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

dice rolls, my greatest enemy

[ascarylady]

[ Sevika may be distracted by the voice, but there's no way she doesn't feel that "kid" ram into her and rifle through her pockets. Knife lucks out (because I rolled a 4 rip). It's in the very first pocket they can get their hand into, and they manage to get it out fast, but is it fast enough to evade Sevika as she whips around toward them?

She's making a grab for the kid with her mechanical left hand, claws and all. The apparent youth of the pickpocket does not earn any gentleness from her; she was a little shit thief at that age, too, and no one gave her any grace, so why would she offer it to another?

If she can get a fistful of clothing, hair, an arm, whatever it is, she'll lock the joints in place to make that grip near unbreakable. ]

Hey! What the fuck do you think you're doing?!

[rudelanguage]

[the hair is easy to part with; it lifts off Knife's scalp without resistance. it's the clothing they can't really easily lose, so when mechanical fingers snag a fair bunch of their coat, Knife finds their hasty getaway in danger.

with GET AWAY the blaring, violent thought in Knife's mind, eloquence is left at the door, and Sevika only gets desperate grunts and hisses as they tuck the planchette safely away before making more dedicated efforts to flinch free; there's a clink when they sharpen their teeth and try biting the hand, and that fucking hurts.

next tactic is just starting to wriggle free of the coat entirely to make their break.

shrill:] LET GO!

[ascarylady]

[ See, this is why the chemtech arm is preferable for grabbing. Brats always go for biting. It never fails. Knife can twist and struggle all they want, but Sevika will haul them right up off their feet and into the air by that arm she's got, grip twisting into a better position for it, though certainly not letting go to do so. ]

Not until you show me what you took, you little rat.

[ Of course, now that she has her prey -- although where had the other voice come from? Was this kid truly alone? -- she casts aside the drunkenness she'd been playing up before. It's all business now. ]

[rudelanguage]

[whyyyyy does this motherfucker have a metal arm? why does Knife keep running into armorclad people?

Knife growls, tucking their knees up close while deciding whether or not it would be worth trying to nail her in the jaw. dangling as they are, they can't easily wriggle out of their clothes with their body tightly pressed down on the knot of their belt.

they hate wasting good fabric, but, fuck. what else is having spares for?]

Nothing you'll miss! It ain't! Yours! [they pull a knife out of their sleeve and slice overhead to cut away the bunch of fabric in her clutches, dropping in a squat and immediately trying to book it with the same kind of speed they'd had at onset.]

[ascarylady]

[ Sevika's prepared to get stabbed (again, why does this keep happening), jerking back a step and holding Knife away further at the flash of steel, but all they do is cut themselves free. All she's left with is a fistful of cloth. ]

H--!

[ Hey?! But she won't waste her breath on yelling after them. That's for running after instead! Which she does, for a bit, but it's clear that she's only built for short bursts of speed these days. She isn't going to be able to keep up with any fancy magic boots. ]

[rudelanguage]

[and thank goodness for that! because Knife has no fucking idea how this part of town is laid out. or any part of town, frankly! it'll be all too easy to get cornered, turned around, or altogether fucked if they have to keep at it.

they can still hear the woman's heavy footfalls from a distance, the acoustics of a nigh-abandoned city doing real ruin on Knife's nerves.

pressing themself flat around a corner to catch their breath, begging those steps to go the other way (prayers not answered, as usual), they mutter a couple curses before dropping low and peeking around the corner.]

Fuck you!

[they throw the childlike voice back the other way, get up, and start hoofing it again.]

[ascarylady]

[ This time, the thrown voice doesn't fool her. There's no reason to waste time and breath to cuss her out when the kid's already got what they wanted. So if the sound came from that way, then...

Sevika cannot keep up with Knife. Maybe she doesn't need to. Unlike them, she's been here far longer, and she knows the buildings and the streets. Her footsteps recede, but only because she's taken a shortcut. Through a building, around a fence, a quick drop off a wall here or there, and she's left standing near breathless around a corner of her own, listening for footsteps.

Maybe they're still running. Maybe they've slowed down by now since they think they've lost her. Who knows. So she stands still, listening for the right kind of pitter-patter of short legs booking it. If Knife happens to pass that corner, they're in for a surprise when she lunges out to make a grab for them again. ]

[rudelanguage]

[while the longstrider enchantment on their shoes can last an hour or so, Knife's endurance surely can't, and as Sevika predicts, their backtracking does lead them right into her before they can register the looming presence.

they shriek, immediately set to flailing limbs out of some animal reflex. it's fueled by desperation more than strength, because there's only so much they can muster while this low on fumes and food.]

Off! Leggo! St-stop!

[ascarylady]

[ This time, now that she's snagged them again, Sevika will haul Knife up into a headlock against all the screaming and the flailing, her chemtech arm being the one chiefly wrapped around the poor kid's neck with her real hand supporting the rest of their weight. No cutting themself free this time, or she she would hope.

The squirming and caterwauling bother her not at all, and she leans down to growl menacingly in their ear, ]

I said... show me what you took. Then maybe I'll consider it.

[ What did she have in her pockets at the time? She can't quite recall, but there were a few options that needed to remain firmly in the 'not stolen' category. ]

So turn 'em out—all your pockets.

[rudelanguage]

No! [they hug their arms to their body where they can, drawing their knees up.] You don't even! Know what you don't got! So!

[So just stew on that! While I try to figure out what magic to get away with here!]

[ascarylady]

...alright. Guess I'm checking them for you.

[ Support from the real arm? Going away. Knife can dangle from their neck for a little bit while she reaches for the pockets to check. It would seem the whole kid schtick doesn't cut it when it comes to avoiding Sevika being mean, but then again, she regularly expects a kid to have like five knives on them at any time. ]

[rudelanguage]

[good instincts: there'll be knives aplenty, though Knife themself isn't much of a kid nor willing to let a search get that far. eyes glinting like an animal's in the dark, their lips draw back in a furious snarl, raking at the searching hand with elongated, sharpened nails that appear to grow in real time before they - and the rest of Knife - dissolve into fog, reappearing some thirty feet away, hacking for their breath.

not enough breath to waste on expletives, so the implication will just have to translate through the glare...and subsequent hucking of a pair of scalpels from the hospital Sevika's way before the kid's bulleting off again.

Give the fuck UP! they beg, grimacing as they scour around for an avenue winding enough, maybe the mercy of a bridge to cross or slip into hiding in.]

[ascarylady]

What--?!

[ Dissolving child is kind of off-putting, wow. Sevika jerks back from the fog, only to stare in shock for all of three seconds when Knife reappears far out of reach. ]

Hey! You little shit!

[ But she doesn't chase after this time. She's quick to step out of the way of the scalpels, which fly past and clatter pointlessly on the ground, but after that magic trick? She's less inclined to follow. Why is it always magic? Absolute nonsense, she mutters to herself as she watches them dart away and, eventually, out of sight. ]

...that better not have been the damn card.

[ It wasn't, she'll discover to some relief later that it was not Aurora's access card, but upon realizing the little board game trinket is gone, she'll have to wonder. Was that some kid's toy? It had been in a gift box, after all. Weird. ]