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

[limiterrings]

[ there's shadow standing right next to pending as though he never left. the hedgehog looks up to them, and in his hands is one (1) singular bite of leafy greens.

they sit it right next to the other as though he should know what to do here. ]

[rudelanguage]

[Knife double-takes, then scowls. Fucking telegraph your movements a little maybe?

man, whatever! what is this.]

Grass?

[what, are we rolling up and smoking all of a sudden?]

[limiterrings]

[ grass.

easy to tell someone doesn't have any information on the birds out there, but then again, what they eat was told to shadow against his will. ]

It'll help you.

[ he doesn't feel like explaining. ]

[rudelanguage]

[this...is weirdly out-of-pocket. see, before all of this, Knife hung with a mutilated hobbit named Erast - chill guy, face like a giant, fucked-up thumb - and Erast had a penchant for smoothing over negotiations and chatting people up - things Knife is distinctly not experienced with, as if that weren't obvious.

Erast liked to icebreak negotiations and relationships with hard drugs, liquor, and weed.

so Knife here, looking at this, zero explanation, can't help but think: Is this weird motherfucker trying to make nice or something here? What? Why?

very confusing, very wrong. very inevitable misunderstanding.

okay, well. sure. they'll take the greens, because they don't wanna get sassed for refusing a gift.]

I don't got a light.

[limiterrings]

What the hell do you need a light for?

[ don't get shadow wrong, there's a reason for everything, much like how the hedgehog walks over to another window where there aren't any birds nearby. it almost appears to be freedom with the lack of their presence. ]

You're going out there with it.

[ ... ]

Through this window.

[ the back side might be safer. ]

[rudelanguage]

[Pending's mouth opens to retort about how weed works, closes it as the critter lays out the actual plan.

they stare flatly.

This motherfucker wants me to get mauled by birds.]

Why does it have to be me?

[limiterrings]

When the chance to escape arises, you question it?

[ he could see it in the way the other reacted, they don't want to deal with the birds, no one does. however, they are stationed around this place for a reason, and shadow would rather get rid of them on his own terms. ]

[rudelanguage]

That ain't escape, 'cuz I don't know where to run to. [this is all new to them, okay! and like hell they're gonna run blindly around being chased by a stampede of turkeys!]

Do you? [because if so, you're the fucking professional here!]

[limiterrings]

Are you unable to do things alone?

[ is he the type to always have someone by his side like a certain blue hedgehog with his glaggle of friends? ugh, how annoying. ]

[rudelanguage]

Not really big on running around blind. Kinda stupid. [especially compared to having thick walls separating them from bird-bothering.] If I had a map or landmark target, that'd be fine.

[limiterrings]

[ "running around blind" what's blind about a city that's supposed to be their home world now, and why would they have a map.

his ear flicks, the device there. ]

Does it not show you?

[rudelanguage]

[they grimace.]

Voices in the head. It's not good. [for...many reasons. they're not going to get into it.]

Look-- [they rub at their face, pinching the bridge of their nose, exhaling slowly. so much that should be sensible is apparently nonsense here, and all the shit that's blaring alarm bells is apparently a non-issue? backwards world.] Go wherever you want. Ignore me. It's fine.

[limiterrings]

....

[ it's not unfamiliar, why trust an unknown source like this? he doesn't push it, but given the option to ignore them works wonders for what he has in mind.

shadow walks over to the window, jumping out if it himself (without the leafy greens), and lands on the ground effortlessly.

from where pending stands, they'll catch sight of a chocobo in a tree that's waiting for shadow to come closer...

but the hedgehog pauses, jumping up into the tree with a swift kick, and the bird comes tumbling down. someone was prepared. staring at it, the hedgehog contemplates a hostage scenario. ]

[rudelanguage]

[contemplating the odds of running into those freaky little bots further in the hospital means more time to idle, and more time to be present when Shadow beats up a tree for bird loot.

the noise prompts them to lean out enough to peer outside, squinting.

The fuck is he doing?]

[limiterrings]

[ yeah, he's throwing an oversized bird through the window, watch out and don't get squished! ]

[rudelanguage]

[aAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--]

D'AH-!! [uncannydodge.jpg

their boots skid on the tiled floor as they catch themselves with their fingers all Naruto-style, watching the poor, wretched creature struggle and flail for purchase.

This rude motherfucker wants to KILL me!

biting back on barking out some expletives out the window, Knife growls, grabbing up their junk and beating a hasty path down one of the corridors further into the hospital. either they find a birdless exit or they hole up somewhere Jurassic Park-style. if that little red-and-black punk wants to wrestle with these critters, that's on him! Knife's OUTTIE.]

[limiterrings]

[ what a moron.

the hedgehog crawls back through the window, jumping down onto the ground with the unconscious chocobo that lays there. it doesn't move at all, but it's still breathing, and with it still alive is shadow closing the distance to question his next choice of action. if they can get this chocobo to tell the others to leave, it might be smooth sailing but that eccentric orc has disappeared.

it's fine, even with them gone, the hedgehog is already looking to see if they had dropped that ball of leafy greens. needed that. ]

[rudelanguage]

[what, you think Knife was just gonna leafleave stuff what was given them? nawww. that's stuffed into a coat pocket and on the lam through the hospital with them.

should the poor animal rouse and not bolt in terror from its new surroundings (valid) or the guy that launched it, maybe it can be a good sniffer for it? in such a sterile environment, something like that ought to be quite a lure until Knife finds the cafeteria and gets to raiding.

which they WILL because holy shit they're hungry. being in constant duress really drains it out of you.]

[limiterrings]

[ constant duress when they were opening gifts and tossing them around!! they set this up on their own.

zipping around could be the answer, but the chocobo waking up and walking around curiously because the smell of food commands it to is another issue. separated from the pack, it's not so bad, but it is trotting off in search of a certain food (with a person attached).

and so when it skids right past the door of the cafeteria, and slowly begins to creep into the room like hunting down prey.

this is shadow's doing, he put knife into this predicament, but also it's a very easy fix if they give up the leafy greens that they're toting around.

... ]

[rudelanguage]

[OPENING UP MYSTERY BOXES IS A FORM OF DURESS!!!

so is this.

this is also duress. this is stressful! no sooner does Pending pry open a cabinet of bland pastries (the amount of packaging this place layers their shit in is truly absurd to a person who knows nothing of germs or sanitized spaces). they can't even fuckin' savor anything before this chicken's tittering and traipsing into the cafeteria with its big ol' feet!

Knife growls and turns around, pulling a kitchen knife out of their satchel.]

Buzz off.

[limiterrings]

[ this chocobo even sits down across from pending.

as if not wanting to buzz off, but is certainly curious about what they have (leafy greens). the creature flaps its wings a bit, big-eyed, and lays its head down as if doing a trick.

pending might hate this beast, but this beast is waiting for food.

...

...

wark, warble.

of course, with shadow trailing behind and seeing the mess made, he doesn't say anything as he looks between the other and the chocobo. ]

[rudelanguage]

[there's a thirty-second standoff where Knife does nothing but stare at this pathetic beast, but then they shoot their sour look toward Shadow, who Knife assumes is the true ringleader of this little circus.]

What's the big idea?

[limiterrings]

[ knife thinking shadow has anything to do with any of this is their first mistake.

of course, he doesn't say anything when the other speaks. he's only watching for the outcome.

the bird stands up, trotting over, and is definitely going to try and pick-pocket the other for those leafy greens. it'll gain some experience along the way. ]

[rudelanguage]

[the moment that thing starts moving around the table, so too does Knife, skirting around and then weaving through other tables toward the hallway Shadow stands in.

with a scowl:] Why'd you throw it at me? [what'd I ever do to you!?]

[limiterrings]

You were in the way.

[ while that is true, because to shadow, everyone is in the way.. he does have something to offer. ]

Staying in here is a bad move, you must relocate.

[ just because they're hiding in the kitchen doesn't mean it's safe. ]