are many fields to science, aren't there?

What is your specialty?
laserguy: (okay not bad)

[personal profile] laserguy 2025-05-14 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
[That wasn't awkward or anything at all..... they'll work on that in the future. It feels too weird to bring it up now! Scott's at least figured out that Dion was just unaccustomed to the gesture rather than anything else, because he still seems pleased in that quiet way. It's not about hating high fives. Right. Cough. Yeah, they'll get there at some point.

Though he is a little surprised when Dion offers the box over to him. Scott tilts his head, eyes gazing up at the older man with a questioning look.]


Yeah, but I thought you wanted to open it. [...] You spotted it first and came up with the plan.
ornithologist: (041)

[personal profile] ornithologist 2025-05-14 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
[ He has to ask about the name -- he hates calling him by his ability, Accelerator. It feels dehumanizing, but Harold also doesn't feel quite right making up a name for him without invitation.

He raises his eyebrows, shaking her hand very politely. He is indeed someone who handshakes and does so smoothly with no trace of incredulity about shaking hands with a girl her age. Privately, he thinks this is very cute, but he won't insult her general demeanor by betraying that. He also won't insult Accelerator to a new acquaintance by following up on the skepticism she'd had about him having friends.

He's very gracious, really. ]


You call him Axel? May I ask why?
Edited 2025-05-14 02:54 (UTC)
heavensnight: (It's funny and it's ironic)

[personal profile] heavensnight 2025-05-14 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
[by now, she's gotten used to these things. with a bag on her, she pulls out some greens and the chocobos come running to her to eat.]

These green ones seem to like me too, for some reason. Green isn't even our color, don't you think? [she walks them away and sets some of the food down so they're distracted.]

Anyway, you know the saying. Flies and honey.
cantilevers: (43)

[personal profile] cantilevers 2025-05-14 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
[The social game with all its need for beats of a conversation and flirting was something that he had always enjoyed. Prickly people were usually the most interesting as it required effort, but honestly, everything about this was for achieving fun. It wasn't as if he was going to take one of these big birds to the city, but her on the other hand? He might just do that if she was open to it.

More than likely, they also might just throw down out here in the grass in a spar.]


She has a point, bird. Apparently he likes your shoe laces. Maybe I should be the one chasing him off if he's flirting with you, right? I can't tell based on his expression just what his intentions are.
heavensnight: (At your beck and call)

[personal profile] heavensnight 2025-05-14 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
I've never drawn with anybody before. Or gotten to do things like this. I thought it'd be nice. [usually she wouldn't admit such things to other people but she thought it might make Laura feel more comfortable if Maria did tell her things like that.

she takes the chalk and listens, nodding as she draws a heart.]


Don't you think it matters how you use your fighting? If you were hurting people just to hurt them then that might be scary. But if you have a purpose, like saving your universe, I don't think that's so scary.
welcome_summer: (pic#1831644)

[personal profile] welcome_summer 2025-05-14 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
The United States is a country in my world, yes. The other places are two of its fifty states.

[She is not the foremost expert on American geography but living there for five years, one does pick up some things.]

It's one thing to be told everyone is basically from somewhere else, but it can still be a shock, coming across the concrete evidence of other worlds. The library does stock material from everywhere.

[She looks one way, and then the other, down the long stack.]

It's just a matter of finding it.
welcome_summer: (Don't worry it'll be awwwright!)

[personal profile] welcome_summer 2025-05-14 04:37 am (UTC)(link)
You have no idea how valuable cooking skills are, until you're surrounded by people who haven't had to and now are forced to learn. And I'll keep that in mind, during mission off-seasons.

[She does not need fancy supplies, so as long as food keeps being generated, it should be doable.

But seeing Cloud's attention being caught by the gifts, Mayuko opens the sack wider with a grin.]

Two presents in one, looks like! Go on, then, Mr. Disinterested. I'm eager to see what that is, myself.
welcome_summer: (Gossip girl)

[personal profile] welcome_summer 2025-05-14 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
[Mayuko nods eagerly. Although there is enough movement amongst the chocobo herd to see glimpses of a present, she's too caught up in the conversation to be keen on retrieving it. Just yet.]

You've seen it, too! I can't speak to the differences in plumage, but I've seen birds with larger wings or more compact, their beaks distinct on their heads or more subtly blended in. They must be denizens of many worlds...

[She taps a fist against her open palm.]

Like moogles! The people who know what moogles are, they always describe them differently.