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

[rudelanguage]

[weird-looking dog.

they lob a roll of gauze at its turned-away head.]

Rude little shit. [they assume that'll be the end of it, because dogs can't talk.]

[thelightshines]

[His body turns slightly as he catches the gauze.] Don't open the door so fast. [He tosses it right back at them. Damn fault you're on the ground like this.]

[rudelanguage]

[Knife's taken aback, but catches the roll, eyebrow quirked. wait-- not a dog?

...dogs probably don't wear shoes.

or talk.

who fuckin' knows.]

Don't stand in the way of a door. Everyone learns a lesson today.

[thelightshines]

Fool. [He's more of a grumpy cat than a dog, honestly.] Why are you in such a hurry? Trying to sneak all this away? [He kicks a small potted plant aside. Are there even authorities here to report to? Be nice to give this guy a harder time if there were.]

[rudelanguage]

Y'don't swing a door with gusto if you're trying to be sneaky. [the rebuttal is dry, their gaze on the ruined plant.

probably for the best. the fuck were they gonna do with that? trade it? for what?

...probably wasn't edible, either.

...ooh. needles? and those tweezers look handy. they'll grab up those first.]

Stuff's just laying around. If I'm not supposed to take it, it wouldn't be, right?

[thelightshines]

[The behavior is still suspicious!

...And they're still scurrying around to gather items. To stop him and give him a hard time, or let someone else deal with this?] Why do you need all this? [He suppose they have a point, but...]

[rudelanguage]

[they click the tweezers while making a point about them:] Fixing clothes, picking locks. [those get put back in the first aid kit they'd spilled out of.

then, the gauze roll:] Binding wounds or tying back extra fabric. [and away that stuff goes.

they pick up the bottle of sterilizing alcohol, squinting at it, giving it an idle shake, as if that would inspire some insight.]

...Dunno.

[they can't read the label.]

But probably useful. [they shrug, stuffing that away as well.]

[thelightshines]

[He tilts his head as they pack away the mysterious bottle he didn't know.]

Taking things you don't know is a waste. [They can only carry so much. Too much and those scapels and whatever other sharp objects they decide to grab might cut a hole in their sack...]

[rudelanguage]

How do you know? [what, talking from experience or just out the ass? Knife claps the tin kit closed and shoves it in the pillow case, gathering up the plastic cutlery that escaped and winding those up in a different pillow case and stowing those away, too. truly, anything not nailed down...]

[thelightshines]

[He just rolls his eyes at the question, at them continuing to hoard more things. Whatever. Whatever they do is not his concern. Just as he's turning to leaving, one of the companion bots hovers on by, a shocked exclamation appearing on their screen.]

Hello! Are you in need of some help? You shouldn't have to take all those! We can you examineed shortly and fulfill any, if not most of your needs- [The robot is just receiting pre-scripted jargon at Knife.]

[rudelanguage]

[Knife bristles; the robots don't have a sense of living presence the way normal folk do, which means they didn't sense them hovering over.

which means they got spooked.

which means they just suddenly swung and jammed a knife into the screen.

they remain frozen in place, eyes big, expression screwed in offense for a few beats before slowly glancing back at Shadow.

uh...]

...Woops.

[thelightshines]

. . . [Nice one, green guy.] They were in the way, right? [Looking at Shadow isn't going to do anything. You reap what you sow. Here comes another campanion bot! A question appearing on their screen and then an exclaimation point.]

Oh my! Is everything all right? Please wait while I request for further assistance. [A little light pops up on their head, flashing yellow.] Please wait while I request for further assistance. [It keeps repeating. More companion bots can be seen coming down the hall, all with their little yellow lights flashing too.]

[rudelanguage]

[genuinely creeped out:] What the hell are these?! [they've never seen robots or golems before, and their experience with mindless servitude is............................fraught...........

forgetting the remains of their scattered stash, Knife climbs to their feet, shooting an uneasy look down the hall.]

...Yeah, no...

[they're getting the fuck out of here! stepping over the stabbed bot, Knife goes the direction opposite the phalanx, making it for the door outside an--]

HUH??

[WHAT'S WITH THE BIRDS???]

[thelightshines]

[One could easily assume they really are a thief and just used to running from the authorities. But the look on Knife's face when he saw those robots, seem like there was more to it. He stands there and watches them flee the scene, leaving behind all their hard/not so hard earned effort to procure supplies.

Then came another shout down the hall from them. He sighs, shaking his head, as he leaves the bots all gathered around their damaged companion. There's a snap, a flash of light and a short breeze when suddenly, Shadow is standing behind Knife, off to the side. He blinks, staring at the large yellow birds awaiting outside the hospital. Never seen one as big as those, but he's staring to Knife who made quite a reaction over it.] Don't like birds either?

[rudelanguage]

They smell bad. [to say nothing of the noise.

beat.] ...But taste okay.

[...how hard would it be to gank one of those for a meal? could be worth it if one were alone and not in a whole-ass flock.

wait.

they double-take incredulously down at the not-cat.]

Whoa. [they just blipped here? or were tailing them? sneaky little fucker.]

[thelightshines]

[And that mystery will remain a mystery for now. He looks to Knife, to the birds and then back.]

You're going to try and catch one, aren't you? [At this point, Shadow is just here to keep judging them.]

[rudelanguage]

[their nose scrunches.]

Kill somethin' you gotta skin it. Then you gotta cure it. Then you gotta store it... [they shake their head.]

I don't live here. Where would I keep all that stuff?

[thelightshines]

[A tilt of his head.] And where you were going to keep all the stuff you were taking before?

[rudelanguage]

[Pending's mouth opens.

then it closes.

a beat.]

...Guess I...gotta figure that out. [they glance down at their bag.]

None of this'll rot. Probably...

[thelightshines]

[This guy really do be living as he goes huh. Kind of like....someone else he knows that isn't here.]

Didn't Aurora tell you about a place to stay? A...partments?

[rudelanguage]

The ghost? [their nose crinkles briefly before they shake their head.] Said a lot of things. Not sure if it's worth hearing.

You trust it?

[thelightshines]

...No. [How much of that information is truth, how much of it is just fabrication? He's also the least likely candidate to be saving a universe that cares little for his existence. So none of it really adds up to him.] What are you hoping to do here?

[rudelanguage]

Depends. [they shrug, slinging one of the pillowcases over their shoulder, the other dangling in their other hand.] Dunno the place. Gotta see it. Gotta get a sense of what's safe.

Just because someone else says they're safe doesn't mean I'll be.

[boy howdy ain't that the truth.]

[thelightshines]

[Huh. Words that he can actually get behind?] Start by not bringing attention to yourself. [The little incident in the hospital was...well they won't get far.]

[rudelanguage]

[their mouth quirks up on one side.] Too late for that here. Which means I have to move somewhere to be forgot.

You seen the lay of the land yet?