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

[definecat]

"Your little friend is a sweetheart. Why are you complaining?" That robin is one of their favorites of all the pets in Etraya. Unlike their worm, which they wish would just...hide forever.

"I haven't seen anything too bad. Unless you're not a fan of socks."

[godsandbats]

"Schrödinger is fine for the most part, if a bit dramatic," Kirk retorts.

Said bird is apparently happily chirping away in a nearby tree. Meanwhile, Kirk looks over the name tag of the box he's holding.

"It's for you," he offers.

[definecat]

"And I'm supposed to just open it the way I did all these other boxes? I didn't think anyone would really mind if their new rubber ducky underoos got a little dirty."

But this is their present. Which makes them both intensely curious and cautious.

"Why don't you use those handy thumbs and open it for me?"

[godsandbats]

Kirk is aware of Sleeper's shapeshifting capabilities to at least some degree but it doesn't seem worth it to argue over a small gift box. So he complies and opens the box.

Behind his goggles, he slightly arches his eyebrow as he pulls out a containment tube. If it weren't for specific label on it, Kirk would think it would fit with his lab.

[definecat]

With an easy leap, Sleeper bounds to Kirk's shoulder, clinging easily without using claws to peer at the object. It was familiar in ways they weren't sure they want to remember. Feeling trapped in one of these tubes was always annoying, although this one was theirs. The one they had spent their earliest moments in.

"Interesting."

[godsandbats]

"Do you recognize it?" Kirk asks in mild curiosity. The label on the container is technical and the sort of thing he recognizes from all of his times working in labs.

[definecat]

They consider how to answer that question. "It's proprietary technology from a company in my world that calls themselves the Life Foundation. It's a containment unit."

It's their earliest coherent memories, watching the people around them from the tube, learning and developing their own identity and preferences. Their tail swishes in agitation.

"I think it might be the same one I lived in until I had to go rescue my parent from his kidnapper."

[godsandbats]

Kirk sees how Sleeper's tail is swishing and wonders if it's a sign of anxiety like with Earth's cats.

"And this company was studying you?" He asks calmly.

A tube means keeping a specimen in tight, limiting space for easy studying. Treating a subject as the sentient being they are would require much more space.

[definecat]

"No, they were helping keep me safe from those who might do that or worse. My parents got really upset when they were offered a pharmaceutical contract based on some of my...early secretions."

It had been interesting to learn, once they understood. Apparently humans have an interesting relationship with intoxicants.

"It wasn't actually sealed most of the time. Just a place to be. And protection."

[godsandbats]

"Your equivalent to a baby bed then?" Kirk asks. As a scientist, Kirk is interested in to know more about Sleeper's abilities, though not in a lab rat way.

[definecat]

"Yes."

That it could also be used as a trap was not something they wanted known, but Kirk had clearly already seen that.

"My symbiote parent and his host were in agreement that I not be forced to bond too early. That I should be 'raised properly.'

"The cannister was a safety measure because it would keep me from eating anything by accident or other less polite things we can do when acting on more animalistic urges. Also, it would protect me from certain weapons if someone found out about me and tried to eliminate me as a threat. My kind aren't very well-liked."

[godsandbats]

"Why so?" Kirk asks, curious. Sleeper is unusual but decent company so far. Though perhaps he should not be one to talk when it comes to what's proper socialization.

[definecat]

"Encephalization and neurochemical production is increased in sentient species, and, well. Dietary requirements being what they are. You bite off a few heads and you get a certain reputation," Sleeper explained.

Not that they tended to eat people, but considering the entire symbiote species, it was a little more tricky.

"I tend not to go for anyone who I can hold a conversation with unless they've chosen to make themselves meal-worthy. Not all of my family is so respectful of species that could either be possessed or consumed. It's similar to why I choose to go without a host, although that does mean I don't have a convenient renewable supply of hormones and neurotransmitters to eat."

[godsandbats]

For Kirk, it's an odd sort of comforting knowing someone else who has has a similarly restrictive diet like his own. Especially relatable is how those diets can easily go after sentient species. They could easily come off as not particularly friendly to most people.

"How sufficient has chocolate been?" Kirk asks, remembering their previous conversation.

[definecat]

"Between chocolate and the local wildlife, it's not bad. I'm not going to sicken and die. Nor am I planning a murder spree in search of brains. Just because people come back from death here doesn't mean there are no consequences," Sleeper explains.

Their opinion is reasoned. An attempt to live reasonably within a civilized society without crossing too many lines. They aren't completely without resources thanks to their chemokinesis being able to bridge the gaps a little. As long as they have the right building blocks to start from.

"I should probably ask how your dietary issues are treating you? There are some tasty deer around here."

[godsandbats]

Kirk appreciates the nuanced answer Sleeper provides. It's a well-reasoned approach given Etraya's limitations and potential consequences here. It's similar to how he has been enduring.

"I've been making do here," Kirk replies evenly. "Surprisingly, I've been able to find in the stores ingredients for my artificial plasma. I have an arrangement with someone who practices blood magic. And Aurora and Echo can provide me blood at the hospital if I wanted to. It's apparently sourced from outside of Etraya."

[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.

[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.

[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."

[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.

[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."

[definecat]

"You say that from experience?" Sleeper asks. Most folks don't even consider them as food at all. At least in their experience. Clearly they were food in certain parts of the world, but modern, civilized folks thought of them as pests.

"They can be entertainment, too. Deer require a bit of strategy. They notice the smallest change in their environment and freak out."

[godsandbats]

Kirk nods.

“There were days when the best I could do for meals were rats and stealing from blood banks.”

Frankly, it wouldn’t take much to slip back into that. How he could get his meals without causing too much trouble is a constant issue he has to think about.

[definecat]

"I'm sure the hospital stock is available, since hardly anyone seems to need transfusions," Sleeper points out, although they can't imagine it's the most fulfilling meal source.

"I suppose I can see asking for direct donors being awkward. And potentially more intimate than desired."

They know that Kirk is a sensitive and sympathetic guy, and the thought of doing harm on purpose for something as simple as food is no more to his liking than theirs.