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⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( thankfully for people like knife, inara was a woman who hated being in the dark and unaware of her surroundings. upon her arrival she was quick to use her skills and knowledge to get information out from others like henry and jayce, who were eager to assure her she would be fine.

she wasn’t as quick to assure others as she had to look out for herself, but it gave her more of an advantage. the payment system here though?

that was something she was still trying to figure out herself. )

That’s actually a really good question. I suppose if we walk out of here with the items and no one stops us…

( she looked side to side to see if anyone else was around to hear that before she returned her attention back to knife. )

At the very least I know there isn’t really a money system here apparently. Points? But I’m not quite sure how that works either.

[fuck around and find out does tend to be Knife's modus operandi, but honestly? if someone else here was gonna do it for them? all the better. shoplift away, madam; they'll follow your lead...or slink away when you're being arrested or whatever happens here.

...come to think, if things are around unguarded, there might be a trap woven into the fabric. they should sniff around for magic before leaving the premises.]

Points... [they hesitate, then tap at their earpiece.

...no numbers flash up like Aphasia.]

But no more scores?

I can’t say I’ve asked about it, but so far the lack of floating cameras watching us and any notice of ‘points dropping’ seems to have gone away. You’ve noticed it too right? How peaceful this place seems—

( in comparison to that strange world they were first brought to. while she did seem more sure of herself now, frankly that was a terrifying experience.

especially for a new arrival. )

Anyways care to join me in some shopping? Are you new here as well?

["peaceful" read more as "ominously barren" to Knife, but they suppose it's a matter of perspective; maybe she's not the sort to expect to get got when it's too quiet and bright and open.

they blink slowly at the offer, briefly flicking a glance back at their pile hovering just within reach.]

...New. Yeah. [keeping it minimal, grunt-grunt-nod-nod orc-like seems fitting, so they're going to stick with this and not start yammering the stream of consciousness that's going on in the background. like What fucking shopping? What vendors? Nobody's hawking SHIT! Doesn't this smell like a setup? It's a goddamn setup, isn't it.]

Who're you.

( despite knife being far from human, it wasn't difficult to sense their nervous energy. she had long been trained in the skill of reading people, sensing intentions and while she certainly could never pinpoint or predict a person's actions, she knew how to adjust herself accordingly.

call it a reflex— given they weren't a client or a potential one, but it never hurt to apply hard earned skills to any social setting. so she quickly nodded her head at knife, before introducing herself properly. )

Inara Serra, I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. What about you? Must be...a bit nerve wrecking to be brought to this place where we don't know what to expect.

[Inara Serra. it's...kind of bouncy? musical. Knife will probably remember it, if they hear it a few more times.

nerve wracking? that's a way to put it. fucked up is the way Knife would put it. Pending would put it...] It's...not great. I had stuff to do.

Hang on.

[they unwind a scarf from a mannequin within reach, balls it up, turning. they chuck it outside the shadow of the tented covering of the shop and watch it for a second.

beat.]

...Just checking. [they look back at Inara.] For traps. Since...everything is in the open. Just feels weird.

Right well we all did.

( it's a bit more blunt than her previous comments, but their behavior was making her just a tad bit suspicious of what exactly was going on here. instead of saying anything further though, she took a step back and watched in silence as they began to terrorize the covering of the shop with a scarf of all things.

with a raised eyebrow, she looked up at knife and tilted her head. )

Well I don't believe there are any traps here, from what I've been told by others I've encountered, it seems 'Etraya' is suppose to be the safer world. A neutral base.

( what they didn't tell her was that sometimes the food and items here had effects on people— but they'll both find that out eventually. )

I'm okay with being careful.

[Like fucking hell I'm going to take the word of a bunch of random people who dismiss concern like I'm a fucking baby! It's like these assholes went through this and immediately forgot that maybe THEY were fucking doubters at some point!

...Maybe they weren't. Holy shit. People just fuckin' take shit at face value here, no consequences? We're all fucking dead already if that's the case.

Pending does, at least, move to go pick up what they've pitched, unfolding and checking both sides of the fabric before almost expertly winding it back around the mannequin. it's a greenish scarf; it'd look bad on the skin!

turning back to Inara:] What are you shopping for. [or stealing for. or...whatever the hell is going on here.]

Edited 2025-04-29 17:08 (UTC)

( well far be it from inara to tell someone not to be cautious— her strategy or rather way of showing her kindness to others was in trying to alleviate that stress the way jayce had for her when she first arrived.

with one look at knife, she could tell there were a million thoughts running in that mind of theirs but she couldn't say what could be those thoughts. it was a similar nervous energy she felt from some of her own clients back home, and even with the doctor aboard serenity.

so she smiled at them, looking up and facing them fully with a bit more of a smug expression. )

You haven't told me your name and you want to know what I'm shopping for? A bit naughty, you should really introduce yourself properly first before snooping around.

[blink.

oh. right.

...fuckin'...what was it again?]

...Pending. [beat. nod.] Hi.

[this is a normal name to have. it's way better than when Knife spent a year or so pretending to be a kid named Pocket. upgrade, even!]

Pending?

( it was a strange name but if she actually wanted to get any shopping done at all, inara would have to settle for it for now. even if something felt strange about it.

with a soft smile, she nodded her head at her new companion and simply began to walk around the shop, looking at what was available. most of it was garbage in comparison to what she usually wore but she'd have to sew or make her own clothing. something she hadn't done really given her higher class status back home. )

Alright Pending mind keeping an eye out for any silk or satin fabrics? Even if it's damaged or stained, I could make something with them.

[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?]

( that seemed to be a tethering factor for a lot of them here, even if she didn't want to outright admit it. they all were technically abducted for the sake of proving their world was worth saving but really, they were left to the whims of aurora and echo when it came down to it.

not that she'll ever say that; because despite still being new and fresh here, she could painfully sense it was probably best to keep such thoughts to herself. at the end of the day she didn't know who she could trust or fully rely on. )

Not quite, but I have a number of skills and talents....

( for the type of work she did back home, not that she'll be telling knife that. )

Besides I could probably stand to learn how to sew better, I feel we'll end up with a lot of free time here in between the missions and the like.

[the yippy, annoying, desperate-for-connection part of Knife's brain was getting too yippy. I can sew. I'm actually fucking excellent at it! I made the clothes I'm wearing and the ones I've got stashed. They're reversible. Sick, right?

...Not that I can tell you that. Obviously that'd be stupid! And what would you being impressed do for anyone anyway? Who cares! Who fucking cares!]

Think so? No...training? For missions? To assess stuff. [seems sloppy. what kind of crapsack operation is going on here!]

Oh of course, I imagine we'll be forced to fight again eventually. I can assure you I'm quite skillful in fighting-

( while her senses seemed to be telling her this person was most likely just worried for her, she turned to them and offered a soft and reassuring smile before plucking at a few garments on the rack. )

Enough to save my own hide without issue. So don't worry, but the body and mind need a break from being on alert you know?

So it's quite alright to fill the time with other endeavors so that when we do have to go to missions, our minds and senses are sharp.

( if there was any inclination of inara's spirituality, it would be in those words. the balance of mind, body, and soul was very important to her- not just because of her line of work. )

Edited 2025-05-12 21:37 (UTC)

[Knife walks around one of the counters, listening while considering the patterns on display, picking at one of the scarves; it's taking so much restraint to not just...stuff all of this in a bag and ferret it away.

they are absolutely not leaving this kiosk without a bag. or two.]

So this is...consolation? For the abduction.

Treats for the war horses.

( comforting clients was one of the first aspects of her job despite the the more cardinal aspects that came with it, so hearing someone in a bit of distress over their situation was nothing new. many men and women came to her with all of their worries and concerns, wanting and yearning for someone to listen and understand them. that frustrated voice over their predicament was nothing new after all and while she herself took things a bit more optimistically, she was also full of her own fears.

she just didn't share it with others as easily. it seemed no matter where she went she was always the one to comfort others. )

You know an author from my world once said 'Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.' Do you wish to spend your time here complaining about your predicament? Or will you use this opportunity to show our kidnappers that even in a strange world, you'll still be yourself?

( because really that's what she was doing. was it foolish to cling to the royalty she got used to in her position back home? perhaps but no matter what, she would find her own routine here and thrive with what little she was given. )

[wryly, while folding and rolling a patterned scarf into a smaller, more pocketable shape:] What's impressing them gonna do?

[really, they'd like to know. better confinement or food options? more realistic projections of ever getting back to their life as they were living?

And hey! What if complaining is myself? What then! What if I'm an insufferable scab? Do I get to leave? Squeaky wheels and grease or whatever the fuck?]

You don't do it to impress them, you do it for yourself. To keep your sanity intact, to live your life for yourself despite being 'kidnapped', all while still proving your world is worth saving.

( with a pile of clothes now finally in her hands, she began to walk towards the checkout maned by a companion bot who simply seemed to...

not really care or comprehend she was attempting to pay for things. really it seemed things were a free-for-all here, at least for now. )

Well I should get going, I have a lot of work to do to make something fashionable out of all these things. I won't keep you prisoner of my conversation, but I wish you the best of luck in finding something that brings you fulfillment here.

[it was strange to feel a beat of disappointment at being dismissed; Knife must've gotten too used to company before getting unceremoniously dumped here all on their own.

what the hell were they going to do about it, though? insist to tag along? and for what? they've nothing of value or interest to offer, seemingly just a know-nothing complainer.

Could help with sewing seams, they supposed, but their thoughts were already in the muck of gloomier moods that a lighter notion wasn't going to lift them out so easily.

they linger in place, half-finished stuffing some other clothing item away in a pocket, then shrug, their eyes half-lidded with a veil of disengagement.]

Sure. Bye.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

APRIL MINGLE

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cw: brief sex mentions

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